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THE DAILY COLLEGIAN Friday, October 24,1997 Telephone: (209) 278-573; Work-study does not do intended job By Arnie Shober Campus employment is always sparse .- but even more so if you arc one of many students who has been slighted by the federal work-study program.' Federal work-study is supposed .to help students work through col- * lege by providing inexpensive la¬ bor for colleges. But work-study, much like financial aid, is based on the concept of "need" - it will help students who could not be expected to raise enough money to cover col¬ lege costs without it. Unfortunately, the formula used to determine work-study eligibility keeps many students from obtain¬ ing jobs. ^iany students come from fami¬ lies that may have just enough money to eliminate them from work-study competition. The fed¬ eral government expects parents to devote half of their income lo col¬ lege expenses. Is this really realis¬ tic? While work-study does aim at a worthy goal, it fails to consider that parents' incomes do not always equal support. 1040 forms notwith¬ standing, some parents will not or cannot help their children through college because of an expected work ethic, hard times or botrr. Work study is a detriment to these students. To compound the problem, many univorsity departments can¬ not afford to hire at minimum wage without the government's three- quarters subsidy.as is evident by the scarcity of non-work-study jobs at last week's campus job fair. The hike of the minimum wage to $5.15 Monday will not help, either. . The Department of Education's reckoning of studentTmancial need is outdated. The formula assumes that parents can pay about a third of their income and assets for the benefit of their children in college - one third. At the same time, the department assumes that students can pay only about a quarter of their income and assets, such as savings accounts. This seems to be reversed. Working students often devote a greater fraction of their income to paying school bills than their par¬ ents do. The assumption that par¬ ents will pick up more of the col¬ lege tab hurts all students who need financial aid. Work-study needs to be weighted more heavily on students' income. Under the current system, this could dramatically increase 'participation in the program, mak¬ ing it much more expensive for tax¬ payers. To help offset the cost, the government could reduce the frac¬ tion it pays. I say this realizing many depart¬ ments work on limited budgets. Some work probably would not get done if it were not for work-study. If the change suggested above was made, some departments could switch to alternative pay - swme form of class credit, for example. Credit-wages could take two forms. The first form is a generic credit hour that could fill in hours needed for graduation. Since any of these jobs would be.academically inclined, th'cy could be legitimately counted as practical experience too often lacking in classrooms. A secorjd form could be deter¬ mined to fill class requirements. Any jobs garnering these credit wages would have to be much more specific and detailed. Credit hours for wages are prob¬ ably the best alternative to work- study pay. For one. they arc free to the school. No faculty member is teaching any class for these credit wages, while a department receives the benefit of the student's work. A credit-wage is tax-free for students. And such wages encourage every¬ one to work, because everyone wants to graduate. Other possibilities for alternative Please see WORK, page 4. fU1^ THIS IS THE TWANKSIOET F0RlcTT)N6MY TSUGESON aoceon/THt RWnyCARr Jackson's message on 209 ignores the voters' choice Staff Editorial The voters have spoken. But Jesse Jackson isn't listening. His current campaign to thwart Proposition 209 is not only a waste of time, but it is a slap in the face to California voters. Last year California voters de¬ cided to end one of the greatest mistakes lo come out of the civil rights movement: affirmative ac¬ tion. • For a policy that is supported mostly by liberals and liberal-lean¬ ing thinkers, affirmative action is a very illiberal policy. It is supposed to correct years of discrimination, but how it tries to meet that goal is destructive. By focusing on race, instead of pursuing the color-blind society that the Rev. Martin Luther King. Jr. wanted, we are Headed into a soci¬ ety where the walls between the races can grow thicker. Jackson has compared his "Save the Dream" rally to the civil rights marches of the 1960s. But his po¬ litical agenda pales jn comparison It) the bravery exhibited by the men and women who stood up lo oppres¬ sion. A political rally to hold on lo affirmative action won't save King's dream, it will only diminish it. It's lime to move on. Affirma¬ tive action needs lo go the way of the dinosaur. The best way to help the disad¬ vantaged is not to give assistance to those of a certain race, but to those who are economically disad¬ vantaged. • It's condescending to assume that the people who need the help arc minorities. People of color have been able to succeed without- the help of any preferences. There's no reason to degrade those who are willing to do what it takes to be suc¬ cessful. ' Unfortunately. Jackson's ralb