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The Battalion
Page 3 A • Thursday, September 12, 2002
No money, more problems
Undents share experiences with overspending and credit card debt
By Lyndsey Sage
THE BATTALION
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A few bucks on clothes here and a couple more
a concert ticket there may not seem like a lot, and
y at , hardly indulgences. Most students probably
n’tfchink twice when it comes to whipping out
dil cards to charge minor purchases. However,
^Hthe credit card bill arrives, some spenders are
for a shock when they discover such spending
is tip more quickly than they anticipated.
For Steve Hatcher, a senior interdisciplinary
: :hi»J>logy major, it was after he learned the
lourt on his credit card billing statement that he
cide l something needed to be changed about his
proach to managing his credit card.
“Oi ic day 1 noticed the amount on a bill that
idelme nervous. It was not until then that I real-
id the situation was out of control,” Hatcher said.
Jow I have devised a workable plan to decrease
/ debt, and I am holding myself accountable.”
Cft-iiii card debt has become one of the most
mm, >n forms of revolving debt. About 65 million
nericans suffer from some degree of insufficienct
nds With interest rates ranging from 18 to 22 per-
nt» credit card debt can be devastating if not han-
ed in a responsible manner.
According to Hatcher, the best way to prevent
edit card debt is to stop it before it starts.
“For first time users, I would suggest only pur-
lasing items that one has the money for. This
: aches the buyer to be wise by building sound
edit. For expenses that are emergencies or
:emed a ‘need,’ use the credit card with a short
rm plan to pay off the balance. Once you have
>me up with a plan, destroy all the cards except
ic so that the balances do not increase from more
jrchases,” Hatcher advised.
Hatcher says the reason most people find them-
■ >• th it cu-m dves in cre dB car d debt is due to instant gratifica-
on. Hatcher’s definition of instant gratification is
Mik p.\turns : ’ ben consumers buy goods without a realistic idea
ui.uh' lV-th T how lt wil1 56 P aid for -
r in halv rctv accommodate for this, Hatcher recommends
vcsicrda' 'at Students take a finance course on managing
horentin on ey.
the nionur
“1 think that everyone has to be taught responsi
bility,’’ Hatcher said. “Financial responsibility is
one that is often overlooked or learned from a
dreadful experience.”
Donnie Fowler, system vice president credit
card manager of First American Bank, advises stu
dents to start in a program such as Aggiebucks
before applying for a credit card. With Aggiebucks
or a debit card, where money is drawn directly from
one’s checking account, the student is aware of how
much they have in their account and can monitor
their spending record.
“Most students don’t have credit, which makes
it hard for them to get their foot in the door when
they apply for a credit card,” Fowler said. “Once
you do establish credit, though, it is easy to get
overwhelmed. Start off small and build up your
credit.”
Fowler says it doesn’t hurt for students to go
ahead and begin to build credit for when they get to
the outside world; however, many things should be
taken into consideration.
First and foremost thing to consider, accord
ing to Fowler, is income level. Students should
be guided by their, or in many cases, their par
ents’ level of income to determine the limitations
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SARAH FOWLER • THE BATTALION
on their spending.
When students’ credit card bills exceed the
amount they can pay and they begin to accumulate
a debt, Fowler suggests to immediately put away
the credit card and call a lender to have the account
closed.
“If you have debt, keep it at a minimal. If you
have a lot of debt, because you always want to have
something open for emergencies, close the higher
accounts,” Fowler said. “This looks good from a
lender’s standpoint because when I see someone
who has five credit cards, all of which are close to
being maxed out and the accounts on those cards
are closed, I know they aren’t using those cards
anymore.”
Fowler said as long as one slowly establishes
credit, everything should be fine.
“When you can’t pay the minimum payment,
your credit will be hurt,” Fowler warns. “However,
as long as you maintain and keep it up, you will
have no problems later on when it comes to buying
a house or vehicle.”
Fowler advises students to keep the number of
credit cards under their name to three or less and for
students to check into credit card programs offered
specifically for students.
Lucas Fried, a sophomore management infor
mation systems major, said he recognizes the
importance of establishing good credit for the
future and is in the process of applying for a credit
card. Fried realizes that credit cards offer more than
the ability is to establish sound credit.
“You don’t have to carry around a check book. I
forget mine all the time, and I don’t always carry
around cash,” Fried said. “It is always good to have
one in case of emergencies.”
However, Fried knows that with the convenience
of a credit card comes the responsibility of manag
ing it. One method Fried plans to employ is to write
down every transaction to double check it with the
billing statement.
“Once I use the credit card, I plan to make sure
that I have that money in the bank,” Fried said.
