Loan policy may relieve students

As part of President Obama’s efforts to make college more affordable, the current student-loan program could find itself on the chopping block.

As the election year unfolds, politicians are looking to rework financial aid.

In his State of the Union address last month, President Obama proposed an expanded student-loan forgiveness program, while urging the Senate to pass his education reform bill.

Although the legislation passed the House four months ago, it hasn’t moved since.

“The Republicans are against it because the banks are making a lot of money,” said Bill Stull, chairman of Temple’s Department of Economics. “People don’t fight hard with lobbyists unless they’re making a ton of money.”

The bill, known as the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, would increase the maximum Pell Grant by $200 for the next school year by overhauling the subsidized student loan program.

Supporters said revamping financial aid could save the Department of Education at least $80 billion in the next 10 years.

Currently, under the Federal Family Education Loan Program, the government contracts the subsidized loans through private lenders. The Department of Education then pays the loan’s interest while the student is enrolled.

“We’re paying a lot of money to pay these middle men,” Stull said.

Under the pending bill, the department would only offer direct subsidized loans though the United States Treasury.

The government also pays 97 percent of the loan if the borrower defaults after graduation. Stull said the lenders are being overcompensated because they are making loans without risk.

“This is socialism for the banking industries,” he added.

But Richard Castellano, spokesman for Sallie Mae, said there is another proposal in the Senate that would also reform the student loan program. Backed by a coalition of lending companies, the proposal would save the department nearly as much money for Pell Grant increases, while still allowing it to subsidize for the private sector.

“[This proposal] is a viable alternative that saves the same amount of money without costing jobs or losing the best service through competition,” Castellano said.

The company spokesman said the best service and lowest rates for loans comes from the competition of the private sector.

But House members who backed the original legislation said rates for direct loans would be the same as the subsidized loans for borrowers. Rachel Racusen, spokeswoman for House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller, D-Calif., said these lenders were providing an unneeded service.

“There’s simply no reason to keep pumping taxpayer dollars into a broken system when the federal government can provide the same low cost federal loans.” Racusen said. “It’s ridiculous to argue the federal government is ‘overstepping its bounds,’ when the federal student loan programs are already a federal program.”

According to the lending corporation, Sallie Mae would have to lay off a third of its workforce and change its entire structure. The Virginia group employs 8,000 people, according to a 2010 Hoover Report.

Temple’s Financial Department Chairman Ken Kopecky said working with private industries does have its benefits.

“If you have the private sector, there’s some incentive to be efficient,” Kopecky said. “You know there’s going to be a delay if you deal with the federal government.”

Besides subsidized loan reform, President Obama also proposed a loan forgiveness program that would cancel a student debt after 20 years.

Under the plan, graduates would only have to put 10 percent of their yearly salaries toward federal loans.

Recipients of private subsidized and direct loans would qualify.

Kopecky said while the idea is a subsidy for education, it might cost taxpayers.

“It’s a form of redistribution of wealth,” Kopecky said. “You can’t get something for nothing.”

Stull said relieving people from college debt would hardly touch the economy since it would only affect a fraction of U.S. citizens.

“But we really don’t know because we’re talking about a 10-year prospect,” he added.

This would be an expansion of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. Signed into law in 2007 by President Bush, it caps payments for federal loans at 15 percent of borrowers’ incomes and stops dues after 25 years. Those with jobs in the public sector could finish payments after a decade.

Ian Romano can be reached at ian.romano@temple.edu.

Riding the polls into another election year

Editor’s Note: This op-ed was a submission and does not represent the views of The Temple News, which does not have a political affliliation.

Almost a year ago today, on Nov. 4, 2008, we made history. Young people showed up to the polls in record numbers across the country and on Main Campus to elect Barack Obama and prove that we wanted change in America. Five times more Temple students voted Nov. 4, 2008 than in the presidential election in 2004.

That night, during his victory speech, our president-elect asked us to stay engaged, saying, “What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.”

Today, we have the perfect opportunity to answer this call, because today is Election Day.

