Corporate tax dodgers cost us
By Nessma Bashi
With manufacturing on the decline, Michiganders have found it increasingly difficult to succeed without a college education. Given the rising unemployment rate and the state’s attempts to promote economic growth through the attraction of new industries, it is clear that equal access to higher education will play an integral role in defining Michigan’s economic future. Yet, Michigan’s support for higher education has wavered in recent years. The lack of state funding has not only impacted university and college programs, but has also resulted in significant tuition increases that limit access to higher education. Michigan’s unwillingness to adequately fund its public universities, as seen through massive budget cuts, is undermining its citizenry and creating a crisis of confidence for the state’s youth.
Aside from the fear of accumulating a mortgaged-sized amount of debt, several other factors stand in the way of students looking to receive higher education. For many low-income and minority students, four-year institutions are not easily accessible. These students are products of Michigan’s K-12 schools, most of which have suffered from inadequate funding, an ill-structured education system, and unkept political promises. The ramification of such set-backs is a poorly educated youth populace unable to keep up with the academic rigor of Michigan’s elite four-year institutions. The reality of unequal educational opportunity between the nation’s rich and poor has discouraged many students from entering careers requiring higher education in order to pursue trade jobs. To make things worse, new and innovative programs have not been created to train workers in growth industries, particularly those revolving around skilled labor. The government’s lack of investment in education has now placed its young adult citizens at a disadvantage.
In order to make concrete changes for the betterment of young people across the country, there must be legitimate political and financial commitment at the state and national level in favor of higher education. Such an investment would create a more educated workforce, yielding more competitive markets and ensuring economic prosperity. It is the obligation of law-makers to make these policy decisions in the best interest of their constituents, while it is the job of citizens to ensure that their law-makers follow through with promises. As a society, we must be willing to recognize that politicians have now begun to balance their budgets at the expense of students and workers. Simply put, students are being priced out of school.
Students attending public universities can no longer stand for the successive budget cuts that increase their tuition and impede on their intellectual progression. With this in mind, The United States Student Association (USSA) has initiated the Where’s The Funding?! (WTF) Campaign in order to rally students around their right to education and equal opportunity. Its goals are to have mandatory funding of the Pell Grant program, protect financial aid programs, and turn their proposed solutions into federal law. USSA’s commitment to make education a right, rather than a privilege, promotes social justice in the broadest sense. The time as come for students to build their confidence as citizens and combat the challenges facing higher education. Demanding rights has become the only way to advocate for a more prosperous future. Ultimately, If students really want to see changes, then organizing now is essential.
