The Merciad, April 10, 1981

Financial Aid Cuts Not As Drastic As Anticipated by Donna Peterson Financial aid cuts for the 1981-82 school year will not affect Mercyhurst students as drastically as originall y thought, according to Barry Zembower, director of financial aid. In an April 6 update from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators,; a lobby group in Washington, Zem- bower learned the tentative status of financial aid programs. Basic Education Opportunity Grant (BEOG) is not expected to alter for those students who receive between $1150? and the maximum grant $1,750. Students who receive between $1150 and the minimum of $200, will feel between a 10 and 40 percent reduc tion.^ Zem bowe r stated that any grants "below $300 and $400 are probably in jeopardy." The Guaranteed Student Loan Program (GSL) is not expected to undergo immediate change. If any change is to occur, it will not be implemented until October l, 1982. Zembower encourages students who must borrow money to do so before that date. The National Direct Student Loan program will receive some cuts but "Mercyhurst par- ticipates minimally already/' saia Zembower. Th e financial aid director estimated that only about 10 per cent of Mercyhurst students receive NDSL funds.. Essentially the same formula and eligibility schedule used in 1980-81 will again be used in 1981-82 to determine student financial aid awards, stated Zem- bower. He also noted'that the work-study allotments will re* main the same next year, based on a similar enrollment status. "I don't think we're in bad shape at all, " stated Zembower, "especially if they don't imple- ment Hh e GSL changes until October." | * Zembower encourages students to become involved in a letter writing campaign to congressmen, asking them not to support the inancial aid cuts proposed in the Reagan budget. A for m for the letter appears in the recent Financial A id Newletter. If enough letters are written, said Zembower, ^legislators will realize that a sizeable porti on of their constituency * depends on financial aid programs. Zem- bower also said he believes that as a result, legislators will have sympathetic consideration for the programs. T The letter writing campaign, said Zembower, could ensure that "the financial aid program won't become a scapegoat for budget cuts annually. Rich Lanzill o, the coordinator of Mercyhurst Student Govern* ment's effort to curb inancial aid cuts, also strongly endorses the letter writing campaign. "Stude nts should take part in the matter that concerns them so directly," he stated. There will be an organized letter writing campaign on campus Thursday, April 9, and Friday, April 10. l a student publication VOL 53 NO. 21 MERCYHURST COLLEGE APRIL 10,1981 A t M SG Copus Meeting Discussed Treasurer Mary Gausman and Vice President Rich Lanzillo related a meeting with four other area colleges concerning their 1 1 prospective membership in the coalit ion of Pennsylvania Univer- sity students (COPUS) at the April 6 meeting of student government.* ?! "Gannon, Allegheny, Villa Maria, an d Alliance were the colleges in attendance, including Mercyhur st of course," explained Lanzillo. " We discussed the importance of getting involved in COPUS, and the possibility of organizing a trip to Washington. DC for National Lobbying Day." He also commented that the at- titudes of these schools toward COPUS seemed positive, and some representatives of these schools will probably go to Washington, D.C. It was also reported that on April 9th and 10th fina ncia l aid stations will be set up in different areas around the campus. Various alternatives in the for m of postcards and letters will be available for students to vent their feelings about the financial aid cuts to their congressman. *3 j "Hopefully," said Gausman, "This letter writing campaign will show that the average student on campus is concerned." Lanzillo pointed out that the Senate had already passed these proposed educational budget cuts by an 88- 10 vote. "Now it goes to the House of Representatives" he said. v £ i. Although National Lobbying Day is scheduled for April 13th, the House is going to adiourn ear- ly for Eaaterbreak. "This means that our congressmen might not be in Washington, D.C. on that day," reported Lanzillo. £'*.-'; l i "Therefore, we are/ going to make sure we wou ld get conf rm- ed appointments with our legislators before we make the trip," he added. A Tuition?Increase'For Next Fall ' - Th e Shape Of Things To Come? Not really. This painted desk is one of the many art works displ ayed in the Library gallery. photo by Rich Forsgen g In other business, the; En- vironmental Club was recognized unanimousl y by the government. In news - concerning a possible Environmental • Club trip, the body was informed that the in- stitution has offered to contribute $260.00 exceeding their proposed one quarter of the total cost of the trip lor six or seven students. \ Thus, to match the "One quarter of the cost" contribution which / the department had prevoi usly aske d the government to give, MS G woul d only have to give $84 if six student s attend or $113 if seven people go. This would balance out to a half of the total cost being absorbed by MSG and the administration, and one half by the students themselves. V After some confusion regar- ding procedure was cleared up the motion tabled from last week addressing the question, as to whether to give the environmental department $258.75 for this trip was defeated. A new motion was put on the floor stating that MSG would contribute to the Environmental Club at least $84 and not to exceed $115 fo r heir trip. This was passed unanimously. ! • ' The previous motion was denied due to the fact that representatives and officers feared a precedent would be set allowing departments to make monetary demands on MSG. In the SA C report, Vice Presi- dent Lanzillo reminded the bod y of a lecture committee meeting Continued on pa ge 6 By Chri s Settlemire Mercyhurst College students will be faced with a $370 increase in tuition next fall Th e added expense was a necessary move according to George Kidd Jr., Vice President of Business Services. ^ Tuiti on went up $305 last y ear, and for the 1981-62 school year there will be an 11.3 increase or a $370 raise in tuiti on. There were several reasons for the increase explained Kidd. "College costs were up," he said. "The budget was examined and cuts were made without damage to the college's programs." He added that the raise in tuition was the only alternative. U Inflation was another factor in the decision. According to Kidd, as the inflation rate soars higher and higher every year the cost o f a college education is going to be affected. Because Mercyhurst is a small private college the increase - is going to be more noticeable than it will be at a large state school, he explained. The new football program wa s not a big factor in the tuition increase said Kidd. "Football is a part of the school's overall budget so it di d have an effect on the increase. However, the costs of other programs rose and they were also taken into considera- tio n in the decision ." Kid d does not see any effect on the school's enrollment with the extra expense. "It's going to be diff icul t to finance an education, bu t I really don't see any effect on the enrollment," Kidd stated. There will be an added difficul- ty in paying for higher education if Presi dent? Ronald Reagan's proposal for a cut in federal college fun din g is passed, explained Kidd. He added that he would not be surprised if the proposal did not meet with approval by the House?of Representatives and Senate. 2 "The increase was as low as possible, but: necessary so that the college could still deliver the same type of quality progr ams a s it has in the past," Kid d added. President William P. Garvey commented that the $370 tuition increase was not as high as some members of the board of trustees thought was necessary. He added that while the increase is lot Xroopey.it is still lower than that of colleges with comparable enrollment. New Majors Studied Two new majors, Interior Design and Fashion Merchandis - ing were recommended to the Dea n' for approva l by the Academic Policies Committee at the April 6 meeting. Jamie Yule and a Jacqueline Howey, representing the Human Ecology department, spoke for the necessity of such programs in the Erie area. According to Yule, this program would be the only one of its kind in this region if it is accepted. *; • ±A * t\ Both majors incorporate a common core of courses and exceed the fifteen course standard requirement set for majors at Mercyhurst. This curriculum was devised to meet the ac- creditation standards established by the Foundations For Interior Design Education and Research (FIDER)*- 4* • Both majors passed with six votes in favor, none opposed and two abstentions . .* 7 Letters Of Intent For Student Government Officers Pages 4 and 5

The Merciad, April 10, 1981

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