During an appearance on the University of Northern Iowa campus, Republican Presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann called for major changes in Pell Grants and student loans.
“What the studies show is the more money that the federal government is putting into higher ed, that’s directly feeding the price increases at public universities and private universities because the amount of money that goes in causes the demand to go up as well,” Bachmann said, “and the prices are going up accordingly.”
The crowd of more than 300 was mostly students, and the candidate gave them some advice — something Bachmann said was an interpretation of a John F. Kennedy quote.
“When you consider that you are able-bodied; you can work; you have a mind; you have hands; you have feet; you are privileged to gain a college education — do it. Embrace life. Don’t start out life thinking that you’re a dependent,” Bachmann said. “Start out life thinking that you’ve got something to give.”
Bachmann was a guest of the Presidential Candidate Education Forum, co-sponsored by Iowa Public Radio and the University of Northern Iowa. Iowa Public Radio will rebroadcast the hour-long event Thursday at 2 p.m.