Across the state, Pennsylvania residents will go to the polls today to elect judges to the state’s Supreme Court, Superior Court and Commonwealth Court, and in Philadelphia, we will elect our district attorney, city controller, judge of elections and inspector of elections. Just across the river, New Jersey will elect its governor.

While these races are certainly less glamorous than last year’s presidential election, they are nonetheless incredibly important. There’s a reason people say all politics is local, and these races are about as local as they get. The people elected today will make decisions that will affect our lives as Temple students and Philadelphia residents every day.

We have been defined as the Obama Generation – a generation of politically engaged, politically active young people who vote because it matters. So, today, let’s live up to this expectation. The Pennsylvania Federation of College Democrats is hosting a campaign across Pennsylvania, “Tell 3 to Tell 3 for Nov. 3,” to get the vote out for the Democratic ticket.

I encourage any student who turned out to vote for President Obama last fall to take part in this effort. And I encourage every student to vote. Think about the issues facing Philadelphia that matter to you; think about who you believe will best address these issues; and think about how lucky you are to have the right to cast your ballot today for that person to represent you – and then go vote. It’s still too important not to.

Elizabeth Hanson is the Eastern vice president of the Pennsylvania Federation of College Democrats and can be reached at elizabeth.hanson@temple.edu.

Public figures forget manners, respect

From government officials to recording artists, respect as a common value has disappeared.

Whether the cameras are rolling or the crowd is applauding, it seems public displays of disrespect and high-profile outbursts are becoming a trend, leaving R-E-S-P-E-C-T out to dry.

Incivility was at its finest during what humorist Andy Borowitz referred to as “National Outbursts Week.”

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) called President Barack Obama a liar during the president’s address to Congress, tennis superstar Serena Williams threatened an umpire at the U.S. open, and hip-hop star Kanye West acted his shoe size, rather than his age, at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Unfortunately, old-school morals like the Golden Rule (“do unto others as you would have others do unto you”) have left the minds of far too many, and lack of respect is becoming a serious problem. Instead of taking ownership for their actions, though, these public figures poured excuses from their mouths.

Rep. Wilson felt his direct apology to the president was sufficient. It seemed, to him, there was no need to apologize on the Congress floor for U.S. and international audiences to see, but it was OK for him to shout, “You lie,” and interrupt the presidenton national television.

Serena Williams only owned up to being frustrated because she was not playing her best and said she, like all athletes, was only being passionate about her craft. After Williams admitted these things, comparisons to other tennis athletes, such as John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors, were made in every direction, pointing out that she’s not the first to lose her temper and yell at an umpire.

But the line has to be drawn somewhere.

Kanye West, who is known to throw temper tantrums when things don’t go his way, interrupted an important moment for young recording artist Taylor Swift with valid statements but at a horribly inappropriate time.

Some celebrities think because of their status, they can get away with whatever they want. To some, their influences are so prominent they seem to think their actions are justifiable.

The Columbus Dispatch reported this modern-day rudeness is a result of a stressed-out society. Common courtesy is put on the back burner to accommodate people’s own immediate needs.

“American society is among the most informal in the world, and often that informality crosses over into incivility,” said P.M. Forni, head of the Civility Initiative at John Hopkins University and author of The Civility Solution: What to Do When People are Rude.

As a society, it’s easy to expect more from these individuals because they are high profile or because they are considered by some Americans to be role models. But the levels of disrespect demonstrated by Wilson, Williams and West weren’t all that different from that occurring in everyday life.

Between the Internet and text messaging, it’s easy for individuals to take freedom of speech to a whole new level. There are fewer and fewer one-on-one conversations, and there’s hardly any accountability for what is being said.

Non-celebrities run into this lack of civility on a regular basis, but they go unnoticed.

From a receptionist who, even though she’s on a call, actually acknowledges you with a smile or nod, to a simple please or thank you, our focuses need to be redirected. Incivility is undeniably at its highest when throwing a shoe at a president turns you into a hero, or calling your president a liar on national television earns $200,000 towards your re-election campaign.

