Time for ten minutes of commercial free current events. I`m Carl Azuz. Welcome to CNN STUDENT
NEWS.
Our first today centers on the landslide in Washington State. The governor has declared
the state of emergency and hopes for finding survivors are fading. This happened on Saturday
night affecting two rural communities north of Seattle. It covered a square mile and killed
at least 14 people. Officials say more than 170 others are still unaccounted for, though
that doesn`t necessarily mean they are all victims. At least 50 homes and buildings were
damaged or destroyed.
How does this happen?
What happens when you get more rain than you should right around this mountain ranges.
It becomes very, very heavy and the soil begins to soak and gravity just pulls it down and
when you get those very steep slopes, too steep to support it, the slope falls and that`s
where you get your mudslide and that`s exactly what has happened.
U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama has gotten a lot of attention over the years for her
efforts to fight childhood obesity in America. She promotes another cause involving young
people. She wants them to study abroad. Right now she`s in China where she discussed exchange
programs yesterday with Chinese and international students. But she recently sat down with CNN
I-Report to answer some viewers` questions about studying abroad.
Hi. I`m First Lady Michelle Obama and I`m here to answer your I-Report questions.
Hi, Mrs. Obama. My name is Willie James. I`m from Atlanta, Georgia. And I studied abroad
in Kyoto, Japan, for one year, back in 2008-2009. My question to you is what advice would you
give to young American students going abroad for the first time?
Number one, be open. Try to enter the experience with no preconceived notions about the country
you`re going to or the people in that country. You`ve got to try to shake the fear. You know,
you can`t approach this opportunities thinking that everything is going to feel good and
comfortable and you`ll get everything right. You probably are going to make a lot of mistakes,
but you know what, that`s life.
In other parts of the world that you go to, they will appreciate your effort, your energy
as long as you come into the experience respecting the people and the culture that you`re coming
into.
Hi, Mrs. Obama. My name is April Thompson. And I`m currently in Accra, Ghana. My question
for you is where did you receive your first passport stamp and how that experience impact
the person that you are today?
Our sophomore class had an opportunity to spend a week for break in France, and initially,
I was nervous about taking that week. I didn`t want to ask my father to pay for that trip.
It felt like an extravagance. And I remember breaking down in tears feeling guilty about
even asking him if I could go. He wanted me to have all the experiences that he didn`t`
have. And he didn`t blink an eye in paying for that trip.
So, I got on a plane with some of my classmates and we stayed in a youth hostel and spoke
a lot of bad French and learned a lot.
You heard the First Lady mention cost there, and while studying abroad can unlock a lot
of cultural and educational doors for students, it`s usually done at an additional fee, and
not everyone can afford it. Student loans might help, but as things stand now, the average
debt for college graduates who got student loans is more than $27,000.
Undergraduates, you`ve got some company. You`re not the only one leaving school with a mountain
of debt. And, in fact, graduate students are taking out even bigger loans. More than $57,000,
to be exact. That`s the median debt load for a student with the graduate degree, anything
from an NBA to a master`s and medical or a law degree. And that 57,000 is up from 40,000
in 2004. A 43 percent increase according to the New America Foundation. There are a few
factors at play: schools have raised prices partly because they are getting less aid from
state governments. Some people lost their savings in the recession and have to borrow
more these days. Also, many undergraduates are having a hard time finding work, so they
are going back to school for a higher degree. That could add to an already existing debt
load. But some say, it`s worth it because in the long run, there`s a return on investment
in the form of higher earnings, and many students believe grad school will give them a leg up
when they start looking for a job. I`m Alison Kosik in New York.
Time for the "Shoutout." Which term best describes an organization that`s formed to ensure certain
wages and benefits for its members? If you think you know it, shout it out! Is it merger,
union, allotment or junction? You`ve got three seconds, go!
A union, specifically a labor union focuses on working conditions and pay for its members.
That`s your answer and that`s your shoutout.
