It’s the season when Uncle Sam requires all people who make enough money to file a tax return, and college students are no exception. The deadline for filing this year is April 18. Although the process might seem intimidating, and most students might not make enough money to even be required to file, it is still important to file a tax return with the Internal Revenue Service. It’s a valuable skill to learn, plus, depending on different factors, they might receive a financial surprise … Uncle Sam might send money back.

Every day the American people are becoming acutely aware that inflation is reducing the purchasing power of their money as they shop for food at their local grocery store and gasoline at their local gas station. Inflation will be the No. 1 concern and political issue in the 2022 election. U.S. inflation is largely due to excessive Federal government spending over the last two years resulting in the 2021 inflation rate of 7.1% and the 2022 inflation rate of above 8% In prior years inflation typically ran between 1 and 4%.

Although education should be a right and the open door for a better life, for many people it becomes a life-long debt. However, President Joe Biden finally made the announcement many have been waiting for – the student loan relief for borrowers.

On Aug 24, President Joe Biden said students who have an outstanding student loan debt up to about $10,000, may be eligible to qualify for the Student Loan Forgiveness plan. Those who accepted Pell Grants during their education can qualify up to $25,000. If the student has the said amount piling up, and their income (or their parents) is less than $125,000, they will be eligible, according to the Associated Press.

Students at the Richland campus of Dallas College had their opinions about this proposal. Peter Cho, lab specialist of the Art Department t said, “I think that it’s brilliant to have student debt eliminated.” Cho is an Iraqi war veteran and didn’t need to apply. He was supported by a GI Bill from his service with the U.S. Army. He said that he had to apply for the bill to also help pay for his expenses.

In war, many aspects of life and parts of a nation are impacted. And with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the global economy reaching from the Americas to Asia is feeling the impact. One of the most highlighted parts in terms of economic factors in the war were the sanctions placed from European Union and the U.S. This included blocking selected Russian banks from SWIFT, the dominant system for global financial transactions, according to the Associated Press.

Todd Senick, lab manager for the Bloom- berg Finance and Investment Lab at Dallas College Richland Campus, said the sanctions are intentionally doing what they are supposed to be doing and have had a large impact on the Russian economy and its currency, the Ruble.

“Combined, student debt in the U.S is the size of Canada’s economy” wrote Josh Mitchell in his book “The Debt Trap: How Student Loans Became a National Catastrophe.

Dallas College hosted a virtual town hall on Feb. 22 to discuss the student debt crisis with Mitchell, author and economic reporter from The Wall Street Journal.

The meeting began with a welcome from Dallas College Chancellor-elect Justin Lonon. “Today is an opportunity to have an open dialogue and share with you some affordable options to quality education that we provide here at Dallas College,” Lonon said.