Haniyyah Sharpe can be reached at haniyyah.sharpe@temple.edu.

Message for students, not pundits

Facing criticism for his back-to-school Web address, Obama still reaches his intended audience.

Partisan propaganda? Not even. Socialist solicitation? Hardly.

President Barack Obama’s speech to school-aged children across the U.S. Tuesday, Sept. 8, seemed to disappoint even the rowdiest of rabble-rousers from the right.

In fact, the speech carried a somber message – perhaps even a beacon – to the disenfranchised students across America who are in danger of being absorbed by the darkness of unfavorable circumstances.

Marybeth Schwartz, a teacher at Woodfern Elementary in Hillsborough, N.J., echoed this sentiment, describing to me her reaction to the address, one unseen since President George H.W. Bush’s speech to school children in 1991.

Raised a conservative Republican, Schwartz is a recently converted Democrat and said she felt the president offered “the most genuine and inspiring words spoken to the youth of America in a very long time.”

“This was a man who wrote especially for them,” she said, “on their level, drawing from his real experiences.”

Protesters in Oklahoma City went as far as calling the student address Hitler-esque, quoting the demagogic dictator on their petition signs. But in reality, the address had about as much socialist agenda hidden in it as George W. Bush’s diary.

The speech was completely devoid of propaganda. And even the “what can you do for your country?” rhetoric was far more reminiscent of President John F. Kennedy’s famous inaugural speech than that of any token totalitarian dictator cited by conservatives.

“It seems to me that these dissenters are trying to make political capital out of non-political issues,” said Dr. Robert L. Brown, a political science professor at Temple. “What’s the harm in saying, ‘Education is important, study hard’?”

Indeed, those words were clearly conveyed last week with the backdrop behind President Obama reading: “My education, my future.”

Yet, exactly how effective was the live, presidential webcast?

“Do I think it will change the country? No,” Brown said.

Student reception, however, was characterized by a distinctively positive lean. No matter a student’s political persuasion, one has to admire the president’s initiative in his establishing the first direct student-president discourse in 18 years. Though he sounded slightly pedantic and fatherly, the personal elements infused in his address gave his words substance, helping him earn more trust from students.

I must admit, though, I really came to enjoy his frank, paternal tone as he looked solemnly around at the youth gathered in Wakefield High School’s gym and delivered lines of positive reinforcement.

“Even when you’re struggling, even when you’re discouraged and you feel like other people have given up on you,” the president said, “don’t ever give up on yourself.”

So, though this student address might not have been among the most monumental, defining moments of Obama’s presidency, it undoubtedly motivated some students somewhere. And even if his words convinced merely one student not to drop out of school, the president could tack it all up as a success.

Indeed, much of what President Obama said has been regurgitated again and again by fathers and mothers for decades, yet not all children have the luxury of a positive adult role model in their lives.

Why not, then, hear it from America’s favorite log cabin to White House success story?

Chase Miller can be reached at chase.miller@temple.edu.

Exasperating rights of expression

When it comes to voicing opinions on Main Campus, the limits aren’t always cut and dry.

British Oligarchy, Furious At Obama, Could Go For the Kill.” “Stop Obama’s Nazi Health Plan.” The eye-catching signs and pamphlets require a double-take just to absorb the egregious accusations.

But whose job is it to decide what is appropriate for students’ ears?

A student aligned with conservative views could be wary of affirmative action policies, as could a liberal aficionado detest a pro-life rally on campus. The answer: If you don’t like what a group is promoting, you just have to show some respect for the First Amendment.

Temple has strict policies on how student organizations and external groups are allowed to disseminate literature on campus, but that is overshadowed by a larger precedent of free-speech on campuses across the U.S.

“The university cannot discriminate against ideas that it likes and doesn’t like… I’d be sensitive to this if students were being clamped down on. Yet the university is in a tough position. What is hateful speech?” said Thomas Eveslage, professor of journalism, law and ethics.

