Sign of the Times?

Two local tv news stations have done stories on the "popularity" of the College's summer work program. As soon as I got to the office today, KY3 reporter Kristin Nelson called to say she and camerman were on their way down to cover this story. I guess this is just another sign of the times that the country's in a recession.
Every summer the College gives students the opportunity to work for the upcoming year's room and board. Students work 12, 40-hour weeks at on campus jobs, ranging from a fruitcake and jelly kitchen to running a four-star restaurant, to offset this expense. Before this year, the College was able to accept all students into the summer work program. However, with the present economy, the Dean of Work was flooded with summer work applications--more than 700 to be exact. The College accepted 450 students in the the summer program and offered those who did not make in a chance to rent dormrooms at a very inexpensive rate so they could work off-campus jobs to save up for room and board. Since there are normally a bounty of jobs in the tourism mecca of Branson, located two miles from the College, around 150 students opted for the rental program. KY3 plans to air the story tomorrow during the 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. newscasts.