Everyone on campus—from top administrators to students, faculty and staff—should vote in this election. Student loans are a big issue.

President Obama has increased Pell Grant funding and expanded a reasonable formula for repayment of student loans (Income-Based Repayment).

Congressman Paul Ryan, Republican vice-presidential candidate, proposed in 2012 to allow Stafford loans rates to double. That proposal was so widely protested that the Republicans in Congress gave up on it. Ryan also wants to curtail eligibility for Pell Grants and reduce their value. This shortsightedness is bad for us individually, bad for our communities and bad for the American economy. When more people develop the skills they need for the current marketplace, they can be self-sufficient. The community and the economy prosper.

Pell Grants make it possible for more students to attend college. University budgets benefit. Cuts in Pell Grants mean a tremendous loss of revenue for universities. At AU we already learned that in the 1990’s, as administrators will remember.

Whatever your position at AU, whose policy position on student loans do you support? There are many ways to “spin” the facts and confuse voters. But without a doubt, President Obama and Senator Sherrod Brown have demonstrated their support for higher education. Senator Brown gave a wonderfully supportive speech at AU’s 2011 commencement.

Register to vote in Ashland County using your AU address (you must list your campus box number and the address of your specific building) or request an absentee ballot from the board of elections in your home county if you are registered there. The registration deadline is October 9. Ashland County’s Board of Elections is at 110 Cottage St. in the County Building. Or, look for someone on the sidewalk around campus with a clipboard and voter registration forms.

This election is not about advertising and political rhetoric. It’s not about whatever political party your family has always supported. Be an informed voter. Exercise your right to have a say in the higher education funding.

Dorothy Stratton

Retired professor