Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube
  • News
    • Campus
    • Local
    • World
  • Arts and Entertainment
    • Performing Arts
    • Visual Arts
    • Music
    • Film
    • Fashion
  • Lifestyle
    • Campus Happenings
    • Community Happenings
    • Food
    • Business
    • Travel
    • Calendar
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Video
    • Globe News
    • What’s Bruin
    • Bruin Lens
    • Film
    • Music
    • Globe Shorts
  • Radio
Search
93.7 F
Salt Lake City
Saturday, June 14, 2025
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Contests
  • About The Globe
    • Staff
    • Jobs
    • Issue PDFs
Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy Policy
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
The Globe The Globe
The Globe The Globe
  • News
    • Campus
    • Local
    • World
  • Arts and Entertainment
    • Performing Arts
    • Visual Arts
    • Music
    • Film
    • Fashion
  • Lifestyle
    • Campus Happenings
    • Community Happenings
    • Food
    • Business
    • Travel
    • Calendar
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Video
    • Globe News
    • What’s Bruin
    • Bruin Lens
    • Film
    • Music
    • Globe Shorts
  • Radio
Home News Campus Student body presidents raise voices against Stafford Loan rate hike
  • News
  • Campus

Student body presidents raise voices against Stafford Loan rate hike

By
Julie Hirschi
-
June 14, 2012
0

As Congress threatens to allow Stafford Loan rates to double beginning in July, student body presidents from six Utah colleges and universities met at Salt Lake Community College on Friday, June 8.

Find your senators contact information here.         Find your Representatives contact information here. To read the full story, click here.

The student body presidents drafted and signed a letter to Utah’s state representatives, Governor Herbert and President Barack Obama asking them to not increase the interest rates.

“I am struggling just to stay in school to finish an associates, [this increase] only makes it more of a struggle,” said Jason Koelliker, a SLCC student concerned about the rate increase of student loans.

The student interest rate increase affects only undergraduate subsidized loans applied for after July 1, 2012. About  67,000 students in Utah in the upcoming school year will see the increase. This would not affect loans currently issued. Interest rates were lowered to 3.4% in 2007 when the economy was weak and are set to expire and return to 6.8% unless congress works together to come up with a solution to pay for the extension.

“I am very aware about the student loan increase and I think it’s absolutely ridiculous,” wrote Justin Escarciga, Vice President of South Region at SLCC, in an email.  “I can’t comprehend why President Obama said that everyone deserves a higher education and when it comes to supporting and funding it, it’s just nonexistent. But oh yeah, it’s fine to start worrying about student loans when it’s an election year. I’m very frustrated.”

SLCC’s Student Body President Aaron Starks encourages students to call their state representatives about the proposed rate increase and make their voices heard.

“Students shouldn’t have to pay the amount of money that we’re already paying for tuition, books, fees coupled with the Stafford loan interest rate being doubled,” said Starks. “We have a small window of opportunity to make our voice known to our state legislature and let them know that we don’t want to see the interest rate double on subsidized loans.”

  • TAGS
  • college loans
  • Financial Aid
  • Stafford Loan Increase
  • student loans
Julie Hirschi

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

Three administrators answering student questions

SLCC announces tuition increase for 2025-26 academic year

Graphical representation of Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump standing at podiums

Election 2024: Trump vs. Harris on higher education

The financial aid office at SLCC

Changes to FAFSA eligibility requirements expands student access

The financial aid office at SLCC

Native students at SLCC can access new waiver that covers all tuition

Red and white "For Rent" sign standing in front yard of a residence

Rising rent costs put a strain on SLCC students

The Globe
ABOUT US
About The Globe
Staff
Jobs
Issue PDFs
FOLLOW US
Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube
  • About The Globe
  • Staff
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
© 2025 The Globe