We don’t have it that bad

Already? That went by fast. I guess between the dollops of cheeseball, the gifts and returns, the coffeehouse reunions and the joyous ringing in of ’09, my winter break ticked away. Classes start today. And though the wait for spring break will be long and cold, I can’t help but think: What a great time to be a college student.

Sure, tuition will most certainly increase in light of the state government’s spending freeze. And yes, those summer jobs and internships that we depend upon could be harder to come by in the ever-tightening economy. And you’d be exactly right to suppose that it will become increasingly difficult for young people without lengthy credit histories to get real, substantial loans.

But at least we’re not IU administrators.

Facing fewer dollars from the state budget office, the IU Board of Trustees is considering a plan submitted by President Michael McRobbie to freeze the salaries of the University’s senior administrators – a bold and admirable initiative that could save the university $2 million this coming year.

It’s always nice to get a raise, and though most are willing to make sacrifices for the common good, it’s much harder to say yes when that sacrifice affects the wallet. But the administrators’ lighter pockets intend to help keep college costs down, and that’s something I’ll always support. Thanks, President McRobbie. I appreciate it.

And University officials are not the only ones confronting slimmer earnings. Companies across the country, witnessing plummeting sales, have been forced into layoffs and downsizing. Borders stores across the country are closing. (If only this could affect the cost of textbooks!) And the Church of England recently published two new prayers to provide comfort to distressed parishioners: the “prayer on being made redundant” and the “prayer for those remaining in the workplace.”

How about a “prayer for the eternal hell-bound souls of greedy executives?” No. You’re right, they’ve already been bailed out enough.

In these troubling times, no one seems immune. Not even The New York Times.
This standard in American journalism, heralded for its in-depth reporting and analysis, is struggling too. In need of cash, the Times is now selling advertising on its front page. I can see it now: the Geico cavemen opposite the Israel-Palestinian conflict. For a prominent, trailblazing and supremely pretentious paper, this must be quite painful.

This financial crisis has hit everyone hard. Autoworkers and bankers. Young and old. Poor and rich (well, at least the rich who invested with Bernard Madoff). So why not be on a campus where there’s plenty to do? Where the flurry of classes, clubs and parties can drown out the noise of worldwide economic despair?

As this semester begins, I’m dreading getting back to the daily grind of reading, writing and reading some more. But looking at the wider world, I guess I don’t have it that bad. It’s a great time to be a college student.

But a college grad? That’s another matter.