Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper met with leaders from eight colleges across Colorado to hear the struggles college students are facing today.
During the Nov. 25 virtual panel, the student leaders discussed the many issues their campuses are facing, including mental health and addiction resources, tuition aid and the cost of living.
Hickenlooper hosted the panel for all students at Colorado universities. Student body presidents from CSU Pueblo, Regis University, Fort Lewis College, Colorado Mesa University, the Air Force Academy, Lamar Community College, CU Boulder and CSU Fort Collins were present. UCCS wasn’t present despite being invited.
SGA Student Body President Carson Hodges was invited to participate in the discussion but was unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts.
Improving campus mental health and addiction resources
Half the student representatives mentioned mental health and addiction as predominant issues on their campuses.
Nick DeSalvo, student body president of CSU at Fort Collins, said that the campus has free counseling services through the health network, but they are having a hard time bringing psychologist and therapists as permanent additions to the staff.
“Faculty and staff compensation continues to fall behind the average cost of living in Fort Collins, meaning that private practice is much more lucrative for professionals … Some standing appointments are difficult to schedule because of the shortage,” DeSalvo said.
Alex Radz, student body president at CU Boulder, said that mental health and addiction are some of the campuses main issues. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45.
With the fentanyl crisis, the campus has focused on buying and distributing naloxone, or Narcan. UCCS has also been supplying students with Narcan through overdose response trainings that are held throughout the semester.
As CU Boulder’s supply of the lifesaving medicine runs out, Radz said that Boulder has been pushing for more funding for the drug and other overdose kits.
Hickenlooper agreed with the student representatives, saying that mental health and addiction resources are among his top priorities.
Looking for more accessible financial aid
Half the representatives mentioned tuition prices and FAFSA to be a major issue on their campuses, saying that while FAFSA is a helpful resource for many students, it needs to be more accessible for all.
Brielle Baca, student body president of Lamar Community College, said that FAFSA is a huge part of college life, but only few receive proper funding from the government resource.
“For the middle class specifically, many don’t qualify for FAFSA funding, causing many of them to rely on loans, accumulating debt that won’t be paid for years,” Baca said.
The CSU Pueblo student body president, Alondra Solis, said that FAFSA needs to be more accessible to all students, including those coming from diverse backgrounds.
“Some of our students are residents here, but have undocumented parents, making it much more difficult to receive aid like FAFSA,” Solis said.
Both student body presidents said that more accessible government funding, like the Pell Grant and FAFSA, will lead to increased enrollment rates and produce happier and healthier college graduates with less debt.
Hickenlooper said that every year, the senators attempt to expand the reach of FAFSA funding, and that it is a slow — yet effective — process.
“This is not just a Democratic or just Republican thing. This is our people’s lives. Their ability to get good jobs and to not come out of college with $60,000 worth of debt … Beyond FAFSA, we are also pushing for Pell Grants to be higher,” Hickenlooper said.
Navigating a high cost of living
Leilani Domingo, student body president at Colorado Mesa University, said that the biggest issue for students is affordability. Even with their programs like Map Works and other scholarships, students have a difficult time affording the necessities.
“The rising cost of higher education and life in general, like gas prices and groceries, remain a huge concern for students and their families … Continued support and investment in accessible education are essential to ensuring that all Colorado students thrive,” Domingo said.
Radz said the cost of living for students exceeds $1,500 per month in Boulder. He attributes the inflation of student living costs to the rise in enrollment and retention rates. “Many students are also only given a 10-day notice for a rise in rent … This forces them to look for a new place when there is already not enough space,” Radz said.
Brittany Bitsilly, student body president of Fort Lewis College, mentioned food security to be a huge problem for Colorado students.
To combat the issue, they created a basic needs and food pantry, like Clyde’s Cupboard here at UCCS. “The pantry was created through grant funding, so if there is a way to expand that funding, it would be very beneficial,” Bitsilly said.
Hickenlooper encourages all students to get more involved with local government and politics.
“I view our office as nonpartisan. We work for every Coloradan and listen to every voice. We believe that collaboration and bipartisanship are what moves the country forward,” Hickenlooper said.
Any questions for Hickenlooper can be asked on his website.
Photo courtesy of The Intercept.