students having to spend more time earning a living than they can afford to spare from their studies. The poorer student must find a rich relative or leave school. Sincerely yours, ROBERT PUSTELL, Chairman, SPI Chapter, AVC. AVC POLL SHOWS STUDENT EXPENSES EXCEED GOVERNMENT ALLOWANCE CHECK-36 PERCENT OF VETERANS ON CAMPUS RETURNS QUESTIONNAIRES, PROVIDING ADEQUATE STATISTICS That Rensselaer student veterans spend considerably more than their Government subsistence allowances was shown conclusively by the recent American Veterans Committee cost of living poll. In figures released exclusively to the Polytechnic, Don Berger, AVC statistics expert, announced that the average married man spends $150.70 and the average single man $103.32 per month. The poll, taken in connection with a national AVC drive for increased subsistence allowances, accurately points up the desperate financial straits in which many of the veterans find themselves. Two hundred and seventy-five married men and 800 single men returned questionnaires. This is well over one-quarter of the veteran student body, and represents a very good sample, Berger said. FIGURE BREAK-DOWN The break-down of the figures shows that married men monthly spend $43.50 for rent, $62.12 for food, $23.28 for transportation, laundry, insurance, and medical care, and $21.80 for other expenses. The single men's monthly expenses include $20.27 for rent, $47.93 for food, $18.12 for other essentials, and $17 for miscellaneous. The increased subsistence proposed in a bill now before Congress is $90 for single men, and $125 for married men, with $10 additional for each child. In his analysis, Berger pointed out that only 13.2 percent of the married men get along for less than $125, while 13.3 percent of single students spend less than $90. A percentage break-down of the figures reported is as follows: Assisting Mr. Berger in the compilation of these figures was a committee headed by Bob Postell, newly elected chairman of the Rensselaer AVC Chapter. Under his direction, over 3,000 of the questionnaires were distributed. Returns were considerably better than on previous campus polls. Mr. Berger is a B-1 management engineer. His training in statistics was invaluable in these tabulations. He requested that Prof. Edward R. Van Winkle, of the department of economics, be given credit for numerous suggestions and criticisms in connection with the study. INSURANCE DROPPED The poll was not without its humorous and pathetic sides. Many of the veterans polled made notations on their questionnaires that reflected their bitter financial straits. There were several who entered "dropped, insufficient funds" in the space allotted for money spent for Government insurance. One married man entered "and we eat very little meat" next to his $50 food expense. The crowning touch, however, was the single student who tabulated a $3 monthly food expense and $27.30 for his monthly medic menses. Since the total of these is considerably below the average food expenditure, the members of the committee are searching him out to discover his methods. In a The most extravagant student reported total monthly expenses of $243. neatly typed form, this married man reported such items as rent, $63; food, $60; and miscellaneous $50. There were several single men vying for the honor of lowest spender. The winner by a few cents showed monthly figures amounting to $49. A notation on his form asked, "What about books and clothes?"" Tabulated results of "Cost of living survey" at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N. Y., conducted Mar. 12-29, 1947 Chairman, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Chapter, AVC. Additional information: School dining hall charges $45 per person per montb. Married rent figure includes many living in housing project at $22-$25 per month. Average local rents much higher than above figure. EXHIBIT No. 17 Cost-of-living survey results at Marietta College (Marietta, Ohio) COST-OF-LIVING SURVEY RESULTS AT MARIETTA COLLEGE Ninety-one percent of the 216 veterans who responded to a survey of the living expenses of veterans attending Marietta College under the GI bill of rights feel that the Government should raise the subsistence allowance. The survey, conducted in March by the Marietta Chapter of the American Veterans Committee, was carried out by means of distribution on the campus of questionnaires which were filled out and returned by more than two-hundred former service men and women. A break-down of answers to various sections of the questionnaire indicates that the veterans are faced today with unexpected problems and grave new responsibilities due to the rise in the cost of living which has taken place since the bill was enacted. Some of the more striking facts disclosed follow: 1. The present allowance to veterans attending colleges and universities is $65 per month for single persons and $90 for married veterans. Inadequacy of the allowance to cover even the most basic expenditures is indicated by the fact that food alone cost the single man living away from home almost two-thirds of his entire allowance of $65. 