A CHANGING LANDSCAPE

StudentsAffectedbyEconomicDownturn

"My parents cashed intheirretirement fund thissummer to help pay for my financial check-in,"sophomore Alyshia Allisonsaid She and her parents were determined to defy odds to secure her college financialsituation "The economy is not good," she said

Like Allison, college students feltthe national economic crisishithome "It is disconcerting considering how well we've been doing,"Nathan Hepler, a freshman, said.

The failing housing market, collapse offinancial giants Lehman Brothers, AIG,Merrill Lynch and Wachovia,and an unstable stock market, were evidences ofthe financial meltdown.

"Most economists today think that we are ina recession,"Robert Mateer, the Chairman of Finance and Economics School ofBusiness, said."I think that's reasonably obvious."

Forcollec students who had never experienced anything similar, the situation was one they expected to read inhistory textbooks ratherthan today'sfront-page

Senior Business Finance major Andrea Wingfield said, "The economy hasn'treally been inbad shape sincethe early'80s."

Students saw evidence ofthe downturn everywhere."I had a Wachovia account. Wachovia doesn't existanymore and it's weird,"said Christie Quarton,a senior Business Finance major Seniors likeQuarton faced tough job searches "After you graduate,you are not only competing with your peers,but with other people who have been laid off,"said Jarda Trojan, a senior Business Finance major who began the school year on the heels ofa Wall Street internship

To address the crisis, Congress passed $700 billion rescue plan Senior History major David Icesaid it was "the greatest transferof wealth from the private market to the government inAmerican History."

Mateer added,"It's a great deal ofconcern that we're seeing a socialization of our country I'm not worried formyself,I'm worried formy grandkids."

The economic stimulus plan enacted by President Barack Obama in February was something everyone watched to see the impact it would have on the economy Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr implemented hisown stimulus package by cutting tuition costs forthe next year inan effort to help out students ina struggling economy

Students likeAllison were thankful for God's provision "Imight have to tighten my belt buckle a littlemore,but the Lord has called me to be here and he knew that bad times would come, so he willprovide forme,"she said

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Mesmerized by the skater's tricks, students lineup next to the ramp at Block Party "I had fun watching the skateboarding, because they were off the hook and throwing it down I think it is awesome to show who God is through extreme sports,"Mitch Lintjer, senior, said PHOTOBYSATTAEKTRAKUL

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T h reisalot ofwork thatgoes intoBlock Party, and we mere isa i Misiano, director havebeen working on itsincespring, ChrisMtsia , ofStudent Activities, said "[We] seekto providethe student itSth agreat'back-to-school' eventthatallows everyone togettheyear started right."

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"I'm a freshman and Ireally don't know "Ialways liketo see our other teams win "Common ground isa great uplifting ser- "I like ESPN com because Iget all my about what allthe complaining isabout I believe it encourages the restofathletic vicewhen you need it most intheweek I sportsinfo for basketball, footballand col-

I'm not sure how much I'lluse [theSnow- body and theschool"-NicoleMighs, SO always enjoy the messages and the wor- lege football I can alsoget all theup-toflex], but Ihave no problem with it."- ship "-PhilBrotzman. JR datenews, scores and stats there - Aaron ChristinaMitchell. FR Beasley. JR

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