“A Fond Farewell” See Page 7 The Official Student Newspaper of New Jersey City University Volume XIX, Issue 8 WWW.GOTHICTIMESNETWORK.COM April 28, 2009 NJCU Answers Call to Action By Erica Marie Molina & In his opening remarks to a Christina Johnson crowd of about 700 people, ap- proximately 500 of which were n April 13, 2009, the students, Hernández acknowl- New Jersey City edged the need for proper fund- University community ing of entities such as hospitals, Owas finally able to witness and etc, but asked, “When will we be- take part in the product of count- come a priority?” The President less volunteers and diligent or- pointed out that when he began ganizing led by Dr. William to work at NJCU about 36 years Calathes, an NJCU criminal jus- ago, the school received 70 per- tice professor and activist: the cent of its budget from govern- teach-in. ment appropriations; now it “I think it’s the first time ever receives about 20 percent. that different constituent groups John Krawczyk, a 20-year-old throughout the university came student from Bayonne double ma- together,” said Calathes, who has joring in criminal justice and pro- worked at NJCU for 23 years, fessional security, helped organize “and they came together for one the teach-in, which took less than purpose and one common aim, four weeks to plan with the help and that was to face directly […] of about 20 more criminal justice the challenges of the budget cri- majors and the AFT Local 1839 sis.” Executive Council, which is head- Held in various locations ed by Dr. Joseph Moskowitz of throughout the Gilligan Student the Political Science Department. Union Building, the teach-in was “I feel New Jersey higher educa- NJCU’s response to the combined tion is near and dear to my heart effects of the economic downturn because a lot of other students and New Jersey Governor Jon won’t be able to attend [college],” Corzine’s proposal to cut state Krawczyk said. “A lot of other funding to most state colleges and students like me wouldn’t be able universities. In his FY 2010 budg- to afford tuition.” et, NJCU will lose abut $1.5 mil- Hernández referred to a state- lion in funds from the ment he made a year ago, in government, which, according to which he said that, had NJCU re- NJCU President Dr. Carlos ceived $7.4 million more from the Hernández, will bring the total government, then each student at school budget to about $29.1 mil- NJCU could have saved $1,300 lion. This budget would be small- on tuition. er than the one NJCU had in Numerous activists and social 1998. Should the budget be ap- leaders were invited to address proved this summer, NJCU may the teach-in. have to compensate by raising tu- Eva Bonime, a representative ition and granting employees fur- Photo by Christina Johnson loughs—unpaid workdays. NJCU protesters picket on campus on April 7, 2009. Continued on page 3 WORD ON CAMPUS: What did you learn today? Patrick Feniello, 20, Charles Yarbrough, 24, Jennifer Matos, 25, Sophomore, Jazz Studies, Sophomore, Photography, Senior, Psychology, Red Bank, NJ Louisville, KY Hinesville, GA Nothing, why? Decatur is actually a I learned that you suburb of Atlanta and can’t try to rationalize not a separate city. irrational behavior. Dyana Garrison, 23, Junior, Felix Metius, 28, Senior, Tiffany Grevious, 19, Psychology, Jersey City Communication design, Freshman, Film, In my Psychology class today, Melbourne, Australia Bushkill, PA I learned about adolescence Today I learned that if you What I learned is that you and how the brain is still don’t manage your time should check the date on developing and growing correctly, then you will be your light rail ticket be- until you’re 19 or 20. like a one-legged man at an cause some people give you ass-kicking contest. year old tickets and you can get a ticket from the cops. Cynthia Frazier, Jersey Anthony Dianora, 21, So check your dates! City, Cafeteria Night Senior, Music, Manager Medford, NJ I learned that you cannot There are things you need judge a book by its cover. to learn outside of school, People are not always and those are usually the what they appear to be. most important things. Interviews & Photography by Jaclyn Foglio Page 2 The Gothic Times April 28, 2009 NEWS Petition Aims to Help Students By Monique Redman finance college costs that are inflation, college tuition steadily putting higher education and fees rose 439 percent One hundred thousand signa- out of the react of most from 1982 to 2007, far tures are needed by May 17 to Americans. Our proposal is that outpacing increases for help extend benefits of the feder- students holding and applying for medical care, housing and al bailout to students, for the college loans should be offered