Tuition has been raised at the University of Georgia, and students are not happy.
The University’s Board of Regents approved a 25 percent increase in tuition for in-state students this week, and in these hard economic times, the reaction has been negative from students.
“This is really, really bad,” said Daniel Shirey, a sophomore from John’s Creek. “It really makes me wonder if I can afford to stay here for the next couple years. I know it’s my fault that I’m about to lose [the HOPE scholarship], and probably will be here for more than four years, but this is going to be tough on my parents, and me too.”
“I know the University is struggling too, but I can’t believe this is happening.”
According to the UGA Factbook, 82 percent of University students are in-state. And while the state will continue to pay the entirety of tuition for students on the HOPE scholarship, a lottery-funded scholarship for students with a grade point average at or above 3.0, this spike will hurt those without HOPE the most.
“I don’t know what to say,” said Hunter Gipson, a junior from Cumming, and a recent transfer from Kennesaw State University.
“Maybe I should have stayed at Kennesaw. It would have been cheaper.”
Of 25 students interviewed at the Miller Learning Center on campus Tuesday evening, 12 said they no longer had HOPE, and they expected the increase in tuition to “affect them and their family.” Four more said they were teetering on the brink of a 3.0.
Students who enrolled between fall 2006 and fall 2008 are a part of the “Fixed for Four” program, which guarantees a fixed tuition rate for four years, will not be affected by the increase. But if they are here for longer than their allotted four years, like Shirey says he may be, they will be.
“It’s going to be tough I guess, but we all just need to suck it up and just make the best of it,” said Jennifer Ferlisi, a sophomore from Athens. “We’ll all just have to make do.”
Friday, April 17, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Iraqi journalists come to Athens, discuss freedom of the press
Six Iraqi journalists came to the University of Georgia campus Monday, and spoke of the current state of affairs of freedom of the press in their war-torn country.
While there is still far from a truly free press in Iraq, the visiting Iraqi media members presented a theme of optimism for the future through their state translator.
“To a certain degree there is a level of freedom of media in Iraq right now,” said Dier Shwan, a media manager and the governor of the Iraqi city Kirkuk, just north of Baghdad.
“But not all of the media outlets are as free, because the majority of them are connected one way or another to political parties or militia.”
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists’ Web site, at least 88 Iraqi journalists have been slain since the Iraqi War began in 2003, with not a single conviction.
The frequency of these murders has reportedly slowed, with just nine in 2008 after 27 in 2007, but CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney still calls Iraq "the most dangerous country for journalists by far."
“After 2003 there was a big change in freedom of the press,” said Dr. Asifa Al-Fanherawy, a female correspondent for Radio Free Iraq in Baghdad.
“So we have quite a good space of freedom inside the official government. But it’s hard to reach the standard that we like as journalists.”
While the work is still being done in Iraq, the journalists said, the American-based Iraqi channel Al-Hora, is making in-roads that they can only hope to in the future.
“The irony is that the Al-Hora channel is one of the most watched,” said Al-Fanherawy. “They are quite in tune with the Iraqi streets and what is going on. So they do have a broad audience. The Iraqi viewers trust it to a certain level with its content. You have to understand that all those that are working there are Iraqis, and they’re good quality journalists as a fact.”
“You have to understand that what they have as capabilities is far beyond what any Iraqi channel has,” said Samar Al-Ali, a female television reporter for Al-Fayhaa TV.
“Their ability to reach the news and report the news is way beyond anything we have. But that does not mean we don’t have the same efforts on some of our local channels.”
Here's a video from the CPJ's Web site honoring fallen journalists. Warning: Parts are pretty graphic and disturbing:
CPJ Killed Journalists in 2008 from Dave Mayers on Vimeo.
While there is still far from a truly free press in Iraq, the visiting Iraqi media members presented a theme of optimism for the future through their state translator.
“To a certain degree there is a level of freedom of media in Iraq right now,” said Dier Shwan, a media manager and the governor of the Iraqi city Kirkuk, just north of Baghdad.
