The recent budget cuts proposed by the federal government have threatened many social programs that benefit many people, including a lot of students at Syracuse University. The two major cuts affecting college students now are the Pell Grant and Student Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG). These two grants are awarded on a need-based priority, for low-income undergraduates, such as myself. As an SU student, we all know the rising costs of tuition and see the significant difference from our first year until now. Tuition is expensive, and so are things like textbooks and art supplies. Going to college will soon be a luxury and not a right, as it should be.

The SEOG program granted more than $2 million for SU students this past year, and the Pell Grant was awarded to nearly 4,000 SU students. This makes it evident that SU students need these programs to not be cut, and we all need to take action to prevent this from happening. If the proposed cuts were to pass, 1.7 million students around the country would no longer be eligible for the grants, and another 7.5 million students would have their aid reduced. Although this number is national, the cut would obviously harm many SU students.

As a student who needs these grants, I urge you to contact Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle of the 25th Congressional District, or your representative back home, to not cut these highly beneficial programs. You can contact Congresswoman Buerkle at her D.C. office, 202-225-3701, or find your representative at http://capwiz.com/naicu/home/. How many more education cuts do we need, there isn’t enough room in Hollywood to support us all!

Contact them, it won’t take longer than five minutes. Time is money!

Elton Wong

Senior international relations major