U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden will appear on campus today to discuss financial aid and the economy with University students.
Wyden’s visit comes on the heels of the federal government’s passage of a stimulus bill that will increase financial aid in the form of federal Pell Grants, work study funding and tax credits for families with children in college.
Wyden will appear alongside Director of Student Financial Aid Elizabeth Bickford, Vice President of Student Affairs Robin Holmes, and ASUO President Sam Dotters-Katz in a round-table discussion with students in the Knight Library Browsing Room at 3:30 p.m. Members of Wyden’s staff said he was looking forward to hearing students’ ideas about financial aid.
“He just wants to hear from students about what this means to them,” Wyden’s spokesperson Tom Towslee said.
Wyden is a graduate of the University’s School of Law. He has appeared in Eugene several times since 2007 to speak about issues such as veterans’ affairs and credit card fraud and to speak on behalf of President Barack Obama and Sen. Jeff Merkley.
Bickford said the stimulus package came after a long barren spell in financial aid. Costs of education and wages have gone up, but work study funds have not increased since the Clinton Administration. With the economy in trouble, Bickford said financial aid is more important than ever.
“A lot of times, during a recession, people go back to school to learn new skills,” Bickford said.
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