Our own reporter Derek Draplin writes in the Detroit News that students in Michigan aren’t entirely enamored of President Barack Obama’s plan to make community college free for anyone “willing to work for it,” to be laid out at tonight’s State of the Union address:
“Anything free, especially when it comes to college, is a good thing,” said Joseph Juncvic, 18, a freshman.
But Juncvic, who’s majoring in global studies and is also student government treasurer, questioned Obama’s intentions while describing the proposal as a “double-edged sword.”
“What are the effects it’ll have on school quality? Will we be spending more on education?” he asked. “Maybe it’s for his legacy — he wants to be remembered for something.”
Shelby Klein, 20, a sophomore from Alognac studying auto body repair, said the program would especially help families with multiple kids to put through college.
“I could see taxes skyrocketing — right now I’m on financial aid,” she said, but added it would definitely “help me and my parents out. … I’m the oldest and I have three brothers behind me.”
A higher education financial expert compares Obama’s proposal to corporate welfare:
“Poorer kids are already getting free tuition so this money is going to kids that are relatively affluent,” said Dr. Richard Vedder, director of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity, an organization in Washington, D.C., that researches higher education policy.
Like The College Fix on Facebook / Follow us on Twitter
IMAGE: Pete Souza/White House
Please join the conversation about our stories on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, MeWe, Rumble, Gab, Minds and Gettr.