Colleges and universities – Page 3 – Teen Observer Archive

July 14, 2017July 14, 2017

New York State Starts New Scholarship Program In The Fall Making College Tuition Free

Governor Andrew Cuomo has created a new program called the “Excelsior Scholarship” for New York state colleges beginning in the Fall of 2017. This scholarship is in hope of creating free college and more opportunities according to the state government. The scholarship itself will cover 2 and 4 year programs for middle class families and individuals that make up to $125,000 per year.

Governor Cuomo speaking about the Excelsior Scholarship.

Students applying face a list of requirements, including current residence in New York and a specific amount of credits per year. This tuition-free opportunity is new for the state, which didn’t have any statewide program previously. The average cost for a 4 year degree in New York state currently is about $18,597. Several states, like Tennessee and Oregon, have programs or are beginning to create free college choices.

Emily Davis, a marketing and communications manager for the College of Arts and Sciences at American University, said free college “would be great, if it was possible.” Davis told that free college definitely would have helped her, and after graduating was when she really realized the importance of financial help when dealing with loans.

The Excelsior Scholarship will cover tuition fees, but not other expenses such as room and board, food, books, etc. This means students will still have to pay for certain things, making the scholarship not completely free. The program has received criticism from networks like CNN and The New York Times, due to that factor of all the expenses not being included or covered.

Despite any disagreements or future issues with the program, most agree that progress is progress. Earlier this year, advocate Bernie Sanders tweeted, “If New York makes public colleges and universities tuition-free, mark my words, state after state will follow.”

July 14, 2017July 14, 2017

Student Debt Relief Will Come at a Cost for California

The California debate over free college may have grown closer to its final resolution, thanks to a bill proposed by lawmakers in March of this year. The scholarship proposal, titled “Degrees Not Debt”, could bring relief to 390,000 public university students with an income of $150,000 or less, according to the California assembly’s March budget meeting. However, the bill’s price tag and source of funding have many reeling.

According to the California Committee on Education Finance, the average full cost to attend a CSU is $20,600, and for a UC the number is closer to $32,800. Degrees Not Debt promises to pay attention to the entire cost of college, not just tuition and fees, which goes beyond what other programs offer. It also addresses the federal expected family contribution, which, especially for a state like California with high housing prices, is unreasonable. Rather than enforcing the expected contribution, the Degrees Not Debt program would ask families to contribute one-third of the amount.

This kind of aid would have been more than welcome for mothers like Janet Raven and Marit Skelton, whose children recently finished graduate school. Skelton’s daughter attended Pepperdine University in California, and she “wouldn’t have been able to go without a scholarship,” Skelton said. As a single parent, Skelton was struggling with how to finance her daughter’s education, and her daughter ended up needing multiple grants and a scholarship to attend university. At Pepperdine, the total cost of attendance is $66,152 without financial aid.

Raven agreed that some financial aid is needed for all college students. Her son, who recently graduated without a scholarship, has student loans. “We’ll be paying until we die,” Raven said. She advised families to stay away from student loans as much as they possibly can, unless they want to be “in debt forever.” Skelton echoed this sentiment, urging students to be “creative” in the ways that they approach financial aid. Both women agreed that something new needed to happen in order for the student loan process to become easier on families.

Although neither Skelton’s children nor Raven’s attended community college, community students are also aided by the Degrees Not Debt program. However, the Community College League of California writes in their May government relations update that they have “concern” about the policy.

The proposed funding to assist in tuition costs for community college comes from the 1988 bill Proposition 98, which requires a minimum of 40% of the state budget to go to K-14 education. (Currently, over 50% of the general fund is allocated to education.) In order to fund the tuition relief, Degrees Not Debt would be siphoning budget from Prop 98, and thus from education for pre-college students.