The pamphlets and shouts of members of the LaRouche Political Action Committee, a non-Temple group that adheres to the values of politician and author Lyndon LaRouche, jolt students as they jostle through campus. The strong anti-government rhetoric and unconventional views hallmark the great debate of how open this campus should be.

Temple’s track record on freedom of speech so far has been relatively unscathed, and branding itself with the infamous “d” word – diversity – causes First Amendment policies to be integral to the mood of this campus.

From political groups to religious groups, student organizations in good standing have the right to set up a table on-campus, promote their views and hold events in university-owned buildings.

University campuses are maintained to be free and open places.

“A university is a marketplace of ideas where different groups exchange [thoughts] that they’ve never heard of,” Eveslage said. “Students are adults on campus, and you are supposed to be exposed to new ideas. Courts tell universities to keep that marketplace open. Don’t punish ideas that you particularly don’t like.”

The only time Temple should step in to regulate freedom of speech is if there is a crime attached to fighting words.

Bigoted comments are not enough to lead to a punishment, but “students that break into a residence hall and paint a swastika on a door can be punished on the basis of defacing property and can be given a more severe penalty if it was racially motivated,” Eveslage said.

Limiting free speech has not been a significant problem on Temple’s campus, but there have been many cases of universities trying to regulate the thoughts of its students.

The Center for Campus Free Speech reports that at the University of California San Diego, the administration’s proposed policy would have “prohibited all protests and student events without prior university approval, banned political speech by university employees while on campus and effectively assigned minders to student demonstrations.”

Luckily, students at UC San Diego fought back through rallies and had the law revoked.

What about ongoing protests involving Main Campus, like the budget crisis in Harrisburg, which could potentially lead to tuition hikes? Or what if a group of students wanted to invalidate a law they perceived as unfair?

“The best instrument is a group of people who are restricted with an unfair law. If they are punished – that can call attention to a particular piece of policy,” Eveslage said.

“Use the Senate, student body and faculty to call attention to this… and these forces would change policy. Public rallies at the Bell Tower are not the best place to start. Go to a part of Temple that has influence. Find out who is on the policy committee and speak with them,” he said.

The forum idea at Temple is relatively new. Eveslage said he remembers when there were two major faculty strikes in the 1980s.

“Back then there were only about 2,000 students on campus,” Eveslage said, “and not enough faculty to get involved.”

There were fewer publications and fewer student organizations. Main Campus closed down at night as much of the student population commuted.

In 2009, with a great deal of student organizations as well as community-outreach programs, Temple students can use a variety of resources to exercise the First Amendment – that is to assemble, speak and write on behalf of the Cherry and White.

Mark Newman can be reached at marknewman@temple.edu.

Volunteers, not stars, were heart of campaign

Forget the glitz and glam of this year’s passing Golden Globes. Pay no attention to Hollywood’s forthcoming 81st Academy Awards. Even less prestigious events such as the MTV Movie Awards will have a smaller turnout compared to last week’s inauguration of President Barack Obama.

The 44th president of the United States took the oath of office last Tuesday, surrounded by an array of supporters who traveled to Washington, D.C., from all over the country, including Hollywood.

Among the A-listers in attendance were John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson, Steven Spielberg, Anne Hathaway and Oprah Winfrey.

Despite the flashy, enjoyable performances by artists like Beyoncé and Stevie Wonder, Hollywood’s invasion of the East Coast slightly bothered me.

I understand that with the lifestyle of the rich and famous comes great perks, but I am irked at how these actors, talking heads and pop stars were given front row seats to the historical swearing in of our new president.

Yes, renowned figures such as Winfrey donated and raised millions of dollars for Obama’s campaign.

Yes, many of the actors campaigned for President Obama in the primaries and in the November election.
But what about all of the days and hours Temple students campaigned on Liacouras Walk and Berks Street? What about those who dealt with snide remarks spat at them by students annoyed by the voter registration volunteers?

When I think of the work they did last semester, I am furious because I feel they have been cheated.
There is no way these stars put in more time than the thousands (and quite possibly, millions) of college students who sacrificed sleep and sanity to register and motivate peers to vote for Obama.

