Twilight turns 50!
opinion learn more about serling’s legacy, page 10 sports Siblings take rivalry to soccer field, page 23 This I See locals paint the town apple red, page 28
College honors Serling as professor and writer, page 13
Thursday
Octobe r 1 , 2 0 0 9
The Ithacan House passes bill No money, to expand college
I t h a c a , N . Y. Volum e 7 7 , I s s u e 6
no problem
See Families, page 4
See AID, page 4
More students are choosing plastic over paper this year. This isn’t a checkoutbagging question or an anti-green trend — it’s about credit. Junior Alessandra Portolesi, like other college students, is swiping cards over counting cash. During the school year, she said she rarely keeps cash in her wallet and instead uses her credit card for expenses such as textbooks, Internet and cable. Portolesi, a business administration major with a concentration in management and minor in economics, uses four credit cards. She said one benefit of having credit available is the convenience. “Sometimes I don’t have cash, but I know that I will in a week or two weeks,” she said. “The fact that I am able to borrow money for such a temporary time and pay it back and not get penalized helps.” Portolesi is responsible for paying off
all cards except one, which is under her mother’s name. Two of Portolesi’s cards are retail credit cards from Nordstrom’s and Macy’s. One is under her name and the other is under her mother’s, with Portolesi listed as an authorized user. According to a Sallie Mae national study published in 2009, 84 percent of polled undergraduates have at least one credit card, compared with 76 percent in 2004. The report said students who used credit cards to pay for direct education expenses said they charged an estimated $2,200 — more than double 2004’s average of $942. The most common direct education expenses are textbooks, school supplies and commuter costs. Patricia Nash Christel, spokeswoman for Sallie Mae, said this is the highest number of students using credit cards recorded by Sallie Mae.
See Credit, page 4
College lacks child care options compared with Cornell By TAylor Long Contributing Writer
Carolina Hassett picks up her son, Hanssen, Tuesday afternoon from Cornell Child Care Center. Cornell University was voted one of the best employers for working mothers.
Andy Matias/The Ithacan
offer the same options for its working parents. Mark Coldren, associate vice president of the human resources department, said even though the college helps new employees find nearby day cares for their children and provides leave time to new mothers in compliance with the Family Medical Leave Act, he still receives requests for there to be child care offered at the college. Coldren said the college could learn from
Contributing Writer
Cornell about providing child care assistance but Cornell’s size and resources probably allow for such a comprehensive program. In the near future, Coldren said he hopes to develop an assessment to measure the level of faculty interest and the feasibility of the program. “We need to see what people want now and five years from now,” Coldren said. “It’s
by Ashley May
Assistant News Editor
For the fourth year in a row, Cornell University has been chosen as one of the 100 best U.S. employers for working mothers by Working Mother magazine. With the addition of Cornell Child Care Center under the management of Bright Horizons Family Solutions, the institution continues to strengthen its reputation as one of the most accommodating employers in the area, according to Working Mother magazine. The care center at Cornell is located on campus, with room for 158 children, 48 infants, 50 toddlers and 60 preschoolers. Joseph Schwartz, public information officer at Cornell, said there are many programs at Cornell that led to the recognition of Working Mother magazine and others that have acknowledged Cornell over the years. “Cornell tries to have a comfortable working environment for everyone,” Schwartz said. Lynette Chappell-Williams, associate vice president for workforce diversity and inclusion at Cornell, helped develop these programs and continues to invent new ways of meeting the needs of Cornell families. The most recent project aims to offer flexible work arrangements to employees. “This program allows employees to modify their work hours or to work remotely, such as from home, which provides for an opportunity for balancing work opportunities and family,” Chappell-Williams said. Here on South Hill, Ithaca College does not
By Michael Fiscella A bill passed by the House of Representatives will increase the maximum Pell Grant by hundreds of dollars but will change Federal Perkins Loans so that loans will begin accruing interest while student-lenders are still in school. The measure, passed Sept. 17 and known as the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, will oust private lenders from the federal college loan business and require Chambers said all schools to switch the Pell Grant will to the federal Direct be increased to $5,550 this year. Loan Program by July 1, 2010. Direct Loans are low-interest federal loans for students and parents that help pay for the cost of a student’s education. The lender is the U.S. Department of Education — rather than a bank or other financial institution. The bill will now move to the Senate where it is expected to pass. Larry Chambers, director of student financial services, said he is not convinced the removal of private lenders will result in substantial benefits for students. “Having both direct lending and the Stafford Loan programs has fostered competition, enhanced services and provided students with choice,” Chambers said. “With only one lender — the federal government — students will no longer have a choice of a lender.” Chambers said new changes being made to the Federal Perkins Loan will leave college students with more loans that begin accruing interest immediately. Freshman Adam Melnick said loans that immediately start building interest, often known as unsubsidized loans, make life harder for students. “We’re not making real money as undergraduates, so it’s hard to chip away at what we owe,” Melnick said. “Then when we graduate, the interest has already blown our debt through the roof.” Proponents of the bill, however, point to the introduction of variable interest rates as proposed by the SAFRA. After college, the lenders’ interest rates will vary depending on their financial standing. Individuals with a low-income will not be subjected to higher interest rates. The Obama administration said the government will save more than $80 billion over 10 years and that this surplus will be invested in Pell Grants for low-income students, community colleges and early-childhood educational programs. Chambers said the bill would increase the current maximum Pell Grant from $5,350 to $5,550 during the 2010-11 school year, and by 2019, the Pell Grant scholarship should grow to $6,900.
Study finds more college students use credit cards
illustration by jon white
aid for students
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