News Briefs- Obama’s proposed plans to change student loans, SGA to revote on pipe line plea, National Radio Day

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Possible Student loan changes

President Obama made a major announcement Monday, Oct. 24, regarding student loans in a series of proposed changes released by the White House in accordance with the president’s speaking tour.
The statement released by the White House said, “Today, the Obama Administration announced it is taking steps to increase college affordability by making it easier to manage student loan debt.”
One of the changes, which will take effect in 2014, will allow students to adjust their monthly payments to 10 percent of their discretionary income. Another proposed program, called “Pay As You Earn,” would allow 1.6 million students to cap their loan payments at 10 percent starting next year. The plan would also forgive the balance of their debt after 20 years of payment.
The new proposals will also allow students to begin consolidating their student loans in January in a manner similar to credit card debt. According to the statement, these consolidations will save college graduates money in monthly payments and reduce interest rates.
More than 5.6 million borrowers have both a Direct Loan (DL) and a Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) which require separate payments. Borrowers making separate payments are more likely to default. To combat this, the Obama White House will allow borrowers to make a single payment for both loans.
“Steps like these won’t take the place of the bold action we need from Congress to boost our economy and create jobs, but they will make a difference,” Obama said. “And until Congress does act, I will continue to do everything in my power to act on behalf of the  American people.”

 

SGA

A question of conscience and crude oil was discussed at the Student Government Association (SGA) meeting on Tues., Oct 25.  President Justin Raymundo proposed that SGA formally call on President Obama to reject plans for the construction of the TransCanada Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, which would reach from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.
The 1,700-mile underground pipeline would deliver oil from the tar sands fields of Alberta to oil refineries in the Gulf.   With little time left before construction begins, activists are pressing Obama to reject the pipeline. The SGA body passed the resolution with a vote of 12-2, and five non-votes.
Because the results were split, the SGA body will cast their votes again on the proposal at their next meeting, said Kevin Chau, Senator of the College of Arts and Sciences.
The next SGA meeting will be Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 3:00 p.m. in the Sunnen Lounge.

 

National Radio Day

Webster University’s radio station, The Galaxy, held it’s first ever event, National Radio Day.
The event was held out in the Quad, Tuesday Oct. 6.
Alex King, the Galaxy’s General Manager, said that over 330 college radio stations nationwide are doing the event.
“The goal is to draw attention to college radio to a national level as well as a local level,” said King.  “Also, it’s to give students here at Webster the chance they might never have like me being a general manager and a college senior.”
King said, the event took three months to prepare for the event. It was media coordinator, Jim Singer’s idea to have the event.
Jim Singer, a media coordinator, said the event is really to focus on what college radio can do for a university.
Webster President, Elizabeth Stroble, came to the event as well.
“I wished the University would have done something like this sooner,” said Stroble.
She said she had her own experience with radio during her time studying at Augustana College.  She covered topics like movie reviews and classical music shows.  By her junior year, she became personnel director of the station.
Stroble said she was glad The Galaxy organized Radio Day and this helps Webster build a diverse community and let the students have a voice.
Students and faculty enjoyed Smugala’s Pizza and ravioli.
“Smugala’s is sponsoring the event and is trying to get their name out there also,” said King.
Games were played such as catching a football to win a free t-shirt or bumper stickers, as well as a raffle to win a $50 gift card to Smugala’s.
Local entertainers sang, as well as The Galaxy’s program director, Jake Videmschek.
“I wanted to add something different to the event and showcase my talents such as playing guitar, piano, vocal ability and songwriting.
King said he was pleased with the turn out the event had.

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