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More students opting for first two years at community college

Michaelyn Hoeres is unsure what she wants to study in college. 

The Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18-year-old, who graduated from Freedom High School in June, worried about paying thousands of dollars per credit for general education requirements.

So, she’s spending her first two years of higher education not on a sprawling University campus, but instead at Northampton Community College.

“I knew I could knock out many of my gen ed requirements and save money while at a community college,” Hoeres said. “It puts less pressure on my parents.”

Michaelyn Hoeres posing for her senior pictures. By Kevin Volpe

Hoeres is among an estimated 9.8 million undergraduates enrolling in a community college for the 2017-2018 school year, according to Teachers College, Columbia University.

The total cost of a four-year degree can be drastically reduced by spending the first two years at a community college.

The average cost of one year of private, four-year University is $35,074, according to Best Value Schools. According to College Board assuming you complete two years of required classes at a community college, you will save $12,000 to $66,000 compared to the same education given at a state or private school.

No matter which college someone attends or what your ideal major is, the first two years generally are comprised general education classes. Many students won’t get into courses that fulfill their majors until junior year. 

Even with two years at community college, students who transfer their junior year to a more traditional campus earn a diploma with that school’s name on it.

Every first-year student is required to take core classes such as English 101, math, and science class in order to fulfill needed credits for graduation. There’s little difference in content between those classes from school to school, so some interviewed this week find it more economical to take them at community college.

The main reason behind attending a community college comes down to cost. Being able to earn a degree at the fraction of the price is a desirable want for many young individuals. 

Students are better financially prepared for the costs of a four year university should they plan on transferring.

Hoeres is looking forward to getting started. Even though she admits, she knows she’s missing out on some aspects of a four-year college.

“I am excited to be beginning a new part of my life but it does hurt watching most of my friends leave to go hours away to Universities,” Hoeres said.

 

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Safety First When Students Travel Abroad

Students from all over visit Westminster.
Photo from College Fulton MO

WASHINGTON D.C. – Beth O’Quinn says that studying abroad and discovering new cultures and ways of life is one of the most influential and enlightening experiences a student can have.

But O’Quinn, who is the director of experiential learning at Foxcroft School, a girls boarding school in Middleburg, Virginia, says that safety is the most important consideration of sending students from her school overseas.

“Safety always comes first,” O’Quinn said.

“We have a ratio system for every trip that we take,” she continued. “For every six girls, there are two teachers or chaperones who attend as well. So if there is a total of 12 girls on the trip, then there will be four chaperones in total as well.”

When most parents consider allowing their child to explore a different country, the first thing that comes to mind is the health and safety precautions that are put into action.

Kimberly Turner of Washington D.C. says in an interview that when she went to Edinburgh, Scotland her senior year of high school, “The teachers went above and beyond to ensure that we were all healthy and safe by regularly checking in with us and having groups of us being assigned to different chaperones. I did not once feel unsafe on that trip because the chaperones were organized and always on top of everything.”

David Larsen, who is the director of the Beaver College Center for Education Abroad, states that he requires the students he sends to Belfast, Ireland to be driven through the most dangerous parts of that city so that they are clearly informed of what places to avoid.

O’Quinn also stated in a recent interview that students have to fulfill certain health requirements deeming that there will be no health issues that will be exacerbated by going overseas or that will hinder their overall experience.

It is also essential that students be given the proper vaccinations depending on what country they will be visiting.

Sometimes, school leaders must also account for a country’s political issues when deciding if students should go.

O’Quinn said that one trip to South Africa in 2016 coincided with elections there. It was cancelled because of upheaval and violence at the time.

Even though the city, Johannesburg, that the students would have been staying in was deemed safe, she said it was better to err on the side of caution.

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Americans weigh in on Trump…so far

If Gary Bochner could go back in time, he’d do November differently.

Bochner, 58, who voted for Donald Trump says that he would vote for another candidate. Bochner says that seeing that President Trump has not done any of the things he promised and has even made enemies with many world leaders, he is rethinking his vote.

