HUMAN RESOURCES

COMMITTEE ON

I am writing you as a member of Congressional Liaison Committee of the National Alumni Council of the United Negro College Fund asking for your support to provide funds for (Title III) developing institutions.

These institutions serve a vital need in providing avenues for disadvantaged students to improve their plight. They not only are. willing to enroll students who have high levels of academic achievement but have constantly gambled on students with less than glamorous academic achievement and won. When I entered college, my French instructor had graduated from high school in Harlem with a "D" average. Someone convinced him to try to attend college. He applied and was given a conditional admittance to Paine College in Augusta, Georgia. From that gamble, this man worked hard and graduated going on to the University of Sorbonne in Paris, France to do further study. Presently this gentleman is not only a Professor of French, but the Editor and Publisher of a local newspaper. Success stories such as this one are almost infinite at these, institutions.

The faculty and staffs of these colleges work the hardest, get paid the least and continue to do what most would surely have to concede is a miraculous job. They serve students who come from some of the poorest backgrounds (many families make less than $5,000 per year) and continue to succeed.

When I graduated from high school, I was one of those students listed above, so knew first hand the job that these schools are doing. Your support for continuation of funding for these institutions will preserve an unhearld national treasury in this country.

Sincerely,

W. Ined Thompson

W. Fred Thompson

I am writing to respectfully urge your support of
H.R. 5192 in opposition to S. 1600.

The bill, H. R. 5192, amends and extends the Higher
Education Act, and provides about $5 billion a year in
grants, work-study and loans to students, affecting
graduates and undergraduates at Radford University and
other colleges and universities across the nation. In
my opinion H. R. 5192 is a balanced student-aid bill,
providing help for both lower-income and middle-income
students at both public and independent colleges.

I would like to point out that S. 1600 would more than double the interest rates on student loans, thereby increasing by a substantial amount the debt burden faced by students and their families. It would also require graduate students to pay the interest on their loans while they are in school. S. 1600 also would restructure the existing loan programs, which many believe will be disruptive of the entire program.

Your consideration of this most important legislation is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Duals & Dedmon

Donald N. Dedmon

President

DND: mhb

Senator PELL. This winds up this session. The next meeting of the committee will be Tuesday, October 23; in room 4232.

[Whereupon, at 12:25 p.m., the subcommittee adjourned, to reconvene Tuesday, October 23, 1979.]