September 5, 2012

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WEDNESDAY | 9.5.2012 MaceandCROWN.COM | Vol. 55, Issue 1

INSIDETHEMACE

a&e

ODU Monarchs Hit Clubs To Kick The Semester Off By: Lateesha Gloston Staff Writer

Free “Monarch Millionaire” Program to Teach Financial Literacy AWARDED $3,500 GRANT BY HIGHER-ONE

It’s that time of year again! As Monarchs start new classes and prepare for another great semester at ODU, many students are interested in getting involved with co-curricular activities. With over 300 student organizations to choose from, picking the right one can be quite a hassle. To assist students with getting involved with student organizations that are right for them, Old Dominion held the Main Street Student Involvement Fair in Kaufman Mall on Aug. 30. The purpose of the event was for organizations to attract new members, while informing students about the organizations and how they can join. continued on B1

sports

New Season, New Expectations By: Jordan Jones Staff Writer

The start of the 2012 football season has finally arrived for the Old Dominion University football Monarchs. The whole of campus and city of Norfolk is abuzz as they took on the Duquesne University Dukes. In front of 20,000 strong packed into S.B. Ballard Stadium, the Monarchs, perhaps hampered by a bit of first game rust, got off to a slow start and trailed the Dukes 20-10 going into the half. continued on C1

opinions

Space is Full of S.P.A.Z.

By: Steven Knauer Distribution Manager

After a summer of unemployment, my gaming choices were limited. With the start of a new semester and an income, I am finally able to do what I love: play videogames. Upon returning for the new semester, a friend suggested I play a game called Space Pirates and Zombies, affectionately nicknamed S.P.A.Z. continued on D1

Grace Mahin and Gina Lucy walk around Main Street promoting Monarch trative operations officer in the By: Gina Lucy Office of Finance, applied for the Contributing Writer grant in May 2012 with a wellMace & Crown developed plan for the program and an already growing list of Beginning Sept. 11, 2012, the sponsors. “The grant will greatly new, free Monarch Millionaire increase our budget for making a program will be open to all stuprogram that is both informative dents looking to learn about such and fun to participate,” explained personal finance topics as budgetEdmunds. The funds will go to ing, banking, credit cards, paying “things like t-shirts, a graduation for college, and life after college. reception and financial workOld Dominion University was sheets” for students to practice. chosen out of over 50 applicants ODU will contribute matching to receive $3,500 in grants from funds to the program. Higher-One for the program. It’s no secret that student debt Bill Edmunds, acting adminis-

Millionaire.

is a big problem. In late 2011, total student debt in the United States reached the $1 trillion level, and the Project on Student Debt’s website estimates that the average student in Virginia graduated with $23,327 in debt. The average ODU graduate is a bit better off, with an average debt of $17,250, but even this amount of debt can be a significant detriment to buying a house, starting a family and other important life steps that college grads may consider. Old Dominion University’s Office of Finance is working

towards a solution to this problem. The solution starts with teaching future graduates how to manage their finances to avoid debt, following the old adage, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Monarch Millionaire will be the perfect program for students looking for answers to questions like how to improve a credit score, how to create a household budget and many more. “I jumped at the chance to teach a section in the Monarch Millionaire program, because I feel it is important that students are financially literate,” said Crystal Hamilton, who volunteered to instruct a class section this fall. “I have always been into money and business, being a finance major. I know that finances are taboo to most people. People feel they are confusing and personal so they are afraid to talk about them. I’m so glad the Monarch Project and Office of Finance has been working diligently on this program because our students need this.” The Monarch Millionaire program was proposed by the Monarch Project and the Office of Finance, which partnered with the College of Business & Public Administration, Financial Aid Office, the Career Management Center, Aramark, Follett, Housing and Residence Life, Global Spectrum, ODU Athletics, Distance Learning, Army and Navy ROTC, and the ODU Credit Union, among others. Each class of 15 to 25 students will be led by student instructors who have been trained in personal finance topics. These instructors are volunteers coming from all areas of the university. The mission of Monarch Millionaire is to improve ODU students’ financial literacy with a balanced mix of fun and informative lessons, discussions, and practice work. Continued on A3

SFA: Student Financial Assistance Program Launching This Fall By: Diane Dougherty Staff Writer Mace & Crown

Despite the many differences between incoming freshman and graduating seniors, they all have at least one thing in common: bills. Whether they are receiving help from their parents or completely on their own, the questions and confusions brought on by university finances remain the same. Old Dominion University strives

to educate its students on the importance of paying for college and how being financially responsible will benefit them, not only while they’re attending ODU, but well after they leave, which is why the Student Financial Assistance (SFA) Program will be going into effect starting this fall semester. SFA’s mission is to offer proactive financial assistance to ODU students from admissions to graduation in order for students to meet their financial obligations

to the university and achieve academic and financial success. Their goal will be to provide oneon-one assistance to ODU students who experience challenges in paying for college or fulfilling their financial obligations to the university. SFA consists of former Old Dominion students Latrese Parker, Grace Mahin and Diane Dougherty, known as “Student Advocates.” This team’s varied educational background ranges

from political science, communications, and higher education. Each are committed to serving ODU students. The goal of this team is to individually advise students on their specific financial questions, hoping to create a more personal environment that allows the attention to be focused on the one student at hand. The SFA believes this will encourage students students to seek help and to continue Continued on A2


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