The Collegian

Issue date: 10/1/08 Section: Money

Media Credit: www.weblogs.jomc.unc.edu Financial Crisis in the U.S. affects students [Click to enlarge]

Just over a month ago, all public agencies, including SC State, lost 3 percent of their budget. The state of South Carolina is experiencing the socio-economic ills of the day including mortgage calamities, escalating unemployment and rising gas prices.

At SC State, it is evident that the problems in the economy have trickled down to the students. ThinkPad computers that are loaned to business and honor students each semester are now unavailable. Dionne Summers of SC State's Project Asset explained that the computer loan program that has been funded by the university for the past two years can no longer be financed because of the budget cuts. Instead, the computers that were previously leased to students went on sale earlier this semester for $390.55, a price set by the leasing company. Summers said that, "While working for the state, you should always expect budget cuts".

Juan Maultsby, Program Coordinator for SC State's Honors Program, explained that their department's finances were also cut across the board as the state reduced the school's budget by 2 to 3 million dollars. He said, "Technically it is no one's fault. The financial stress stems from the economic crisis that seems to be sweeping the nation."

Sophomore, Chassidy Hinton, an Honor student and Elementary Education major, vehemently expressed her views about the issue. "I think it's ridiculous that the school cuts the budget of a program [Honors] that brings in the best and the brightest, and that the freshmen don't get the benefits that the upperclassmen have had! We brought in 89 to 90 of them this year, the largest number of honors freshman to come in a class."

Maultsby explained the Honors Program is now unable to provide services and educational materials that were the norm. Therefore, activities such as the Annual Freshman Leadership Retreat and the Leadership Summit will not take place during this academic year. "They [the cuts] are necessary in order for SC State to stay afloat. It hurts the program for the time being, but it is all for a good cause. This year's cut backs are propelling us for a comeback", said Maultsby.

Continued...

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