2. Thirty-five percent of all the veterans queried now are forced to work part time in order to supplement their allowance and of this group 83 percent find that their college work is impaired as a result. Of those not working at present, 57 percent, or more than one-half, stated that they will have to find work at once if they are to continue in college. 3. Due to the rise in living costs, 42 percent of the veterans were forced to withdraw their war bonds and more than 73 percent have been obliged to remove their savings. 4. The largest group in the 216 veterans answering the survey was represented by single men living away from home, the percentage being 51.6 percent. In this group, monthly expenditures for rent averaged $14.80 and food $41.51, making a total expenditure for board and room of $56.31, Average over-all expenses for the group per month is $94.84, almost $30 more than the subsistence allowance. This group is more fortunate than single veterans at other colleges, for Marietta College is provided with low-rental FPHA housing units and a cafeteria. Total monthly expenses in other groups are as follows: Single men living at home (13.4 percent), $84.54; married men living at home (5.5 percent), $119.42; married men live in away from home (29.5 percent), $138.73 (many of this group also live in low-rental FPHA units). The Marietta Chapter of the AVC which conducted the survey observed that the total average did not give the entire picture of the veterans' problems, and therefore included individual averages of the main categories, with marriage status and place of residence determining the break-down, J. PAUL HERBERT, Temporary Chairman, Marietta Chapter, AVC. EXHIBIT No. 18 [From the Syracuse Daily Orange, March 13, 1947] SURVEY REVEALS VETS' EXPENSES That present veterans' subsistence allowances are inadequate to cover even the most necessary living expenses is proved by the campus survey just concluded and published on this page. The survey was conducted by the university chapter of the American Veterans Committee under the chairmanship of Saul H. Mendlovitz, and was presented to the AVC membership at a meeting Tuesday night, On the basis of this survey the university chapter voted to support bill H. R. 870, which provides that subsistence allowances be raised $90 for single vets and to $125 for married vets, with $10 additional for each child. This bill was written by AVC and introduced in the House by Representative Edith Nourse Rogers, Republican, of Massachusetts. With the aid of Dr. Herman C. Beyle, professor of political science, the poll was conducted on a scientific basis. Percentages given are fairly accurate. Those results which could be checked against available records at the VA office were found to be within 3 to 5 percent of the actual figure, 61876-47- -8 "I believe this issue is of vital importance," stated Dr. Beyle. "I therefore am anxious to see that the statistical procedure was carried on correctly. However, this does not imply an endorsement of AVC policies." Syracuse vets are comparatively modest, as can be seen from the chart. Each category of veterans is asking for only a proportion of the expenditures. While the average single vet spends $105.49 a month, he is asking only for $92.11. Married vets spend $151.68 and are asking for $117.29. The average veteran away from home is spending $121.61. He would be satisfied with $90 if single; $120.34 if married. Single vets living at home are a little selfish. They spend only $80.05 and want $85.35. Probably they want to give the extra money to their parents, since now they only pay $1.75 to help with the rent. One of the most significant facts this survey shows is that almost 60 percent of all veterans are withdrawing savings; 54.8 percent claim that they will have to work in order to be able to continue in school. "Considering the fact that the cost of living is rising, the survey indicates that many veterans will be forced to leave college, unless subsistence allowances are increased," Mendlovitz asserted. The cost of food was surprisingly low, as listed by the students interviewed. The reason for this may be that many vets included their Sunday night meals, as well as snacks during the week, in the recreation and entertainment category. Incidently, single vets find it necessary to spend more than twice as much for entertainment than married vets are spending. But in spite of that, this survey kills the vicious rumor that "two can live as cheaply as one." Food and rent together constitute only 54.4 percent of the single vet's outlay, while even the married vets spend only 64 percent of the budget on those two items. Veterans living at home spend most for entertainment, almost as much as they spend for food. Married vets spend seven times as much for food than for recreation and entertainment. 1 Sample of 168 taken from a total of 5,588 male veterans by careful random study. Conducted at Black Mountain College in Black Mountain, N. C., during the week of March 5 to 17. The college is co-ed with an enrollment of 95 students. Veteran students number about 39 and the survey covered 25 of this number. Three of these veterans are married. 2. If not, will it be necessary for you to do so in the 3. If married, does you wife have to work to supple- 3 23132 5. Other Do your total expenses exceed the Government subsistence al- 3 Do you think the Government should raise the subsistence al- 3 |