Too soon to celebrate

In response to the Jan. 28 editorial, "Financial aid well-endowed," although I do admire Duke's commitment to socio-economic diversity, I think it is too soon to celebrate.

First, as mentioned in the editorial, Duke lags behind its peers who have eliminated loans from already large aid packages. Only in 2007 did Duke eliminate parental contributions for families earning less than $60,000. After mortgages, utility bills and supporting other children, can some families really afford more than $40,000 in tuition?

Secondly, not all those who need financial aid are receiving it. There are many Duke students with iPhones, Blackberries and cars; some of them even on financial aid. There may be still others with none of those things, in need of financial aid, but not receiving any.

There are students who have met with financial aid advisers pleading for aid, to no avail. They have taken out loans to cover annual tuition bills. They can never take summer classes because they need to work full time. They turn down internships because they need paying jobs. They overload to graduate early.

So, yes, I think we should wait for more impressive results before we celebrate how Duke financial aid has made this university accessible to all.

Danielle Johns

Trinity '10