On campus, students are plagued with economic issues. The stressors faced today started during and after the global COVID-19 pandemic that sweeped the nation. According to a Studocu study, 74% of college students say they experience stress about their financial future because of inflation.
I interviewed O.W. students to get their thoughts on the current inflation and how it’s affecting them. Nayeli Cordero, a senior business admin major, says “If I wanted to get something I’d have to go above and beyond my salary, the prices are increasing for food too.” This is the reality for many students. They can’t afford basic necessities outside of what university life requires because of overrun inflation.
Students said that inflation has also affected them academically, having to work and balance courses at the same time. Another student, Zeynep Aydin , a junior biochemistry major, says “Some of us don’t have the time to work overtime because of how many classes we’re taking and how much studying we’re putting into them too.” Aydin continued, “with the amount of money we make and the amount of money we spend, it’s definitely not balanced.”
Students are having to work over time to afford things due to inflation. PEL prof. Laurence Krause stated ”Prices were pushed up by too little supply due to the disruptions created by the pandemic, and the war, and too much demand, which was goosed by government fiscal policy and the Fed’s monetary policy.”
It is clear that something has to change: either the prices go down or the pay goes up.
Photo by Mary Jane Hernandez
