While awaiting decisions on federal student financial aid cuts, SIUC’s Undergraduate Student Government is lobbying Congress and voicing the University’s position.

USG president Duane Sherman and vice president Kim Clemens left Wednesday for Washington, D.C. to lobby for SIUC student financial aid.

Besides lobbying, Sherman and Clemens plan to give representatives SIUC’s outlook on Congressional financial aid cutbacks.

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The proposed cuts, whether from the House and Senate or from President Bill Clinton, will result in reductions of federally contributed student financial aid programs.

If the House and Senate combined versions of the federal budget are passed, government aid to students could be cut between $7.5 billion to $20 billion over the next seven years.

If Clinton’s budget is passed, scholarship and fellowship programs will be eliminated but increased funding for other student aid programs would be made available.

Sherman said the student financial aid cutbacks are of great importance and the most effective way to sway Congress is to visit them in their setting.

We are facing the most drastic cutbacks in financial aid history, Sherman said.

Sherman said he didn’t know if other schools from the state were going to lobby but SIUC’s lobbying effort is a definite rarity.

Pam Britton, director of financial aid, said she thought USG’s lobbying efforts could be helpful because they could help legislators become aware of the needs of students.

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Britton said she encourages students concerned with the financial aid cutbacks to contact their legislators.