Obama once said, “I stand before you tonight because all across America something is stirring. What the naysayers don’t understand is that this election has never been about me. It’s been about you.”

The “you” he is referring to is you and I: the students, staff and faculty of Temple, the citizens of Philadelphia and people all over the country. Regardless of whom you voted for, this was the most awe-inspiring election of our generation’s lifetime.

I hate to steal Hollywood’s thunder, but we won the right to those seats. Older generations have accused us for years of being apathetic about the world around us, and we finally decided that we do, in fact, care about our country and our future. The stars did not persuade us to wake up from our apathetic slumber; we woke ourselves up.

This is not to say that stars and figures such as Spielberg and Winfrey are not important; they are fellow Americans and should revel in this momentous occasion.

At the inauguration Obama said, “On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.”

We, famous and ordinary alike, came together and united under the common goal of moving our nation forward.

Joshua Fernandez can be reached at josh.fernandez@temple.edu.

Students head south for historic inauguration

They were all there for the same reason on Sunday. Every color, every age, every stage of life. They waited – some more patiently than others – in a cold, empty room until someone led them outside. Then, they waited again, in a line on Arch Street.  

One by one, they boarded the Chinatown bus. They sat for three hours, growing more excited and getting more anxious, before they dragged their bags onto the Sixth Street sidewalk in Washington, D.C. They all went their separate ways, but they will reunite today for a common cause. 

Today at noon, Barack Obama will become the 44th president of the United States. The theme – which commemorates the 200th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s birth – for the 2009 inauguration is “A New Birth of Freedom,” which was chosen by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies in consultation with the Senate Historian’s Office. 

The attendance rate is expected to be the highest in the nation’s history.

Though members of the inauguration committee have not released an official count, estimates range from 1 million to 3 million people.

People from all over the nation and all over the world will come together this afternoon to witness this historic event, and many of those people will be Temple students. 

Sophomore political science major Megan Chialastri drove from Main Campus to Washington, D.C., yesterday with some of her fellow Temple College Democrats members. 

“Democrat, Republican, liberal, conservative, whatever, I think it is important for people to be able to watch the event take place,” Chialastri said. “After all, it will set the tone for Barack Obama’s presidency, as well as the next four years of our lives.” 

Even Temple students who aren’t planning to attend the inauguration can still get the chance to witness the day’s events.  

Hillel Hoffman, assistant director of university communications, has confirmed faculty has been given permission cancel classes between the hours of 10:10 a.m. and 1 p.m.  

Lisa Staiano-Coico, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, sent an e-mail to faculty detailing guidelines for class cancellations. Staiano-Coico advised professors who wish to cancel class to do so beforehand, though she recognizes that may be difficult because today is the first day of the semester.  

“I know one of my classes has already been canceled,” Chialastri said. “I’m thrilled that Temple has given professors permission to cancel class.” 

Starr was also excited to learn about the possible class cancellations but had reservations.

 “While I am excited to hear that the provost is allowing teachers to cancel class, I believe that it may have been more productive to allow the same on Election Day since we are a commuter campus, and many students voted in their hometown and took the day to help with the election,” Starr said in an e-mail interview. 

As exciting and historic as today’s events may be for those on campus and in Washington, D.C., the issue of safety is a pressing one.

Several major traffic arteries in the area will be restricted to authorized vehicles, some will be designated as pedestrian only and others will be closed entirely. Inauguration officials have warned attendees that thorough screening is probable, and ticketholders should plan to arrive by 9 a.m. and plan to wait in lines. The list of prohibited items is extensive, but cameras and cell phones are permitted. 

Despite the many security efforts, Chialastri still has some concerns. 

 “I’m more concerned about crowd control and the safety of spectators,” she said.

 Junior film and media arts major Gregory Starr said he isn’t all that worried.
 
“The Metropolitan Police Department and Secret Service have spent a lot of time and money for the safety of President-elect Obama and all those attending the inauguration,” the former Temple College Democrats vice president said. “I am not overly fearful for the safety of anybody involved in Tuesday’s event.” 

