The Arizona Students’ Association is stepping up its campaign to generate support for a bill before U.S. Congress that would give more students across the country more financial aid.

The group hopes to encourage students to get involved and contact their congressmen to pass a bill called the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, or SAFRA.

ASA is made up of student representatives from ASU, UA and NAU and focuses on making higher education more affordable.

English literature senior Ben Henderson, director of ASA on the Tempe campus, said the organization has been campaigning since the first day of school by going into classrooms and trying to get the word out.

“We want students to know SAFRA is here and how it benefits them,” Henderson said. “This might be the last chance we get in the next four years, so we really want to give this a good push.”

ASA plans to hold events this month to educate students about SAFRA and how it will benefit them.

Vice chair of the ASA board of directors Elma Delic, a UA student, said she thinks the best way to reach students will be to educate them about the bill.

“Once students realize how much this will help them, they will want to help themselves,” Delic said.

SAFRA is currently a bill in the House of Representatives and has to be voted on before the legislative session ends, Henderson said.

History senior Christina Rocks, secretary of the ASA board of directors, said she thinks this bill is going to have an impact on students’ ability to afford college.

“In my mind, it’s the difference between not attending college because a student can’t afford the loan … [and] getting to go,” Rocks said. “This bill will stop students from having massive amounts of debt.”

Rocks said there has been a recent focus on health care reform nationally, but the financial-aid legislation is just as important.

“Lots of people have been talking about health care, but this is something that is directly affecting students, and it’s something else they should have an opinion and be educated on,” Rocks said.

ASA’s first big event — called “09/09/09” — will take place on Sept. 9.

Henderson said ASA plans on talking to students about how to get involved. The group also plans to have designated days when ASA members will ask students to contact their representatives and voice their support to pass SAFRA.

“I’m very optimistic about this,” Henderson said. “It has a very good chance of passing in the House and even though the Senate is harder, we still do have a very good chance.”

Delic said there is a Facebook group for students to join called Arizona Students for More College Aid. The group currently has about 1,500 members and ASA’s goal is to reach 10,000 members.

Students are encouraged to write on the Facebook wall, which is serving as a petition, Delic said.

Henderson said students should realize how this is going to affect them.

“SAFRA is going to set the stage for … the future,” Henderson said.
“It’s going to set the precedent and show we’re ready for change and we’re ready for some victories for students.”

Reach the reporter at sheydt@asu.edu.