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D.C. Dance Festival kicks off Friday, celebrates 10th anniversary Page 4 May 15 - May 21, 2014
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Volume 13 Issue 39
6
Editorial
Sterling attitude reminiscent of U.S. slave-master era By George E. Curry NNPA Columnist
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Fighting Addiction?
hy would a White racist have sex with a person of color? That’s the question that few people in the media want to raise. But it is an age-old contradiction not limited to Donald Sterling, the hate spewing soon-to-be former owner of the Los Angeles Clippers. Beginning with slavery in the original colonies – even earlier in Africa with the arrival of European colonizers – White men have forced themselves on Black women. Caucasian men from Thomas Jefferson on the left to South Carolina Senator and longtime archsegregationist Strom Thurmond on the right have projected one image in public while having sex – even children – with Black women under the cover of darkness. They were talking White (superiority ) while sleeping Black. I don’t for a moment pretend to know how to explain this obvious contraction. But in the case of President Jefferson, the chief author of the Declaration of Independence, contradictions became a way of life long before he bedded and had children with Sally Hemings, a Black woman. Jefferson will forever be inextricably linked to these words in the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” At the time our Founding Fathers were proclaiming unalienable rights from God, most of them were enslaving God’s darkskinned creations. Jefferson enslaved nearly 200 African Americans. Jefferson began having sex with Hemings, one of his domestic servants, when she was a teenager. The Thomas Jefferson Foundation acknowledges that it “and most historians believe that, years after his wife’s death, Thomas Jefferson was the father of the six children of Sally Hemings mentioned in Jefferson’s records, including
Sterling’s relationship with a Mexican/Black woman, in spite of his views, re-ignites the oft unspoken hypocrisy in racism. Hypocrisy that reminds us of Washington-Williams (center), the illegitimate Black child of outspoken segregationist Strom Thurmond.
Beverly, Harriet, Madison and Eston Hemings.” South Carolina, like Virginia, had laws prohibiting both interracial marriage and intercourse between Blacks and Whites. If a free Black man had sex with a White woman in South Carolina during the Colonial period, he would automatically lose his freedom, according to Judge A. Leon Higginbothan, Jr.’s book, “In the Matter of Color.” Years later, Strom Thurmond’s interracial dalliances would represent the height of hypocrisy. Running for president in 1948 on the Dixiecrat ticket he said: “I want to tell you, ladies and gentlemen, there’s not enough troops in the army to force the Southern people to break down segregation and accept the Negro into our theaters, into our swimming pools, into our homes and into our churches.” Fifty years ago, Thurmond led the filibuster against the 1964 Civil Rights Act, still the longest debate in Senate history. Thurmond referred to Negroes as “nigras.” But while publicly despising Blacks, he had a different attitude in the bedroom, impregnating his parents’ 16-year-old maid. Armstrong Williams, a Black conservative who began working Thurmond in 1978, recalled the senator confirming he was Washington-Williams’ biological father. “The subject came up again
while the senator and I were attending a South Carolina State football game in Orangeburg. He mentioned how he had arranged for Mrs. Williams to attend the college while he was governor …,” Williams wrote. “‘When a man brings a child in the world, he should take care of that child,’ he told me, and added, “‘She’ll never say anything and neither will you. Not while I’m alive.’” And neither did – until after Thurmond’s death. Considering the history of President Jefferson and Thurmond, no one should have been surprised when Sterling told his mistress, who describes herself as part Mexican and part Black: “It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people. Do you have to?… You can sleep with [black people]. You can bring them in, you can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to promote it … and not to bring them to my games … Sterling, far from being a rarity, simply added another link to the long, scandalous U.S. history of hypocrisy. George E. Curry is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service (NNPA.) He can be reached through his Web site, www.georgecurry.com. Follow him at www.twitter.com/currygeorge.
