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did • conTinueD rRomg has information on departmental scholarships and lists numerous scholarship sites. Wright said students should contact their specific college directly to find out more about scholarships being offered. The third type of financial aid is student employment, and the fourth type is loans. “These last two are called self-help aid. You’re either working now to earn the money or will pay it back later,” Miller said. Students hired for work study jobs must apply for financial aid and be awarded federal work study. Miller said students should call the financial aid office to see if they are eligible for work __1 _1 J * '«- 4-U ~ jiuu y auu juv/uiu uiv career center to investigate other student employment opportunities. There are several different types of loans available for students. Miller recommends federal student loans over other types of loans because they offer lower interest rates than the private sector. The federal government offers two forms of student loans, subsidized and unsubsidized. Subsidized loans bear no interest expense until repayment begins after the student stops their education. Unsubsidized loans are less attractive because once the loan is made the interest expense begins immediately. Miller said banks do offqr private student loans, but they are unsubsidized with generally higher interest rates. Also available to some students is a federal program that allows a student’s parents to borrow money to pay for their son or daughter’s education. Students who have more than one loan may want to consider a federal consolidation loan program that allows a student to combine various federal loans they have accrued. Miller explained some students qualify for certain subsidized and unsubsidized loans, as well as other federal loans available, and could potentially face having to repay all loans simultaneously. With the consolidation program, the student is able to make one payment by lumping the loans together. Students should understand the differences in the types of financial aid to help them make the right decisions in paying for their college education. “Apply early and get it out of the way,” advised Casey Wiley, graduate assistant for the financial aid office loan unit. “If you have any problems, go to the financial aid office.” Contact the USC financial aid office at 777-8134 or USCFAID@ sc.edu. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc. edu Graduate student mixes easels, earthy flair in City Art exhibit flathan Rouse THE GAMECOCK Most South Carolinians are familiar with the experience of driving through the rural portions of our state. The forests and hills will often give way to open fields, with sunlight and shadows playing across them. Such country scenes are often awe-inspiring and thoroughly breathtaking. These scenes are the specialty of Blake Morgan, a graduate art student at USC. Morgan spends many of his days driving down the back roads near Columbia in his truck, looking for something that catches his eye. Upon spotting something that interests him, he pulls over to the side of the road, gets out his lawn chair and easel, and paints. The products of his activities will be featured in an upcoming exhibit at City Art, a local art gallery and art supply store in the Vista, beginning on Thursday. The exhibition consists exclusively of Morgan’s landscapes. After the exhibit opens, a reception will follow from 5:30 to 8 p.m., and is open to the public. The pieces in the event range from 3 inches by 5 inches to 5 feet by 7 feet. All of the art in the exhibit will be for sale, and although the prices might be a bit high for the average student budget, Morgan expressed a desire to see some students at the event. “Altogether I’m pleased with the show,” Morgan said. “There is an infinite variety in nature.” Morgan does not limit his paintings to strictly what he sees, however; most of his paintings include interpretive elements. He paints not only the way a scene appears, but also incorporates a theme or feeling into each of his works. “They vary in realism,” Morgan said. “If you consider the landscape as an outlet for your ideas, it becomes more than just a picture.” Morgan does indeed view art as much more than a picture; he considers it to be a way of sharing human experience. He sees his landscapes as a way of communicating a scene to his audience, and also as a way of sharing the unique mood and tone of the piece. “Painting is similar to other art forms,” Morgan said. “Sometimes it can be like poetry.” Although Morgan stands by his ideals of the use of art as language, he attempts to stop the idea from getting out of control and to avoid pretense in his work. He describes his landscapes as traditional, straightforward, and honest. “I’m not trying to do anything different,” Morgan said. Morgan is a 2 5-year-old graduate student working on his Masters degree in fine arts. He was born near Beaumont, Texas, and spent time in Louisiana before moving to Oklahoma for most of his high school and college career. He attended East Central University in Oklahoma, where he received a BA in studio art. He then decided to attend USC for his graduate studies and is currently studying and teaching. “I chose USC because it has a painting program that appeals to me,” said Morgan. “It’s appropriately considerate of tradition.” Morgan plans to attempt to make a living from selling his artwork after graduation, but is unsure of his chances, acknowledging the difficulty of making a living solely from selling art. “It depends on whether or not I can get lucky,” he said. Morgan sees Thursday’s exhibition as an important event in his career as a studio artist, and hopes that the event will be successful. If he finds that he cannot make a living in the competitive world of studio art, he plans to make a living teaching the craft to others. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockfeatures@givm.sc. edu Solutions Nobody covers USC better. Nobody. TH^^^rAMEGOGK Ryan Holt Vice President UT ^vnjffvSa3ainjhpP Hy night shuttle to transport Greek student^^^ is to their chapter meetings, and a Game ball Games. lg Services and the City of Columbia on Blossom Street to add turning ge and Coliseum Parking Lots. r the purchase of two new shuttles to on campus. leras in the Blossom Street Garage, which dark, and has one of the campus’s highest a. rut greater empnasis on protecting the environment by Eurcnasing more recycling bins on campus, sponsoring lean Carolina, and encouraging the university to establish a campus bike rental program. r6. Created the Congressional Advisory Board as an avenue for students to address their concerns to members of Congress, such as student loans, expensive textbook prices, etc. *z~\ 2 7. Implemented the first-ever Carolina Convoy tnp to taKe students to an away football game. K i 8. Co-Sponsored a bus trip that transported 106 students to ## Biloxi during their Fall Break to assist with Katrina Relief efforts. P®" 9. Improved communication with the students through a new Blackboard site, Student Government Television, publications, and an Open Door policy giving student full access to the officers. 10. Lobbied for the elimination of the 16 Hr. credit limit and the implementation of a grade forgiveness program, to give students a second chance to improve course grades. aft ——— — .—.— - i ^WRean Carolina hits Greene Street on February 22nd from p, 10am-2pm. Take part with your student organization and p | clean up litter in your desig nated area. Visit the Student Government table on Greene St. I to pick up clean-up supplies. 1 Return to the table with a bag p of litter and recieve a meal.