Students Protest Proposed Cuts in Education Aid

A group representing college students called President Reagan’s proposed education cutbacks a step “backwards to the future” Friday and called on Congress to maintain student aid programs in the fiscal 1987 budget.

Tom Swan, president of the U.S. Student Assn., told a news conference that he felt “disgust” toward the Administration’s plan to eliminate nearly $2 billion in grants, loans, jobs and other aid. The cuts would be made as tuitions are rising above the inflation rate, he said.

“Students have not caused the deficit,” said association vice president Cecilia Ham, a recent graduate of the University of Iowa. “The deficit is not because of overspending on education.”

Education Secretary William J. Bennett defended the cuts proposed this week, saying that “the American people, including federal government, are still being quite generous toward America’s students.”

The student association, which claims to represent 4.5 million students, said some of the Administration proposals would start hitting students during the current academic year. The budget proposes that 1.4 million of the 5.7 million students now receiving assistance be cut off from aid.