Examine housing to help student budgets
Tristan Reed’s “Rise up and fight for the right to higher student fees” (Feb. 21), advocating higher student fees for higher-income students, is ridiculously short-sighted and politically muddled.
First, I find it amusing that a student attending a state-funded university would actually cite Marxist protests in his article.
Second, raising fees for students who can supposedly afford it according to their ability is a narrow-minded approach to a much more complicated issue. Families making more money are already paying much more in state and federal taxes, which in turn fund the university and grants. Students ought to stop protesting fee increases and start looking at housing costs, one aspect that the university can control. It costs more for students to live in Westwood than to attend UCLA.
In an effort to find a solution to these problems, we ought to examine the real costs associated with going here, not simply looking to wealthier students to bail the rest of us out in the name of “fairness.”
Jeff Travis
Fourth-year, political science
Don’t pin higher fees on wealthier students
This is response to Tristan Reed’s “Rise up and fight for the right to higher student fees,” (Feb. 21). Rather than raising tuition fees to redistribute wealth from middle- and high-income students to low-income students, low-income students should be prepared to take out student loans.
People forget that just because a student comes from a high-income family doesn’t necessarily mean a student’s parents are going to be willing to pay for their education.
Also, a common complaint students have regarding loans is they might pursue a career with a low salary, which makes paying off the loans difficult. This aspect one should take into account when he or she chooses in what field to pursue a degree, and accept the fact working in a field one loves includes accepting the salary that comes with it.
Taking out loans to finance one’s education is an investment. If one chooses a major with which he won’t be able to pay off his loans, he didn’t invest very wisely. That’s not to say one shouldn’t pursue a degree that will allow him to get a job he’ll love: Rather, he should acknowledge it isn’t the responsibility of high-income students to provide for it.
Matthew Janda
Third-year, business economics
For opportunities, look to the UK
Stephanie Solis’ and “Victor’s” futures as undocumented immigrants in the U.S. appear to offer only a lack of opportunity and the promise of unfulfilled potential (“Struggling with noncitizen status” and “Deportation of father leaves son challenges,” Feb. 20). This is a tragic waste after the sheer determination it has taken them both to achieve what they have so far.
So as an Englishman, I’d like to extend them this invitation: Come to the U.K. instead. Our immigration system is far more accommodating of highly qualified people, and the job market is desperate for high-quality graduates. California weather I can’t promise you, but a standard of living equal to America’s and universal health care I can. And what’s more, after five years residence, British citizenship is yours.
Of course you wish to remain in America and you feel a sense of belonging here, but the sad fact is that America is not going to offer its dream to you. If you want to find the land of opportunity where you can achieve your full potential, my advice is to go east, young man.
Phil Coghlan
London Business School, MBA program
UCLA Anderson International Exchange