Finance
Predatory debt collectors rip off gullible consumers By Charlene Crowell NNPA Columnist
A
re you or someone you know being pursued or harassed late into the evenings and on weekends by debt collectors? If so, research shows that you are among one in seven Americans being pursued by debt collection agencies. In a newly-released chapter in its State of Lending series, the Center for Responsible Lending found that debt buying and debt collection is big, big business. Among publicly-traded debt buyers, income grew from $582 million in 2009 to more than $1 billion in 2012. And amid these billion dollar deals, scant regulation allows profiteers to take advantage of financially-distressed consumers, often securing court judgments for debts that may not even be owed. A 2009 Federal Trade Commission analysis of 3.9 million consumer accounts, found only 6 percent of the accounts came with any documentation. The new report also cites a disproportionate impact on low- and moderate-income communities. Black communities were found to have higher rates of debt buyer lawsuits and default judgments. “The sheer lack of accountability in this industry is astonishing,” said Lisa Stifler, CRL policy counsel and co-author of the report. “There is no requirement to verify debt information or inform a consumer about the transfer of debt. Sometimes a consumer learns about a debt only after an onslaught of collection attempts – or worse – a judgment is entered and wages are garnished or a bank account is seized.” Debt buyers, specializing in purchasing delinquent debts and charged-off accounts, pick from a range of products and services: credit cards, auto loans, utility and phone bills, tax liens, medical services and more. Often, the only information transferred in debt transactions are a name, last known address, and purported amount owed. Lenders that typically sell charged-off debts, offer these ac-
A CRL report shows no regulation allows debt collectors to prey on borrowers.
counts “as is’ without any assurances or guarantees to the data’s accuracy of amounts owed or collectability of the debts. Over the past few years, the 19 largest banks sold about $37 billion in chargedoff debt each year. The result is that many times, debt buyers attempt to collect from or sue the wrong people, overstate the amount, or even collect illegitimate debts. The financial gain for the debt buyer is a purchase of accounts often for only cents on dollars owed. From 2006-2009, the nation’s top debt buyers purchased $143 billion in consumer debt; but paid only $6.5 billion, approximately 4.5 cents on the dollar purchased. Then they are able to turn around a significant profit by collecting the full amount of the account. But, consumers are often unaware that their accounts have been sold to third parties. Usually, it is only after consumers begin receiving phone calls, letters, and correspondence from firms they do not know that they learn their accounts were sold. Some do not learn of the debt buyer until after a judgment is entered against them, and they find their wages garnished or bank accounts seized. Other consumer abuses include collection tactics that include offensive language during collection attempts, illegal threats to sue, and misrepresentation on amounts owed or the legal status of a loan. As more debt buyers turn to the courts to sue consumers for debts owed, many obtain default judg-
ments in their favor when consumers fail to appear in court. Missing a court appearance can happen for a variety of reasons, including receiving no notice of a lawsuit, lack of understanding of the court process or inability to secure legal representation. When courts order a default judgment in the debt collector’s favor, collectors gain an extension on the life of the debts and also the right to collect in a variety of ways, including bank account seizure, wage garnishment and property attachment. All too often, default judgments are based on inaccuracies, incomplete or outdated personal information or questionable claims. “What we’re seeing is a pattern of predatory practices when it comes to some kinds of debt buying and collection – and that’s what is concerning,” said Mike Calhoun, CRL president. “Just as a lender has the right to collect debts owed, borrowers should have the right to information about their debt and how it’s being handled and collected.” The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has begun a process that will likely lead to rules overseeing debt collection. “With prudent oversight at the federal and state levels, there’s no reason this problem can’t be fixed,” concluded Calhoun. Charlene Crowell is a communications manager with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@responsiblelending. org.
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1-877-860-9347 SATISFACTION GUARANTEED The festival will showcase performances from around the world this weekend.
