Martin Luther King, Jr. asked the question: “Where do we go from here: chaos or community?” That question still rings true today, especially for any college student or recent graduate.

The Spring of Discontent is here – students, community members, and workers are standing across the country and saying: We want our community to be a healthy one, free of poverty and violence. One trillion dollars in student debt speaks to the chaos of values our society is facing and we need you to stand up and demand from the criminals robbing us of our future that they don’t continue to do so.

Will you stand with SLAP and USSA this February 27^th – March 2^nd and demand that with us?

Dr. Cornel West joined us this weekend to talk about how this problem isn’t limited to just one generation or one type of student. “It’s a historic moment of democratic awakening among young brothers and sisters of all colors, cultures, civilizations, and sexual orientation to be a part of this magnificent wave of activism.”

If you want to participate in SLAP and USSA’s Student Debt Week of Action, click here to sign up.

While every campus will be putting together their own program for the week of action, we wanted to make sure that everyone has some ideas of ways to participate and build a healthy and vibrant student movement.

On Monday: National Fax-in day to Albert Lord, Sallie Mae’s CEO, asking for a meeting with students from around the country that will be visiting their DC office. We will also continue to collect signatures for our petition, a banner that students are uniting behind.
On Tuesday: Students will escalate on their campus with banner drops, collect personal testimonies of students struggling with debt, track who their school banks with, and continue to fax-in to Albert Lord.
On Wednesday: Coordinated national showing of “Default: The Student Loan Documentary” on college campuses to raise awareness of the growing issue.
On Thursday: SLAP students will be leading and participating in walk-outs and letter deliveries to corporate and governmental targets in solidarity with the March 1 National Day of Action For Education, including Sallie Mae and the Department of Education.
On Friday: Based on where students are regionally at there will be lobby visits to Congress members asking for regulations to be put on student loan lenders, an increase to student aid, and to reduce the rate of federal loans.

Be a part of this larger movement, I’ll be ready to take action with you.

This Valentine’s Day students are celebrating the holiday a bit different – we’re breaking up with someone that we’ve been in a relationship for way too long. We don’t want to be cliché about this, because look, we both deserve better. It’s you – not us.

Bank of America, US Bank, M&I Bank, Wells Fargo – we’re done. We’re moving on, and we’ve found someone better in our local credit union. Your bad business practices that have included profiting off of student loans, giving out predatory loans to recent graduates buying homes, and trying to buy our democracy – all while giving yourselves million dollar bonuses after crashing our economy – are too much for us to stay in this relationship. We’re waking up and realizing that we’ve been in a rut for too long and it’s time we make a change.

You knew this was coming. It all started in January when the United States Student Association’s Board of Directors voted to move its money from Wells Fargo after finding out you were the second largest profiteer of student debt. Your continued exploitation of college students isn’t okay.

You knew this was coming when United Council of University of Wisconsin Students found out that you helped bankroll Governor Walker, M&I Bank. Receiving $1.7 billion dollars in TARP bailout, you turned around and gave $46,308 to Gov. Walker. That just doesn’t sit well with us, because we don’t want to privatize our schools and we like the workers on our campus.

You knew this was coming when University of California Student Association heard that US Bank was the 8^th largest holder of student debt in 2010 and when you hurt our families by demonstrating a lack of willingness to engage in good-faith efforts to negotiate sustainable permanent mortgage modifications.

Let’s be clear: This is no small break-up. Just the few institutions above that have moved our money represent over 4,350,000 students. We have moved millions of dollars away from you and your corrupt practices – and we’re not done yet.

Peralta Community Colleges, which administers four campuses and over 50,000 students, voted on December 15, 2011 to divest as much of its $140 million trust as possible from large banks and move this money to local finance institutions. University of California – Berkeley has voted and passed moving their money, as well. The list is growing and the students are waking up to your tricks.

We have the tools we need to move our money, we are following where you are, and as Robert Reich said: “The days of apathy are over, folks.” So we, and our friends like Responsible Endowments Coalition, New Bottom Line, and the Other 98%, have just one Valentine’s Day message for you.

It’s over.

On Friday February 3^rd, ten representatives of Student Labor Action Project and United States Student Association went to Sallie Mae’s office to give them a letter that had three simple demands: 1) Forgive student debt; 2) Pay your fair share of taxes; and 3) Keep your money out of our democracy. Once we arrived at their DC office, Sallie Mae made it clear they have no desire to talk with recent graduates who are struggling to make payments or current students taking out loans, as they refused to meet with us and had security call the police.

