Category Archives: ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Shannon Croteau was 11 classes away from a degree from Kaplan University Online (a for-profit college owned by The Washington Post Company) when she learned she was out of financial aid, $30,000 in debt, and here’s the kicker – the degree she was working toward would be worthless in her state of New Hampshire.

She was billed for loans she never signed up for, enrolled in classes she didn’t choose and, when she complained, was given the runaround by a succession of fake “loan officers” who wouldn’t tell her the truth, let alone their last names. “They lied and cheated,” Shannon told us at “It has ruined me.”

She’s just one of millions of students to have her financial life devastated by the fraudulent and predatory practices of for-profit colleges. Countless other Kaplan students have come forward, saying they’ve been charged for classes even after they’ve withdrawn, stalked by aggressive admissions officers or had their degrees held hostage if they don’t ante up “surprise” fees.

Shannon has started a petition on the Change website , demanding that the Washington Post Company stop preying on low-income students.

Add your name.

It’s important to understand that for-profit colleges stay in business by taking billions from the federal government: During the 2008-09 academic year alone, for-profit colleges siphoned off $4.3 billion of federal student aid.

And if the students can’t pay those loans back, who cares? Students who attend for-profit colleges account for only 12% of America‘s college students, but they represent nearly half of student loan defaults. Those students will be hounded by creditors for the rest of their lives. Our tax dollars cover their debts. And the for-profit colleges never have to give back a dime.

They don’t care whether the students they recruit can afford college, or even whether those students will be able to use their degrees if and when they graduate. For these businesses, each new recruit represents a profit. Nothing more, nothing less.

But Shannon Croteau and a group of former Kaplan students are fighting back – and Change.org members can help. By raising the profile of these appalling institutions, we can pressure the Washington Post Company to get out of the business of preying on people’s dreams of better educations and better careers.

Please take action today to tell Washington Post Company Chairman Donald Graham to either stop the fraudulent practices or shut down Kaplan University:

Thanks for taking action,

Judith and the Change.org team

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Please join us in calling on Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Congress to stand strong and protect low-income students.

01/31/2011 Nativegrl77

Hundreds of thousands of people go into debt every year enrolling in for-profit higher education programs like DeVry and Argosy — sold on the idea that they’ll graduate with skills that will lead to opportunity and a better life. In reality, many come out with a mountain of debt they can’t pay back and no better prospects at employment.1
Thankfully, the Obama administration is trying to rein in this industry, which preys on low-income Americans. Their plan is to stop federal financial aid from going to higher ed programs that don’t actually help students get jobs and pay off their debt.2 Not surprisingly, the industry is fighting back hard, despite its atrocious record: their students make up 10% of those in higher ed but 40% of students who stop making payments on their loans.3

The Department of Education will make a decision soon on how to regulate this industry — and they’re under huge pressure from industry lobbyists. Please join us in calling on Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Congress to stand strong and protect low-income students.

