Two representatives from an organization stationed in the nation’s capital educated and initiated a round-table discussion on college debt Wednesday evening in Baker University Center.
The Young Invincibles held a discussion with seven students from Ohio University Student Senate and Student Union on the second floor of Baker. Students received information on how to tackle and manage debt from financial loans.
“One of the biggest things that students can do is make smart choices about how to take out loans as well as learning how to manage their debt after graduation,” said Brian Burrell, state outreach and policy coordinator for Young Invincibles.
In the last 20 years, the average cost of a four-year public university went up 84 percent from $8,485 in 1991 to $15,605 in 2011, according to the Young Invincibles.
Several topics touched upon during the presentation were different payment options for students to help pay off their loans in a range of years after graduation as well as calculating exactly how much a student would have to pay monthly depending on how much money he or she borrowed.
Despite low student turnout for the event, Dustin Summers, state outreach and fundraising coordinator for the Young Invincibles, said he was not disappointed.
“While you’re in classes that’s all you think about or what exams you have coming up,” Summers said. “Thinking about finances doesn’t really hit you until after you graduate. The class of 2013, 2014 and 2015 would have a different frame of mind in comparison to the classes of 2006, 2007 and 2008 who now have to deal with (debt).”
Amrit Saini, vice president of Student Senate, said he became more interested in having more statewide involvement discussing college debt rather than just focusing on OU’s campus.
“Since Student Senate was already focused on college debt and tuition, this discussion was a great segue into what we want to do next year,” Saini said. “There’s only so much we could do on campus…what if we got other universities to participate in the conversation and get something going to involve our state legislators?”
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