Fri Nov 22, 1:19 PM ET

By Gil Klein, MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE

COLLEGE PARK, Md.

Saying that college should be available for everyone, Sen. John Edwards proposed yesterday that the federal government assure every qualified high-school graduate a free freshman year in college.

"Providing a free year of college tuition will eliminate the sticker shock that scares off so many kids," Edwards, D-N.C., told students at the University of Maryland.

A free year at a public university or community college should be open to any student who completes a college-prep program, he said. In return, students would have to spend 10 hours a week in a work-study program, service to the community or a part-time job.

-- Anonymous, November 23, 2002