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GOP leader incorrectly claims feds paid seniors to play online fantasy game

By WTOP Staff

Goblins.  Elves.  Fairies.  Not creatures the federal government normally finds itself engaged with.

But Eric Cantor, the House Majority Leader, claimed the government is paying senior citizens to play “World of Warcraft” a popular online computer game.  But it turns out that Cantor’s claims are as fictional as the fantasy world the game is set in.

Cantor made the charge in a Feb. 19 press release, identifying what he said were examples of wasteful spending.

“The National Science Foundation spent $1.2 million paying seniors to play “World of Warcraft” to study the impact it had on their brain,” the release read.

Many of Cantor’s fellow Republican lawmakers picked up on his lead and used Twitter to express their displeasure over the spending.

“Tax dollars at work: govt paid $1.2 million to study seniors playing World of Warcraft,” tweeted North Carolina Rep. Renee Ellmers.

Meanwhile, Missouri Rep. Ann Wagner tweeted “Did you know the govt paid $1.2 million to pay people to play World of Warcraft?”

“World of Warcraft” is a pay-to-play computer game set in a fantasy setting of orcs, knights and dragons.  According to its parent company’s website, 10 million people play the game worldwide, making it the most popular of the multi-player online genre.  But despite Cantor’s claims, no one involved in the research is going to be grabbing a sword and shield, university officials said this week.

The 2009 grant, given to North Carolina State University and Georgia Tech, is supposed to study whether playing video games can help slow mental decline in the elderly.  But no one ever touched the “World of Warcraft” game.  Instead, participants are playing spatial puzzle games designed to improve memory, problem solving and cognitive skills.

And when the research is complete, the grant will fund the development of a game or digital program incorporating the knowledge gained; an activity aimed at keeping people’s mental faculties limber as they get older.

When PolitiFact asked the university whether any federal funds were used to have seniors play “World of Warcraft,” it got an unambiguous answer.

“The answer is an unequivocal no,” said Anne McLaughlin, the principal researcher on the project and co-director of the Gains through Gaming Lab at N.C. State.

In the spring of 2009, McLaughlin’s lab briefly studied how playing World of Warcraft affected seniors’ cognitive ability before receiving the federal grant. The research, on 39 elderly subjects, was funded with $5,000 provided by N.C. State. No federal money was involved, PolitiFact reports.

While lawmakers have a right to question whether federal funding should go to studies involving video games, Cantor made a bold claim about “World of Warcraft” that is simply not supported by the facts.

For making a claim about a fantasy game’s connection to taxpayers that was, well, fantasy, Cantor wins this week’s Whopper of the Week, a distinction awarded by the Washington Guardian to misstatements, miscues and mistakes by political leaders.

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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