COLLEGIATETIMES
thursday january 31, 2008 blacksburg, va.
www.collegiatetimes.com
news FED CUTS RATES AGAIN TO WARD OFF RECESSION
Sallie Mae cuts student loans Abusive
driver fees to be repealed
WASHINGTON — Armed with new evidence indicating that U.S. economic growth virtually stalled late last year, the Federal Reserve on Wednesday announced another half-point cut to its benchmark lending rate in a bid to keep the economy out of recession. The Fed reduced its federal funds rate — the overnight rate banks charge each other — to 3 percent. Commercial banks mirrored that move, lowering their prime rate — which they charge their best borrowers — to 6 percent. The Fed also made a half-point cut to the rate it charges banks for emergency borrowing. —McClatchy Newspapers
LIZA ROESCH
ct staff writer
sports WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK MOVES UP TO NO.6 IN RANKINGS Virginia Tech’s women’s indoor track & field team rose to No. 6 in the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll, four spots up from its No. 10 preseason ranking. The Hokies will host their next meet, the Virginia Tech Elite, from Feb. 8 to 9 at Rector Fieldhouse.
MEN’S TENNIS NOW 4-0 ON SEASON Virginia Tech’s men’s tennis team beat Middle Tennessee State at Burrows/Burleson Tennis Center on Wednesday to improve to 4-0 on the season. The Hokies won five of the six singles matches and swept the doubles matches to win 6-1. No. 35 Tech will next play host to No. 39 Penn State on Feb. 2.
weather MOSTLY SUNNY high 42, low 31
corrections “Battle of bands: Round one kicks-off with attitude,” (CT, Jan. 29) was incorrect. The winner of each heat receives a gift certificate to Rocket Music. “’Cloverfield’ a monstrous thrill ride” (CT, Jan. 30) was written by Evan Luzi. The Collegiate Times regrets these errors
coming up TOMORROW’S CT Pick up the Collegiate Times to read an in-depth preview of the men’s basketball game against the University of Virginia this Saturday at 1 p.m.
Check out the new mobile version of the Collegiate Times at m.collegiatetimes.com on your cellular phone.
index News.....................2 Features................3 0pinions................5
Sports....................6 Classifieds..............7 Sudoku..................7
An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 105th year • issue 11
JEFF SLOYER/SPPS
Jessica Thigpen, a graduate student in microbiology, writes a check at the Freedom First Credit Union as she is helped by Brandy Wesldoth.
KERRY O’CONNOR
ct news reporter On Jan. 29, student loan provider Sallie Mae announced it would no longer provide loans to students with sub-prime credit scores. Sallie Mae is the leading company providing student loans, so the cut is projected to affect many students across the nation. “As a result of the impact of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act and the deterioration of the credit markets, Sallie Mae is discontinuing certain non-standard private education loan programs,” said Tom Joyce, senior vice president of Sallie Mae’s corporate communications. “We are also in the process of adjusting our underwriting criteria and pricing of our private education loans to reflect the current financing and market conditions.” This decision was made based on a combination
of four factors, many of which have been affecting student loan companies nationwide. The biggest factor for all loan companies has been the crisis in the housing market, which has forced companies to tighten their loaning standards and reducing the amount of loans given to customers with sub-prime credit scores. “All financial service companies, including student loan providers, are experiencing tighter credit markets as a result of the sub-prime mortgage crisis,” said C.E. Andrews, CEO of Sallie Mae, in a statement to the company’s valued customers. “The status of today’s credit markets has limited the capacity not only of Sallie Mae, but also of all student lenders to fund both FFELP and private loans.” Last year, New York’s Attorney General Andrew Como conducted an investigation of the relationship between student loan companies and the financial aid departments of colleges and universi-
ties to which the companies provided. The investigation exposed scandals linked to Sallie Mae as well as many other student loan companies. On Sept. 27, President Bush signed the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, which increased the Federal Pell grant by $11 billion. This act simultaneously reduced federal subsidies to many lenders including Sallie Mae, forcing them to cut many of their loans. The final factor involves Sallie Mae’s individual financial problems. Last year, the company faced losses up to $1.6 billion and was forced to lay-off many employees. Harris Miller, president of the Career Colleges Association, explained Sallie Mae’s cut will primarily affect schools that attract a certain demographic of student that is usually depicted as low-income students with low credit scores.
