College: A Right Not A Privilege 

Post date: May 9, 2025

By Xai Chase

In a low lit room a student stares attentively at the bright screen. At this late hour it must be an eye strain; though, it’s not because of the emanating computer light. The scorching feeling lingers and spreads throughout the room; the student is stressed. How could anyone not be when the numbers keep adding and more student debt piles up. Their offer letter is filled with numerical lyrics of rising college tuition. But why should students have to suffer under the challenging costs for their basic human right: education? 

During Ronald Regan’s time as governor of California, he pushed for defunding education and was able to cut universities’ budgets. Before Regan was governor, college in California was free. His reason for this was rather selfish as he opposed educated students who would often protest for American issues especially, at the time, the Vietnam War. He would call college students “brats” for speaking against political powers, and because education was available to all classes, they opened ideas from all walks of life. He was afraid of being overpowered by their knowledge, so after cutting funds from education, education became a privilege for the higher class. This holds back lower class students from being educated and having opportunities. Reagan's actions are a perfect example of how America is built on individualism, costing students their education by forcing them into debt.

However, Regan isn’t the only one who contributed to university tuition. Now, it appears people, namely Republicans, believe that government funding for education, even high schools, should be diminished. While some people make a good point that making education free could cause problems with educational quality; however, increased admission of an array of diverse students could possibly encourage engaged learning and higher educational aspirations. Professors would also still get paid through federal and state funding. Unlike American individualism, other countries that are collectivists, prioritize education as a public good for economic growth. America can be open to a more collectivist society and lower costs of tuition so that all Americans can have the ability to attend if they choose. If American society has the idea that going to college will get you a high paying job, why is it so difficult to go to college?