Collegian

A proposed budget made by President Bush is calling for $3.5 billion to be cut from education funding, and may affect grants received by college students.

The budget cuts, details of which were posted on CNN.com on Feb. 9, will affect 141 government programs. They were proposed as part of the yearly budget presentation to Congress on Feb. 7. The new budget, for fiscal year 2007, includes an increase in spending on the war efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

As stated by the report, many programs will see a decrease in government funding. The cuts will affect programs such as child-care ($1 billion over five years), Medicaid ($5.1 billion over 10 years), and Social Security ($6.3 billion over 10 years).

Education programs, which are one of several non-defense discretionary programs, account for a small part of a $125 billion proposed savings plan to be carried out over a five-year period.

     But the proposed cuts have been subject to much criticism from members of Congress.

     In a Feb. 8 article on CNN.com, Pennsylvania senator Arlen Specter referred to the education cuts as "scandalous." Ongoing Congressional hearings on the budget have led to criticism from senators and representatives that education would be damaged by the proposed cuts.

A Feb. 10 report on U.S. Newswire detailed the findings of a Senate Democratic Policy Committee investigation about the effects of the cuts to education. According to the report, the amount of a Pell Grant cannot exceed $4,050, which would force working families to pay more for college. In addition, funding for the No Child Left Behind act would be cut by $15.4 billion, and funding for special education programs would decrease by 1 percent.

The effects of the proposed budget cuts may not affect some LCCC students, but the thought of losing important grants has impacted the way they look at education funding.

"I couldn't imagine not getting any assistance," said Jaimie Mennell, 18, of Polk, who has an Ohio grant to attend Xavier. She added that she would be "devastated" if she would lose her grant, because she "needs the help to be able to pay for college."

Mike Locke, 17, of Oberlin, has decided to attend Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio next fall. His decision was based on a scholarship offer from Antioch that included a grant and a work-study program. Although he is confident that his scholarship will not be cut, Locke would not be happy if it were. "I guess I'd be a little pissed off about it. It would make it harder for me to go to school."

Locke also stated that it would be a lot more difficult for people who come from working class families to get a good education with the proposed budget cuts.

Mennell also shares the same stance, adding, "I know a lot of people who are struggling [to pay for college]."

As the budget cuts are still being debated, it is unknown how or if college students will face any obstacles in getting the money that they need to pay for their education.

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