Campus Economics

originally published April 25, 2007

I am a little confused by Matthew Pulver’s comments concerning our area economy and its correlation to low wages. ["Comment: Looking Squarely at Wages," Apr. 11]. In his commentary last week, he states that the Partners for a Prosperous Athens are not looking at the real cause of our county’s poverty problem. He cites that the university economy in this town drives wages lower due to the need for fry cooks, lawn maintenance, grocery bagging and other nominal pay jobs. While this is definitely a truism in part - that our local economy does require those type of lower-paying jobs - I do not understand what it is that he thinks would happen if these jobs were not around. Would the unskilled suddenly be taking higher-paying white collar jobs if they didn’t have to be behind a fryer or lawn mower? Low-paying jobs (and most of us have had them) are generally a stepping stone to better things, whether through education or competent performance resulting in raises or promotions. Some of my best managers (making well more than the living wage) were once dishwashers making $5.15 an hour.

I don’t think you can blame the local “campus economy” for keeping people down. If anything, it has saved the local economy from a very bleak situation. Have you ever tried to get a job in Comer? Lexington? Crawford? All are towns with no local student economy and all have very limited job resources for the local citizenry. If anything, the fact the UGA is in Athens offers a huge potential for careers in the area. Why can’t the guy mowing lawns work until he has his own small business doing maintenance for the myriad of student-based housing complexes in the county? Our town has not one but two major area hospitals, because UGA is here. There are many professionals in the area - doctors, accountants, brokers, insurance companies - because we have this “campus economy.” All these professionals have staffs and lab techs and secretaries and office cleaners and couriers. All the people that are here because of UGA require a great deal of support, and because they are here, we have a thriving construction industry, numerous eateries, automobile dealers, architects and a plethora of service companies like carpet cleaners, auto rentals, day care centers, schools and so on. Look in the Yellow Pages and see the diversity of local companies: golf cart sales, hot tub stores, gymnastics instructors, jewelers, print shops, banks, cabinet makers, the list goes on. All these people exist economically because of the so-called “campus economy.” Did some of them start out as fry cooks? You bet. Did some of them apply themselves, scrimp, save, educate themselves until they got further in life? You bet. Are some of them still fry cooks? You bet.

The “campus economy” is a very good thing. It drives this county and we should all be grateful it is here. While there are many entry-level jobs that are low-paying, there are obviously many other opportunities out there for people to take advantage of. Whether they choose to or are able to is a question that is unique for each individual. The sheer amount of industry that the campus brings in indirect ways to this town is immeasurable. If you disagree, I suggest you hit the streets of Lexington (or any small town), GA, and try to find a job at $10 or $13 per hour.

Dave Cappi, ex-dishwasher, current restaurant owner

Winterville