As we waited in the lobby we began a silent candlelight vigil for students and graduates suffering the weight of student debt, which is projected to reach over one trillion dollars this year. Sallie Mae currently holds over 154 billion dollars worth of that – nearly 5 times as much as the second largest lender, making them the largest lender profiting off of student debt. In a report published by Center for American Politics, they found the CEO of Sallie Mae, Albert Lord, “has reaped more than $225 million from the student loan business over the course of his career. In 2008, even as profits declined, Lord received $4.7 million in total compensation. He has used a portion of the proceeds to build himself a private golf course.”

“I’m in college, my mother’s in college, my sister will be in college in the fall, and we all have loans and will need them in the future. Sallie Mae is maliciously profiteering off the backs of those who wish to better the lives of themselves and their families,” said Sam Nelson, one of the SLAP students that went into Sallie Mae’s office building hoping to talk to anyone from the corporation about how impossible it was becoming for students to pay back their loans.

In 2008, Sallie Mae created the position of chief credit officer, and the move was made after student lenders were “blind-sided” by an increase in default rates, mostly among non-traditional students at trade schools, in a pattern similar to that in the subprime market for home loans, according to Richard Hofmann, an analyst with CreditSights Inc.

After waiting in the lobby for half an hour our group moved outside and mic checked the demands. Community members that were walking on the sidewalk stopped and joined our group, calling on Sallie Mae to do the right thing.

“If we do not solve the student debt crisis the students of today will suffer, but the students of tomorrow may never have the opportunity of a college education.  A generation of students will pay the hefty price of their student loans; but we must not forget that we will also pay the debt of an entire country ignoring the burden placed on those working to better their lives and communities by obtaining a college degree.”

On February 3^rd, Sallie Mae refused to meet with a group of students and recent graduates. We’re not discouraged though, because we know that putting an end to student debt means doing more than just having this one meeting. This shows Sallie Mae’s true colors – and how little they actually care about us. That is why we need to come together and organize, and there are some easy steps on how you can get involved today. Sign the petition, organize events and actions on your campus during our National Week of Action February 27 – March 2^nd in coordination with students around the country, and come to LegCon – where we will be making sure Sallie Mae hears our message together.

In 1997, Florida’s legislature created a scholarship program called Bright Futures. It was a program that allowed high school seniors with high academic merit to earn a scholarship for any public university in the state of Florida. Based on Georgia’s successful HOPE scholarship, this program would be paid for by the Florida Lottery, and based merit on GPA as well as standardized test scores. Bright Futures was divided into three types of scholarships, designed for three different types of students. There was one created for those high school seniors’ pursuing vocational degrees, one for the “B” students, and another for the “A” students. The “B” students earned a 75% scholarship for university, 100% for community college. The “A” students were granted a 100% scholarship for any public university.

I was one of those “A” students.

Growing up, I knew the importance of a college education. Immigrants, my parents moved from Iran and met here in the United States. While working two jobs with three young kids, my father earned a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Central Florida (UCF), the school I proudly call my own today. I can even remember his graduation when I was just 4-years old.

That degree allowed my father to find a stable job and provided my siblings and I with opportunities otherwise unattainable. We realized at a very young age that with an education, anything was possible. It’s no surprise then that we worked hard and excelled in our public schooling, earning straights A’s the majority of the way. By senior year of high-school, I was accepted into UCF and qualified for the 100% scholarship – my future certainly looked bright.

But I can’t say that anymore. Now a senior at UCF, the 100% Bright Futures scholarship I worked for and earned only covers 50% of my tuition.

Why is that? Because Florida’s right-winged legislature has decided it’s appropriate to balance the budget on the backs of students. Rather than coupled with tuition rates, Bright Futures is now set at a fixed-rate, paying less and less as tuition increases. Our state legislature would rather give tax cuts to corporations than invest in their students. These cuts are essentially tax cuts for the rich and tax hikes for the middle and working class. When I graduated high school, I was guaranteed a 100% scholarship. I planned my entire finances for 4-years based on those premises. Now my senior year, I’m struggling to cover tuition. I can’t imagine the struggle of those classes after me.

