Oregon’s future depends on saving the Opportunity Grant
As a result of the recession, Oregon is experiencing budget cuts that must be made. However, higher education is not the place to do it. The Oregon Opportunity Grant was created in 1971 as a means of giving low-income students the opportunity for access to post-secondary education. At its creation, it was designed to cover tuition and books as well as additional educational costs.
However, more than 30 years later, the grant has been cut down to cover only 11 percent of the cost of education, and many eligible students are turned away as a result of this lack of funding.
In 2001, almost 10,000 eligible students were turned away because of the grant’s inadequate funding. An estimated 1,500 to 3,000 students will lose the grants promised to them in 2002, leaving some dedicated and deserving students with no options but to leave school. We must urge legislators to prioritize funding for all eligible students.
During this economic recession, Oregon should prioritize increasing access to higher education by building on such programs as the Oregon Opportunity Grant. This will allow people to gain the education skills necessary to contribute to a strong Oregon economy in the future.

Lauren Olson

freshman

undeclared

Students need to get involved
The democratic system has empowered citizens with the opportunity to voice their opinions and exercise choice through the vote. Today’s youth, college students in particular, must learn to take advantage of this right. The first step toward obtaining a voice in politics is registering to vote. Statistics show that of the students throughout Oregon who are registered, 80 percent finish the process by turning in their ballots.
Last year, the Oregon Student Association successfully registered 27,000 students. This year, OSA is working on a statewide youth vote campaign, with the goal of registering 5,000 students to vote in the May primary governor election.
With the number of issues affecting student life and activities, including everything from education funding to housing codes, it is increasingly crucial for University students to get involved. Registering to vote and exercising choice puts students in a position to be heard and represented. Furthermore, the more students that play a part in the democratic process, the more accountable elected officials become to the student contingency.
The power to elect will serve as a valuable weapon to achieve student initiatives. It is essential for students to get involved, and the first step toward this is registering to vote.

Coral Snell

junior

political science