Blog Post 5 Audio Clip

Blog Post 4

Legislators attempt to ease student loan burden

One hundred and twenty five thousand dollars is enough money to buy a small house, several nice cars, or a couple of boats. It is also the amount of money some students will soon have to pay back due to loans.

"I'm just hoping it doesn't take me the rest of my life to pay these [loans] back," engineering psychics senior Jody Bringhurst said.

Cases such as Bringhurst's, which is not uncommon, is exacerbated by the high subsidies private banks earn off of such student loans.

However, the Senate is currently voting on a bill that could help ensure that banks are not lining their pockets with the profit off of high-interest student loans.

The Student Aid and Financial Responsibility Act would save $87 billion over ten years by getting rid of excessive subsidies to banks, according to the LATimes.com article. This money would then be used to provide more pell-grants to low-income students.

Representatives in Oklahoma, however, are not convinced that this new bill will help students or the economy. One such representative is Tom Cole, who voted "no" on the bill in favor of making reforms in college programs themselves.

"I believe we as lawmakers have a unique opportunity to make college more affordable and accessible to students," Cole said.

The bill has already been passed through the House and is expected to pass through the Senate in the coming weeks.

A student waits outside of Financial Services to hear the verdict on the future of his loans, education, and debt.

Photo by Karlie Tipton

Blog 3

The current downturn in the economy may have put the budget for fun in critical care, but some OU students are keeping it alive without going into the red. Many of these Normanites are taking "staycations," a term for inexpensive excursions close to home, rather than vacationing far away.

"With school and work, I need some "me" time to relax. So, since I'm always broke, I like to do things that are cheap and easy, like going to the movies or playing video games," microbiology freshman Alex Slotnick said.

Slotnick is tickled by the new movie "The Informant," and the fact that he saved hundreds by staying home.

If one still needs to get out of the house, Oklahoma has a great variety of options that are fun and frugal.

"Oklahoma offers one of the finest, most naturally divers park systems in the nation, which means visitors from the state and region don't have to go as far to experience everything from sand dunes to award-winning fishing and boating," said Austin Tackett, Travel Communications Coordinator for the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department.

For more information on planning a weekend getaway, TravelOK.com has all the maps, brochures, and deals for the perfect "staycation."

PWOP

PHOTO BY KARLIE TIPTON