Student Coalition Blasts Bok's Report

The Coalition for Student Aid (CSA), a group of student organizations working to oppose federal cuts in financial aid, delivered a letter to President Bok Tuesday, condemning his recent report on financial aid for failing to stress the importance of maintaining equal educational access for all students."

The 32-page report, released two weeks ago, analyzes the federal government's role in financial aid and its responsibility to higher education in general. In it, Bok makes suggestions on how to reallocate aid if budget cuts and inflation necessitate using criteria other than need in distributing grants.

The CSA includes the Phillips Brooks House Committee for Economic Change, the Democratic Club, the Black Students Association, and the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee.

The letter, which was also sent to The Boston Globe and the Chronicle of Higher Education, criticizes what the CSA perceives to be Bok's underlying assumption "that education is not valuable for its own sake, but only because a diploma may make a person a more productive economic unit."

It adds, "Such a suggestion coming from the President of a liberal arts college is especially alarming."

Bok was unavailable for comment yesterday, and a spokesman for his office could not confirm whether he had seen the letter. Other public relations officials said they had not heard of the letter, but several said they support Bok's views as expressed in the report.

Mixed Reactions

David M. Rosen, director of governmental public relations, said he agrees with "the basic thrust" of Bok's suggestion of relating eligibility for grants to one's likelihood of graduating from college.

But Rosen added that he questions Bok's proposal of relying on high school grades and SAT scores to determine this likelihood.

And William R. Fitzsimmons '67, acting director of admissions and financial aid, said last week that he too was impressed with Bok's report, adding. "It's tough to come out and say that there may not be enough to go around."

The CSA's letter contends that suggesting alternative ways of allocating aid undermines efforts to lobby against the cuts.

The CSA demands no specific action from Bok. Organizers said they have no immediate plans to follow up the letter and instead will wait to see what reaction, if any, comes from Bok.