27-year-old Monroe College graduate Trina Thompson sues school because she has yet to find a job since she graduated in April
Kate Oczypok
I’ll admit it--This thought went through my
head during a particularly frustrating summer two years ago. But one
student is using legal matters to deal with her job frustrations. Trina
Thompson, 27, is suing her alma mater for $70,000 because she hasn’t
found a job since she graduated in late April, according to The New York Post.
Thompson attended Monroe College in Bronx, New York City, where, according to the Post, she received a bachelor’s degree in information technology.
and is suing for the amount she spent on tuition to the school. The Post
reports that she’s blaming the Office of Career Advancement for not
giving her leads and advice as promised. Side note: Did she ever stop
and think the economy could be to blame too?
According to Reuters, how fast the economy can recover is key to how
fast the unemployment rate recedes from a 26-year high of 9.5 percent.
There is a rule that 2.5 percent is the amount of growth it would take
for the jobless rate to stay steady. But, of course, what could is any
kind of growth if you can’t find a job?
Back to Thompson: According to the Post, she lives with her
mother who is a substitute teacher. Like many American citizens today,
they’re struggling to make ends meet, especially with Thompson’s
student loans being due, which naturally sends the two of them into
even greater debt.
But does the lawsuit, which may get them some money back (lawyer’s
fees, anyone?), even stand a chance? Monroe’s school spokesman told the
Post
that the lawsuit is without merit. “The college prides itself on the
excellent career-development support that we provide to each of our
students, and this case does not deserve further consideration,” Gary
Axelbank told the Post.
Monroe, like many schools, offers free career services for alums and
graduates. I guess Thompson can look at it this way---all this free
publicity could maybe land her some sort of a job?
Thompson should check out stats from the last recession in 2001. It
was followed by a long time of very high joblessness, according to
Reuters. However, back in 1983, when most of us were just twinkles in
our parents’ eyes, the jobless rate reached 10.8 percent, then fell
fast to 8.3 percent after just 12 months. So if Thompson has some more
patience, she could be in for a job.
Right now, Reuters reports that the Fed thinks unemployment will
stay above nine percent through next year. They’re thinking it could
take up to six years before everything returns to normal. Thompson
better get cracking on job searching. It took me six months to find my
job!
| 
