Blue Collar, Black Tie
Surge is a student blog at Gettysburg College where systemic issues of justice matter. Posts are originally published at surgegettysburg.wordpress.com Through stories and reflection, these blog entries relate personal experiences to larger issues of equity, demonstrating that –isms are structural problems, not actions defined by individual prejudice. We intend to popularize justice, helping each other to recognize our biases and unlearn the untruths.
Abstract
Gettysburg pays for half my tuition. The other half, a nearly $25k, I have to take out every year in loans. I expect to graduate with over one hundred thousand dollars in student loan debt, not including interest. Education, I believe, is the most valuable investment one can make. My sister, a Gburg alum, tells me it’s worth it as each summer I agonize over enrollment, continuation of my Gburg education and taking out those loans. The poor, blessed financial aid office must dread my phone call each summer as I stutter through an anxiety attack and try to figure out a relatively uncomplicated process of confirming loans. Neither of my parents know how to do any measure of banking. They are in their 60s. [excerpt]