February 18, 2013

The Student Body, for Sale

To meet the rising cost of college, students can call on at least one resource all their own

Pete Marovich for The Chronicle

Kyle J. Parliament, a senior at Liberty U., sells his plasma every Thursday and Saturday at this center in Lynchburg, Va. "If I hadn't donated plasma, I'd be in the red right now," he says.

By Don Troop

Last June a college student named Michael pondered his options for summer employment. He was already working as a children's swimming coach at a country club near his family's home, but the salary worked out to less than minimum wage. He joked with his friends that he could make more money as a stripper.

"I've always been kind of the goofy one, and