This sets a lot of teeth on edge. “It is bad policy,” writes Rocky Chavez of the San Diego Tribune. “You need success in the former to even reach the latter.” The Community College League agrees, admitting that there will be “significant tradeoffs” if the bill is passed. Additionally, increased Cal Grants still will not be enough to assist low-income students. The Institute for College Access and Success reports that although most students in California attend community colleges, only 7% of Cal Grant dollars actually go to community college students. And the 90% of eligible applicants who did not receive Cal Grants? More than 140,000 of those people lived below the poverty line, and over 28,000 were single parents. The Institute argues that the grants just aren’t doing enough to finance students’ education – and an increase in the number of them won’t be enough.Courtesy of the Institute for College Access and Success

The price of the Degrees Not Debt program is also controversial. The bill would cost around $1.6 billion, a number assemblyman Kevin McCarty asserts can be achieved without tax increases. For a program that some say does not accurately address student needs, it doesn’t seem worth it. Debbie Cochrane, of the Institute for College Access and Success, writes that the program attempts unsuccessfully to account for lower-income students, while still giving higher-income students disproportionate opportunities.

Still, controversial or not, the Degrees Not Debt scholarship program is a new way to view the issue of college financial aid. Currently, it is on track to be phased in through the 2018-19 school year, and, for parents and students, it could be a saving grace.

July 6, 2017July 6, 2017

Greek life popular but many worried about hazing

American college students are engaging in severely dangerous Greek Life rituals and traditions that are threatening the well-being of members, leaving students and adults alike questioning the practices of these social organizations and unsure of the future.

Many students and alumni interviewed this week about their understanding or experience in Greek Life said that the culture often gets a bad reputation, especially in the wake of high-profile deaths like that of Timothy Piazza at Pennsylvania State University in February.

When asked if he would consider taking part in Greek Life if he were to go to college in the future, 16-year-old Alex Sanchez from Guatemala said, “No, I wouldn’t. The traditions put my life at risk.”

According to a study conducted by Harvard University, Greek house residents are twice as likely to engage in reckless or irresponsible behavior such as driving under the influence, neglecting schoolwork, becoming involved in fights, or having unprotected sex. Additionally, The Addiction Center has reported that there have been approximately 24 Greek-related deaths in freshmen pledge classes nationwide since 2005, and at least 15 of these deaths were a direct result of hazing rituals or initiation traditions.

The Harvard study also compared the likelihood of alcohol-related dangers and problems of fraternity and sorority members. In every category, ranging from attending class with a hangover to damaging property, the numbers reported by sorority members were significantly lower than their male counterparts. The more severe issues seem to be rooted in fraternities.

Lamar Smith, a 20-year-old student at the University of Kentucky, discussed the differences between fraternity and sorority culture at his school.

Information for prospective students on Greek Life at an American University session in June. By Lauren Coppins.

He said that while sororities are often tight-knit communities that engage in philanthropic work, fraternities tend to be known for extreme parties and initiation rituals that “prey on the weaker minded individuals.” Smith told a story about a fraternity at UK that was banned from the campus because of harmful hazing practices.

Two sorority members interviewed this week from Virginia Tech and Penn State qualified Smith’s assertion that sororities build strong bonds of sisterhood and strive to benefit their surrounding communities.

Abigail Ryan, from Great Falls, Virginia, said that she’s extremely proud of her sorority for donating over $110,000 to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Ryan, 23, served as the philanthropy chairwoman for her Virginia Tech sorority.

Likewise, Cathryn Kessler, 19, from North Caldwell, New Jersey, said her sorority helped shape her.

“Being welcomed among a group of strong, young women helped shape my course to be the type of person that I’ve always strived to be,” Kessler said.

While both Kessler and Ryan hold their experiences in high regard, often fraternities face the public’s scrutiny and can cast a shadow on Greek life overall.

A controversy has emerged as to whether or not colleges should be able to harshly penalize students and ban fraternities or sororities as consequences for engaging in behavior that doesn’t exemplify school values or respect the law.

The North-American Interfraternity Conference says in its position statement that fraternities help students meet lifelong friends, develop leadership skills, gain exposure to career opportunities, and give back to the community. The NIC has also announced its support for strict anti-hazing legislation and vows to hold students accountable.

Jennifer Chapman, 51, from Washington, D.C., doesn’t think that harsher rules or eliminating Greek Life is sufficient for a long term solution.

