Sen. Ron Wyden visited the University on Friday to talk about what the federal stimulus package will mean for college students. In an interview, the Emerald asked him a few questions about financial aid.
ODE: What exactly will the federal stimulus bill do for financial aid?
Wyden: This is a beginning in the drive to change priorities. For a number of years now, it seems that there’s been plenty of money for war in Iraq, bank bailouts and tax cuts that disproportionately favor (a) fortunate few. And now, now what we’re saying is that we’re going to make a break from those kind of misplaced priorities and think anew about how we can help everybody to get ahead, which is what education is all about, (as well as) fixing our health care system, transit and transportation alternatives, shaking our dependence on foreign oil. A new set of priorities.
ODE: It’s been quite a while since there’s been an increase in funding for work study. Why is that, and what do you think should be done about it?
Wyden: I’ve long been a supporter of work study. I hope that