Tag: need sensitive

This Thursday- Go to the Financial Aid Meeting

In an email sent out to the campus on Tuesday, Student Union President Daniel Acheampong announced that a financial aid summit is scheduled for This Thursday from 5:30-7:30 in Feldberg, Upper Sherman. The meeting will be in the style of a Town Hall forum, and will include administrators from Students and Enrollment who will be on hand to answer questions.

I suggest we ask as many questions as possible and that as many people as possible show up. According to the Hoot article, 75% of current Brandeis students are recipients of some form of financial aid. Regardless of whether or not we’re among that majority, we need to stand together on this issue because it will influence the makeup of each incoming class starting with the soon-to-be incoming class of 2015. Rather than be judged on their complete portfolio, these applicants are in danger of being rejected simply because their monetary need, formerly shielded from admissions until after their acceptance, is going to shine red in front of the counselor’s eyes. I know we have a budgeting crisis, but I don’t think that this helps anything. I’m going, among other reasons, to find out if there is another solution which benefits the students directly which I can support.

Bring yourself, and bring as many of your friends as possible, and let the administration know that this is a social justice issue which affects students, and on which students have a right to voice their opinions.

Need Blind is No More

Hello Brandeis!

I hope many of you have read this article in the Hoot by Bret Matthew. He discusses the very scary and imminent decision for admissions to begin using a “need sensitive” policy when admitting new freshman next fall. This decision is against the integrity and values of Brandeis. I applied here early decision because I felt this school had a powerful dedication to justice and to its students.

There only reason I am attending Brandeis now is because of the “need blind” policy. Without the tremendous scholarships I have received, I would be at a state school without any of the amazing opportunities I have received here at Brandeis. For many of my friends, this has also been their experience.

As responsible students of Brandeis, we can not allow such detrimental changes to be made! We must stand up proud of the Brandeis tradition, accepting all students who match criteria, no matter their financial status. In order to maintain our educated and caring student body, in order to maintain our diversity, in order to bring about new ideas and actions for future generations, we must accept the best possible students who apply. The brightest minds don’t always come from the deepest pockets, and we need to continue to celebrate freedom of education.