State of Union Address Gets Lukewarm Praise

The State of the Union Address glued few viewers to their television sets Tuesday night, but students reacted favorably the morning after to President Clinton's proposal for economic incentives designed to increase college enrollment.

Among the ten points in a plan he called "A Call to Action for American Education," Clinton suggested creating "America's HOPE" scholarships, named after a merit-based Georgia program that promotes post-secondary education at state institutions.

The national program suggested by Clinton would:

* Give two-year, $1,500 tax credits for use at junior colleges;

* Create a $10,000 tax deduction for all post-secondary education;

* Expand the concept of an I.R.A. to allow tax-free withdrawals for educational use; and

* Increase the amount of money allocated for Federal Pell Grants.

According to Clinton, this plan would "give every American who works hard the chance to go to college."

Although only 25 percent of the students contacted by The Crimson actually heard the address, most approved of Clinton's ideas.

"I had friends who got the HOPE scholarship [in Georgia] who needed to go to college and were able to because of it," said L. Andrew Cooper '99, who is from Georgia.

Jessica N. Hook '99 said she was disappointed by last year's federal reductions in scholarship funds.

"I'm very glad to see Clinton put forward educational programs," she said.

But while students favored the general idea of promoting college education, some expressed skepticism at Clinton's emphasis on junior college.

"Instead of just going to high school and then McDonalds, you'd go to high school, junior college and then McDonalds," said Nick W. Wickersham '99.

"The idea of subsidizing partial education is a partial idea," said a Quincy House sophomore who asked not to be identified.

And even some students who saw a place for junior college called Clin- ton's strategy misplaced, saying that more emphasis on basic education should precede concerns about college and computers.

"I'm a bit skeptical of making the first two years of college as universal as high school. I don't know how universal a high school education actually is," said Jonathan R. Miller '99.

"Classrooms that don't have textbooks really don't need access to the Internet," said Liana R. Tuller '99.

The majority of students who didn't hear the address said that political apathy kept them away.

Still, political interest isn't entirely dead at Harvard.

"I know that what the President says may not be about the most pressing issues and on the minds of everyone, but it shows what's on his mind right now, and I think that's important," said Tuller, a social studies concentrator who persuaded her roommate to join her in listening to the address.

"Also, you can't say anything for or against a president unless you know what his ideas are.

"I'm a bit skeptical of making the first two years of college as universal as high school. I don't know how universal a high school education actually is," said Jonathan R. Miller '99.

"Classrooms that don't have textbooks really don't need access to the Internet," said Liana R. Tuller '99.

The majority of students who didn't hear the address said that political apathy kept them away.

Still, political interest isn't entirely dead at Harvard.

"I know that what the President says may not be about the most pressing issues and on the minds of everyone, but it shows what's on his mind right now, and I think that's important," said Tuller, a social studies concentrator who persuaded her roommate to join her in listening to the address.

"Also, you can't say anything for or against a president unless you know what his ideas are.