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Dave’s Take: It’s 1991 again with Redskins’ name battle

By WTOP Staff

Dave Johnson, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – In some ways, it is 1991 all over again. The Washington Redskins are the reigning NFC East champs and there is a call for change — a name change.

Several Native American groups, including the National Congress of Indians, have been ramping up their criticism of the use of “Redskins” as the team’s nickname. Next month there will be a hearing on a lawsuit to strip federal trademark protection of the name.

Back in 1991, WTOP made a decision to stop using the name because it was offensive to Native Americans. It was a well-meaning call of then general manager Michael Douglass, but it did not start a trend. Other media outlets did not follow WTOP’s lead. As I recall, it was generally scoffed at.

The Redskins went on to win the NFC East and then the Super Bowl. The debate over “Redskins” being the nickname of the NFL team in the nation’s capital soon faded. As the victory parade rolled through the streets of D.C., there was little discussion about whether “Redskins” was an appropriate moniker for a championship sports team.

At the time, the Redskins defended their nickname. Here in 2013, under the glare of even more scrutiny, the team is again playing defense. There was not a website in 1991, but this week the Redskins posted videos featuring representatives of high schools with the nickname “Redskins” explaining how it is not offensive in their communities.

Redskins general manager Bruce Allen appreciates the team’s history. Allen’s dad was George Allen, who coached the team in the 1970s. Allen said it was “ludicrous” to suggest that the franchise is trying to upset Native Americans.

“There’s nothing that we feel is offensive,” Allen said. “And we’re proud of our history.”

Changing a team’s name is not easy.

The Washington Bullets won an NBA title in 1978, but they are now the Wizards. Abe Pollin was the team owner in 1997 when the switch occurred. It was made because he did not want his franchise to have “Bullets” as a nickname in a city that at the time was being called the “murder capital.”

I don’t expect a similar bold move by Redskins owner Daniel Snyder.

It always seems to come down to the money.

In college sports, offensive nicknames have been dropped. Syracuse is no longer the Orangemen, but just the Orange. St John’s is no longer the Redmen, but the Red Storm. North Dakota is no longer the Fighting Sioux. In fact, North Dakota has no nickname.

The NCAA made the sweeping change with names happen when it threatened postseason bans for schools that did not eliminate offensive nicknames.

If the Washington Redskins are ever to have another nickname, it’s up to the NFL.

The league has the big bargaining chip in the form of its lucrative television contract and the shares it doles out to member teams.

Barring action by the NFL, it will be 1991 all over again. The issue will fade, even if the hurt some feel by “Redskins” as a nickname doesn’t.

Follow Dave Johnson 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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