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Colts join push to help domestic violence victims

By WTOP Staff

MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Domestic violence is an issue that tugs on Indianapolis tight end Dwayne Allen’s emotions.

He said he remembers seeing his mother’s swollen eyes, hearing the screams and cries of his brother and sisters as the beatings continued inside his home. The helpless feeling that at ages 4, 5 and 6 or even 11 and 12, he couldn’t do anything to prevent it. Eventually, Allen recalls, his mother escaped the physical abuse and protected her seven children by calling the police.

Now, Allen is eager to go full-throttle given what he said he witnessed as a child, first with his stepfather and later with his mother’s boyfriend.

On Thursday, after reaching out to a local survivors’ shelter, Allen helped announce that the Colts would raise money and collect cellphones to aid domestic violence victims in Indiana.

“It’s important that we all get together and we end this silent, terrible epidemic,” Allen said, stopping briefly to grab toward his heart and choking back tears. “I’m not here to condone or condemn what’s been going on around the league, but it’s our responsibility to demonstrate what it means to be a father, in some cases a big brother, a positive light in the community. Whether we like being in the limelight or not, it doesn’t matter. We know it comes with our profession and it’s our responsibility to step up and be role models for those people, including a lot of children.”

The Colts and Verizon have pledged more than $20,000 in grants to help finance programs.

And with team vice chairwoman Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Coburn Place Safe Haven Executive Director Julia Kathary and Allen all in attendance, the Colts said they also would collect cellphones and other electronic devices for HopeLine, and take cash donations at the Oct. 19 game against Cincinnati..

HopeLine provides used devices to survivors.

The goal is to collect 1,013 phones, equal to the same number of children Indianapolis-based Coburn Place Safe Haven has helped since opening in 1996

It’s the second straight year the Colts have participated in the program. But this year’s plan received much more publicity because of the backlash the NFL has faced since the release of a video showing former Ravens running back Ray Rice punching his then-fiancee and current wife in the face.

“I was disappointed because a colleague of mine was going through something and, obviously, he didn’t handle it the right way,” Allen said when asked about his reaction to the video. “I think we, as professional athletes, should be held to a higher standard and whenever we act less than what we should, it’s disappointing.”

Several other allegations of domestic and child abuse since then have prompted league officials to impose stronger punishments. Some teams have taken players alleged of wrongdoing off the field. Kathary said domestic violence hotlines around Indiana saw the number of calls spike in the aftermath of the Rice video and some locations saw the number of calls increase by as much as 77 percent.

Allen understands why there was a sudden surge — many of those who are abused don’t know where to turn for help.

“I would go straight to my room and the door was shut,” said Allen, who fulfilled another pledge to his family earlier this year by earning a diploma from Clemson. “I have a brother who is four years older than me and we were able to get together and he said everything would be OK, and then (after it was over) I would talk with my mom and cry with my mom.”

The message from Allen’s mother, Olivia Davis, to her children was simple and succinct.

“She always taught me to respect women, to have the utmost respect for women, and don’t ever put your hand on a woman,” Allen said. “I take that very seriously.”

Now he wants to use his own platform to make sure others follow his mother’s advice.

“Whenever you’re fortunate enough to overcome something, I think you owe it to others to help them,” Allen said. “And now that I have the strength to protect my families and other families, I want to help.”

___

AP NFL website: 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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