“But not all of the media outlets are as free, because the majority of them are connected one way or another to political parties or militia.”
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists’ Web site, at least 88 Iraqi journalists have been slain since the Iraqi War began in 2003, with not a single conviction.
The frequency of these murders has reportedly slowed, with just nine in 2008 after 27 in 2007, but CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney still calls Iraq "the most dangerous country for journalists by far."
“After 2003 there was a big change in freedom of the press,” said Dr. Asifa Al-Fanherawy, a female correspondent for Radio Free Iraq in Baghdad.
“So we have quite a good space of freedom inside the official government. But it’s hard to reach the standard that we like as journalists.”
While the work is still being done in Iraq, the journalists said, the American-based Iraqi channel Al-Hora, is making in-roads that they can only hope to in the future.
“The irony is that the Al-Hora channel is one of the most watched,” said Al-Fanherawy. “They are quite in tune with the Iraqi streets and what is going on. So they do have a broad audience. The Iraqi viewers trust it to a certain level with its content. You have to understand that all those that are working there are Iraqis, and they’re good quality journalists as a fact.”
“You have to understand that what they have as capabilities is far beyond what any Iraqi channel has,” said Samar Al-Ali, a female television reporter for Al-Fayhaa TV.
“Their ability to reach the news and report the news is way beyond anything we have. But that does not mean we don’t have the same efforts on some of our local channels.”
Here's a video from the CPJ's Web site honoring fallen journalists. Warning: Parts are pretty graphic and disturbing:
CPJ Killed Journalists in 2008 from Dave Mayers on Vimeo.
Monday, April 13, 2009
New basketball coach could renew student interest
In recent years, Georgia basketball has not been a huge part of student life in Athens.
But, with the introduction of new coach Mark Fox, formerly of the University of Nevada, on Friday, that may be changing.
Fox comes to Athens with NCAA Tournament experience and a 123-43 record in five seasons in Reno. He’s a largely unknown quantity on this side of the country, but that may turn out to be a good thing — provided he wins.
“In years past, I’d rather go downtown and see a concert or just drink or really do anything [than go to a Georgia basketball game],” said Ben Hansen, a junior from Decatur.
“And it’s mostly because they stunk. I think I’ll at least give it a shot this upcoming season because of the new coach, even though I don’t really know much about him or know what the expect.”
Hansen’s comment is a common sentiment among University students. Of 20 asked Friday morning at the Miller Learning Center on campus, 16 said they had been to “less than three” Georgia basketball games in their college careers.
But of those 20, 15 said that they enjoy basketball, and all of those said that the reason they didn’t go to more games was, well, “they stink.”
“I love basketball, but we’ve had some really bad teams since I’ve been here,” said Amiee Riley, a junior from Atlanta.
“They stink lately. But hopefully this new guy will be able to turn it around. I’ll probably go to at least a few games next season to see what he’s all about.”
John Bateman, the Director of Marketing for Georgia sports, estimated that average student ticket sales for men’s basketball games last season were “between 100 and 200,” far from a student-section sellout.
“It’s been rough recently, but we all know the reasons,” Bateman said. “It’s hard to say if hiring coach Fox will lead to an immediate increase in student ticket sales, but we certainly hope it will.”
Of those 20 students polled at the Miller Learning Center, 14 said they would probably give Georgia basketball another shot during the 2009 season.
“I actually used to play basketball at [the University of] Miami, which is also a ‘football school,’” said Brad Hill, a senior from Atlanta.
“It was kind of a similar situation. People weren’t obsessed with it like they were football, but, if they got a winner, they were willing to get behind it. Hopefully coach Fox can give that to them. I know I’ll be watching.”
The student attendance problem at men’s basketball games is not a stranger to anyone in the Athletic Association. Stegeman Coliseum typically only sells out during gymnastics meets and the occasional women’s basketball games. Unlike men’s basketball, both of those programs are proven winners.
But optimism is still running high.
“I want that coliseum full,” Athletic Director Damon Evans said at Fox’s introductory press conference Friday.
“I want these students jumping around. I want people around the country to be talking about Georgia basketball."
