A common complaint heard all over the country is, “I don’t make enough money.” With a chorus of “AMEN!” to shortly follow that statement, the U.S. has been getting some financial relief. President Obama has called for the U.S. minimum wage to be raised to nine dollars. While that is exciting news, Minnesota has yet to see such an increase.
Still, it is fun to think about making that extra dollar, and many Southwest Minnesota State University students are wishing for it. In an interview with several college students, the majority of them being employees themselves, the general consensus was students would love a pay raise to nine dollars.
“I work for the Spur,” said Spur writer, Katarina Holman. “I get eight dollars an article, I would be especially happy at getting one whole dollar extra per article, cause it would mean one more candy bar!”
“I think it’s a great idea for the wage increase,” mused Megan Lipetzky, a SMSU freshmen majoring in history. “Because this way you do make more money. However, you have to pay more money in taxes, but I guess that’s just putting more money into your social security for when you retire.”
“I work at Golden Home Care Inc., the company that the school uses to take care of its handicapped students. I make $8.60 an hour,” said Dan Kilkelly, creative writing major and Spur editor. “It would be nice if the minimum wage was raised, but I don’t really need it. If I wanted more money I would just ask for more hours, but the extra money would be nice. I’d probably go thrift-shopping, and pop some tags.”
“I work at Marshall 6 Movie Theater, and just started another job at REM,” said SMSU student, Kelli Schultz. Kelli currently makes $7.25 per hour at the Movie Theater, and $9.00 per hour at REM. “For the theater it would be pretty awesome, in my opinion,” she said. When I asked her about what she would do with the extra money from the pay increase, Kelli said, “I’m not sure, but it would make my tuition easier to pay off!”
Other students are more neutral to the idea of the minimum wage increase, but are still in favor of it. SMSU student Anna Fitzer works as a Personal Care Attendant for Golden Home Care and has two other part-time jobs. She currently makes more than the Minnesota minimum wage, but had this to say about those who would benefit from the pay raise:
“It [Minnesota minimum wage increase] would not affect me, however I am very excited for anyone who is currently working at a minimum wage job.”
