http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fyHGcK7mBI
Even though I focused my article on college students I wanted to show how people no matter if they were in school or not were considered as well as abusing the system…
http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2011/02/michigan_tightening_college_st.html
Did College Students Abuse Food Assistance?
Why the sudden change for college students to receive food assistance
If it wasn’t hard enough for students to find the right college, get good grades, try and receive any type of financial aid, work to make extra money just to pay for books and food; now the Government has made it harder for college students to receive food assistance.
“My bridge card was cut off because I one I lost my job when changes were being made so I didn’t qualify anymore. I’ve tried to reapply numerous of times since I have a new job now but the process is harder than I can remember,” said senior Janae Griggs.
Before the sudden change minimum paid workers, immigrants and college students were able to receive any type of help, one being food assistance (ebt cards) where the government grants them a certain amount of money each month to have and spend on food and etc. and use towards any food purchases at groceries stores that accepts the card. When applying at any local Department Human Resource building (dhs) one is to make sure their ready to provide the following. Lease of the home/apartment ones living in, bills that they pay, paychecks, and statement showing any other income to insure the proper handling. In the beginning of 2011 DHS made it clear that things were changing.
“Before the change I had a bridge card for almost a year and then I received a notice in the mail discussing how my application is going to be denied for the remainder of the year, because I wasn’t working enough hours. I’ve tried three years and finally my graduating year I was approved which now I’ll be moving back home,” said graduating senior Yentyl Lee.
In most cases college students if qualified would seek the additional help. After a certain amount of years or months some would choose to live off campus, which could result in making better decisions money wise.
“My roommate and I waited until we moved off campus our sophomore year before applying for a Bridge Card” said Eastern Michigan graduating senior Ashley Reynolds.
Living off campus isn’t the issue when applying for the bridge card those who live on campus who thinks they apply for some extra benefits and maybe have a change up from eating on campus majority of the time.
“Students who lives on campus are not allowed to get a Bridge Card. I wouldn’t even advise them to fill out an application because once it’s shown their living on campus their application is denied right away. We feel as if the students are already being provided with food and having both would be considered double dipping,” said a source that chooses to stay anonymous.
DHS new and old applicants when applying must show some type of form which states where they live. Rather it is in a house, apartment, condo and etc. more questions asked are how many people are living in the home/apartment and having a recent employer. Anyone who applied including college students have to be employed somewhere and if so they must work at least 17 hours a week and provide a paycheck saying so.
“Just like the old system the only things that has changed with the new is making sure that person works the minimum amount of hours required and he/she is not living on campus. We’ve found that students would show a friends lease and say how they’re both roommates and live together.
DHS offices wasted no time getting the new orders out there and changing the minds of college students before applying.
“I had to apply for a EBT card three times before I was approved. The reason I was denied is because the fewer amounts of hours I was given at my job. So when I got my second job before quitting my first one I applied and it was accepted,” said junior at Eastern Michigan Kendall Lewis.
Never declaring why the sudden change it was speculated that students, minimum wage workers and anyone who approved might have abused the system for the wrong reason. It was said from a worker at the DHS office how students and people in general were applying and not really needing the EBT card. Not letting their caseworkers now when something in their life has changed one being income if so, if rather or not they live where stated and if they had a job. They went on to say…
“Some would apply after being fired/quit their jobs and send show old payment studs from the last two weeks. Some would receive federal benefits for a month or so or until the next time they had to show check statements which then we come to the conclusion they were no longer working after reviewing their application.”
A employee at Meijer’s in Ann Arbor explained how the first of every month their lines would be crazy because that was the day people received there assistance money on their cards. “It wasn’t just students who why buy obnoxious stuff but anyone who had a card,” then went on to say…
“I would see everything from fish, to packages and packages of steaks and crab legs. Basically the most expensive pieces of meat we had to offer, they would spend close to one hundred dollars if more in one day so I would wonder what they do the rest of the month,” said employer Robert Hill. It was clear from Robert’s statement that some people didn’t deserve of an EBT card.
A graduate at Michigan Of University explained what could be another reason for the change. She went on to explain how people would get money from their EBT cards by selling what they have on the card to another student and getting the cash instead.
“Before I applied I knew a friend who received $350 a month and wouldn’t have that much use for it. I asked if I gave her a certain amount of money would she let me borrow her card and she told me yes. So I used her card for exchange for money which she’d use on whatever I guess.”
