There is a crucial scene in the award-winning 2018 debut novel Asymmetrical by Lisa Halliday, a roman a clef about a young graduate who has a relationship with an elderly American novelist. One day the protagonist, burdened by student debt and trying to live on the cheap, finds out that the novelist – a thinly disguised Philip Roth – has quietly contacted the Harvard Student Affairs office and without telling her, has paid off her student loan in full.
This scene would have resonated with every debt-burdened student as a kind of fairy tale come true. For the many students who go to university in America today, and do not have wealthy parents or benefactors, the reality of student debt is ugly and crippling. Those who continue on to graduate school, medical school or law school can come out with debt close to half a million dollars or more.
According to the Urban Institute, a Washington-based think tank, each year, 30 to 40 per cent of all undergraduate students take federal student loans, and roughly 70 per cent of students who receive a bachelor’s degree have an education debt by the time they graduate.
When I left graduate school in the 1990s – putting off the real world for as long as possible by accruing degrees in fields that would certainly never earn me a return on investment – I was in so much debt, I could have used it as a down payment on a home. I shuddered every time I opened the dreaded envelope from Sallie Mae, a private student-lending corporation set up in the 1970s.
Colleges are more rarefied than when I went to school. The cost of American universities has shot up to unimaginable levels. An Ivy League education costs $83,000 a year without health care (another consideration in America, where you can go into debt for life if you get hit by a car or break a leg without health insurance).
Public universities with in-state fees can cost a student around $21,370 (room and board plus tuition) each year for four years. Two-year colleges cost around $12,000 a year. This makes higher education inaccessible to an entire portion of society. The minimum wage in some states is around $7.25 per hour. In some states, like California, Washington, New York and Massachusetts it is around $15 an hour. That is still not enough to pay for college.
At the heart of this is inequality, and Biden's act is a chance to rectify it
Student debt totalled more than $1.76 trillion last year – two or three times more than what it was 10 years ago. Which is why US President Joe Biden’s $400 billion student loan forgiveness plan might be his greatest legacy – a legacy not unlike former US President Lyndon B Johnson’s Civil Rights Act that advanced equality throughout the nation.
The loan forgiveness plan could affect millions of Americans, cancelling debt of approximately $430bn for nearly 40m borrowers. But first, Mr Biden has to get it through the Supreme Court and the Conservative justices.
Last week, Solicitor General Elizabeth Barchas Prelogar, who represents Mr Biden’s administration, gave an incredible oral argument before nine justices describing how the plan would relieve students of debt, and arguing the Biden case.
Ms Prelogar is from Idaho and she went to public schools before university at Emory in Georgia, St Andrews in Scotland and finally Harvard Law. Presumably, she understands how painful student loans can be.
Ms Prelogar’s job in court was not easy: conservative justices are sceptical of the plan. Mr Biden rolled out the loan forgiveness plan by using a post-9/11 statute, The Heroes Act of 2003, as a justification.
The Heroes Act allows the US Secretary of Education to “waive or modify” student loan programmes to ensure borrowers are not left worse off because of a national emergency. At that time, it was the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In this case, it was the Covid-19 pandemic. But opponents say Mr Biden’s plan goes beyond the Heroes Act, and that he has overreached.
The nine justices considered legal challenges to Mr Biden’s plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student debt for borrowers with limited earnings. But six Republican led states – Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Carolina, as well as a conservative advocacy organisation – brought lawsuits against it. Ms Prelogar’s job was to convince them.
According to several legal experts observing the arguments, she may have influenced or even changed the thinking of two justices, perhaps more. She argued that Mr Biden was acting within the law to relieve distress during “national emergencies”.
At the heart of this is inequality, and the Act is a chance to rectify it.
I have taught at three universities over the past decade, and I work with many young graduates. I don’t think I have come across one student who did not feel deep anxiety about finding a job and paying off their loans.
More from Janine di Giovanni
Covid-19 forced many students to abandon their studies (“Why pay for a year and go into debt when I have to study remotely?”) and many more to move back in with their parents because they could not afford rising rent. This generation has it much tougher than when I first set out looking for a job.
Mr Biden’s foresight could make all the difference to a new generation entering the workforce unencumbered and able to focus on building their careers. During his campaign, Mr Biden promised to provide relief to students and to give potential students who did not want to go into debt a path to receiving an education.
Whatever is decided – the decision is expected in June – it will have repercussions for generations. The Republicans call the bail out unfair for those students who paid off their loans and they say it is expensive for tax payers.
But if you ask burdened students, they will say that taxes are for the greater good. Mr Biden will say this is a “game changer”. As a tax payer, and someone who did pay off my loans, I agree. For too many people in America education is inaccessible. There are those unfortunately who do not go to college because crippling loans are a barrier that frightens them.
Mr Biden’s act could level the playing field. It could give a chance to many to enter the middle class. If education is the greatest tool we have against poverty, extremism, violence, then this is a very small price for the rest of us to pay.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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T20 World Cup Qualifier, Muscat
UAE FIXTURES
Friday February 18: v Ireland
Saturday February 19: v Germany
Monday February 21: v Philippines
Tuesday February 22: semi-finals
Thursday February 24: final
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Anti-semitic attacks
The annual report by the Community Security Trust, which advises the Jewish community on security , warned on Thursday that anti-Semitic incidents in Britain had reached a record high.
It found there had been 2,255 anti-Semitic incidents reported in 2021, a rise of 34 per cent from the previous year.
The report detailed the convictions of a number of people for anti-Semitic crimes, including one man who was jailed for setting up a neo-Nazi group which had encouraged “the eradication of Jewish people” and another who had posted anti-Semitic homemade videos on social media.
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
The stats: 2017 Jaguar XJ
Price, base / as tested Dh326,700 / Dh342,700
Engine 3.0L V6
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 340hp @ 6,000pm
Torque 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.1L / 100km
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Zayed Sustainability Prize
How to help
Donate towards food and a flight by transferring money to this registered charity's account.
Account name: Dar Al Ber Society
Account Number: 11 530 734
IBAN: AE 9805 000 000 000 11 530 734
Bank Name: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
To ensure that your contribution reaches these people, please send the copy of deposit/transfer receipt to: juhi.khan@daralber.ae
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
The specs: Macan Turbo
Engine: Dual synchronous electric motors
Power: 639hp
Torque: 1,130Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Touring range: 591km
Price: From Dh412,500
On sale: Deliveries start in October
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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2.0
Director: S Shankar
Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films
Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Richard Jewell
Director: Clint Eastwood
Stars: Paul Walter Hauser, Sam Rockwell, Brandon Stanley
Two-and-a-half out of five stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
If you go
Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.
Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com
A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP
Group A
Paraguay
Japan
Switzerland
USA
Group B
Uruguay
Mexico
Italy
Tahiti
Group C
Belarus
UAE
Senegal
Russia
Group D
Brazil
Oman
Portugal
Nigeria