“Also, I plan only to use it on small stuff where I
don’t rqn up a huge credit.”
ncations dirt
vers gene
PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
rememix VilliaiTIS SistCFS
Hir, the ass
ihe tali luckle up for safety
II alw.ns nr NEV v Y ORK (AP) - Serena and
appened unus Williams, in a series of
ationwide radio public-sen/ice
mouncements, are urging peo-
T Y to buck,e their seat belts -
I * ):^ erena defeated her sister
1_jX V/^Jturday to win the U.S. Open,
2r third straight Grand Slam
d :le.
,1,. ( < The sisters recorded the seat-
slt commercials for the ABC
adio Network, and the spots
agan airing late last week as
art of a national awareness
impaign.
anoupi fnd.iy "Especially since minorities are
sproportionately affected by
â–  c'lCsioThe Bar ito accident deaths from not
earing seat belts, we're delight-
: icxasA&MUr- j to help spread this message,"
1 ^ :T 2 ^; e: ; lid Richard Williams, the play-
p or endorsement If
til 845-2696. For
nd McDonald, andt"
l
xas A&M student t<n
,2h< Mail subsenj';
n for the summer# ‘
press, can 845-26*.
>n. Photo Edit*
a. Graphics H<i
Radio Produce
ers' father and coach.
According to the Department
of Transportation, minorities are
less likely to wear seat belts and
place children in safety seats.
Car crashes are the leading
cause of death for blacks 14 and
younger.
Glover calls for
global awareness
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -
Danny Clover urged an audi
ence of more than 700 people
at the University of Arkansas to
take a more active role in their
communities and in the world.
The star of films including
"The Color Purple" and the
"Lethal Weapon" series, Glover
said, "It's extremely important
that we listen to and learn
from one another in the larger
global community."
On the eve of Wednesday's
one-year anniversary of the
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks,
Clover said war is not the key
to fighting terrorism. Instead,
he said, the government
should attack "the sources of
terrorism," such as poverty.
"Going to war and taking
lives is not the process that
works," he said. "What you've
done is effectively cut off any
discourse or dialogue. If we're
only going to govern by anger,
then we've lost the game."
The 55-year-old actor also
said Americans should pay
more attention to global
issues, such as sustainable
urban development and over
consumption of natural
resources.
"We're taking a terrible toll
on this planet," he said.
De Niro looking for
scientific scripts
NEW YORK (AP) - Robert De
Niro and his Tribeca Film
Institute partner, Jane Rosenthal,
are looking for scripts with sci
entific or technological themes
for possible development.
The scripts, due Nov. 1, should
have a leading character who is
a scientist, mathematician or
engineer. Each submission
should include a feature-length
script, a short synopsis up to
two pages, and the writer's
resume. Science fiction story
lines won't be accepted.
Two writers will be chosen in
the first year of the program,
and will receive financial sup
port and insight from filmmak
ers and science experts. At least
one script will be read at the
second annual Tribeca Film
Festival in spring 2003, and the
completed film will screen at
the 2004 festival.
"What we're doing here is
really looking for the next 'A
Beautiful Mind,' 'Memento' or
'Good Will Hunting,"' said Doron
Weber, program director of the
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation,
which is a partner in the pro
gram with Tribeca Films.
Ali memorabilia up
for auction in L.A.
LAS VEGAS (AP) - The robe
worn by Muhammad Ali before
fighting Joe Frazier in 1971 and
the trunks he donned for "The
Thrilla in Manila" against Frazier
four years later will be on display
during Saturday night's title fight
between Oscar De La Hoya and
Fernando Vargas.
The memorabilia is from the col
lection of Drew "Bundini"Brown,
Ali's cornerman.
Brown, who died in 1987, kept
nearly everything Ali gave him
from each of his fights, from his
shoes to his gloves. Ali signed
most of the items, and Brown
kept them over the decades in a
California storage locker.
Bidding began last Friday. On
Monday, the red velvet robe Ali
wore before entering the ring on
March 8, 1971 in New York to
decide the heavyweight champi
onship of the world had a bid of
nearly $30,000, auction organizer
Darren Julien said in Los Angeles.
"Being Muslim, Ali did not
stockpile possessions," Julien
said.
Anxiety Group
Wednesdays 3:30 - 5:00 PM
An interpersonal group for students
who suffer from general or social
anxieties. Students will work on
the impact of anxieties in their
lives, as well as explore the interpersonal meanings
of anxiety symptoms.