Chialastri has high hopes for the new president, and he’s ready for him to fulfill his promises. 

 “With the state of the economy, the national debt and the war, I expect Obama to try to fix as much as he can very fast,” Chialastri said. “I’m very excited to see how he handles it. I think if he takes care of things swiftly and makes the right decisions, his first term could be comparable to FDR.”

 Shannon McDonald can be reached at shannon.mcdonald@temple.edu.

Inaugural Ending

What seemed like an eternal election cycle comes to an end today.

The Temple News had been covering the 2008 presidential election race since March. We followed then-Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama around Philadelphia as they campaigned for the position of commander in chief. And finally today, the long ride concludes.

Shortly after 10 a.m. on this Inauguration Day, Obama became the 44th president of the United States.
In October, The Temple News endorsed Obama for president. In our Oct. 28 editorial, we said Obama “has the goals and ideas best suited for America at this time,” and we stand by that statement.

Today, a historic event is happening in Washington, D.C. The first black president is moving into the White House. Already, this is a monumental event in our nation’s history, and we are fortunate enough to be witnessing it.

We commend Temple and the provost’s office for recognizing the importance of this day. Provost Lisa Staiano-Coico sent an e-mail to faculty in December allowing professors to cancel their classes between 10:10 a.m. and 1 p.m. today, so people can watch the inauguration events.

Temple will offer students, faculty and staff the opportunity to watch the inauguration in five areas spanning three campuses. We appreciate Temple’s commitment to providing this service.

As students, we should also take this time to reflect on how the 2008 presidential election affected our lives on a local level.

As members of Generation Y, we have seen perhaps unprecedented energy surrounding both the Democratic and Republican campaigns. There was such a push from students toward students to get registered to vote. On campus, the College Republicans and Democrats hosted events and debates, open to all students, to discuss the issues of the election in a civil manner.

Members of the Class of 2009 are approaching graduation on May 14 with excitement and trepidation. With the faltering economy, careers are uncertain. Also because of the recession, Mayor Michael Nutter is counting on federal funds to help the city make up its $2 billion shortfall. As students in Philadelphia, we have a lot riding on Obama’s first 100 days.

Obama is becoming president at a difficult time for America. It’s difficult to comprehend how a person would want that title in an era like this.

But President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are willing to perform the ultimate civil service in America. We wish them luck in the difficult endeavors that lie ahead in this new chapter of history.

Plan ahead for the inauguration

On Nov. 4, the country witnessed history as President-elect Barack Obama won the race for the Oval Office. On Jan. 20, 2009, an estimated 4 million people will flood Capitol Hill to watch Obama take the oath of office as the 44th president of the United States.

It’s a no-brainer that a large number of people want to attend this ceremony, but how are they planning to get there and what should they expect?

It’s important to know that tickets for Obama’s presidential swearing-in ceremony are not sold. This hasn’t prevented ticket-scalpers from trying to sell them for upwards of $20,000. A limited number of tickets are available free of charge only through congressional representatives and senators of the 111th Congress.

In the past, Washington, D.C., has housed a maximum 1.2 million people. Obama’s overwhelming win in the polls has proven to bring in record-breaking numbers of participation.

Finding hotel accommodations is difficult, as many of the 95,000 hotel rooms in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, are filling up fast. Rooms are even being booked in Baltimore.

“I would strongly recommend not [driving],” said Stan Dreyer from Destination DC. “[Buses] come into Union Station, which is about two blocks away from the Capitol.”

Students taking BoltBus or Megabus to get to the inauguration should be aware that neither buses run directly from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. BoltBus has a route from Philadelphia to New York and another that travels from New York directly to Washington, D.C.

Tickets for Chinatown buses (apexbus.com) are $28 round trip and $15 one-way – even the day of the inauguration

There’s still the Greyhound bus. Depending on the time of travel, tickets range from $25 to $30.
It’s still too early to tell if buses will sell out, so it’s recommended to buy tickets now.

