Privatization is closely linked with students' political engagement. If it were not apparent already, the data in my first literature review determines the state of higher education to be one of the primarily political concerns of college students. It's really no surprise since the consequences of privatization impact college students very directly.
Colligne's The Student Loan Scam: The Most Oppressive Debt in U.S. History- and How We Can Fight Back, describes the close-knit relationship between Sallie Mae and the government. Due to privatization and crony-capitalistic tactics, Sallie Mae has been able to exponentially increase student loan interest rates while simultaneously eliminating their own risk in granting loans and guaranteeing their repayment through pushing shady legislation through Congress. The fact that the government is in bed with these corporations is of direct concern for the students who are impacted.
This is perhaps the reason for the recent political push toward free college education from the Bernie Sanders campaign. From what I can see, it seems to be resulting in an increasing number of students signing up to vote.
Collinge is interesting, and I see where you might be headed here in talking about "crony capitalism." Privatization always makes it possible for crony capitalism to take hold and Collinge definitely gives a great example in Sallie Mae.
ReplyDeleteI'm still a little unclear about your focus for the project as a whole, though there are clear connections among the various sources you examine.
Here is a shocker from a Mormon college:
ReplyDeletehttp://universe.byu.edu/2016/02/19/feel-the-bern-poll-shows-byu-students-prefer-socialist-sanders/