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Show PACE 4 THE THUNDERBIRD LATE MONDAY MARCH 30, 1987 FINANCIAL AID: WHOSE FAULT IS IT? Many students complain about late grant checks, but few students know or even understand the reasons why their money may be late. Too often students vent their financial frustrations on the secretary handing out the checks when they themselves may be to blame. With a little understanding of the way checks are disbursed, students could even speed the delivery of their own checks. The college's financial aid department begins to process the checks immediately following If the student doesn't sign up for classes during the times, the check will be delayed. After the last day of a hold is automatically placed on the financial aid money granted to unregistered students. After that time, their financial aid is processed in an extremely time consuming basis when the student finally completes registration. Students on academic probation will face an automatic delay in financial aid, because a hold is placed on their aid money until their grades clear. After grades are turned in to the registrar and tallied, the financial aid office will lift the hold on the student's aid money or extend academic probation. Students accepting loans through the National Direct Student Loan program must sign a promissory note before they can get their money. More than a few students forget to sign the note. Until the college gets that signature, a hold is placed on their i money also. Thanks to SUSC's new computer system all departments, including financial aid, can standardize their records and procedures. For financial aid, the new system actually helps to speed student check disbursements, if the student takes care of his or her responsibilities. Federal requirements call for the financial aid office to check each student's file for mistakes or 'Access' is a recurring column through which fraud. Just a few years ego, this kind of verification was done members of the campus community may address themselves to topics of concern andor interest. This by financial aid employees who personally checked student files week's column is byANNETTE GROOMS, a junior in the registrar's office. Now financial aid can call all student up in business administration. She is also majoring records on a terminal in that office. Financial aid will continue editor of 'This Week.' to deliver student aid checks by the first day of the quarter for continuing students who register during Tuesday morning, the United States Supreme The continued speed and efficiency of financial aid's Court threw out the Utah Cable TV Decency Act procedures assure that students will receive their aid and grant because it was unconstitutional. heard this on money on time, but it is up to the student's bank to assure the KUTV News that evening and was shocked that the timely delivery of guaranteed student loan checks to the college. Act even left the Utah borders! Didn't we, Utah It is the opinion of The Thunderbird that students should fulfill voters, cast it out in the general election of 1984? their are we, Utah residents and tax payers, paying Why to avoid responsibilities delays in their for legal fees incurred by Attorney General David financial aid disbursement. Nearly a fourth of the students Wilkinson, on an unpopular legislative blunder? It receiving financial aid fail to do this. Because their aid is checked is common sense that tells us that if the on a case by case basis, the students force their own majority delay. doesn't like it, perhaps it's not such a good idea. case-by-ca- se Avrrr ckk; Wilkinson's ego costs us thousands I VOLUME 81, NUMBER 24 Editorial and News Directors: Jane Laird Carn LeBaron Danny Stewart Copy Editor Greg Prince Senior Staff Writer Kris lohnson Photo Editor Richard Engleman Prqduction Manager Gavin McNeil Sports Editors Dale Cummings Advtising Representatives Ten Gadd Brooks Washburn Kellie Jensen Entertainment Editor Dawn DeBusk Faculty Adviser Larry Baker Lisa The Thunderbird is published each Monday of the academic year by and for the student body of Southern Utah State College and is not affiliated with the College's department of communication. The views and opinions expressed in The Thunderbird are the opinions of the publication's individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the institution, faculty, staff or student body in general. The unsigned editorial directly above is the opinion of The Thunderbird as a single entity. Letters to the editor must be typed and include the name and phone number. Only the name will be printed. Names will not be withheld under any circumstances and the editor reserves editing privileges. Letters must be submitted by noon Friday for inclusion in the following week's edition The Thunderbird editorial and advertising offices in SUSC Library 103. Mail at SUSC Box 9384, Cedar City, UT 84720 (801) 7758. Anyone who has had to pass the eighth grade should know that, but our astute state legislature and attorney general pushed it anyway. Paul Warner, from the attorney general's office, has expressed to Anne Marie Nicholson of the Iron County Review that Wilkinson was protecting a 1983 Act passed by two-thirof the house over Gov. Scott Ma.theson's veto. This act was part of three which declared such things as health education in schools as "indecent material." The other two fell by the wayside. At any rate, the issue was put to a vote in 1 984. That cost the tax payers $420,000 just to put it on rhe ballot. Now the state has been ordered to pay cable companies' legal fees, $280,000 (and more) according to Warner. This comes out of our pockets, we who did not want it in the first place! Maybe have been naive all my school life to think that the majority counted in democracy, not just a couple of legislators (or an attorney general) who like to pull strings for the whole state. thought legislators were supposed to represent "We the People," not "We the Few at the Top." I I Nicholson has also said that Utah has more cases out of court because they were unconstitutional than any other state in the union. Why is Utah dragging its heels against the Constitution of these United States? This Constitution was formed for a reason, to protect "We the People" against anarchy. Isn't this recent issue a case in point? How does this affect college students? believe that misjustices to the Constitution such as this eventually cost us in our education because Southern Utah State College is funded by the state through tax money. When the tax money shrinks thrown I 'We the People' should mean something to lawyers , legislators. because of these mistakes, we have less for the school and our education. Education is what will make Utah grow. With the strength of education, industry wiil follow making Utah more prosperous. What corporation owner wants to risk losses due to lack of education? He will go to outside slates for employees. I'm sure Utah doesn't want that to happen because we need jobs too. We should look at Florida as an example of this. Within the last decade, Florida has experimented by putting more tax money into education with an exceptional outcome of more industry and a better economy. Florida also ranks as one of the top five states in education. Why do Utah legislators refuse to see other's successes to help "We the People." Why are we so behind? We, as college students and future business people, teachers, administrators, scientists, as so on, should consider these issues because without growth, Utah will fall in its economy. |