March 27, 2015 Vol. 90, No. 17
2A
NEWS
@HUStudentPubs April 25,The 2014 Facebook: Link Vol. 89, No. 18
online at thelink.harding.edu
OPINIONS
3&4A
SPORTS
1&2B
FEATURES
3B
LIFESTYLE
4B 2A
NEWS
Searcy, Ark., 72149
3&4A
OPINIONS
1&2B
Seniors face impending student loan debt SPORTS
@HUStudentPubs Facebook: The Link
online at thelink.harding.edu
By Zach Hailey Head Copy Editor
According to a recent study conducted by the Washington Post, more Americans are having trouble paying off their student loans than their home loans. At Grad Fest last week, students on campus had the opportunity to see what their monthly payments would be on their loans. Senior Patricio Felix said he is confident he will be able to take care of his loans. “I thought, ‘that’s like paying for a house,’” Felix said. “I know it’s a lot, but it will get paid for. I do and I don’t (feel stressed). I think as long as I have a job that I love, all will be okay.” Senior Shelbi Fowler also attended Grad Fest, but felt unprepared once she saw how much her monthly payment will be. “They handed me a sheet at Grad Fest that had my monthly payment for the next 10 years on it,” Fowler said. “They didn’t really prepare me for it so it was a little startling. I’m not really worried that I won’t be able to make my payments, but more concerned with how I can make larger payments to cut down on the interest.” According to the Federal Reserve, the number of student borrowers rose 92 percent between 2004 and 2014. The average loan amount
FEATURES
3B
CAMPUS LIFE
4B
Searcy, Ark., 72149
The Federal Government made about
The Low Down on Student Loans second-largest
on student loans in 2013
Distribution of student loan balance
The average student loan debt in the U.S. is
$29,400 $29,700 and at Harding it is
increased 74 percent. Student loan delinquencies rose to 11.3 percent at the end of 2014 from last year’s 11.1 percent. For graduating seniors, these statistics may seem daunting. Students who think they may have difficulties paying off their loans can seek assistance. According to financial adviser
billion
Americans now have at least one student loan
source of consumer debt in the U.S., preceded only by home mortgages
Nationwide student loan debt is at an all-time record of
$50
million
Student loans are the
$1 - 10k
$100k - 150k
$10k - 25k
$150k - 200k
$25k - 50k
$200k +
0.9%
2.2%
0.6%
9%
17.7%
39.9%
$50k - 100k 29.8%
$1.2 trillion
According to Judy Cuellar, Harding financial adviser; CNN; The New York Times and The Huffington Post.
Judy Cuellar, most graduates struggling to pay off loans do not know that they can ask for help. “A lot of them are afraid,” Cuellar said. “They don’t know that there is something else available. It seems so enormous that they just don’t know what to do.” Cuellar said that there are loan forgiveness plans available for
federal loans including the public service forgiveness plan, available options for payment changes and other flexible ways to deal with overwhelming or late payments. “The most important thing is to make sure that you have a very strong understanding of what you have borrowed while in school,” Cuellar said. “Sit down and talk to
Campus in bloom
graphic by CINA CATTEAU
a counselor about what your plan is for repayment. I invite students to come talk to a counselor any time.” The financial aid office is open to students who would like to make an appointment to discuss payment options from Monday through Friday during business hours.
Second Starbucks coming to Searcy
New coffee shop to be built on Race Street, near Waffle House
mden -- Henry
By Phoebe Cunningham Editorial Asst.
GRANT SCHOL | The Bison
The official first day of spring was March 20, and campus greenery is beginning to blossom. On Wednesday, March 25, students left chapel to 70-degree weather.
5K to raise funds for school in Dominican By Katie Diffine Student Writer
raised about $5,000 to build the school.” Computer science professor Frank McCown is in charge of the children’s race this year, which will be held before the 5K portion of the event. McCown and his wife have also been in charge of contacting local businesses to donate items such as prizes and food. “This year the money is supposed to pay for computers and school supplies for the kids there,” McCown said. “We had a goal of having 300 people participate in the race this year. But we’ve been able to
actually get more money from sponsors this year than in previous years.” Junior Geneva Brock volunteered to work the 5K this year. Brock saw this opportunity as a way to get involved. “They’re always talking about how college students can contribute to congregations in other ways besides passing a plate around and that’s what I’ve decided to do,” Brock said. In order to register online, visit www.raceit.com and search “Manna 5K” or sign up on site the day of the race.
The 3rd annual Manna Global Ministries 5K, sponsored by Cloverdale Church of Christ, is at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 28, at Wyldewood Retreat Center in Searcy. According to the church website, all proceeds from the race will go to Manna Christian School, located in the Dominican Republic, to help aid students in getting a Christian education. The race is $20 for adults and $15 for children and students. This includes a T-shirt and traditional Dominican lunch after the race. Volunteer Chris Lowe and his family have helped with the Manna Global Ministries 5K for the past three years as well as serving as missionaries in the Dominican. Lowe said he looks forward to a growing number of runners this year to help raise funds. “My wife and I were able to serve on an advisory board for the school the first couple years as they were getting started and then we started this race,” Lowe said. “After returning home from a mission trip to the Dominican, Cloverdale challenged Courtesy of JOELLE WHITLOCK us to put on this race to help raise money Students at Manna Christian School in the Dominican Republic sing to build the school and so we did. We had the country’s national anthem before praying and starting class during the first Manna Race three years ago and a Harding spring break mission trip.
Softball, page 1A
A new Starbucks location on East Race Street next to Waffle House was announced on March 12, according to www.talkbusiness.net. Haag Brown Commercial Real Estate and Development is in charge of the construction of the new location. The new Starbucks coffee shop will be part of a larger development from the Jonesboro-based company that will also include an Arkansas Braces location. According to www.talkbusiness.net, the development project will be located on the previous Marple Auto Sales site, at the corner of East Race Street and Rand Drive. Arkansas Business reported Joshua Brown, a principal of Haag Brown, said that Searcy is a natural stopping point for those traveling from Jonesboro to Little Rock and do not want to wait for the Starbucks in Jacksonville. For Searcy, the development means more jobs and tax revenue for the city according to Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce President, Buck Layne. “One of the things we’re always excited about is the creation of new jobs in Searcy,” Layne said. “I think (Starbucks is) a very wellknown company, and a lot of people enjoy their products. I’m looking forward to them coming to town.”
Popsicle stand, page 4B
Bisons for Christ, page 2A
Le Pops shop in Little Rock offers a fancy (and affordable) twist on a refreshing summer dessert.
The annual day of service is fast approaching and students can still sign up for a project to work on.
Layne said that since Starbucks is an internationally-known company, it may get people to stop in Searcy that might not stop otherwise. Senior Sara Wallis, a shift supervisor at the campus Starbucks, said she thinks the new location is unnecessary because of Searcy’s small population. “Why do you need two Starbucks?”Wallis said. “There is Midnight Oil and other coffee and espresso stands.” Wa l l i s s a i d t h e n e w location should not affect business because of the loyal customers who have built relationships with the workers who she believes will continue to use the Starbucks at Legacy Park. “I think we’ll still get plenty of business from students since CAB has events in the community room and it ’s in walking distance,” Wallis said. Junior Sarah Lape said she will continue to use the campus Starbucks as well as the new location on East Race Street. “I think I’ll definitely use that Starbucks, but I’ll still use the one on campus,” Lape said. “I might use the other one to hang out off campus, or maybe if the one on campus got too crowded.” Construction for the Starbucks project is set to begin immediately, according to www.talkbusiness.net.
Hannah Fox, page 3B