The Oklahoma Daily

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WEDNESDAY MARCH 31, 2010

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Health care bill strips student loans from private lenders New legislation will increase funding for Pell Grants, put student loans solely under government control MATTHEW MOZAK Daily Staff Writer

President Barack Obama approved changes to the U.S. student loan program Tuesday as part of the new health-care reform bill. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said the House and the Senate have approved legislation — the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010 — that will overhaul the student loan industry and government financial aid programs. Duncan said this legislation will eliminate a $61-billion program that supports private banking companies that make

federally-backed student loans, which offer the lowest interest rates because the government assumes the risk if students fail to meet their financial obligations. Students will now solely go through the federal government to get their student loans. However, students will continue to work with their school’s financial aid offices to request student loans, he said. Duncan described the legislation as a rare opportunity to invest billions of dollars in students, which will allow millions of hardworking families to afford college. The government will use $36 billion of the $61 billion it saves over 10 years to increase Pell Grant scholarships — need-based financial aid that doesn’t need to be repaid — making college more affordable for millions of middle-class Americans, according to the Congressional Budget Office report.

This legislation will increase the maximum annual Pell Grant scholarship to $5,350 in 2010 and to $5,975 by 2017. Starting in 2013, the scholarship will increase as the cost of living increases. The rest of the savings will be used to make student loans more manageable for borrowers and strengthen community colleges, the report stated. Caryn Pacheco, OU Financial Aid Services director, said 3,927 OU students received $12,658,516 in Pell Grant scholarships for the 2008-2009 school year. “It is anticipated with the increase in the value of the Pell Grant, more funds will be available,” Pacheco said. According to the Department of Education Web site, more students with unemployed and underemployed parents have been qualifying for need-based financial aid. This legislation will invest $13.5 billion of the $36 billion allocated for the

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Mr, Miss Asian OU crowned Tuesday Asian American Student Association pageant judged contestants on traditional wear, talent, question and answer session CASSI TONEY Daily Staff Writer

NEIL MCGLOHON/THE DAILY

Miss Asian OU 2009 Luanne Vo crows Tram Anh Lai with the title for 2010. The ceremony took place in Tuesday night at Meachan Auditorium.

The Asian American Student Association named Bijan Azimi Mr. Asian OU and Tram Anh Lai Miss Asian OU at its annual pageant Tuesday night in Meacham Auditorium. There were four male and four female contestants competing in the pageant, held under the theme “Evening of Elegance.” Azimi, Andrew M. Nguyen, Donald Phan, and Ronny Tran competed for Mr. Asian OU, while Grace Hsu, Lai, Tammy Le and Priya Patel competed for Miss Asian OU. “This is the biggest and only event in the spring [for the association], ” said Chris Nguyen, freshman representative for the association and University College freshman. “We’ve been working on it for two months.” The crowd demonstrated enthusiasm with their loud cheers and handmade signs. Associate Director of Student Life Quy Nguyen and OU alumna Diana Ngo-Le acted as the Master and Mistress of Ceremonies for the approximately 300 guests. The competition included three parts: traditional wear, talent, and question and answer. Each contestant also was required to sell 250 raffle tickets. The contestant who sold the most raffle tickets received extra points. Before the event, five judges interviewed the contestants. The judges were either involved with OU or have pageant experience, such as Samantha Vu who held the titles of Miss Vietnam USA and Miss Asia America. “The judges pick who they think will be best at representing Asian culture to community,” Nguyen said. After winning, Mr. and Miss Asian OU each receive a $400 scholarship and are required to organize a community service, represent the Asian community and help organize next year’s pageant. “I think it’s a pretty friendly competition this year,” said Lai, microbiology junior. Lai said she initially joined for fun and then realized she could really benefit OU. “I’ve never done any sort of pageant [before], actually,” Lai said. PAGEANT CONTINUES ON PAGE 2

STUDENT CONGRESS SALUTES GRADUATING MEMBERS TROY WEATHERFORD Daily Staff Writer

The Undergraduate Student Congress passed 26 resolutions Tuesday evening honoring those who served UOSA in the past year. This was the last Student Congress meeting before new representatives take office. UOSA presidential candidates Nicholas Harrison and Ally Glavas addressed the congress before the meeting. Harrison said the creation of a University Community Council was the most important issue of his platform. “When all of the university stakeholders work together on this council ... the students simply say what they need and

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the council does it,” Harrison said. Harrison’s running mate, John Surles, spoke about issues important to veterans. He said nontraditional students were under-represented in student congress. “I serve — that’s what I do for a living and that’s what I want to do for the rest of my life,” Surles said. Glavas focused on the four core issues of her campaign: Advising, Cleveland Area Rapid Transit system, oZONE and dead-week policy. “We really need to focus on what it is that works well for students,” Glavas said. She said the international area studies department had CONGRESS CONTINUES ON PAGE 2

MARCIN RUTKOWSKI / THE DAILY

Undergraduate Student Congress Vice Chairman Matt Gress speaks Monday at forum on ballot initiatives. Gress said Tuesday that he is proud of the work Student Congress has done this semester and last semester despite what he saw as setbacks and roodblocks to UOSA’s agenda. © 2009 OU PUBLICATIONS BOARD

Housing blocks students from exchanging beds Campus-housing mattresses must remain in their designated rooms, Housing spokeswoman says GREGORY MAUS Daily Staff Writer

Some students want to swap the mattresses provided by campus housing with their own, but university officials cite rules preventing any replacement. The beds are uncomfortable even after adding padding, said Joshua Majed, business management sophomore. So, Majed tried to replace the mattress with his own. However, he said, Housing and Food Services representatives told him that would leave him with two mattresses. “If I wanted to bring down a mattress or my own chair, then they won’t pick up my own mattress or the chair that they provided me with,” Majed said. “The rules are that all the furniture that is there cannot leave.” Students are permitted to bring limited furniture items to the residence halls and on-campus apartments, but only students paying for single rooms in the residence halls may have furniture removed from their rooms, Housing and Food Services Spokeswoman Lauren Royston said by e-mail. “Furniture in OU Traditions Square apartments may be rearranged, but should not be removed from the original room location,” Royston said. Majed said OU Housing and Food Services representatives suggested he stack the mattresses on top of each other. “I wouldn’t want to do that because if you stack it, your bed is going to end up three or four feet off the ground and you would have to jump onto it,” he said. “And you can’t hide a mattress in a bedroom, there’s nowhere to put it.” Majed said he wished Housing officials would take the mattresses, but he understands storage would be an issue. He said the office should give students the choice to bring their own mattresses before they check in. Caitlin Mannix, University College freshman who resides in Walker Tower, said she uses two mattress pads and agreed the beds are not comfortable without them. Dakota Wilkinson, David L. Boren Hall resident, said the overall furniture situation was nice. “The lounge on our floor has some pretty comfortable arm chairs and I like the couch,” said Wilkinson, University College freshman. “[The beds] squeak, but that’s expected — it’s a dorm bed.”

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