It only takes a moment:
http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/studentdebt
Taking time away from work to get a traditional college education can feel like an impossible proposition for many Americans, and for-profit colleges seem like a quick, flexible way to get ahead. They promise low-income folks the job training it takes to escape poverty.
There’s a catch with these so-called career education programs. Recruiters say the certificates they offer will prepare students for good jobs if they’ll take on huge student loans to enroll. But the schools often leave people deep in debt and with credentials that employers don’t take seriously.4 Students think they’re doing what it takes to escape minimum wage jobs. They’re actually getting deeper into financial trouble.
It’s an issue that disproportionately affects cash-strapped Black folks who work long hours and for whom higher education at public universities or private, non-profit colleges feels impossible. A quarter of Black Americans with associate degrees get them from for-profit colleges, and 40% of these schools’ alumni are people of color.5
When Black folks decide to pursue post-secondary schooling, we’re often the first in our families to do so. And we typically have to navigate a complex process on our own and with limited information. For-profit colleges have been caught preying on this fact — misleading students, using deceptive practices, and even encouraging applicants to enter false information on their financial aid forms.6 Statistics show that people who enroll at for-profit schools are much less able to manage their debt than those who go to non-profit schools.7
The Obama administration’s proposed “gainful employment” rule would make sure that students who use federal financial aid to pay for school are able to get jobs after graduating that will allow them to repay their debt. In practice, it would force many for-profit institutions to either lower their tuition or improve their programs. But industry lobbyists are trying to kill the Obama administration’s proposed rule. They argue that for-profit colleges will be unfairly targeted by the regulation — a position that doesn’t hold water. The truth is that certificate programs at both for- and non-profit colleges will be subject to the rule.8
Some legislators, including several members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) who you’d expect to be protecting the interests of low-income Black folks, are backing up the industry’s claims.9 They put forth a blame-the-victim argument that says the problem isn’t the programs, its students’ impoverished backgrounds and inability to manage their finances. It’s infuriating, and thankfully that logic is being called out by CBC members Reps. Gwen Moore (D-WI) and Maxine Waters (D-CA) and civil rights organizations including the NAACP, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the United Negro College Fund, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, LULAC, National Council of La Raza and United States Hispanic Leadership Institute.10
You can help, too — with your voice. Can you take a moment to call on the Obama administration and Congress to resist industry pressures and regulate higher education programs that don’t serve our communities? After you do, please ask your friends and family to do the same:
http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/studentdebt/
Thanks and Peace,
— James, Gabriel, William, Dani, Natasha, and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team
January 27th, 2011
Help support our work. ColorOfChange.org is powered by YOU — your energy and dollars. We take no money from lobbyists or large corporations that don’t share our values, and our tiny staff ensures your contributions go a long way. You can contribute here:
https://secure.colorofchange.org/contribute/
References:
1. “Student Loan Default Rates Increase,” U.S. Department of Education press release, 9-13-10
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/686?akid=1870.1174326.xmE8i9&t=7
2. Fact sheet, Coalition to Protect Students and Taxpayers
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/687?akid=1870.1174326.xmE8i9&t=9
3. See reference 2.
4. “The Newest College Credential,” The New York Times, 1-7-11
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/688?akid=1870.1174326.xmE8i9&t=11
5. “Minority Leaders Oppose “Gainful Employment” Rules for For-profit Colleges,” Diverse Issues in Higher Education, 9-20-10 (NB: Rainbow PUSH has reversed its position and now supports the DOE’s proposed rule)
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/689?akid=1870.1174326.xmE8i9&t=13
6. “For-profit colleges fight negative federal report,” Chicago Tribune, 1-10-11
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/690?akid=1870.1174326.xmE8i9&t=15
7. See reference 2.
8. Q&A on Gainful Employment, Coalition to Protect Students and Taxpayers
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/691?akid=1870.1174326.xmE8i9&t=17
9. “For-Profit Schools Donate to Lawmakers Opposing New Financial Aid Rules,” ProPublica, 9-17-10
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/692?akid=1870.1174326.xmE8i9&t=19
10. Comments in support of rules, Coalition to Protect Students and Taxpayers
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/693?akid=1870.1174326.xmE8i9&t=21
Additional resources:
“For-Profit Schools File Lawsuit to Stave Off Regulations,” ColorLines, 1-24-11
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/694?akid=1870.1174326.xmE8i9&t=23
“For-profit colleges spend big on lobbying,” Bloomberg News, 12-24-10
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/695?akid=1870.1174326.xmE8i9&t=25

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Tell President Obama to -Save the Whales

01/31/2011 Nativegrl77

At the next International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting this June, President Obama must decide to push for reform or to allow business as usual. His decision will determine the fate of the planet’s whales.

IWC reform would close loopholes and save whales. But business as usual would send Japanese whalers back Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary to slaughter more whales year after year — just like they are right now.

These types of important decisions aren’t made the day before the meeting — they’re made months in advance. That’s why on Friday, we strung up over 1,000 origami whales in front of the White House as a message to the President that we are not going to let this issue slip out of the public spotlight and allow him to get away with business as usual.

Each of the origami whales represents one whale from the Japanese kill quota and also contains the name of a Greenpeace donor who helped make this campaign possible. While the act was symbolic, the outpouring of support for this campaign and the effect it is having is very real.

You can help us keep this issue front and center for the President during the lead-up to the IWC by adding your name to our “virtual” vigil to save the whales.

http://us.greenpeace.org/site/R?i=fJorSCIjIFrVWOBX3DVNNQ..

