CHECK OUT OUR PRESS!

Financial Slavery:

The College Debt Sentence

​"Please take this to every college campus in the country!"

(audience member)

Financial Slavery grew out of ongoing discussions with the young artists in our community who are struggling with college loans and their “American Dream”. They worked hard through high school to get good grades, high SAT scores and acceptance into the college of their dreams, only to find that the cost of the higher education was drowning them. Although they received some financial aid through scholarships and aid, many were forced to accept student loans to continue pursuing the American Dream. With interest rates hovering around 5-8% and the requirement to start paying them off as soon as you are out of college and working, the mountain of debt young Americans are facing is huge. College costs are sitting between $30,000 - $70,000 a year. 

Financial Slavery is a piece examining the different sides of the issue. What are the costs of education: from hiring qualified professors to text books? The loan system itself and what Congress’ role plays in the interest rates. To humanizing the story by looking at different young people in college who are paying these tuition rates. Who pays for the American Dream? Mom and Dad? Student Loans? Scholarships? All sides of the story will be explored through theatre, spoken word, dance and music. The author is a recent college graduate and a member of SOS for over seven years. Alyea Pierce was a finalist in the New York Poetry Slam Competition at Madison Square Garden. A gifted artist and published poet, she has been working throughout the tri-state area helping others find their voice and gain their “Write to Speak”.