Students, faculty and community members came together Wednesday to call on 2016 presidential candidates to support the concept of debt-free college at public institutions across the nation.

The event was organized by the Americans for Democratic Action and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. 

Speakers included: Americans for Democratic Action members and Joe Gorton, American Association of University Professors UNI chapter president. 

Gorton noted that one of the causes of student debt is excessive spending on administrative issues, along with other misallocated priorities at public institutions of higher education. 

Logun Buckley, junior public relations major and UNI chapter president of Americans for Democratic Action, spoke at the conference saying higher education should not only be affordable, but free. 

“We’re abusing our students today, as it’s going to affect the outcome of our tomorrow,” Buckley said. 

Former Speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives Pat Murphy, also attended the conference. 

“It’s amazing that K-12 education is considered a free public education in this country, but then, when you walk out with a high school diploma, that free education stops,” Murphy said.

By making education debt-free, Murphy noted this would have a ripple effect on our nation’s economy.

John Williams, graduate history major, attended the event due to his strong feelings toward the issue of college education. 

“You know, it’s been this growing issue since the past few decades, and it’s just exponentially been growing,” said Williams. 

“College debt holds students back and penalizes them,” Williams said, especially for those who come from lower middle class families such as himself.  

Buckley believes students need to become aware of their potential debt and not continue to accept it. 

Buckley encourages students who want to get involved to join progressive groups on campus that also want to make college education affordable, if not free.