“I think the need for people to be so aggressively exclusive and kind of doing these sort of rituals is probably the bigger problem,” Chapman said. “I don’t think eliminating is going to work because people are going to find ways to make exclusive groups.”

Others, like Smith, understand the importance of maintaining a positive image on campus and feel that it’s fair for schools to start cracking down on fraternities.

“I have people that go to my school from different countries, people from all different types of states, and you want to make the campus feel as safe and inclusive as possible,” Smith said.

“So with fraternities, especially at a big Division 1 campus like mine, that’s such a big deal. You can’t have that type of negative publicity or attention on the campus. It hurts.”

July 3, 2017July 10, 2017

Mental health major issue on campus

College campuses have always been a place of sleepless nights and intense deadlines but within the last decade another issue has surfaced: students coping with mental illnesses.

For 28-year-old University of Delaware alumnus Mikala Jamison, who said she faced anxiety when she got to college, the rising numbers are a sign of more people getting diagnosed and treatment.

“I don’t even know if I would say that more people have more issues,” Jamison said. “I think we’re just talking about it more or people are using services more or being diagnosed as having more mental health issues now. I think it’s more of a diagnosis thing rather than more people have it.”

Jamison opened up about her views on mental health as she spent her Friday morning break at the Tenleytown Panera, sipping on her coffee before she was due back at work. At Jamison’s job, she works with students who are heading off to college.

When she was in college, Jamison struggled with anxiety and was able to use the mental health facilities at her school. She’s well aware, however, that many students years ago weren’t encouraged to use those facilities because mental health issues were stigmatized or not taken as seriously.

According to a 2006 article in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, colleges have noticed an increase in students with mental illnesses—the most prevalent of which being depression. However, other research shows that students may not be seeking services.

Although health services are provided on college campuses, as many as 84 percent of students with depression or anxiety don’t receive these services, according to a 2011 article in the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. Even if college students don’t feel comfortable with in-school counseling, there are many other places to turn.

Out-of-school organizations such as National Alliance on Mental Illness and Active Minds solely focus on helping people with mental health issues and raising awareness for the importance of mental health treatment.

Advocacy for mental health awareness has gained so much support within the past few years that the first week of October is even devoted to mental health, being known as Mental Illness Awareness Week.

The most important goal for these organizations and events is to provide help for people with mental health issues and ultimately to let them know that they’re not alone.

“If you’re struggling with something, talk to someone, go to therapy, speak to somebody about what you’re going through because we see college students commit suicide on campuses because they don’t know where to turn,” Jamison said. “I think it’s an awareness thing, raising awareness that if you need help, we have help to offer you.”

July 3, 2017

Study abroad offers new cultural experiences; lifelong memories

WASHINGTON, D.C.–American University students and alumni interviewed this week described their study abroad program as an opportunity for them to experience new cultures first hand and understand the dynamics and lifestyles of different groups of people.

Sara E. Dumont, executive director of AU’s study abroad program, stated that with over 130 programs available at the university, it’s ranked #2 for study abroad participation among research universities. And, she said, 70 percent of AU students will have a study abroad experience by the time they graduate.

Dumont said the office’s most important consideration is the academic side of the program but noted “most of our students will experience some level of culture shock – in fact, they should, and we tell them that if they don’t, they can’t really be trying to engage with another culture!”

Many students including Mikita Hill-Cashaw, who went to Brazil, said they sought a study abroad experience for the cultural exposure rather than the academic component.

“It’s like while you’re here we’re friends and we’re family, and you can depend on me and we can do things together, and I’ll do things for you and we can have like this nice mutual relationship, even though I had no idea who they were,” Hill-Cashaw said about Brazilians.

Not all experiences offered a huge culture shock, however.

Ambar Pardilla, 21, recently returned from a semester in London and said that although there were subtle differences and nuances in British culture, it wasn’t too much of a change, and she was able to adapt pretty quickly to the lifestyle.

In terms of preparing for the change in culture and lifestyle, students took different approaches.

Pardilla and 25-year-old Abby Osamwonyi said that students research the country they will be visiting often to avoid any culturally inappropriate actions.

AU itself also offers a series of resources that aims to prepare students for their experience.

