Student loans from private lenders required a co-signer, just like any other loan. Then the govt. intervened because the poor darlings were subject to "predatory lending practices”. Universities were elated since it kept more students on the campuses and feeding the academic indoctrination programs.

Given that we are in this mess because of the govt. holding hands with the universities, how about the govt. tossing this back into the laps of the universities ? The universities can re-negotiate deals with the students. Most of those most severely in debt are on the grad track to useless PhDs in Neanderthal Floral Arrangement studies.

Universities can withhold degrees until the little darlings come to the negotiating table . The air heads can work off their debt via service work around the campus. Universities will have to tighten their belts and purge their bloated administrative staffs. As it is, there are legions of "Liaisons” for every self-proclaimed grievance group on campus.

One way or another, academia will be forced to curtail useless programs and teach financial responsibility — the sternest lesson of all.