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Professor Adolph Reed Jr. of the New School of Social Research speaks about the benefits of free higher education, a platform of the Labor Party. [Todd Savitz/The Daily Pennsylvanian]

Calling it more than a "pie in the sky" dream, Professor Adolph Reed Jr. spoke to a crowd of about 50 students and staff Wednesday afternoon about the campaign for free higher education.

Reed, who was a 2002 Carnegie Scholar and has authored several books, is currently a political science professor at the New School of Social Research.

Entitled "Free Higher Education -- An Idea Whose Time Has Come Again," Reed's speech lasted about half an hour before he took questions and tried to start a dialogue about the issues.

"It's a simple idea," Reed said after his introduction. "Everyone who wants to pursue post-secondary education in America ought to be able to do so."

Citing the G.I. Bill as a precedent for government funding of higher education, Reed argued passionately for his position, which is part of the Labor Party platform.

"A college degree," Reed said, "is the same sort of gateway to decent employment that a high school diploma was 40 years ago."

Reed also referenced statistics showing that the cost would be relatively small by government standards -- roughly $25 billion.

The campaign for free higher education is being spearheaded by the Labor Party, which Reed is helping organize. He hopes to build grassroots support, which will force politicians to respond to popular sentiment.

In his conclusion, Reed sounded hopeful about the prospects for the movement, saying, "This is a campaign that can be won in not a whole lot of time."

Reed then opened the discussion to questions from audience members.

College sophomore Jenny Lane asked Reed if he worried that free higher education would fail to benefit the poor, especially those in school systems that do not prepare students for college.

"Do you think money should be focused on colleges at the expense of elementary programs?" Lane said.

"Fighting on one front doesn't preclude fighting on another front," Reed responded.

He also explained that for a national movement, it would be "simpler and neater" to deal with collegiate education.

"Once you get into pre-collegiate education," he explained, "there are many more issues to consider."

Several students also took the question-and-answer time to have Reed elaborate on other aspects of the Labor Party platform.

Reed's talk was sponsored by the Fox Leadership Program.

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