Lebanon Valley College - Quittapahilla Yearbook (Annville, PA)

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Washington in Turmoil: Iran-Contra Affair 28 The event in Washington this year was the revelation of American involvement in weapon deals with Iran in exchange for hostages and the shipment of arms to Nicaraguan rebels. Hearings continue into the investigation of the af- fair which created a scandal not only for the American government but for the Reagan ad- ministration. Many people believe that there is a cover-up and Reagan ' s approval rating dropped tremendously within a month ' s time. Reagan said that he didn ' t know of the diversion of funds and weapons deals with the Contras. Behind this affair was National Security Adviser John Poindexter and National Security Council aide, Lt. Col. Oliver North. Apparently, North was the mastermind of the plan, requesting donations from Americans for ransom money for the hostages. Both Poindexter and North took the Fifth Amend- ment when asked to testify before the House Foreign Relations Committee. North ' s secretary, Fawn Hall, who was told to shred papers and falsify documents testified this spring. Much of the affair was carried out by those around him. Those who were also ridiculed of having knowledge but not taking action to protect the coun- try were CIA director William Casey, Chief of Staff Donald Regan who was eventually ousted by the public and government leaders. Secretary of State George Schultz, and Vice-President George Bush. The scheme was first presented to ex-NSC ad- viser Robert McFarlane who turned the idea over to North, before he resigned in 1985. The Israelis were middlemen to Iran. Ret. Maj. Gen. Richard Secord controlled the Swiss account were funds were stored for Contra aid. Secord, North and McFarlane flew to Iran in May 1986 with arms, meeting with Hashemi Rafsanjani. North contracted with Southern Air Transport to fly supplies to Nicaragua. A Quarryville, PA firm, Corporate Air Services paid the salaries to those who flew supplies to the Contras; among these pilots was Eugene Hasenfus who was shot down over Nicaragua. The arms deal got about $20 million.

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— -- ». »»g.l.I ;if X; IV o 1 i». T To . ' :iMri rii MUC1 VOU«AC«H--M Students take many factors into ac- count when selecting the college they will attend. An institution ' s size, student-faculty ratio, academic reputa- tion, and sports programs are a few of the aspects considered by students as they decide where to spend the next four years of their life. In addition to these elements, the cost of a college also plays a major role in the students college selection process. With the ever-increasing expenses of higher education, many students can- not meet the growing costs of college by themselves. This is where financial aid comes into play. The amount of financial aid that can be provided to students by a particular college is possibly the most important factor in- volved in students selection of a col- lege. As one student aptly described the situation, If it wasn ' t for financial aid, I wouldn ' t be here. Financial aid awards consist of three different types: grants and scholar- ships, which do not need to be replac- ed; loans, which must be repaid; and wages, which are earned from on- campus jobs. The monies for these pro- grams are gained from the federal and state governments, private sources, and the colleges. Scholarships are awarded by many private organizations and by the Col- lege, the most prestigious of these be- ing the Presidential Leadership Scholarships. Each year incoming freshmen who rank in the top 40% of their class or achieve at least 1000 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test, and who have demonstrated leadership ability are eligible for thirty renewable $5000 scholarships. Other college-sponsored scholarships include the Carmean Str- ings Scholarships and the Pierre Monteuz String Scholarships, both of which recognize excellence in music. In addition to these college awards, thousands of scholarships sponsored by civic groups, foundations, and other organizations are available to students every year. These awards are presented to students based on a number of considerations, usually need or scholastic achivement. Grants constitute the other half of non -repayable awards. The federal government awards Pell Grants, based on need, to many students each year. The recipient of a Pell Grant must be enrolled at least part-time and must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. For the 1986-87 academic year, up to $2100 could be awarded to a student through Pell Grants. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency also sponsors grants awarded on need. To acquire a PHEAA grant, one must be enrolled full-time and be a resident of Pennsylvania. In addition to govern- ment grants, every year the college of- fers Grants-in-Aid to needy full-time students. Through the scholarships and grants it sponsors, the College awarded over $1.7 million to its students during this year. Loans are another form of finanical aid, but, unlike grants and scholarships, they must be repaid. The federal government offers the National Direct Student Loan to students. Up to $1000 can be borrowed at 5% interest, with payments beginning six months after graduation or termination of at least half-time enrollment. Banks also offer two special loan packages to college students. The Guaranteed Student Loan program offeres loans of up to $2500 to students whose family income is under $30,000. Interest of 8% is charged on these loans, and repayment on these also begins six months after graduation. In addition, banks offer Parents ' Loans for Undergraduate Students to parents with one or more children enrolled in college. Parents may borrow up to $3000 per student in college at an interest rate of 12%. In- terest begins to accrue on the date of borrowment and repayment begins six- ty days later. The final type of aid is college work- study. Job opportunities on campus in- clude the dining hall, library, admis- sions, communications, and academic departments. Students can be assign- ed part-time jobs under the College Work-Study program which is spon- sored by the federal government, or students can obtain jobs through the college-supported work-aid program. Payment for on-campus employment is made directly to the student each month. Students have been known to over $1000 a school year through cam- pus employment. Available aid here is at its highest point ever, and, according to Dean Gregory Stanson, there appears to be no decrease in sight. The amount available is expected to increase, especially in the area of leadership. Between 75 and 80 percent of students receive aid, whether from the state, federal or college level. For the average student, financial aid is vital. Since many students might not be here right now without the gift of financial aid, monetary assistance is obviously an in- tegral part of college life. — Amy Himmelberger 27