“At the time, I was unemployed and the idea that he was going to ‘Make America Great Again’ and give jobs back to Americans really appealed to me,” Bochner said.

Sarah Yu said she is feeling frustrated and angry about the Trump Administration. By Vicky Tan

As President Trump nears the six month mark of his time in office, his approval ratings continue to drop, even those like Bochner who voted for him in the 2016 election are unhappy with how he has used his power so far.

According to the Gallup Daily, only 39 percent of Americans support the Trump Administration.

Among other District of Columbia residents, many believe that the Trump Administration is actually hurting the country.

Interviews done this week at American University and in Dupont Circle showed that many people had a range of issues they said were important. Those included: the environment, tax reform, relations with other nations, immigration policy reform and improving healthcare.

Eric Pullman, 17, said that Trump has disappointed the country in how he’s handled all of those substantial issues. And, Pullman said, he thinks racism also has gotten worse.

“His drastic actions hurt us all as Americans,” Pullman said. “This is not what we stand for. If Trump is to win a second term in office, I am not sure the county will be able to bounce back from it. The United States has become a laughing stock.”

As a Jewish-American living in the Bible Belt of the United States, Pullman has grown accustomed to weird looks.

“I am proud of my religion,” said Pullman, who is from Alabama, and was visiting Washington, D.C. to visit colleges. “Their stares cannot hurt me. I will not be ashamed of who I am.”

However, for Pullman’s Muslim neighbors, it is not just stares. He says that since Trump has taken office, discrimination has gotten worse.

“Their eldest daughter and I will sometimes walk to school together. One morning, somebody rode by on a bike and pulled off her hijab while yelling about how Trump would make America great again. As a Jewish-American, I feel the need to stand against actions like this,” Pullman said.

 

 

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U.S. student debt tops $1.4 trillion

WASHINGTON, D.C.–American University students and Northwest District of Columbia residents said Wednesday that student loan debt which is above $1.4 trillion in the United States today is a serious issue facing those seeking higher education in America.

Nelson Jacobson discusses his experience with student loans. By Vicky Tan

“Interest rates are rising and I’m scared that I’ll still be paying of loans when I’m 35,” said Leila Ackerman, 18, who will start at American University this Fall.

Ackerman worries about expenses beyond just tuition and housing. She said the hidden costs are also going to add up. Not only is tuition becoming more and more expensive, but new students must be able to afford food, textbooks and other necessities to living away from home.

“I’m one of the lucky ones, I can’t even imagine what having loans breathing down your back would feel like,” said Janice Barlow, 20, an American University student. “You really can’t do anything. Every thing you do, anywhere you go, you have to be thinking about money.”

According to the Student Loan Debt Report, national student loan debt collectively currently totals $1.41 trillion.

According to the report, around 70 percent of college students in the United States now owe some soft of debt for education. However, even with almost a whole generation drowning in student loan debt, there is no guarantee of employment after they graduate.

There was a general consensus among both residents and students that government is not doing enough to help financially struggling students. With interest rates slowly rising, the nation has not made education as high a priority as others, they said.

“Government should try to make education more affordable, everyone should have the opportunity to go to get a better education if they want to. Money should not be a limiting factor,” Ackerman said.

 

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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.”

 

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Public preference shifts towards digital news as cable news declines

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A broadcast tower stands above American University’s campus in Washington D.C. Photo by Peter Billovits

People on American University’s campus gave their opinions in July regarding digital methods of accessing news in contrast to cable news services, an increasing concern about accessing information in a democracy.

The decline of broadcast and print news sources is no secret to the American public, as the Internet gains popularity as an alternative news source. The prominence of social media, current events websites, and other means of communication make the Internet an all too tempting alternative to replace the organizations displayed daily on linear broadcast television.

Emily Davis, 28, believes that an array of news sources is necessary in order to dodge political bias and get a balanced perspective.

Others, like international student Shuang Shan, 23, are distrustful of large sources of information.

“I think almost every news source has its own biases,” Shan said.

