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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 20, 1979)
thursday, September 20, 1979 daily nebraskan page 9 lidependence poses aid prob terns By Alice Hrnicek A student is forced to become financially independent because his parents have not provided at least half his support but have claimed him as an income tax deduction. After living with his parents during the last year, a stu dent marries and believes this automatically qualifies him as financially independent. With a dependent status throughout his undergraduate studies, a student beginning graduate classes believes that he can be considered independent. There are the most common situations that occur when dealing with student financial independence, according to Don Aripoli, director of the Financial Aids' Office. However, none of the students mentioned above are legally independent, Aripoli said. Federal guidelines state that independence is achieved by a process not by choice. BEFORE A STUDENT is financially independent, he must not have lived at home for more than two consecu tive weeks for one year, the director said. In addition, his parents, must not have given him more than $750 or claimed him as an income tax deduction during the same year, Aripoli reported that the office is confronted regularly with students who wish to claim independence but cannot do so validly . In a number of instances, dependence is better because it qualifies students for basic grants, he said. Sometimes they say they're independent but they're not. They are actually trying to shift the burdent from their parents to the school," he said . The most touchy situation arises when a student who does not wish to be self-reliant receives less than the legal ly prescribed income from parents who write him off as a tax deduction, Aripoli noted. "This is a violation of tax law, of improper reporting Architect talks start The 1979-80 College of Architecture's lecture series starts today at 4 pin. at Sheldon Art Gallery. The series named in memory of a former UNL Archi tecture graduate, "The Hyde Speaker Series," will be started by Lawrence Anderson, dean emeritus, Architec ture fcnd Planning, of the Massachusetts Institute of Tech nology. The Hyde Series will study the question of professional' accountablity in the architecture profession. Today's lecture will be on professional accountability in history. Anderson will talk about the status of architects prior tb the 15th ceritury and the development of 'consultant client relationships during the Renaissance. More recent topics including the new roles of government in combat ing poverty and preserving the environment will be discussed. N i I Studio Theatre I 12th & R Lincoln 1 Phone:472-2073 Mets $3 & $4 . y October 4,5,6,7,8 and 9 at 8 p.m. J IT saw tyoAwsuu on a tax claim," Robert Lange of Student Legal Services, said. The lawyer said that the conflict occurs regularly and puts the student in a dilemma. ALTHOUGH THERE MAY be no unlawful intent by the parents, Lange said he found it hard to understand how educated adults could be unaware of the law. "A lot of this goes undetected by the Internal Revenue Service," he claimed. "They don't have the manpower to scrutinize each family or a reason to suspect them." Mary Munson, a taxpayer service specialist with the Internal Revenue Service, said that the tax consequences in such a case differ from the legal consequences. If dis covered, the parents who make the claim without lawful intent will be assessed the additional tax due plus interest and a penalty fee, she stated. But if the parents are proved to have acted deliber ately, the case is sent to the criminal investigation division of the IRS as fraud, she added. Lange said that the number of reported cases is low because it would usually involve the students turning in their parents. Financial aid may be awarded to students caught in the middle, Aripoli said. "We can't call them independent, but it a highly selective number of usually extenuating cases, we can assist dependent students." CHANGES MAY NEED to be made in the criteria for awarding financial aid to accommodate such cases, Lange said. "Any student can borrow up to. $2500 under the Fed erally Insured Loan Program," he stated. But he empha sized that he does not encourage students to apply for the guaranteed money. "Even though the loans are available, it's not always good for a student to go into debt." Aripoli said he believes the issue of independent stu dents comes down to who will fund the university and who benefits. "If the government says they will fund us, the issue of independence is not questioned. The question when the burden is ort the family is when do we step in." NICARAGUAN WEEK (Thurs. Sept. 20) the Latin American Student Association presents: Documentary Film "Nicaragua, September 1978" Time & Place: Main Lounge Nebraska Union at noon. UPC Presents the third annual GREAT PLAINS BLUES FESTIVAL with SOLXD SUMS and special guests SONNY HESKY and tROWNIE McGHEE Nebraska Union Sept. 28 - 8 p.m. Tickets at both Unions & Dirt Cheap LJCITY r (?s ( i , 1 i i J cow ! 9 Coupon Good thru jt c v. io t mn l i " wsi" a77 With this coupon you receive $25.00 off the purchase price ol any complete pair of eyeware. (Frames and Lenses). Choose from a vast variety of frames and lens styles Including designers, such as Anne Klein, Oieg Caasfnl, fterre Cardih, and many, many more. Even the Invisible bMocal. cataract lenses, and uttra-thkn are covered m this sale as well as glass or plastic regular or over sized, tints or plaint. Minimum purchase $15.85. Coupon must be proemM at Mm ol purcnaw. Or.tr good oiily at Nmoot order. TMsrnty not be used in conjunction with any oSior oflSr it The Optical Shop. Ms can copy your present njsaws or moke them occonNns to your Doc tor's prsocripSon. Mon-Fri 10-5 pm Thurs til 8 pm Sat 10-1 pm 333 No. 12th St. 477-9347 OB I Q sUB LLft ass Thursday IJM? is WW Thursday is Tequila Night Most Tequila Drinks 75 9-closing Nachos $1.00 off 912 pm DISCO at The Yacht Club CHESTERFIELD, BOTTOMSLEY & POTTS ' 1 I I I I I B 8 6 -v i if, i: Phorw 47S8007 '&jfi