Robert Skiff is the founder of Oplerno, an online educational institution whose aim is to restructure higher education. He interviewed me last Saturday to discuss my book, the student loan crisis, and other issues that relate to higher education.
A non-profit organization dedicated to the eradication of all student loan debt through activism, education, and legislation; because student loan debt is dangerous to the US economy and to the health and well-being of individual Americans and their families. CRYN JOHANNSEN, Founder & Executive Director
3 comments:
Cryn, you speak like a poet. That was a beautiful interview. I am so happy to hear that you'll be back on the blog more often.
A couple of things still concern me and I feel like they do not get enough attention. I am all for free or affordable education, but I fear that everyone will assume that the problem is solved if this happens. What about those of us still carrying student loans?
Secondly, when is something going to be done about private loans? I am paying $800/month in mine. They are killing me. I've been paying on them for more than a decade and the balances are NOT budging. Is anyone working on this? I heard there was something possibly being passed by the Obama administration to allow private loans in bankruptcy. What happened to this bill?
Thanks for all you do.
-B
I also want to say something that might be considered controversial and if it is offensive, I apologize, but it is my experience.
I submit that the people hit the hardest with student debt are oftentimes middle class kids. Let me explain. We were required to include our parents' income on our FAFSA applications. Of course, this disqualified us for grants, but being middle class and not wealthy, our parents really were not willing or able to contribute to our tuition. Since my skin was the wrong color, I was also disqualified from most scholarships, despite graduating high school with high honors, landing the dean's list most semesters in college and being inducted into the most selective fraternal honor society in the country.
I worked full-time through school, but $8-$10/hr, if we are honest, is not a livable wage. In no way was there money left over for tuition. It was either continue to live at this wage or go to school so I could get a job that would pay me enough to live like a normal human being and the only way I was able to pay for school was through loans.
If you are rich, you don't need loans because your parents can pay your tuition for you. If you are poor and/or a person with the right color of skin, grants and scholarships will cover your tuition and a good portion of your living expenses. If you are middle class with the wrong color of skin, you are on your own, and are now owned by the intuitions that carry your debt.
-B
-B
The scope of my entire book is almost entirely focused on CURRENT debtors, just as my work has been on AEM (meaning, 99% of the focus is on us). That has always been my focus. That said, one of the solutions is to also to discuss prospective and current students (undergrads and grads). However, I am known for focusing on the indentured educated class. That won't change.
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