According to CNN, Obama’s plan would limit the repayment amount of some federal loans to 10 percent of discretionary income, and the timeline for implementing the plan would be moved up to next year. The plan also allows all debts to be forgiven after 20 years, which is five years sooner than what is currently in place.

“We should be doing everything we can to put college education within reach for every American,” Obama said.

Political Science Professor Delbert Ringquist said he thinks the whole idea is to free up both students and their families from some of their debt burden.

“What he’s attempting to do is somehow reduce the burden of debt load by dealing with the repayment plan,” Ringquist said. “He’s trying to combine those private and public loans in some sort of way and get them at a reduced interest rate.”

He said student loans are a massive portion of total debt in the U.S. and exceed credit card debt.

Diane Fleming, associate director of the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, said Central Michigan University has been a direct loan school since about 1996. This means the bulk of CMU’s students would not benefit from the loan and consolidation plan.

“Unless we have a student who has transferred to CMU who has a private loan, who has a Stafford loan from a private lender or bank, (the loan consolidation plan) would not impact more than half to 1 percent of the students that go to CMU,” Fleming said.

Fleming said most students do not have loans from a private vendor. A lot of students have private loans that are not government guaranteed, she said.

“This proposal does not speak to those loans. It only speaks to the Stafford loans that, prior to two years ago, could have been offered by schools that are only in direct lending or schools that were only in the Federal Family Educational Loan Program,” Fleming said. “If a student went to a school that participated in the Federal Family Educational Loan Program, and had a loan there and transferred to CMU, that student who has graduated could have conceivably consolidated the loans into one servicer. But that wouldn’t apply to the vast majority of our students.”

Mio junior Katelyn Blair said Obama’s speech was meant for political support and she doesn’t agree with his plan.

“I would definitely say it is to gain political support for the upcoming election,” Blair said. “Personally, I’m tired of bailout. I don’t think that increasing any tuition or federal money would be good. The best thing to do would be to increase financial aid rather than get us out of our responsibilities of paying for our loans.”

Nigeria graduate student Michael Okelue said he thinks this speech is part of his plan for the upcoming election.

“I think (it’s) more of a political strategy to win the election,” Okelue said. “I think his plan is going to work, and it will help a lot of students in the future.”

“I think it’s a significant move forward for Libya and the Libyan people,” he said. “It’s an end of an era for the North African country.”

According to CNN, Gadhafi was killed Thursday in his hometown of Sirte, Libya. Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril said Gadhafi died in a crossfire between government troops and his loyalists.

Perez said he believes this is a vindication of Barack Obama’s policies in Libya.

Perez said Gadhafi’s death is a major global event that illustrates how governments change and collapse under popular uprising.

“It’s certainly a major victory for U.S. policy and for our allies in NATO,” he said. “It’s a culmination of U.S. and NATO policy of supporting the rebels and attacking the Gadhafi regime.”

Netherlands freshman Karsten Kip and Bad Axe junior Nick Varner are part of the PSC 353: Model United Nations class, which will be representing Yemen at the American Model United Nations International Conference in Chicago this semester. Kip said the class is preparing for the model UN conference based on current Yemen policies, which are unstable and could change at any time.

Kip said the Libyan leader’s death was to be expected, and it serves as a signal to other countries that dictators can be toppled. He said the future of the region is uncertain, and studying these events makes political science more interesting.

“It’s one of the big things going on right now,” he said. “It’s like anything could happen.”

Kip said, as an international student, he was glad to see European forces were also involved in Libya.

“At least we’re doing something,” he said. “It’s a promising sign.”

Varner said he would have preferred to see Gadhafi tried for crimes against humanity, but he knew his death was inevitable if he was in Libya, because of the citizens’ hatred for him.

“There was no way he was going to be able to survive being taken captive by the type of people in the National Transition Counsel’s army,” he said.

He said the loss of a prominent leader of the former government in Libya will have a considerable impact on the insurgency in Libya because they no longer have a single person to rally against.

“I think the dwindling support (for the opposition) will evaporate,” he said.

As for the international community, Varner said he does not think there will be a great effect, because Gadhafi had isolated himself in past decades.

However, Gadhafi’s death could create an increase of rallies in countries such as Yemen and Syria that have struggled with oppressive governments, he said.

Varner said he has been following the Arab Spring since the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. He said all Americans, especially students, should make efforts to become aware of international politics because they affect everyone.

“We’re all members of a global community and it’s time we awoke to that fact,” he said.

New Twitter folk-hero Charlie Sheen has been “#winning” ever since he joined the micro-blogging site March 1. From there, it only got more insane.

From claiming he has tiger blood and Adonis DNA to hosting his own live-streaming show, “Sheen’s Korner,” on UStream, he has captured the attention of far too many people.

I admit, I follow him on Twitter, but I am no fan. Aside from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “The Chase” and the “Major League” films, I don’t like him.

