TECHNICIAN
wednesday september
15 2010
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
University: iPads won’t replace textbooks Manufacturers of textbooks are already making electronic textbooks available to students. Pranay Deshpande Staff Writer
University of Notre Dame students enrolled in a year-long project management course received iPads this year as part of a research program to see if the Apple products can replace textbooks. N.C. State is exploring this possibility and how will it affect students and faculty members. But Marc Hoit, vice chancellor for the Office of Information Technology, said there are some drawbacks to iPads. “We already have electronic textbooks, iPads are great devices but they have some problems,” Hoit said. According to Hoit, one of the drawbacks to using an iPad over a textbook could be the ease of highlighting or marking the material. Reselling an electronic textbook, Hoit said, could also be inconvenient. “I am not really comfortable with iPads. Instead, using e-paper could be a better option and it is easier on eyes while reading,” Hoit said. Hoit said the availability of e-books could also be a problem because it’s the publishers’ decision to make books available in electronic format. “It is important to know how many books are available in electronic format. Some chemistry or engineering books that are not very common are not available in these formats,” Hoit said. According to Pat Hofmeister, associate director of University Bookstores, the introduction of iPads will not impact the bookstore.
“Remember that the Bookstore ex- iPads are not even computer screens,” ists to serve this campus community said Jeffrey Stonebraker, assistant proin many areas including textbooks, fessor of business administration. The change from moving from and that a portion of the profit is returned to the University in support of paper-based textbooks to iPads or need-based scholarships,” Hofmeister electronic textbooks on a large scale could be drastic. said. “It will take time, I am not really Availability of books for iPads could be the most important problem, ac- comfortable with iPads but I will get cording to Hoit, and it needs to be used to it if the change is forced,” Stonebraker said. sorted out before Although the the University u s e of i Pa d s moves to iPads. c ou ld be t he “There is no thing of future, point in having Hoit explained two electronic the Universit y books and six needs to analyze paper books for the impacts of one student, but such a decision. at N.C. State, we “Before makare very close to Rodney Axtman, graduate student in making electroning such a radical business administration ic textbooks a rechange there is a ality,” Hoit said. need to analyze According to Hofmeister, the book- statistics that support use of iPads store sold 185 iPads since the official in a University at such a large scale. product launch of the iPad in May, 82 iPads will impact students financially, of those sales occurred since the be- I hope they are cheaper,” Stonebraker ginning of the semester. iPads come said. in six different models ranging from The feasibility of daily use and re$499 to $829. turn on investment, Stonebraker said, “Students can use it now, many are are other factors that we need to conalready using it,” Hoit said. “We don’t sider before we implement this idea. recommend them what to buy.” “I don’t see the return of investment Hofmeister said he feels the degree here. Course-work online could be a to which electronic textbooks will better option. It really depends on how impact future traditional printed easy and efficient it is for use,” Stonetextbooks is uncertain even among braker said. industry experts, but that will not Rodney Axtman, graduate student diminish the Bookstore’s role as a pro- in business administration, said he vider of course materials to students prefers textbooks because highlightin any format. ing and taking notes are much easier. Although iPads have their advan“I am more comfortable reading tages, some students and faculty prefer a textbook when compared to an ethe traditional text. book, simply because it is much easier “I will prefer textbooks. Textbooks to read and take notes,” Axtman said. are comfortable and more readable, you can do more on textbooks and
“I am more comfortable reading a textbook when compared to an e-book...”
New stairway marks end of court renovations
Construction causes library alarm to empty building
Renovations add lawn space, accessibility and classroom space to the Court of North Carolina.
A contractor, renovating the Atrium, forgot to cover a fire alarm, forcing hundreds to evacuate D.H. Hill Library.
