OPINION
Philip Susser |
The Corne¬ Daily Sun
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Editorial
Supporting Cuomo’s Student Loan Program ON JAN 21., GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D-N.Y.) PROPOSED a student loan forgiveness program that would partially alleviate student debt burdens for certain college graduates. If implemented, the state government would fully subsidize the first two years of post-graduation debt payments for individuals living in New York State who recently attended college in-state and earn less than $50,000 annually. The program — which was unveiled alongside other proposals designed to improve the state of higher education in New York — comes on the heels of reports that aggregate national student loan debt has reached a record high of $1.1 trillion. We at The Sun applaud the Governor’s proposal, as we believe it is a meaningful step towards the resolution of the student debt crisis and the revitalization of the state economy. In recent years, student debt burdens have reached crisis proportions; the average debt-holding undergraduate enters the job market nearly $30,000 in debt. In addition to placing crippling financial strain on struggling young professionals, massive debt burdens have disincentivized enrollment in higher education. For many, the promise of high salaries for college graduates is no longer justified by the paralyzing costs of obtaining an undergraduate degree. We at The Sun believe that the proposed program will help make the pursuit of higher education an economically viable choice again and incentivize the continued in-state residency of highly educated and talented young college graduates, particularly those in low-paying, but socially valuable professions. We urge the Governor to move forward with the program with the modifications to the proposal unveiled on Jan 21. Expanded or particularly generous debt relief schemes for recent college graduates living in upstate New York — which comprises the regions of the state most affected by the recession — would aid young professionals in the areas that are most in need of economic revitalization and relief. Further, a commitment by the state to making the policy highly visible among millennials would guarantee its popularity and success among those whom it is designed to benefit. Finally, the policy must be implemented with a balanced concern for the state budgetary strain it may produce. We at The Sun are confident that, if executed judiciously, the Governor’s proposed policy will help to make the State of New York a national leader in innovative approaches to the problems plaguing higher education and provide much-needed relief for struggling college graduates in middle to low-paying professions.
An Ithaca State of Mind
H
ere is an ethical question: If you Biden seconds before the address. The Vice were to be introduced to a com- President’s heart skips a beat as he eyes a plete stranger and proceeded to small, barely noticeable piece of romaine chat with this person for 15 to 20 minutes, lettuce lodged on the roof of Barack’s front at what point would you feel comfortable tooth. In a millisecond, he considers the pointing out a piece of lettuce lodged in implications of each potential course of between his or her teeth? Upon introduc- action. tion? At the end of the conversation — “By If he says nothing, the credibility of the the way you’ve looked like a complete idiot President’s speech will quickly vanish and for our entire interaction.” Surely, this pro- transform to the “Obama’s Caesar Salad found dilemma presents a variety of factors Address.” Millions of Americans will scruto consider. Despite the fundamentally tinize the subtle green pixel on their televisocial nature of eating (sorry Steven sion screens, instead of the details of Glansberg) we have found plenty of ways Obamacare. Jon Stewart will ridicule the to look like fools in the process. From President for weeks on end, sarcastically chewing with one’s mouth open to staining beginning his shows with a piece of lettuce clothes, tendencies to eat like a complete in his mouth. What if Biden has the audacsavage on dates and business meetings will ity to say something and embarrass the not take one far in life. Nevertheless, while President in front of the entire nation? In some unsavory manners are corrigible, it’s that case, he’s quickly become the protonearly impossible to control what does or typical jealous Vice President — a pseudo does not adhere to one’s teeth in the Frank Underwood — whose inferiority process of eating. Similar to XYZ (examine complex will be forever be etched into hisyour zipper), this occurrence is both unset- tory books. Fearing this backlash, he lets tling and provocative. Obama continue his short journey to the During this year’s podium, with a rush week, rather than small piece of focusing on the coolgreen clashing From chewing with one’s ness of potential with his pearly pledges, I became whites. mouth open to staining interested in the intriTake that cacies of this eating clothes, tendencies to eat like story with a grain nightmare. In the a complete savage on dates of salt. While I interest of confidentrust Joe Biden and business meetings will would have made tiality, I will say that I personally spent 20 the politically not take one far in life. minutes speaking to correct decision an unnamed rushee, in navigating this who did in fact have a charged situation, piece of food stuck on his teeth. There was I completely made the whole thing up. an undeniable sense of empowerment in Also, try not to get caught up on the trivithe knowledge that I had, particularly in ality of this common predicament. There context of the indisputable rusher/rushee is, after all, something that can be taken power dynamic. Here he was, telling me all away from this ramble on the adhesiveness about his hometown and major, with a of food. There are many moments when poppy seed stuck smack dab in the middle we notice things, or have information that of his front teeth. While nodding along to others might not be privy to. In these situhis Winter Break stories and holding back ations, acting responsibly and ethically is a grimace every time he smiled, I mentally undervalued, yet important. Knowledge is played out a more extreme version of this a powerful asset. At Cornell, where there is particular social faux pas: a constant inundation of information, we After extensive preparation and gruel- may come across something unexpected or ing discussion, President Barack Obama unwanted. Being able to both filter and and his team of writers have finally pol- choose what we share with others is cerished off the State of the Union. Obama is tainly not trivial. At the end of the day, we now ready to restore the confidence of the have a choice with all types of information entire nation. Vice President Joe Biden coming our direction: either pretend it’s watches as the President approaches the not there, or say something. podium. Obama struts confidently to the spotlight, with millions of onlookers await- Philip Susser is a junior in the College of Human He can be reached at ing his sharp, clear oration. He gives a Ecology. pss226@cornell.edu. An Ithaca State of Mind quick wink and a sincere, focused smile to appears on alternate Wednesdays this semester.
CORRECTION A Jan. 27 news story, “Amid Controversy, Cornell to Partake in AAU Survey,” incorrectly stated the number of colleges that will not participate in the Association of American Universities' sexual assault survey. 33 colleges have declined participation, not 26. In addition, the story stated that some universities have cited “concerns about [the survey's] efficacy,” when in fact there is no evidence that supports the claim.
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