I find his humor trite and boring. As far as I am concerned, reinforcing any stereotype is not funny no matter who you are.

But what I am interested in is why people like Sheen manage to stay relevant post-breakdown.

Americans love a good train wreck. From the Monica Lewinsky-Bill Clinton debacle to anything Gary Busey does to Britney Spears shaving her head and attacking a car with an umbrella; we are fascinated by people falling apart.

I am not unaffected by it. I can get wrapped up in the hype of a celebrity meltdown. But what I don’t understand is why celebrity news takes precedence over real news.

Libya, for example, or the pro-union protests in Wisconsin. Both are not only important, but have a direct effect on us as Americans.

The protests in Wisconsin could reverberate throughout much of the country should the pro-union side prevail. Finally we have a real domestic economic issue at hand that could shape the way businesses, governments and workers work together.

This could especially affect the Wolverine State because of its manufacturing-heavy economy.

As for Libya, just take a drive to the nearest gas station. You wouldn’t know the country only possesses a fraction of the world’s oil from looking at gas prices.

Last I checked, prices were over $3.50 per gallon. Makes me glad I don’t own a car.

Also, Libya is a neighbor to one of America’s most trusted allies in the Middle East: Saudi Arabia. If the rebellions in Libya and other nations spread elsewhere, what does that mean for our nation’s interests in the region?

These are things that need to be thought about and discussed in an open forum, not swept under the rug because Charlie Sheen is tweeting about his hijinks with a couple of porn stars.

Our obsession with celebrity news (gossip) is hampering our ability as citizens to be informed members of society.

There are more important things happening in the world than whether Sheen is winning or not.

Nearly 20 points down in the polls Wednesday, the Lansing mayor and Democratic candidate for governor showed no signs of lost spirit.

Bernero had no trouble commanding the room.

In his speech, he spoke of his accomplishments in Lansing, and chastised Rick Snyder, his Republican opponent, for not wanting to look “backward.”

“To me, that’s how you measure someone’s accomplishments,” he said.

He called Snyder’s 10 Point Plan ‘vanilla,’ and said he completely agreed with each item on the list, which he carried with him in a pocket.

“It’s the UN charter,” he said. “But there’s no substance.”

Family ties

Bernero’s wife, Teri Bernero, walked into the room after her husband. Teri, an elementary school principal, was named during Bernero’s speech to the crowd. She smiled as her husband spoke to the crowd and named her the “greatest educator in his life.”

The Berneros met at Adrian College, where they both graduated, and now have two children, Kelly, 22, a University of Michigan alumna, and Virginia, 19, a Central Michigan University sophomore.

As a friend of one of her daughter’s approached, Teri warmly greeted her with a big smile and a hug.

“A friendly face!” she said, as she grabbed her husband to say hello. He greeted the girl with just as much excitement, a smile and hug as well.

These were quiet, sideline moments — not the man seen yelling on CNN, not the one at the podium with the spotlight on and not the gubernatorial candidate or Lansing mayor.

Virginia Bernero said the energy level is the same at home, but the mayor does relax when he’s there.

“There’s always vibrant dinner conversation going on, and my dad has a good sense of humor,” she said. “He will take advantage of any downtime he can get, and he has a very strong value for family.”

Virginia said her father makes it a priority to get the extended family or even just her immediate family together regularly.

“It’s really important to my dad,” she said. “As busy as he is and as busy as we are and were in high school, we have to schedule time.”

Passion for the job

Bernero began his political career as a state representative and was elected to the state senate, before leaving the position for mayor.

As a candidate, Bernero has been characterized as “firey” and “passionate” by pundits up and down the state. It is clear as he invokes his father, who owned a produce business and later was a United Auto Workers member, on stage. He also mentions his mother’s wisdom.

The man who arguably spends the most time with Bernero at the moment, Deputy Campaign Manager and “body man (assistant)” Patrick McAlvey, said he’s “lucky” to work for Bernero.

“It’s obviously a job, but it’s more than that. It’s something I believe in wholeheartedly,” McAlvey said. “He’s a passionate guy, he speaks his mind, he stands by what he believes and is willing to stand up for what he believes.”

Fox News and MSNBC have been steadily carving out their niche as a place for partisan blowhards to preach to their choirs while CNN has become the most trusted name in “info-tainment.”

CNN once had the most revered brand name in broadcast journalism and still features some of the best political analysis on television and their election-night coverage is second to none.

Where CNN is erring these days is their new emphasis on entertaining news, rather than just news.

Before his firing last week for anti-Semitic remarks, Rick Sanchez was diluting the network’s legacy with each broadcast of his show “Rick’s List.”

The same network that revolutionized the 24-hour news cycle and was able to broadcast live images of Baghdad being bombed in 1990, now featured a program where the anchor would read Facebook comments and tweets on air, rather than report on anything important.

If sensationalist broadcasts and over-the-top anchors were CNN’s only problem, that could be tolerated. Cable news now has to fill 24-hour news cycles and compete with the internet and hundreds of competing channels.

