Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 18 September 2008 — Page 15

The Muncie Times • September 18, 2008 • Page

The Judge’s Chambers Federal Pell Grants needed for students, minorities to achieve success

SAVE COLLEGE GRANTS For more than 30 years, federal Pell Grants have helped mostly needy students pay for college; without it many would not be able to further their education. Over the last year, more students applied for a Pell grant than ever before. The high demand for these funds has put a strain on the program; the Department of Education faces a $6 billion dollar shortfall in next year’s funding for the grant. To balance the department’s budget, Congress will either have to approve $6 billion in new funds or cut back on the program. Scaling back is not an option. Just as Wall Street received - and continues to receive - federal bailouts, so too should the Pell Grant program. In this instance, at least the taxpayer funds would be put towards something that has a positive impact on the country’s long term health. Pell Grants are usually awarded to students - 90 percent of them low income - working toward their first college degree, whether they are recent graduates or older

students. The funds do not have to be repaid. The most any student can receive each a school under the program is just over $4700. That’s enough to fully fund a year at a community college. At more expensive schools, the Pell Grants forms the foundation for a financial aid package that includes other grants and, often, student loans. Without a Pell Grant, students may have to either reduce their courseload or take on more loan debt. Congress set aside $14 billion for the grants for the current year, but a failing economy and stagnant job market pushed many Americans, more than expected, to return to the classroom. The increased demand, combined with a build up of shortfalls from previous years, the Education Department is now faced with this huge budget deficit in the Pell program. Finding the money to save the program shouldn’t be that difficult. After all. President Bush recently asked the American people to get behind a $700 billion bailout for the financial industry. The Federal Reserve didn’t seem to

flinch when it dipped into its coffers and found an extra $85 million to loan financially strapped insurance giant AIG. Nor did it seem to have a problem giving million dollars to several other similarly troubled corporations over the last few months. At least the use of taxpayer funds to support the Pell Grant program would make sense: a well-educated workforce drives the economy. America’s heavily outsourced job market needs educated, qualified candidates. Sustaining the Pell Grant program would help

Judge Greg Mathis Chairman of the Rainbow PUSH- Excel Board and a national member of ithe Southern Christian Leadership Conference

ensure there is are trained workers who would help the country compete in a global marketplace. This competition would create jobs and America as a whole will benefit. Congress needs to act quickly and assure students that there will be no cuts in the Pell Grant program. If the govern-

ment is able to give what will total $1 trillion to corporations whose bad business practices and greed created the problems they currently face, surely they can find a mere $6 billion for students in need Judge Greg Mathis is a member of the NAACP, Rainbow P.U.S.H. Coalition and the SCLC.

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