Alan Nasser, Chicago hotel hopping, and joining EduLender

I spoke to Alan Nasser a few days ago (awesome) after my third day at work (equally awesome), and some hotel hopping (decidedly not awesome).  We spoke for over an hour and a half, and the poor man most likely had bronchitis.  It was a fantastic conversation, and I am looking forward to sharing that interview with all of you.

It was after a long day at my new job for EduLender, and even though I hadn't eaten for hours and was tired, I had been looking forward to having this conversation for two weeks. But you probably already guessed that from the above paragraph. I was elated, too, because I had just met the crew at EduLender, here in Chicago (where I'm still 'residing'), and am absolutely delighted to be joining them as their managing editor of EduTrends.

Nasser and I, not surprisingly, are on the same page about a lot of things, and it was an absolute honor and privilege to connect with him.

I am headed to Valparaiso University this evening, and will be talking to the 7th SBA Circuit tomorrow about the student lending crisis and student loan debt.

Stay tuned for my interview with Nasser and an update about my talk tomorrow.

Good night. Good luck.

Related links

Alan Nasser

"Cockeyed Economics," CounterPunch, Oct. 9, 2009.

"New Liberalism Writes Its Obituary," CounterPunch, Sept. 21, 2009

"The Bailout Lie Exposed: Financial 'Big Boys' Never Intended To Lend Out Their Windfall,"
Global Research, Oct. 28, 2008

EduLender

"Interview With EduLender Founder, Suyeon Khim," Technori, Feb. 9, 2011

Tuition Gift Registry: EduLender Fundraisers

When it comes to researching the topic of suicide and student loan debt, I find it difficult at times to keep a safe distance from the subjects and their struggles. Only a callous and soulless individual would have the ability to remain unmoved by such stories, and I am no such person.

When I first threw out the question about suicide on August 17, 2010 - 'Who's Thought About it?  - I was quite overwhelmed by the responses. While my work on debt and suicide continues, I want to turn to something more hopeful for a moment. As most of you are aware, I am now the managing editor for a company called EduLender. (I'm presently writing this blog from a hotel in downtown Chicago, and finished three days of work at the office. I will be heading back to Dallas on Sunday, after I am on a panel at Valparaiso University to discuss the student lending crisis with law students in the region. Stay tuned for details on how that goes).

As for EduLender, the company is unique in that it provides an unbiased search engine that helps borrowers identify and compare loan options from 230+ lenders.

Because of my research and writing on AEM, and The Huffington Post, and The New England Journal of Higher Education, etc., etc., I will be hard at work, providing readers with up-to-date analysis on student loan issues on EduTrends.

There's another feature of EduLender, however, that I find absolutely thrilling. That feature is called the tuition gift registry. The name immediately tells you how it works, i.e., pretty much like a gift registry for when you're getting married. Talk about a clever idea!

So, let's say you have a loved one who likes to send you gifts or money for your birthday or on other special days. Instead of doing that, said-awesome-giving-relative-or-friend can help invest in your education. For instance, let's say you have one of those grandmothers who likes to send you money slipped in a birthday card (I had a G-Ma who did that, and I miss her sweet notes and generous cash). You can ask her to contribute to the registry and something that is far more worthwhile: your education. That way grandma can help you finance your degree(s), and you won't waste the money she sent on something useless that will probably end up in the garbage anyway.

As soon as I start talking about this concept, my tone and mood changes.

Of course, I remain focused on insisting that we are experiencing a major crisis, and once we hit that . . . er . . . magic number of $1 trillion in June of 2012, I won't be feeling particularly festive (quite the opposite in fact). So it's nice to see smart ideas coming out of such a mess, and in direct response to it. Not only is this tuition gift registry a smart idea, it is a concrete solution that helps students pay off their student loan debt.

I do grow quite tired of discussing the crisis . . .

We need solutions, and that is why EduLender's tuition gift registry makes me more than just a little bit happy.

