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BUSINESS & Finance %• The BluePrint | SpelmanPaper@gmail.com October 2013 S FOOD 6 , .% Hite k Drink ■fWnw ■ • .■ ! %) Refund Checks & Balances By: Imani Love C’20i6 How to Keep Your Stomach & Wallet Full During Homecoming By: Taylor Curry C'2015 “Cashing out”, “On the come up”, and “Checked up” are just some of the phrases that students use to express their excitement about refund checks. Though it is encouraged that these checks go toward paying off student loans, judging from the sudden spike in classic tall chestnut UGG boots and Michael Kors bags around campus, students are probably not saving this money. The checks are disbursed twice a year, once before homecoming and again before spring break, and it seems as if they are strategically given to students to spend on everything but their educational expenses. Refund checks are distributed to students whose grants, loans, or scholarships exceed tuition. The money that is not used towards school fees or tuition is given back to them in the form of a refund check. However if the loan is in their parents’ names, the check is directly deposited or sent home. Though the money is tempting to use for personal expenses, there are still the wise few who choose to save it, like Sophomore Trisha Barton. “I go shopping and save most of it,” Barton said. “I give [the rest] to my mom so that I can’t spend it.” Senior Chelby Handy thinks “a lot of people treat it like free money.” Handy on the other hand used one of her checks to put a down payment on a car, and another to pay a month’s worth of rent. Though Handy is fiscally responsible with her checks, she recognizes that not everyone else is. “They use it on stupid stuff,” Handy said. “Boys go get tattoos, and I know this girl who used it to get a dog. I’ve heard some crazy stuff. I never hear of anyone really using the checks for necessities like a computer or a printer—things they need for school.” Despite the fact that a lot of students spend these checks frivolously, most are unaware that they have to pay back interest along with the loaned money. According to Yahoo Finance, 66% of college students graduate four- year institutions with an average of $26,600 in student loans. It is also stated that 9.1% of students default on their loans two years after school; that number rises to 13.4% hitting the third year. “Student debt may be far more detrimental to financial futures than once thought,” said writer and policy analyst Robert Hiltonsmith. “Particularly for those with the highest level of debt: students of color and students from low-income families.” Since Spelman College is a historically black college with a large percentage of students of color, the student body is projected to have a tougher time paying off loans. In the long run, loan payments detract from funds that could be saved for retirement or even used to buy a home. So when the next set of refund checks are sent out, think twice about buying a pair of boots and think more about the future. Don’t become a statistic, spend a little, save a lot. Homecoming has arrived. The alumni will come, the musicians will come, the vendors will come, but chances are your money will go. Here are some helpful tips on how to eat well, enjoy homecoming week, and budget responsibly. B.Y.O.S. (Bring Your Own Snacks) Sitting through a four-hour game to watch our beloved Maroon Tigers take on a collegiate outsider can spark some major hunger pains. But instead of giving in to the often pricey hot-dogs, nachos, or lemonade sold at the game, pack a snack before hand like celery sticks dipped in sugar-free peanut butter. Munch on some spicy nacho flavored dried kale from home, and pack your own water bottle. Utilize Spelman’s New Food Court When your cool, grownup alumni friends come to visit, they’ll probably want to grab a bite in between Homecoming activities. Rather than taking them to a local spot, show off the brand new food court to which they never had access. If you have them, use those extra dining dollars and tell your friends and family you’d rather treat them to a pumpkin spiced latte from the local Starbucks. While they brag about their cushy Wall Street job, revel in the fact that you don’t have to fork over cash for good sushi. Include Dear Old Mom(s) and/or Dad(s) While going out for drinks or dancing with friends in between Homecoming festivities is always fun (if you’re twenty-one), when it comes to getting in a real meal in between parties, never feel ashamed to include the parents. Don’t think this is parasitic; after sending you to college, generally speaking parents tend to have an inherent urge to buy food for you. Not only will this afford you some much needed