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Parents say hostage converted to Islam willingly

By WTOP Staff

JENI O’MALLEY
Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The parents of an Indiana aid worker threatened with beheading by the Islamic State group rejected suggestions that their son converted to Islam to save himself Monday, saying his interest in Eastern religions began long before he traveled to the Middle East.

Ed and Paula Kassig told The Associated Press that their son, who has changed his name from Peter to Abdul-Rahman since his conversion, was inspired by the activism of his grandfather, a pastor and advocate for Muslims in the Middle East for many years. They have no doubt that his conversion to Islam was a personal choice, not one driven by his captivity.

“When our son makes a commitment to something, no holds barred. It’s 150 percent. He goes at it with every fiber of his being. He converted totally,” Ed Kassig said.

The Kassigs said their son began exploring Eastern religions while in school and initiated his conversion to Islam before being taken hostage, observing the fast of Ramadan three months before his capture on Oct. 1, 2013.

Nicolas Henin, a French journalist who was held with Abdul-Rahman Kassig for several months, said he did not believe Kassig had been coerced into embracing Islam.

“He had been a virtual Muslim already. He had been living among Muslims” for some time, he said Monday.

Paula and Ed Kassig said they stayed silent for a year after their son was detained because his captors had vowed to kill the 26-year-old aid worker immediately if they went public.

“We were under a veil of secrecy for a long time,” Ed Kassig said.

But once a militant threatened his beheading in an Oct. 3 video, in retaliation for U.S. bombing attacks, “It was like a dam broke,” he said.

Since then, the couple has taken to YouTube, Twitter and traditional media outlets to spread the word of their son’s work with Syrian refugees and plead for mercy.

Ed Kassig said the militants holding their son have made “absolutely unattainable demands” but would not elaborate. He said he and his wife have tried to reach their son’s captors to open lines of communication but have not been successful.

Paula Kassig told NBC’s “Today” show that the couple received an audio recording of their son a couple of weeks ago in which he said he feared his time was running out.

The couple on Monday also released additional excerpts from a letter written by their son and delivered by a former hostage.

“I hope that this all has a happy ending but it may very well be coming down to the wire here,” he wrote.

The Kassigs said they’ve received support from around the world, especially the Muslim community.

“It makes us feel so much stronger. It lifts my hopes that he knows that he’s loved and that we are all praying for him,” Paula Kassig said.

___

Associated Press writer Ken Kusmer contributed to this story.

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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