FEBRUARY 2018 THE UNIVERSITY OF BALTIMORE’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1933 Stand by for change... Not Much Changes For Students Under New Tax Bill by Liz McMahon Staff Writer n December 2017, Congress passed tain most of the tax benefits that we tuition would be taxed as if it were from undergrad,” Baldino shared. “If Photo courtesyPhotoGabbard Tulsi of the GOP’s latest tax bill. The already have. personal income. This would have this bill were to pass ... I don’t know IRepublican Party faced major delib- Among student tax policies are created major financial despair for how I would live.” ACCIDENTS HAPPEN! eration in creating a bill that would student loan interest deductions, in graduate students receiving According to NPR, “about 145,000 successfully pass through both which we receive an income tax de- tuition waivers. grad students received a tuition re- “This is not a drill” in Senate and Congress. duction for any interest paid in public Concerned graduate students duction in 2011-12.” The taxation on Hawaii causes panic. If you’re anything like the average or private higher education student around the country protested this those waivers would have created 4 American, the jargon of governmen- loans. Essentially, any monthly inter- threat. University of Maryland major financial trouble for the grad- tal tax procedure creates more in- est paid to our student loan provider Women’s Studies Ph.D. student Nat uate students involved. ternal chaos than clarity. However, is deducted from our income tax. Baldino was among the students to For now, though, students in underneath the sensational headlines, This policy will stay in effect. rise up. He aired his grievances, to higher education trudge on without the drama between House majority Another topic of heated debate, which many members of higher ed- taking any hits from the tax plan. leaders, and the financial terms only and recent nationwide student protest, ucation can relate, to NPR, saying Our next challenge will be the Merriam-Webster really knows, are were graduate student tuition waivers. “There’s a misconception that grad re-authorization of the Higher Edu- policies that will eventually affect Republicans were initially planning school and academia in general is cation Act, set to take place this year. our day-to-days as both tax-paying on nixing this benefit, meaning that this sort of lofty enterprise.” This one will be worth watching, and citizens and students in a higher ed- graduate students receiving tuition “We already don’t get paid a liv- perhaps joining the fight, too. On the ucation institution. waivers from universities, whether able wage — and as someone who is a line are student loan forgiveness pro- The good news? Students at the merit-based, fellowships, or military first-generation college student, I al- grams which many government and University of Baltimore, both un- benefits, would actually have to pay ready came into graduate school with non-profit employees depend on. dergraduate and graduate, will re- taxes on that tuition. The “waived” tens of thousands of dollars of debt We’ll have to stay tuned. Photo courtesy of GarryKnight courtesyof Photo HELPFUL APPS This new app will help enhance your college career! 6 LOVE IS IN THE AIR! Helpf u l idea s to help you get through Valentine’s day! 10 Student Newspaper of the LETTER FROM THE EDITOR University of Baltimore since 1933 STAFF “Nothing in the universe can stop you from letting go and starting over” EDITORIAL —Guy Finley EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Olivia Dudley Hello, Everyone This year has started out with Within the upcoming pages of STAFF WRITER I would like to take this oppor- quite the bang, if I do say so myself. this February issue, several of your Liz McMahon tunity to formally introduce myself We have finally lived a full year in peers will be discussing how the David A. Chiodaroli as the new Editor in Chief of the the Trump Era and, to some, it feels world around us has changed within Ricardo Santiago Rodriguez UB Post. My name is Olivia Dud- like we are falling apart. But we are the past several months; from the Olivia Dudley ley and I have a huge vision for this not falling apart, we are blooming. loss of net neutrality to their own PRODUCTION Editor-in-Chief paper, I have a huge vision for all of In the decades prior to this new lives without DACA. In the editions PRODUCTION MANAGER you. This paper has always held a administration, secrets were kept that follow, the UB Post will be tell- Brandon Parker special place in my heart ever since covered up, truths were ignored; but ing news from your point of view; I PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS I firmly planted my roots here in my