44th President of The United States: Barack Obama

Last night at 11:45 p.m., President Barack Obama was announced the 44^th President of the United States. Winning battlefield states; Ohio, Iowa and Wisconsin, Obama was able to secure his spot in the White House for the next four years with an electoral vote of 284.

Before President Obama gave his victory speech, he tweeted “This happened because of you. Thank you.”

The polls showed that President Obama had received strong support from women, African American, Hispanic and young adult voters, similar to the 2008 election that made him the first African American president of the United States.

During the presidential campaign, President Obama vowed to create a brighter, better future for the American people. He asked the people to stick with him while he reignites economic growth and helps us recover from the worst recession we have seen since the Great Depression, which took place during the presidencies of Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt (short history lesson).

Under President Obama’s second term, according to his website www.barackobama.com, we should expect to see the following policies and economic changes;

• A long-term economic plan which will invest in education, small businesses, clean energy, infrastructure and tax cuts to help bring jobs back into the United States
• Cutting taxes by 3,600 dollars for the typical middle class family
• Cut tuition growth in half over the next decade with a plan to double campus based student aid
• End the war in Iraq by bringing our troops home from Afghanistan
• Give women the right to their own health care choices
• Improve health care for all Americans

According to NBC news source, during Election Day, President Obama awaited results at his home in Chicago where he had a family dinner, and participated in a pick-up basketball game, which is his Election Day tradition.

Congratulations President Barack Obama.

-Chelsey Perry

Increasing interest rates? NOT ON MY WATCH!

 

There seems to be a slightly brighter light at the end of the tunnel for those of us with student loans. On Friday June twenty ninth, Congress approved legislation that will affect most student’s lives for the next year.

 

With a 74-19 vote from our Senate and a 373-52 vote from our House of Representatives (which make up Congress, keep up with me here), there will no longer be an increase in federal subsidized loan interest rates for the next year.

 

WOO-HOO! Instead of your college loan interests increasing to a jaw dropping 6.8%, your interests will stay at a 3.4%, which doesn’t seem so bad anymore. Not only will this law affect Syracuse University undergraduates but it will also help 7.4 million other students who have Stafford loans.

 

President Barack Obama estimated that this law would help over 6 million students save an average 1,000 dollars in the next year.

 

Although this law will only be affective for the next year, Congress has already begun brainstorming ways to help keep this rate as low as possible when the law expires.

 

So as our President is working his ass off in office to try and help save your money from being taken right out of your pocket, try not to go spend all of your money at Chuck’s this weekend or at flip night Wednesday.

 

Being informed about your student loans will help you save in the future. We don’t want a bunch of poor SU alumni. That wouldn’t make us look so good.

 

-Chelsey Perry

I don’t believe in the Republican Party or the Democratic Party. I just believe in parties.

November is only 5 months away and we all know what that means! Turkey, mashed potatoes, food coma and black Friday shopping?! Well yes but not what I had in mind. It’s actually the 57^th quadrennial presidential election! Obviously much more exhilarating…

Yeah I know what your thinking – “Politics? Really?” Hear me out though, really.

As some of you may know, America consists of two political parties who run against each other every four years to become President of the United States. No these parties are not the Frat Party and Bar Party they are the Republican Party and Democratic Party. This year current Democratic President Barak Obama and Republican candidate Mitt Romney will be running against each other for the 2012-2016 presidential term.

As young adults it is our responsibility this November to vote in the 2012 Presidential election.

Not sure what you need to do to be eligible to vote? No worries, just check out RockTheVote.com and all the information you could possibly need is there. You’ll be ready to straight-ticket whichever party in no time.

-Chelsey Perry