food. During the same period, Reduce the Rate petition, spon- interest rates that do not exceed 1 median family income rose sored by Reverend Jesse Jackson, percent—the same favorable 147 percent, according to and for the Rainbow Push terms now being offered to the Reducetherate.org. Coalition. On Sunday, March 22, large corporations under the fed- Student loans are an $85 bil- Jackson announced on his Keep eral bailout plan.” lion dollar industry. In 1997, Hope Alive radio talk show that President Obama’s current stim- the Higher Education Act he and others will join together in ulus package proposes the follow- (HEA) was amended. As a re- a march to Washington D.C. to ing in regards to student loans: sult, defaulted student loans petition Congress and President • Increase the Pell Grant by $500 became the most rewarding Barack Obama. from $4,850 to $5,350. and easiest debt to collect. According to a spokesman for • Increase work study funding Under the HEA Act, students Reducetherate.org, the organiza- by $490 million. who default on their loans are tion’s platform and goals include • Increase student loan limits on assessed huge penalties the following: unsubsidized Stafford Loan by and fees and are not al- • Reducing interest rates on all $2,000. lowed bankruptcy pro- student loans to 1%. If banks can • Provide $50 million to the tection. Once a borrow at 1% or less, then so Department of Education to help student has defaulted should students. them administer student aid and on their loans, they • Extending the grace period be- loan programs. are subjected to wage fore loan repayment begins from President Obama has also pro- garnishment, tax gar- 6 months to 18 months for stu- posed creating a new tax credit of nishment, withholding of dents who graduate, since it takes $4,000 in exchange for 100 hours professional certifications, an average of 6 to 12 months for of community service. termination from employment, a graduate to find a job. According to Dr. John and social security garnishment, • Ending the penalties assessed Melendez, the NJCU Vice among other things. While these ‘Know ademic year. The default to schools for student loan de- President of Student Affairs, “This measures have proven devastat- that I hold you in my trusted rate in FY 2006 was just 3.5 per- faults. Schools should not be held is a proposal that should be ex- ing to defaulted student borrow- hands, I have enough rabbits up cent. While the default rate at accountable for students who plored. If we are giving benefits ers, it has proven to be lucrative my sleeve to be able to get where NJCU is low, the rate could be don’t pay back their loans. to banks, why not give it to stu- to student loan companies. we need to,’ Ohio Representative lowered if students are given • Increasing Pell Grants to cov- dents?” Alan Michael Collinge, author John Boehner told a dinner host- more protection and offered more er the average yearly cost of a 4- Jackson believes that the lower- of The Student Loan Scam, be- ed by a Sallie Mae executive. help. year public institution instead of ing of student interest rates to just lieves that the student loan com- There are several such quotes “We bail out Chrysler…, we’re the amounts in the current stim- one percent will directly address panies hope for defaulted loans, here, and in some cases here the bailing out Iraq…, GM…, ulus package: $5,350 starting July affordability. because they are where the bulk industry’s actions have drawn le- AIG…, Citigroup…bail out our 1 and $5,550 in 2010-2011. In a report issued by the of their profit stems from. gal penalties. (Some, former in- students, educate our children “We’re calling it ‘The Rainbow National Center for Public Policy As reported on Boston.com, dustry insiders included, compare now,” Jackson said. PUSH Education Stimulus and Higher Education, the cost of “This mess, according to student loans to loan sharks).” *****To learn about or Plan.,’” Jackson said at re- attending college has raised near- Collinge, is the work not only of At NJCU, 4,676 students ap- sign the petition, go to ducetherate.org. “It is a simple- ly three times the rate of the cost greedy industry types but also plied for loans for the 2007-08 ac- www.reducetherate.org yet-sweeping plan to help families of living. After being adjusted for their lackeys in political office. The recently sanctioned Veterans Club of New Jersey City University is seeking to increase its membership. If you are a student who is a veteran of the Armed Forces, Or A non-veteran student interested in veterans affairs, Or A very motivated patriotic student, Join the veterans club! We are a highly active organization looking to do good things on campus.