Shan’s home country of China is known for its censorship of news, a practice which she disagrees with. As such, she embraces the accessibility of sources like Vox, a popular news website. Shan predicts broadcast news will stick around.

“I think people will still watch broadcast news for some things like events happening in real time,” Shan said.

According to a Pew Research Center report about news services, cable news lost 140,000 daily viewers in 2014. It also released a report on the digital news media audience, showing the total amount of viewers on digital news sites has increased.

Among the top 10 digital news sources, the combined total of unique daily viewers is more than 1.8 million.

Satire shows also serve as a news source for many like American University student Audrey Schreiber, 21. Schreiber, a rising senior, enjoys watching the Daily Show with Jon Stewart on Comedy Central.

“He presents it in a way that you can swallow it, but presents it with a passion,” Schreiber said.

The question of whether traditional news is still relevant in an era of booming online sources and apps seems to be a subject of never-ending debate. Schreiber sees the decline of cable news as an opportunity.

“The more you try to save these dying newspapers, or whatever you want to call them, the less they get saved,” Schreiber said.

Lindsay Studer, 23, prefers to stay clear of major networks and instead resorts to theSkimm, an online service that emails select articles to a subscriber.

Even so, not everyone seems to want to abandon the tradition of watching their news and entertainment on television sets.

High school English teacher Maria Crudel, 47, think that it is essential for broadcast news to remain as a key source.

“I don’t care to sit in front of a computer and get my information because I already sit at a computer all day long,” Crudel said.

If there’s one thing that people seem to agree on, it’s the importance of keeping up on current events.

“That’s what a democratic process is all about,” Crudel said. “It’s about being informed and not having decisions made for you. And as an electorate, we have to know what’s going on.”

 

 

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Marshmallow-infused whip cream s’mores latte? Calorie counts help some decide

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American University Starbucks customers wait in line. Photo by Madeline Jarrard.

American University Starbucks consumers have been provided with calorie count information at the campus location for years, but the impact of this information on consumer behavior is mixed.

Nationwide, Starbucks has required its stores post calorie counts next to drink names since June 2013. With that, Starbucks joined a host of other fast food chain restaurants giving customers what was supposed to be better nutritional information.

Coia Williams, 38, has been working at the campus Starbucks for three years and noted the counts are up. But customers relayed mixed feelings about the calorie count.

“I probably should watch my calories, but I don’t,” said Antia Horsey, 50, sitting on a bench outside of Starbucks holding a drink.

When asked about it, Horsey thought the calorie count was targeted to a younger generation that was extremely health conscious.

However, when asked some young customers brought a different perspective.

Helen Torres-Siclait, a 16-year-old Discover the World of Communication student, insisted that the calorie count was irrelevant to her.

“I have never looked at that in my life,” said Torres-Siclait laughing.

The calorie count never plays a part in her decision making at Starbucks. Torres-Siclait said that she picks whatever sounds most appetizing and that usually involves caramel and whipped cream.

Starbucks also lists nutrition information on its website, where a grande Caramel Brulee Latte contains 52 grams of sugars and 40 percent of a person’s daily recommended maximum saturated fat intake. A tall White Chocolate Mocha contains 400 calories compared to an iced version of the drink, which has 60 fewer calories.

Torres-Siclait may not worry about the content but, she noted some of her friends’ drink decisions are dependent on how many calories or grams of fat inside.

Maryam Khan, 19, works at the American University bookstore, just a couple floors up from the campus Starbucks. She explained that when she goes to the popular coffee store, she gets the most sugary drink that she can. As a college student she usually needs something to keep her awake into the late hours, she said. For her, the calorie count holds no weight.

Starbucks continues to introduce other sugary and high calorie drinks, like the new 500-calorie grande S’mores Frappuccino that comes with marshmallow-infused whip cream.

And those drinks are good for business.

According to Statista, Starbucks’ annual income has been on the rise each year since 2008, even with customers informed of the calorie count.

However, customers are sometimes swayed by the calorie count.

Heather Lynch, 49, walked around AU’s campus with a croissant and a tall cappuccino.

