Well, problem with student loans is that they were "Guaranteed" to begin with. Anybody, even with rotten credit rating CAN get student loans. That is because it was guaranteed approval at rate of 100%. So, in exchange for guarantees, one MUST re-pay REGARDLESS OF SH*T HAPPENS! With one exception and that is DEATH. Whats more, bankruptcy law will NOT allow debts write off on these student loan so, back to bottom line, it is guaranteed loan to start with anyway. In other words, 100% guaranteed approval of student loan to start with, and 100% guaranteed re-payment to end with.
I really don't know which student loans he started with. Sometimes Direct-loan that is run by government agencies can waive the remaining debts if have good reason why not have to pay back. If he didn't try options, then too bad.