The
S TUDENT P RINTZ www.studentprintz.com
SERVING SOUTHERN MISS SINCE 1927
Thursday, January 20, 2011
ULTS APPEAL RES
Volume 95 Issue 30
LOCAL
See page 3
IT DON’T HOLD AGAINST HER
See page 7
LL BASEKETBA
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Casey Stokes, on left, and Pritesh Patel walk past the stained glass windows in front of The Shed in downtown Hattiesburg on Tuesday, Jan. 18. The two work in USM’s polymer science department. See Page 5 for story.
LOCAL
Graduates alter career plans Marie John Printz Writer
See page 12 Tuesday
62/33 Wednesday
51/26 Thursday
55/26 INDEX
Calendar ...................... 2 Crossword ..................... 2 News ............................. 3 Arts & Entertainment ..... 6 Opinion ......................... 8 Feature ....................... 11 Sports .......................... 12
With the U.S. Department of Labor releasing its national 9.4% unemployment rate for December, many recent USM graduates are finding themselves altering their original post-degree plans in order to adapt with the weak economy. “It has been really hard for me to find a job,” said Marchandria Thomas, a December 2010 graduate from Holly Springs, Miss. “If it was not for a good friend helping me get on where I am now, I would still be on the hunt,” she said. The criminal justice major, who originally planned to use her bachelor of science degree to enter the workforce, will now be continuing her education in a master’s program in the Southeast area. “There are very few jobs for people that are graduating college right now,” Thomas said. “It’s like you have to go on and get a higher degree in order to get a decent job. That’s why I am glad I am go-
ing to graduate school.” Coming in 42nd place for the highest unemployment rate, Mississippi currently maintains a 9.9% rate, slightly higher than the national average. Al Wheat, a May 2010 graduate from Poplarville, Miss., continues to search for full-time work in his field of major study. The history licensure graduate is currently employed as a substitute teacher in the local area, with hopes to obtain a full-time job as early as possible. “I wanted to originally stay within a local distance to my hometown, but since the economy has not picked up, I’ve expanded my search to the Southeast region in general,” Wheat said. Mike Moulder, another history licensure graduate who finished his degree in December, was lucky enough to find work as a long-term substitute in a local school district. “I have been very fortunate to find a job immediately after graduation and within my degree,” Moulder said. “Students are now entering a much more competitive job market and we all need higher credentials in
Eli Baylis/Printz
James Wilcox, a recent graduate of Southern Miss, rests his head in thought on Tuesday, Jan. 18. Wilcox now works as a mediator in the Department of Economic and Workforce Development for the university in the Trent Lott Center.
order to get an edge up against the competition. I plan to get my masters degree, whereas before I was content with a bachelor’s degree. I discovered many of the teachers I work with have their master’s degree already or are double majors. I plan to continue my degree so I can be more qualified for a higher position
in the future.” Starting off the new year with a lower national unemployment rate than reported in as the average for 2010 (9.4% versus 9.6%), future Southern Miss graduates may have a stronger economy to begin their job hunt, but times are still tough for those entering the work force.