will raise all the emotions and tli visions that need to be put bchnu us. It's time to leave the bitterncs over America's past racial prejudio in the past. However, discrimination shouU be eliminated and condemns whenever it rears its ugly head But the way to combat it i through enforcement of curren laws and education, not by further ing the usenfraec. Every American's goal shouK be a society where we vic.w every one else as our equal, and not mis tr?at anyone because of their race sex or creed. We can reach that goal. But onl; if wc are willing to forgive one an other for what happened in the past and go into the future as one na tion. And that means leaving Rev Jackson behind. Daily Collegian California State University, Fresno Business Manager Ginger Terstegen Copy Editors Cheramie Taylor Terry Koeppel Production Manager Matthew Hart Editor in Chief Derek Walter Managing Editor Luis Hernandez Assignment Editor David Childers Ad Manager Judy Yhnell Photo Editor Ryan Weber Web Production Jason Maggini Staff Writers: Kimberly Barber, Timothy Bragg. Jeff Criesi, Nakisha Dickens, Cherie Arambel, Yvonne Martinez, Cheryl Ensom Sports Writers: Kyoko Hoshino, John Sanders, Toni A. Garcia-Dclgado. Phil Kakligian, Stephen Case, Ryan Estrada Columnists: Hakim Allen, Manuel Annear, * ~~* Joel Eanes, Larry Famsworth Ad Reps: Amy Yhnell Stephanie Williams, Theresa Alvarado Circulation: Sam Robles The Daily Collegian is pub¬ lished five times a week for and by the students of California State University, Fresno. Opinions expressed in the Collegian are not necessarily those of the entire Daily Colle¬ gian staff. The editors reserve the right to edit letters for length and clarity. To be considered for publication, letters must be typed and should not exceed 250 words. Telephone Directory: Editor: (209)278-5732 News: (209)278-2486 Sports: (209)273-5733 Advertising: (209)278-5731 FAX: (209)278-2679 Email us at: coIlegian@csufresno.edu ■ "' .
Object Description
Title | 1997_10 The Daily Collegian October 1997 |
Alternative Title | Daily Collegian (California State University, Fresno) |
Publisher | Associated Students of Fresno State, Fresno, Calif. |
Publication Date | 1997 |
Description | Daily (except weedends) during the school year. Microfilm. Palo Alto, Calif.: BMI Library Microfilms, 1986- microfilm reels; 35 mm. Vol.1, no.1 (Feb 8, 1922)- |
Subject | California State University, Fresno -- Periodicals. |
Contributors | Associated Students of Fresno State. |
Coverage | Vol.1 no.1 (Feb 8, 1922)- to present |
Format | Microfilm reels, 35 mm. |
Technical Information | Scanned at 600 dpi; TIFF; Microfilm ScanPro 2000 "E-image data" |
Language | eng |
Description
Title | October 24, 1997, Page 2 |
Alternative Title | Daily Collegian (California State University, Fresno) |
Publisher | Associated Students of Fresno State, Fresno, Calif. |
Publication Date | 1997 |
Description | Daily (except weedends) during the school year. Microfilm. Palo Alto, Calif.: BMI Library Microfilms, 1986- microfilm reels; 35 mm. Vol.1, no.1 (Feb 8, 1922)- |
Subject | California State University, Fresno -- Periodicals. |
Contributors | Associated Students of Fresno State. |
Coverage | Vol.1 no.1 (Feb 8, 1922)- to present |
Format | Microfilm reels, 35 mm. |
Technical Information | Scanned at 600 dpi; TIFF; Microfilm ScanPro 2000 "E-image data" |
Language | eng |
Full-Text-Search | THE DAILY COLLEGIAN Friday, October 24,1997 Telephone: (209) 278-573; Work-study does not do intended job By Arnie Shober Campus employment is always sparse .- but even more so if you arc one of many students who has been slighted by the federal work-study program.' Federal work-study is supposed .to help students work through col- * lege by providing inexpensive la¬ bor for colleges. But work-study, much like financial aid, is based on the concept of "need" - it will help students who could not be expected to raise enough money to cover col¬ lege costs without it. Unfortunately, the formula used to determine work-study eligibility keeps many students from obtain¬ ing jobs. ^iany students come from fami¬ lies that may have just enough money to eliminate them from work-study competition. The fed¬ eral government expects parents to devote half of their income lo col¬ lege expenses. Is this really realis¬ tic? While work-study does aim at a worthy goal, it fails to consider that parents' incomes do not always equal support. 1040 forms notwith¬ standing, some parents will not or cannot help their children through college because of an expected work ethic, hard times or botrr. Work study is a detriment to these students. To compound the problem, many univorsity departments can¬ not afford to hire at minimum wage without the government's three- quarters subsidy.as is evident by the scarcity of non-work-study jobs at last week's campus job fair. The hike of the minimum wage to $5.15 Monday will not help, either. . The Department of Education's reckoning of studentTmancial need is outdated. The formula assumes that parents can pay about a third of their income and assets for the benefit of their children in college - one third. At the same time, the department assumes that students can pay only about a quarter of their income and assets, such as savings accounts. This seems to be