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Hi-tech inauguration tickets to help direct crowds

By WTOP Staff

Dick Uliano, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – Color-coded tickets, a first-ever inaugural mobile app and GPS technology will help direct the crowds at next week’s inaugural ceremony.

“When you wake up Monday morning and you have a ticket, you just bring your smart phone with you, click on to your ticket color and you’ll get detailed instructions about how to get exactly to your seat,” says Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.

Senators and representatives are distributing the 250,000 tickets to the swearing- in ceremony on the west front of the Capitol.

The free tickets are a hot commodity and planners are hoping to discourage scalping.

“There are loads of people who want them,” Schumer says. “Congressional offices were bombarded with hundreds of thousands of requests for tickets.”

Schumer is asking online vendors including Craig’s List and ebay not to sell inaugural tickets. He says StubHub has promised not to sell them.

“Having a ticket to the inauguration is a privilege, it’s not something that should be used to make a profit,” he says.

The color-coded tickets also carry helpful information to make sure guests know exactly where they’re going. For example, “each ticket shows which Metro station you should use,” Schumer says.

Purple learning curve

Inaugural planners are eager to avoid snafus like one four years ago that left purple ticket holders stuck in the Third Street Tunnel, missing the entire ceremony.

To prevent a similar problem this year, the committee is offering its first-ever mobile app with GPS for smart phones. Users can click on the color of their ticket and, with GPS enabled on their phone, the app will provide the best route to the correct entry gate.

“We hope that this app will make every individual’s experience a little easier and should keep things moving,” Schumer says.

At the same time, the Presidential Inaugural Committee, which is in charge of the parade, balls and other events has also unveiled its first-ever mobile app. The app provides a full schedule of events and helps users find their way to official events.

Thousands of people were delayed at President Obama’s first swearing-in four years ago when they lined up at the wrong gate. Schumer says hundreds of volunteers will fan out through the crowds next week, checking tickets, to ensure that people don’t waste time in the wrong line.

“We’re learning from our mistakes,” Schumer says.

That includes the unfortunate purple ticket holders who were stranded in the Third Street Tunnel.

This year, the Third Street Tunnel will be closed. And, as if to erase the memory of that glitch, the purple ticket color has been eliminated.

“There are no purple tickets,” Schumer says.

Tickets for next week’s swearing-in are colored gold, green, orange, yellow and red.

␎ inauguration_tickets_map.jpg

Guidelines for ticket holders:

  • No public parking will be available on or near the Capitol grounds and ticket holders are encouraged to walk or take public transportation.
  • Guests should be prepared for dense crowds and should plan their route in advance.
  • All ticket holders must pass through a security screening. Many items are prohibited from Capitol Grounds including strollers, firearms, firecrackers, hand tools, backpacks, coolers, laser pointers, air horns, signs and posters, chairs and alcohol.
  • Plan to arrive early and dress for the weather. Gates open at 7 a.m. Guests not through the screening points by 11:30 a.m. may not be allowed to enter.
  • Ticket holders must leave the lawn when the ceremony ends. Signs will direct guests back to the closet Metro station.
  • Guests are encouraged to bring the map, guidelines and ticket with them to the ceremony.
  • For updates on Inauguration Day, follow @jccic2013 and @secretservice or use hashtage #inaug2013 on Twitter or sign up for emergency alerts by texting “INAUGURATION” to 888777.

For more information and for ticket-specific directions, visit the committee’s website inaugural.senate.gov.

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(Copyright 2013 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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