quality time with the people you probably miss the most, but it will also prove to be a very practical move in terms of staying within your budget. Happy, Healthy Tailgating By: Chelsey Washington C’2015, Clark Atlanta University Obama, Student Loans, and YOU By: Lydia Hayes C2014 Social media has become a staple form of communication in our generation. Its effectiveness stems from its ability to reach wide ranges of people instantaneously. Even government initiatives are starting to include some element of social interactiveness, particularly through Twitter. Even before the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act of 2013 was signed in Aug, #DontDoubleMyRates was designed to spread awareness about the act across social media. But now that the bill has been signed, what changes can we expect to see? The act ensures that the interest rates of subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans for undergraduate students will be reduced to 3.86% by next year. According to a press release from NBC, the yearly interest rate is attached to the rate on 10-year Treasury notes. In other words, there is room for the interest rate to increase in the future. For professional and graduate students, the interest rate has been reduced to 5.41%, but because these loans are also attached to the 10-year Treasury notes, they too will increase. These clauses apply to any loans taken out after July 1 of this year. The Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act of 2013 seems to be a temporary solution to the permanent problem of financing higher education. Even though student loan rates won’t double, the act does not completely rule out the possibility of these rates increasing. Students can only hope that lawmakers find a solution that is more beneficial in the long run. One lawmaker from Massachusetts seems to be searching for that solution. Sen. Elizabeth Warren is pushing for more reforms regarding student loans, including eliminating student debt to those who declare bankruptcy. Warren has also proposed giving federal financial assistance to states that fund public colleges— the government no longer profits from student loans and disciplining colleges whose graduates cannot manage their debt. Students should not expect to see an overnight change in their loan payments. There are many Spelman students who have an enormous amount of debt waiting for them after they leave these pearly gates. Be conscientious of interest rates, and keep up with government initiatives that may be geared to help you. As the date quickly approaches for the highly anticipated Homecoming tailgates, many are preparing to feast on an array of artery clogging foods and to consume beverages with enough sugar in them to well surpass the recommended caloric intake for the entire day. Amidst the fog of BBQ ribs, Southern fried catfish, funnel cakes, fried chicken, sugary beverages, and other delicious, yet unhealthy foods at tailgate, there is hope for those seeking healthy alternatives to these tempting entrees. Don’t be ashamed to pack your own food! This may be the wisest alternative to indulging in the often times greasy and unhealthy foods associated with tailgates. Packing nutritious snacks such as fresh fruit or vegetables, pretzels, yogurt, or trail mix and drinking lots of water will help you remain full and energized, which can help curb cravings for fatty foods. If packing a nutritional snack just won’t fill you up, it is still possible to make healthy food choices when selecting food from a vendor or food tent. Try to pick foods with good nutritional value and a small amount of “useless calories.” Although weeding out the bad foods may tremendously limit the variety of what you can choose from, it is important to pick foods that are beneficial to maintaining overall health. Do your absolute best to stay away from fried foods and sugary treats, but if you cannot resist the urge, simply eat smaller proportions. Feeling guilty about ordering a funnel cake? Top it off with strawberries and hold the whip cream. Split a meal with a friend; choose water instead of soda or juice; and be wise when choosing good foods and bad foods. Making conscious meal decisions that allow you to enjoy the many delicious foods that tailgate offer, can be as simple as adding a few tweaks to normal eating habits. Selecting foods such as nonfat frozen yogurt, which usually have half the calories of ice cream, skipping over fried chicken for grilled chicken-which counts as a great source of protein- choosing baked chips over their greasier cousin the French fry, or even asking for toppings and sauces on the side rather than drenched on food, are a few healthy alternatives to having fun at tailgate