An author visiting Ball State spoke about poverty issues inAmerica, leaving students stunned but pleased Wednesday night.
Hundreds of students attended Freshman Connections' Meet theAuthor Presentation featuring Barbara Ehrenreich.
Ehrenreich is the author of the New York Times best seller"Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America."
Her book is about her personal experience living on minimum wagejobs. Through her journey she worked as a housekeeper, waitress andWal-mart associate.
During her experience applying for a job at Wal-mart she had totake a drug test.
"I think (drug tests) are a violation of our fourth amendmentright," Ehrenreich said. "Of all the things to judge a personby...their urine."
Ehrenreich has studied issues of poverty throughout hercareer.
"Polarization is the worst it has been since 1929," Ehrenreichsaid. "The rich have been getting richer and the poor poorer. Thespace in between meanwhile has been getting smaller."
While working on her book, "Nickel and Dimed", she worked withwomen who were homeless. She said that she never thought the womeneating only a small bag of chips for lunch didn't have any moneyfor more food.
"I assumed they were just dieting" she said.
Ehrenreich spoke on the government's role in poverty, mentioningthe Bush administration's tax reductions for the wealthy.
"What would Bush do if he wanted to do something aboutpoverty...bomb it?" Ehrenreich said.
Ehrenreich's views on government and how it neglects the problemof poverty left students stunned.
"I'll be surprised if the university lets her speak again,"freshman Brittney Morgan said.
Freshman Brin Irwin said she was surprised by Ehrenreich's viewson government, while high school senior Tom Graft found Ehrenreichto be amusing.
When Ehrenreich was done with her speech audience members gaveher a standing ovation.
"She was unique in the way she said things most of us think,"Graft said.
Ehrenreich's book was chosen as the summer reading forfreshmen.
"It is a great honor to be chosen," Ehrenreich said.
Ehrenreich's speech was only one part of the 2003 FreshmanConnections program.
Students who attend various events sponsored by FreshmanConnections will receive a stamp on their "passport."
All first semester freshmen can submit their passports afterearning a certain number of stamps for a chance to win giftcertificates to local bookstores, restaurants and businesses.
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