Whereas, tuition at the average 4 year public university rose by an average of 10% last year alone, among the largest increases in decades, and;

Whereas, funding for federal financial aid programs has stagnated, with the average maximum Pell Grant worth only half of what it was twenty years ago, and;

Whereas, already, over 40,000 of our fellow students are prevented from attending college each year because of cost, and;

Whereas, the average undergraduate student loan is now $17,500, forcing students to work long hours to pay for school, taking away time from their academic progress and getting involved in student activities, and;

Whereas, Congress should be making college more affordable, not more expensive, and;

Whereas, Congress is now proposing to cut nearly $9 billion from student loan programs, which will increase the typical student borrower's debt load by $5,800, and;

Whereas, this proposal, if enacted would be the largest student aid cut in history;

Let it be resolved, that ASUCI calls on Christopher Cox, the congressperson elect of the 48^th district, and the Congressional Delegation in the State of California to stop this raid on student aid by opposing the budget reconciliation bill now pending.

Let it further be resolved, that ASUCI will send a copy of this resolution to: each member of the Congressional Delegation, The New University, the Orange County Register, Chancellor Drake, President Dynes, and the Coalition to Stop the Raid on Student Aid (campus@pirg.org).

Let it finally be resolved, that ASUCI pledges to do everything it can to inform and activate the student body, our administration and the surrounding community in efforts to stop the raid on student aid.