I know budgets are tight. Florida faces a $2 billion budget shortfall. But the solution is not cutting our Bright Futures. The solution is expanding Pell Grants, and signing SAFRA into law as President Obama did. It’s found in cutting defense and investing in America’s students. In Michigan, they’ve cut tax loopholes to fund higher education. There are solutions that support higher education and balance our budget.

The problem is our conservative state legislature refuses to serve a student – which is why in 2012, we need to vote. This is my story, but I’m not the only one. We know our futures can be bright again, and in 2012 we’ll remind our legislature of that fact.

Pictures taken and provided by College Democrats at UCF!

I am one of those lucky people who got to grow up in a household with two parents both with college degrees.  Even luckier, I grew up with the expectation that I would go to college and live the life of a college graduate.  I saw going to college as helping break the Poverty Cycle: my family’s socioeconomic status provided me the opportunity to go to college, which would help me find a good job and career, which would secure my own socioeconomic status so I could provide for my children.  Just like my parents did.  Just like so many hardworking people did.

But at first thought I do not feel lucky to be in college today.  That feeling of luck and privilege, hope and confidence in the future is still in there somewhere, but it has become consumed by something discomforting.  It has been a generation since my parents went to college, and we were stunned to learn how expensive college is.  And then we learned about student loans.

So we took action.  On October 26^th, I organized with students all across Washington, D.C. to march and rally with Occupy DC to demand that Sallie Mae stop profiting on the backs of students.  All one hundred and fifty of us- students and allies- went directly to the Sallie Mae offices in Washington, D.C. and demanded a meeting with Anthony Terracciano, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sallie Mae Corporation to discuss addressing the problems that student debt creates for our youth and our economy.  We were not met with open arms, but with hostility and rejection.

When I graduate from The George Washington University this year, I will probably have close to $80,000 in student loans.  I have about $66,000 now and still have credits to complete.  Many of my fellow students are in a similar situation: huge amounts of student debt in a job market that is becoming increasingly more evading to recent college graduates.  When I think about how long it will take for me to pay off those loans I can’t help but feel overwhelmed.  And I am angry.  That’s why I am joining Student Labor Action Project and the United States Student Association in the fight against student debt by signing this petition, organizing actions, and strategizing with students all over the country at USSA’s Legislative Conference held in DC March 23-26^th.

They have taught me many things here at GWU, including how to do good research.  So the first time I looked into student debt and the Sallie Mae, Inc., I thought I was reading fiction- but these are facts:

1. This year, student debt in this country will reach $1 Trillion.
2. In the year 2000, total student debt was around $200 Billion. (400% increase in twelve years.)
3. Last year student debt surpassed credit card debt as the largest source of debt held in the United States.
4. On average, college graduates of 2010 had about $25,000 in student debt.
5. Sallie Mae was once a government entity, meaning that all of its functions were a part of the Department of Education.  In just the fourth quarter of 2010, they reported a profit of $447 Million.

I know I’m not the only person wondering why a public entity needed to be privatized and wondering where that $447 Million in profit was extracted from in just three months.  I know I’m not the only person angry about his or her own situation.  I also know that I’m not the only person angry about our collective situation- and Sallie Mae, the corporation profiting on our labor.  You can find stories from students and graduates from all over the country at our petition hub here.

How are students supposed to pay off such huge loans as corporations like Sallie Mae manipulate our government into a staunch position in opposition of creating jobs?  How are students supposed to contribute to an economy that has ensured the burden of debt upon those we expect to drive our economy forward?  How are families supposed to encourage their children to work hard in school so that they can look forward to a life consumed by bills late for payment and promises late for fulfillment?

We must realize a change.  This spring, the United States Student Association and the Student Labor Action Project are launching a campaign to force Sallie Mae to stop exploiting the hope and hard work of young people all over this country by forgiving student debt after five years of payments AND cancelling interest on all student loans.  We will be petitioning, leafleting, protesting and occupying to win debt relief for millions of people unfairly punished for trying to better themselves and the economy they take part in.

The best way for you to join us is to sign this petition and contact Student Labor Action Project and the United States Student Association to organize and coordinate actions in your area.

