subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
Thu, Nov 26 2009 

Resources

print this story   Print this story
email this story   E-mail this story
  Post to del.icio.us

Photos


Globe/Gary Crow Robbie Robinson shows off a copy of a letter he and his classmates at Miami High School plan to send members of Congress. Students in the Advanced Placement government class are gathering signatures in support of the elimination of all severance pay for departing chief officers of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the mortgage giants taken over by federal regulators last week.

Published September 16, 2008 07:06 pm - MIAMI, Okla. — Some students at Miami High School are doing more than warily watching a Wall Street meltdown. Those in the Advanced Placement government class taught by Richard Cannon are circulating petitions calling for the elimination of all severance pay for departing chief officers of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the mortgage giants taken over by federal regulators last week.

Miami High School students fight to withhold exit pay for Fannie, Freddie CEOs



By Susan Redden

sredden@joplinglobe.com

MIAMI, Okla. — Some students at Miami High School are doing more than warily watching a Wall Street meltdown.

Those in the Advanced Placement government class taught by Richard Cannon are circulating petitions calling for the elimination of all severance pay for departing chief officers of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the mortgage giants taken over by federal regulators last week.

Similar demands have come from others in the public as well as politicians, and federal regulators have said they won’t allow severance payments to the executives, even though they are called for in their contracts.

The students are keeping up a drive they started last week, Cannon said, because they want to make sure exit packages for the two “are eliminated, and not just reduced.”

The students have gathered more than 300 signatures so far from other students and Miami residents. They plan to continue until the end of the month and then forward the documents to U.S. Rep. Dan Boren, D.-Okla., their congressman. They have no specific signature goal, “just enough to make an impact,” Cannon said.

He said he urges his AP government class, which is comprised primarily of seniors, to undertake a project each year and to “try to make a difference.”

“We shouldn’t have to pay for their mistakes,” said Jonathan Brice, one of the students. “They screwed up; they should have to take responsibility for their mistakes like the rest of us.”

Kaylee Douthit said the current financial turmoil scares her and her classmates, “because we don’t know what it’s going to mean for our future.”

“They shouldn’t give any money to them,” added Richard Guest. “Money should be going to colleges and universities, not to someone who messed up on their jobs.”

The students also said they don’t want to see further bailouts of companies imperiled due to bad investments or bad decisions by executives.

Maycee Goza said she has gathered a number of signatures from Miami residents. Though adults she has contacted are willing to sign the documents, Goza said her efforts also have prompted some amusement from some of them.

“They signed, but some of them laughed and asked me if I thought we could make any difference,” she said.

“They stereotype us. They think we’re lazy and don’t care,” said Robbie Robinson. “But we’ll fight for things we believe in.”



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.


Add a comment on this story







autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

Announcements


Click here to VOTE!!

Click here!!

: Special Offer For New Subscribers : 32 buy 1 get 1 free offers

Click Here!


Featured Transportation

2002 KIA OPTIMA EX
4 door, sharp, loaded, leather, CD, sunroof, extra nice, $3200. 1317 Schifferdecker, Joplin....>MORE

2002 FORD TAURUS SE
nice car, 3.0 liter V6, $2900. 417-850-0731....>MORE

1999 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED
4x4, leather loaded, $3500. 417-850-0731....>MORE

1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM
2 door, spoiler, sharp, loaded, automatic, air, CD, extra nice, $2600. 1317 Schifferdecker, Joplin....>MORE

1989 CHEVROLET STEPSIDE
350, V8, custom flames, runs great, $2500. 417-208-6717...>MORE

TOYOTA 2004 TACOMA PRERUNNER
Toyota, 2004 Tacoma Prerunner, TRD off road, double cab, V6, new tires, CD, bed liner, lid cover, 100,000 miles, excelle...>MORE

JEEP 2000 CHEROKEE SPORT
JEEP, 2000 Cherokee Sport, 6 1/2” lift, 35” foggers, locked front end, welded rear end, off road use, winch not included...>MORE

HONDA 2001 CIVIC EX
HONDA, 2001 Civic EX, 4 door, automatic, 94,000 miles, $5800; 1998 Accord, 4 door, $4200; 1999 Honda Prelude, automatic...>MORE

2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS
4 door, luxury leather trim, loaded, CD, sunroof, beautiful rig, extra nice, $4500. 1317 Schifferdecker...>MORE

HONDA, 2007 FIT SPORT,
customized interior package, automatic, air, AM/FM/CD, cruise, great mpg, low miles, excellent condition, $11,800. (417)...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Homes

Deerfield Estates
in Carl Junction, prime building sites, reduced $10,000 each. 417-825-0052...>MORE

NEWER 3 BR/2 BA
Lots of upgrades and great location. $149,000 but all offers considered. 903 Katlin, Carl Junction. Pictures www.fsboloc...>MORE

See all ads

Other Cool Stuff

ENGLISH BULLDOG PUPPY
male, AKC, fawn/white, champion bloodlines, $900 or best offer. (417)396-3340...>MORE

INDIAN HEAD PENNIES
INDIAN HEAD PENNIES, 35% Civil War II nickels, V nickels, Buffalo nickels, lots of other coins. Garage full of antiques ...>MORE

(2) TEACUP CHIHUAHUA
APRI puppies. (417)673-1997....>MORE

NEW IN BOX
New in box, Lucchese cowboy boots, black, size 9D, $200. (620)231-9256...>MORE

ANGUS HEIFERS
6 Augus heifers, good foundation stock. (417)358-7519...>MORE

REWARD $50,000 REWARD

Offered for any information leading to conviction of any person or persons known to have been involved in alleged
...>MORE

POODLE, FULL BLOODED
POODLE, full blooded, $75 or best offer. (417)385-8710 after 4:30 p.m....>MORE

YORKIES
12 weeks old, 2 males, AKC, 1st shots, $175. 417-291-6590, Webb City...>MORE

MALTESE PUPPIES ADORABLE!!

6 weeks old Thanksgiving. 2 boys and 2 girls. Shots, wormed, and vet checked. Healthy, active, and loved! Great Ch
...>MORE

POODLES
POODLES, standard pups, born 10/10, registered, shots, wormed, family raised. Adorable personalities! 417-673-3892....>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

 

 

The Joplin Globe Electronic Edition