Students Weigh in on Lehman’s Financial Aid System
By Allen Mena
Despite Lehman’s relatively low-cost tuition of under $10,000, most Lehman students still rely on financial aid and have mixed feelings about their experiences with the office of distribution. A majority of students receive financial aid; around 85 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Education. However, several students reported difficulties with the process.
“It hasn’t always been a pleasant experience,” said Samantha DiDonato, 19, an undeclared Lehman sophomore. “Part of the staff is friendly and cooperative during complicated situations. Others have been rude when I ask questions and made some processes more difficult for me than they need to be.”
“Sometimes the staff would become annoyed with me if I didn’t have the proper information or documentation at the time of my visits,” said Catherine Rodriguez, 20, a junior biology major.
“There have been times where the staff have breaks and do not let anyone on the waiting line know, which I found rude to everyone trying to get help with their forms,” said Steven Morano, 19, an undeclared sophomore.
Other students reported overall positive experiences with the office.
“I believe the experience with financial aid is helpful. In the end I get the money I need for my classes,” said 19-year-old Richard Castillo, a nursing sophomore at Lehman. “Because of my specific case, it hasn’t been easy, but by asking questions, taking notes down, and following directions, I’ve been able to get through the process.”
Lehman’s financial aid system works similarly to that of other colleges. It gives students the funds for college in three main ways: loans that must be repaid with interest, grants that do not have to be repaid in most cases, and work-study, which provides students with a part-time job to earn the money to pay for their tuition, room, and/or board. Each track comes with its own prerequisites which can seem less daunting when financial aid staff explain them to students.
“My experience with Lehman financial aid office was positive and the staff really took the time to answer my questions and fill out complicated forms,” said Precious Oporum, a sophomore biology major.
‘DNA’ Sandwiches Same Old Sound Between Mild Update
By Allen Mena
“DNA” album cover art. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
The Backstreet Boys released their ninth and newest album on Jan. 25, 2019. It’s their first album since 2013. Titled “DNA,” its 13 songs include radio favorites “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” and “OK.” The songs mainly feature melodic tunes carried out by a variety of musical instruments, such as the flute and saxophone. The tunes are reminiscent of some of the group’s classic songs like “I Want It That Way,” and are simultaneously modern enough to resonate with a younger audience.
The first and last tracks of the album are the strongest pieces because their harmonizing stays true to the band’s roots and also agrees with the fast-paced beats that are commonplace in the music industry today. The stand-out song is “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” because of its fast-paced, modern style. It is comparable to Maroon 5’s recent hit featuring Cardi B, “Girls Like you,” because it has similar beats at a similar pace, along with multiple singers performing at the same time during the chorus and throughout the song.
Sadly, most of the songs in the middle of “DNA” come across as fillers and generally sound the same in their delivery. The least impressive track on the album is “Breathe.” While this song might have been a smash hit in the 90s, the acapella vocals and pace of the song do not align with what is popular today.
However, this album’s initial success adds to the group’s legacy, since it landed #1 album on the Billboard 200. This still pales in comparison to the Backstreet Boys’ most successful album, “Millennium,” which made over ten million dollars in sales and included their greatest hit song, “I Want It That Way.” The Backstreet Boys have won numerous music awards, including their most prestigious, “Album of the Year” in 1999 at the Billboard Music Awards. Given the album’s considerable replay value from radio hits, it easily earns three out of five stars.