The Michigan Daily - W4" a e. - Thursday, September 28, 1995 - 38 DEAN BAKOPOULOS Sound and Fury U c/e Sam) sxzac/zescasA The American college student is in grave danger. Prepare yourself: invest in a mutual fund, secure as many mediocre minimum-wage jobs as possible, or try to get one of the high- paying, low-maintenance jobs in University administration. It may be the only way you'll return to U-M next year. The galloping elephants of the Republican Congress are wielding their unrestrained budget-cutting axes again, and their latest victim is another parasitic, money-sucking entity: you. That's right, you. The one trying to get an education, better yourself and become a better human being while amassing a trail of promissory notes and interest payments that could fund several undeveloped nations for a decade. You're in trouble. Maybe Pat Buchanan and his colleagues are bitter over the gradual acceptance of "non-Western" morality and thought in the university environ- ment. Maybe Bob Dole is bitter over those "young, rascally college students" who spend their weekends doing "swell" things like "shaking their booties," things the elder statesman can no longer do for fear of offending the Religious Right. Maylie Newt Gingrich is pissed off because niost college students weren't cursed with the name of an amphibian. Who knows why, but the fact is Republicans are sure coming after us this time, kiddies. Congress has already cut $10 billion from Stafford Loans, a move that will affect five million students a year. That means undergrads will need to find an extra $3,100 next year, while the average grad student will need to dig up a cool $9,400. Pell Grants, Perkins Loans and State Student Incentive Grants face cuts that will affect close to one million additional students in the upcoming year. Better line up plenty of lawns to cut this summer. It's interesting that a political party bemoaning drops in American morals and values, the growth of the welfare state, and the rise in social turmoil wants to decimate the one social program that could actually combat these problems. Not only is the Stafford loan program the only federal aid program that actually expects the recipients to repay their benefits (with interest), but it's also one of the few programs with tangible benefits. By allowing young people to get an education, we also open the door for them to secure good-paying jobs and become productive citizens. It's not just the poorest inner-city youth who rely on federal loans to help them earn a degree; it's kids from all walks of life. From farms, suburbs and slums, young people across the country need financial aid to make it through college. It's not as simple as telling students to go out and get a job. Statistics show that the average college student is already working 25 hours a week. It's no easy task to balance a budget that's severely in the red, but it's sickening that the Republican Congress increased defense spending this summer, against even the Pentagon's recommendation, while they took education to the slaughterhouse. By cutting the government's aid to college students, we only increase our nation's social problems. A lack of education fosters an ideal environment for poverty, intolerance, crime, and violence. The Republicans' obstinate opposition to federal financial aid illustrates the GOP's growing inability to think beyond terms of dollars and cents. But take heart, fellow students. All is not lost. U-M President James J. Duderstadt has been an outspoken critic of the Republicans assault on federal financial aid programs. Of course, Duderstadt has a right to be concerned. If the government cuts federal aid programs, the University may have to start providing more financial aid to deserving students. And where would that leave President Duderstadt? You see, Duderstadt has raked in close to $80,000 in salary raises over the last three years. The latest came nuietiv at last week's Board of 1Reoent's SERVICE Continued from page 1 written questionnaire which is mailed out to callers, White said. Although the center does not keep an exact tally of University students involved through the center, White said it is a sizeable number. Another group that draws many stu- dents to participate in its area activi- ties is the Huron Valley chapter of Habitat for Humanity. The Christian non-profit group helps build homes for low-income families. Using materials donated by local businesses or bought by Habitat it- self, the group designs houses to fit the needs of the chosen families, then uses volunteer help - along with hundreds of hours of what office vol- unteer Linda Atkins termed "sweat equity" from the families themselves - to make the dream of affordable housing a reality. The families do take out a 20- year mortgage on their respective houses, but at no interest, and on a no-profit basis for Habitat, which in turn uses the money to fund other projects. Currently, Habitat is build- ing houses at two local sites, one at 2255 Russell Street in Ann Arbor and one at Frederick Street in Ypsilanti. According to Atkins, no construc- tion skills are necessary in order to make oneself useful at the building sites. There are construction manag- ers there to supervise the efforts and instruct volunteers, she said. "If nothing else," Atkins added, "there's always plenty of cleanup to be done at a construction site." Work is conducted at the Russell Street site on Wednesday and Thurs- day evenings, and all day Fridays and Saturdays. Those not inclined towards construction can also volunteer for Habitat in its Ann Arbor office in multiple capacities, including com- puter support and staffing various committees. Some University volunteer orga- nizations even have scopes that reach beyond Ann Arbor and the U.S. One such group, Circle K In- ternational, concerns itself prima- rily with children's service projects. LSA junior Aparna Padyar, Presi- dent of U-M Circle K International, elaborated, "We are an international organization, so we have members in twelve different countries, and about 12,000 members. But we have a district level, and we have our own local club here at U-M. Some types of projects that we do include Habitat for Humanity, Hands on Museum, Mott's Children's Hospi- tal, Arbor Heights, Lesley Science Center, Jack and Jill Learning Cen- ter." Best Buddies, a group that matches college students with men- tally impaired adults in the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area, also has chap- ters elsewhere. Best Buddies Col- lege Director and School of Natural Resources and Environment sopho- more Jessica Light clarified, "The organization is nationwide, there's 180 chapters throughout the world. Most of them are in the United States, but there's also some in Canada and Greece." Obviously, plenty of opportuni- ties exist for volunteering on- and off-campus. But organizers stress that it is up to the participants to seek out groups that jibe with their own interests. Knapp philosophized, "It's the motivation question. Com- munity service is something that's internal. You can hear motivational speakers, you can see the stats and get motivated by those ... but the reason that you're going to go on and serve is that you have an internal drive to change society." Bohn observed, "As you begin to connect more and more, you see what kind of impact people - especially young people - are making, and that's the power of it." "I know we're making a difference in a lot of ways. I know that we're making a difference in the commu- nity ... but way more importantly, in my opinion, we're making a differ- ence in the way that students learn here ... We have that effect in some way. "And that's what makes it worth it." You a hole in your are not pocket render you r e I u c a e But when S you changeless, t antly call the folks collect. You dial 1 800 CALL ATT. YOu r pangs of guilt are minimal. Know the Code. 1800 CALL AT. That's Your Tue Choice:""