Student debt is a wide-sweeping issue that impacts many students across the United States. It is important that students learn about political candidates’ views regarding student debt and education when researching for the upcoming presidential election.
With the widespread prevalence of social media among college students, it is easier than it has ever been to stay informed on political issues. With just the press of a button and a couple of minutes of scrolling, college students can immediately be enlightened on breaking news from around the world. Unfortunately, many students continue to be uninformed about current events.
More than 45 million student loan borrowers owe student debt, and the collective student debt of American college students is over $1.5 trillion, according to the American Federation of Teachers. Although this information is easily accessible with a Google search, many students go into college knowing nothing about student debt or about how to take out loans.
Ignorance of the student debt crisis has resulted in emotional turmoil and financial problems for students across America.
Politicians have the power to influence everything involving college education, from taxes to interest rates on loans. When college students are made aware of the decisions that these politicians want to make, students can vote for who they believe will make the best decisions that directly affect them and their education.
Politicians can also influence the price itself of college, including textbooks and parking fees. In a new article by Rolling Stone, the opinions of the current presidential candidates were highlighted. Senator Bernie Sanders, for instance, recently proposed a Wall Street transaction tax toward funding for free college.
Junior political science major Ebrahem Abdul-Rahman says he is always up to date on current events.
“Students should be informed about a political candidate’s views on all things education and student debt,” Abdul-Rahman said. “If students do not know about a political candidate’s views on education — something that’s going to hit them hard — then they are not correctly informed about that candidate, and can’t make uninformed opinions and decisions.”
In addition to allowing students to be informed about the decisions that may affect them, it is also important for students to get involved in the political sphere. Campus Vote Project is an organization dedicated to getting college students interested in politics. The front page of its website acknowledges that historically, young voters have voted in fewer numbers than older voters.
When younger voters are well-informed and can make knowledgeable decisions about the political candidates that will be representing them, they are doing more than just learning about the issues. College students who make informed voting decisions become part of the decisions themselves.
Students can also use the information that they learn about their political candidates to make decisions about life, school and their careers.
By encouraging students to become more politically involved, especially with issues that are relevant to their everyday lives, students will accomplish one of the most important goals of college — becoming educated and informed citizens. This will lead to a future of brighter and more intelligent leaders and citizens. Because it is so beneficial to the planning of their futures, all students should be informed on the positions that politicians take on the issues that relate to higher education.
