U.S. Senate makes largest cut in history to student aid money

"Historically largest cut for student loans part of Deficit Reduction Act of 2005"

By Sheena Pegarido
Contributing Writer

The U.S. Senate approved a budget plan Dec. 21, 2005, cutting government spending on student loans by $12.7 billion, according to the Dec. 22 conference report by the House Budget Committee.

The action is a part of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, designed to cut $40 billion from the federal government’s spending programs over the next five years to decrease the federal deficit. The programs that will be directly affected by this bill include Medicare, Medicaid and child support enforcement programs. Student loans, however, took the largest cut, amounting to a third of the total spending cuts.

Former dean of education dies
at 94

By Rachel Witkowski
News Editor

The first dean of the College of Education at the University of North Florida, Ellis F. White, died Dec. 29, 2005 after a stroke at age 94.

White was a member of the 43-founding faculty at the College of Education and Human Resources. He was hired at UNF as the dean in 1970 and served six years in the position. He returned as Dean Emeritus. Ten of the founding faculty are still teaching at UNF.

“He always said, ‘I want to hire people of good will,’” said Dr. Paul Eggen, professor of education, who was hired by White in 1972. “He wanted people with a collegial attitude and support for personal life.”