As an increasing number of students incur debts to attend colleges and universities, the “I am not a loan” campaign has joined the fight to keep higher education affordable.

“No one should be shut out of college because of cost,” the campaign’s official pledge states on its website. “We pledge to take action to reduce student debt.”

“I am not a loan” is an online campaign that looks at college student debt from the perspectives of both prospective and current college students, said Iris Maria Chávez, the campaign’s spokeswoman.

“The goal of the campaign is to get colleges themselves to commit and take a pledge to making college more affordable for their students, and reducing their students’ debt,” Chávez said.

It also raises awareness among institutions and students about the increase of student loan debt, she said.

When a college or university signs up for the campaign, it pledges to look internally as an institution and figure out ways colleges can be affordable, Chávez said, therefore decreasing the amount of loans a student needs to go to school.

“Signing up for the campaign as an institution means that you’re committed to making that internal look and are actually putting it into practice,” Chávez said.

Tyler Hartwell, a junior child and family studies major at Syracuse University, is quoted on the campaign’s website. A teacher from his high school reached out to him about joining the campaign. Hartwell said he wanted to help because he knows many people who have student loans.

“I just feel like it’s really unfair,” Hartwell said. “For a lot of students, it’s a huge issue.”

Hartwell said he feels SU should join the campaign. A lot of people are aware of the issue of student loans, he said, but he doesn’t think they know where to look for help.

Kaye DeVesty, director of the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship Programs, said student loans are one of SU’s biggest financial aid programs.

“About 75 percent of our students are on some sort of financial aid, and probably the majority of those students have a student loan,” DeVesty said.

SU currently has financial aid counselors who assist students who need help with financial aid. DeVesty said the university expects that students will have to borrow money for their educations, but wants to make sure students borrow wisely.

SU also offers a financial literacy program called “I Otto Know This!”, but SU is not currently affiliated with the “I am not a loan” campaign.

Chávez, the campaign’s spokeswoman, said it is looking to expand online and to other institutions. Part of its goal is to reach more students, she said.

Said Chávez: “We also hope that the students who are engaged in the online campaign will use some of the tools that have been put on the website and the other online bases to organize students on their campus to push their institutions to take action.” 

Published on March 27, 2013 at 11:49 pm

Contact Melina: mrmart06@syr.edu