They're silly vehicles. They're ungainly, and aging baby boomers aren't going to buy something that hard to climb in and out of. You practically need a ladder. I hate being behind one on the road because you can't see ahead, and I simply won't park between them because of their high, wide, swinging doors. They're a product without a need.
People buy SUVs to associate themselves with sports celebrities.
It makes people see themselves as a sports figure, and in their own mind, it communicates status, but they're paying for it with extra gas consumption. About half the companies coming are construction firms as our construction management program has one of the best reputations in the nation. For instance, for the first time ever, Lockheed Martin Corporation came onto campus on Sept. 28 in force with 40 representatives, including senior executives. In addition, Purdue's student-sponsored career fair Sept. 15 set a record for the number of employers attending, over 300. In order to get to students early, I've seen dramatic increases in the number of employers establishing cooperative education programs in the last two to three years.