Breaking down Biden’s loan forgiveness plan, student mentoring opportunities, and UChicago Medicine’s new outpatient clinic
plus a long list of fall media recommendations!
Welcome back to ‘In the Loop’! It's your newsletter team — Kate, Lauren, Isabella, Bridget, Sam, Hailey, Monique and Richie. We’ve got a good one for you today.
Last week, 14 East staff tabled at involvement fairs in both Lincoln Park and the Loop and met so many new students. If you missed us last week, come find us at the Loop Involvement Fair tomorrow from 1 PM to 4 PM.
Today, we’re breaking down Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan and which borrowers qualify, the need-to-know dates for adding and dropping classes and sending you off with a list of media favorites for fall.
Let’s get to the news!
Don’t miss your refund: breaking down Biden’s loan forgiveness plan
By Lauren Sheperd
President Joe Biden followed through on one of his campaign promises on August 24 by creating a student loan forgiveness plan aimed to help the millions of Americans in educational debt. The plan appears relatively simple: students who received Pell Grants during their time in college will have $20,000 forgiven and those who didn’t will have $10,000 forgiven. However, like most legislation, there are far more details involved, and these will entirely change the higher education system.
When looking at this piece of legislation, it is important to focus on who Biden intended to help by creating it. The official White House Fact Sheet, states that Biden hopes to help mainly lower and middle class families, as well as people of color and other minorities who tend to have a more difficult time repaying the debt. This is why he capped the annual salary at $125,000 for people to collect their refunds.
For those who do qualify forgiveness, there are a few easy steps to take to ensure you get the refund. First, make sure your loan servicer knows where to find you. Update all your information, including your address and contact and information. If you don’t know your servicer, you can find it using this link provided by the Department of Education. To make sure you don’t miss the application, which will be released by early October, use this link to sign up for alerts. The Department of Education will stop taking applications at the end of 2023.
Biden’s plan is more focused on future students, rather than people who already have student debt. Biden added a section to the legislation working to hold colleges and universities accountable for how much they charge students. This section includes two major parts: expanding Pell Grants to reach more recipients and making community college completely free.
According to the New York Times, even if you were a student for the 2021-2022 school year, you can still get loans forgiven. If students during that year were claimed as dependents on a parent/guardian’s tax returns, loan forgiveness will be based on the parent/guardian’s annual salary – not the student’s. Federal parent PLUS loans also apply for forgiveness, and people who did not graduate college can get a refund for student loans as well.
This move to pass legislation related to a long-awaited campaign promise came as a great time for Biden with the midterm elections coming up this fall. While some people still believe Biden could have done more, most agree this is a step in the right direction. Read the full article in 14 East on Friday!
DePaul News
By Isabella Ali
Upcoming Dates in the Academic Calendar
Tuesday, 9/13, 11:59 PM is the last date to add a classes
Tuesday, 9/20, 11:59 PM is the last date to drop a class without penalty (100% refund if applicable)
Tuesday, 9/20, 11:59 PM is the last date to select pass/fail option
Visit DePaul’s Academic Calendar to view more upcoming dates.
DePaul Lin Park Renovation Celebration
As a part of DePaul’s 125th anniversary celebrations, the campus community is invited to celebrate the collaboration between DePaul and the Chicago Park District to renovate the famed Lin Park basketball courts. Take part in the celebrations on Saturday, September 17! President of DePaul Robert L. Manuel and DIBS will be there to celebrate and Blue Demons basketball players are set to put on a performance. Learn more about the event in DeBuzz and be sure to register here before the event. Attendees will receive Blue Demon merchandise and light refreshments.
Mentoring and Tutoring Opportunities
DePaul’s Education and Counseling Center (ECC) has introduced a new mentorship program. Students can volunteer as mentors and work with middle school students from the Chicagoland area. Tutors with the ECC will work with students from the Lincoln Park neighborhood to help them achieve academic success. Contact ecctutoring@gmail.com or call (773) 325-7745 for more information or read more about the programs in Newsline.
Share your feedback with President Rob Manuel
DePaul’s new President Robert L. Manuel launched a series of quick surveys for the DePaul community to share their thoughts about a variety of topics. His first survey was released today. Answer it here.
