Last night students from the Jefferson Leadership Foundation and Students for Individual Liberties hosted Cato Institute member and libertarian speaker Stephen Slivinski in Cabell Hall.
Slivinski gave a lecture entitled "How the Federal Government Hijacked Higher Education," in which he conveyed his ideas on how damaging federal aid has been to public and private higher education institutions.
Jason Bradfield, Jefferson Leadership Foundation president and fourth-year College student, described Cato as a non-partisan "libertarian think tank" founded in 1977.
He said his organization wanted Slivinski to speak at the University as part of his club's ongoing program to host speakers and organize events that promote the ideals of limited government for conservative students.
The lecture drew not only members of SIL and the Jefferson Leadership Foundation, but also faculty, members of the College Republicans and other University students.
Slivinski attempted to explain how "the federal government has had a damaging effect on higher education generally and a negative effect on the product of higher education."
He explained that in recent years there has been an increasing general perception in the public realm that everyone needs a college degree and that having one will make a person more money.
He said this perception has in turn motivated the federal government to create policies to allow more students to pursue a college degree, and that the result has been mass federal subsidies for students going to college that has, in turn, devalued the worth of the diploma and tied higher education institutions to what he calls "harmful government regulations and policies."
Slivinski said federal government policies - such as affirmative action - take the freedom of choice away from higher education institutions. He said this makes institutions - both public and private - financially dependent on the federal money through which students pay tuition.
"I agree to a large extent that increased federal involvement has ratcheted up the cost of attending higher education institutions," said Jim Lark, Systems Engineering professor and sponsor of the Students for Individual Liberty.
Bradfield said he "generally agreed with Slivinski's lecture."
"I like the idea of decentralizing higher education and reducing financial aid," he said.
Read More
Honor Committee brainstorms sanction diversification, considers future steps for AI
By Lexie Stadler | YesterdayHancock and Carson Breus, vice chair for sanctions and third-year Commerce student, said they are collaborating to explore fresh sanctioning avenues.
Gaston and Ramazani Houses — the University’s newest upperclassmen residences
By Zackary Holt and Vyshnavi Tatta | 2 days agoDining options will include a Peet's Coffee, The Den by Denny's, a Bodega deli and space for an additional restaurant that will change on a rotating basis.
From the archives: April 15 – April 21
By Emma Todd and Grace Franklin | 2 days agoAttendees at the Beaux Arts Ball dressed for the occasion in costumes.
