News briefs

$20 billion grant program signed into law

A new federal bill increasing federal loan and grant programs by $20 billion was signed into law yesterday, affording federally indebted students at Portland State and across the nation new options for paying off their loans.

The College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, which will go into effect during the 2008-2009 academic year, earned the signature of President Bush Sept. 27, after gaining approval in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate in early September.

The bill is the biggest piece of federal legislation granting money to higher education since the GI Bill was passed in 1944, and it will create a new federal loan repayment plan based on the income level of graduates, lower interest rates for loan participants with low- and middle-income status, and raise the maximum amount awarded for the federal Pell Grant, which over five million students utilize.

Twenty-three percent of students at PSU make use of the Pell Grant, and the average amount of student loans a graduate must pay is $18,085. Seventy percent of PSU’s student population graduates with student loans to pay off.

-Steve Haske

Tutoring classes Wednesday and Thursday

For students experiencing the terror and trials of the first weeks of fall term, the Skills Enhancement and Tutoring Center is offering two courses to teach students effective reading and note-taking strategies.

The courses discuss different ways to approach reading and note-taking, offer active strategies and help students learn what to do before and after reading and note-taking.

The first course is on Wednesday at 1 p.m. in Smith Memorial Student Union, Room 425. The second course is on Thursday at 5 p.m. in the same room. Both courses last one hour.

The center offers free tutoring from 20 to 25 graduate and undergraduate students in subjects primarily based around bachelor of arts and science degree requirements. The program is funded by student fees and served close to 5,000 students last year.

“You don’t have to be failing in your classes,” said Lisa Hatfield, the coordinator of the center. “We have lots of students who get A’s in their classes.”

-David Holley

Bomb scare shuts down Eugene airport

A device that looked like a pipe bomb was found in baggage Thursday at the Eugene Airport, triggering a shutdown of parts of the airport.

The traveler, whose name was not released, was on a flight headed to Denver. When the plane landed, he was questioned and released.

The item was found during routine screenings in the morning.

FBI spokesman Mike Sweeney said the passenger was allowed to continue to Paris and was not considered a threat. The device did not contain any bomb-making material, he said.

Prosecutors were to determine if the person should face federal charges.

The Eugene Police Department and the Eugene Airport said they were working with airlines to get the airport back up to full operations.

-Associated Press