[Harris:] More money in your check. The Help Desk is open for business. Our personal finance editor Gerri Willis puts your questions to the experts.
[Gerri Willis, Cnn Personal Finance Editor:] We want to get you answers to your financial questions. Let's get straight to "The Help Desk." Donna Rosato is a senior writer with "Money" magazine. Ryan Mack is the president of Optimum Capital Management. That first e-mail comes from Howard. He asks, "Some folks are going to get a $15 to $25 raise in their weekly paychecks. What about those of us who are on Social Security or are disabled?" Donna.
[Donna Rosato, Senior Writer, "money" Magazine:] Well, he's talking about the "make work pay" credit, which people are already start seeing in their paycheck. And that was part of the stimulus program. Now, there is something for retirees, too. That was meant to give money to people who are working, but for retirees or people on disability, they're going to get a one-time $250 payment this year. And if you're married and your spouse is also collecting Social Security, you'll get a $500 payment as well.
[Willis:] A little something for everybody...
[Rosato:] Yes.
[Willis:] ... in that, right? And as a matter of fact, there are a lot of bennies in the tax bill you're really going to have to pay attention to this week. C.R. asks, "I know that employers can't ask an applicant's date of birth, but during my job search, I noticed that employers ask what year the applicant graduated high school. Obviously, they can determine a person's age by that, so why is that question allowed?" Ryan, here's somebody who really wants to mask their age.
[Ryan Mack, President, Optimum Capital Management:] Well, you know what, I like this question because it really shows the impact of knowing your rights and how that can affect your personal financial situation. And actually, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that's the primary agency in charge of implementing the Age Discrimination in Employment Act essentially said that they came out with a regulation saying that asking an applicant's age in itself does not constitute an establishment of age discrimination, so that's not the case. As a matter of fact, I found a case, Wanda Smirofsky versus Phillip Morris, that she tried to file a claim against Phillip Morris because Phillip Morris asked her, does this state you know, what year did you start working professionally. And essentially then filed because of that that it didn't, you know, it did not file for age discrimination
[Willis:] But Ryan, don't you think the dirty little secret of this recession is that a lot of employers are taking out older workers?
[Mack:] Yes, well, we have to look at all the facts. And the law's the law. So, by itself, just asking an employer [sic], how old are you, that is not illegal.
[Willis:] Yes, I think there's an undue burden, though. on older workers in this economy.
[Mack:] There is.
[Willis:] They've really got to work hard to keep those jobs, obviously. All right, guys, thanks for your answers. Great answers, tough questions. "The Help Desk" is all about getting you answers. Send me an e- mail to gerri@CNN.com or log on to CNN.comhelpdesk to see more of our financial solutions. And "The Help Desk" is everywhere. Make sure to check out the latest issue of "Money" magazine on newsstands now.
[Harris:] On April 16, 2007, 23-year-old college student Seung Hui Cho went on a shooting spree at Virginia Tech. Campus memorials honor the 32 people killed. Police say Cho took his own life. About an hour from right now, the second floor of Norris Hall is scheduled to reopen. That's where police say Cho killed 31 of his victims. Joining us to talk about that is professor Ishwar Puri. He heads Virginia Tech's Department of Engineering, Science and Mechanics. He was in Norris Hall on the day of the shootings. Professor, thank you for your time. I'm just as we begin here, I'm curious as to how often you think about that day.
[Prof. Ishwar Puri, Virginia Tech:] Well, first, thank you very much for visiting with me. And thank you for that question. It's a prescient question. I think of that day often. It's something that stays with you for life. But I think that the important thing is that whatever demons you have in your life, you must face them, and you must vanquish them. It's important for me what I learned from that day, what I learned about how destructful human beings can be. But what I also learned was about the power of community, the power of resolve and really the purity of the mission of a university to educate the best minds in our country.
[Harris:] Interesting. Very interesting. You know, you could have razed the building. Was that ever considered? And if it had come to a vote, how would have you voted?
[Puri:] It was considered, and I did vote. There were calls to raze the building. There were calls to build a memorial. This was unprecedented in terms of the tragedy that we face. And so, at that time, we didn't really have a chart or a guide map for the future. And what I stated at that time was that I was defeated on April 16th, 2007, but I did not want the suicide assassin to defeat me one more time. I lost two very good friends on that day, and I did not want their legacy to be defeated because they and others rose up to fight the assassin and protect students.
[Harris:] That's pretty
[Puri:] So, it was very important for me to honor their legacy by returning to the building and by continuing our mission that in many ways was on the verge of destruction that day.
[Harris:] Professor, what was the guiding principle, maybe the guiding thought for the redesign, particularly of the second floor?
[Puri:] I think that the first part was that this was a building where there had been tragedy and where there had been trauma. And what we wanted to do was to erase reminders of that tragedy and yet at the same time create a space, design a space that was conducive to building community. The space is very student-centered. It's very mission-centered. And in terms of its physical construction, it's a warm, inviting space. It has warm colors. It has blonde woods. It has open spaces where you can actually see people mingling, working, doing research, learning and pursuing scholarship in so many ways, which is the mission of the university.
[Harris:] Professor Puri, thank you so much for your time. And all the best to you and the university moving forward. Thank you.
[Puri:] Thank you. You're very kind. Thank you.
[Harris:] A special Good Friday mass. The people of Italy remember all of those who died in this week's earthquake.