Young Democrats host economics presentation

Economics professor Ralph Byrns used analogies of Easter eggs, peanut brittle and zebras in a presentation Monday to explain the economic climate.

The forum, What Went Wrong? A Look Inside the Financial Crisis"" was hosted by the Young Democrats.

It focused on the cause of the recession, how the economy got to where it is today and what needs to be done to make it right again.

Its purpose was to inform students of the economic crisis and help them comprehend it in more depth.

Byrns presents information in such a way that it's easily accessible and easy to understand"" said Ben Buck, co-vice president of Young Democrats. It's definitely helpful to have someone like him explain it.""

For example" Byrns described the current economic situation in automotive terms.

He said the country's leaders saw the crisis in the distance like a traffic jam down the road. But they still tried to cram more cars in the space between them and the traffic jam.

Then it all fell apart like peanut brittle does when it's hit with a hammer Byrns said.

Byrns also focused on the way the financial situation affects students and the University on a local level.

He said if secretarial and custodial staff were laid off the total cost to the University would be much greater than the money saved.

The fired employees would be not working which is one cost. And professors and administrators would have to do that work" keeping them from their main tasks.

Byrns said he thinks President Barack Obama's stimulus plan is the best thing for the economy in its current state.

""I think the things Barack Obama did is what needs to be done to get the economy going again"" he said.

Most economists see stimulus as necessary. It has a much better chance of working than the other things being imposed.""

Buck said he organized the event because he went to a similar event last year with a different organization" and he had a class with Byrns. Buck said he felt that the lecture would be relevant to the current political scene.

Buck said he was pleased by the turnout of the forum" which about 30 to 40 people attended.

""I was pleasantly surprised. It goes to show people want to be informed" and it's encouraging" he said.

A large part of the crowd came from the Young Democrats, but Byrns also encouraged his economics classes to attend the forum.

We wanted anyone who is interested in this topic to come"" said Charlie Sellew, co-president of the Young Democrats.

Students showed their engagement at the end of the lecture when Byrns opened the forum to questions and several people came to speak to him afterwards.

I love Dr. Byrns"" said Anneliese Arno, co-director of the grassroots committee of the Young Democrats. I think he engages people. He's entertaining. Economics has a tendency to be pretty dry and he takes the dryness out of it.""



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