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Judgements for TV Evangelists TV Evangelist Jim Bakker announced his resignation from his PTL ministry this spring. His resignation occurred as a result of a sexual encounter with a secretary, Jessica Hahn. Bakker turned over the ministry and Heritage USA, a Christian retreat which includes a park, hotel, and shops, to Rev. Jerry Falwell, fundamental Baptist preacher who heads the Old Time Gospel Hour and Liberty Baptist University in Lynchburg, Virginia. After expected exploitation of his af- fair with Hahn, Bakker and his wife and co-host of the PTL (Praise the Lord People That Love) show an- nounced the turnover of the ministry to Falwell who is serving as chairman of the board. Rev. Richard Dortsch served as president of the ministry until his resignation in late April. Several of the board ' s new members also handed in their resignations, including James Watt, former Secretary of the Interior and Rev. Rex Humbard who has a ministry in Ohio. The Rev. Jimmy Swaggart has been accused of planning the exploitation, but has denied it. Many of the other television evangelists have been ac- cused of robbing the people to use their money for elaborate homes, cars, and bank accounts. Oral Roberts in his God will take me home if I don ' t raise the $8 million was able to raise the money, most from a Florida dog racer; but this caused an uproar among the American people who claim these ministers are corrupting religion — who are acting as business men rather than ministers of the Word. The Bakker ' s will not be allowed to return to their ministry according to Falwell and the Board of Directors. They will not receive pay from the PTL ministry either; their previous annual salary was $1.6 million. The Bakker ' s are uncertain of their future and their ministry. And, the people who have supported their ministry are uncertain about its future and leadership. And, the American people, in general, are uncertain about the role of the televi- sion evangelists today. U.S. Ship Hit WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- dent Reagan expressed concern and anger Monday over the Iraqi missile strike that killed 28 American sailors aboard the guided missile frigate Stark and he put U.S. ships on heightened alert in the Persian Gulf with authority to fire at threatening warplanes. We expect an apology and compensation for the men who died in this tragic incident, a White House statement said. We also seek compensation for the ship. The Stark, part of the U.S. naval task force in the gulf, was hit Sun- day (May 17) by one — possibly two — French-made Exocet missiles while on routine patrol about 85 miles northeast of Bahrain. It was the first attack on an American warship in the nearly 7- year-old Iran-Iraq war. Iraqi am- bassador Nizar Hamdoon called it an inadvertent error. The missile ripped through the ship ' s hull, tearing a 10- to 15-foot hole in its port side. Of the 28 sailors killed, 25 were trapped by intense fire in one compartment; 21 others were injured. At the Pentagon, the Navy ' s Vice Adm. Henry Mustin said the ship knew it had been ' locked on by the warplane ' s radar — a prelude to attack — and that the Stark attempted twice by radio to warn the attacker that it was an American ship. He said it was not known whether the message was received. Reagan said, We have pro- tested this attack in the strongest terms and are investigating the circumstances of the incident. This tragic incident underscores the need to bring the Iran-Iraq war to the promptest possible end. Reagan and other naval officers delivered messages at a memorial service for families of killed navy men, in Mayport, Florida, the home base of the USS Stark. 29