Whereas, [College Student Government] represents the students of the [college] and has an interest in building a sustainable and just future; and

Whereas, [Bank] is one of the largest profiteer off of student loans; and

Whereas, [College Student Government] supports affordable housing and small business; and

Whereas, the [Student Government] finds that many major banks, including [bank currently used by student government] has been involved in predatory lending practices is the holder and/or servicer of mortgages that have been foreclosed or are currently at risk for foreclosure; and that [bank] has demonstrated a lack of willingness to engage in good-faith efforts to negotiate sustainable permanent mortgage modifications; and

Whereas, the [Student government] has deposited [student government] funds into [bank] banking accounts, and / or has used [bank] as a contractor for a range of financial services and transactions

Whereas, the [Student government] does not wish to support nor do business with any company that substantially engages in predatory practices and does not support building the local economy in [city of college]

Now Therefore Be It Resolved that the [person/group who administers money] is directed to divest all [student government] funds from [bank] in a timely fashion; and

Let It Be Further Resolved that the [person/group who administers money] select financial institutions based on their practices in the local community, preferring, if possible certified Community Development Financial Institutions, labor banks and/or otherwise certified federally insured financial institutions, and if necessary, other community banks; and

Let It Be Further Resolved that as the selection of financial institutions are reviewed as written in the policies of [student government] the criteria outlined herein be taken into account.

Students work with university administrators to pass these Campus Compacts to ensure workers are treated fairly (living wage), create mechanisms that allow an easier process for unionization with protections for workers on the campus (regardless of contract status with the university), and develop an enforcement structure that ensures transparency and compliance. The key points of the Compact are:

• Living wage for all workers on campus
• University will respect the rights of employees to vote for or against union representation without intimidation, unjust pressure, undue delay or hindrance in accordance with applicable law
• Right to a safe and harassment-free environment for all workers
• Addresses the need to adjust salaries to prevent compression and layoffs
• Student inclusion in campus Request for Proposals (RFP) and contract renegotiation.
• Create representative assessment body from equal numbers students, workers,  administrators, faculty, faith leaders, etc. tasked with monitoring and advising on the future of the compact.

This compact serves a larger vision of creating universities that operate as “community wealth builders,” able to create good jobs in an industry that can’t be outsourced.When universities make this commitment, we see lives of not only campus and student workers improve but of all workers in our communities by using our large employment power to raise floors for all workers.

Campus Compact allows students to have a say in how our campuses operate in a long-term vision, empowers and protects students and workers, and builds a strong community influenced by solidarity for one each others struggle.

Currently, Walmart’s goal to expand their profits is leading them into key urban areas across the country. Walmart is campaigning to win support from important community leaders, faith leaders, and public officials that will help them expand into new urban markets. Walmart’s efforts include media, community, and political maneuvers to position themselves as a good corporate citizen and jobs creator, when in fact the company has a record of not creating good jobs, not paying their fair share of taxes, and having the effect of forcing small businesses in their orbit to close down.

Student Labor Action Project and Jobs with Justice are making change at Walmart on two fronts:

1. In cities where Walmart is looking to expand, SLAP chapters and Jobs with Justice coalitions are working to ensure that Walmart has a positive impact in our communities. For example, some local coalitions are working to get Walmart to sign community benefit agreements that ensure good jobs, and to ensure that their stores do not negatively impact local communities.
2. SLAP chapters and Jobs with Justice coalitions are working with the Organization for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart) to build a voice for Walmart associates.

What we’re demanding from Walmart is what we’re demanding overall: creation of good jobs, the right to organize and collectively bargain, and the right for dignity and self determination for our families and the communities we live in.  Communities should decide is Walmart should build in their neighborhoods based on whether or not Walmart meets their standards on these questions.

Some say that Walmart cannot be organized. But many said the same about auto workers at Ford before 1935 or about janitors before 1985. Both victories not only changed the lives of the workers involved, but they raised the floor for working people and our communities across the country. They changed the entire economy for the better by creating sustainable, union jobs and dignity for our communities. If we can change Walmart, we can improve the lives of all working people.

As the baby boomer population ages, a shift with enormous economic and political implications is taking place in the United States. People with long-term care and support service needs are projected to grow from 13 million in 2000, to 27 million in 2050. The current long-term care workforce numbers at approximately 3 million workers. The gap between the care that is needed and the current workforce could present a social crisis of immense proportions. At the same time, we are faced with one of the most severe economic downturns in decades, with unemployment rates remaining high. Millions of jobs have disappeared without hope of returning.

Caring for the aging and people with disabilities is among our most important responsibilities as a nation. Older adults hold the lessons and historical memories that are the foundation we stand on today. And yet, families are left on their own to find appropriate care, with limited options. Individuals with disabilities who are hiring and managing their own care are facing the same challenges. Across generations, individuals and families struggle acquiring and maintaining quality care and the support they need. As a nation, we have yet to take collective responsibility for upholding the right to a dignified quality of life for our elders and people with disabilities.

