Credit to fsunews.com

Monday was a momentous day in FSU history. The university was visited by Vice President Joe Biden, who gave an impassioned speech on education and its rising costs.

He attacked the issue without a party slant, choosing instead to reach the audience through personal anecdotes and appeals to parenthood. He did, however, make light reference to “the other team,” without malice but with slight complaint.

He discussed the “domestic priority” that education holds for the Administration, despite receiving criticism for a misplaced focus. He defended making education a priority by stressing the pivotal role that good education plays in maintaining America’s security and freedom. He proudly quoted his wife, who once said, “Any nation that out-educates us will out-compete us.”

He went on to point out ways the Administration has tried to make education more affordable. For instance, a new stipulation on student loans states that payments don’t have to exceed more than 10% of the student’s disposable income. The Administration also hopes to stop interest rates on federal loans from doubling over the summer, as well as to increase the number of work-study jobs available.

The goal is for colleges to keep costs down while states keep funding up, all while working side-by-side with the federal government.

Students’ reception to the Administration’s prior acts and future goals seems favorable. It looks like the student vote might favor the incumbency this 2012 Election.

But what are the prospects on the other side? As long as financial aid continues to be available, students remain happy. One Republican candidate has a different opinion, though. Ron Paul told Meet the Press that he plans to eliminate government funding of financial aid, hoping this will relieve the national debt. According to Paul, the lack of jobs for students post-graduation leads to student loan debt that can’t be paid off.

Students’ reception to this plan is less than favorable. The FSView and Florida Flambeau ran an article on Paul’s plan along with student responses. FSU students feel that financial aid is absolutely essential to ensuring equal opportunity for all classes of Americans. Without aid, students either won’t be able to afford school or will be forced to take out more loans.

We know how FSU students feel about education. We’ll just have to wait until November to see how America feels.

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Elena Novak is a sophomore at Florida State University and The Village Square’s FSU Student Ambassador.