Joshua Chappell Correspondent
Students returning to campus after summer break found significant changes in the Court of North Carolina with the construction of a new stairway leading to the 1911 Building. The stairway was the third and final installment of a campaign to renovate and update the Court of North Carolina and to add an outdoor classroom to the court, according to Landscape Project Manger Lynn Swank. During the last fiscal year, University administration set aside a sum of money to plan for potential overall shortfalls in the budget. However, those cuts were not necessary, and the University was left with extra money that had to be used for projects constructed by the end of the fiscal year — June 30. Swank said the University has been renovating the Court of North Carolina for over a decade. “This project has been something that has been in the works since the mid-1990s,” Swank said. The overall budget for phase three was $326,000, which included the cost of walls, pavers, irrigation, sod and trees, according to Swank. Riley Contracting Group out of Cary contracted the third phase of the project, Swank said. Most of the bricks were obtained from Winston-Salem, but some of the bricks used in the project were reused bricks from around the campus. “The caveat with the money was that it had to go to projects that could be completed by June 30,” Swank said. “We started the project in April, and it carried us through until the third week in June, almost the end of the fiscal year.” According to Swank, the time constraints created by the lack of budget shortfall eventually turned out to be a positive thing. “About half of the project was completed during the summer semester, a sleepy time on campus,” Swank said. Student impact during the construction period was a high priority for University facilities staff. The closing of the alleyway between Park Shops and Poe Hall was the main point of pedestrian impact during the project, according to Swank. This area was used to get trucks into the construction area. None of the building entrances were impacted, and only the northwest area of the sidewalk in front of the 1911 Building was closed. Swank said she thinks the overall Court of North Carolina project — which also included the construction of an accessible path from Current Drive, an overlook terrace and a speed table— will benefit the student body.
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ALEX CANOUTAS/TECHNICIAN
Connor Hovis, a freshman in First Year College, plays a racing game on an iPad in the University Bookstore. “I’ve never played on an iPad before but now I kinda want one so I can play games and check my e-mail.” The iPads have attracted many students in the University Bookstore and have been known for being excellent sources for killing time. “It’s like a big iPod!” Hovis said.
Chelsey Francis Deputy News Editor
DANIELLE NEUJAHR/TECHNICIAN
As a frequently traversed area, the 1911 stairs are often used as students pass through the Court of North Carolina to halls such as Winston, Tompkins and Poe.
“Not only did we add a new accessible walkway down into the Court [of North Carolina], but we also increased lawn area in a popular spot for students to hang out, read and bask in the sun,” Swank said. Stephen Smith, a junior in mechanical engineering, said he is slightly disappointed to see the construction of the new steps. “They look nice, but I can no longer sled down the big hill when it snows,” Smith said. Sarah Cummings, a freshman in statistics, said she is extremely satisfied with the new look that the stairs bring to campus. “When I walk down the new stairs looking out into the Court of North Carolina, I am filled with delight.” Cummings said. “It makes me proud to be a Wolfpacker.” Swank said she thinks it makes the whole area look — and function — better. “The Court [of North Carolina] is considered an iconic location on campus, along with the Brickyard and the Free Expression Tunnel,” Swank said. “This development in the court makes the area something that the whole campus community can be proud of.”
D.H. Hill Library was emptied Tuesday around lunch time because of a mistake by contractors, according to Bill Stevenson, University fire marshal. According to Stevenson, a contractor working in the Atrium forgot to cover up a fire alarm, while cutting steel, which activated the fire alarm. “The contractor was cutting steel with a torch. A nearby fire alarm had not been covered up, which was activated and emptied the Atrium and D.H. Hill Library,” Stevenson said. Stevenson said the University Fire Department approved a temporary disconnect of the fire alarm in certain areas while construction is happening. Contractors are allowed to cover up smoke detectors in specific areas,
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approved by the University Fire Department. “We’ve discussed this problem with the contractor to make sure they follow our rules,” Stevenson said. The fire alarm for the Atrium and D.H. Hill Library are connected, with the control room being in D.H. Hill library, Stevenson said. “D.H. Hill Library is not a building we want to dump,” Stevenson said. “There’s students studying for tests and doing homework.” When an employee with the University Fire Department reached the Atrium, the contractor did not share all the information, Stevenson said. “My guy didn’t get all the information, which caused him to have to go farther into the building to make sure nothing was really wrong,” Stevenson said. “There was too long of a delay verifying nothing was wrong.” Stevenson said the University Fire Department is putting more restrictions on the contractor. “We’re planning to intensify our visits to the Atrium while the contractors are working,” Stevenson said.
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Hodge staying involved at State Former Wolfpack star continues to live the dream See page 8.
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