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admin September 20th, 2007

Remember the article about Malaysian students’ allowance in the United States is increased 97%? Do you want to know the truth? The truth is, the allowance actually goes down. Not up. They just want to make people happy by saying that the allowance is going up - in fact, it is not.

Why? Before the “increased” allowance, the students who chose on-campus housing receive 60% of the monthly allowance, which is $444.44 a month (and housing paid by sponsor). If sponsor doesn’t pay housing, we would get $740 per month. However, right now, the allowance is as follow:

A rate - $425
B rate - $375
C rate - $325

Can you calculate how much lower is that? None of them ever goes beyond the $444.44.

And then, they said, they won’t be paying any on-campus housing, so, they will give us housing allowance instead:

A rate - $700
B rate - $600
C rate - $500

And they did a terrible error. I don’t know whose mistake it is. Stevens Institute of Technology is categorized as rate B because we are in New Jersey not in New York. However, we could look over to New York from my room! Those who are in RIT which is 7 hours away and Buffalo, which is 9 hours away from NYC is considered A rate. Well, I don’t mind them having A rate. However, Stevens should be in A rate too, or most probably, A++ Rate because everyone who doesn’t get a room in Manhattan, moved to Hoboken, NJ. So, the demand for housing in Hoboken is very high and the supply is very limited. The minimum housing rate per month here is $1000 (per person, okay? none of the houses are less than $2500). if you want to live anywhere near the campus. On-campus housing is wayyyy cheaper than living outside and it still cost about $900 per month (and $300 compulsory duckbills per semester) which total up to $3775 per semester.

If you’re willing to live in Jersey City, 30 minutes from Hoboken (provided you could catch the train on time), a city with a very high crime rate and shooting, it would be about $600 a month plus $150 for transportation to Stevens which will still add up to $750. And it is still extra $50 from the housing allowance given plus all the risk of getting shot and died if your class finishes at 9pm and walk home at 10pm. You might even get raped because there are so many rape cases around here already.

It would be perfect if they don’t change the allowance at all. Just stay $740 an get 60% (which is $444.44) if we choose campus housing. It is sooo much better and less hassle and most of all , safe!!

We have already discussed with Encik Yahya regarding this and he said he will bring the matter up to JPA. I really hope the upper people will understand our situation. They are invited to come over to Stevens if they really want to see our miserable condition if they implement the new system. Rate B allowance + housing = $875. Rate A + housing = $1115. duh, it’s not even enough for housing alone. Even if we got the rate A, we would be left with only $115 - which is not even enough for food. I usually spend about $300 for food.

There goes my rambling. Huh =/ . I beg you, please hear our plead! I wish I could speak to Pak Lah directly…

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