Aoun to support extending low-interest loans
Northeastern President Joseph Aoun is leading a coalition favoring the extension of low-interest Perkins education loans.
Aoun heads a group of 32 university presidents, including Tufts University President Lawrence Bacow and Boston University President Robert Brown, in signing a letter sent  to US Department of Education Secretary Arnie Duncan Feb. 9, to keep the Perkins federal loans for students beyond the current 2014 expiration date.
The Perkins Program was established in 1958 to give college students loans with 5 percent interest, lower than private loans. More than 2,000 Northeastern students were awarded $4.5 million in loans for the 2010-11 academic year. Annually, the program gives more than $1 billion in aid to about 500,000 students, according to government statistics.
“While we greatly appreciate the department’s recent announcement that the Perkins Loan program will now be authorized through 2014, we remain concerned about the long-term viability of the program,” the letter sent to Duncan read. “Ending this program would be directly at odds with President Obama’s ambitious goal for the US to have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020.”
President Barack Obama presented his budget to Congress Tuesday, devoting 0.58 percent of next fiscal year’s budget to student financial aid. Obama’s plan includes provisions for reform and expansion of the Perkins program.
– Zac Estrada, News Staff

SGA begins new referendum process
The Student Government Association (SGA) instated a new referendum process, allowing students and student groups to give questions to the student body and approve legislation instead of the senate.
The senate passed the motion last fall.
A referendum requires a sponsor along with several other steps in order to be placed on the spring ballot. Sponsors are also responsible for getting 750 signatures from students.
Forms, along with signatures, are due March 8. SGA will approve referenda by March 22, when campaigning can start.
Submission forms are available at Sga.neu.edu/vote. For more information, contact SGA President Ryan Fox at [email protected].
– Zac Estrada, News Staff