Students reflect on study abroad. By Ana Salazar.

. Dumont said that the Study Abroad office has detailed brochures for each program they offer, in addition to general information sessions, one-one-one advising with AU Abroad advisors, a pre-departure orientation and an on-site orientation.

But Hill-Cashaw handled her preparation differently.

“I was kind of radical in that I didn’t, I just kind of went,” Hill-Cashaw remembered. “I didn’t want to do any kind of research, I didn’t wanna have any preconceived notions of what the country might be like.”

Many of the students interviewed said that one of the most valuable take-aways from study abroad was understanding that cultures and people aren’t as simple as a Google search or a travel guide and that they never would have been able to understand the culture without experiencing it first hand.

“All of my host families were different, and their dynamics were different, and the way they interacted with me and each other was very different, so it’s less about ‘These are Brazilians, Brazilians are one specific way. I’m an American, I’m this one specific way’ and it’s more about how are these people individually within their culture and within the broader spectrum of like humanity,” Hill-Cashaw said.

“It’s kind of cool.”

August 6, 2016

Tuition & diversity mark Berkeley’s evolution

BERKELEY, Calif. — How has Berkeley changed over the years?

What used to be a free education for California residents, was around $13,500 for in-state tuition, a number that jumped to more than $38,000 for out-of-state students, in the past academic year.

The University of California, Berkeley, the state’s first and now ranked No. 1 on U.S. News’ annual “best colleges” list, was created 48 years later, in 1868. Over the years, change throughout the university and the town is reflected in the grounds themselves — and continuing construction over the campus’ 1,200 acres — and the students.

Stan James, the manager of Bill’s Men’s Shop, which was founded in 1961, said, “The students were different; they were more preppy. They were pretty much all the same.”

In 1968, the registration fee for all students was $300 per year. The tuition for out-of-state students was $1,200 per year, and tuition was free for all in-state residents.

In 1975, 85 percent of students attending Berkeley were residents of California. According to a recent study done by the Berkeley News Office in 2015, 65 percent of students attending Berkeley are now residents of California.

Maureen Nam, owner of Steve’s Korean BBQ, and Stan James said they have seen a definite increase in diversity in their years working in the heart of the Berkeley campus.

Nam said that over the years, she has noticed that the economy and her business are tied. “State of economy low, my business goes low. State of economy high, my business goes high.”

Right now, Nam has noticed an increase in Asian students, especially Chinese. She said that they are big fans of what Steve’s Korean BBQ has to offer, and so her business is booming.

There have been many new developments within Berkeley, such as development of new residential halls, apartments and restaurants over the years. These changes have shifted both Berkeley’s cityscape and demographic, as the city and the people of Berkeley are connected in an unmistakable and fluid way.

James said that for the past four to five years there was a lot of construction, and the end-result did not turn out as was initially planned. A fire broke out on Telegraph Avenue, taking out two restaurants.

A side-view of the construction project. Nam said, "The general noise and construction makes everyone uncomfortable." Photo by Anamaya Shore — A side-view of the construction project. Nam said, “The general noise and construction makes everyone uncomfortable.” Photo by Anamaya Shore

There is currently a construction site,The Southgate Apartments, on Durant Avenue in hopes of creating new apartment space for students,and other Berkeley locals. There will be 44 apartments, eight two-bedroom units, 36 one-bedroom units and junior one-bedroom apartments. The project also includes two restaurants: Taco Bell Cantina and Garlic Mediterranean.

The average cost for an apartment will range from $2,000 to 4,000 a month; even at that high price tag, the apartments are still expected to draw students.

One thing has remained a constant: The importance of academics, students and a vision that Berkeley students will “contribute even more than California’s gold to the glory and happiness of advancing generations.“

James says, “As far as the university, that’s been the constant thing. Students come and get their education.”

July 14, 2016

Pokémon Go catches ’em all in D.C.

“Pokémon Go” has been sweeping the world’s attention and in Washington, D.C. students, professors and parents are among the millions using the app who are trying to catch ‘em all.

Players are tasked with finding Pokémon in an augmented reality with the creatures popping up on screen as they walk. The object is to catch as many Pokémon as possible, with some having more value than others.

District residents said the surge in play this week has been noticeable.

“I saw teenage boys at a park for the first time in my life,” said Aiyana Riddihough, 20, a new “Pokémon Go” user and Washington University student. “I think that’s pretty good.”

While “Pokémon Go” has encouraged players to step outside and explore their neighborhoods, it also has brought risks. The National Safety Council released on Tuesday a statement citing concerns noting people walking and driving while using the app may be putting themselves and others at risk.

“It takes people out of their environment, but also puts them in it,” said J.T. Tubbs, 21, a camp counselor at American University.

A large difference between “Pokémon Go” and other games is the freedom it presents to its users, according to Patrick Flynn, an American University adjunct instructor of film and media arts. While some applications may punish you for not checking up regularly, “Pokémon Go” allows players to catch Pokémon whenever they like.

“As the game gets on and as hierarchies develop as they always seem to do, that’s when we’ll start to see what the real problems are,” said Flynn, who said with more time more issues might arise.

The future of “Pokémon Go” may change with the beginning of the school year. High school students won’t have the same amount of time to play, however, college students will return to campuses flooded with Pokémon.

“You could, theoretically, see fraternities or clubs setting up lures and using that as a way to meet people and expand their membership, in a very organic, social way,” Flynn said.

For now, “Pokémon Go” attracts users from many backgrounds. Players don’t need prior knowledge, but for those Pokémon fans the game is like a dream come true.

“I’m obsessed,” said Dylan Kenney, 21, while catching a Pokémon on the table at a campus cafe. “I’ve played Pokémon for years, and now I can actually catch a Venonat in Starbucks.”

July 13, 2016July 13, 2016

AU community will see more gender inclusive signs on restrooms

American University will increase the number of gender inclusive restrooms on campus and will up the number of signs indicating where they are located, according to a university official.

The university had previously referred to the facilities as family or unisex restrooms,in the wake of a 2006 Washington, D.C. law.

Sara Bendoraitis, 37, the Director of Programming, Outreach, and Advocacy at American University’s Center for Diversity and Inclusion said that 2006 law was the main factor prompting the change in how restrooms were labelled on campus.

“People have the right to use the bathroom that best fits their identity,” Bendoraitis said.

Under that act’s Gender Identity and Expression clause, all public facilities are lawfully required to provide adequate accommodations for individuals who would feel uncomfortable or unsafe using restrooms that are gender segregated. In addition, single-stall restrooms must have gender neutral signs.

Of gender neutral bathrooms on campus, Bendoraitis said they “are not new on campus, and they actually exist in all aspects of our daily lives.”

Although laws protecting gender neutral spaces have been on the books in the district for a decade, the issue gained widespread prominence after North Carolina legislators voted in March to strip transgender individuals of their right to use a public facility of the gender they identify as.

Laura Neumayer, a 19-year-old junior studying in the School of International Service, and Julia Baldwin, 24, studying nutrition, both agreed that American’s decision to classify several restrooms as gender neutral was not surprising.

“AU is notably liberal and progressive, and the student body is very inclusive,” said Neumayer, who worked on a laptop outside the Dav cafe. “They have always tried to be this way, so the gender neutral restrooms have been on campus for a while.”

Some voiced opposition, saying they did not see the necessity of changing the signage on campus.

Carl LeVan, 45, is an associate professor of political science. He believes the university made a courageous decision by updating its signage, but he was unclear as to why labeling restrooms as unisex was inadequate.

Bendoraitis said that although the function of the facilities themselves has not changed, new labels of gender neutral are essential in order for AU to meet the needs of those who may not be comfortable using the traditional single sex restrooms.

Dorm bathroom sign — A sign posted outside a gender-neutral bathroom at an American University dorm encourages inclusion. Photo credit Jennie Yu.

“It is not about the comfort of everybody else,” Bendoraitis said. “It’s about the comfort of that person, and making sure they have access to the facilities that they would like to use.”

July 9, 2016July 11, 2016

Students stress over debt

AU Weber — Rebecca Weber, 27, an American University graduate student, reads at the campus Starbucks. Photo Credit Sami Pye.

