Education

When the first economic meltdown hit in 2008, speculation and sub-prime loan debt were to blame. Now, with $900 billion in student loans, Americans are beginning to ask the question, is the student debt crisis next?

LOS ANGELES - A group of public education advocates have begun a movement to tax oil extraction here and throughout the state of California. The revenue will be put into funds for public education, a service that has seen scaled-back funding and rising costs for college students.

CHICAGO - Young people from all over the rust belt converged on the spot of the Haymarket Massacre when the "Red School Bus" tour stopped here for the Midwest School for Young Activists.

In England when Parliament attempted to nearly triple the cost of tuition for university students last year, thousands took to the streets in mass protest.

SEATTLE- At least 25 students were arrested after occupying a campus administrative building in protest of the University of Washington's contract with Sodexho, a giant food service provider.

The Texas Senate approved, in a 19 to 12 vote, a bill to allow the carrying of concealed handguns on public college campuses. The bill's backers say the move is a necessary reaction to an incident that took place seven months ago when a University of Texas student carrying a gun opened fire while on campus.

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. - On April 27, nine students launched a "study-in" at the office of Rutgers University president Richard L. McCormick. The students soon found themselves in a kind of "lock in" as they were not allowed to retrieve their back packs or get food from supporters outside.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - As Michigan public schools struggle under Republican Party budget cuts, a new study released earlier this month revealed that most of the state's public school students are exposed to high levels of pollution.

Recently House Resolution 1 (H.R.1) passed in congress cutting $60 billion from the federal budget. One of the programs hit hardest is the Pell Grant program which was stripped of $5.7 billion. Pell Grants provide financial assistance to working class youth who are attempting to get a degree and better themselves, at the same time bettering the economy and society.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - "Youth apathetic? ... Anyone who wakes up before dawn to drive across the state and rally at the capitol is not apathetic!"

Even in the wake of the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., and 18 other innocent bystanders, the GOP is pushing to allow concealed weapons on college campuses.

CHICAGO-If African Americans, Latinos, first time voters and students defy predictions
and vote in large numbers November 2, Democrats can prevent a Republican takeover of
Congress. So said former President Bill Clinton at a jammed get-out-the-vote rally here
Oct. 26.

Student debt is spiraling out of control! Private banks and lending institutions are making billions in profits from students who have to take out large loans to pay for higher education. The Senate is getting ready to vote on the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA) that would reform student aid and make college more affordable! Get the facts about the bill and what you can do to bring down the debt!

The International Union of Students (IUS) was joined by regional students\' organizations from around the world for the September 13, 2003 Global Student Day of Action to Defend Public Education. The action was aimed at the World Trade Organization (WTO). Students around the world are calling for all levels of education to be removed from the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), a set of rules about international trade in the service sector adopted by the WTO. GATS forces developing countries in particular to open public services, health care and public education to privatization by giant corporations.

We live only two generations after racial segregation laws were outlawed in this country. We are only a few more generations removed from chattel slavery. Racial and gender disparities still abound in nearly every aspect of our society. Yet the Supreme Court took up a case this past summer to test the constitutionality of affirmative action in higher education admissions.

Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 much discussion and debate has taken place among educators and on college campuses as to how the US should respond, the history of US foreign policy and whether or not the Bush sdministration�s policies will actually stop terrorism.
The Oakland Education Association (OEA) Executive Board passed a motion Sept. 20 in sympathy with the victims and pledging to be a \"voice for non-violence, defense of democratic rights and civil liberties and resistance to ethnic and religious scapegoat.\"

The United States Student Association (USSA) and its millions of members across the country believe that we all have a responsibility to question the actions of our government. The �war on terrorism� that our government has started has gone unchecked for too long. The casualties of this war are too many to name.