Volume 126 Issue 16
kansan.com
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
FINANCIAL FLUX
Parents are contributing less to students college education, according to a recent study
CODY KUIPER
ckuiper@kansan.com
As the cost of a college education becomes more expensive, students are more responsible for footing the bill, instead of relying on their parents.
ying on their parents.
"How America Pays for College 2013," a new study from Sallie Mae, found that parents contributed to 27 percent of their children's college expenses in 2013, which is down from 36 percent in 2010.
NSAN
jack Martin, a spokesman for the University, said the decrease can be attributed to multiple factors, but it all comes back to the recession of 2009.
love a you thou go of with "ve,"
"If you look at family median income, it dropped during the Great Recession and is only now starting to reach pre-recession levels again," Martin said. "There's been an increase in student tuition as [the] state's funding has decreased too, also correlated to the recession, so that puts the price of education on to students and families where previously it would have been covered by state funding."
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, students at the University have required more Federal student loan money than in years past. The number of students who received loans rose from 40 percent in 2008 to 45 percent in 2011; something Martin said the
Tidwell
University is trying to compensate for.
"The price of college education is a concern for universities just as it is for students and families," Martin said. "We made a significant increase in scholarships for students, accompanied by the change to four-year renewable scholarships, which will enable students to know what sort of scholarships they can qualify for and they can plan out finances going forward, rather than being in a situation where each year they're wondering. 'Am I going to get this scholarship to be able to go to school or am I going to need to get a job?'"
need to get a job. The study also found that some of the decrease in parent funding was made up for by "free money" like scholarships and grants, which now covers 30 percent of college costs, a five percent increase since 2010.
Even with more scholarships and grants, outstanding student loans are still reaching unprecedented numbers. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, student loan debt in the U.S. is approaching $1.2 trillion, which makes it the second highest consumer debt in the U.S.
Austin Flohrschutz, a sophomore from Topeka, pays for his college expenses with a combination of loans, his own savings and help from his parents. Flohrschutz said he understands why families are having difficulty paying for tuition, but it's unfair to put the burden on students.
"I definitely think the government should be helping out a lot more with that, especially if they want more educated people to have engineering jobs that are being taken from overseas," Flohrschutz said.
Maggie Carter, a freshman from Olathe, is paying for her tuition mostly with student loans and a little help from her grandparents. She said the uncertainty of college expenses makes it difficult for students to plan how to pay for school.
payr school.
"The student loans didn't end up coming for me as much as I thought they would and scholarships didn't come as much as I thought either," Carter said. "So I think maybe universities should be a little bit more upfront about the costs to make it easier for students to save for college."
Carter thinks it may be more beneficial for students to pay for their own schooling, rather than their parents.
"I'm not really one for credit, but I think it might be better for students to pay for it themselves in the long run," Carter said. "If they do that, they're probably going to appreciate their education more."
Edited by Chas Strobel
JAMES HOYT/KANSAN
A study from Sallie Mae found that parents are contributing less to the cost of their childrens' college education. Scholarships, loans and grants help offset this, but student loan debt in the nation is approaching $1.2 trillion.
CAMPUS
Sexual Assault Awareness Week educates students
ASHLEIGH TIDWELL
atidwell@kansan.com
Each year more than 300,000 people in the United States are victims of sexual assault. Even more hunning is the fact that 54 percent of sexual assaults are never reported, which brings the number up to about 720,000. The truth of the matter is that many men and women are misinformed about the parameters of sexual assault and they don't know who to turn to when it happens.
To help eliminate this lack of knowledge, the Emily Taylor Center for Women and Gender Equity, along with GaDuGi SafeCenter, Inc. and the Health Education Resource Office, is sponsoring Sexual Assault Awareness Week from September. 18 to Sept. 20. The goal of the event is to promote awareness and provide students with the necessary knowledge to prevent assault from happening to them.
"Knowledge is power," said Kathy Rose-Mockry, director of the Emily Taylor Center. "By becoming more aware of the nature of sexual assault, students can avoid becoming victims."
The state of Kansas defines sexual assault as intercourse without consent in which the victim is overcome by force or fear. This includes someone who is unconscious or physically powerless, or someone who is incapable of consent due to a mental deficiency or high level of intoxication.
intoxication.
According to Rose-Mockry, the first fact students need to understand about sexual assault is that it's never the victim's fault.
"There is a misconception that
those targeted bring it on themselves," Rose-Mockry said. "But the true problem is that someone is not respecting physical boundaries."
Rachel Gadd-Nelson, director of community engagement for the GaDuGi SafeCenter, Inc. further emphasized this misconception by saying that no matter how someone is dressed, it's never an invitation for victimization.