District of Columbia Dance DC Festival celebrates 10 years
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he DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities kicks off its 10th annual Dance DC Festival Friday at the Atlas Performing Arts Center on H Street in northeast Washington, D.C. The free festival, created to celebrate folk and traditional dance from around the world, and expose local residents To the art of dance will be celebrated through Sunday. “The DC Dance Festival brings fantastic attention to Washington’s thriving and diverse dance community,” said Judith Terra, Chair of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. “Our goal is to always showcase the District as a world-class cultural capital on the international stage.” The festival begins with “Enchantments of the East” at the Atlas highlighting Eastern dance tradi-
Montgomery County Montgomery County Parks opens summer classes, releases program guide
4 | May 15 - May 21, 2014 | District Chronicles
The Montgomery County Department of Parks has opened its summer programs. Among this summer’s offerings are aquatics,
tions with performances of Middle Eastern, Indian, Chinese and European dance style. Also featured will be performances by Silk Road Dance Company, Ancient Rhythms Dance Company, Golden Universe Dance Studio, and Dr. Janaki Rangarajan, a renowned Bharata Natyam dancer. On Saturday, Dance Around the World will be held outdoors at 4th Street and Pennsylvania Ave., NW. Attendees will have the opportunity to revel in the vibes created by dancers from European, African, and Latin American cultures. There will be a street dance party featuring moves that can be learned on the Fiesta Asia website (www.fiestaasia.org). As part of the Fiesta Asia Street Fair, 25 troupes from various Asian cultures will be featured, including visiting International performers from Taiwan, Philippines, Korea and China. Also on Saturday, a series of interactive dance workshops will be offered throughout the day at the Edgewood Arts Center. “Let’s Get
Physical!” will include Afro-Brazilian martial arts, Cuban dance, the latest line dances, African dance, Dancehall Fusion and “Beat Ya Feet.” “Dance is enjoyed by virtually every culture in the world. Whether performed as a celebration or a ritual, all of us have engaged in the art of dance at some point in our lives,” said Lionell Thomas, Executive Director for the DC Commission on The Arts and Humanities. “The performances and workshops offered during the festival spotlight the significance of a vibrant arts community that contribute to making our city a wonderful place to live, work and play.” The festival will close Sunday at the Carnegie Library with “From Jitterbug to Hand Dance.” Washington, D.C.’s native dance style will be celebrated with performances, instructions, and an open dance floor.For more information and a schedule of events visit the DCCAH website: www.dcarts. dc.gov
art classes, sports, therapeutic recreation services and active adult senior programming. Those interested have four different options for registration: postal mail, fax, online, or in-person at the Montgomery County Recreation Administrative Offices located at 4010 Randolph Road, Silver Spring. Hard copies of the guide can be found at recreation centers, park
facilities, government buildings and public libraries in Montgomery County. Residents who prefer to receive the guide by mail can subscribe for $5 and receive a full year of all five seasonal issues. To view the guide online, or to sign up for a subscription can visit the Montgomery County website at www.montgomerycountymd. gov/rec or call 240.777.6840 for more information.
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he Supreme Court earlier this month declared that the Constitution not only allows for prayer at government meetings, but sectarian prayer. Writing for the 5-4 majority, Justice Anthony Kennedy held that the town of Greece, N.Y., did not violate the Constitution’s Establishment Clause, which forbids the government from endorsing a religion — by sponsoring clergy who delivered sectarian prayers. “To hold that invocations must be non-sectarian would force the legislatures sponsoring prayers and the courts deciding these cases to act as supervisors and censors of religious speech,” Kennedy wrote for himself and the conservatives on the court. Lawmakers and judges would otherwise have to police prayer, he wrote, involving “government in religious matters to a far greater degree than is the case under the town’s current practice of neither editing nor approving prayers in advance nor criticizing their content after the fact.” Justice Elena Kagan, writing for the dissent, called the decision out of sync with American society. One First Amendment legal expert called it a “bad decision” that could lead to marginalizing followers of minority religions in their own hometowns. Not suprisingly, the victory for the town of Greece case buoyed Christian conservatives and others who feel that religious expression has been overly curtailed in public settings. “Today’s Supreme Court decision is a great victory for religious liberty,” said Eric Rassbach, deputy general counsel of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. “Prayers like these have been taking place in our nation’s legislatures for over 200 years,” he said. “They showcase our nation’s religious diversity, highlight the fact that religion is a fundamental aspect of human culture, and reinforce the founding idea that our rights come from the Creator — not the legislature.”
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Supreme Court approves sectarian prayer at public meetings
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The conservative justices 5-4 majority ruling allows prayer at government meetings.