see LOANS, page two
Tech seeks out international proffesors CALEB FLEMING
ct news reporter According to the office of Multicultural Affairs in the fall census that ran on Sept. 30, 2007, there were 3,061 faculty members at Virginia Tech. Of these, 281 were listed as non-resident aliens, a figure representing 9.18 percent. Though there are many reasons for a university to desire a strong international faculty base, Vice Provost for Outreach and International Affairs John Dooley outlined Tech’s reasoning. “We want to attract the greatest talent in the world,” Dooley said. “It’s very important that we be able to facilitate and attract high quality, highly productive, and highly innovative faculty from around the world.” In 2005, Virginia Tech initiated the International Faculty Development Program to aid the internationalizing of the university community with faculty and staff members from a broad global background. According to the Office of Outreach and International Affairs, this program enhances international partnerships and enables international faculty members’ participation in learning and research. “It’s intended to expand the capacity of colleges and faculty to globalize or internationalize their curriculum,” Dooley said. “We have seen outcomes for that program of new study abroad opportunities, collaborative research, and new outreach programs internationally.” In addition to the IFDP, the International
GENEVRA RHEIN/SPPS
Professor Fabrice Teulon, originally from France, lectures on French culture and civilization. Strategic Plan was also proposed. This plan, written by 24 individuals from all branches of the university in January 2005, was established to provide Tech with an international mission and vision for international affairs. Though many proposals in the past have focused on the diversity of students, the ISP
explicitly announces the university’s intentions of internationalizing every aspect of the university. The proposal enhances the appeal of the institute by providing a much more welcoming environment.
see INTERNATIONAL, page two
Yesterday, the Virginia Senate unanimously passed a bill that would repeal the state’s abusive driver fees. This follows last week’s House of Delegates vote, which passed the bill by an overwhelming 95 votes to 2. The next day, the Senate Finance Committee voted unanimously to support the bill as well. The bill included an amendment that would give a refund to drivers who already paid these fees. In July 2007, these abusive driver fees were put in place for various traffic offenses, such as reckless and drunken driving, as part of a transportation-funding plan. The hope was for the Commonwealth to bring in $65 million every year through this new law. Delegate David Albo (R-Fairfax), who sponsored the abusive-driver legislation, felt that the law had been a great way to fund highway maintenance. “It’s his belief that those who drive insane speeds or under the influence of alcohol ought to be penalized,” said Seamus Owens, legislative assistant to Albo. “They ought to be responsible for helping to fund the roads that they chose to drive recklessly on.” Not only was the law projected to fall short of its $65 million goal, the public backlash against the fees caused Gov. Tim Kaine to ask lawmakers to repeal the fees during his State of the Commonwealth address earlier this month. Virginians, who already answer to some of the strictest traffic laws in the nation, were enraged by these fees, which ranged from $750 to $3000. Many were also upset about the fact that the fees applied solely to Virginia drivers, an amendment that Kaine made last year when the bill got to his desk. This amendment wasn’t made known until after it was signed into law and didn’t sit well with many delegates, especially Albo. Although he still supports the legislation, he voted to repeal the law because he wants it to include two things it currently lacks: application to out-of-state drivers and application to fewer, more serious offenders. “He has never changed his mind,” Owens said of Albo. “What has changed is the viability of this bill in the state of Virginia.” Although it looks as though the repeal will occur — it still must be signed by Kaine — one issue remains. Karen Hult, political science professor at Virginia Tech, said that in terms of public policy, she’s inclined to support these fees. “There are all kinds of revenue needs,” Hult said. “This is at least one of the possible ways to raise money without cutting any programs.” In addition to increasing revenue, lawmakers are interested in deterring drunk and reckless drivers. Corinne Geller, spokeswoman for the Virginia State Police, said it’s impossible to tell whether or not these fees accomplished that. “There are so many factors to consider,” Geller said, referring to weather, number of troopers, and various events that took place over the year in Virginia. “There’s no absolute yes or no.” For example, speeding tickets written by the Virginia State Police in July 2007 decreased 10 percent and reckless driving decreased 22 percent compared to July 2006. On the other hand, drunken driving increased 6 percent. Geller said the Virginia State Police Department doesn’t take a stand on the matter and that the abusive driver fees haven’t changed their enforcement. “We’ve always been aggressive toward deterring reckless and impaired drivers,” Geller said. “And we’ll continue to be.”
