Recession

Half the professors in Mechanical Engineering department do not seem to be doing any research at all. Every other guy I meet and ask about the research the only answer is they don't have funded research projects. I wonder what is happening at University of Minnesota. Is it the recession hitting the university or really dumb professors or really dumb me not able to find a professor? Whatever it is there are more students than research positions at the U at this time. I don't know where the new students in Fall-12 are going to land up.
All the nice ones don't have money. Those (v.few) who have money are not-so-nice!