Some campus experts have said the conflict in Iraq may be affecting student morale in the job hunt.

Heather Johnson Huntley, career development coordinator for LAS/Business Career Services, said students have the perception of a very sluggish economy. Fewer students attended the LAS/Business Spring Career Fair and many are not posting resumes and seeking employment.

“Spring Career Day was down almost 30 percent,” Johnson Huntley said. “But the number of employers who came was down only by 2 or 3 [percent].”

David Swenson, assistant scientist in economics, said reviving the economy needs to be a priority even in the midst of war.

“If we don’t get portions of our economy jump-started, it can affect students because there won’t be any jobs,” he said.

Veronica Burnham, junior in journalism and mass communication, said she has had a difficult time trying to secure an internship for the summer.

“I’ve sent out approximately 75 resumes — 40 to places that weren’t seeking interns,” she said. “It’s been kind of tough. I don’t know if it’s because I’m not as qualified as others or if it’s something else.”

Burnham said she doesn’t think the war in Iraq will last long enough to affect the job market.

“I don’t blame the economy on the war — it was already bad,” she said. “We are now starting to see signs of recovery with the stock market.”

A stronger stock market can help the American consumer feel more confident, which can lead to more consumption, said Charles Dobbs, professor of history and assistant to ISU President Gregory Geoffroy.

“Those with 401(k) plans have been feeling poorer,” Dobbs said. “If the stock market comes back, it will help them feel richer and spend money.”

He said he believes America has seen the worst of the downturn in the economy. How the administration’s post-war plans take shape will be key to whether we can enjoy a revitalized economy, Dobbs said.

“Usually, warfare boosts an economy,” he said. “But when there is no post-war planning, it sends the economy into a recession.”

Dobbs said the Marshall Plan, put in place after World War II, is an example of a plan that revived the U.S. economy.

“The plan had three components,” he said. “It was clearly humanitarian, it was anti-Communist and it was pro-American in its approach to rebuilding Europe, as countries who agreed to receive our financial aid had to agree to spend the money on goods made in America or Canada.”

Swenson said students may have fewer job prospects if the war distracts the federal government from implementing policies that can spur growth.

“If the federal government doesn’t focus on the economy, the administration runs the risk of losing the support of the American people,” he said.

Burnham said she may have to resort to an alternative to a summer internship if things don’t work out soon. “If I don’t have [an internship] by the end of the month, I may have to just forget it for this year and look for a summer job,” she said.

Johnson Huntley said some students have indicated they just don’t feel like job hunting.

“Maybe the war is a reason,” she said. “They act like the economy is bad anyway, so why bother?”

But, there are employers out there who are looking for students and graduates to fill internships and positions, Johnson Huntley said.

“It’s not easy to find a job. It takes work,” she said. “But there are jobs out there for them.”