I know it might seem like I’m picking on the Sunshine Act this week, but I’m just amazed at how dim senators think we are. Not only do they assume all college students take out loans willy-nilly, they assume students take out loans using the same consumer methods as they buy sweat shirts.

Think I’m kidding? There’s a subparagraph in the Sunshine Act telling universities they will not allow lenders to use the school’s name, mascot, etc. when advertising private loans to students. Apparently Congress believes you will run out and sign up for any loan that features a drawing of your beloved football team’s mascot. You have such school spirit! Next time you are in the university bookstore why don’t you pick up a T-shirt for your little sister, an overpriced notebook for your physics class, and a loan for yourself?

There are a lot of things wrong with this scenario.

Can a college keep a lender from using any “…words, pictures, or symbols readily identified with the institution…” as stated in the Sunshine Act? That really falls into trademark law and doesn’t belong in a bill like this. I suppose a university can tell a lender not to use its mascot without permission as a reminder of the law. Not using the name of the university is a little harder. Are the lenders going to be forced to only advertise at least 100 yards away from the main campus as well?

Are students so programmed they will sign for a long-term loan based solely on the quality of the advertisement for the lender? Again, I think Congress is under-estimating the intelligence of students. Even the least savvy of consumers among students isn’t going to take the first choice that comes along with their school’s name printed on it. Seeing the ads for lenders should help make students better consumers because they can see there are other options for them.

On first inspection, it might seem like a good idea for Congress to tell private lenders how they can market their products, but just a little logic will quickly tell you that any reputable lender is making student loans based on long-term strategies. Any disreputable lender isn’t going to change their m.o. based on yet another piece of unenforceable legislation.

At best the Sunshine Act is naive. At worst it is an attempt to take away free will and open trade. Tell your senators that you’re not stupid and you aren’t falling for their tricks!

We are opposed to the proposed student loan legislation and middle-class families should be too! The government is taking money out of YOUR POCKET.

It only takes one minute to make a difference: call your senators, send your senators an e-mail, download a letter to fax to your senators, become part of our petition and help your friends find out the truth about the proposed student loan legislation.