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Despite woes, Argentines united in World Cup run

By WTOP Staff

DEBORA REY
Associated Press

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Soccer has once again emerged as the patriotic touchstone that unites Argentines as they teeter on the precipice, this time threatened by a debt crisis, soaring inflation and the scandal-plagued end to a 12-year political dynasty that has polarized the nation.

The country’s World Cup semifinal victory over the Netherlands in a penalty shootout unleashed a collective catharsis on Buenos Aires’ streets Wednesday night the likes of which Argentines have rarely seen in recent times.

Coinciding with Independence Day celebrations, tens of thousands of Argentines dressed in blue and white partied well past midnight in cities across the country.

“We’re all in this battle together going forward,” said Osvaldo Darica, owner of a newspaper kiosk in Buenos Aires.

Darica said he is thrilled to see the recent torrent of depressing headlines about rampant crime and one of the world’s highest inflation rates replaced by front-page photos of goalkeeper Sergio Romero, or Saint Romero as he’s now lionized, deflecting two Dutch penalty kicks.

Soccer legend Diego Maradona also wrapped himself in the flag.

“Look at us there, there’s no distinction, we’re all Argentines,” he told Venezuela’s Telesur network while watching images of jubilant fans engulfing Buenos Aires’ iconic Obelisk. “How marvelous and beautiful it is to make people happy.”

Amid the nationalist fervor, one prominent voice has been missing: that of President Cristina Fernandez.

Sidelined the past week with a throat infection, the normally loquacious leader has yet to comment on Argentina’s dramatic win. Not even on Twitter, where she’s a constant presence. Late Thursday, she posted a letter declining Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s invitation to attend the final in Rio de Janeiro, saying she’s under doctor’s orders to reduce air travel and wants to spend the day celebrating her grandson’s first birthday.

Analysts say that Fernandez’s silence may be well-placed, and that any attempt to reap political benefit from the national team’s run is likely to be short-lived or even backfire given how low support for her government has plunged with a corruption scandal penetrating her inner circle.

Indeed, except for her jocular use of a few soccer metaphors to attack critics she accuses of trying to score with their hands, she has largely avoided jumping on the World Cup bandwagon.

“Sooner or later reality always returns,” said political analyst Rosendo Fraga, noting that Argentina’s last World Cup championship in 1986 didn’t help then President Raul Alfonsin’s government avoid an economic collapse or thumping in elections the following year.

One reason for Fernandez’s reluctance may be the memories of the 1978 World Cup hosted by Argentina, when the dictatorship in power spared no expense to whitewash its reputation and distract attention from the horrors taking place in clandestine, military-run jails. For the most part it worked, with even political opponents later confessing that they cheered on the national team from prison cells.

While Argentina’s current economic woes are much easier to surmount than the bayonets of the generals, they nonetheless represent serious risks.

Chief among those is a July 30 deadline set by a New York court to reach a settlement over some $1.5 billion in unpaid debts held by hedge funds or risk defaulting for the second time in 13 years. With dollars in short supply, such an outcome could prove devastating.

But with a third World Cup championship in sight, those problems at least for now have faded and in their place has emerged a can-do, collaborative attitude.

It’s also likely to boost support for Fernandez, who is barred by the constitution from seeking re-election in 2015 but wants to make sure her final year in office goes smoothly to preserve her legacy and that of her husband and predecessor, the late Nestor Kirchner.

“I’ve never seen Argentines celebrate like this, united and without political banners,” said 16-year-old Santiago Nardello, with an Argentine flag hanging over his shoulders.

___

AP writer Joshua Goodman contributed to this report from Bogota, Colombia. AP’s Luis Andres Henao and Marianela Jarroud from Santiago, Chile.

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
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