Debate Activity

In 2014 the federal government denied Corinthian Colleges, a for-profit post-secondary education company, access to federal aid because they falsified graduation records and engaged in deceptive advertising practices. They were forced to shut down or sell most of their colleges and are now the subject of numerous investigations.

The closing and ongoing scandal, however, leaves many students with expensive student loan and poor prospects for employment. In 2015, fifteen former students decided to go on a “loan strike” and are refusing to pay back their student loans. They claim that the school engaged in deceptive practices and are striking to demand the Education Department forgive the debts.They are fully aware of the financial ramifications of their decision, yet for those striking, it is a way to rectify injustice. They maintain they were deceived by an institution, which was authorized by the government to provide access to education funding. They do not believe it is fair for them repay student loans given the deceptive practices of Corinthian Colleges.

Debate Question: Is this act of civil disobedience a just action?

Create an “opening statement” (as you would for a formal debate) that contains a moral claim in support of each side of this question.

Your claim will be something along the lines of, “The student loan strikers are (or are not) justified in refusing to pay back their loans because one of the most important principles of a just society is (this is where you will cite one of the relevant philosophical positions).” The remainder of the opening statement might then explain why the moral claim is important and explicate the principle in greater depth.