The decision disappointed the Jewish and atheist women who filed suit against the town, and their supporters. They had contended that prayers at town council’s meetings — many of which invoked Jesus and the Holy Spirit — excluded non-Christians. They argued that many who came to petition the council had to either go along with the prayers, and bow their heads in seeming agreement, or present themselves as visitors in opposition to the clergy and the government officials who had invited them. Kagan spelled it out in her dissent: “No one can fairly read the prayers from Greece’s town meetings as anything other than explicitly Christian — constantly and exclusively so. The prayers betray no understanding that the American community is today, as it long has been, a rich mosaic of religious faiths.” Daniel Mach, director of the ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief, said, “We are disappointed by today’s decision. Official religious favoritism should be off-limits under the Constitution. Town-sponsored sectarian prayer violates the basic rule requiring the government to stay neutral on matters of faith.” Ira Lupu, a law professor emeritus at George Washington University who specializes in the First Amendment, said the ruling
“effectively did away with decades of understanding” on how to deal with prayer in state, city and school board meetings. “In past cases, legislative groups that consistently prayed in Jesus’ name lost. But if they tried to make some reasonable effort to have a diverse or pluralistic pattern of prayer, they won. It was the pattern that mattered,” he said. The Monday decision “does away with that. It does not insist on any such reasonable effort to make prayer nonsectarian or to push for diversity. The majority faith in a particular community can dictate the prayers and minority faiths could be left out if they don’t step up and say, ‘Hey, what about us?’” But University of Notre Dame law professor Richard W. Garnett, who specializes in church/state relations and religious freedom, called the decision correct and unsurprising. “What might be surprising, though, is that four justices dissented. It would have been a dramatic and controversial move … to rule that legislative prayers are necessarily unconstitutional,” Garnett said. Just because sectarian prayers are constitutional, Garnett said, doesn’t mean that policies like those of the town of Greece “are wise or welcoming.”
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Cover
Federal judge strikes down Wisconsin voter ID law
By Freddie Allen NNPA Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON (NNPA) – After suffering a major setback last year in the Supreme Court, voting rights advocates are buoyed by a decision late last month by a federal judge in Wisconsin striking down the state’s voter ID law as racially discriminatory. John Ulin, a partner at Arnold & Porter LLP and trial counsel, said that U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman’s opinion in the case made clear that the Voting Rights Act of 1965 still has teeth, even after the United States Supreme Court’s decision in the Shelby County case, which sharply limited application of the landmark law. “The court understands the reach of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act to extend beyond challenges to legislative redistricting and to apply to both denial and practices that prevent people from registering and casting their ballot,” said Ulin. “The evidence in the case was critical and the opin-
ion makes that clear.” Last summer, a majority of justices on the United States Supreme Court gutted the VRA of 1965 by invalidating Section 4 of the law requiring any covered jurisdiction with a history of voting discrimination to pre-clear any voting changes with the Justice Department or a federal court before implementing the proposed changes. U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman found enough evidence that Act 23, the law that required voters to present photo identification was unconstitutional under the Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. In his opinion, Adelman cited research conducted by Marc Levine, an urban studies and economic development at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Levine said, “There’s little question that across the gamut of
indicators that I’ve looked at that Milwaukee, and to the extent that I have indicators on Wisconsin, reveal the sharpest, most pervasive, most persistent, and most entrenched racial and ethnic socioeconomic disparities of virtually any region of the country.” Levine testified that residential segregation and housing discrimination are major causes of the socioeconomic disparities between Whites and minorities in Wisconsin.
ate impact of the photo ID requirement results from the interaction of the requirement with the effects of past or present discrimination. Blacks and Latinos in Wisconsin are disproportionately likely to live in poverty. Individuals who live in poverty are less likely to drive or participate in other activities for which a photo ID may be required (such as banking, air travel, and international travel), and so they obtain fewer benefits from possession of a photo ID than do individuals who can afford to participate in these activities.” Meanwhile, state attorneys pre– Katherine Culiton-Gonzalez, Advancement Project sented little credible evi Research also showed that dence that in-person voter imperBlack voters were “1.4 times as like- sonation fraud had even occurred ly as White voters to lack a match- in any recent, major elections in the ing driver’s license or state ID.” state and the two cases of “unex Writing in his opinion, Adel- plained” votes cast were likely beman said: “I find that the plaintiffs cause of poll worker error. have shown that the disproportion- Katherine Culliton-González,
This is a blueprint ... with voter denial cases
the director of voter protection at the Advancement Project said that it’s kind of a myth that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is only for vote dilution cases and the kind of cases that have to do with redistricting. Culliton-González said that the Wisconsin case is absolutely a blueprint for other voters’ rights advocates to be successful in challenging restrictive voting laws that attempt to block, the poor and minorities from casting a vote. “We’re involved in litigation against a voter ID law in North Carolina, which is also a more comprehensive voter suppression law, which includes cuts to same-day registration and cuts to early voting both of which also have a very severe impact on Black and Latino voters,” said Culliton-González. Culliton-González continued: “This is a blueprint, not only with regards to voter ID claims in North Carolina and Texas and perhaps in other states, but also to other types of voter denial cases like cuts in early voting.”