“We’ve just been buried with calls since the election,” Dreyer said. “Prior to the election, we were able to find hotel space for most callers. Since then, it’s been another story.

“Our subway system, the Metrorail, announced last week that anyone starting from within two miles of the inauguration site would do better to walk, than to try and ride the Metro.”

Luckily, the Metrorail is planning ahead and preparing for the large influx of people coming into the city.
It will provide free parking at all of its facilities, which house 59,000 parking spaces. The Metrorail will operate its rush hour service for 15 hours, running from 4 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The inauguration committee, which just formed a couple weeks ago, announced gates will be opening at 9 a.m. A musical prelude begins at 10 a.m. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early because of security screening.

The Metrorail will sell commemorative farecards and SmarTrip cards with Obama’s image printed on them. They’re bound to be a collector’s item and a proud piece of history to hold onto. Farecards and SmarTrip cards become available in December and January, respectively.

Buying a One Day Pass for the Metrorail is recommended because it only costs $7.80 and allows unlimited travel. Riders with the pass can avoid long lines at ticket vending machines.

Amtrak is another viable option. However, be sure to plan early.

Amtrak fares are expensive and are likely to sell out fast, but with careful planning and some know-how, it’s possible to keep transportation costs at no more than $100.

Amtrak offers discounts on fares for Student Advantage card holders.

Trains entering in and out of the city are becoming nearly impossible to book as Inauguration Day nears closer.

“I think the train would probably be the most dependable way to get to [Washington, D.C.],” Dreyer said. [Destination DC is] getting lots of calls from busloads of people coming in.”

Tiffany Yoon can be reached at tiffany.yoon@temple.edu.

It’s our time to change now

When it comes to race relations in this country, negativity may finally be fading away.

President-elect Barack Obama put it into perspective, reminding us that, “At each and every junction of our history, somebody’s been audacious enough to say we can do something different. And more often than not, it’s been young people who’ve done it.”

Let’s not praise Obama to be more than human. He is simply a man inspiring hope and change. He’s a man with dreams and has the ambition to change the broken ways of America. He can also change the fundamental problems facing America.

But today is a new day, and we’ve become a country that tends to suppress our racist tendencies. Or at least we try to.

“He represents a new age for America,” said Kevin Maggio, former president of Temple Students for Obama. He is “a much-needed shift in direction.”

“We made it known that we are the next generation. A generation that believes America has an enormous potential for good in this world,” Maggio said.

Jane Gordon, a professor of political science, acknowledges the significance of Obama’s victory but also points out something important.

“There are many anti-black racists who can appreciate and even love individual black people who they frame as exceptional,” Gordon said. “It is particularly wonderful that what will be associated with the first black president will be the increase of intelligence, integrity and ability in the highest office.”

Gordon finds that race relations may not improve as a direct result of Obama’s win. However, she sees his position in office will lead us in the right direction.

“It is important to note that the earliest set of appointments that he has made have not been of people of color,” she said. “These moves clearly illustrate that he is not going to be actively pro-black in a way that would at all alienate or cause fear among Americans.”

Gordon’s point is one of realistic optimism, rather than the philosophical revelations people seemed to have during the election process.

Obama does not see two colors in America. Instead, he hopes for a unified country, and his cabinet will be his tool in doing so.

Still, students are excited about this new direction in the course of American history.

“This election was the first time I’ve seen the word ‘change’ visualized,” said senior communications major Shamara Rochester. “I never want to look back.”

Our generation is responsible for a lot of today’s current social stances. We won’t easily entertain people accusing Obama of “paling around with terrorists.” We let our minds make up our thoughts, and we tend to act as stubbornly as we think.

We are in control of our future, and it’s up to us to let the dust settle.

Ignore any feelings of something racist surfacing, and just brush it off. Otherwise, what a waste of time it was to spend months supporting a symbol of “change.”

Let it go because lingering “racism” needs to finally fade away.

Tara Moore can be reached at tara.moore@temple.edu.

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