'Til death do us part, unless we're talking about your student loans

So many of my readers were outraged by a recent piece in the Consumerist about a dead woman and her student loan debt. The woman graduated from the University of Kansas and died shortly thereafter from cancer. She owed $45,000 in student loan debt, so the lenders sent their collecting bloodhounds to terrorize her parents. As the article aptly states, "Because every grieving family needs to fight banks." Exactly.

Unfortunately, this story isn't remarkable. That's what outrages me. I've read several cases (and am confident there are more out there) about lenders going after those who have survived the indentured educated servant. 

As many of you know, many of these loans follow you to your grave. That is not exactly comforting.


Lenders have certainly changed the meaning of hauntings, haven't they? Funny thing is, they've inverted it. Is it really right that the hauntings are being caused by the living? Lenders, I have news for you, you're fooling around with the wrong rules. You shouldn't be tormenting dead souls, and you shouldn't be demonizing their families. This will bite you in the ass at some point. So, yeah, good luck in the afterlife.

Image Of A Despondent Student Loan Debt Ghost

What It Means To Build: EduLender, SponsorChange.org, And The David & Goliath Project

One of my great grandfathers helped build the Golden Gate bridge. I recall as a child being told that there was a spot where his initials could still be seen. While I can't be sure if that story is true, to this day it still excites me to imagine him doing such a thing. I've been through San Francisco several times, but have never visited that landmark. When I do, I might just look for those initials. That man knew a thing or two about the importance of working with others, and it's a shame that some fail to understand the value of collaboration.

We are not in this struggle alone, and we should never stake out territory in causes that are based upon the collective. When you are only intent on 'protecting your turf,' you lose sight of why and how it matters to build partnerships.

That is why I am always in search of a hand that is extended. Of course, fists are more than just fine, but I like to see a palm first. The palm is followed by a firm handshake. Then we raise our fists. Together.

A few months ago I exchanged several tweets with someone named Suyeon Khim at EduLender. She applauded the work of AEM, Inc. and my research on the student lending crisis. Shortly after that exchange, EduLender sent AEM a generous donation. (I later learned that Ms. Khim is the founder of EduLender).

Part of AEM's objective is to bridge partnerships with organizations and individuals who share our concerns about student loan debt, the struggles of student loan borrowers, etc. For instance, I am actively involved in spreading the word about SponsorChange.org's work. We have developed a positive relationship, and I work (voluntarily) as their Online Brand Advocate. (Psssssst. If you haven't explored what SponsorChange is all about, do so immediately! Yes. That's a command).

AEM continues to forge new relationships on a weekly basis. In fact, our newest partnership is with The David & Goliath Project. The Founder, Dustin Slaughter, is on AEM's Board of Directors, and I am excited to support his newest endeavor.

Based upon the objectives of EduLender, it was immediately clear that they could be a potential partner. As it turns out, the relationship would become more than that.

On Monday, February 14th, I will be joining EduLender as the Managing Editor of  EduTrends.

This will not preclude me from continuing my own work as the founder & executive Director of AEM. The mission stays the same - to come up with viable solutions that will bring immediate relief to current debtors. In addition, EduLender fully supports the mission and work of our organization. In fact, this relationship and new venture is a win-win for all of us.

More work lies ahead, but I've had my sleeves rolled up for quite some time. To build is to change. Demolition is nearly complete.


Related Links

EduLender

"Interview with Suyeon Khim, Founder of EduLender," Midventures, Dec. 9, 2010

"Hyde Park Angels Invest In EduLender, Inc.," ForeverGeeks, Dec. 7, 2010

SponsorChange

"Economista: Why MicroLenders Will Replace Sallie Mae," Black Enterprise, February 11, 2011

"SponsorChange: Alleviating The Strain Of Student Debt," Atlanta Post, May 25, 2010

Ask Sec. Duncan Why The Dept. of Education Isn't Doing More To Help

Sec. Duncan has agreed to answer questions on February 26th at the National Youth Summit in D.C. Please submit your questions to Sec. Duncan ASAP. Ask him why the Department of Education isn't doing more to help the indentured educated class.