Graduation Happiness...Debt Misery...

After everyone graduates from college, their next worry is DEBT!! Every loan that they used to get through school, is coming back to haunt them. So I thought...what better way to end this blog than to talk about college debt.

Now dont get me wrong...college debt is usually classified as "good debt". I mean afterall, you are making a great investment in your future by doing so. But how much college debt is too much? An article on MSN:Money talks about ways to eliminate excessive debt and still get a great education.

So how much can you safely borrow?....
Obviously, the less borrowing you have to do, the better:
• If you're a student, your payments shouldn't exceed 10% of your expected monthly gross income once you graduate.
• If you're a parent, all your debts -- including mortgage payments, credit cards, car loans and education loans -- shouldn't eat up more than 35% of your gross pay.
• Once you start borrowing, keep track of your debt. It's easy to get confused about how much you owe, particularly if you borrow from a number of different lenders.

Knowing that tidbit of info...its time to take a closer look at how much you are borrowing!

Until Next Time...
Lauren!

Michigan Schools ban cupcakes...cupcakes though? Really?

In an article from the Detroit News, some Michigan Schools are banning students from bringing in treats for their birthday. This of course would only pertain to mostly elementary and middle school students, but this is being done in efforts to help fight childhood obesity, which has tripled nationally since 1980.

"Instead of the cupcakes, Alma district students celebrating birthdays now get an extra 30 minutes in gym class — policies that could be coming soon to all Michigan schools. "Alma joins districts in Bellaire and Roscommon in getting $40,000 in federal stimulus funds to pilot Michigan nutrition standards to fight childhood obesity, an epidemic linked to 20 chronic diseases.

This ban is all for the love of being healthy. Its not to punish the children that do eat right at home, its just to reinforce the efforts that the State of Michigan is trying to do about the issue of obesity. Some schools/universities have already changed their vending machines for more healthier choices.

What do you think about this? Should school districts be able to dictate what a student should and should not eat??

Until Next Time...
Lauren!

Issues on Grand Valley's Campus

Now this may not have anything to do with the current issues of education, but it is a major concern on Grand Valley's campus. Last year, there was an epidemic of people dying on campus or in the area. However, this year pedestrians getting hit by cars seem to be the new thing on campus.

Just last month an article was written in The Lanthorn about "crossing the street". And how we should listen to the one rule that we learned back in Kindergarten which was to stop look and listen before you cross the street.

Last night a pedestrian was hit while walking across the street by Kirkhof. I wonder when Grand Valley will do something about this issue, like putting more lights up by the sidewalks and crosswalks.

I think the Lanthorn should write an article on this issue and analyze what the problem could be.

What do you think about this issue?

Until Next Time...
Lauren!

The Fate of Pell Grants...

As college students, we file the FAFSA every year hoping to get additional help for college from the Federal Government. For some, Pell Grants are offered to assist with the costs of college. The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain postbaccalaureate students to promote access to postsecondary education.

However, here is something we may not know about this program..."One of the least publicized achievements of the 111th Congress is the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, which passed as part of the health care reform package that was signed into law by President Barack Obama in March. SAFRA cut billions of dollars in senseless subsidies that private companies were receiving to originate federal student loans in favor of originating all federal student loans directly through the Department of Education. The money saved is being used to expand the Pell Grant program, which provides low-income students with grants to finance their higher education."(to read more click here)

Sounds like a GREAT plan right?? Well, the Pell program is already facing a new challenge—a shortfall in funding due to a combination of the economic stimulus package ending and increased demand. If the shortfall isn’t closed, the maximum grant under the program will be cut by about $845 for the 2011 academic year. In all, about 9 million students will have their awards reduced if additional funding is not approved.

The republicans on Capitol Hill are talking about cutting almost $9 million from the Pell Grant program. "The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act was an important step in the right direction. However, reducing the supply of Pell Grants would have the opposite effect and would be sacrificing America’s long-term economic strength on the altar of short-term deficit reduction. That is not a trade any policymaker should be willing to make." (click here for the article)

I can see this getting really messy. Hopefully they come to a consensus about what to do with this issue. Before we know it, this will be worse that the state backing out of the Michigan Promise. When will they see that enough is enough. Americans especially Michiganers can only take so much.