Its not clear how word may have spread or seemed disturbing to the social workers and people who worked at the DHS office, but clearly it was seen that something needed to change and people including students needed to get a wakeup call.
“People were abusing their rights to receive federal government help. Not just saying it was college students but most were and they were abusing the system. We found out that corner stores were letting people buy alcohol with the Bridge Card. It says in the guidelines and pamphlets what certain foods (like coffee at gas stations and alcoholic beverages) will and will not be accepted when choosing to pay with your Bridge Card,” said source who chooses not to publish their name.
Not only did DHS change the application but also they changed the dates for when people are to get their benefits. For those who have an EBT card, when calling to check the amount there’s a recording.
The recording states depending on the last digits of your case number then that’s the day one should receive their benefits. Example being if a person case number ends on the number 7, then on the 7th day of every month you will receive your benefits.
“We also had to change the date which was the first of every month when card holders received their benefits. We changed the dates because it was brought to our attention how crowded the stores and markets were and we soon had a meeting discussing changes that needed to be done,” said another source whose name should not be published.
When being asked many students who live off campus and attended either Eastern Michigan or University of Michigan aren’t in fact mad at the situation but found it a lot harder to buy groceries.
“I came up with the idea of from each check I received from work put twenty dollars in my savings, recycle my cans and bottles and keep any loose change I had. Wasn’t sure how this would work but because I get paid weekly it turned out to be very helpful. I also bought things I needed and not things that would be a waste. I cooked more and saved my leftovers and took it to work the following day,” said junior Ria Barker.
After speaking with Ria she also summarized how buying little at a time made her realize that when she did have a EBT card she could have been buying some stuff that wasn’t needed, because now she has no choice but to learn how to better manage her funds. This however may not be a bad thing; students now are entitled to get only what they need and not what they want. Spending unnecessary money and thinking twice when shopping.
“I live with two other people and we split the groceries, every time we get paid or if we just have some extra money we’ll put some aside maybe about $5 a piece in put it into a jar. Another thing is we save our bottles and use any odd change around the house,” said graduated senior Livia DeOliveira.
Even though the system has changed it was for the better not to necessarily hurt college students and cause conflict but government funding wanted to show how abusing the system could lead those in a situation at the end.
“Changing everything has made my work load a lot easier and I’m able to focus my attention on those who need it. Not to say college students don’t deserve to get benefits but not those who choose to make the wrong decisions and work there way around the system,” said a source that chooses to keep their name anonymous.
Lets Get Ann Arbor in Shape, Lets Make Adjustments
City of Ann Arbor City Council
City Council of Ann Arbor welcomed its new member Joseph Burke to the 15th district court.
Burke was a formal judge in the Ann Arbor but wanted to do more within the city.
“I’ve known Burke for a while now and I know he will do everything in his power and I hope you can see what I see in him,” said Council Member Liby Hines.
Nancy Shore whose apart of a organization called GetDowntown which she covered transportation in the Ann Arbor area. She explained to the Mayor as well as the City Council Members how Ann Arbor ranked number one with public transportation.
“People in the downtown, Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor are using transportation services and surveys says how people are content with it,” said Shore. Shore went on to explain how those who commute back and fourth to class and work are pleased to see the many different transportation options are giving. “I was riding on the bus one time and I asked a random person why they choose to ride the bus and rather they had another option. The man looked and said; so I can read my book and be left alone,” said Council Member Jerinksi.
Council Member Greer then raised an issue discussing emails received by local Ann Arbor residents. “I know this doesn’t tie in with what Shore just discussed about transportation, but issues are being brought upon us.” Greer touched on how residents are not pleased with the new crosswalk for pedestrian on such streets. Council Member Merlow explained how there was an issue on the corner of Washtenaw and Platt where a pedestrian was hit by a car in one of the new crosswalk areas. Council Member Merlow and Greer both explained how this is an issue that needs to be discussed and brought to everyone’s attention.
How Important is Religion?
College students who either chooses to step out the box or those who stays in the box
In college it could be said that religion is tested out in a college student years at school. As a freshman coming in it can be hard to go back home every Sunday to attend church service.
“I don’t think it was hard going back home every Sunday I think I just tired myself out and wanted to see what Ypsilanti or Ann Arbor had to offer,” said senior Dominique Jones.
Religion in many cultures can be taking very seriously and parents may have an issue if their child choosing to ignore their views while in college or seek something different.
