As a college student, you will receive numerous credit card offers. Without a doubt, credit cards are extremely useful. They provide protection for your purchases, the ability to buy online, and a cushion for emergencies. Credit cards, however, are not free cash. They are loans. In addition to annual membership fees, interest rates can be as high as 20% per year. If you're not careful, you might be paying for those CDs you purchased today five years from now.

Some basic rules regarding credit card use:

• Know the terms of your credit cards. Many cards do not charge interest if you pay off your balance in full each month. 

• Avoid using credit cards to pay for anything that you eat, wear, or listen to unless you plan to pay off your balance in full each month.

• Before you charge an item, know how you will pay for it. When you use your credit card, you are taking out a loan. When you take out a loan, you should always have a repayment plan in mind.

• Pay your bill on time. Most cards have substantial penalties for late payments. Why pay an extra $30 in late fees? Late payments, moreover, become a part of your credit history. A good credit history is important when you go to rent an apartment or finance a large purchase such as a house or car.

For more information on choosing credit cards, using credit responsibly, and understanding credit terms, consult:

Do you need to complete a research paper, project, or speech? The Reference Librarians at Pickler Memorial Library can help you identify appropriate sources.  You can get help from a Librarian by:

• Scheduling a RAP Session ---One-on-one assistance for research assignments;

• Asking-A-Librarian ---  E-mail your questions and receive a response within 24 hours;

• Calling the Reference Desk at 785-4051; or

• Visiting the Reference Desk --- First floor in Pickler Library

The Reference Librarians have also prepared the following guides that you can find on the library website (http://library.truman.edu):

• Subject research guides ---Guides to databases, Websites, and other resources on various topics.
• Hot topics --- Can't think of a subject for a speech? ...research paper?  Check out the Hot Topics link for ideas.
• Points of view --- Check out these sources for finding various viewpoints.
• Primary sources --- What are they and how do you find them?
• Refereed or peer-reviewed journals --- What they are and how to find them.

Quote of the Week

"What exactly do we mean by 'liberal education?' The word 'liberal' comes from the Latin adjective 'liber,' meaning 'free.' And the word 'education' comes from both the Latin verb 'duco,' meaning 'to lead,' and the prefix 'e' which means 'out of.' Literally defined, 'liberal education' therefore means 'the free act of leading out of.' How has this literal definition been applied throughout history? Most often, 'liberal education' has been associated with free people, who, unlike slaves or indentured servants, had time to cultivate the intellect. Another popular interpretation of 'liberal education' is education for its own sake -- much like climbing a mountain because the mountain is there -- and freedom to think and explore ideas in any direction.
 

"The freedom to think and explore is precisely the opportunity awaiting you here, and it's why you're in the right place, whether or not you know what you want to do when you graduate. And even if you think you know, you'll have opportunities to change your mind. In fact, over the next four or five years, you may change your major several times; and over the next 50 years, most of you will have multiple careers. We know this because change is inevitable. Most important, we will need to be prepared to adapt to change, both as individuals and as a society.  ...

"I also urge you to recognize and develop your potential as leaders -- not just of tomorrow but today. As a young person, I had the experience of being thrust into a leadership role in the Civil Rights movement in my native Birmingham, Alabama, and of going to jail with Dr. Martin Luther King. I learned then that young people, through the choices they make and actions they take, can profoundly affect other people's lives today and in the future. It's important that you see yourselves as leaders, and that you become liberally educated in order to lead. Do this by developing your ability to read, think critically, make connections across disciplines, and to ask questions. Do this by reading all kinds of books, appreciating music and art, and relating history to your present situation and the future. Do this by thinking about the big issues of the day and asking significant questions that don't have easy answers: What does it mean to be human? What is the connection between humanity and technology? Does every person have a right to a higher education? How much wealth is too much? Are we Americans parochial and limited in our view of the world?"

--From "Making the Case for Liberal Education," a convocation address by