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Monday, December 23, 2024

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Suspect held after woman set on fire in NY subway car dies; Trump threatens to take back Panama Canal over 'ridiculous' fees; A year of growth for juvenile diversion programs in SD; The ups and downs of combating rural grocery deserts in ND; Report: AZ one of eight Western states that could improve conservation policies.

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Congress passes a last-minute budget stopgap. Trump's second-term tariffs could harm farmers, and future budget cuts could reduce much-needed federal programs.

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Rural folks could soon be shut out of loans for natural disasters if Project 2025 has its way, Taos, New Mexico weighs options for its housing shortage, and the top states providing America's Christmas trees revealed.

Students Want College and University Debt Forgiveness, Too

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Monday, October 3, 2022   

Students bolstered by recent student debt forgiveness say their next challenge is canceling the debt carried by colleges and universities, which also affects them.

The UMass system currently holds some $3 billion in debt, and at Mass State Colleges, it's more than $1 billion. It is estimated students pay more than $2,500 in annual fees, just to help cover their school's debt.

Cassidy O'Conner, a senior studying political science at Salem State University, thinks student fees could be better spent on her school's most pressing needs.

"There's a lot of facilities on campus that need to be updated," O'Conner asserted. "We have some residence halls that are really rundown. More student services. More full-time faculty, tenured faculty."

A new report from the Massachusetts Teachers Association found the increase in student fees to pay for capital debts has increased student loan debt by roughly 25%. O'Conner pointed out it means students have to work more and study less, which diminishes their campus experience.

Last year, the Department of Education relieved Historically Black Colleges and Universities of roughly $1.6 billion in debt, allowing the schools to put the focus back on students and staff.

Joanna Gonsalves, professor of psychology at Salem State University and co-author of the report, said the Commonwealth could do the same for its 29 public campuses.

"They can pay those annual payments until the bonds are paid out," Gonsalves suggested. "And in the future, when we need a new library, or we need a new classroom or a new dorm, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts can build it and maintain it like they used to."

Voters will have a say in the matter come November, with the Fair Share Amendment on the ballot. The measure would create a new tax on incomes above $1 million, with revenue specifically earmarked for public schools and public transportation.


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