University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Tuesday, September 8, 2015
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Arts: loud and proud +OPINION, page 4
Students face potential federal loan cut By Ellie Herman The Daily Cardinal
As the UW-Madison community settles back into campus life for another school year, thousands of students are facing the possible elimination of one of the oldest federal loan programs in the country. UW-Madison is one of approximately 1,700 public and private U.S. colleges and universities where low-income undergraduate and graduate students borrow money from their schools through the Federal Perkins Loan. However, this option may soon expire. Without congressional approval to reauthorize the Federal Perkins Loan, the program will end Sept. 30 of this year. UW-Madison Director of the Office of Student Financial Aid Susan Fischer said she is not sure exactly why the loan is facing cancellation, but said she believes the funds could be funneled toward the national debt. Fischer is calling for an extension of Perkins Loans at least until the next reauthorization of
kaitlyn veto/cardinal file photo
Nearly 5,000 UW-Madison students currently receive aid from the Federal Perkins Loan. the Higher Education Act, which is likely to occur during the 2016 presidential election. “This program has to be reauthorized every so many years … it keeps disappearing on so many
presidents’ radars,” Fischer said. “It absolutely is not a Democrat or Republican thing.” Nearly 5,000 UW-Madison students enrolled in the Perkins Loan Program during the 2014-’15
academic year, making the university the highest lending institution of Perkins Loans within the UW System. U.S. Reps. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., and Luke Messer, R-Ind.,
joined forces with UW System President Ray Cross and various chancellors in support of maintaining Perkins Loan. Cross encouraged U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble, R-Wis., to co-sponsor the resolution in a July 15 release. “The Federal Perkins Loan program has made higher education possible for thousands of Wisconsinites and millions of Americans,” Cross said in the release. The Board of Regents discussed the potential cancellation of the program in a 2015 UW System document, detailing the importance the Perkins loan holds for college students. Elimination of the program could mean “future students will not be able to receive these loans that have favorable interest rates, repayment requirements, and loan forgiveness options,” according to the document. Pocan is scheduled to hold a press conference Tuesday to call on Congress members to reauthorize the loan program.
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Feingold discusses cost of college with UW-Madison students By Leo Vartorella The Daily Cardinal
Former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., held a roundtable discussion with students Friday at Ian’s Pizza on State Street to talk about college affordability and student debt. The discussion focused on the personal struggles of students to afford the college education that today’s job market requires. Though students said the need for a college degree has
increased in recent years, they shared their concern that rising costs present a major hurdle in achieving that goal. “A lot of us feel pretty trapped,” said Danny Levandoski, a UW-Madison junior studying history and political science. Feingold pitched a fourpart proposal to make higher education more accessible, while also throwing his support behind U.S. Sen. Elizabeth
Warren, D-Mass., and her efforts to achieve similar goals in the Senate. “I see a dramatic denial of the American dream that you guys have to deal with,” Feingold said to the students. “The fact that you’ve got this hanging over your head is wrong, but we can fix it.” Feingold’s plan involves increasing support for Pell
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Taste of Madison gives back to community By Phoebe Kiekhofer The Daily Cardinal
Volunteers and community members had the opportunity to try various foods from local establishments, while raising funds for area charities, at Madison’s 33rd annual Taste of
Madison event this weekend. The festival featured local restaurants and food vendors in kiosks around the Capitol Square and displayed foods from deep-fried cheese curds to international cuisines. “The event’s purpose is to
highlight the wonderful aspects of Madison’s culture and to raise money for charity,” said Brodie Birkel, the event’s media and advertising spokesperson. Largely with the help of
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Bucky not so lucky
Though Wisconsin lost to Alabama in their first game of the season, Badger fans still showed their support. Check out our photo gallery online at dailycardinal.com. + Photo by Kaitlyn Veto
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Sexual assault reported in university residence hall Sunday, no charges currently being filed The UW-Madison Police Department sent a crime notice Sunday alerting students of a sexual assault on campus. The reported assault occurred early Sunday morning in a uni-
versity residence hall. No charges are currently being pressed, so UWPD is not investigating the assault, according to the warning. Sunday’s incident was the
fourth sexual assault reported at UW-Madison in the last 60 days, according to the UWPD Clery Crime and Fire Log. Passed in 1990 and enforced by the U.S. Department of Education,
the Clery Act requires all colleges and universities that receive federal funding to inform the public of crimes that happen on or around campus in a timely manner. In compliance with the law,
UWPD sends out crime warning emails to all students along with a list of suggestions to avoid sexual assault—including the definition of consent—and urges students to report assault.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”