THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, March 30, 1995               TAG: 9503300361
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 
DATELINE: NORFOLK                            LENGTH: Short :   34 lines

ODU STUDENT PRESIDENT CALLS FOR ACTION AGAINST CUTS IN EDUCATION ``THESE CUTS COULD RAISE THE COST OF COLLEGE...UP TO 50%.''

Old Dominion University's student president urged fellow students Wednesday to fight proposed billion-dollar federal cuts to higher education.

``What we are protesting are proposals by Congress to cut student aid up to $20 billion over the next five years,'' the student president, Angela East, told more than 125 students outside Webb Center. ``These cuts could raise the cost of college for students and families up to 50 percent.''

The House of Representatives has approved cuts totaling $240 million in higher-education research and student aid. But politicians also are discussing eliminating or scaling back large aid programs. They are also considering dropping the exemption from interest on loans while students are attending college.

East told students to write and call members of Congress. The rally was part of a nationwide effort to mobilize students to fight the cuts. ILLUSTRATION: BILL TIERNAN

Staff

Angela East, ODU's student president, and David Dilts, a member of

ODU's Student Senate, appear before more than 125 students outside

Webb Center Wednesday morning.

by CNB