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Show 4 THE THUNDERBIRD PACE MONDAY MAY 2, 1988 MINIMUM WAGE HIKE WOULD WREAK HAVOC The proposed 38 percent minimum wage increase will not d workers their jobs, or ''entry-level- '' only cost many will also raise costs but several to economic studies, according for employers while increasing the inflation rate. The proposed bill outlines a three-ste- p wage increase. A 15 in the minimum wage to would raise 1989 percent increase will a 10 followed be and by $3.85 percent increase each of the next two years. Eventually, the increase level will be "indexed" to 50 percent of the average hourly wage. While an increase may sound advantageous, studies show it will hurt both individual workers and the economy as a whole. Teenagers, minority groups, and inexperienced or "entry level" employees will suffer most from a wage increase. Teenagers make up one third of the 5 million people currently working for minimum wage. Each 10 percent wage increase results in a 0.5 to 1.5 percent teenage employment loss. A 987 Labor Department study shows a direct relationship between the increased teenage unemployment rate from 1979 to 1986 and the 1981 minimum wage hike. The study shows teenage unemployment rose two points after the 1981 wage hike. These figures are especially important when considering the 12 percent teenage population decrease during this period. Teenagers and minorities are not the only ones to be adversely affected by a wage increase. The Thunderbird supports the theory that a wage hike will not help the plight of the inexperienced, recent college graduate. A wage increase will result in a decrease of available jobs and an increase in the desirability of experienced workers. Economists' predict companies will not be willing to train workers lacking experience and special skills. Instead, employers will hire more experienced workers, therefore d shutting many teenagers and minorities, along with recent college graduates, out of the work force. No longer will the work force be divided into those people employed or unemployed, said Secretary of labor William E. Brock, but will seperate into those people employed and those who are unemployable. The eventual 38 percent increase proposed will lead to a loss of almost 800,000 jobs, said Brock. An increased minimum wage also opens the door for minority workers, employee discrimination. workers, namely teenagers, and inexperienced "entry-level- " college graduates recently entering the work force, will be the losers should a wage increase be passed. "The employer would tighten his belt," says Finnis R. Welch of the University of California at Los Angeles. "The guys who already are making $4.20 stand a good chance of keeping their jobs. The guy making $3.35 has no chance at all." low-pai- 1 low-skille- Low-skille- THE STUDENT NEWS AND VIEWS OF SOUTHERN d UTAH STATE VOLUME 82, NUMBER Editor Nicole Bonham Associate Editor Lisa )ane Laird Copy Editor Mitch Connell Photo Editor Richard Engleman Sports Editor Tiffame Florence COLLEGE CEDAR CITY. UTAH 28 Entertainment Editor Danny Stewart Senior Staff Writer Betsy Thomas Production Manager Gavin McNeil Advertising Manager Chris Udy Faculty Adviser Larry 8aker The Thunderbird is published each Monday of the academic yeai by and tor the student body of Southern Utah State College and is not affiliated in any way with the College's The views and opinions expressed in The Thunderbird department of communication. are the opinions of the publication's individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the of the views institution, faculty, staff or student body in general The unsigned editorial directly above is the opinion of The Thunderbird as a single entity Letters to the editor must be typed and include the name and phone number Only the name will be printed Names will not be withheld under any circumstances and the editor reserves editing privileges. Letters must be submitted by noon Friday for inclusion in the following edition. The Thunderbird editorial and advertising offices in SUSC Library 103 Mail at 5USC Box 7758 9384, Cedar City, UT 84720. Phone (801) Original, factual reporting necessary 'Access' is a recurring column through which members of the campus community may address themselves to topics of concern andor interest. This week's column is by REBECCA WINSOR, a junior majoring in theatre arts. educational programs about karate. On the other hand, it is better than watching Wheel of Fortune or Three's Company. Now a word concerning the weekly news. It's fun to watch familiar people try to act like Dick Nourse and Michelle King. But resent the fact that nearly all of the stories shown the nights that watched the program were rehashed articles from The Thunderbird. realize that as we do share a campus, many of the stories will be the same. But expect broadcast journalists to do their own research and writing. The Thunderbird writers aren't getting credit for doing the broadcaster's job. For example, the day after watched the news, we were having breakfast with Jeff Ingman and someone commented on the story channel nine ran about Ingman. He knew nothing about it. A feature story about Ingman had been printed in that week's campus newspaper. As the camera pulled back at the end of the broadcast, what do you think was on the desk? You guessed it! A copy of The Thunderbird. Mill or its I The return of SUSC's cable channel nine to the airwaves, has been a lot of fun, at least for me. The programs produced by the communication department are sometimes informative and almost always kind of fun. Programming includes Southern Utah Silhouettes, which shows several segments weekly. In the past few weeks they've done packages on SUSC's nationally ranked cheeerleaders, Denise Spurrier's directing debut Wanderings, The Waukeenyans and Michael Manning's music videos. Face to Face is a talk show with college personalities and visitors to the campus. The news, shown nightly according to the graphics or weekly according to the anchors, is also broadcast. did enjoy watching the programming but now that it has been moved it back one hour, it's hard for me to catch. With Nicholas Nickleby rehearsals each night, I'm not home to watch the televised programs. When ihe local programs began at 5:30 p.m. it was perfect. Most classes are over by five and most students relax before they begin studying, partying or attending other functions. Also, at 5:30 p.m. there is absolutely nothing to watch on television. Now that they've changed the programming time to 7 p.m. They are competing against reruns which are more enjoyable to watch than cable channel nine's programming of iron mining at the Old Iron I I I I Channei nine's broadcast writers should also verify facts included in stories. A recent drug bust story reported that eight students were arrested. According to SUSC's Registrar's Office one of the people arrested was not enrolled at SUSC this quarter. Excluding those facts, think that channel nine is doing a super job, especially with the limited experience of its staff. am excited about cable channel nine and can't wait for more college programming. I I |