Lastly, here is your weekend sports update (Sept. 9-11):
The men’s soccer team lost to Loyola 3-1 on Friday
The women’s volleyball team won against St. Louis 3-1 on Saturday
The women’s soccer team lost to Stanford 3-1 on Sunday
Chicago Headlines
By Bridget Killian
UChicago Medicine to open outpatient clinic in Kenwood — The UChicago Medicine outpatient clinic will be opening inside the former Shore Bank located at 4658 S. Drexel Blvd. According to UChicago Medicine President Leslie Stern, the clinic will offer all services including women’s health, senior care and pediatrics. Six to eight physicians would staff the clinic and see up to 90 patients per day. The project is still being developed and does not have a set opening date. Jamie Nesbitt Golden at Block Club Chicago has the story.
Mural artist Nick “Sick” Fisher returns to Chicago — After three years in Los Angeles, Nick Fisher, a public mural artist, has moved back to Humboldt Park. You can spot many of Fisher’s murals in Humboldt Park and Logan Square located on storefronts such as Adam & Son & Daughter Gardens, which he started working on in 2014. For more on Fisher and his art, read Mack Leiderman’s story for Block Club Chicago.
Chicago Bears win home opener against San Francisco 49ers — After going 6-11 and missing playoffs for the ninth time in 11 years last season, the Chicago Bears won their season opener against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday. After not scoring in the first half, the Bears bounced back with three touchdowns in the second half. The final score was 19-10. The game was Matt Eberflus’s debut as the new head coach. Visit ESPN for more highlights.
Heavy rain causes floods across Chicago — Heavy rainfall across the city led to the worst flooding the city has seen in two years, with some areas experiencing over 5 inches of rain. High-standing water caused both the Eisenhower Expressway and DuSable Lake Shore Drive to be shut down Sunday. The rain slowed to a stop this afternoon and sunshine is expected to return Tuesday after an unseasonably cold and wet weekend. Judy Wang and Marisa Rodriguez for WGN9 have the story.
National Headlines
By Sam Freeman
The 21st anniversary of 9/11 – Yesterday marked the 21st anniversary of the worst terrorist attack on the United States in history. The after effects of the attack remain prominent today. “The Sept. 11 attacks stirred – for a time – a sense of national pride and unity for many, while also subjecting Muslim Americans to years of suspicion and bigotry and engendering debate over the balance between safety and civil liberties,” according to Jennifer Peltz, Karen Matthews, and Julie Walker from AP News. The Associated Press has more on the story.
The new Omicron booster: what you need to know – A slightly modified COVID-19 booster was approved by the CDC last Thursday that better targets Omicron subvarients, including BA.4 and BA.5. Individuals over the age of 12 are eligible for the Pfizer-BioNTech booster, and those 18 and over are eligible for Moderna – once it has been at least two months since they’ve received their last vaccination or booster shot. The new boosters are engineered to better protect against the dominating subvarients, and those who receive a booster shot this fall will be better protected. Dani Blum of the New York Times has more information.
Charles is officially announced as king after Queen Elizabeth II’s death last Thursday – King Charles III was officially proclaimed as monarch at the accession ceremony that took place Saturday. Charles acknowledged the grief Britain is collectively experiencing following Queen Elizabeth II’s death last Thursday. He also formally introduced a series of orders. The queen’s body has been brought from Balmoral to Edinburgh and will then go to London ahead of the funeral. NPR has the story.
DNA Evidence Linked Las Vegas Official to Killing of a Reporter – DNA was found at the crime scene of Las Vegas reporter Jeff German, who was stabbed to death on September 3. The DNA found at the scene matched the subject of German’s recent reporting of an official, who allegedly fostered a hostile work environment, upheld favoritism, and maintained an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate. Clark County public administrator Robert Tells was arrested on Wednesday night. Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs and Mike Baker from the New York Times have the story.
South Carolina instates more abortion restrictions – The South Carolina Senate voted on Thursday to restrict abortion rights. The debate occurred over whether their should be an exception for cases of rape or incest. The state’s current ban allows rape and incest victims access to an abortion before 20 weeks. The new proposal decreases that time to 6 weeks. If the proposal is rejected, the window will remain at 12 weeks. The State Senate is currently awaiting approval from the state Supreme Court. Ava Sasani of the New York Times has more information.
Hey, Check This Out!
