State-Of-Black-Oregon-2015

CASE STUDY 6MAKING EDUCATION AFFORDABLESHOULD BE “COMMON SENSE”As a freshman at the University ofOregon, Tyree Harris often had tochoose between buying books andeating. But he worked hard, rosethrough the ranks of the student newspaperand eventually became its first Black editor-inchief.Now, a year after graduation, he works inadvertising in Los Angeles and his student loandebt is “manageable.” He says, “I’ll be debt-free in10 years.”Tyree notes that he’s an extreme outlier.According to Debt.com, referencing data fromthe Department of Education, the College Boardand The Institute for College Access & Success,the average student debt in Oregon is $25,577 7with a 14.3 percent default rate. 8Tyree was one of the lucky ones who found awell-paying job. However, he had to give upliving close to his family and pursuing his truepassion of journalism. These realities inspiredhim to deliver a TED Talk and release an albumtitled “Financial Aid: The Trials and Tribulationsof the 21st Century College Student.”Coming from a low-income, single-parentfamily, Tyree knows how hard it is for those withsimilar backgrounds to get into the universitysystem. During his senior year at Parkrose HighSchool, he says his school was more focusedon achieving a 70 percent graduation rate thanactually preparing anyone for college. He saysthat Parkrose didn’t provide him with necessaryinformation on applying for financial aid. This sethim up to struggle freshman year of college.As he watched his peers going through similarstruggles, it became clear that rising collegecosts were protecting the status quo, shuttingout many low-income and minority students. Heworries that higher education will become anexclusive upper-class privilege. “People can saywe have a diverse campus, but in reality, most ofthese people have a relatively similar background.This cheapens everyone’s college experiencebecause we don’t get to interact with peopleoutside of our own experiences. That’s how wegrow and become more robust and versatilepeople—by being challenged to understand otherpeople’s worlds.”Tyree says that a college degree is still aworthwhile investment, but instead of producingempowered individuals, college creates valuablehuman resources. If he hadn’t been in debt, he’dhave continued with journalism. Despite hisjournalistic accolades and experience, Oregonoffered few options in his field. So he movedaway from his family and pursued advertising,which was far more lucrative from the outset.One day he hopes to write a piece attackingcollege debt. “It seems so common sense,” hesays. “An educated nation is a strong nation,so make education accessible. We spend a lotof money killing people. We should be able toeducate them.”58