Fundraising: AEM's renewal is around the corner!

It is that time of the year again, and I am thrilled, because AEM is still going strong, and it will only get better this year. My dues/fees are right around the corner, so it is fundraising season for AEM! My favorite time of the year. Ha. Ahem . . . Anyway, if you can chip in, this will enable me to renew, I would be most grateful. I will be paying for the bulk of the renewal fees, but every little cent helps. Thank you all for supporting this cause!

Interview with Jerry Ashton

I now consider Jerry a long-time friend. He's interviewed me on several occasions, and I had the pleasure of meeting him when I went to Occupy in NYC last year. In fact, Jerry took me on a tour of the camp, just a week before it was demolished. I am grateful to know Jerry and appreciate his support of my work.

Here's my latest interview with him - http://wgrnradio.com/blog/2013/02/15/from-graduating-class-to-indentured-class-will-america-continue-to-eat-its-young/

Check it out. It's hopeful, despite how bleak things seem. Don't give up hope! Hang on. There are a lot of fighting on your behalf, and more are joining us to fight for change.

Spare Change News: The Student Lending Crisis

I am a regular contributor at Spare Change News. Here's a snippet fro my latest piece about the student lending crisis:

On September 17th, 2011, people took to the streets in lower Manhattan as Occupiers to denounce the financial and banking institutions that, as they saw it, caused suffering, economic disaster, and unnecessary harm during and after the financial crisis of 2008. Many of the protesters, Occupiers, asserted — and with solid arguments — that the financial industry acted recklessly and had not faced the necessary consequences for their behavior and collective destructive actions. This sentiment, that the banking and financial institutions had and continues to dominate the economic, political, and cultural, landscapes across the world, is not just held by so-called young protesters on the streets. In fact, leading economists, such as Joseph Stiglitz and Paul Krugman, had and continue to make similar assertions. We're speaking, of course, about the big picture. What struck me as significant, being an advocate for student loan debtors, and a researcher on the student loan debt crisis in the United States, were the scores of placards, carefully created by student loan debtors, denouncing their debt. Most striking about these signs was the audacity to publicly stand with debt figures scrawled in huge, bold numbers. Indeed, it is particularly gutsy, since this country not only has little sympathy for student loan debtors, but treats them with outright contempt and disdain. The debtors are frequently accused of being "entitled," and many people (not all) seem to relish the fact that these "young"Americans were foolish when they decided to pursue a "useless" degree in, for instance, the humanities. (Incidentally, not all the student debtors had or have so-called gratuitous degrees. Many of them had degrees in the sciences and so forth). This sort of sentiment has a long history in the United States, a place in which, paradoxically, higher education is revered and also scorned. Contempt has a long history in this country, especially when it overlaps with strong currents of anti-intellectualism.

 You can read this piece in its entirety here. 

Education Trust: I Am Not A Loan

Just a quick note about a fabulous campaign that has been launched by Education Trust (Ed Trust). Ed Trust's campaign is raising awareness about the college affordability debate. They have a great name for this new project: I AM NOT A LOAN. Great, right?!? I think so. When it comes to abandoning this identity, it is time for us to do it now. Furthermore, 2013 is the year to solve this problem. That's right. The time is now.

As a supporting partner of Ed Trust's campaign, I am delighted to spread the word on their behalf. This campaign - obviously - relates to my own research and writing about the student lending crisis. What is next? Well, it isn't just attending to the issue of college affordability, but also to push for actual policy changes that help those who are struggling or unable to pay off their loans (and in saying this, I am also referring to those who are in default with Uncle Sam).

I'll say it again, it is time for the borrowers to have a true voice in DC. My calling is coming to its full fruition.

Check out these links (make sure to like Ed Trust's Facebook page):

http://www.iamnotaloan.org/

http://www.facebook.com/IAmNotALoan

Round Five: Restoring Bankruptcy Protection Rights To Student Loan Borrowers (HR 432)

Last Wednesday, HR 432, which would allow private loans to be discharged in bankruptcy, was introduced by Congressmen Danny Davis (D-Ill.) and Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.). This is the fifth time that that this type of legislation has been presented for passage.

As most of my readers are aware, I am in full favor of restoring bankruptcy protection rights to borrowers with private student loans. The same goes for federal loans, too. However, there are valid concerns about the potentially, negative consequences of a bill like this passing - this is always the case when legislation is passed. That's to say, the outcome can result in unforeseen problems. The most significant concern I have is the following: if the bill passes, Congress and higher education policymakers might pat themselves on and declare, "The problem is solved, so there is nothing to worry about now." That is not what we want our dear Congressmen, Congresswomen, and policymakers to conclude! Far from it.

