By David Veselenak
Staff Reporter

Freelance journalist Anya Kamenetz was surprised when she learned about CMU’s recent tuition increase for incoming freshmen.

“There’s not a lot in the economy that goes up at that rate,” she said of the 21-percent raise. “The average four-year public institution increased its cost about 6 percent last year.”

Kamenetz, author of “Generation Debt,” spoke to more than 200 students and faculty Wednesday in the Bovee University Center Auditorium about the issues of college costs and student spending.

Hope May, assistant philosophy and religion professor and director of the Center for Professional and Personal Ethics, saw Kamenetz on PBS and thought she would be a great speaker for students.

“I saw her on the Jim Lehrer NewsHour,” she said. “(Her message) just seemed relevant to students.”

Kamenetz stressed the need for students to save during their college years and resist overspending, especially on lines of credit.

“People in their 20s and 30s are spending 16 percent more than they earn,” she said. “There is a lot of irresponsibility going on at many levels.”

The Unites States also is falling behind many other nations in education, Kamenetz said. The U.S. now ranks ninth in college graduates. In the 1970s, the U.S. was first.

Kamenetz said loans, such as the Federal Direct Loan Program, are replacing grants more often.

“Federal loans are 40 percent of money that sends kids to college,” she said. “It’s cheaper than expanding grants.”

St. Ignace senior Ben Evers said Kamenetz succeeded in getting her point across.

“I can personally relate,” he said. “I’m $20,000 in debt.”

Kamenetz told students one way to eliminate debt later in life is to control spending and avoid making just minimum payments on credit cards.

“The interest rates are king,” she said.

Lexington senior Chris Allen agreed.

“It’s seen as a quick fix,” he said. “A small purchase can add up.”

Although students are perceived as apathetic, Kamenetz said they aren’t.

“I really do think students are getting involved on this issue,” she said. “But they don’t get any credit for it.”

The Journalism department and the Center for Professional and Personal Ethics co-sponsored the event.

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