reversed. Working students often devote a greater fraction of their income to paying school bills than their par¬ ents do. The assumption that par¬ ents will pick up more of the col¬ lege tab hurts all students who need financial aid. Work-study needs to be weighted more heavily on students' income. Under the current system, this could dramatically increase 'participation in the program, mak¬ ing it much more expensive for tax¬ payers. To help offset the cost, the government could reduce the frac¬ tion it pays. I say this realizing many depart¬ ments work on limited budgets. Some work probably would not get done if it were not for work-study. If the change suggested above was made, some departments could switch to alternative pay - swme form of class credit, for example. Credit-wages could take two forms. The first form is a generic credit hour that could fill in hours needed for graduation. Since any of these jobs would be.academically inclined, th'cy could be legitimately counted as practical experience too often lacking in classrooms. A secorjd form could be deter¬ mined to fill class requirements. Any jobs garnering these credit wages would have to be much more specific and detailed. Credit hours for wages are prob¬ ably the best alternative to work- study pay. For one. they arc free to the school. No faculty member is teaching any class for these credit wages, while a department receives the benefit of the student's work. A credit-wage is tax-free for students. And such wages encourage every¬ one to work, because everyone wants to graduate. Other possibilities for alternative Please see WORK, page 4. fU1^ THIS IS THE TWANKSIOET F0RlcTT)N6MY TSUGESON aoceon/THt RWnyCARr Jackson's message on 209 ignores the voters' choice Staff Editorial The voters have spoken. But Jesse Jackson isn't listening. His current campaign to thwart Proposition 209 is not only a waste of time, but it is a slap in the face to California voters. Last year California voters de¬ cided to end one of the greatest mistakes lo come out of the civil rights movement: affirmative ac¬ tion. • For a policy that is supported mostly by liberals and liberal-lean¬ ing thinkers, affirmative action is a very illiberal policy. It is supposed to correct years of discrimination, but how it tries to meet that goal is destructive. By focusing on race, instead of pursuing the color-blind society that the Rev. Martin Luther King. Jr. wanted, we are Headed into a soci¬ ety where the walls between the races can grow thicker. Jackson has compared his "Save the Dream" rally to the civil rights marches of the 1960s. But his po¬ litical agenda pales jn comparison It) the bravery exhibited by the men and women who stood up lo oppres¬ sion. A political rally to hold on lo affirmative action won't save King's dream, it will only diminish it. It's lime to move on. Affirma¬ tive action needs lo go the way of the dinosaur. The best way to help the disad¬ vantaged is not to give assistance to those of a certain race, but to those who are economically disad¬ vantaged. • It's condescending to assume that the people who need the help arc minorities. People of color have been able to succeed without- the help of any preferences. There's no reason to degrade those who are willing to do what it takes to be suc¬ cessful. ' Unfortunately. Jackson's ralb will raise all the emotions and tli visions that need to be put bchnu us. It's time to leave the bitterncs over America's past racial prejudio in the past. However, discrimination shouU be eliminated and condemns whenever it rears its ugly head But the way to combat it i through enforcement of curren laws and education, not by further ing the usenfraec. Every American's goal shouK be a society where we vic.w every one else as our equal, and not mis tr?at anyone because of their race sex or creed. We can reach that goal. But onl; if wc are willing to forgive one an other for what happened in the past and go into the future as one na tion. And that means leaving Rev Jackson behind. Daily Collegian California State University, Fresno Business Manager Ginger Terstegen Copy Editors Cheramie Taylor Terry Koeppel Production Manager Matthew Hart Editor in Chief Derek Walter Managing Editor Luis Hernandez Assignment Editor David Childers Ad Manager Judy Yhnell Photo Editor Ryan Weber Web Production Jason Maggini Staff Writers: Kimberly Barber, Timothy Bragg. Jeff Criesi, Nakisha Dickens, Cherie Arambel, Yvonne Martinez, Cheryl Ensom Sports Writers: Kyoko Hoshino, John Sanders, Toni A. Garcia-Dclgado. Phil Kakligian, Stephen Case, Ryan Estrada Columnists: Hakim Allen, Manuel Annear, * ~~* Joel Eanes, Larry Famsworth Ad Reps: Amy Yhnell Stephanie Williams, Theresa Alvarado Circulation: Sam Robles The Daily Collegian is pub¬ lished five times a week for and by the students of California State University, Fresno. Opinions expressed in the Collegian are not necessarily those of the entire Daily Colle¬ gian staff. The editors reserve the right to edit letters for length and clarity. To be considered for publication, letters must be typed and should not exceed 250 words. Telephone Directory: Editor: (209)278-5732 News: (209)278-2486 Sports: (209)273-5733 Advertising: (209)278-5731 FAX: (209)278-2679 Email us at: coIlegian@csufresno.edu ■ "' . |