The American public overwhelmingly supports action to save the whales. In fact, a recent Greenpeace poll showed that 83% of Americans want the President to stand by his campaign pledge to strengthen the international ban on commercial whaling. More than four out of five Americans want this to happen!

And it shows. Last week, over 40,000 Greenpeace supporters took the time to write the President and 2,000 people submitted letters to the editor calling on him to be a leader and end the senseless slaughter of whales. And your efforts aren’t going unnoticed. Right now, the US is for the first time considering trade sanctions against any country (in this case, Iceland) for violating international conservation laws. While in Japan officials were forced to apologize last month for the illegal whale meat scandal that was uncovered by two Greenpeace activists. That’s a really big deal in Japan.

The President has more to lose back home than he has to gain by protecting the interests of whaling nations like Japan. It’s why he told Greenpeace that “Allowing Japan to continue commercial whaling is unacceptable.” It’s why we have to continue urging him to keep his word and do the right thing before June.

Make sure the President knows that you are paying attention and expect leadership at the IWC this June by adding your name to our “virtual” vigil to save the whales. http://us.greenpeace.org/site/R?i=fJorSCIjIFrVWOBX3DVNNQ..

For the whales,

John Hocevar

Ocean Campaigns Director

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Congress … The Senate -in Session today 2pmET

01/31/2011 Nativegrl77

The Senate Convenes at 2:00pm 1/31/2011

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. There will be no roll call votes during Monday’s session of the Senate. However, the Majority Leader hopes to reach an agreement to begin consideration of S.223, the Federal Aviation Administration Act.

Unanimous Consent:

Adopted S.Res.22, a resolution condemning the New Year’s Day attack on the Coptic Christian community in Alexandria, Egypt and urging the Government of Egypt to fully investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of this heinous act.

AdoptedS.res. 34, a resolution designating the week of February 7 through 11, 2011, as “National School Counseling Week.”

Adopted S.Res.35, a resolution expressing support for the designation of January 28, 2011 as National Data Privacy Day.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Big things … a message from Tim Kaine

01/28/2011 Nativegrl77

On Tuesday night, alongside Democratic supporters in Maryland, I watched President Obama deliver his State of the Union address.

The President rose above the day-to-day politics that we know can slow the gears of change and prevent progress. He focused instead on how we can work together to build an economy that grows not just in the near term, but for generations to come.

This is what real leadership looks like — and this speech set real energy in motion. Now, what matters is what we do to build on that energy.

As the President said, in America, “we do big things.” And we have a big message to send.

In the coming weeks, Democrats will make crucial investments to support the President’s agenda for our country’s future — from ads on the air to conversations on the ground, we’re going to do everything we can to promote his vision for our country.

But we can’t amplify this message without your help.

So if you donate $15 or more today, we’ll send you a free, limited-edition “We do big things” car magnet — allowing you to show your support for the President’s vision in a public way. All around the country, from the sides of minivans to the cabs of tractor trailers, these magnets will provide a simple but important show of solidarity behind the President’s agenda.

Can you donate $15 or more today to help us spread this message far and wide? http://my.democrats.org/page/m/4052b7e0/51adb20/730ddcbe/74b96b5d/2502616642/VEsH/

For centuries, the State of the Union has provided presidents of the United States with the opportunity to speak directly to Americans — and to galvanize them, as well.

President Obama’s roadmap for our country’s future prescribes renovating our nation’s infrastructure, renewing our education system, and fostering innovation to create the industries that will carry us into the future.

His vision calls for a leaner, more efficient government that is more transparent and accountable to the citizens it serves.

And it drives home the point that, even amid uncertain and challenging circumstances, the future is bright — and ours to win.

But the President needs our support to maximize the impact of his speech. We can transform this inspiring moment into a dynamic force for a better future.

The ball is in our court. We all heard the President’s plan — now, he needs us to get behind it and help make it a reality.

Together, we’ll send the message loud and clear that Democrats across the country are committed to supporting the President’s agenda — please donate $15 or more today and we’ll send you a “We do big things” car magnet to help show your commitment:

http://my.democrats.org/BigThings

Governor Tim Kaine

Chairman