Liz Hexler, 18, a rising sophomore at American University, shook her head as she contemplated the idea of transferring to a more affordable college.

“I already am getting a large scholarship, but it still is not feasible for me to be at American University for more than two years,” said Hexler, of Chicago.

She came with the hopes to succeed in the international relations program, but has been left angered by what she sees as excessive fees and tuition.

With college prices on the rise and more and more people applying, students are struggling to repay loans. Currently, U.S. graduates and students owe $1.2 trillion in student debt, according to debt.org.

Every second, $3,000 in student debt is acquired, and the average debt for the U.S. graduate student is $33,000, according to debt.org. In 2014, the average amount of debt at graduation rose 56 percent, from $18,550 to $28,950, according to the Institute for College Access and Success.

Joanna Sobieski, 24, a 2015 American University graduate, and Alex Mazzarisi, 22, who graduated the school in May, both supported the idea of going to community college for the first two years and then transferring to a more expensive.

“I worked three jobs, so I didn’t have the typical college experience,” Sobieski said.

Sobieski had to work numerous jobs to keep up with with all of the expenses that come with attending American, where the average annual cost is around $60,000, according to American University’s website.

After graduation, Sobieski worked abroad for a year with a very low-paying job, so she was able to postpone the loan, but now she is very stressed as to how she will repay the loan. In order to repay, she plans to work a 9-to-5 job and work retail or waitress on the side.

Rebecca Weber, 27, an American University graduate student, said when she finishes her master’s degree in international affairs, she’ll have more than $100,000 in loan debt.

“I’m not going to live where I want to live or be at the same level of comfort,” Weber said.

Others, like Mike Limarzi, 33, did not see student loans as a huge obstacle.

“They do impact, but not disastrously,” Limarzi said.

Limarzi graduated from Georgetown University, a private school in Washington, D.C., in 2004. While student debt wasn’t a struggle for him, he still pays his wife’s $500 monthly student loan.

“We have an amount to pay, and we try to pay over it each month so we finish fast,” Limarzi said. “We know how to budget.”

Sitting on a bench outside the American University library where she works, Tara Barnett, 28, explained what helped her the most with student debt after graduating from Reed College in 2009.

“I had a lot of financial aid,” Barnett said. “Without it, I couldn’t have gone.”

For many, grants and loans are the major forms of federal financial aid for undergraduate students. According to the U.S. Department of Education, over 1.9 million students receive financial aid each year. For some, it’s the only way to afford college.

“My boyfriend goes to school in Denmark,” Mazzarisi said. “He didn’t come from a well-off family, but he is still able to go to one of the best colleges in his country because it is free. He also gets paid $800 to attend.

“The U.S. can maybe learn something from that,” she continued.

July 7, 2016

Despite urban area, AU students and staff feel safe

Emergency blue light towers stand throughout American University Northwest Washington, D.C. campus and offer an extra l

An American University staffer walks by an emergency tower on campus. Photo credit Jordyn Fields.

ayer of safety and protection, but many interviewed on campus this month said they feel completely safe.

“I think on certain campuses safety is an issue but not here,” said 20-year-old Cristina Tejada, sitting at the campus Starbucks. “I feel safe on AU’s campus.”

Almost a dozen students and staff this week said crime is not one of their major concerns at American University. But nationwide, in 2014, 50,000 criminal offenses took place on college campuses, according to the U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety and Security website.

Crimes at American University’s campus have ranged from bike theft and burglary to alcohol violations and aggravated assault, according to the Public Safety website.

Incoming college first-year students at American are given tips and guidelines about staying safe in college. Tips include using the “buddy system,” getting home early, and knowing where those blue emergency towers are.

“It’s better to start with the individual because there’s such a good campus security presence,” said Denise Paolella, who works at American.

Campus police patrol cars circle campus.The school also offers a self defense class.

“I didn’t have a lot of concerns about campus safety,” said 42-year-old Joy Adams, who now works on campus. While she was a college student in Texas she said, “I was mindful of my environment by making sure I didn’t walk in dark place on my own.”