Skip to main content

Syrian voices on the nation’s presidential vote

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

Syrians voted Tuesday in a presidential election that is all but guaranteed to hand Bashar Assad another seven-year term. Like most everything in Syria’s civil war, the election has been highly divisive and holds little hope of mending the deeply divided nation. Voting is only taking place in government-controlled areas. Syria’s internal and external opposition both have called the polls illegitimate and are both boycotting. The government, meanwhile, has touted the polls as democratic and open, and says the vote is a means to resolve the conflict.

Here is a series of Syrians, some who voted and others who abstained, offering their thoughts on the poll:

___

“Of course I did not go (vote). I boycott all kinds of elections. I am 60 now and never voted in my life. I will only vote in elections when I know that my vote has a value. These results are known in advance.” — Mohammed Saleh, an anti-government activist in the central city of Homs.

___

“He (Assad) is my leader and I love him. … With the leadership of Bashar, my country will return to safety. This conflict will be resolved because he will have more legitimacy.” — Uday Jurusni, a student in Damascus who voted using a pin to prick his own finger to draw blood.

___

“Today Syrians are recording their free will in free elections, transparent and plural. … The axis of enemies will see that they have failed and they have reached a blocked path. … Today begins the political solution to the Syria crisis.” — Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem.

___

“The least we can say about these elections is that they are black comedy. They have no value and no one will recognize them no matter what North Korea and Iran think about it.”– Muhieddine Lathkani, a London-based Syrian opposition figure, referring to two of Assad’s allies.

___

“People ask me if I have a chance of winning and I say the victory is for the nation.” — Presidential candidate Hassan al-Nouri.

___

“These elections are not only illegitimate, but the regime is carrying out an internal and external act of deception to appear as if it is holding elections.” — Ahmed Ramadan, a senior member of the Western-backed opposition group, the Syrian National Coalition.

___

“It’s well known: he (Assad) will return the country to safety. He’s the best to do it. … The government will see that we are behind them, so it will be stronger.” — Muataz Haqqi, 40, a technician in Damascus who voted early before starting work.

___

“We came here to vote to show them (Westerners) how democracy exists in Syria. The western countries are claiming that they are practicing democracy so we came here to vote to show and teach them how democracy could be.” — George Saadeh, a resident of Bab Touma, an overwhelmingly Christian district of Damascus.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote