OCR Text |
Show Where were you on September 11,2001? UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Page 5 Logan, Utah • Campus Voice Since 1902 www.utahstatesman.com Monday, Sept. 11,2006 In depth: Credit cards prove to be a temptation to students BY LIZ LAWYER Editor in Chief As thousands of USU students march across campus each fall, clubs, service projects, churches and military recruiters set up booths hoping to entice a freshman — or maybe even an upperclassman — to sign up. In-Depth ^closer look atlssuef. Each of these booths offer fun, opportunities and a great college experience. And, among the banners and free gifts, there are several booths that offer the luxury of financial freedom in the form of a credit card. Not only do students get to sign up for a low introductory rate or a special, students-only offer, they usually get a complementary T-shirt or water bottle to sweeten the deal. What many students don't realize or remember is introductory offers end, annual fees come around every year and small expenses add up. Credit card companies benefit from irresponsibility, making young students common targets. When a payment is missed, interest rates can go up, bringing in more money for the companies. And, with new changes to the federal bankruptcy laws, it's even harder to diffuse debt through bankruptcy. Alena Johnson, a lecturer in the department of family, consumer and human development, said that though she's heard USU students do well with credit cards and student loans compared to other schools, some students are not ready to handle a credit card. "When your roommates are going out to eat and you don't have any money, it's tempting to use a credit card," Johnson said. "[Freshman year] is a really young age to have a card. Some ruin their credit scores." Dave Forand, a graduate student studying geology, said he didn't trust himself with a credit card when he was starting college, and when he did get a credit card through his bank as a sophomore, it had a low credit limit. "Because it was through the bank, I was able to monitor my expenses and pay for them online," he said. Tm in no rush to get another one or one with a higher limit. This one covers my needs." Forand said he usually only uses the credit card when he's "in a pinch," such as when he's traveling or is stuck with no cash. Sometimes he purchases things online because he feels the card's identity-theft protection keeps his credit safe. He said he racks up no more than $150 a month on the card. Felicia McCleery, a freshman majoring in interior design, said she only uses debit, which can be safer than a credit card, though it doesn't help build up a credit report, which is important when buying a house or car or applying for a job. McCleery said that rigbt now she's not concerned with establishing credit, though she would trust herself to handle a credit card properly. StudentMarket.com, an online furniture store for college students, includes pages on student credit and student loans. According to a press release from StudentMarket.com, a study by a student loan provider, Nellie Mae, showed 76 percent of undergraduates started the 2004 school year with credit cards. The average balance on those cards was more than $2,000. "At the Family Life Center Housing and Financial Counseling program, we see many USU students and USU graduates coming in for financial counseling. These students and graduates are often unable pay for basic living expenses, while meeting monthly credit card and other debts. Initially, these individuals did not calculate how much their basic living expenses, student loans, credit card debts and/or payday loans would cost them each month. They simply kept taking on more and more debt, without • CREDIT CARDS see page 3 Jamie Crane/jamiecrane@cc.u$u.edu THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICE IS making big changes to cut line length and make online payment easier. Registrar's Office student friendly BY D I LEWIS News Editor Most students at USU associate the Registrar's Office with long wait times, frustration and lines out the door. That is what the new registrar, John Mortensen, hopes to fix. "The biggest thing we want to convey is that we are a student-friendly office, not a place students dread standing in line at," Mortensen said. He has started his new role by making a few big changes to make the Registrar's Office an easier experience for USU students. • REGISTRAR see page 4 Gardener's Marketfresh food and fun BY MOLLY FARMER Senior Writer Variety is added to a 20-year tradition as artists and live musicians accompany green thumbs at the Logan City Gardener's Market. "This really isn't a farmer's market, it's a mini Summerfest," produce seller Richard Wagstaff said. No longer a place for gardeners only, vendors selling anything from massages to specialty dog treats are found beneath white and green canopies at Pioneer Park. Signs boasting "Kat's Kafe," "Hip Mamas Lemonade" and "Spirit Goat: handmade goats milk soaps," can be found on any given Saturday morning from May to