NSA Asks for Study of Education Bill

The National Student Association (NSA) has called on its member schools to study the proposals contained in President Kennedy's Omnibus education bill, and other crucial questions facing higher education.

One of these questions is the relationship between the federal government and institutions of higher learning to which it supplies funds.

NSA Warned Colleges

The University clashed with the federal government last week over certain provisions in the contract to operate the Cambridge Electron Accelerator. Similar incidents at other colleges impelled the NSA Congress last summer to pass a resolution warning of the threat to universities' autonomy posed by heavy reliance on federal funds.

In a letter circulated recently to member schools, NSA president W. Dennis Shaul suggested formation of study group and seminars utilizing faculty members and campus publications to publicize key educational issues.

Shaul went on to outline and criticize the Kennedy education bill now being considered by the House Committee on Education and Labor.

The NSA president welcomed the proposed increase in National Defense Education Act loans from $90 million to $135 million. He deplored, however, the retention of the clause which limits loans to those "areas necessary to national security."

He added that plans for aid to graduate schools also seemed to give priority "to research competence and to the development of professions which can effect national security."

In regard to a proposed national study on the need for a federal scholarship program, Shaul said "there is already an abundance of literature to suggest that the President could have submitted assistance according to need to interested students."

Shaul voiced approval for most other provisions of the President's massive bill, but echoed the criticism that to introduce one comprehensive bill is a poor strategic move for the Administration.

Critics Units

The Administration had hoped to rally the concerted support of all proponents of federal aid to education behind one bill. "It seems likely that this approach will be more successful in banding together the critics," Shaul wrote.

As a general indictment, Shaul said the Administration does not appear ready to give the aid to education bill the "very strong leadership" it will need to pass Congress.