What do you think about this??

Until Next Time...
Lauren!

Drinking On College Campuses

Alcohol has recently been in the news. The popular energy/alcoholic drink "4 Loko" has been banned from the state of Michigan. The commission issued the ban last Thursday and gave retailers 30 days to clear 55 named products from their shelves.These drinks made headline news after about 5 people reported passing out and getting severely sick after drinking.

Drinking on Grand Valley's campus has never gotten too out of hand since I've been here. Looking at statistics from GVSU's Campus Security Crime Rates and Statistics, every year the arrests of students violating liquor laws decrease. There is also A.C.E.S (Alcohol Campus Education and Services) that's available to students. Grand Valley is just one of the many universities in the state of Michigan that cracks down on students violation liquor laws.

But even with campus security, alcohol policies, and warning labels on the drinks, people still find ways to drink irresponsibly. Hence the reason for this ban...

Students around Grand Valley's campus have mixed feelings about the ban. Some feel that the ban was needed and others feel that there are far more dangerous things that can be banned and this is not one of them. Others feel that drinking is the responsibility of the drinker and they should drink responsibly themselves...and if they don't its their fault.

Im sure there are a ton of more views and opinions on this issue...what are yours? How do you feel?

Until Next Time...
Lauren!

Election's Impact on Education

It's the Thursday after the election on Tuesday, and by this time we already know what the results looked like. I'm not gonna go too in depth as to who won because I am sure we all sick of hearing about it. Some people are probably relieved and others...not so much.

One thing that concerned me the most is how this election will effect education. I am anxious to know because if I have to pack up my things and move elsewhere...that's just what I'll have to do! :) But on a more serious note, education was a very important topic in this election and yet voter turnout was low. So much for having a voice huh? But we will save that for another time.

So what exactly is going on...or what will happen for that matter? Well in an article by EdNews Colorado, they break down what each party planned to do. It was stated that Republican congressional candidates attacked Democratic incumbents for supporting the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the federal economic-stimulus program, which provided some $100 billion for education. The GOP plans to reduce federal spending and many GOP congressional candidates have emphasized local control in their K-12 platforms.

The article makes a few more points. Check it out and tell me what you think.

Until Next Time...
Lauren!

College Students and Voting

Being that today is election day...I would be curious to know how many college students went out to vote. I can remember there was a mad rush to the polls for the presidential election but not so much this go round.

Penn State had an article that talked about the concern of college students voting. It is estimated that the turnout of college students will be low. Will we prove them wrong?

I'm not sure about that. Yesterday in my broadcasting class, the professor asked us who was voting today. Not even half the class raised their hand. It wasn't becasue they were registered elsewhere, it was because they had no clue what they were voting for and who they would vote for. Many of my peers in my class are registered in the area but they just wont vote...that raises a ton of questions.

Should the candidates reach out more to the college students? Should there have been more campus involvement like there was in 2008? What do you think? How can we prevent the low turnout that is predicted to happen from happening again?

Until Next Time...
Lauren!

Degree Winners and Losers

College sports are filled with winners and losers. Why should college degrees be any different?

A great degree, after all, can lead to a championship career.

So what degrees are known to lead you down the path of financial success?? Yahoo! Education had an article listing the winners and the losers of degrees (click here to view the article). The winners were in the fields of business,finance, medical, and IT...kinda seems like the majors for the geeks right? Well what about the artsy type folks? You mean to tell me that they are losers??

Well according to Yahoo!...they kind of are...social work, art, and music made the list of losers.

Don't get discouraged though if your degree falls under the list of losers. I look at it as "life is what you make it". You chose the path to success. I dont think anyone should allow an article to define your future...

What do you think?

Until Next Time...

Lauren!