North Carolina students rally for an end to student debt

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- North Carolina students marched Friday in Raleigh for an end to student debt. The group, the NC Student Power Union, wants lawmakers to consider long-term solutions for the student debt crisis.

Students say too many students are saddled with debt, and they want to start a conversation with legislators to brainstorm ideas.

The group has come up with ideas like "paying it forward," so that once a student lands a job, the student starts paying back loans. Students say at the very least they would like to find better solutions than student loans.

"If you go to a financial aid officer they'll tell you 'Our financial aid is a package of grants and loans,'" said Matthew Hickson, who is a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill. "So we don't think it is okay to package a whole bunch of loans with a tiny bit of grants and call that financial aid."

After the protest, students delivered their petition to Thom Tillis, Speaker of the House, and Governor Pat McCrory.