As students, alums, young people, and community members across Ohio, we demand that President Joe Biden take immediate executive action to cancel the education debt held by 44 million Americans. This would help all of us build a future with dignity.

We call on our Ohio elected officials, including Senators Brown and Portman, to use the power of their office and standing to help make this vision a reality. This includes supporting legislation to make public universities tuition-free and debt-free. We believe we can do this with their cooperation.

The crisis is clear: Across the country, around half of adults with at least a bachelor’s degree struggle with outstanding debt, reaching $1.6 trillion in total and $30,000 per person. This debt is substantially more burdensome for Black folks, especially Black women. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has made matters worse, with two-thirds of borrowers reporting increased anxiety, depression, or stress about their debt. We are stuck in a lose-lose situation. The average cost of attendance has more than doubled since the 1980s. At the same time, forgoing a degree in our competitive global economy is not a real option.

As the Ohio Student Association, we’re committed to building the political power of young people to fight for economic, racial, and social justice. Because the Midwest Got Something to Say.