Universities Weblog

By Courtney Phillips

It seems every time the government even mentions the phrase “economic stimulus” the scammers’ ears perk up and they are chomping at the bit to start taking the money of unsuspecting victims.  Well, the latest stimulus package is no exception and they are striking while the iron is hot.

How does it work?  Well, this one is a bit more transparent and less clever than some of the scams we have seen in the past but will still be successful as so few outside of the Beltway actually understand how the stimulus will affect them. 

Phone solicitors call unsuspecting individuals and tell them they are with (Insert Fake Company Here) and tell them that, because of President Obama’s stimulus bill, they can receive a reduction in their credit card interest rates if they just provide their information and account numbers.

This is an especially insidious scheme in these tough economic times when everyone is looking for ways to save some cash.  Often when they receive such calls, they are inclined to share information they would normally know to keep to themselves in the hopes it will be used to their benefit.

There are also those being told via the post that their business is entitled to a tax rebate through the stimulus package and that they are being assessed by the Small Business Administration regarding their eligibility for such a rebate.  And, of course, they are asked for personal information to establish their eligibility.

While these are two of the more common stimulus scams, they are not the only ones out there.  These scams will evolve and become increasingly more complex as time goes on and the stimulus package funds are distributed to their respective entities.

What you need to know if you are an individual or small business owner is that, more than likely, you will not personally benefit from the stimulus package and need to vigilant of anyone wanting to exploit your lack of information on the issue.  If you are unclear about the distribution of this money, you will want to examine it more closely and do a bit of research to ensure you understand the benefits of the package and what sectors it will cover.
 

By Courtney Phillips

At many schools, community service is a graduation requirement.  And, for many students, working in a nursing home or other geriatric facility is how these service hours are fulfilled.  While it is not always the first preference for how students would like to spend their time, most come away with a deeper understanding of themselves and the elderly folks with whom they work.

Below are five tips for bridging the divide between students and their older (and wiser) new friends:

1.    Sympathy – Young people need to realize they will someday be old and that everyone eventually faces the challenges of aging.

2.    Communication – If there is discomfort or awkward silences, addressing them gently can be a great ice breaker.  Perhaps the student will admit he is nervous or unsure about how best to approach the situation.

3.    Humor – Students should keep their senses of humor.  While this does not mean they are not cruelly amused in any way, students should keep things light and fun whenever possible.

4.    Common ground – There is SOMETHING the student and their older counterpart have in common.  By working to find that common ground, all involved will learn more about one another and ultimately bond over their resulting similarities.

5.    Respect – As stated previously, both the young and old have plenty to learn from one another.  If each chooses to respect the life experiences of the other, it will prove to be a very profound experience.

While working in a nursing home once, I found myself faced with an angry woman from whom I wanted to escape.  She was unhappy, unhealthy and, I thought, insane.  But, I was personally assigned to keeping her company and had to make the best of it. 
After asking her questions about herself I found that she had attended the same church as my grandmother.  It turned out that she not only knew my grandmother but had gone to high school with her.  Though they hadn’t spoken in years, they were good friends when they were younger. 
We spent that afternoon (and many thereafter) talking about their old neighborhood and my grandmother’s school days.  My grandmother died when I was ten and I never had the chance to learn much about her life.  The experience was one of the best of my life.