The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) administers the financial aid programs for the state of Washington. Financial aid programs include need-based programs such as the Washington College Grant, the College Bound Scholarship, State Work Study, Passport to Careers, and the Opportunity Grant. WSAC also administers merit-based programs such as the American Indian Endowed Scholarship and the Washington Award for Vocational Excellence and workforce programs targeted to those pursuing degrees in healthcare—Washington Health Corps—teaching, or individuals serving in the National Guard while pursuing a postsecondary degree.
Any student who is found by a court to have caused damage to the physical assets of any institution of higher education in an amount equal to or greater than the cost of the current full academic year's tuition and fees for one residential student at that institution:
PRO: This bill came to me after an incident occurred this summer at the University of Washington when a protest led to vandalism. People should be able to protest the way they want, but when the students start breaking windows and creating damage to our institutions, we need to do something. Students should be responsible for the damage they have done. The threshold in this bill is high. A court needs to find them guilty. Students need to take responsibility for their actions.
OTHER: Students should be able to participate in their first amendment rights. Free speech should never be controlled, but we do not condone riotous behavior. Students are subject to the consequences when rules are broken. We find it difficult to agree to the consequences that are set forth in this bill. This bill raises questions about equity. This bill negatively affects students who come from modest backgrounds, as they are most of the recipients of state financial aid. This would not have an impact on students who do not receive state financial aid.