October. It all began about 20 years ago when community members got together to share their seasonal crops with those who didn't have gardens, Tom Proffitt, chairman of the gardener's market advisory board said 'This really isn't a farmer's marSaturday. "We had a few odds and ket, it's a mini Summerfest" ends to sell that first year," Richard Wagstaff, Produce said. Wagstaff Since that Seller first spring get-together, - the market moved to various locations throughout town before arriving at its most recent dwelling. Wagstaff now sells an array of fruits and vegetables from his 10-foot by 10-foot plot, including sweet corn, peppers, onions and heirloom tomatoes. Wagstaff said he grows most of the produce himself on two one-third acre gardens, though he does collect and sell his neighbor's crops for them, including his 90-year-old neighbor's green beans. Over the last couple of years, the market became more organized and an advisory board and committee was established to monitor and create regulations for the bizarre items, Wagstaff said. "Unless you make it or grow it, you can't sell it," Proffitt said. Since becoming more formal, the size of the market has taken off, as Proffitt reported a 50 percent increase in vendors over the last three years. Last year, the market was held at Garff-Wayside Park and maxed out at 66 vendors. One Saturday this summer brought out a record high of 91 vendors, he said. "It was huge, it was a great day," Proffitt said. Market regular Amanda St. Ivany said she gets fresh vegetables weekly from TVeitt Gardens and really enjoys the atmosphere. She participated in an African dance exposition Saturday, which featured live drums and instruction. Bio-veterinary major Pamela Fox makes and sells pet treats from her booth on the north end of the park. Her company, Kat's Kafe, caters to an animals' taste buds, withs products like frosted cakes and cookies safe for pets. Cat, dog, horse and bird owners buy treats like "Mailman Munchies" and "Bow Wow Brownies." "We've even had people buy them for flying squirrels," said her roommate, Camilla Brown. Fox's operation is just one of an assortment of unique vendors and Proffitt said he welcomes anyone to set up a booth, including children. "We're encouraging kids, artisans and gardeners alike," he said. Speak Up (ollieGrover/callieann@cc.usu,edu FRESHMAN DAREN WHARTON filled out a credit card application during the first week of school on the TSC plaza. He received a free USU blanket at the time of applying. Some people feel this type of marketing can get students into trouble without they realize what they are signing up for. USU in top 25 public universities BY ARIE KIRK Assistant News Editor Utah State University was ranked as one of the top 25 public universities in the nation by Washington Monthly magazine. Published in the September issue, the Washington Monthly College Rankings placed USU in the top 50 public or private universities in the nation and ranked the university 24th out of all the public universities nationwide. "This is a place of great opportunity and promise," said USU Provost Raymond Coward. "We are pleased others have recognized us and put us in such good company." In publishing this list, the editors of the magazine said they wanted to discover which universities were careful in spending tax dollars and turning out the most competitive graduates. In a statement on their Web site, the editors of the magazine said, "It's a guide for all Americans who are concerned about our institutions of higher learning. Are our colleges making good use of tax dollars? Are they producing graduates who can keep our nation competitive in a changing world? Are they, in short, doing well by doing good?" In determining the best, Washington Monthly focused on three categories: community service, research and social mobility. Community service is evaluated by the percentage of federal work-study grants dedicated to community service projects, students enrolled in the Army and Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps and alumni serving in the Peace Corps. The research component is measured by the amount of money spent on research by each school. It is also based on the percentage of undergraduates who have continued their education to obtain a doctorate in any subject and the number of doctorates the university gives to those in engineering and the sciences. Social mobility is based on the percentage of students on Pell grants. The Web site said they must also take into account how many of these students graduate, because low-income students are more likely to not finish their education than affluent ones. If a university has a greater percentage of Pell grants because the student body is poor, it could affect their graduation rate negatively. "This guide asks not what colleges can do for you, but what colleges are doing for the country," said the editors in information published online. "We settled on two primary goals in our methodology. First, we considered • T O P 25 see page 3 • GARDENER'S MARKET see page 3 * |