The students’ voice since 1901 • Vol. 110 No. 2 • Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010 • Emporia State University
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Rabas wins Kansas Notable Book K enzie T empleton templeton@esubulletin.com An airborne keyboard soaring out of the back of his father’s truck bed was the inspiration for the title poem in Kevin Rabas’ award-winning new book, “Lisa’s Flying Electric Piano.” “I decided to make (that) the title of the book because a lot of people seemed to enjoy that particular poem, plus it’s catchy and easy to remember,” said Rabas, an assistant professor of English who co-directs the Creative Writing Program at ESU, co-edits the Flint Hills Review and writes regularly for Jazz Ambassador Magazine. “Lisa’s Flying Electric Piano” was one of 15 books written either by Kansas authors or about Kansas-related topics to make the 2010 Kansas Notable Books List.
The annual list was created by the Kansas Center for the Book to identify exceptional works reflecting the culture of the state. Rabas’ second book features a collection of poetry about jazz, nature, family and living in the Midwest. As fans of Rabas’ work may note, this book follows the trend of its predecessor, “Bird’s Horn,” as both have sections of music poems. “I’ve conducted interviews with famous and not-so-famous musicians, and I’m a jazz musician myself… I write a lot about those experiences,” Rabas said. “Bird’s Horn” won ESU’s Research in Creativity Grant, and the university continues to have a positive influence on Rabas’ artistic quality. “(It’s) really a warm and accepting atmosphere… a nurturing environment. And it feels great to work at a place where
the university as a whole respects what you do and encourages you to do more of it,” Rabas said. Marie Miller, English Department Chair, said that having another awardwinning professor on staff brings a lot more recognition to the department and ESU as a whole. “It’s just one more indication of our faculty’s scholarly work,” she said. Students are taking notice, too. “I definitely respect (Rabas) as a writer, and this award gives him credibility… it’s reassuring to have him as an instructor for creative writing,” said Ryan Baxter, junior English major. When comes to writing, Rabas jumpstarts the process by reading works of other authors like Thomas Lux, Terrance Hayes and Mari Baraka, to name a few. He
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Water Main Project on schedule L iz C offey coffey@esubulletin.com
Photo Illustration by Megan Gartner.
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Textbook Law Helps Students Access Affordable Textbooks H an Y an yan@esubulletin.com A new federal law aimed at helping students access more affordable course materials went into affect in July. The law, which is part of the Higher Education Opportunity Act, requires textbook publishers to provide detailed information about the prices of textbooks, the copyright dates of the three previous editions, the revisions of content in the new edition and how the textbook is available in other formats, like online. “I paid about $700 for textbooksonly for this semester,” saidEllie Rivera, junior Elementary Education major. “I am a little bit excited about this law.If the textbooks will be a little bit cheaper, I will be a little bit excited.” Students usually pay several hundred dollars for their textbooks every year depending on their majors. “I paid close to $500 for my textbooks. I think the textbooks are higher than what they need to be right now,” said Joel Wilburn, senior secondary education major. “My major is not as expensive as Nursing or Business.” Professors also think the textbooks are getting expensive. “Textbooks in general, I think (are) very expensive. Over the years, it has become more and more expensive,” said Alexis Downs, associate professor of Accounting and Information systems.
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The effect of the new textbook law on decreasing the price of textbook is limited. “I think it will have some sort of effect. But, it won’t be perfect, it won’t drive down the price as much as students would like them to do,” Wilburn said. Mike McRell, manager of the Memorial Union Bookstore, thinks that the new law is not going to lower the textbook prices immediately. “Because the publishershave the price set at a certain point, and they are not going to drop the price just because the information is out there,” he said.“The law doesn’t tell them that theycan charge only certain amount.The law just said they had to provide the information.” However, the change in the law has affected the way the campus bookstore does business. “We had to update our website and be ready for July, because we are the distributor of that information for the university,”McRell said. Downs said this new law is helpful for faculty who are choosing textbooks to teach from. “The publishers will provide more information about the different versions of the textbooks, so I will know more about the options,”Downs said. The quality of the textbook’s content is always a professor’s
Businesses and drivers are to expect traffic control systems such as closed roads and fencing on the 1100 block of Commercial Street as construction on a project to replace 100-year-old water main lines is underway. “Everyone should still come downtown and shop and take advantage of what we have to offer, but be careful around construction zones,” said Casey Woods of Emporia Main Street. Mies Construction and BG Consultants, Inc. were contracted to complete the project, which began June 9 and is projected to finish in late September or October. The project is estimated to cost a little under $1 million. “(This is) necessary work for the quality of everyone,” said by Earl Mies, media contact for Mies Construction. “If students could please support the downtown area, it would be very much appreciated.” Some problems have surfaced during the duration of the project, including stolen equipment that has since been recovered by the Emporia Police Department. City residents and students are warned to avoid leaning into water meter pits and trenches to avoid a dangerous situation. Three construction zones were laid out that stretched from the 1100 to 300 blocks.
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Where did you get your textbooks? “I got them from the MU bookstore because it was the easiest way and financial aid helped pay for most of them.” Scott Gillham, Freshman music education major
“Many times I try to get my books at Textbook Corner because the Memorial Union books are a little more expensive by a couple dollars.” David Roark, Sophomore computer information systems major
Intersections are closed in downtown Emporia due to continued water main maintenance Monday afternoon on Commercial Street. Jon Coffey/The Bulletin.