Here's a link to another story I wrote about Fox joining the prestigious Georgia coaching family.
Photo credit: Jason Broom, The Red & Black
But, with the introduction of new coach Mark Fox, formerly of the University of Nevada, on Friday, that may be changing.
Fox comes to Athens with NCAA Tournament experience and a 123-43 record in five seasons in Reno. He’s a largely unknown quantity on this side of the country, but that may turn out to be a good thing — provided he wins.
“In years past, I’d rather go downtown and see a concert or just drink or really do anything [than go to a Georgia basketball game],” said Ben Hansen, a junior from Decatur.
“And it’s mostly because they stunk. I think I’ll at least give it a shot this upcoming season because of the new coach, even though I don’t really know much about him or know what the expect.”
Hansen’s comment is a common sentiment among University students. Of 20 asked Friday morning at the Miller Learning Center on campus, 16 said they had been to “less than three” Georgia basketball games in their college careers.
But of those 20, 15 said that they enjoy basketball, and all of those said that the reason they didn’t go to more games was, well, “they stink.”
“I love basketball, but we’ve had some really bad teams since I’ve been here,” said Amiee Riley, a junior from Atlanta.
“They stink lately. But hopefully this new guy will be able to turn it around. I’ll probably go to at least a few games next season to see what he’s all about.”
John Bateman, the Director of Marketing for Georgia sports, estimated that average student ticket sales for men’s basketball games last season were “between 100 and 200,” far from a student-section sellout.
“It’s been rough recently, but we all know the reasons,” Bateman said. “It’s hard to say if hiring coach Fox will lead to an immediate increase in student ticket sales, but we certainly hope it will.”
Of those 20 students polled at the Miller Learning Center, 14 said they would probably give Georgia basketball another shot during the 2009 season.
“I actually used to play basketball at [the University of] Miami, which is also a ‘football school,’” said Brad Hill, a senior from Atlanta.
“It was kind of a similar situation. People weren’t obsessed with it like they were football, but, if they got a winner, they were willing to get behind it. Hopefully coach Fox can give that to them. I know I’ll be watching.”
The student attendance problem at men’s basketball games is not a stranger to anyone in the Athletic Association. Stegeman Coliseum typically only sells out during gymnastics meets and the occasional women’s basketball games. Unlike men’s basketball, both of those programs are proven winners.
But optimism is still running high.
“I want that coliseum full,” Athletic Director Damon Evans said at Fox’s introductory press conference Friday.
“I want these students jumping around. I want people around the country to be talking about Georgia basketball."
Here's a link to another story I wrote about Fox joining the prestigious Georgia coaching family.
Photo credit: Jason Broom, The Red & Black
Recent taxi scares won't limit students' use
With police reports of armed robbery surfacing and their own personal horror stories, University of Georgia students are becoming concerned about their means of transportation home from downtown Athens.Of 25 students asked at Georgia’s Tate Student Center Friday afternoon, 23 said they had used a cab to get home from downtown Athens at least once in the last month.
Of those 23, 17 said they had had a “less than comfortable” experience while riding a cab, citing anything from sexual harassment from their driver to a driver changing their rate upon dropping them off at home.
“I don’t trust taxi drivers around here at all,” said Austin Sherrill, a senior who says he takes a cab home from downtown Athens “once or twice a week.”
“Everyone has their horror stories ... There’s no screening process at all.”
A story in Friday’s Red & Black detailed two police reports from the weekend, each filed by University students and each describing dangerous incidences in taxis.
Though charges were dropped both cases, fear of taxi-travel is still common among University students.
Said senior Daniel Visconti: “There’s no way anyone should feel safe taking cabs around here. I work at Domino’s [pizza], and I’ve even picked people up from downtown and charged them like a taxi when I’m out on runs. Anybody could pretend to be a legit taxi.”
But despite all that, students’ willingness to find other ways home after a night of drinking doesn’t seem to be changing — all 23 who said they routinely take taxis admitted they would continue to do so in the future.
