PAGE 2 — THE DECREE — FEBRUARY 13,1987
Opinions and Editorials
Students need more
effort, less griping
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Financial aid rules change
"Why does he give me
all of this work? Does he
think this is the only class I
have? It sure does seem
that he would realize that
this is too much work to do
in one week?" These, along
with other excuses, are
very commonly overheard at
college and universities
throughout the nation when
students voice their displea
sure at of the demands of
college professors.
A student should attend
a college to expand his
knowledge on various top
ics, not just to go to parties
or to develop a social life.
Many begin college with the
idea that it will be just like
high school. Much to their
disappointment, college is
usually a good bit tougher.
While there are fraternities,
sororities, and other social
groups to get involved with,
there are also those
seemingly dreadful things
called classes that should
be the student's first, and
foremost, responsibility.
To some, classes be
come the most dreaded part
of the day. Are these stu
dents in college to learn or
just to have a good time.
Someone is putting out a
large sum of money just for
these students to go to
parties at night and miss
classes during the day to
catch up on the sleep they
missed the night before. It
probably is reasonable to
assume that those should
ering the financial burden
would rather save their
money than allow it to be
"partied away."
Students seem to be so
set on having a good time
that they sometimes forget
why they are at college.
College is a student's "job,"
and realizing that should help
the student handle the res
ponsibility that goes along
with the freedom of college
life. It is the responsibility of
students to go to class, do
the required work, and learn
what should be learned.
When students graduate, will
they not go to work one mor
ning because they will not be
prepared to do what might be
asked of them. If they don't,
they certainly will not have
that particular job long. This
should be taken into consid
eration by students when
they skip class. If a person
begins these habits in col
lege, the chances are good
that they will carry over into
the work force when the stu
dent is graduated.
Colleges and universities
usually have a quite diverse
offering of classes, with many
"horizon-broadening" activi
ties that students fail to see
the value of and take advan
tage of them. There are lec
tures by staff, faculty, and
even influential people from
the community or even the
state. These lectures, most
of the time, are free to stu
dents. Too often the student
fails to see the educational
benefit of these acitvities and
therefore does not attend,
thinking that he or she will
not benefit in any way from
the lecture. If we do not at
tend, how will we ever know
how interesting the lecture or
speaker may have been?
Maybe today's college stu
dents need to stop com
plaining and get to work. All
students need to remember
that what we do in college
will determine what will hap
pen to us for the remainder of
our lives.
By RICK SIMON
President Reagan signed the
reauthorization bill of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 on Oct. 17,
1986. This bill extends and amends
the 1965 legislation which is the
source of federal assistance to
millions of college students. With
the new application year now under
way, it seems appropriate to review
these changes in the law and high
light the impact on some within our
student body.
The most dramatic change will be
in the Guaranteed Student Loan
Program (GSL). The GSL program is
designed to promote the availability
of loans from College Foundation,
banks and other lenders to students
and parents.
The federal government insures
the loan against borrower default and
pays the interest while the student is
in school. In the past, students with
family incomes below 30,000
automatically qualified and in some
cases could use GSL funds to replace
family contribution. Under the new
legislation, all students regardless of
income must demonstrate need and
cannot use GSL funds to replace any
part of their family contributions.
The changes in GSL are not all
bad. Maximum loan amounts have
been increased to $2,625 forfreshman
and sophomores. Juniors and seniors
will be allowed to borrow up to
$4,000 if they qualify.
Increased yearly amounts for
individual students were approved for
Pell Grant, Supplemental Grant and
the Perkin's Loan (formerly known as
the National Direct Student Loan).
However, students are cautioned
not to expect increased amounts in
these areas because federal funding
was not increased in these programs.
Several general provisions in
financial aid were addressed. The two
worth noting were the requirement
that students make satisfactory pro
gress and the requirement for de
claring independence from parental
support.
Each student receiving federal
assistance will be required to make
satisfactory progress toward a degree
by the end of their second semester.
In more specific terms, students must
meet the academic requirements
consistent with requirement for
graduation as determined by the insti
tution.
The determination of independent
status has changed to make it more
difficult for students under 23 years of
age to declare independence from
parental support. Any student under
Dear Editor;
Maybe you could clarify a
couple of points.
Why is it that the Community
Council, supposedly here to rep
resent student interests, is pre
paring to vote on an amendment
that will allow the Council to
pass a vote without a quorum?
Granted, the student atten
dance is pitiful, but it makes no
sense to elect officers if the
general consensus is not repre
sented properly. If the Com
munity Council is in such peril
for members, why not appoint
responsible members who will
definitely attend and maybe
some real work could be done.
Another point about the Com
munity Council that is baffling is
the fact that the Council is
supposed to be a stepping stone
for students to get their concerns
and interests proposed before the
Administration, such as the Pres
ident of the College, to then be
taken before the Trustees.
It seems that many of the
proposals get proposed at the
Community Council meetings
only to be neglected and for-
23 who qualified as an independent
last year is requested to stop by the
financial aid office to review
application requirements for the
upcoming year.
I am sure more changes will be
evident once all the information has
filtered down to the colleges from the
Department of Education. Financial
Aid is in anything but a steady state
this year. Students with questions are
encouraged to stop in and discuss
their situations for the upcoming
year. Together, we will struggle
through the procedural hurdles the
new legislation has placed before us.
gotten. This is due to the fact
that the next stepping stone,
which should be the Admini
stration, such as the various
Deans of the College, are already
on the Council. And yet, al
though it might quicken the
process, having the Deans on the
Council to hear the proposals as
soon as they are given, the
Council has an amendment stat
ing that they feel the Dean of
Academics should not be on the
Council, while the Dean of Stu
dent Life rermains to divert
proposals. Should not the Deans
be on the same level, deciding
together whether or not propo
sals can be taken to the Trustees?
Don't get me wrong. I'm not
putting down any of the mem
bers of the Council. But for the
past three years the Council has
not been able to organize well
enough to function properly.
Something needs to be done,
whether that means scrapping
the Council and trying something
else or at least giving up the idea
of trying to continue as it is.
But then again, maybe not.
Kori K. Townsend
OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF
NORTH CAROLINA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
Editorial Board—Wayne Martin, Barry Nethercutt,
ChristopherOstling, Tom Rivers' ■ ;
Illustrator — David Gilliam Photographer-r-Steve Wiggins
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Wesleyan Coliege Station, Rocky Mount, NC 27801, Policy is determined by the Editorial
Board of The RepubUcatioh bf any matter herein without the express consent of
the Editorial Bo^ is strictly forbidden. T/ie Decree is composed and printed by TAfi
Spring Uope Enterprise.
Opinions published do not necessarily reflect those of North Carolina Wesleyan College i
Council needs review