CHLOE KOWALYK
Managing Editor
The crushing reality for 43.5 million Americans is that they have federal student loan debt (Education Data Initiative). That’s about 13% of the total population of the United States.
On Aug. 23, 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration announced plans to ease that debt. The Administration hoped to provide targeted student debt relief to borrowers with loans held by the Department of Education.
Those with an annual income during the COVID-19 pandemic of less than $125,000, or married couples with an income of less than $250,000 would be forgiven up to $10,000 of debt. Those who received a Pell Grant would be eligible for up to $20,000 in debt cancellation. The Administration aimed to help relieve the economic effects brought upon Americans as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
August marked the beginning of what seemed to be a pretty sweet deal for Americans with student debt.
But on Feb. 28, the Biden-Harris Administration’s plan was brought before the Supreme Court.
Currently, conservative justices hold the Supreme Court’s majority — and they’re making the argument that President Joe Biden does not hold the congressional authority to provide mass debt relief.
Arguments made by conservative Chief Justice John Roberts and his associate justices lasted over three hours.
Biden’s plan has also been blocked by Republican-appointed judges on lower courts. Now, chances for the plan being accepted by the Supreme Court appear slim.
While this student loan issue is presented on a national scale, students here at SUNY Fredonia are feeling the effects. According to SUNY, three out of four SUNY students use financial aid to help pay for college. Many of these students are right here on SUNY Fredonia’s campus.
One such student is Sierra Mills, a junior visual arts and new media major.
When Mills first heard about the Biden Administration’s plan to reduce student debt, she was hopeful.
“I was pretty excited for it,” Mills said. “[The plan] was nice to possibly get relief from all my loans.”
Now, after hearing the recent news that the plan might be rejected, Mills is a lot less hopeful.
“It feels like they’re trying to oppress those who are trying to get an education, but can’t afford it, and are possibly trying to get relief from the loans that they’re taking out,” Mills said. “And it just feels unfair.”
Mills’ family is low-income, and she’s unsure what her future career might look like.
“I feel like the relief would definitely help and not put as much pressure on me to pay it off,” she said.
Several other SUNY Fredonia students are in a situation similar to Mills’.
To gauge my peers’ thoughts on the matter, I posted a question on my personal Instagram story, asking student thoughts regarding the matter.
One student wrote, “That money [would be] life changing for me. It’s almost the entirety of my student loan debt.”
Others responded that they were feeling nervous or angry.
“Depends on whether it passes or not,” another student said. “If so, great! If not, that’s more money [out of students’] pockets.”
While the fate of the student loan relief plan is still unknown, many students in the United States, especially those in SUNY schools, are feeling anxious as to whether or not some of their debts will be forgiven.