University of South Carolina Libraries
THE GAMECOCK ♦ Wednesday, June 2, 2004 5 VIEWPOINTS _ IN OUR OPINION Rates shouldn’t hedge concerns Interest rates on higher education loans are approaching an all-time low. Beginning July 1, the Stafford Loan interest rate will fall to 2.77 percent for students and 3.37 percent during the six-month grace period for graduates. The Parent Loan for undergraduate students (plus) interest rate win drop to 4.17 percent. These rates last until June 30,2005, and signify a 5.31 percent reduction from the past few years. After this six-month grace period, interest rates can more than double, and a 2 or 3 percent rate can jump to 8 percent. Stafford Loans have a cap of 8.25 percent and PLUS loans a cap of 9 percent. One full-load “normal” semester is roughly $3,500. A full year at 8 percent is over $500, which can quickly snowball over time into thousands of dollars. This shows the importance of prompt loan payment. Just one late payment can affect one’s credit rating, and multiple late payments can affect it drastically. Good credit is crucial when buying houses, cars and even something as seemingly innocuous as car insurance. Students would benefit by taking advantage of the upcoming low interest rates by paying as much as they can while in school and during the grace period. ABOUT THE GAMECOCK STAFF Editor in Chief Steven Van Haren News Editor * Michael LaForgia Viewpoints Editor Paige Haggard The Mix Editor Megan Treacy Sports Editor Brad Senkiw Photo Editor Melissa Wallace Page Designers Erin Cline, Chaz McCarthy Copy Editors Tracy Beaier, Joey Wallace STUDENT MEDIA Director Scott Lindenberg Faculty Advisor Erik Collins Advertising Manager Sarah Scarborough Creative Director Susan King Business Manager Carolyn Griffin Classified Manager Sherry F. Holmes TO PLACE AN AD The Gamecock 1400 Greene St. Columbia, S.C. 29206 Advertising: 777-388* Classified: 777-1184 Fax: 777-6482 CONTACT INFORMATION Offices on third floor of the Russell House. Editor in Chief: gamecockeditor@gwm.sc.edu News: gamecocknews@gwm.sc.edu Viewpoints: gamecockopinions@gwm.sc.edu The Mix: gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc.edu Sports: gamecocksports@gwm.sc.edu Online: www.dailygamecock.com Newsroom: 777-7726 The Gamecock is the student newspaper of the University of South Carolina and is published Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the fall and spring semesters and nine times during the summer with the exception of university holidays and exam periods. Opinions expressed in The Gamecock are those of the editors or author and not those of the University of South Carolina. The Board of Student Publications and Communications is the publisher of The Gamecock. The Department of Student Media is the newspaper’s parent organization. The Gamecock is supported in part by student activities fees. One free copy per reader. Additional copies may be purchased for one dollar each from the Department of Student Media. “FIVE-STEP* PLAN TO IRAQI SOVEREIGNTY I I •You Pirr your left foot in 1 •You PUT YoUR LEFT Foot OUT I •You PUT YoUR LEFT FOOT IN •AND YoU SHAKE r 1T ALL ABOUT \_ •YOU DO TIE HOKEY POKEY AND turn yourself around I ..THAT’S WHAT its ALL ABOUT CARTOON COURTESY OF KRT CAMPUS Dial ‘R [for rude rock stars ALLYSONBIRD GAMECOCKOPINIONS@GWM.SC.EDU I just stood there, left hand over the receiver, right hand clutching the silent telephone, my head up to the wall and thought, “What just happened here?!?” For an almost 20-year-old fe male, it doesn’t get much better than talking to the lead singer of your favorite band since you were 16. And it doesn’t get much worse than him hanging up on you. When I tell people my lavonte band is Train, I usually get puz zled looks or twisted renditions of “Drops of Jupiter.” Everyone who has known me more than 3.5 minutes knows they’re my fa vorite band; people even call me when Train’s on the radio. I’ve never been embarrassed — until now. I weaseled my way into writ ing a preview about Train for the newspaper where I’m interning this summer. I’d ask Pat Monahan all these questions that only a fan would know and then coyly slip in that I’d be at the show and would love to say “Hey” — my angle for guest list backstage passes. TVin Konori uri+V» mu uninhibited, gushing introduc tion and Pat’s response: “Wow, you sound young and excited.” I started out with all the non generic questions just in case we got cut off. I tell people band interviews are one of two types: guys who use adjectives and guys who use curse words to say the same thing. But Pat here seemed dif ferent. We talked about angels and how smiling at people al ways risks rejection. About 12 minutes into it, I felt like I was talking to no one. In reality, I was talking to the media representa tive who put me in touch with the singer in the first place and who stayed on the line through the call. She told me to call back. When I did, she said, “He was in a hurry. He was already run ning late. The band was waiting; you know how that is.” She said I could call back later hut admit ted Pat might be a little peeved. Since my only real reason to call was for a backstage pass, I decided against it and went with what I had. Then, I called all my girlfriends. For the next three hours, I leapt out of my chair each time my phone rang, only to hear a familiar female voice on the other end saying, “I heard about Train. I’m sorry.” I still love Train, and I might even be backstage through the newspaper. But my affections will be bittersweet, like the great est loves always are. I’ll sing along to all the songs, but my ren ditions, too, have been twisted. Allyson is a second-year print journalism student.