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January, 1967 THE SPELMAN SPOTLIGHT Page 5 FACTS ABOUT STUDENT LOANS by MARILYN SWARTZ The Collegiate Press Service WASHINGTON (CPS)—Despite expansion of student loan programs by Congress and private sources, mounting student applications for loans have outpaced the available supply of funds, a Collegiate Press Service study has revealed. The House of Representatives voted in Klay to grant $190 million for student loans under the National Defense Education Act. The Senate Appropriations Committee re cently approved this increase over last year’s $179 million, but the full Senate has not voted on it yet. In the commercial sector, the American Bankers Asso ciation (ABA) initiated a campaign last June to persuade bankers to increase student loans. Financial institutions, which lent nearly $150 million last year to students, are expected to provide up to $400 million this year. The shortage in funds is due to soaring college enrollment, not to fewer bank loans, according to the ABA’s legislative counsel, James Smith. College enrollment for 1966 is es timated by the Office of Education at six million, a ten per cent increase over last year. To accommodate the growth, colleges must expand, and over three-fourths of American colleges and universities have recently raised tuition and board, according to surveys by the Life Insurance Management Association. Tuition and room fees for at least 25 schools are $3,000, and costs are expected to rise. Possible cheating in loan applications may account for some increases in requests. Parents may be borrowing money through their children because of low interest rates granted to students, Smith said. Meanwhile, other parents have sold their stocks to obtain money, despite a twenty per cent drop in stock market prices over the last months, and some students will work this year instead of joining the class of ’70, according to Smith. Under the NDEA student loan act, undergraduates can borrow up to $1,000, and graduate students can receive $2,500 yearly, not to exceed $10,000 for undergraduate and graduate study combined. Students pay no interest on loans while in school, and only three per cent after graduation. Federal allocations, divided among states on the basis of school enrollment and requests, are granted to students through financial aid offices of colleges. Schools must match government funds by providing 10 per cent of every govern ment loan. Under commercial loan programs, students borrow directly from banks or loan companies, instead of their colleges. Interest rates are held at six per cent, although commercial rates range from six-and-one-half to eight per cent. While a student attends college, the federal government pays the interest, then pays three per cent when studies are completed. Thus the cost to students for loans at commercial banks is equivalent to that under the government NDEA program. In areas where loans have not been granted to students before, such as Miami, Washington, D. C. and coastal areas of New Jersey, banks are not cooperating with the student loan program. On the whole, of the nation’s 14,000 member banks of ABA, 7,000 banks, representing 75 per cent of the nation’s total banking assets, participate in student loan programs. The loan shortage might have been intensified, had Con gress accepted President Johnson’s proposed revisions for the federal student loan program. Last January, President Johnson urged eliminating the NDEA program and establishing government backing to banks for more student loans. Bankers strongly opposed the President’s measure, and said they could not support the government’s insured loan plan and their own student loan program. States and private organizations, such as the United Stu dent Aid Fund, insure private student loan programs now. Representative Edith Green (D.-Ore.), chairman of the House education subcommittee, accepted the bankers’ argu ments and called the President’s proposal premature. The administration withdrew its proposal and suggested extending the federal program for another year with a $29 million cut in appropriations. The House and Senate Committee rejected this proposal, and increased the loan program. A Fable for Students And, lo, it came to pass that in the first month there went out a decree from the administration that all the world was to be tested. And there was a three-day period of preparation declared in the land, that they who were to meet this great trial might prepare their hearts and minds for the days of tribulation. And many there were that studied, and many there were who slept, and many there were who despaired, and there were they who labored to know the outcome of the days of tribulation through observation of cards. Then at last the days came. And, lo, at the sixth hour there arose a great multitude and went unto breakfast, and they went with heavy hearts thinking of the trial which was to come at the eighth hour. And some had slept for one hour, and some for two, and some there were who had slept not, yea for many days had they not slept. There were in those days in that