"This makes the assumption that women need to work to prevent sexual violence against them." Gadd-Nelson said. "This blames the victim and the perpetrators are never held accountable."
Regardless of how someone dresses or acts, sex without consent is
"An important part of healing comes from reaching out and getting support."
KATHY ROSE-MOCKRY Director of Emily Taylor Center
"Communication in relationships is key." Gadd Nelson said. "If fear is
never acceptable.
Another thing students should know about sexual assault is that an estimated two-thirds of sexual assaults are committed by someone familiar to the victim. Most people are more concerned about being assaulted by a stranger, but the real culprits are usually acquaintances or even friends. Gadd-Nelson said that students can attempt to prevent assault by being upfront about their position in the relationship.
in the room, consent is not."
If limitations are made abundantly clear, the likelihood of someone pushing boundaries will drop. Although Gadd-Nelson notes that the only true way to prevent this crime is by teaching people that sexual assault is never appropriate, some students have found their own ways to protect themselves.
protect memories.
"I always use the buddy system," said Sarina Venegas, a freshman from Wichita. "Going out in a group just makes me 'feel safer.'"
For Oakland, Calif., senior Shayla McDaniels, it's all about being aware of her surroundings.
I try not to put myself in situations where something like that could happen," McDaniels said. "I know my limits with drinking and I surround myself with people I trust."
One of the most common reasons sexual assault goes unreported is because the victim doesn't realize the illegality of the situation. Because such a high number of assaults go unreported, Rose-Mockry also emphasized that students should know what constitutes sexual assault so they can report it immediately. She said reporting sexual assault is the first step in the healing process.
For anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault and wishes to seek support please contact the Emily Taylor Center at (785) 864-3552 or the GaDuGi SafeCenter's 24-hour support line at (758) 843-8985.
"An important part of healing comes from reaching out and getting support," Rose-Mockry said. "It really helps victims to take back their sense of control."
- Edited by Kayla Overbey
SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS WEEK EVENTS
WEDNESDAY
What: Candlelit Vigil
Where: Campanile
When: 8 a.m.
When: 8 p.m.
Why: Campanile will toll for every survivor that GaDuGi SafeCenter has assisted in the past year
THURSDAY
What: Kristin's Story
Where: Woodruff Auditorium
When: 7 p.m.
Why: Andrea Cooper will discuss her daughter's experience with sexual assault and suicide. Kristin was a member of Alpha Chi Omega
FRIDAY
What: Wear your Who's Your Buddy? Bracelet on campus.
Where: Bracelets can be picked up on Wescoe Beach every day this week.
When: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
— Sponsored by Emily Taylor Center for Women and Gender Equity, Health Education Resource Office, GaDuGi SafeCenter
INTERNATIONAL
kklein@kansan.com
Two-week study abroad shows students Israeli innovation
Israel is the place to be if you're interested in innovation, new business and entrepreneurship.
These are the qualities that inspired Professor Wallace Meyer, Jr. to plan a two-week winter study abroad program for undergraduate and graduate students in all areas of study.
in the world of Silicon Valley in the world's production of innovation. Meyer said referencing the number of new companies, patents and venture capital investments in both areas.
During the program, students will spend one week at the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, Israel, attending seminars and discussions about business and technological innovation and one week touring historical sites and companies in the
area.
The program is unique compared to other business-focused programs because it will allow students the opportunity to find out why Israel is an entrepreneurial leader, Meyer said.
Meyer said the goal of the program is "to capture the innovation that occurs in Israel and, ideally, bring it back here so that we're that much the better for the experience."
Dan Dutcher, a journalism major from Wichita, said he found the program while interning for the School of Business and is thinking of applying.
"I think the mixture of learning about the culture and history of the country as well as why new businesses are successful will be a great experience," Dutcher said.
— Edited by Chas Strobel
TECHNOLOGY ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION IN ISRAEL
- Winter break program: Jan. 5 to Jan. 19
- Deadline to apply: Oct. 1
- Decision date: Oct. 15
- Minimum GPA: 2.5
- Open to graduate and undergraduate students
- undergraduate students
- Open to all majors
- Study abroad Coordinator
Justine Hamilton
CLASSIFIEDS 11
CROSSWORD 5
- Serves as capstone for B-School Entrepreneurship certificate
CRYPTOQUIPS 5
OPINION 4
- 3 credit hours under ENTR
500/898
SPORTS 12
SUDOKU 5
- Estimated cost $4,469 for tuition and program fee
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2013 The University Daily Kansan
Office of Study Abroad
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