Black Press forms partnership with hip-hop leaders By Jimmie Davis, Jr. Special to the NNPA from the Miami Times
6 | May 15 - May 21, 2014 | District Chronicles
portunity to network and establish a rapport with DJs and producers. Once a DJ listens to their music, the artist stands a better a chance of getting played in clubs and get radio airplay. “I’m trying to push my entertainment career to the next level,” said rapper Pedro “Bizz” Juan Julio, who travelled from Topeka, Kansas to attend the conference. “I want to sign with a label, so I can feed my family.” His debut CD is entitled “Count Me In.” These days it takes more than charisma to get noticed by a DJ. Musicians have to promote their strengths through establishing what’s called a “brand.” “Your brand is your image,” said Bizz. “It’s who you are.” The conference also featured a “wrap” session, moderated by George E. Curry, editor of NNPA and BlackPressUSA.com . “The ‘wrap’ session was all about the role that the NNPA is going to play at bridging the gap between the hip-hop community and the Black press. We are here to let the collective know that the Black press is a means of communication
NNPA
MIAMI BEACH, FL – Most upcoming hip-hop artists may find it challenging to get radio DJs to play their songs, or to get mainstream media attention. Those that belong to Core DJs World Wide have nothing to worry about. Last week, leaders of the group, representing more than 500 of the nation’s most influential DJs met with the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Chairman Cloves Campbell to establish a partnership that will give them access to approximately 200 Black newspapers. In turn, the NNPA will have a strong connection with a new generation of readers. Core DJs World Wide instructs young executives on how to polish their talent and business skills. “We want to merge the hip hop community with the Black media,” said Core DJs’ CEO and founder, Tony Neal, in an exclusive interview with the Miami Times. “Now we have two well-defined voices reaching the people.”
A third – and perhaps most one of the most important – factors was Jineea Butler, president of Hip Hop Union. Butler was responsible for forming the union between Hip Hop Union, Core DJs World Wide and the NNPA. “There was no type of conversation taking place between the Black Press and the hip hop community,” said Butler. “We have to support one another.” In addition to creating the unique alliance, Butler is a columnist for the NNPA News Service, which reaches nearly 19 million readers. Whether you’re a DJ, singer, rapper, or model, Core DJs is the dream team to belong to. Because they are the premier coalition of DJs, they have inside information about the goings and comings of the music industry. Getting their music played on the radio is the number one concern for rappers and R&B singers, and Neal has made this course of action relatively simple for his members. At a recent three-day conference that celebrated the organization’s 10th anniversary, artists had the op-
DJ Scratch with NNPA chair Cloves Campbell at the Core DJs World Wide’s 10t anniversary conference last month.
that they need to take advantage of,” said Campbell. “Our role as the Black press is to give them positive exposure in the community they serve.” Entertainer and comedian Sheryl Underwood is the owner and CEO of Pack Rat Productions, and a member of Core DJs World Wide. She said the gathering made a tremendous impact on the lives of individuals striving to get their foot in the door. “I just love what I’m seeing here because there’s so much uni-
ty,” said Underwood. Neal, Butler, and Campbell all agree that by utilizing the principles set forth during the civil rights era, a movement has flourished. Core DJs Worldwide, the NNPA, and Hip Hop Union have come together to form a powerful political unit. “We have created a political interest group,” said Brooklyn recording artist and producer Jazo. “Musicians as well as members of the community will benefit from this partnership.”
Politics
College debt indentures our young people
AMG | PHOTOGRAPHY
howard.edu
College graduates’ struggle with school loan debts that they are stuck with for life is likened to indentured servitude.
By Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. NNPA Columnist
T
he young in America are being forced into cruel levels of debt, and this debt is already curbing their life prospects. Its economic effects are damaging to everyone. Yet, with Washington frozen, the debt burdens on the young are likely to get worse. For the young, a college education or post-high school professional training is the equivalent of what a high school degree was a generation ago. College is the necessary but not sufficient ticket to the middle class. Government support for public universities and community colleges is down 25 percent since 2000. Student debt has nearly quadrupled since 2003, soaring to nearly a trillion dollars. Two-thirds of all students now graduate with debts averaging $27,000. The poorer the family, the higher the percentage of students with debt. These debts are brutal; 12 percent are more than 90 days delinquent, but that figure is misleading because nearly one-half (47 percent) are in deferment (students can defer payment on their debt while in school, for example). That means nearly 1 out of 4 working loans are delinquent. Staggeringly, over 20 percent of loans for those 30-49 – in the peak of their earning years – are more than 90 days delinquent. Because of the force of the bank lobby, student loans can’t be discharged with bankruptcy. They cannot be refinanced. They burden students for a lifetime. The feds will
even garnish your Social Security to repay them. As Slate contributor David Dayen argues, this is very much like indentured servitude that Americans suffered at the beginning of the Republic. Then impoverished workers and peasants traded years of labor for the cost of passage to the new world. For three to seven years, depending on the contract, they would labor, virtually like slaves, for masters who paid their way. This injustice offends America’s tradition. Historically, America prided itself on its public education. We were first to provide secondary school free for all. With the GI bill, 3 million veterans received tuitionfree college or advanced training. For much of the post-war period, great public universities – from City College in New York to the fabled California schools – were free or close to it. These debts, racked up before beginning one’s work life, are devastating. It means that the young postpone saving. Many more must live at home, burdening parents trying to save for retirement. The young will buy a home later (if ever). They will marry later. They will accumulate far less for their retirements – even as they are expected to save more due to the collapse of pensions. Demos, a research institution, created a model to estimate the losses. Their study found that for a young couple with B.A. degrees from four-year colleges, with median incomes and college debts for their education level, they would lose an average of $208,000 over the
course of a lifetime, in comparison to a couple without college debts. Not surprisingly, researchers at the Federal Reserve worry that the debt burdens will harm the economy, as the young put off buying cars or renting apartments or starting new families. This is the down side of Gilded Age extremes in wealth. As the rich get richer, they rig the rules to avoid paying their fair share of taxes. Top rates go down; tax dodges proliferate. Some billionaire hedge fund operators pay lower rates than their chauffeurs. Billion-dollar companies like GE use overseas tax tricks to pocket refunds rather than pay taxes. From 2008 to 2012, GE paid less in taxes than the smallest mom-and-pop store with a profit. So instead of taxing the rich and powerful, we squeeze public investment. Government cuts back on support for universities. Students and families get the bill. This can’t go on. California Rep. Karen Bass has a bill – the Student Loan Fairness Act – that would limit repayment to 10 percent of after-tax income and 10 years at most. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) suggests students should be given the same interest rate – 0.75 percent – that the Federal Reserve gives the biggest banks (that taxpayers had to bail out). The only way this will change is if students, parents and indebted graduates make their voices heard. But all of us should demand action. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. is founder and president of the RainbowPUSH Coalition.
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District Chronicles | May 15 - May 21, 2014 | 7
Student Life
States making choices that hurt college students
By Jazelle Hunt NNPA Washington Correspondent
Justin D. Knight/howard.edu
WASHINGTON – During the recession, states’ education expenditures -- like everything else -- took a substantial hit. But a new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities finds that even as the nation recovers, most states are still funding their public colleges well below pre-recession levels, with eight states continuing to make cuts. The divestment is feeding a two-pronged stumbling block to success for today’s college students, especially those of color and/or from low-income homes, who are more likely to attend in-state public institutions. First, these budget cuts are affecting the quality of education at public colleges and universities. “States (and to a lesser extent localities) provide 53 percent of the revenue that can be used to support instruction at these schools,” the report states. “When this funding is cut, colleges and universities generally must either cut educational or other services, raise tuition to cover the gap, or both.” These cuts often result in the loss of full-time, expert teacher positions in favor of switches to adjunct (contracted) instructors, the disintegration of entire departments and majors, truncated access to resources such as computer labs and libraries, and more. In 2011, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill eliminated
16,000 course seats, four of its computer labs and two distance education centers. In 2012, Louisiana State University eliminated 1,210 full-time positions, including more than 220 faculty members. The University system of Georgia has merged independent state schools five times in the last two years. Nationwide, the number of faculty per student has declined. In addition to the decline in educational quality, the decline in state investment is resulting in long-term financial instability for today’s students. There’s the national trend known as the Great Cost Shift in which students and families, particularly low-income households, are shouldering more of the cost of keeping public colleges afloat. According to the report, enrollment fees, tuition, and other student charges accounted for 24 percent of state schools’ revenue in 1988. Today, schools rely on student charges for 48 percent of their revenues. Stated differently, in 1988 schools received 3.2 times as much in revenue from state and local government as they received from students in 1988 -- today, it’s just 1.1 times as much. In fact, at that time only two states -- Vermont and New Hampshire, both very affluent -- had average tuition amounts larger than state expenditures. By 2008, that had grown to 10 states, including Michigan and Pennsylvania, which both have significant poverty. In eight states (including a few with large Black populations,
Budget cuts in several states across the country are having a negative impact on public college.
