S.937 - No Student Loans for Campus Criminals Act.
S.937 was introduced on March 11, 2025 by Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR). It is currently pending before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and has no cosponsors.
Related legislation: None
Bill Summary: S.937 establishes that any person convicted of any offense at a protest occurring at an institute of higher education shall be ineligible to receive a Federal student loan or for forgiveness, cancellation, waiver, or modification of certain Federal student loans.
Context: The rise of student protests in response to the unconditional U.S. support to Israel’s military aggression in Gaza has led to increasing rhetoric and legislation from policymakers to silence free speech within institutes of higher education. The No Student Loans for Campus Criminals Act, is designed to penalize students convicted of any state or federal offense related to their conduct during a protest at a college campus, making them ineligible for financial aid or student loan forgiveness. By tying financial aid eligibility to protest-related offenses it creates a chilling effect on student activism. This could disproportionately impact students engaged in political demonstrations, particularly those advocating for Palestinian self-determination, social justice, or dissenting against government policies, thereby threatening First Amendment protections and discouraging civic engagement among young people. Notably, this Bill does not penalize students if they are convicted of committing a violent crime outside of a protest.
American Values Analysis: This Bill attacks the fundamental principle of freedom of speech. It directly targets student protesters that have been the foundation for social movements throughout American history. It is a blatant violation of the fundamental American values of free speech and the right to protest.
American Interest Analysis: This Bill is fundamentally against American interests, as it undermines the nation’s global reputation for academic freedom and democratic values. By punishing students for protest-related offenses with the loss of federal financial aid, it creates a chilling effect on free expression, weakening the appeal of American universities to international students and potentially contributing to brain drain. Moreover, it establishes a dangerous precedent where the party in power can selectively target groups that oppose government policies, particularly on issues like foreign affairs, turning higher education into a tool of political control rather than a space for open discourse. This not only damages U.S. credibility as a champion of democracy but also disproportionately harms middle- and lower-income Americans who rely on student loans to access education, further entrenching inequality and limiting opportunities for social mobility.
A New Policy’s Recommendation: OPPOSE
A New Policy opposes S.937 because it would be deeply damaging to the reputation of the United States, targets Americans' fundamental right to freedom of speech, and disproportionately harms middle- and lower-income Americans who rely on student loans to access education, further entrenching inequality and limiting opportunities for social mobility.
For more information please contact: Tariq Habash, (202) 770-0055, info@anewpolicy.org
