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Redskins GM rejects push to change team name

By WTOP Staff

Andrew Mollenbeck and Hank Silverberg, wtop.com

RICHMOND, Va. – Responding Thursday to persistent questions about the Redskins’ controversial moniker, team general manager Bruce Allen emphatically said the name would stay.

View a timeline of the Redskins 81-year racial legacy

Allen was in Richmond for the groundbreaking of the team’s new $10 million summer training camp. His comments come as debate about the Redskins’ name has intensified and opponents believe they’re gaining momentum.

Asked if the team would change its name, Allen said, “No.”

“We represent an iconic sports franchise that’s 81 years old, that involves millions of fan worldwide, that has thousands of alumni. It’s ludicrous to think in any way that we’re trying to upset anyone. We’re proud of who we are and we’re proud of what we’re going be and what we’re going to do here in the city of Richmond and hopefully worldwide,” Allen said.

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The new facility will include a sports medicine center and will be available to Richmond city schools as well.

Virginia provided a $4 million grant to bring the Redskins’ summer camp to Richmond, and the deal ensured the team’s headquarters will remain in Ashburn, keeping the jobs and tax revenue the team generates in Virginia.

But the controversy over the team’s mascot and namesake continues. And this week, the team released video on its website defending the name and noting the support of high schools that continue to use a “Redskins” nickname.

Despite the team’s defense of the name, opponents remain hopeful that change will come.

“We’re closer than we’ve ever been,” says Jacqueline Pata, executive director of the National Congress of American Indians.

“I have to tell you that the outpouring of public support is going to carry us far,” she says.

A symposium held last week at the National Museum of the American Indian labeled the team name as a racial slur.

But Pata believes D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray’s comments, and the omission of the nickname, during his State of the District speech helped expand the conversation beyond traditional advocates.

Gray said last month if the team were to get serious about moving games from Maryland back to Washington, he would like to have the chance to sit down and see if a name change should be made.

“All of a sudden, everyone else started paying attention. And it wasn’t just the Indians bringing up the issue of the mascot,” Pata says.

While opponents of the team name may be growing in numbers, they recognize that strong support persists.

“It is an issue that’s not going to go away,” says Robert Holden, deputy director at NCAI.

“It’s more than just PR, it’s the stigma of what (the name) has done to our people,” he says. “We’ll not give it up.”

Follow @mollenbeckWTOP, @hsilverbergwtop and @WTOP on Twitter.

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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