2008 Woodie Awards
Colleges say 'yes' to credit card companies
Brent Vanderloop
Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Most students believe that their tuition is paying for a quality education that will eventually land them a career in their desired field of work. However, what students don't realize is that they are also paying for colleges and universities to hand over their personal information to credit card companies.
That's right. According to the Sept 25 issue of the Des Moines Register, the University of Iowa and Iowa State University students can thank their school for giving credit card companies the information needed to contact them.
To some students this might not seem like a big deal but to students like myself, this is a huge deal. I feel that no college should have the right to hand out a student's personal information. Every college in America claims that providing students with a quality education is their main purpose but I have a hard time believing this. I believe that their main purpose is to make money at any cost.
That is the reason why they hand over college mailing addresses, home addresses and telephone numbers for students in exchange for thousands of dollars for the school's alumni organizations.
Why would universities that have expressed so much concern over student debt aid a company in pushing credit cards to students?
Some people argue that colleges are providing a service to their students by providing them with information about credit card companies.
These people don't realize that it is not a service, rather a nuisance to let your students get bombarded with letters and constant phone calls about credit cards.
Students also don't need to receive information about credit cards through letters and phone calls. If a student is interested in getting a credit card there are plenty of commercials on television and advertisements on the Web to help them out.
Students may also get information through their local banks. For those who plan to transfer to Iowa State or the U of I, when you pay your tuition think about paying a little extra to see if you can buy your college back from the credit card companies.
That's right. According to the Sept 25 issue of the Des Moines Register, the University of Iowa and Iowa State University students can thank their school for giving credit card companies the information needed to contact them.
To some students this might not seem like a big deal but to students like myself, this is a huge deal. I feel that no college should have the right to hand out a student's personal information. Every college in America claims that providing students with a quality education is their main purpose but I have a hard time believing this. I believe that their main purpose is to make money at any cost.
That is the reason why they hand over college mailing addresses, home addresses and telephone numbers for students in exchange for thousands of dollars for the school's alumni organizations.
Why would universities that have expressed so much concern over student debt aid a company in pushing credit cards to students?
Some people argue that colleges are providing a service to their students by providing them with information about credit card companies.
These people don't realize that it is not a service, rather a nuisance to let your students get bombarded with letters and constant phone calls about credit cards.
Students also don't need to receive information about credit cards through letters and phone calls. If a student is interested in getting a credit card there are plenty of commercials on television and advertisements on the Web to help them out.
Students may also get information through their local banks. For those who plan to transfer to Iowa State or the U of I, when you pay your tuition think about paying a little extra to see if you can buy your college back from the credit card companies.
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