Many residents and students in the college town of New Paltz feel strongly about the ability of
lower and middle class students to enroll. On the national stage, several democratic candidates
released their plans to help the financially needy.
The most detailed of these plans came from John Edwards, the former Senator from North Carolina. His “college opportunity agenda” would have the federal government pay for one year of college at a public university for lower income students. The one stipulation would be that students would have to work a part time job for at least 10 hours a week.
“It seems like an interesting idea as long as it’s not taking away from current financial aid programs,” said Amanda Sisenstein, NYPIRG coordinator for SUNY New Paltz.
The town of New Paltz Democratic committee currently does not support a specific candidate until their nomination, nor any specific policy.
Corinne Nyquist, the chairman of the committee, thinks that candidates should broaden their proposals on higher education.
"I don't think any of the plans are inclusive enough," she said. "In order to receive aid you have to be under a certain amount, and what happens if you are slightly above that."
Nyquist said that her ideal pl
"There ought to be a way of investing and having a way of universal payment for the next generation of children," she said.
The Republican field has not discussed their plans for higher education, instead focusing on
immigration, and how to treat the 11 million illegal immigrants already in the United States.
Senator McCain seems alone in the Republican field, having co-sponsored a bill which would give illegal immigrants in-state tuition for universities. Opposing him on this issue most prominently is former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney, who vetoed a bill in his state which would allow children of illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition.
The College Republicans, a minority on the SUNY New Paltz campus, in general seemed to be against McCain's proposal, and opposed to amnesty for illegal immigrants. The group criticized the democrats for supporting "law abiding felons," illegal immigrants who abide by the laws.
They also voiced their disagreement with proposals by the democrats which would increase federal spending on education.
"There's this un-American concept of students borrowing money and paying it back," said Ira Margolis, a member of the group. "What are you going to contribute during your life if everything has been given to you?"
Prashant Pawar, a member of the group and an immigrant from India, explained a system used in his home country in which companies or employers pay for school for students who then guarantee the employer that they will work for them once they graduate. He said that if this is implemented in the United States, then federal funding for education can be eliminated.
"What I want is the free market to take control of this field," he said.
The group does not support a specific candidate yet, but will give their endorsement once the republican nominee is chosen.
Aside from the two main parties, there are several smaller political parties that have their own take on the issue. Among them are the Green Party and the Libertarian Party.
Igor Gembitsky, founder of the Libertarian club on campus, personally supports Congressman Ron Paul, although the club itself is not affiliated with the national libertarian party. He explained that he opposes increased government aid for students.
"I don't think there is a need for the government to fund education because with that funding comes government regulations," Gembitsky said. "Those regulations attempt to standardize education, and I think education should be catered to the individual."
He added that there is growing competition among colleges to provide financial aid independent of the government to bright yet underprivileged students.
Like the other political parties, the Green party does not yet have a nominee. However,
chairman of the New Paltz Green Party Margaret Human did say that public colleges in the
state should be free.
“I personally don't understand why the State University of New York system isn't free,” Human said.
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