“I wanted to get a scone, but then I saw that the croissant was less,” Lynch said of the calories.

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Sexual assault on campus

Students and professors at American University interviewed this month shared their opinions on how security measures affect college rape culture and the prevalence of sexual assault on their own campuses and nearby housing in Northwest Washington D.C.

Campus rape is a problem plaguing universities and colleges across the country, and it’s receiving attention from many here. Almost everyone interviewed at AU in July said that the university’s administrative response could use improvement, but noted offenses occur off campus, too.

“I don’t think it’s a campus safety issue because from my experience with it, it’s all been acquaintance rape, date rape, happening at parties,” said Jessica Kowal, a 20-year-old AU student. “It’s not someone walking back to their dorm late at night and someone jumping out the bushes.”

Both Kowal and Carolyn Hamilton, also 20, shared personal stories detailing their dissatisfaction with administrative response. Both say they knew women who had been assaulted.

“It’s very prevalent,” Hamilton said.

But Amy Eisman, 62, who teaches in the journalism division, feels that perhaps the deficiency of effective response is due to the sheer magnitude of the problem.

“My perception is that the university is doing what it can,” Eisman said. “But it’s a huge issue that I’m not sure anybody has a great handle on yet.”

Stalls in every campus bathroom display a poster providing information for victims of sexual assault and contact information for support networks. Many of these posters also include handwritten notes that students have left each other. One scratched out the word “survivor” and wrote “victim.”

A sign posted inside a bathroom stall at American University. Photo by Zoe Searles.
A sign posted inside a bathroom stall at American University. Photo by Zoe Searles.

“You are stronger than you know,” one reads.

The University offers sexual assault information on its website. IDs are required for entrance into the dorms, emergency telephone poles can be found every several hundred yards and safety patrol officers are stationed on campus around the clock.

There are peer support groups, of which the students interviewed spoke highly.

These groups are not limited to female discussion; Jaques Foul, 25, said that he doesn’t think males are left out of the conversation.

“I think we’re all responsible if something happens,” Foul said.

 

 

 

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AU students and faculty react to campus safety measures

By Emily Boyle
Discover the World of Communication student Naima Fonrose from Laurel, Maryland observes a blue phone emergency system on campus. Photo by Emily Boyle

American University students, staff and summer program attendees expressed both confidence and apprehension about campus safety in interviews this month.

Cassidy Luciano, a rising junior at AU, said she felt comfortable on campus with the various safety measures implemented. Though Luciano has never seen the blue “emergency” towers around campus in use, she has felt comfortable knowing they are present.

Luciano lives off campus but lived in Anderson Hall during her freshman year. While she liked having someone to check IDs at the front desk, Luciano said “sometimes I think they were a little relaxed,” attributing the laxness in the security to being in a “big city.”

Megan Piccirillo, a rising senior at AU, had no complaints about security on campus. Piccirillo noted she consistently finds public safety officers present, front desk monitors in dorms checking IDs and new technology frequently being introduced to the University.

Samantha Dumas, 19, a student at AU, has generally felt safe during her time on campus. Despite this, Dumas said that occasionally, “people are doing unsafe things behind closed doors.” Dumas did feel that resident advisers are “on top” of keeping dorms safe.

Michael Allen, an AU police officer for eight years, thinks public safety at AU has improved over the years, with many new technologies around the campus being implemented to maximize security measures. He pointed out a shelf of pamphlets that read “Personal Safety Apps.”

One of the key safety apps listed was the “Rave Guardian App.” According to Allen, the app connects students with AU police, allows tip texting and sets a safety timer for students traveling between locations on campus.

Assistant Director of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution Regina Curran believes that AU’s public safety is improving drastically.

Curran said 14 new security officers were hired on campus. Curran said there will be a “greater presence” of officers all around AU, hopefully ensuring all students and faculty feel safe around the clock.

Curran additionally explained the function of the blue phones on campus, which “automatically call the dispatcher” and find immediate help for students in emergencies.