But that`s for paid employees in the workforce. What would it look like on a college campus
if football players try to unionize? They are not paid in wages, though many of them
get scholarships, they are not guaranteed medical benefits for injuries, though they
have a choice about whether to play. These are questions and arguments that could be
settled in court.
It was Jafiar Bros (ph) childhood dream to play college football.
And this is my best season.
But it could cost him a lifetime of pain.
You were (INAUDIBLE) fastest guys in the Stanton (ph) High School.
Yes.
And now you can`t run.
I can`t run.
He fractured his legs while playing, and now has metal rods in both. He can`t afford the
surgery to have them removed, because there is no financial help for former college athletes.
A big burden for someone with chromic injuries like his.
But this would cost a significant amount of money, if you were to take this out.
Yes. Over $20,000. Between $20,000 and $30,000 to take it out.
But then it would all be on you.
All on me.
No one else will pay for that?
Yes. All on me.
Medical coverage is just the beginning of the criticisms against the NCAA and how they
treat their college athletes. But never before have current players been so vocal and standing
up for themselves. That is not until now. Last month the members of the current Northwestern
Football Team got together and they decided they are going to try something. Something
that could revolutionize the way the NCAA works.
I would like to take the Northwestern .
They are trying to form a union, an incredibly bold move, given the tight control over athletes
in a multibillion dollar industry of college sports.
Athletes don`t have a voice.
The idea came from former Northwestern quarterback Kain Colter. Ironically, he got it during
a college course. Almost all of his teammates back him.
The current model resembles a dictatorship.
Now, they are taking their fights before the National Labor Relations Board.
One, two, two, three!
But the team is up against their own university, which has applauded their leadership, but
said, "Student athletes are not employees, but students."
And the NCAA added that "their participation in college sports in voluntarily." While there
is growing public support for NCAA reform, some question whether this is the right approach.
I think it`s just very risky .
Labor law professor Richard Epstein is no fan of the NCAA. He`s called it a cartel.
But he doesn`t think a union is the solution.
Generally speaking, putting a union opposite an industry cartel creates more instability
than it eliminates.
But Yarboro (ph) says he`s never been more proud to be a wildcat than the date those
players stepped up and essentially said enough.
So, this hearing boils down to this: whether or not the judge agrees that these athletes
should be considered employees. The university says no, they are students first. But the
athletes say football dominates everything they do. There`s a lot of testimony about
the rigorous of their schedule, the amount of hours they put in, the classes that they
simply don`t have time to take. And if the judge agrees with them that they are, in fact,
employees of the university, then they can move forward and unionize.
Sara Ganim, CNN, Chicago.
Today`s Roll Call is going global. Why? Because it`s worldwide Wednesday and you`re going
to love it. We are starting with Grace Christian Academy. Great to see you on the island of
Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands. Then we are saying hello to the overseas family
school. They are online and watching CNN STUDENT NEWS from the island nation of Singapore.
And from there, we`ll travel to Bangladesh. Where we`re glad to have viewers at the University
of Dhaka, the Bangladeshi capital.
People can appreciate a good magic trick. The coin is there, it`s gone. Whoopi! Not
as fun for dogs. A magician recently made a treat disappear right in front of dogs`
noses. He wanted to know if dogs like magic. The answer - nope, not fun. Some would call
this a doggone shame (ph). To be fair, the dogs were given treats right before and after
the trick. So, while they might have been confused by the empty hand, they weren`t confounded
with an empty stomach. So, they didn`t` have to hound in for a one more treat, though some
thought (INAUDIBLE) tease. Some might have wanted to pick and ease into his bag of tricks,
and mastiff his intentions were good. Or if he had plotted against them all along. Hey,
at least they got something to chow. And while I love the terrier I know the puns pug some
of you. We`ve had a voilat (ph) of them. Just how many more canine think of? I wish someone
could pointer me in the right direction. They don`t appear by magic, then I wouldn`t have
to caleave you just yet and say good bye for shnouzer. We`ll retreat more news and pun
for you tomorrow.