Thesis/ Dissertation Support
Group
Wednesdays 5:00 - 6:30 PM
This group is for graduate students
struggling with the process of writing
a thesis or dissertation. Group topics
include issues of competence, pro
crastination, anxiety, goal
setting, and bureaucratic
Struggles.
Facilitators:
Brian Williams
& Debbie Rabinowitz
Older Than Traditional
Age Group
Facilitators:
Carlos Orozco
& Peter Barnes
Eating Concerns & Body Image Issues Group
Mondays 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Provides information and support for those trying to
overcome an eating disorder. We will discuss topics
related to eating concerns such as the development of
trusting relationships, expression of feelings, and man
agement of stress.
<An individual meeting with a group leader prior to attendance at
group is required.)
Facilitators: Amanda Samson & Kristin
Ober
Women’s Issues Group
Mondays 1:30-3:00PM
Come together with other women and work on be
coming the woman you’ve always wanted to be.
Improve your self-confidence, assertiveness, and
relationships by sharing and processing with other
women with similar issues.
Facilitators: Nancy Welch & Erin Collins
Academics Anonymous
Wednesdays 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Motivated to improve your academic performace
but find it difficult to be consistent in your ef
forts? Join this 9 week support group on
Wednesdays from 4-S:30pm beginning Sept
18th and ending Nov 13th. Learn effective study
strategies, and get support from others. Topics
may include procrastination and building aca
demic confidence.
Screening before Sept 16th is required for participation.
Facilitators: Patti Collins & Carla Hilland
STUDENT
COUNSELING
SERVICE
Texas A&M University
Conflict & Goss in Relationships Group
Part of the Diutsiancf Slider* Afeiis
Fall Se
Tuesdays 5:00 - 6:30 PM
rroup participants are typically 25 years
Id and above. Through regular atten-
ance and active participation this group
orks to create a safe environment deal-
ng with such issues as anxiety, depres-
ion, motivation, and isolation.
Facilitator: Carlos Orozco
Mondays 5:00 - 6:30 PM
This group is for students who are
currently or have previously experi
enced conflict in interpersonal or ro
mantic relationships, or who have
recently experienced a loss of mean
ingful relationship.
Facilitators: Brian Williams
& David Sandrow
Non-Traditional Women’s
Group
5:15 - 6:45 PM
Career Exploration Group
Thursdays 4:00 - 5:30 PM
This is a 5 week group beginning on
Oct 17th. Designed to teach par
ticipants how to make decisions.
Groups will identify interests, skills,
work values and personality charac
teristics; research the job market
and occupation.
An initial appointment with a career counselor
is required.
Tuesdays
For women 23+ allows each member
to enter the group with her own
unique issues, within a group context. Helps
women who are wanting to de
velop healthier ways of dealing
with the stress of school, work,
relationships, personal problems
and family issues.
Facilitators: Carla Hilland
& David Sandrow
Facilitators: Amanda Samson
& Carla Hilland
Bipolar Support Group
Tuesdays
3:30-4:30 PM
Provides support and
information to students
diagnosed with a bipolar
disorder. Group meets
weekly and is led by a
psychiatrist. Potential
A&M University hits .1 strong institutional
itment to the principle of diversity in all
hi dial spirit, admission to Texas A&M
trsity and any of its sponsored programs is
°pcn to all qualified individuals without tegaid to
any subgroup classification or stereotype.
topics include diagnosis, symptoms,
medications, and lifestyle issues/
relapse prevention.
Hall
-4427
www.scs.tamu.edu
Interpersonal Growth & Exploration
Group
Tuesdays 5:00 - 6:30 PM
This psychotherapy group is for students desiring to live
more authentically with themselves and relate more genu
inely with others. Explore self-limiting life patterns and
share with others through honest self-disclosure in a safe,
supportive atmosphere.
Biofeedback Workshop
Tuesdays 4:00 - 6:00 PM
One-session workshops that give an introduc
tion to relaxation techniques, including how
biofeedback aids in relaxation. Individual fol
low-up consultation is available.
Exploring Self-Hypnosis
Tuesdays 10:00-11:30
This eight week workshop will teach
participants to use techniques of self
hypnosis to enhance well-being and
improve self-mastery .
"...at the count of three....you will ...call
for an appointment ...1...2.... " ©
Facilitators: Ron Lutz
& Nancy Welch
Academic SURVI VOR Series
Tuesdays 3:45-5:15 PM
Need some help surviving the academic transi
tion from high school to college? Before the
“tribal council votes you off,” attend this Tues
day series beginning Oct 8th and ending Dec
3rd.
Screening before Oct 7th required for participation.
Facilitators: Patti Collins & Nancy Welch