© 2024 KLCC

KLCC
136 W 8th Ave
Eugene OR 97401
541-463-6000
klcc@klcc.org

Contact Us

FCC Applications
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Oregon's Senators Hear From College Students About Costs Of School

Karen Richards

Both of Oregon's U.S. Senators were on the University of Oregon campus today (Monday) to hear from college students about how to deal with the rising cost of school. They called it a "listening session."

Senators Wyden and Merkley addressed several dozen students at the U of O's Knight Library. Most are Pell Grant recipients. Many are the first in their family to attend college. The senators are introducing a suite of bills to help students pay for secondary education. They gathered input from the room to take back to Washington.

LCC Student Body President Ashley Jackson is preparing for a law degree. She asked the senators how the legislation could help part time students, and help cover costs other than tuition, such as child care:

Jackson: "It's great to be heard. And I believe they heard us because of their follow-up questions, but I've never lived a year in this state where education was affordable. So, looking at the future for our kids, it's hard to stay strong."

The senators will address these issues throughout the fall. One of the bills offers incentives for schools to freeze tuition. Another would restructure student loans.

Karen Richards joined KLCC as a volunteer reporter in 2012, and became a freelance reporter at the station in 2015. In addition to news reporting, she’s contributed to several feature series for the station, earning multiple awards for her reporting.
Related Content