by Lydia Fielder
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A sixth-year senior has been at the University of Arkansas 12 semesters, all while facing evictions, juggling class load, and working a minimum wage job.
Journalism and African and African American studies major Kristen Smith starts every weekday morning with a 4 o’clock shift at the McDonald’s drive thru, followed by class from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Then, she takes the bus back to her car, drives home to workout, and drives back to campus to do school work. She typically goes to bed around midnight, and does the same thing again the next day.
Arkansans voted to pass Issue 5 which will increase the minimum wage incrementally from $8.50 to $11 an hour by 2021.
Smith said she thinks the initiative is a good move for the state.
“An extra $2.50 an hour could help a lot. That really adds up,” Smith said. “There are a lot of people, whether they’re in school or not in school, just trying to take care of themselves. To know that there’s something in place to better help individuals take care of themselves, their households, their kids — I think that’s phenomenal.”
Those opposed to the measure include Gov. Asa Hutchison and state representatives. They feel the measure puts the future of youth employment in jeopardy.
Smith said she plans to graduate in December and work in the journalism field to promote her social justice issue platform.