But their recent hiring practices are quickly chiseling away any journalistic integrity the network clings to.

Eliot Spitzer has been appearing as a Wall Street analyst on the network for months under the moniker “the former sheriff of Wall Street” and on Monday debuted a new show called “Parker Spitzer,” that will be a roundtable discussion show with conservative columnist Kathleen Parker, where the central theme will undoubtedly be partisan hacks trying to yell louder than each other.

While Spitzer did earn a reputation for investigating Wall Street as New York’s attorney general, the network would conveniently forget to mention that Spitzer was forced to resign as governor of New York in 2008 due to him being a client for high-priced prostitutes; both as attorney general and during his 15 months as governor.

Another troubling hire is that the man taking over Larry King’s time slot in January, Piers Morgan. Morgan made his reputation in England as a tabloid journalist and has been a host and contestant on reality TV in the U.S.

“Larry King Live” was once served as the network’s crown jewel and the time slot will now be filled by a personality who has no journalistic credibility and makes Ryan Seacrest look like Tom Brokaw.

The network which dubs itself as the “Most Trusted Name in News” has definitely lost my trust and more importantly, my respect.

I watched as each of these outlets line up behind President George W. Bush and help beat the drums of a war in Iraq to the American public. I watched each news organization sell the stimulus and Wall Street bail-out to an American public.

Never once were the hard questions asked about the presented information.

I don’t believe all journalists on these networks are at complete fault. It is the companies they work for. Huge media conglomerates own each of these outlets is out to make profits.

So, what we lose in America is an unbiased approach to news.

Now, I am not saying every reporter has the ability to report without some form of bias, but I think it can be done with as little bias as possible.

What happened is 24-hour news organizations are actually becoming entertainment organizations.

As John Stewart said in a debate with Bernie Goldberg, “I have not moved out of the comedian’s box into the news box. The news box is moving towards me.”

Entertainment has taking over the telling of the news and it is for profit and ratings.

It is up to the people to see what is possible and what can be done with media. People have freedom in America and with this freedom we can debate honestly and truthfully.

America is great because it is made up of individuals each who have their own belief politically, socially and the right to practice this freedom of ideas in an open forum. But to use a label of news organizations and then exploit liberal or conservative views goes too far.

I believe it causes the hatred and deep divides we have now in our country. Each news organization knows its audience and panders to those beliefs. Entertainment is now our news.

There is no one to blame. It is the consumer getting what they want. All I am saying is before you take the next commentator at their word. Do some research, step outside the comfort zone. If you are liberal look up some opposing views on a subject hear the other side from a reparable source and listen to the facts and not rants.

I ask the same from conservatives, find an opposing view listen to the facts from a reparable source.

It is hard. But I do it daily seeking truth in every story I read or hear about. However, it takes time to seek out the truth when you are bombarded by news that is out for entertainment ratings then informing the public.

Apparently though, it is now the fourth network that comes to mind to the American people.

Last week, the October primetime ratings for cable news stations were released and CNN limped to a fourth-place finish. According to an article in the New York Times, CNN was not only beaten by first-run airings of Fox and MSNBC editorial shows, but was even outwatched by a repeat of Keith Olbermann’s 8 p.m. show.

“Countdown.”

This was a first.

What does this say about the American people? What do we want when it comes to TV news?

More and more I realize that many people do not want hard news anymore but, instead, would like their own opinions validated by a talking head. Whether you watch Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity or Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow, you’re not getting real news.

What Beck, Hannity, Olbermann and Maddow do is spew their own thoughts about the issues.

This is why CNN is in last place — because they attempt to give its viewers hard news.

It is easy to see the difference between CNN and either Fox or MSNBC, and not just during primetime. Flip to CNN at 8 p.m. and Campbell Brown will be discussing what she believes to be news with “No Bias, No Bull.”

Whereas, if you turn on MSNBC, Olbermann will most likely be ranting about an issue, or constantly interrupting his guest. The same thing happens on the “O’Reilly Factor” with Bill O’Reilly.

CNN is more news-centric than any of its three better-performing competitors. This is why it finished last.

If CNN were a person, it would be the nice guy all the girls just want to be friends with. On the other hand, Fox and MSNBC are CNN friends that the girls want to date. They’re more interesting.

Fox News senior vice president Michael Clemente released a statement that said the average American knows the different between opinion-based coverage and news, using the editorial page of a newspaper as his example. But, as I have been told in several journalism courses here at CMU, this is not the case.

The problem is most people don’t know the difference between editorials and news stories. Many people, myself included, like to have their opinions validated by others. This is what primetime “news” does.

The primetime news ratings show that many people not only enjoy the “infotainment” of Fox and MSNBC more than the news-centric CNN, but also just want to be told what they already believe. If you’re a conservative, chances are you watch Fox. If you’re a liberal, you probably watch MSNBC.

But the focus of these networks should be to inform, not entertain.