“What other option is there?” said Anna Cleveland, a sophomore at the Univeristy. “You can’t drive drunk obviously, and how many people have friends that want to drive them around at 3 a.m. all the time? We need taxis.”
“Yeah, I’ll keep taking taxis,” Visconti said. “But that story in The Red & Black today scared the bejeezus out of me.”
Adams: Despite budget strains, construction will continue
Even when the University has been forced to reduce academic funding and completely eliminate 12 majors, University President Michael Adams said Thursday that construction on various projects around campus will continue.
Amidst cuts that look to be around 11 percent in the state of Georgia in 2010, Adams said in his Thursday cabinet meeting that he plans to go ahead with construction on Tate Center and Health Center expansions, a new dorm on East Campus and a parking deck that will be built on the intramural fields.
“We intend to do that because we think, first of all, it’s a very strong economic stimulus,” he said. “And secondly, we don’t have anything on the list that we think is frivolous.”
Adams has made it no secret that he favors increased tuition at the University, and various colleges around campus have already seen the effect of the budget crunch. All of the University’s schools have experienced some type of cuts, and the state may soon order unpaid time off for University faculty and staff.
So, what do students vote: new buildings and facilities, or a stay on construction and a feeding of money back into their education?
“It’s a tough call, but you’ve got to look out for the students,” said Lindsay Davies, a business major from Grayson.
“A new dorm is probably necessary, but a parking deck? Really? I know the parking system here is kind of a mess, but there are other more important things we could be spending the University’s money on rather than cutting funding for colleges.”
Tate Center construction is already underway, and that and health center expansion should be completed by the time fall classes start Adams said.
But construction on the intramural field parking deck has yet to start, and some students think it shouldn’t start at all.
“This is ridiculous,” said Ben Wright, a senior from Snellville. “I play soccer on the intramural fields all the time, and they’re crowded as is. And now they’re taking up even more of that space, while I have 9,000 people in my accounting classes?”
The University is staring down a 9 percent cut in state appropriations, but, at least for now, construction will continue.
Said Will Holloway, a junior from Cumming: “Man, it’s great that we’re getting new facilities, but there’s a time and a place. And this is neither.”
Photo Credit: Nick Passarello, The Red & Black
Amidst cuts that look to be around 11 percent in the state of Georgia in 2010, Adams said in his Thursday cabinet meeting that he plans to go ahead with construction on Tate Center and Health Center expansions, a new dorm on East Campus and a parking deck that will be built on the intramural fields.
“We intend to do that because we think, first of all, it’s a very strong economic stimulus,” he said. “And secondly, we don’t have anything on the list that we think is frivolous.”
Adams has made it no secret that he favors increased tuition at the University, and various colleges around campus have already seen the effect of the budget crunch. All of the University’s schools have experienced some type of cuts, and the state may soon order unpaid time off for University faculty and staff.
So, what do students vote: new buildings and facilities, or a stay on construction and a feeding of money back into their education?
“It’s a tough call, but you’ve got to look out for the students,” said Lindsay Davies, a business major from Grayson.
“A new dorm is probably necessary, but a parking deck? Really? I know the parking system here is kind of a mess, but there are other more important things we could be spending the University’s money on rather than cutting funding for colleges.”
Tate Center construction is already underway, and that and health center expansion should be completed by the time fall classes start Adams said.
But construction on the intramural field parking deck has yet to start, and some students think it shouldn’t start at all.
“This is ridiculous,” said Ben Wright, a senior from Snellville. “I play soccer on the intramural fields all the time, and they’re crowded as is. And now they’re taking up even more of that space, while I have 9,000 people in my accounting classes?”
The University is staring down a 9 percent cut in state appropriations, but, at least for now, construction will continue.
Said Will Holloway, a junior from Cumming: “Man, it’s great that we’re getting new facilities, but there’s a time and a place. And this is neither.”
Photo Credit: Nick Passarello, The Red & Black
Mandatory Pell Grant funding a plus for Georgia students (w/audio clip)
President Obama revealed his 2010 budget plan last week, with a heavy emphasis on higher education.