And, as I've mentioned previously, the lenders, who are culpable - just as the U.S. government is - in creating this crisis, would not be held accountable if this law were passed. Furthermore, bankruptcy is not a walk in the park. It is a difficult procedure, which would in the end hurt the borrowers (not to mention taxpayers, too).

Again, I want to be clear - bankruptcy protection rights need to be restored. In fact, they should have never been taken away in the first place. Indeed, they were taken away as a result of false claims made about scores of doctors and attorneys, with high levels of student loan debt, who purportedly rushed to bankruptcy attorneys, declared bankruptcy, and got off the hook in - if memory serves me - the late 1980s and 1990s. Based upon extensive research I have done, searching to find proof of this fact, I haven't found a shred of evidence that confirms the claim. In fact, the argument reminds me of President Reagan's problematic description of the black "welfare queen" who, so he fallaciously claimed, abused the welfare system, bought fancy cars, flashy clothing, and so forth. Recipients use the system to feed and clothe their families. In addition, these people, who receive a minimal amount of support from the government, are also the working poor, a class of people in the U.S. that continues to grow - unfortunately - exponentially. Furthermore, the majority of welfare recipients are not African Americans, but poor, whites who live in the South in rural areas. Mind you, whites make up the majority of Americans, but it is a important reminder of how this remark by President Reagan became part of the national conversation as an accepted truth, one of which has had negative ramifications for the welfare system and those who receive support from it. This assertion led to an aggressive dismantling of the system. Naturally, the same goes for the myth that countless doctors and attorneys recklessly declared bankruptcy after they earned their degrees.

The bill is currently under review by the House Committee on the Judiciary.

What do you think? Will it pass, and if so, will the results be positive? Why or why not?

 

Virginia Inaugural Ball for the Democratic Party

The day before President Obama was sworn into office for his second term, I had the honor of attending an inaugural ball. This was a humbling experience and quite a privilege to be able to attend. On a side note, it all began with the renting of a tuxedo. Originally, I was going to hit up the event alone. But then I decided to ask a friend if he'd be interested in joining me for a night of networking on behalf of the indentured educated class.

Here's how it went:

I called my friend less than a week before the event and asked him if he'd be interested in joining me at the Virginia Inaugural Ball for Sen. Tim Kaine, Sen. Mark Warner, and 2013 gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe.

"Yes," he said. "That sounds fine, but it's ball season, so let me call and see if there are any tuxedos still available."

"Fine," I said.

We hung up, and approximately 5 minutes later, he called me back and said, "I was able to find a tuxedo."

"Very good," I said, "I'll buy the tickets, and must get moving on finding a ball gown."

That very day, my friend rented a tuxedo. The following Friday, I rushed to Macy's in downtown D.C. I found a gorgeous gown the moment I walked into the store. It fit - as the saying goes - like a glove. I purchased the gown, while still wearing it (!), and then went downstairs to find a pair of perfect shoes. Since I had to have the dress ready by that Sunday, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to get it hemmed in time, so I rushed - in the frigid air - to a tailor shop right across the street from Macy's in my ballgown.

One man said to me, as I dashed across the street, "Girl, you're gonna freeze to death!"

"I'll be fine," I sang, "I'm just going to a tailor shop right across the street!."

I was in luck! The tailor shop had time to hem my gown before the ball. I stood on a block in front of mirrors, and the seamstress, who was a Korean woman, pinned my dress. I picked it up the very next day.

I decided I wanted to go to this ball months ago, so I was able to invest my own money in my dress, shoes, and ticket to the event - it was more than worth it, because this is part of my duty to get to these sorts of events to push the issue and talk about policy solutions that will bring an end to this unnecessary crisis. (I should mention that my friend was kind enough to pay his own way). I realized that this was an event that I couldn't pass up, and while I had fun, attending was all done on behalf of the millions and millions of borrowers who are struggling or unable to pay back their loans.

I had great conversations and was able to discuss my work as an advocate for student loan debtors. This was the goal, and I achieved it.

Again, it was an absolute privilege to have been invited to this event and then attend.

Here are some pictures of when I went to get my dress tailored. Of course, I've also included a few photos that my friend was kind enough to take of me from the evening at the ball. It is with great pleasure that I share these images with all of my readers.

On another note, I returned today from the Hill, and had a fantastic conversation with a staffer about ways in which we need to solve the student lending crisis. Folks, they are listening, and this is going to be the year. This is going to be OUR year to solve the student lending crisis. I am determined, absolutely determined that 2013 will be the year for actual solutions for current borrowers. 

Looking forward to going to the ball [#1]

Still at the tailor's [#2]

Pre-ball [#3]

Public Servant for the Indentured Educated Class [#4]

Another shot of your student loan debt advocate