By: Mariah Grimes

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (UTC/The Loop) – Obama’s Affordable Care Act is giving female college students access to virtually free birth control, sterilization, and abortion-inducing drugs.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s President Cecile Richards published an online press release stating, “Covering birth control with no co-pays means college students will not have to choose between paying for tuition and books, or paying for basic health care like birth control.”

Obama’s new plan is designed to reduce unwanted pregnancies and abortions. Female college students are one of the main target groups for this new act.

President Obama speaking about his plan for covering birth control

Alina Salganicoff, director of women’s health policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation, said research shows access to contraceptives really does reduce unwanted pregnancy and abortion rates.

Obama has pointed out the preventative services regulation mandates free contraception for female college students as one of the reasons “why we passed this law.”

“I don’t think a college student in Fairfax or Charlottesville should have to choose between text books or the preventive care that she needs. That’s why we passed this law. And I am proud of it. It was the right thing to do. And we are going to keep it,” said Obama at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.

A University of Tennessee at Chattanooga senior Christina Pagnani said, “I went to the student clinic last month for my birth control, and the nurse just handed it to me and sent me on my way. I was confused but obviously happy that I didn’t have to pay. I think that once UTC students find out about the free birth control, every girl at UTC will be in the student clinic so that’s definitely something to think about. I think free birth control is a good and bad idea at the same time, but I don’t want to be a hypocrite.”

The Affordable Care Act provides contraception not only for family planning, but also as a way to reduce ovarian and other cancer risks. The controversy about the new law remains, but for now, contraceptives will be available for women seeking it for no cost.

By Chris Awuah

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (UTC/The Loop) – Many UTC graduates have realized that finding a job after graduation isn’t easy. As of October 2012, the U.S. Bureau of Labor estimated that an average of 5.8 percent of Americans with at least a bachelor’s degree were unemployed. That is the highest rate since 1970.

UTC commencement ceremony in the summer of 2012

Sean Whitehead from Murfreesboro, Tenn., graduated from UTC in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. He planned on finishing school and going into the field he once always dreamed about. Instead he was unemployed for more then five months until he found a job at Best Buy.

“I just couldn’t continue to sit around and wait to see if jobs in my field would open up, so I had to settle for less,” Whitehead said.

This has been a recurring problem for many first-time college graduates. The post-college life is an uncertain picture for not only present but also future college gradates because of a recovering economy and fewer  job openings. Many have decided to pull the books back out to advance their education and get a leg up on their competition.

Some graduates like Whitehead, think if they had more education on their resume, it would help them qualify for the job. “I sometimes wish I would have continued on to graduate school after graduating” Whitehead said. “I know it would have been more time and less money being made, but it would have probably been for the better for me.”

UTC Head Athletic Advisor Lisa Tarr has been in the field of helping students find their way through school on all levels from middle school to college. When it comes to giving advice about future career plans, Tarr said she tells her students it’s sometimes better to get a degree in a field that you would enjoy even if you were not getting paid.

“From the way recent numbers are leaning, it’s better to have a higher degree towards your major because how competitive the market has become,” she said.

By Brian Bass

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP/The Loop) – Students at UTC are quickly realizing that if you want to follow a UTC Twitter account, you are going to run into options. There are the typical accounts that are run by the school or by different departments that are moderated and updated by faculty.
These accounts update students about changes in class times, when different clubs meet, and other school related activities.

However, an anonymous student runs the most popular account that involves a more personal look at the life of a UTC student. The Twitter feed @UTCBadLuckBrian, which describes the negative and unlucky encounters a UTC student can come across in an average day, and has drawn thousands of followers.

Miles Magallanes, senior from Nashville, says he enjoys following the account because many things that happen to “UTC Brian”, have happened to him.
“Whether it’s getting a quiz on syllabus day or not being able to park’, Magallanes said, “the Bad Luck Brian usually nails the problems of this school.”

The popularity of the account seems to grow by the hour.
Chad Roberts, a senior from Franklin, says the reason students love the Twitter feed is because it creates a common bond.
Roberts says, “Even if you love UTC you will see something on the Twitter feed that has happened to you and makes you laugh.”

Students get big laughs from new Twitter account.

The UTC BadLuckBrian has over 1,200 followers with that number growing every day.

Criticism of the accounts has come from the controversy over multiple comments made about the school’s Greek system, in particular, individual fraternities and sororities.
Posts involving Greek stereotypes and rumors about fraternities and sororities have started online fights over their validity with many Greek members.

The most hotly debated post came over the reason for Sigma Chi’s probationary period this year.  The fraternity claimed the post to be  false and wanted it taken down.

As of now, university officials have no plans to become involved in the Twitter account.