such as Louisiana, Alabama, California, Georgia, and Florida), average tuition has jumped by more than 50 percent in six years. The Great Cost Shift is directly feeding swelling student debt. According to a 2012 report from the Center for American Progress, 81 percent of Black students who earned bachelor’s degrees took on debt to do it -- and 27 percent of these students are on the hook for $30,500 or more. Earlier this year, the United Negro College Fund, the largest and oldest private minority financial aid organization, called for emergency aid to supplement the weakened public finan-
cial aid system. By the end of 2013, student loan debt had surpassed car and credit debt, with American students borrowing more than $1 trillion to pursue degrees. “As students are asked to shoulder a greater burden, they resort to borrowing,” said Michael Mitchell, co-author of the report. “Over 2008 to 2012, there’s been a major increase in debt, especially for low-income families, because financial aid is no longer covering the costs.” And the financial indebtedness extends well past college. In an effort to mitigate costs, students, especially low-income students, are
choosing less competitive and less selective intuitions, despite being academically qualified for more prestigious institutions. Ultimately, this widespread disinvestment and its results have implications for the future of the American economy which makes it difficult for recent college graduates to enter the middle class. This debt deters many from even attending college. Those who do attend and graduate go into repayment and cannot afford homeownership, advance degrees that qualify them for highly skilled careers, or full participation in the economy as a consumer.
Bill would allow borrowers to refinance on student loans Sen. Elizabeth Warren and 23 Senate cosponsors have introduced the Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act, which would enable student loan borrowers to refinance their debt at lower interest rates. If passed, borrowers who refinance their private student loan debt would have access to federal student loan program protections. Reps. Miller and Tierney will introduce a companion bill in the House. “We applaud Sen. Warren, Reps. Miller and Tierney, and their numerous cosponsors for working to provide immediate relief for
millions of student loan borrowers who struggle with high interest rates and unmanageable monthly payments,” said Jennifer Mishory, executive director of Young Invincibles, a national organization that advocates for youth interests. “This bill could save some borrowers thousands of dollars and provide millions with a pathway out of debt. With total student debt exceeding $1.2 trillion, now is
8 | May 15 - May 21, 2014 | District Chronicles
the time for bold solutions. “By allowing student loan borrowers to refinance just like mortgage holders, this proposal would help reduce the burden of mount-
borrowers. It must not stop there, however, and should also address the problem of rising college costs during the Higher Education Act reauthorization.” In a letter to House Education & the Workforce Chairman John Kline (R-MN) and Young Invicibles Ranking Member George Miller (D-CA), Young Invincibles detailed its priorities for the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. These
This bill could provide millions a pathway out of debt – Jennifer Mishory,
ing student debt. Congress should follow Sen. Warren’s leadership and act swiftly to help struggling
proposals include: < Bolstering the Pell Grants by making funding mandatory < Simplifying the Federal financial aid system < Reforming the Federal Work Study program < Providing students with additional data to ensure they’re making well-informed decisions < Providing relief for private loan borrowers < Promoting innovation in higher education Follow the Young Invincibles on Twitter at @YI_Care.