Just like family can be influencing so can close friends. Friends can either tear a student away from church or bring them closer. Either because it’s something they never experienced or something they can relate too.
“I haven’t attended church since I was 16, but my friend ask me to attend her service one Sunday and I’ve been going back every since,” said graduating senior Janae Griggs.
Some of the different religious churches college student’s experience includes visiting Buddha, Jewish, Christianity/Baptist and other churches. Eastern Michigan just like other colleges has classes that may even question one’s religion.
Robert Hill a junior at Eastern Michigan University explained how his major African American Studies require him to take religious classes, but he’s never questioned where he came from.
How is religion a problem? Religion could be looked at as a problem because parents are used to being there with their kids, making sure they attend church, a temple and etc. Once a student goes away sometime religion and there views can be put on the back burner.
Buddha culture expect those who choose to live their life that way to follow the nine statements, pray everyday and go to a temple near their location.
“I attend the Zen Buddha Temple in Ann Arbor every Sunday rather I go at 10 or 4 I’m there. I made a commitment to my family and myself that I would follow what I believe in,” said senior at Michigan Of University Brittanie Lofton-Carter.
Christianity is another important religion, attending bible study, church service, praying on the regular and reading ones bible daily. School and classes could be enough to worry about in a student’s day and on top of that religion needs to be scheduled in on one’s agenda.
Work, students who have to work there way through school and help pay bills with there parents can’t afford to have a day off. Jobs in all fields can be demanding putting another question mark on rather or not taking a day off for church is something worth it.
Retail something from experience is demanding with hours and time. Taking days off on the peak days of the week is something that can cost one’s job, because its told up front. Taking time off on the busiest days of the year can result to losing something important.
I remember the when the many assignments were being handed out and I had no idea what I wanted to do. I was confused and I knew I couldn’t let myself get behind. For our niche blog we had to come up with a theme in which we could capture film and editing information. I had no idea what I wanted to do and not only that we had to blog for a week.
I finally came up with a plan so the next big thing was picking a week to blog. This was harder for me, because I had to sit down and try to see what major events were going on, on campus that I could be in attendance for. After that it was got a lot easier on me. The blogging was easy because I was able to be at the events and really express my feeling and reactions towards what I saw.
What was hard on me was the video taping and doing audio. I find it so hard to keep up with my busy schedule let alone someone else. I had to try to figure out the best times to film and interview, when people weren’t either making too much noise or walking in the middle of what I was filming. This was hard on me because I’m new to this scene and having to edit was irritating. My computer didn’t have the right software, then if I used a computer at school I would have to re-edit again, Yes I wanted to pull my hair out. It was all worth it though.
In the end I can honestly say I know a lot more than what i did in the beginning. I know a little bit more about blogging and posting such things on the internet. If I had a chance again I would do it, because I know now the do’s and don’t. I wouldn’t change anything mainly because I can see for myself how much I have progressed from my first video/audio assignment.
Taking this class has really put a damper on me, but in the end I have learned it all. Blogging, making movies, editing and much more. So I thank you for that!
Well I’ve thought long and hard about what I wanted to do and I’m going to stick with my first idea. I would like to have a feature Niche, that includes campus activities and announcement. I’ve read the feedback from my fellow classmates and they seem to like the idea as well. Like I mentioned in my blog, I commute back and forth to class and I never seem to know about such activities until the day of or maybe after the program had passed. I think it could be a positive effect, also I think this is a way to keep students involved. Like myself when rushing to class I never pay attention to fliers posted up through out the school and then some fliers are posted in buildings which I don’t have classes in.
So I think this would be a good way to inform my fellow students and get them involved in such on and off campus events.
Javion Johnson is my audio assignment which gives a brief description on how I feel about digital journalism. It also gives background information in myself and how I was introduced into the journalism field. I was very new to the blogging world so this course is really teaching me a lot of different things. I did try to get ideas from the thisibelieve website but still I had no clue what to write and I hope it doesn’t show.
The essay itself wasn’t hard, well trying to figure out what to write about was and I really hope I did it right. After just basically giving some background information on myself and school everything started to come together. The next big step was to record my speech and it took some time. It seem like every time I tried to record either I would stumble on my words, my phone would ring and or my annoying dog would bark. So every doing it almost twenty times I used the last one and said that’s that.
The next big thing was putting it on my blog and I almost pulled my hair out. After working on it for so long I finally got it on here. So I hope you enjoy where I was coming from in this audio and I hope you like it.
