Current Release: April 28th, 2009 | Vol. XXX Iss. 10

Photo Illustration By Andrew Foster

Failing economy may leave students in their own personal crisis

By Heather Templeton

hntempleton@vwc.edu

In this election-year the economy is a crucial component that both politicians and voters are paying close attention to. For many students this is only their first opportunity to vote. The economy is among leading concerns, mostly because it will impact so many areas of their lives. Financial worries range from paying for school to finding a post-graduate job.

A nationwide young voter survey in February by  Rock The Vote reported that the four biggest concerns from those ages 18 to 29 were, in order: jobs and the economy; health care and prescription drugs; the war in Iraq; and education and the cost of college.

Some students tend not to care or understand how the affects of today s economy is going to impact them in the long run. Perhaps it is because they don t care or maybe they just don t think it matters to them now.

The reality is that today we are going have to make changes to survive in the economy. Students must do away with reckless spending, the running up of credit cards and mindless drives around town drowning gas tanks.

There is a possibility that if the economy gets any worse the US dollar will lose its value and prices of goods will continue to rise. The future of the stock market, the US economy and the world economy will have the most effect on college students.

Once we re out of college we ll have the option of graduate school or going straight into a career field. However, with the economic crisis, neither option is looking any more promising than the other. The job market is dwindling as the cost in education continues to rise.

Future students are also facing problems that will overall impact college campuses. A free internet service, MeritAid.com, that provides data on colleges and scholarships, released a survey of 2,500 prospective college students nationwide.

The survey found that 57 percent of students are considering less-expensive colleges because of the economic downturn and the looking closer at the option of staying closer to home.

This is bad news for Wesleyan who continues to raise their tuition more every year.

The survey also reported that 16 percent of the students said they are putting their college searches on hold because they don t think their families will be able to pay for college.

This economic crisis really is impacting us as college students right now. No matter who takes office in two weeks, changes are going to be needed to our economy.

It is our responsibility to become informed on each of the candidates and realize who best represents our beliefs and values. The economy is an important issue that will surely be a key factor to this year s election, so get out there and vote.