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In the Neighborhood
Metro Briefs: Notable news in and around Washington District of Columbia New guide for private auto for hire users
A
s private auto for hire companies, such as uberX, Lyft and Sidecar, become more popular in the District of Columbia, the D.C. Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking has issued a consumer guide to make drivers aware of the insurance implications
Construction begins on DC, Maryland Anacostia Riverwalk Trail D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis have announced the start of construction for the $22.1 million Anacostia Riverwalk Trail project to deliver the missing link in almost 70-mile regional bicycle and pedestrian trail network. By connecting Benning Road in the District with Bladensburg Waterfront Park in Bladensburg, Md., the four-mile trail segment creates new connections between communities, the Anacostia River and its natural resources, while enhancing recreational and educational opportunities for trail users. At the same time, the trail increases accessibility to transit stations and makes bicycle commuting more attractive by reducing travel times by as much as 30 minutes. “This marks another milestone in our progress toward creating a world-class waterfront through the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative and achieving my Sustainable DC Plan goals of making the District the healthiest, greenest, most sustainable city in the country,” said Mayor Gray. The completion of this key link will provide greater access to almost 70 miles of trails in Maryland and in the District Columbia. Within the District, the segment is part of the planned 28-mile Anacostia Riverwalk Trail that will connect 16 waterfront neighborhoods to the Anacostia River, Southwest Waterfront, Nationals Park, Washington Navy Yard, RFK Stadium, National Arbo-
of using their personal cars to offer these services. It is also important for passengers to know there may be gaps in insurance coverage in the unfortunate event of an accident or injury. Private auto for hire companies – also called “private sedans,” “transportation network companies,” or “transportation network application companies” – use websites or smartphone apps to connect passengers with drivers using their personal autos to transport customers for a fee.
Drivers should be aware that standard personal auto policies issued in the District do not include livery services, meaning driving for hire. Therefore, personal auto policies may not pay for accidents or other claims involving these services. To read the full consumer guide “Insurance Gaps Exist in Private Autos for Hire Services” go to http:// links.govdelivery.com or visit the D.C. Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking on the web at disb.dc.gov.
retum, and other popular destinations. This new portion of the trail will link to more than 40 miles of trails in Maryland that travel throughout the Anacostia River Tributary System and connect to numerous schools, businesses, libraries, museums, shopping centers and Metro and MARC transit stations. It will be managed by District Department of Transportation (DDOT), National Park Service and the MarylandNational Capital Park and Planning Commission. Home to more than 800,000 residents, 43 species of fish and more than 200 species of birds, the restoration of the Anacostia River Watershed and the development of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail has twice been identified as a priority project for the Obama Administration under the President’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative and the Urban Waters Federal Partnership. Both initiatives seek to reconnect Americans to the great outdoors and revitalize urban waterways in underserved communities across the country. “The Obama Administration is committed to projects like Anacostia Riverwalk Trail that create opportunity by connecting people to schools, jobs and homes,” said U.S. Transportation Acting Deputy Secretary Victor Mendez. “Through the 2012 TIGER grant, the trail improves the safety of the D.C. metro area bicycle and pedestrian system and provides residents and visitors with sustainable transportation options.” Over the next few weeks, initial work will consist of installing erosion and sediment controls and
construction entrances, as well as some clearing work within the trail alignment. In May, the construction of the trail and additional trail structures will get underway throughout the project area. The trail project is scheduled to be open for hikers and bikers in Spring 2016. “I was proud to fight for funds in the federal checkbook laying the groundwork to enhance Maryland’s trails and walkways,” said Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “A completed Anacostia Riverwalk Trail has been the goal since my early days on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, when the first segment was funded,” said Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC). The trail’s unique and varied design includes both paved 10- to 12-foot-wide asphalt and concrete boardwalk sections that meander around trees and wetlands in the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and other National Park Service lands; sidewalks through the Mayfair and Parkside communities; and raised walkways and five bridges over Anacostia River tributaries as it passes between the District and Maryland near U.S. 50. The Anacostia Riverwalk Trail is one of a series of transportation, environmental, economic, community and recreation projects included in the District of Columbia’s larger Anacostia Waterfront Initiative (AWI). From the Tidal Basin to the city’s northeast border with Maryland, the 30-year, $10 billion AWI is transforming the shores of the Anacostia River into a world-class waterfront.
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