THESNAPPER.COM FOR MILLERSVILLE.BY MILLERSVILLE.SINCE1925 VOLUME 94 THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 14. 2019. ISSUE 6 Thomas Breivogel, Snapper staff member 2008-2009 “Today, I took The Snapper to the basecamp at the Matterhorn. I’ve seen ‘show us where you’ve been’ segments in other publications, so I thought I could show The Snapper where I’ve been!” FREE TO THE PUBLIC Advertising: [email protected] An independent student newspaper © 2019 THE SNAPPER NEWS THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 14. 2019. PAGE 2 | NEWS Millersville searches for answers as student debt crisis continues PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC27 NEWS President of the Student Government Association John Tintera, left, joins other students to discuss possible solutions and answers on the ongoing student debt crisis. KAT VIRULA News Editor Every day, there are news stories gene DePasquale, also present at the shouldn’t use it if you need it, either. my first refund I did spend it all. My about the student debt crisis. But what meeting, said a solution could involve Some students use their refund checks thought process was like, ‘Okay well exactly is the crisis we’re seeking to mandatory debt counseling. to purchase education-related items I’m getting this money back, I’ll use it solve? Is it the staggering amount of “We heard about loan refund checks,” like books, laptops, or other program on books. I also bought a laptop.’ If I student debt? The rapidly rising cost of DePasquale said. “Some students get essentials – items student loans were had known that it was going to accu- higher education? The high default rate the check and they don’t understand intended to cover. mulate more debt, I would have given on student loans? That’s what Millers- it’s a loan refund. They don’t have to However, it can be really tempting back some.” ville students are trying to find out. spend it and can return that money. In- to use that extra money to enjoy some She also adds how important it is to These questions may not be present stead, students spend that money and non-essentials. That’s why DePasquale seek out your advisor on students’ minds, but the chilling that adds to their total debt.” encourages debt counseling to students “Meeting with your advisor should part of it is that most students don’t ful- According to the MU financial aid of- during their first year of college. be mandatory too because kids are ly understand their debt and loans; but fice, A refund check is money that is I asked students around campus for taking classes that they don’t need to once they graduate, they are hit with a directly given to you from your school, opinions on DePasquale’s solution and graduate and that adds to their debt. tremendous volume of debt that they but it’s not a gift. It is the excess money if they agree on having mandatory So knowing what you have to pay and didn’t see coming. left over from your financial aid pack- debt counseling. Rashna Yousaf, a se- what you don’t have to pay, and what “I thought every student had a sub- age after your tuition and fees have nior and English major and minoring you’re adding to your overall cost is so stantial amount of debt...I had to take been paid. in journalism agrees on having debt much more important.” out private loans to subsidize my edu- Schools use these loans first to pay counseling started early for students Jocelyn Cimino, a junior and Sociolo- cation. I thought that was normal.” gy major states how the refund money Channel Lowery, a graduate student of is needed for essentials, “I need that re- Millersville University quotes on Nov. fund check to help me be stable finan- 7th in a roundtable discussion here in cially throughout the semester. I don’t Millersville Duncan Alumni House. “I thought every student had a work during semesters because I need Other students joined in the discus- to focus on my classes. Knowing now sion, as well as recent alumni who all substantial amount of debt...I had that I don’t have to accept the refund stated that they began their studies not so it doesn’t add to more debt is sort of knowing how much they’re taking on. a good tip to have, but I feel like it’s to- According to Forbes and ABC27, The to take out private loans to tally unfair that using that refund for average graduate leaves school with school-related essentials will add more nearly $35,000 in debt while the na- subsidize my education. I thought debt. I’m just trying to get my educa- tional debt of students hovers at $1.5 tion. I feel like I’m being punished. ” trillion. Out of these statistics, Pennsyl- Students at the discussion under- vania ranks second in student debt. It is that was normal.” stand more work needs to be done to certainly a crisis for those with student solve the student debt crisis, but Low- loan debts whose repayment schedules ery needs answers sooner rather than span decades, with large monthly pay- - Channel Lowery later as her debt continues to rise. ments. “I don’t think it’s fair and I think that It is also a crisis for lenders experi- your tuition and fees, so grants and and briefly explains her experience on something should definitely be done.” encing significant default rates and, scholarships are exhausted first. So getting her refund checks: Lowery quotes. perhaps, a crisis for the federal govern- for most students, that means a refund “When I was a freshman in my sec- ment, as it guarantees these student check is leftover student loan money. ond semester, this guy from the regis- loans. That means the money in that refund trar office came to our class and he told “At the undergraduate level, we’re in check will need to be paid back in the us that the refund check that we get a society where you need to have the future and could be accumulating in- you don’t have to spend them and you education to be able to get a good job,” terest from the time that check makes can give it back because if not, it adds Lowery said. its way into your eager hands. to your overall debt. I didn’t know that. Pennsylvania Auditor General Eu- However, this doesn’t mean you Because of my first semester when I got Have an eye for news? Contact our News Editor at [email protected] PAGE 3 | NEWS THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 14. 2019. Franklin & Marshall students protest against racist Halloween costumes JULIA WALTERS Managing Editor Last Friday morning, hundreds of students attend- ing Franklin and Marshall College protested racist costumes that depict offensive stereotypes relating to people of African, Asian, and Hispanic descent. of worn by five student-athletes on Halloween. The stu- dents in question were from the men’s basketball and soccer teams. The photos were posted on social media but have since been removed from the platforms. The students, who have received death threats and significant backlash for their actions, are currently going through the student conduct process. Accord- ing to the Franklin and Marshall Student Code, “The student conduct process is intended to be a learning experience which yields growth, behavioral changes, and a personal understanding of the responsibilities, consequences, and impacts of actions. Outcomes are designed to balance education with accountability and community safety. This process balances the needs and rights of students with the needs and expectations of the College.” This process will also determine what kinds of punishment are necessary and appropriate for the students. In an interview with WGAL, Margaret Hazlett, the school’s vice president said of the incidents, “There are important issues that every community is facing, ev- ery college campus. But it’s with us right now at F&M.” However, this is not the first problem that Franklin and Marshall has encountered relating to racism. Early this past October, an anti-Asian racial slur was found outside of a student’s dorm room. In 2016, one PHOTO COURTESY OF MIRA LERNER student drew a swastika in the middle of a Jewish star Hundreds of students attending Franklin and Marshall College protested racist costumes that depict offensive that was found in a classroom. Also in 2016, Fraternity stereotypes relating people of African, Asian, and Hispanic descent. students were in hot water for dressing up as racial- ly insensitive stereotypes of black prison inmates for lowed on the field itself. known or is a nonresident alien, meaning that these their Halloween costumes. They aren’t just protesting on the soccer field; the students are exempt or have not passed their Green Dan Wagner, coach for the men’s soccer team, told students staged a sit-in on the school’s basketball court Card tests. WGAL that these are good kids who made a mistake. “I just before a game between F&M and York College, According to Hazlett, the college is planning on hir- will do anything I possibly can to stand with anyone,” which was supposed to be the first game of the season ing official personnel to analyze and take control of ra- Wagner said of the protests. for both teams. The basketball game was then post- cially charged incidents, such as this one, but this per- Students do not think the school is doing enough poned to a later date due to the sit-in, but the later date son would not begin their position until the upcoming in response to these offensive costumes.