House of Delegates votes to halt HPV vaccine mandate KYLIE STURGEON
ct staff writer This past week, the Virginia House passed a bill that may halt the implementation of a human papillomavirus vaccination mandate. The Journal of the American Medical Association calls HPV one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. Persistent infection with “high-risk” types of HPV is the main risk factor for cervical cancer. One year ago, the General Assembly voted to make Virginia the first state to require that all young girls receive Gardasil, the new HPV vaccine, before turning 13; that measure was to go into effect on Oct. 1, 2009. If this new bill makes it through the Senate and Gov. Tim Kaine, it will delay the mandate’s implementation until the fall of 2010. The bill, presented by Delegate Robert Marshall (R-Prince William and Loudoun Counties) criticizes Gardasil’s marketing campaign. “I’ve never seen a vaccine marketed in such a way,” Marshall said. “With such a hip campaign, Gardasil is encouraging children to exult independence over their parents in an unethical manner.”
LAUREN WADDELL/SPPS
A nurse at Schiffert Health Center prepares to administer an HPV vaccine. Delegate Marshall believes that the vaccine hasn’t been on the market long enough following its 2006 release to ensure its safety and efficacy. “I don’t want to put this compulsory vaccine out there and then have people come back with a
number of problems where the state is held responsible,” Marshall said. “There are a number of things to take into consideration, including permanent sterilization.” The promise of the vaccine, which clinical trials have proven to be highly effective against two of the several HPV strains that cause nearly three-quarters of the annual U.S. cervical cancer cases, has been well-received among the state’s democrats. Merck and Co.’s vaccine, Gardasil, is considered the only treatment that may help guard against diseases that are causes by HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18. Gardasil is directed toward girls and women ages 9 to 26. Doctors recommend the vaccine for pre-sexually active girls so they become immune before there’s an opportunity to contract the virus. According to Gardasil’s Web site, the vaccine is given as three injections over six months at a cost of $360 for each of the doses. Side effects include pain, swelling, itching, and redness at the injection site, as well as fever, nausea and dizziness. Marshall’s critique of the vaccine included the wide range of side effects. He said that if his bill passes in front of the Senate, “the extra time would be used to explore the long-term side-effects of the vaccine and to determine a way to lower dosage
costs.” Delegate Vivian Watts (D-Fairfax) voted against the delay of the original mandate, citing that some of the side effects, including rashes, were “common in every vaccine” and an acceptable inconvenience in battling the long-term, life-threatening possibility of cervical cancer. Approximately 20 million people are currently infected with HPV. At least 50 percent of sexually active men and women acquire a genital HPV infection at some point in their lives. By age 50, at least 80 percent of women will have acquired genital HPV infection. About 6.2 million Americans get a new genital HPV infection each year; it is estimated that 74 percent of them occur in 15- to 24-year-olds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site. When speaking to the House, Delegate Jeion Ward (D-Hampton) reminded members to tell friends and family of the vaccine. Ward, co-patron of the original HPV vaccine bill, argued that the cervical cancer statistics speak for themselves, “despite what we know about this vaccine.” The bill, officially known as HB 188, passed in the House with a 57-39 vote and will next be heard by the Senate.
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