Feds shouldn't bail on students - Letters to the Editor

Progressive, The, June, 2002 by Marlene Hyer

I am sure this letter is just one of dozens that you will receive in response to Adolph L. Reed Jr.'s column, "Free College for All" (April issue).

Growing up in a low income, blue collar family, I was the first in my family to attend college, working two jobs to put myself through graduate school. I was forced to borrow a significant amount of money from the pre-approved government loan program.

After having been out of college for seven years, I haven't even begun to make a dent in my principal loan balance. I have had to request hardship deferments four times because of my low income. I have continually worked a second job to supplement a pitiful income, which is quite common among mental health workers. Some may say it's my own fault for having chosen such a low paying profession, but I say it's society's fault for having such a skewed value system.

Higher education should be free for all, not just a "free for all" for the privileged class. I pity the working class students from future generations.

Marlene Hyer
Syracuse, New York