flyers “IT’S OKAY TO BE WHITE” flyers missed the point of the argument
see opinions, page 6
DIY FACE MASKS Clear pores and reduce inflammation with common household and pantry items
Men’s Basketball Rutgers falls to Florida State at home in ACC/Big Ten Challenge
see FOOD & DRINK, page 8
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2 alumni start crowdfunding platform for college expenses Ryan Stiesi Staff Writer
Through the higher-education crowdfunding platform called PeduL, students have raised more than $6,000 over the last 30 days for their respective educational expenses. Chisa Egbelu, the CEO of PeduL, and Kayla Jackson, the COO, joined forces after taking classes together within the journalism and media studies major at Rutgers, Jackson said. Inspiration for the company came from a common story among college students today — struggling to afford the increasing cost of higher education. PeduL strives to serve as a onestop shop for college funding. The platform, which technically launched in October, provides students with the tools necessary to start a campaign and raise money, while also trying to partner students with corporations and scholarship-providers to help them after graduation, Jackson said. Egbelu said the particular situation that spurred the creation of PeduL came while he was a Rutgers student. His suite mate at the time wanted to pursue music, a change from his computer science major. To do this he auditioned at different schools and planned to transfer to another university, but even after taking out loans and pulling money together, he still could not afford the switch.
Egbelu said the conversation surrounded his suite mate, wishing that there was something similar to Kickstarter but for college students. “And then that’s when it was kind of like wait, why isn’t there?” Egbelu said. Jackson explained the process for students who want to start their campaign, which begins with them visiting the PeduL website and inserting some basic information. “(We ask for) information that they consider would make them the most competitive candidate in the eyes of traditional scholarship committees,” she said. This includes identifying the amount of money they want to raise, choosing a campaign title and choosing profile and cover pictures. Jackson said the pictures make the campaign look more personable and were inspired by Facebook and other social media sites — as creating a human experience is one of the goals at PeduL. She said the company also asks prospective users to upload any documents that would help the campaign compete in the eyes of “traditional scholarship committees.” These include certifications, a resume or letters of recommendation, among other documents. The next step consists of creating video and written stories, chronicling the student’s journey and why pursuing education is important to them, Jackson said.
Kayla Jackson and Chisa Egbelu, the respective COO and CEO of PeduL, met while taking courses in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at Rutgers. As alumni, the two have collaborated to create a platform that helps students crowdfund to cover their educational expenses. RUTGERS.EDU She said once the campaign is published it typically lasts between 30 and 40 days — a common campaign time frame on most crowdfunding platforms. Their education-based niche within the crowdfunding community separates the company from established industr y competitors like Kickstarter and GoFundMe, Egbelu said. But what also makes
PeduL different are the personal experiences it creates. “When a student comes up to our platform, we want them to have a very human experience, and we want them to be as successful as possible,” Egbelu said. “So we work with them right on site, so we talk to them on the phone, we meet up with them, we really make it a personal experience.”
Jackson echoed that statement and said the company’s engagement with their clients plays a role in the success of both parties. By listening to students’ stories and tapping into their networks, PeduL is able to help them create customized campaigns and fundraising strategies. See Expenses on Page 4
With future of net neutrality undecided, experts explain its impact on Rutgers Sam Leibowitz-Lord Contributing Writer
With net neutrality on the chopping block, the future of online courses, internet databases and course registration at Rutgers may be up in the air. PEXELS
An impending move by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) to end net neutrality could have a drastic effect on Rutgers University and its students. Net neutrality is defined as “the basic principle that prohibits internet service providers like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon from speeding up, slowing down or blocking any content, applications or websites that individuals want to use. Net Neutrality is the way that the internet has always worked,” according to Save the Internet. As PBS reported, net neutrality is currently in jeopardy — Ajit Pai, the chairman for the FCC, is trying to end net neutrality. Pai’s reasoning is that the rules are burdensome and stifle innovation and competition. In May, the FCC moved Pai’s initiative forward, prompting backlash in the form of more than 20 million online comments. Steven Miller, a professor in the Department of Journalism &
Media Studies and coordinator of undergraduate studies for the department, said net neutrality is the practice of Internet Ser vice Providers (ISPs) such as Optimum, Verizon and Comcast being regulated as utilities, such as water or electricity. Miller said this means ISPs must provide the same level of access to all users regardless of how much they pay. If net neutrality is ended, ISPs will be able to charge higher rates based on speed, and pick what content their users are able to see based on how much they are paying. “Net neutrality levels the playing field,” Miller said. “What ISPs want to do is have a two-tiered system where if people want higher speeds, they have to pay more money for it.” Miller said the repeal could also have serious consequences for Rutgers students. He highlighted an example of lower-income commuter students being unable to access the Sakai or online courses from home due to being unable to afford faster speeds.
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“What this does is create a knowledge economy, in which the rich can get smarter, and those who can’t afford it fall behind,” Miller said. In regard to access for residential students, Ana Verma, associate director of the Office of Information Technology, said Rutgers relies on several outside providers for its internet connectivity. Rutgers students should not see changes in their on-campus internet access. “The results of the FCC’s proposed deregulation are unclear. At this point, we are not anticipating any immediate changes to our internet connectivity. We will continue to monitor the situation as it progresses,” Verma said. The outcry in support of net neutrality has been loud and clear across the internet, with several petitions circulating on change. org and whitehouse.gov. Companies such as Twitter, Airbnb and Pinterest have released public statements demanding a “free and equal Internet.” See Impact on Page 4