Student Union
- By Doug Bernard
We're Back!
Since October 1st, the U.S. government has been on partial shutdown. That means a lot of different things, but most relevant for us is that since about 11:30am last Tuesday, I have been officially furloughed as an employee at the Voice of America. You may have seen a couple posts we prepared to auto-post once I walked out the door, explaining a little about the shutdown and what it would mean for the Student Union.
However, as of this morning, I and some of my colleagues have be designated "excepted" - which is an official government term for "back to work." Of course, there still is no money, and excepted employees across the federal government around the world are working without pay for the moment. But at least we can again start moving forward with this year's Student Union.
Very soon I hope to be reaching out to each of our new team members individually, as well as continuing to recruit new contributors. Tomorrow, we've got a post cued up from an international student from Africa and his thoughts on what racism means in modern-day America.
Most importantly, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the shutdown. What you're reading, what you're talking about with your classmates, whether it's affected your studies as some labs and facilities close and aid payments slow down and other thoughts you have. Is the shutdown hurting the U.S. image overseas, or is it a good example of democracy in action?
Leave your thoughts, and feel free to respond to any comments you see here. Like I said last week, let's consider this a teachable moment.
See all News Updates of the Day
Proposed settlement offered over financial aid allegations
A group of U.S. colleges and universities have agreed to settle a lawsuit alleging deceptive financial aid tactics, according to a report published in The Hill.
The schools would pay $284 million to plaintiffs who were enrolled full-time and received financial aid between 2003 and 2024.
The schools have denied the allegations. (April 2024)
Universities in Middle East building research relationships with China
As China bolsters research relationships with universities in the Middle East, the United States has taken notice – especially when that research involves artificial intelligence.
Reporting for University World News, Yojana Sharma has the story. (March 2024)
Tips for staying safe while studying in the US
Recent news events have raised safety concerns among some international students studying in the United States.
Adarsh Khandelwal, writing in the India Times, has tips for staying safe from the moment you arrive until the day you complete your studies. (March 2024)
Some colleges are making digital literacy classes mandatory
A 2019 study by Stanford found that most college students can’t tell the difference between real and fake news articles. Amid rampant online disinformation, and the threat of AI-generated images, some schools are making students learn “digital literacy” to graduate.
Lauren Coffeey reports for Inside Higher Ed. (March 2024)
With federal student aid delays, students aren’t sure what college will cost
The U.S. Department of Education’s federal student aid form (FAFSA) experienced serious glitches and delays this year.
Now, many students have been admitted to college, but don’t know how much money they’ll need to attend.
Read the story from Susan Svrluga and Danielle Douglas-Gabriel for The Washington Post. (March 2024)