Potential government shutdown would affect A&M-Commerce students

Politicians in Washington continue to harshly disagree on the proposed government budget, leading the nation to the brink of a government shutdown that will have far-reaching effects even here at Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Senior English major and East Texan staff writer Clay Dyess is an HM3 in the Navy Reserves, and receives compensation for drilling.

"As a reservist, we are not considered essential military personnel," he said. "So when something like this occurs, especially on a drill weekend like the one coming up, if an agreement is not reached by midnight tonight we won't have drill."

Without the ability to serve, Dyess won't receive his usual pay for drilling.

"For kids like me and my wife who are in school, $200 to $300 can go a long way to pay bills," he said.

Even though the shutdown will personally affect Dyess and his wife, others involved in the military will suffer much more.

"I'm actually one of the fortunate ones," he said. "I still have my VA check that shouldn't be affected [by the government shutdown], just like IRS or social security. But I have a friend who has gone into the Army and he's in Afghanistan. He has a baby, a seven year old and a wife at home, and if the government shuts down, he'll get half his normal pay."

While the government would compensate those on half-pay retroactively once it begins running again, that doesn't really help when you have a mortgage and bills to pay, Dyess said.

"[The shutdown] is completely partisan," he said. "The entire shutdown is over one to two percent of the budget. It comes down to Republicans taking a hard line on certain issues to perpetuate their agenda."

Military reservists will not be the only students affected by the potential shutdown. According to the Dallas Morning News, a shutdown would keep the U.S. Department of Education from processing new financial aid applications.

"It's going to end up prolonging the process and affecting students from all different areas," said A&M-Commerce Student Government Association President Taylor Fore told the Dallas Morning News yesterday.

Students unsure of if or when they're going to get Federal financial aid money will hurt universities' attempts to attract and recruit students, Fore said.