College grads find themselves unemployed

 The rough economy effects even the most secure fields.

The average college student graduates owing approximately 19,000 dollars in student loans and 2,700 dollars in credit card debt.

Up to ten percent of students owe as much as $7,000 upon their graduation.

BYU-Idaho students are no exception. Between 40-60 percent of BYU-Idaho students are in some form of debt for school, and the eventuality of graduating and paying off that debt becomes a more and more abstract concept as the job market continues to suffer.

According to collegeaftermath.com “There is very little in life more discouraging than spending thousands and thousands of dollars on an education only to find no one willing to give you a job and a chance.”

More and more graduates are finding themselves squarely in this category. Only 19.7 percent of college graduates who applied for jobs in 2009 are actually employed in their intended field today.

Although the statistics looks grim, all is not lost.

“Flexibility is the most important characteristic when on the job hunt” said Brian Decker, a “head hunter” located in Seattle Washington. “Students who are multi faceted are the only ones who can hope to have any kind of stability, or employment potential”  

Finding a job is not easy in our current economic recession, and those students loans seem to continually hang over the heads of all those with an impending graduation and therefore launch into what students often refer to as “the real world.”

“Whatever situation you find yourself in, the important thing is to be willing and able to step back and take a good look at the big picture. Remembering what you’ve accomplished thus far, reminding yourself of how young you are, and realizing that nothing is permanent” said collegeaftermath.com

Businesses in Rexburg struggle

The Hogi Yogi, a once popular student 'hang out' was forced to close its doors this semester due to tough economic times.

Hollywood Video in Rexburg, along with many other locations, is closing down due to other competitors such as Netflicks and Redbox.

Unemployment rate continues rise in February

The Idaho Bureau of Labor released the February jobless rates this week. The year 2010 began with employers hesitant to bring new hires into the labor force, which qualified December of 2009 and January of 2010 as being the least amount of new workers hired in any two-month period on record.

February's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate to 9.5 percent and stopping just short of breaking the record 9.6 percent rate in 1982-83.

The February rate jumped another two-tenths of a point to 9.5 percent after rising two-tenths to 9.3 percent in January from a revised December rate of 9.1 percent. That put Idaho within two-tenths of the national unemployment rate of 9.7 percent – the closest Idaho’s rate has been to the national mark since the 2001 recession.

The number of jobless Americans in Eastern Idaho hit 71,000 in February which is up 1,500 from January.

The Idaho Bureau of Labor reported that 20,300 Idahoans  were unemployed in February of 2010.

This is especially bad news for students preparing for graduation.

As senior Rachel Doxey prepares for graduation her apprehension is rising.

"I was excited to graduate and enter the work force" said Doxey " But now I am realizing, 'what work force' there is nothing out there for me."

Graduates are realizing that they are going to have to be willing to work whatever job may come along. Brian Jensen, BYU-I alum graduated Winter of 2009 and is still looking for a job in his chosen field of English, professional writing.

"I have been working at a jewelry store in the mall, and I am getting by" said Jensen " All my college diploma is doing is gathering dust"

Rexburg recyling

Don't blow it - good planets are hard to find.

Rexburg has recently announced changes toward becoming a more eco-friendly environment.

The “Rexburg Recycles” program provides city and area residents with drop-off stations where the residents can separate their recyclables, according to the Rexburg Web site.

The stations are equipped with blue recycle bins where students and Rexburg residents can work together towards a more environmental friendly city.

These recycle bins will be located in the Wal-Mart’s front parking lot, Broulim's back parking lot, Rexburg Tabernacle’s back parking lot, Madison Middle School’s parking lot and Madison High School’s parking lot.

Acceptable recyclables include plastics #1 (water or soda bottles), plastics #2 (shampoo bottles, milk jugs, etc.), aluminum cans, office supplies printer and notebook paper, manila folders), newspapers and catalogues and corrugated cardboard.
The City of Rexburg has also initiated a recycling challenge called “Can’s For Cash”
The United States Convergence of Mayors, Novelis Corporation and Keep America Beautiful have come together to encourage U.S. cities to be recycle friendly.

Rexburg has responded to this challenge by encouraging citizens to put forth an extra effort in recycling aluminum cans throughout the month of October.
A few tips for making recycling part of your routine could include choosing products that are packaged in Rexburg Recycle Receptacle friendly materials. Also, separating your recyclables at home will make for an efficient drop off.

In addition to the blue recycling bins found around Rexburg,several businesses will have recycling boxes to facilitate citizens participation in Rexburg’s new efforts to recycle. Some of those businesses are Subway, Hogi Yogi, Uptown Bagel, Millhollow Frozen Yogurt, Beehive Federal Credit Union, Kmart, and Mom's Kandy Kitchen.
“If it was convenient [ to recycle} then why not? It’s just stupid not to, but I think as students we have a lot to focus on so that’s not really a top priority for me, but I think if it was more convenient it would definitely be something I would consider,” said freshman Emily Channer.

The city of Rexburg does request that citizens are responsible and remember to sort and place the recyclables in the appropriate bins

When utilizing the new drop off bins there are many things to remember. Empty and crush aluminum cans before disposing of them. Remove all spiral binding and metal tabs when disposing of office supplies. Remember, do NOT drop off glue bound paper, construction paper, shredded paper or plastic materials. Also, breakdown all boxes, and keep cereal boxes, paper plates or boxes with food or grease stains in the accepted trash receptacles.

If you come to a drop off station and discover it is full, please call 359-3020

Idaho Gas Prices

Gas prices in Idaho rose 6.2 cents per gallon this week. Today, the average gallon of gas bought in Eastern Idaho is about $2.89 per gallon.

Americans, and Eastern Idahoans in particular have become accustom to the epps and flows in the gas realm of the economy.

"I'm not even willing to get worked up over it anymore" said Senior Ryan Rupp "Gas, is expensive, I have learned that I just need to deal with it, and I know it is only going to probably get worse"

This week the national average has only increased 3.3 cents per gallon, which is 3.1 cents higher than the national average, which is $2.81/gallon.


On this day last year gas prices were $1.10 per gallon, on this day last month prices were .20 cents cheaper, as opposed to the national average, which increased .15 cents per gallon in the last month, and .87 cents in the last year

Rexburg Hollywood Video to close.

 Photo credit- slashfilm.com

Video rental stores have become a tradition in the American Friday night, but recently, these establishments have run into trouble.

The seemingly unbreakable chain of Hollywood Video which has over 2,700 stores could potentially close as many as 1,000 stores.

The Rexburg location is one of the many stores closing due to the recent downfall of large video rental chains.

Netflix, Redbox and internet movie streaming as well as illegal downloading of movies has made the process of driving to the store and paying almost five dollars to rent a movie completely archaic.

The Rexburg Hollywood video location will be holding an "everything must go" sale from March 8-14

BYU-Idaho Recycling

Amid economic strife, BYU-Idaho administration is making an effort to support student run programs.

The Student Representative Council at BYU-Idaho has launched a new Recycling program to supplement Rexburg's new agenda focusing on an environmentally friendly campus.

Students of BYU-Idaho have become familiar with the posters that blanket campus informing them of the new program on campus called "Recycling Runners" The program is thrilled.

According to Student Representative Council Representative Kaitlin New The administration is very supportive of the program and anxious to see it successful.