It has been four weeks of school already and still no financial aid, loans, or overpayment checks have been distributed to most students here on campus.Many students applied for financial aid and loans back in January 2004 for the upcoming fall 2005 semester and they still have not received any money.
This semester has started off badly for many students. They are getting dropped from classes, being evicted from their apartments, and have no money to buy any books at all.
The financial aid office has been packed with students’ everyday since the first day of school, phones ringing off the hook, and nothing has been accomplished yet.
How does this affect the campus and how are the students responding to this matter? Many had much to say. “I feel frustrated, emotional, and very confused. I need my overpayment check because late fees are steadily rising and I have no money to pay for it out of pocket, according to sophomore Olivia Gray. “It doesn’t make any sense for the entire staff to have all last semester and the summer to process papers, it’s the middle of September and still no money,” said Gray.
Many students are struggling to pay for fees and prices are rising day by day. Senior Lunita Anderson said, “I need my overpayment check, I have no gas, my rent is due, and my lights are out too! A lot of people are very upset here on campus.”
“People are being dropped from classes, evicted from their apartments, and there is so much uncertainty in the air on campus. I have a friend who was looking forward to her over payment check because she has to pay rent off campus, but it hasn’t came in yet, now she’s evicted from her apartment. The financial aid situation is very serious and this amount of time that it is taking, is very ridiculous,” said junior Candice Bogan.”
What to do? What to say? Where to go from here? Many students have no clue and they are hoping that their overpayment checks will be distributed shortly.