while still being able to stuff your face (in moderation) with a variety of extremely appetizing foods. Worst-case scenario, hopefully you’ll have done enough walking and dancing at tailgate to help burn those guilty calories. Knowing Stocks Can Get You Employed By: Tyler Lee C’2015 Looking to impress an interviewer? What better way than by knowing the stock price of the company in which you have interest. To most, stock markets are intimidating, because to the untrained eye, fluctuations of a company’s stock price and their related charts looks like a bunch of numbers and squiggles. However, the trending of a compa ny’s stock prices can show the overall health of the compa ny and also the state of the country’s economy. A stock is a small percentage of ownership in a corpo ration, thus the more stock someone has, the more risk she or he has. As a business expands, makes favorable trans actions, and conducts profitable business operations, stock prices increase and ergo owning those stocks is valuable and beneficial. Fluctuations in the stock price can show if the company is becoming more and more profitable or heading toward bankruptcy. After every interview, the employer asks that infamous question, “Do you have any questions for me?” and if you have not thought of any during the interview, you can ask questions pertaining to the financial health of the company. You might even be bold enough to ask them how they feel about their current financial state. Doing so you will sound intuitive, informed, and show that you have a genuine in terest in the company and not just looking for a job (which many of us are). Below are some companies and their stock prices as of Oct. 16: BAC Bank of America 14.56 FB Facebook, Inc. 51.13 MSFT Microsoft Corp. 34.64 JPM JP Morgan Chase & Co 54.00 DAL Delta Air Lines, Inc. 24.42 C Citigroup, Inc. 50.84 AAPL Apple 501.11 GOOG Google 898.03 VZ Verizon 47.25 To stay up to date on stock prices, the “Stocks” applica tion automatically downloads to the iphone, or you can visit finance.yahoo.com! Dow Jones Industrial Average 2 Minute Dow Jonm J3UR « €M 14 4:81 CM IT 15301.26 +64,15 (0.42%) WMkM 1 mmm um mmm jfrA dS/fi ke&M wk WMtm WA Oct. 20-27, 2013 Sunday, October 20 “Fit 4 Fun" 4 Days of Wellness Centered, Relevant and Fun Activ ities Thursday, October 24 “Day 1”: Professional Wellness (“Hire Spelman”- Alumnae and Students Career Expo; “Art of l\letworking''-Museum Event) Friday, October 25 “Day 2”: Physical Wellness (Check in, walk the campus and learn some new dance moves) Saturday, October 26 “Day 3”: Social Wellness (Homecoming Tailgate!) Sunday, October 27 “Day 4”: Spiritual Wellness (Closing Homecoming Worship Service) **2013 Annual Giving Campaign (July 1,2013-October 26, 2013 @5 p.m.) Join with a group of women from your residence hall, sorority, or from academic and extracurricular interests. Represent this group in the 2013 Homecoming Competition where alumnae will vote for their top two groups. These groups will receive a one-time, current use scholarship in their name to be awarded to a deserving student! Gifts will be accepted up until the homecoming tailgate on October 26, 2013 at 5 p.m. Sunday, October 20 9 a.m. Opening Worship Service @Sisters Chapel, Spelman College 8 p.m. Homecoming Kick Off Jam @Spelman Oval (Enjoy music, socializing, and start off your homecom ing week) Monday, October 21 7 p.m. Fashion Show & Hip-Hop Concert @Forbes Arena, Morehouse College Tuesday, October 22 7 p.m. Neo-Soul/ R&B Concert @Kings Chapel, Morehouse College Wednesday, October 23 4 p.m. Hump Wednesday @Westview Drive, Morehouse College (Mid-Week Block Party) Thursday, October 24 11 a.m. Homecoming Convocation @Sisters Chapel, Spelman College Saturday, October 26 9-11 a.m. Homecoming Parade 12-6 p.m. Homecoming Tailgate @West End Ave & Wellborn St. 2 p.m. Homecoming Game @B.T. Harvey Football Stadium 5 p.m. **End of Annual Giving Campaign 7 p.m.-11 p.m. NPHC Step Show @Forbes Arena, Morehouse Arena (Watch as the Greeks Step to the finish line!) Sunday, October 27 11 a.m. Closing Worship Service @King’s Chapel, Morehouse College 4 p.m. Miss Spelman Hat & Glove Annual Tea @Cosby Academic Center Lobby, Spelman College -Invite Only- Last Day to Withdraw from course with a “W” Student Affairs Global Experience to London Friday, October 25 12-5 p.m. Market Friday @Spelman Suites Amphitheater (Listen to music and shop from many local vendors) 6 p.m. Miss Spelman Coronation ©Sisters Chapel, Spelman College (Watch the Official Crowning of Miss Spelman and her Court) 7 p.m. Miss Maroon and White Coronation @Kings Chapel, Morehouse College 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Coronation Ball (Dress to impress and enjoy music and dancing)