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ETROPOLITAN The MSCD student newspaper serving the Auraria Campus since 1979.
Vohune 12
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June 15, 1990
The boys of
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Some stuffy students say summer semester stinks! Mick Dljas and John O'Shea don't think so, as they catch some rays between classes.
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Photo by Cathy VanSchwartz
Metro axes student support loans M.K. Wagner The Metropolitan
MSCD students no longer have the privilege of getting short term loans without benefit of a grant from the Financial Aid Department. The Student Support Loan Program has been accessible for students needing immediate assistance with short-term loans up to $2,000. The program, which required students to use their paychecks as collateral, was given notice on June 4th, 1990, that their services would no longer be needed . The reasons behind the elimination of the program are questionable and, according to Antonio Esqwbel, vice president of Student Affairs, another program that is even more effective is in opeation through the Financial Aid Department. "It was not needed," said Esquibel, explaining why the program was discontinued. "It was a system that was set up three years ago."
Esqwbel explained that a more efficient system is now provided through Financial Aid. A student with a Financial Aid grant can apply for a short-term loan - a student without Financial Aid backing can also apply for a short-term loan through Financial Aid but is then turned over to the MSCD Foundation. Funds for the MSCD Foundation are obtained by donations and are handled on a yearly budget. The budget is run according to the school year system, starting in July. At this time funds are low, according to information coming from the office of Karen Thorpe, assistant vice president of student affairs. The Student Support Loan Program was handled through the Student Affairs Board, paid by student fees, and had a constant flow ofincome, Barbara Clark, former director of the SSLP, said This is a m~e from the administration that the students don't mean a whole lot," Oark said. "We (Student Support Loan Program) provided imistance to students in
need for real help. We don't deal with students with money coming out of their ears. Clark said she was under the impression that the program was discontinued because of lack of space on campus for the program. The program was offered space from another office that occupied only three of its six rooms, but was later told by administration that it was not feasible, she said. "We were told last August ( 1989) that we were moving, but nobody knew where," Clark said. She mentioned that the program's fate was undetermined and that the Thursday before spring graduation (May 17, 1990) she talked with Esquibel about the situation. "He didn't have any answers," Clark said. "He just said, ' We'll take care of it'" She was then instructed to have her imistant, Julie Nelson, report to Esqw"bel on the first day of cl~ while Clark was out of town, and be would tell Nelson where the program would be moving.
The space SSL was moved to was CN 313, a small room used for a copy machine. Clark said it seemed apparent that Esquibel was upset with all the people corning and going from the room because of the program. Whether it was space that caused the program's demise is questionable. On June l , 1990, Thorpe sent a memo to Esquibel and to Cheryl Judson, director of Financial Aid, stating: 1. The Student Suport Loan Program should be eliminated. 2. Employment of the two people in the program (Barb Clark and Julie Nelson) should be ended. 3. The need for students to get a shortterm loan should be transferred to the Financial Aid Department. The people in Financial Aid were left without any knowledge of the procedwes of the progam, Judson said. She said as far as she knows, the program is dead. Clark said she is now hearing rumbles of interest from students that the program should be reinstated and that they feel it is needed D