now the voices of millions of brave personally would like to welcome Ashley-Kaye Allen late freshman year; I wanted to tell people are speaking their minds anyone who wishes to contribute a Paul Frimpong stories and let people know about and telling the world what’s what! story they feel passionately about, for STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS great things. Of course, my time as People used to fear voicing their anyone to submit their artwork, and OPEN a staff writer gave me time to think opinion because they believed their for anyone to offer improvements to about what I really wanted; what I own thoughts to be invalid, but now make the Post better for you. really wanted was for the paper to everyone can be heard. As we are welcoming this new BUSINESS become something more than what The world is not a scary place semester and new changes, we must BUSINESS & DISTRIBUTION I saw it as. when we aren’t afraid to stand to- also say goodbye. I would like to give MANAGER My goal as Editor in Chief is to gether; the UB Post may be a small my fondest farewell to our former Zachary Nelson see the Post become something that paper on a small campus but that Editor in Chief, Kyle Fierstien, you students and faculty look forward to doesn’t mean no one is paying atten- are a man of talent and inspiration reading. I want for everyone reading tion. As an optimist, it is my firm and we wish you the best of luck in OFFICE this to become involved with the belief that the events of last year were every endeavor you make. LOCATION paper in some way. The UB Post only a starting place for all of us, we Now, please enjoy. 21 West Mount Royal Avenue is your voice, a way for you to reach can learn from our mistakes and the SC 405C out to more than just your classmates, truths that have been revealed this Enthusiastically yours, Baltimore, Maryland 21201 use this resource. past year. Olivia Dudley HOURS Mondays: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. PHONE 410.837.4029 FAX 410.837.1566 COMIC E-MAIL [email protected] WEBSITE www.ubpost.org SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook & Twitter @theubpost Instagram @ubpostpaper Printed by Silver Communications POLICY WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY? The UB Post welcomes letters from readers. All letters become the prop- erty of The UB Post, which reserves the right to edit letters. Submissions should include name, phone num- ber and e-mail address; students, include year and major; faculty and staff, include title and office or de- partment. Anonymous letters will not be accepted. The next issue hits stands on FEBRUARY 27; submis- sion deadline is FEBRUARY 20. ADVERTISING The UB Post is a monthly paper with a circulation of 1,600. If you are interested in advertising in the print edition, please contact [email protected]. CORRECTIONS- The UB Post strives for accuracy. Please report errors to the editor at [email protected]. NEWS FreedomBy Ricardo Santiago Rodriguez Of The Web Staff Writer Freedom of the web is in jeopardy and adding extra fees onto the user. as a conduit to our first amendment, hashtag below, #AJediYouAreNOT. avoid any drastic changes for now due to a plan to “gut” net neutrality. February 2015, former FCC given to the people by the Consti- The repeal of net neutrality will to avoid legal challenges. In a recent The Federal Communications Com- chairman Tom Wheeler passed tution. Regulating, dictating, or op- cause massive ripples in the lives of article from The New York Times, mission (FCC) voted three to two regulations aimed to ensure that all pressing the internet is unequivocally future UB students. Imagine receiv- regulatory lawyer John Beahn with against Net neutrality. FCC chair- internet content Americans access, an attack on our freedoms. ing notifications that there is an extra Skadden Arps said, “They [broad- man, Ajit Pai, who was appointed regardless of form of media, would Feeling the pressure, Chairman fee on your internet bill, charged band companies] recognize the ul- by President Trump earlier this year, be treated equally by ISP’s. Now two Pai created a public service an- multiple times because of frequent timate fate of the regulations is still stands firm with the decision to years later, the FCC has overturned nouncement that has hit the inter- visits to a certain website. The ISP far from certain at this point.” The reverse net neutrality. The BBC re- those regulations. UB students will net in hopes of informing what the you are paying for is not affiliated FCC has handed oversight duties ported that Pai referred to the change need to understand this situation adjustments of net neutrality will with that website, thus it is legal to to the broadband carriers.