With Hailey Bosek
If you're like me, then the first of September means stocking up on pumpkin cream cold brews, chunky sweaters, and target fall candles. There is nothing I love more than settling into the fall and ignoring those who think my rituals are premature. The most important part of my fall time activities include my movie nights, binging shows while procrastinating homework, and setting the mood with the right albums.
If you aren't sure where to start, here's a list of my certified favorite fall flicks, shows, and music to get you in the autumn mood.
Movies
These fall flicks are guaranteed to set the vibes on a chilly autumn weekend.
Knives Out (2019)
Available on Prime Video
Chris Evans in a cable knit sweater is enough of a fall vibe incentive to watch this “Who-Dunnit” mystery movie. However, you’ll stay to watch the fall scenery surrounding the magnificent set, perfect comedic writing, and dynamite cast. When millionaire mystery writer Harlen Thrombey dies under mysterious circumstances, the eccentric and genius detective Benoit Blanc, played by Daniel Craig, must investigate his family and the castle. With a Netflix sequel set to be released for the holidays, this movie is a must for mystery connoisseurs and fall fanatics who love some rainy autumn scenery.
Dead Poets Society (1989)
Available for rent on Prime Video
This movie belongs on every fall aesthetic pinterests board. The fall foliage in this movie alone will inspire you to drop everything for a fall hike in the woods. The story takes place at a prep school in the 50’s. Robin Williams stars as an unorthodox English teacher who inspires a group of boys to see the world, poetry, and each other in a different life. This coming-of- age film is filled with beautiful moments and a guaranteed tear jerker.
Hocus Pocus(1993)
Available on Disney+
This is an essential Halloween watch. This 90’s Halloween thriller takes place in Salem Massachusett, and follows teenagers who have to stop three witches from taking the youth from the children of the town. Bette Middler shines through with her comedy and star power as the witch Winfred. The movie takes us through graveyards, Halloween parties, witches' lairs and fall classrooms in a New England location that is bound to make anyone look for plane tickets to Salem.
Shows
These binge worthy shows are perfect after a long day at the pumpkin patch.
Gilmore Girls (2000-2007)
Available on Netflix
It seems like the town of Stars Hollow is always in the fall season, as you can find the mother/daughter pair of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore sipping on coffee in sweaters at the local cafe in any given episode. This show is a fall staple, and will have you craving a warm sweater and hot coffee on even the hottest September day.
The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020)
Available on Netflix
This T.V mini series is a classic ghost tale with tender romance and eerie suspense. It follows an American nanny taking care of two children in an English Manor. However, all's not well at Bly Manor. This horror series with its jumpscares and disturbing imagery also tells an important story about grief and love. It is a perfect saturday binge watch for horror fans.
Over the Garden Wall (2014)
Available on HBO Max
This animated series follows two brothers lost in a strange land, trying to find home. This show is enchanting and pulls you in with sweet imagery of woodland animals, and darker creepy moments that remind you that the brothers are still in a dark and different land. This show only has 12 minute episodes, and takes a little over two hours to complete. It is the perfect quick binge for a fall stay at home date or a watch party with friends.
Music
These beats are sure to make you feel like the main character as you walk to your classes.
Like Real People Do- Hozier, Self Titled
Hozier's entire first album feels like a passionate and meaningful love letter. This song is literally about digging someone up from the ground, and inspired by the Irish Folk tales of Bog Creatures. It is a long term metaphor for rebirth and renewal in love and all the baggage that comes with it. The sweet guitar and soothing vocals of Hozier are perfect for an Autumn mood.
A Sunday Kind of Love- Etta James, At Last!
This song is warm pumpkin pancakes and dancing with your loved one in the morning light. Jazz Singer Etta James perfectly encapsulates the slow and all encompassing feeling of falling in love. The smooth piano and strong ballad is a perfect tune for an unusual warm November day.
I Can Tell That We are Gonna be Friends- The White Stripes, White Blood Cells
The White Stripes are known for their rock beats with their most popular song being Seven Nation Army, which starts with an iconic drum and bass line. However, this song has soft vocals and a plucky guitar and lyricism about the first day back to school. It is light and fun and reminds you what it was like to meet new friends on your first day of kindergarten. Queue this song next time you remember your first day of second grade, and it's sure to make you want to bust out the crayons.
Resources
Need resources regarding cooling centers, rental assistance, abortion access, COVID-19 testing and vaccines or mental health? Check out our complete list here.
That’s it for today! See you next Monday.
The 14 East Newsletter Team