land many worshippers of Nodoz and of the god of coffee, Caffein, and of many other idols of the night. And others abided in the dormitory, keeping watch over their books, and reading once more the book of the prophet which is called Class Notes. And some there were who knew, and some there were who knew not. And behold, there were many clutching to them the word of hope—which is, being interpreted, “pony.” And, lo, it came to pass that the hour of tribulation was upon them. And there were those who passeth and those who passeth not. For many there were who in the weeks of training had oftentimes ceased from study and many were those who had crammed. And when the days of tribulation were ceased, there were those who slept and those who partied, and those who wept, for these were those who knew within their hearts that victory had not been theirs. But in all the land there went up a shout of jubilation, for that the days of tribulation were past. And in all the land abideth not one who bethought herself of the days yet to come when the fifth month should be upon them and the great god, Semesterexam, would again rule the land. A. Williams Twenty Five and Under by Melody McDowell Recently, TIME magazine chose the man of the year as the uprising youth of twenty-five and under. In the Atlanta area, the SPELMAN SPOTLIGHT has chosen a few per sons who meet the qualifications of the TIME “Man of the Year.” Twenty-three year old Ronald (Swift) Smith has ac claimed himself in the world of sports. Presently, Ron is quar terback for the Atlanta Falcons. Ron is no newcomer to football. As a student of the Uni versity of Wisconsin, from where he graduated in 1965, Ron played football with this Big Ten team for four years. Ron, who hails from East Chicago, Indiana, has found Atlanta to be a socially stimulating city. As a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, he has become active in the chap ter in Atlanta. * * * Cortez Greer, a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, has made his mark in the entertainment world. Only twenty-five, Cortez has been featured at such places at Atlanta’s Pink Pussycat, Peyton Place, and, is now at the La Camilla Lounge. Cortez’s singing has been compared with the great artist, Lou Rawls. Cortez has a talent of arranging music, in addition to his singing ability. Cortez attended Tennessee A & I before leaving to pursue a full-time musical career. He admits that he is anxious to return to college life. Rudolph Jackson is twenty years old and a native of Way- cross, Georgia. He is a business education major and mathe matics minor at Clark College and a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. Rudy is a member of the National Advisory Committee. There are thirty students on this committee, nine are from the South. Rudy’s specific job is to visit Southern schools and interview students about questions of national concern such as student reaction to the draft. He has worked for the Federal Labor Department and attended a student seminar where he had the opportunity to meet President Lyndon Johnson. Alvin Holmes is President of the Student Body at Atlanta University. His major is History. Alvin is from Montgomery, Alabama, and did graduate work at Alabama State. He wants to go into politics and is president of the Young Democrats Club in Montgomery. Alvin wants to promote better student relations among the schools in the Atlanta University Center. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. Cracked A Book Too Many This light-hearted poem de picts the thoughts and visions of a young student suffering from over-study and the effects of various crutches she has used to sustain her study for exams. While drinking a pop, she has hallucinations and doesn’t recognize a doctor who comes to give her a sedative and take her to the infirmary. Sleep-starved eyes peeping in the little hole See the bottom of the well of gingerale Worn fingers clutching the filter of the cancerstick Go ahead—inhale. The last drink of the gingerale well Flows down the pancreas to the kidney bells 200 cancer sticks—but one more inhale Before the great multiplying of the cells. Cracked a book too many And the little head ringing In the penna of my ear— singing Head gonna crack, crack, crack. Synthetic eyes thrown across the room Here come the maid on the witch’s broom Picking up the No-doz and L.S.D. But don’t you touch the Bicardi. Who is this all robed in white I plum forgot chem lab tonight With an epidermis needle coming toward me Is it time for more L.S.D.? Cracked a book too many And a little read-ringing In the penna of my ear- singing Head done cracked, cracked, C-R-A-C-K-E-D. Marilyn Hunt We... Me. . . Complex bundle of. . . Simple . . . Lover of life Lover of people Lover or love Waster of time And a pursuer of it Dreamer of . . . Harsh realist (sometimes) “Tullee Stomper”* Raiser of Hell (sometimes) Lover of Peace Sometimes “giver of gifts” Too often the “Recipient” Helper of people (I hope) Antagonist (Sad but true) Fool—Sorry about that! But it’s Me Not an excuse But an acceptance. *for definition, consult the author. G.M.