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Opinion
Editorial

February 1, 2012

Spirit of BHM should last the year

February marks the 36th year the United States will celebrate what has become known as Black History Month. To the citizens of the United States, Black History Month is a time to celebrate the unifying of races within the country. Most students at GRCC have never lived and experienced the days of prejudices but there was a time when men and women were judged solely on the color of their skin. What drinking fountain you drank from and where you sat on the bus was determined simply by the color of your skin. Times have changed and while it hasnt been easy, different individuals have forced people to reconsider what they feel is right and moral. Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. were two who stood up for what was right and fought to give their children a better future than they themselves had. As a student body, we are a diverse group of people who can stand united. We can stand united as one to continue to ght for equal rights. Keep in mind that this is not simply a black and white issue. The rights of all people need to be fought for and the idea of breaking down the race barrier is something we all can work at. Acceptance of all races and skin colors is the single most speaking about his four children in a literal sense but today we can also interrupt his quote on a grander scale. As a culture, we are closer to canceling out prejudices than we were fty years ago but we still have a long way to go. It is a dream of all parents that their children will be able to live in a time without prejudices, no matter the race. Black History Month is 29 days this year. 29 days of remembering the struggles of the men and women in our past. 29 days is simply not enough. Its nice that society wants to take a month to remember the past in order to make things better in the future but the challenge must be to continue to ght in March, April and the rest of the year. Each and everyday, ght for the rights of all humans. Fight so that their children may live in a day where black, white and every other color looks the same and all have equal rights.

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The Collegiate

Austin Metz
Editor in Chief

Ross L. Pike
News Editor

important issue in the world today and is something we all have a hand in. The late Martin Luther King Jr. famously said, I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. King Jr. was

Justin Dawes
Opinion Editor

Scott McNabb, Ph.D.

Advisor

Matthew Waldrep
A&E Editor

Josh Compaan
Web Editor

Stephanie Krings
Photo Editor

Dana Finkler, Lizz Vensas, Joshua Villaire, Chelsie Wyse

Contents of the editorials reect the opinions of the respective writers, not necessarily those of the entire staff, students, or GRCC. Advertisements reect the view of the advertiser, not necessarily those of the college, students, or staff. Advertisements in the Collegiate do not imply an endorsement by the paper.

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HigherOnes OneAccount not the best option for refunds

By Justin Dawes
Opinion Editor
That time is here againthe part of enrolling in college that students look forward to the most: nancial aid refunds. Here at GRCC, there are two ways to receive funds: one, through HigherOnes direct deposit service, or two, GRCCs preferred way of through the HigherOne Refund Access Card, where the money is stored in HigherOnes OneAccount student checking. Prior to refund dates, students are sent the card with instructions on how to activate it, as well as reasons why it can be so benecial. But what is not made so obvious is information of the rather alarming fees and inconveniences associated with the cardfees that cause question as to whether the card is worth the hassle. For instance, according to the OneAccount fee schedule on the HigherOne website, there is a 50 cent charge for every debit transaction. And after nine months of no withdrawals or deposits, there is a fee of up to $19much more expensive compared to the $5 charge for one year of inactivity on Fifth Thirds student checking account, according to the Fifth Third website. Another inconvenience of using OneAccount is in order to withdraw cash, it must be done at a HigherOne ATM, or there will be a $2.50 fee. Students using this card who are unaware of this information are likely spending money where they dont need tomoney they do not have if they received nancial aid. I had no idea, said GRCC student Janice Swanson when informed of the fees, although she had read the companys informative letter that was delivered with her HigherOne card. According to Jane Mohr, associate director for the cashiers ofce, GRCC pays HigherOne for its service, the intention being to make the refund process more convenient for everyone. Prior to HigherOne, GRCC printed paper checks for all student refunds, Mohr said. The students had the option to pick up their checks on a designated date, or the checks were mailed to them. By using HigherOne, we were able to eliminate long lines, postage, and problems with checks going to the wrong address. The service is helpful in this way, but using OneAccount is not the smartest option. According to the Cahiers Ofce page, the Easy Refund (OneAccount) is by far the fastest and easiest way to gain access to your refund money literally the same day GRCC releases it. This is the strongest benet students are being told about OneAccount, and this appeals to students, who often want their money as soon as possible. But the GRCC Cashier Departments page does not do anything to make students aware of potential fees. The only way to discover them is through researching the OneAccount on the HigherOne website or by having the fees charged. It is human nature for people to want access to their money as soon as possible, but the smart choice is to wait two to three days and receive it through direct deposit. This option is available for selection on the HigherOne website: after registering and logging in with the site, go to the Refund tab and select Refund Preferences; then select ACH Transfer, and enter the bank information it asks you for. Since students have already received their refunds for this semester, the next option would be to transfer the money to a more hassle free banking system.
Stephanie Krings/The Collegiate

2012 Michigan Community College Press Association Judging Form Place of award: First Place Second Place Third Place Honorable Mention Category: column- serious Headline/title of entry: HigherOes OneAccount not the best option for refunds Contestants name: Justin Dawes College name: GRCC Judges comments: 1. This has a lot of information, but it really reads like a news article rather than an opinion column. Good information, nice quotes and a basic description of the refund process. 2. As a column, however, what I really look for is some opinion. What do you think about the system? Does it provide a valuable service to students or is it a rip off? You tell me what I should think about this situation, what should inform my opinion. 3. You have a great news style. It is sometimes difficult to step outside of the reporter mode and to begin offering opinion, but I encourage you to keep trying you just need to remember in column writing it is not so much about other people (and quotes) but about you and your thoughts. You have much more latitude as a column writer.