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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Prisoners in their own home How do you feel about new cell towers? Oregon Shakespeare Festival designer for a half-century says he's still learning Louie's to donate sales to Helman Hug Fund Ashland High School Drama Club to host Showcase Night on Thursday Education Prisoners in their own home Louie's to donate sales to Helman Hug Fund Ashland High School Drama Club to host Showcase Night on Thursday Ashland Kiwanis recognizes Samara Diab Hands-On work with robots at ScienceWorks Environment Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers With pre-season conditions worst in 25 years, catastrophic wildfires expected in region this summer Legislature might be divided on clean fuels bill, but these Ashlanders weren't Ashland Rowing Club members put their backs into Emigrant Lake clean-up Business Breaking ground on organic vineyard practices Southern Oregon University: Recent and pending projects at SOU total about $132 million Test Drive: 2015 Subaru Outback Limited Silvio Calabi: 2015 Cherokee is a modern Jeep Ride & Drive: 2015 Hyundai Genesis Politics and elections Short-term rental restrictions kept in some areas, loosened in others Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Mark L. Hopkins: Looking for a political straight shooter Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out today State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Nation - World Leonard Nimoy, famous as Mr. Spock on 'Star Trek,' dies Obituaries Death Notices Shiela R. Ettlich Karen June Shaw Death Notices Death Notices Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society Sports Latest Stories Wade scores 32, Heat rally to beat Blazers AHS grad Bailey claims national wrestling title Ashland boys capture another Sato Cup snowboard title at Mt. Bachelor Fredrickson leads Grizzlies to season-opening romp Thompson, Weber to play in all-star game High school Ashland boys capture another Sato Cup snowboard title at Mt. Bachelor Fredrickson leads Grizzlies to season-opening romp Grizz alpine skiers finish strong at state Ashland High's Honsinger tops field in final nordic ski meet Grizz snowboard team heads to state with repeat potential Southern Oregon University AHS grad Bailey claims national wrestling title Thompson, Weber to play in all-star game Beavers get No. 3 seed, host NCAA games Young shoots Ducks into Pac-12 title game Raider softball team opens league play with split at Northwest Voices Latest Stories Landgren cartoon: Boston gets a ‘Frozen’ sequel Our View: SOU's economic clout Letters to the Editor, March 18 Letters to the Editor, March 17 Landgren cartoon: Sunshine Week Editorial Our View: SOU's economic clout Our view: Keep it simple in developing marijuana rules Our View: Ashland is at risk as a bad fire season looms Our View: Ashland backs residents over visitors in lodging decision Our View: No need for blame in Hannah Thomas-Garner case Letters Letters to the Editor, March 18 Letters to the Editor, March 17 Letters to the Editor, March 14 Letters to the Editor, March 12 Letters to the Editor, March 11 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Guest Opinion: Ashland schools failed to protect my son from bullying Guest Opinion: There is nothing uniform about the Uniform Crime Report Columns Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Council Corner: City considers the sharing economy Herb Rothschild Jr.: Demonizing Putin makes case for war Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Jeffrey Gillespie: The opaqueness of Hillary Clinton Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Herzog scholarship for young writers Movie listings: March 13-18 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band co-founder John McEuen performs at the Unitarian Fellowship in Ashland Thanks for the Memories presents 'Anastasia' Community blog: Take a peek at poet Scott Wozniak Theater Oregon Shakespeare Festival designer for a half-century says he's still learning Ashland High School Drama Club to host Showcase Night on Thursday Theater review: Thanks for the Memories pulls off challenging 'Anastasia' in Ashland Ticket availability Ticket Availability Music The Farr Side: Madonna — ever the trendsetter Nitty Gritty Dirt Band co-founder John McEuen performs at the Unitarian Fellowship in Ashland Alice DiMicele plays Unitarian Fellowship The Farr Side: Another career highlight for Kelly Clarkson Music on the Mountain: Ski area launching concert series Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies 8 must-see spring films Movie review: ‘Wrecking Crew’ is a look at the people who really put the bomp Movie review: ‘Cinderella’ is an instant classic Shailene Woodley returns as Tris in ‘Insurgent’ Movie listings: March 13-18 Food and Drink Sammich does it Chicago-style Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Oregon Shakespeare Festival designer for a half-century says he's still learning Page H. Onorato: How food names came into being Tammy Kelly: Healthy leftover ham Lost in Suburbia: Top 10 reasons I like my dog better than my kids Dear Monty: Tips for checking out an existing septic system Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Louie's to donate sales to Helman Hug Fund ... Ashland High School Drama Club to host Showcase Night on Thursday ... Our View: SOU's economic clout ... Louie's to donate sales to Helman Hug Fund ... Ashland High School Drama Club to host Showcase Night on Thursday ... Our View: SOU's economic clout ... SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY Students share debt frustrations at summit meeting By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Mar. 16, 2015 @ 6:21 pm Updated Mar 16, 2015 at 6:23 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Mar. 16, 2015 @ 6:21 pm Updated Mar 16, 2015 at 6:23 PM What do you think? --> Have an opinion on this story? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter  » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this story? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter   » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2324,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> One of the biggest and least known problems of student debt is the sense of shame and isolation carried by the individual graduate.  A gathering of students at an “Up From Debt” conference on Saturday at Southern Oregon University tried to reverse that by helping strapped students realize their sense of “personal failure” is not really personal — it’s the problem of a society that has chosen to disinvest in its future.  So says Alex Budd, community organizer for Oregon Action of Jackson and Josephine Counties and leader in a seven-state movement to forge the “political will” among students to unify behind an affordable, accessible system of higher education.  “Oregon has the sixth-lowest business tax in the nation,” says Budd, and while that may attract business here, “not having an educated work force is not going to attract business. The political will for change has to start with students and spread to society at large, as people see the implications of this 30 years from now — as they see affordable education is a powerful driver for a good economy.”  Students at the gathering, also sponsored by Associated Students of SOU and the Oregon Student Association, were linked by teleconferencing to panels in other states and broke into small groups where they practiced speaking candidly about their debt, without the usual feelings of shame, failure and undeservingness.  “I’ll have $150,000 in debt when I finish my master’s in social work,” said Andrea Anderson. “I've definitely felt the shame and isolation about it. I’m doing this Up From Debt program so others won't have to fall into this debt and can go out and make a difference in the world.”  The group processes and political work of the organization, she notes, “have helped me to de-stigmatize this debt by sharing my story. It’s not an individual problem; it’s a societal problem and that’s what needs to change.”  The solution? Participants said change must be sought on many fronts, including direct lobbying of legislators, which many had just done, and petitioning the White House for action in bringing lenders under control and eliminating complex, high-interest and so-called “predatory” loans.  Ironically, said psychology sophomore Emily Pfeiffer, if students run up much debt or exhaust loans, they often can't get jobs or housing that would make life easier.  “Yes, I felt the predatory loan thing all right, when I ran out of money,” says Pfeiffer. “I had to move to a more affordable room (on campus) but I was denied because I hadn't taken out the Parent-Plus loan (signed by both student and parent). I didn't want that debt. So I had to stay in my current housing and had to take out a $9,000 loan.”  Pfeiffer said the isolation has hit hard, with classes from 10:30 to 5:30, two jobs from 5:30 to 8:30, then homework until midnight or 1 a.m.  “I’m fortunate because my mom is below the poverty line and I can get grants,” she says, “otherwise I couldn't go to school.”  Spanish/Political Science Junior Megan Mercier, who works three jobs, 30 hours a week, called the whole system “predatory,” noting she had to take out a loan to be able to find housing and buy food.  “I most definitely have felt the shame and isolation,” says Mercier. “My mother took out a Parent Plus loan so I could live in the dorm. The first year cost $24,000 all totaled. So I was compelled to take a year off to get residency and it went in default. I feel education so far is a waste. When I come to an institution of higher learning and can’t afford it, I feel so undeserving.” However, Mercier, with $36,000 debt half-way through college, sees the student loan crisis, not with a sense of helplessness, but “with so much passion about overcoming this issue. I felt a lot of support lobbying legislators, though they said they are limited by budgets and other priorities.”  Over the past 20 years, student debt has increased more than 1,000 percent, says Budd, who has chosen to avoid debt and college altogether. Twenty years ago, he says, the state paid 80 percent of college and now the students pay 80 percent.  “They all talk about how important higher education is,” he notes, “but they've shifted the burden of it to students. Debt is not an individual failing. It’s a problem of higher education being unaffordable. We're setting people up to fail.” John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Mar. 16, 2015 @ 6:21 pm Updated Mar 16, 2015 at 6:23 PM » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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