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Russell Wilson writes against domestic violence

By WTOP Staff

TIM BOOTH
AP Sports Writer

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Russell Wilson has generally shied away from commenting on social issues during his professional career.

That changed Thursday when the Seattle Seahawks quarterback spoke out about domestic violence and candidly about being a bully as a child in a column for Derek Jeter’s new website.

“I’ve tended to avoid controversial topics throughout my career, but in my first piece for The Players’ Tribune, I wanted to be open and address something that’s important, timely and relevant,” Wilson wrote. “I’ve been silent on the issue for too long, falling back on the ‘I can’t speak to someone else’s personal life’ excuse. But victims need physical, emotional and financial support and care, and the resources to get away from their abusers. Abusers, you need to get help — you can change.”

The column by Wilson, who was announced as a senior editor for The Players’ Tribune, talks about his goal to raise funds and awareness through his new foundation — the “Why Not You Foundation” — with an initial focus on supporting victims of domestic violence.

Wilson also wrote about being a bully in elementary and middle school, saying, “I had a lot of anger that I didn’t know what to do with.” That admission surprised teammates who read the column.

“Well, he said that he used to beat people up. That’s a surprise,” Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman said. “Obviously, he said he’s turned a different page in that book, but it’s still pretty interesting to see that.”

Wilson wrote that the perception he’s given is that he’s “been Mr. Goody Two-Shoes” his entire life. But he admitted to throwing kids against a wall, rubbing their heads in the dirt, biting them and knocking out teeth.

Wilson wrote he changed at age 14 and “was able to start living for others instead of just myself.” And now that his professional career is established, with a Super Bowl title in hand, Wilson said he is focusing on helping domestic violence victims in the wake of the attention turned on the NFL following the Ray Rice case.

Wilson wrote that the issue needs to be addressed and not avoided and that aggression needs to be kept on the field.

“How many of you reading right now knew that October is Domestic Violence Awareness month? I certainly didn’t. I had to Google it,” Wilson wrote. “And that’s part of why I felt so inspired to do my part. This initiative, this story, is about acknowledging something difficult, something we’d rather not see. When I look back at beating kids up on the playground, I don’t like that image. But I moved past that place in my life, and I’m proud of the man I am now.”

Seattle coach Pete Carroll said he talked with Wilson earlier this week about his decision to start a foundation and come out with such a strong first statement. Carroll said the team would support Wilson every way it could.

“I’m really proud of him. I think he’s involved himself in a critical issue that maybe he can elevate awareness like we’re all trying to do for the right reasons,” Carroll said. “I thought his statements were well thought out and very clear. … I’m hoping it has a great impact and people will pick up on it and add to it and we’ll see what happens.”

NOTES: Carroll said LB Bruce Irvin is the only injury question headed into Monday night’s game. Irvin suffered a rib injury during practice heading into Seattle’s game against Denver two weeks ago. Carroll said he believes Irvin will be able to play. … Seattle P Jon Ryan was named the NFC special teams player of the month. … Sherman grew up with Washington WR DeSean Jackson and said there would be some friendly banter if they were lined up across from each other.

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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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