Long-term care workers help ensure our elders, parents and loved ones with disabilities receive quality care and support. The work they do is vital. However, the care workforce — whether direct care workers or domestic workers — is compelled to work under strenuous, highly vulnerable and often exploitative conditions. Domestic workers are often pulled into the care gap to provide vital care for the aging population, yet lack access to appropriate training or pathways to career advancement and citizenship. Connected by the need for care and support, we count on one another to realize a dignified quality of life. We all have a stake in transforming care.

We propose the 5 Fingers of the Caring Hand:

1. Two million new jobs in home care
2. Labor standards and improved job quality with a path to unionization
3. Job training and career ladders
4. Path to Citizenship
5. Support for families and individuals, struggling to pay for care – including a tax credit for private pay families

To learn more about the campaign in your local area, click this link.

Written by Jazmine Salas of UCF SLAP

We were upset when the Florida State Legislature cut funding to public universities. We were angry when the legislature slashed funding to financial aid, including Florida’s Bright Futures Scholarship. When these same politicians, presiding over the dismantling of the state’s public education system met at our campus, we, the students of the University of Central Florida had no choice but to rise up!

On December 1st, the Student Labor Action Project at UCF participated in the student led protest Rise Up UCF! The action was the project of a massive collaboration between progressive organizations on campus including: SLAP, Amnesty International at UCF, Campus Peace Action at UCF, College Democrats at UCF, Equal at UCF, National Organization for Women at UCF, Occupy UCF, Students for a Democratic Society at UCF and Voices for Planned Parenthood (VOX) at UCF. Additionally, Rise UP UCF was concurrent with a state-wide week of action by Florida’s students demanding their voices be heard by those who dare cut education.

When the Central Florida Legislative Delegation (CFLD) met at the Fairwinds Alumni Center at the University of Central Florida on a sunny Thursday morning, the last thing they were expecting to see was a crowd of 100 students chanting, marching, and demanding answers for the politicians attacks on public education. The CFLD is made up of business leaders and right-wing politicians such as Senate President Mike Haridopolos and Speaker of the House Dean Cannon, politicians who have a horrid record when it comes to standing on the side of working families and students. This past year, the university raised tuition by 15% while the governor vetoed $21 million towards a new infrastructure which would create thousands of new jobs when youth unemployment hovers around 25%.  With the average student graduating with $22,000 in debt, it is extremely unfair to put the burden of a tight budget on the students. Bright Futures, a major scholarship given to students who maintain a GPA above 3.0, has been cut in half. Furthermore, there are talks of only awarding the scholarship to science, business and economic related majors, leaving liberal arts students uncovered.  The state legislatures have also signed HB 1355 into law, making it harder for students to register to vote.  The current legislature is anti-student rights, and we wanted them to know that this was unacceptable.

The two hour event featured UCF students using the human mic made popular by the occupy movement to articulate how the attacks on schooling have effected them. SLAPatistas Alexa, Luis, Shane, Thomas, Curtis, and Shannon all addressed the large crowd providing their perspectives on how we can not only rise up but fight back when the new legislative session starts in the Spring.

Additionally, the students had the opportunity to confront the legislatures face to face; after the meeting, many of the politicians and business executives chose to exit through the door right by the crowd. (Senate President Mike Haridopolos and Speaker of the House Dean Cannon used an alternative exit.) It was clear the students strength in numbers had an impact on those who attended the event. Furthermore, after the CFLD had left our campus, the students led to a march around campus, which included the storming of our campus streets. As we marched, students joined us as our numbers swelled. From across campus our voices could be heard as we declared “EDUCATION IS A RIGHT! FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!”

An event of this magnitude had not been seen at UCF for quite some time. Furthermore, the event raised a lot of awareness among the student body about the attacks to their education. When I was speaking to students before the event, many were surprised to learn about the mandatory tuition hikes. The legislatures could not ignore our angry and impassioned voices. Going forward SLAP at UCF is committed to defending students rights not just at our campus but across the state. During the legislative cycle, which starts in January, we will be partnering with our state-wide student allies in the Fight Back Florida coalition, we will unite with our worker brethren in the labor movement, we will ensure that our politicians realize education is a right not a commodity.