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NFL reviewing Jets WR’s domestic violence arrest

By WTOP Staff

DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The NFL is reviewing the arrest of New York Jets wide receiver Quincy Enunwa under its new domestic violence policy as police released details Thursday of last weekend’s incident.

Enunwa, a member of the Jets’ practice squad, was arrested and charged with domestic violence and simple assault Sunday night, according to an arrest report released by the Florham Park Police Dept. The 22-year-old Enunwa pleaded not guilty Wednesday and was released on his own recognizance.

It wasn’t clear what the relationship was between Enunwa and the female victim.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced last week tougher penalties for players accused of domestic violence, including a six-week suspension for a first offense and at least a year for a second. League spokesman Greg Aiello told The Associated Press in an email that Enunwa’s incident “is being reviewed under the policy.”

Enunwa practiced Thursday after declining comment to reporters a day earlier, saying it was “a pending legal matter.” Jets coach Rex Ryan and the team also declined comment on details of the incident.

Police said that Enunwa grabbed the woman by her ankle and pulled her off a hotel bed, “causing her to strike and injure both her head and finger,” according to a police complaint obtained by NJ.com.

One of the conditions of Enunwa’s release was “no future acts of domestic violence,” according to the complaint.

Police also released a 911 call in which someone calling from the Wyndham Hamilton Park Hotel — located less than 1 mile from the Jets’ training facility — said that he was with a woman who was injured in the lobby.

“It’s over now, but you know, it’s a heated argument and we have a woman who’s injured,” the unidentified man said in the call.

Enunwa was a sixth-round pick in the NFL draft in May after he had 12 touchdowns for Nebraska last season and was the Gator Bowl MVP. He made the Jets’ initial 53-man roster last Saturday, but was cut Monday when the team made other player moves. New York signed him to the practice squad — meaning he is not on the active roster for games — on Tuesday.

Ryan said Thursday the Jets knew about the arrest before they added him to the practice squad, but then backtracked and said he couldn’t remember specifically the sequence of events.

Ryan added that he thought the NFL’s new policy on domestic violence is “appropriate,” but didn’t relate it specifically to Enunwa’s situation.

“There’s different circumstances to every case and, this thing, we’ll see what happens,” Ryan said.

The Jets open the regular season Sunday against the Oakland Raiders at MetLife Stadium.

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Associated Press writer Josh Cornfield in Trenton, New Jersey, contributed to this report.

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AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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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