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As ����ý University junior Jeremy Bennett ’09 studies in London this semester, he’s getting a real-life lesson in personal finances.

Every fish and chips dinner, hostel stay, and souvenir is taking a big bite out of Bennett’s wallet. He and thousands of other students studying abroad can blame the weak U.S. dollar, which is making a semester overseas more expensive.

“I’ll be doing a lot of pasta and rice dishes,” Bennett told The Post-Standard (Syracuse) for an article this week about the falling dollar’s impact on study-abroad costs.

A picture of Bennett holding a ����ý shirt appeared on the front page of The Post-Standard.

In early 2007, the euro was worth $1.32 and jumped to $1.47 at the beginning of this year, according to the article.

Despite the higher cost, the number of undergraduates studying through ����ý’s off-campus study program has increased by 4.3 percent in the past five years.

In fact, ����ý’s a leader in the field, typically ranking in the top ten among baccalaureate institutions for the number of students studying abroad.

Bennett’s confident his experience will be priceless.

“It’s a really great opportunity,” he told the paper. “I knew since freshman year, the London program just made sense.”

Alumna Oak Atkinson ’87, a designer and founder of card company, also was in the spotlight this week, appearing live on The Martha Stewart Show.

If you’re looking for ways to make clever Valentine’s Day cards, Atkinson may have the answer.

Martha Stewart thinks so.

On Wednesday, Atkinson showed Stewart — and the rest of the country — how to create personalized cards for loved ones. ()

Atkinson’s appearance wasn’t bad for business either; within hours of the show airing, Tumbalina was flooded with more than 300 e-mails.

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