Tell Congress Not To Double Interest on Student Loans

Prepare yourself: on July 1, as many as 8 million college students will see their interest rates on federally subsidized student loans double, from 3.4% to 6.8%. According to the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, that increase amounts to the average Stafford loan borrower’s paying $2,800 more over a standard 10-year repayment term for loans made after June 30.
It’s worse for those students who take out the most money. Those who borrow the maximum $23,000 in subsidized student loans will see their debt load upped by $5,000 over a 10-year repayment plan and $11,000 over a 20-year repayment plan.  – Kayla Webley, TIME Magazine.

Fortunately this doesn’t affect those of us already carrying such loans and in repayment, though I never stop waiting for that shoe to drop.  I still remember far too well the interest on my supplemental loans being raised to 8% when Republicans controlled Congress under the Reagan administration.  It’s part of the reason my burden is so high now.  Fortunately I no longer have that kind of loan, thanks to consolidation.
The issue with the rate is, of course, budgetary.  Well, budgetary and political, as the article goes on to explain.
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Academic Freedom Media Review – March 11 – 16, 2012

The Scholars at Risk media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available here. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.

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AAUP Will Investigate U. of Northern Iowa Over Faculty Cuts
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 3/16
Scholars at Risk calls for letters on behalf of imprisoned Iranian scholars
Scholars at Risk, 3/16
Chicago State U. Is Ordered to Reinstate Adviser to Student Newspaper
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 3/15
Cambridge student protester suspended from University until 2014
Emily Loud, The Cambridge Student, 3/15
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Academic Freedom Media Review – February 25 – March 2, 2012

The Scholars at Risk media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available here. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.

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Virginia court rejects sceptic’s bid for climate science emails
Suzanne Goldenberg, The Guardian, 3/2
Yale Professors Want Singapore Campus to Protect Human Rights
Oliver Staley, Bloomberg News, 3/2
Excellence – but those missing out don’t see it that way
Frances Mechan-Schmidt, Times Higher Education, 3/1
African leader wants end to ‘slave trade’ in education /
Phil Baty, Times Higher Education, 3/1
Student singled out for punishment over Willetts protest
Judith Welikala, The Cambridge Student, 3/1
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Academic Freedom Media Review, February 18-24, 2012

The Scholars at Risk media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available here. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.

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Sociologists Back Scholars in Oral History Case /
Inside Higher Ed, 2/24
Bryn Mawr Will Host Artist Barred by Villanova
Inside Higher Ed, 2/24
Sudan’s University of Khartoum to re-open on 18 March
Sudan Tribune, 2/23
Urgent Action: Academic Detained in Sudan
Amnesty International, 2/23
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CAIR Asks South Dakota Governor to Veto Anti-Sharia Bill

No Bigotry in Our LawsCAIR Asks South Dakota Governor to Veto Anti-Sharia Bill.
Have you heard about this bill?  Well it’s pissing me off and South Dakota isn’t the only state with one in process!  I urge you to click on the link above and read what the Council on  American-Islamic Relations has to say about it.  I’m not angry about it because  it once again demonstrates the appalling lack of understanding and intolerable amount of prejudice must be endured by Muslims in the United States. That deeply saddens me more than it pisses me off.  As an educator, I will do my best to fight against this kind of ignorance.    Americans are innately curious and open-minded, there is simply so much misinformation that has  so massively skewed perceptions.
I am annoyed, ok a little pissed off, that not only South Dakota, but approximately two dozen other state legislatures are wasting time on such frivolous bills when there are so many other pressing issues facing the states and our nation as a whole.  What’s all this talk I keep hearing about budget crunches,  fiscal austerity, and cutbacks?  Both Virginia and West Virginia have debated this kind of a law, as well.  These people, our elected representatives, don’t even understand our system of government, it seems. They pass frivolous, unnecessary legislation to prevent things that are already impossible, instead of dealing with real issues.
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Academic Freedom Media Review, February 11-17, 2012

The Scholars at Risk media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available here. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.

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Syria ‘arrests iconic blogger Razan Ghazzawi and leading activists’
The Telegraph, 2/16
US for-profit universities ‘unworthy of the name’
Paul Jump, Times Higher Education, 2/16
Faculty Cry Foul Over Intellectual-Property Policy at U. of Louisiana System
Katherine Mangan, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 2/16
Leak Offers Glimpse of Campaign Against Climate Science
Justin Gillis and Leslie Kaufman, The New York Times, 2/15
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SAR Academic Freedom Media Review, January 28 – February 3, 2012

The Scholars at Risk media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available at here. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.

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Up by his bootstraps
Corydon Ireland, Harvard Gazette, 2/2

Scottish universities facing ‘politicisation by SNP’
Simon Johnson, The Telegraph, 2/2
Among the Majority
Michael Berube, Inside Higher Ed, 2/1
Shared Dissonance
Kaustuv Basu, Inside Higher Ed, 2/1
Quiet revolution, but tasks loom
Glenn Withers, The Australian, 2/1
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Academic Freedom Media Review – January 14 – 20, 2012

The Scholars at Risk media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available here. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.

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A Good and Bad Week for Free Speech
Christopher Jon Sprigman, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 1/20
Information update: Scholars at Risk welcomes the release of Vietnamese professor, Pham Minh Hoang; Syrian activist’s brother, Yassin Ziadeh
Scholars at Risk, 1/20
IAEA Rejects Iran Accusation Over Scientist Killing
The New York Times, 1/20
KENYA: Bogus colleges crackdown, 21 charged
Gilbert Nganga, University World News, 1/19
College Groups Back U. of Colorado’s Immunity Claim in Churchill Case
The Chronicle of Higher Education, 1/19
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SAR Academic Freedom Media Review – January 7-13, 2012

The Scholars at Risk media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available here. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.

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Texas Can Regulate Secular Matters at Religious Colleges, Opinion Says
Katherine Mangan, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 1/13
US teachers offered support for climate change lessons
Suzanne Goldenberg, The Guardian, 1/13
Free Speech and (Offensive) Art
Daniel Grant, Inside Higher Ed, 1/13
Stormy waters ahead as ‘disruptive forces’ sweep the old guard
Sarah Cunnane, Times Higher Education, 1/12
Independence, transparency key to research work of ESRI
Frances Ruane, The Irish Times, 1/12
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SAR Academic Freedom Media Review, December 10 – 16, 2011

The Scholars at Risk media review seeks to raise awareness about academic freedom issues in the news. Subscription information and archived media reviews are available here. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Scholars at Risk.

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EUROPE: Block Belarus bid to join HE area – Students
Brendan O’Malley, University World News, 12/16
NIGERIA: Striking academics close public universities
Tunde Fatunde, University World News, 12/16
Christian Bale Attacked by Chinese Guards
Andrew Jacobs, The New York Times, 12/16
EGYPT: Tough challenges for new universities minister
Ashraf Khaled, University World News, 12/15
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