Bennett Sees Students, Defends Aid Cuts

In an unusual meeting with a group of Los Angeles college students Friday, Education Secretary William J. Bennett energetically defended Reagan Administration proposals to cut tuition aid and came under attack for supporting a “quick and dirty fix” of the federal deficit.

The exchange came during a lively 45-minute session with officials of the Los Angeles Collegiate Council Inc., a nonprofit corporation that represents 300,000 students from 19 colleges and universities in Los Angeles County.

Bennett and the 15 students discussed issues varying from student evaluation of professors to educational excellence. But the Administration’s proposals to cut $2.3 billion from the federal tuition aid program monopolized the agenda.

During Friday’s meeting, the atmosphere generally was cordial as Bennett sat at the end of a conference table. But feelings heated up when he asserted that money from university endowments could be used to offset the proposed cuts in tuition aid and that, in view of the federal budget deficit, education officials and students should not say: “Get the other guy. Don’t get us.”

Bennett then sought suggestions from the students, leaning forward and saying: “I’m waiting. I’m still waiting.”

One student then asserted that it takes about 25 years to set up an endowment and that, as a result, Bennett’s idea is one “whose time came about 25 years ago.”

‘War on Education’ Denied

The students called on Joseph Krovosa, an Occidental College senior, to argue their case on the deficit issue. Krovosa, also a member of the California Student Aid Commission, told Bennett that “it may be a quick and dirty fix now” to make the education cuts but that the nation’s productivity would suffer in the long run because many students would be unable to attend the colleges of their choice and some would not be able to go to college at all.

Bennett insisted that the proposed cuts do not constitute a “declaration of war on education” and said that “reasonable people of good will can disagree.”

The question-and-answer session, one of several that Bennett has conducted with students since assuming office last month, took place at the Education Department. He said later in an interview that he enjoys the meetings with students and schedules them despite friends’ advice that they do him no good. He also acknowledged that he has little expectation of changing his challengers’ minds.

On the other hand, said Jerilyn Stapleton, a junior at Cal State Los Angeles, “nothing could be said” to persuade Bennett to change his mind about cutting tuition aid. “But it was good to have the meeting.”

Bennett said in his first news conference that--to adjust to the department’s proposed tuition aid cuts--some students might have to “divest” themselves of stereos, cars and time at the beach. Ever since, students have lashed out at him and the Administration.

Under the Administration’s proposals, students from families earning more than $32,500 a year would be ineligible for guaranteed student loans, and a $4,000 limit would be placed on total federal assistance--grants, direct loans and guaranteed student loans.