The new plan would create mandatory funding for Pell Grants and increase funding for Perkins loans, among other things.
So what would this all mean for college students?
“It’s definitely going to be a big deal,” said Ryan Lavner, a senior at the University of Georgia, and native of Canandaigua, New York.
“It may not actually affect me because I’m graduating, but my sister wants to come down here to go to school. Putting me through school has kind of broken my parents. Not broken, but it was a big financial strain.”
Obama’s new plan would help Pell Grant funding better correlate with the Consumer Price Index, a key indicator of the economies success or failure. It would become part of the new president’s goal to make the United States the country with the highest college graduation rate in the world by 2020.
“There are too many students who are unprepared for college, and too many that can’t afford it,” Secretary of Education Arne Duncan told the Associated Press.
With a large number of Georgia’s in-state post-secondary students receiving money from the HOPE program, the impact of Obama’s new plan may not be felt as largely in the state. But, students say, it will definitely help in the current hard economic times.
“It’s huge,” said James McCoy, a student at Athens’ Gainesville State College campus.
“I’m probably not graduating any time soon, and I don’t have hope, so if this goes through it could definitely help my parents. My dad [the superintendent of Commerce County schools] has already had to make some layoffs and took a big pay cut himself. And my brother’s in school too, and not on HOPE either.”
Said Koleen Sullivan, a junior at UGA: “This would be so big. I’m from Atlanta and on HOPE, but I know a lot of people that are struggling to make ends-meet and still get through college and get the education they need to succeed in the world.”
Obama’s Pell Grant plan would aim at having funds for any potential student that qualifies, an area where he said the current program has been lacking. His budget also includes a new $2.5 billion Access and Completion Fund for states that show new strategies for improving college graduation rates for low-income students.
That, Lavner said, would be a huge step forward.
“My family isn’t poor, but we’re not exactly ‘well off,’” he said. “My parents have made a lot of sacrifices to send me to the school I wanted, and needed, to go to. Education is vitally important, and it’s time for the country to provide more help.”
Click here for audio
The new plan would create mandatory funding for Pell Grants and increase funding for Perkins loans, among other things.
So what would this all mean for college students?
“It’s definitely going to be a big deal,” said Ryan Lavner, a senior at the University of Georgia, and native of Canandaigua, New York.
“It may not actually affect me because I’m graduating, but my sister wants to come down here to go to school. Putting me through school has kind of broken my parents. Not broken, but it was a big financial strain.”
Obama’s new plan would help Pell Grant funding better correlate with the Consumer Price Index, a key indicator of the economies success or failure. It would become part of the new president’s goal to make the United States the country with the highest college graduation rate in the world by 2020.
“There are too many students who are unprepared for college, and too many that can’t afford it,” Secretary of Education Arne Duncan told the Associated Press.
With a large number of Georgia’s in-state post-secondary students receiving money from the HOPE program, the impact of Obama’s new plan may not be felt as largely in the state. But, students say, it will definitely help in the current hard economic times.
“It’s huge,” said James McCoy, a student at Athens’ Gainesville State College campus.
“I’m probably not graduating any time soon, and I don’t have hope, so if this goes through it could definitely help my parents. My dad [the superintendent of Commerce County schools] has already had to make some layoffs and took a big pay cut himself. And my brother’s in school too, and not on HOPE either.”
Said Koleen Sullivan, a junior at UGA: “This would be so big. I’m from Atlanta and on HOPE, but I know a lot of people that are struggling to make ends-meet and still get through college and get the education they need to succeed in the world.”
Obama’s Pell Grant plan would aim at having funds for any potential student that qualifies, an area where he said the current program has been lacking. His budget also includes a new $2.5 billion Access and Completion Fund for states that show new strategies for improving college graduation rates for low-income students.
That, Lavner said, would be a huge step forward.
“My family isn’t poor, but we’re not exactly ‘well off,’” he said. “My parents have made a lot of sacrifices to send me to the school I wanted, and needed, to go to. Education is vitally important, and it’s time for the country to provide more help.”
Click here for audio
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