CMYK
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS
FUN THINGS AROUND INDY
VOL.
89
I S S UE 1
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reflector.uindy.edu
AUGUST 25, 2010
New textbook programs to cut costs By Stephanie Snay NEWS EDITOR
Follett Higher Education Group launched Rent-A-Text in fall 2009 at 27 pilot schools and saved students nearly $6 million in two terms. Starting this fall, the University of Indianapolis bookstore is adopting Rent-A-Text. “We want textbooks to be as affordable as possible,” said Lesley Noriega, bookstore manager. “We really care about the students. Especially during these economic times, with the cost of education rising, we want students to be able to afford their books.” The Rent-A-Text program promises to save students 50 percent or more on the cost of their textbooks In order to be eligible to rent textbooks, students must be 18 or older, have a valid government issued ID and a branded debit or credit card for collateral. Parents can rent textbooks for students under 18. The rental period is one semester long with an option to extend and pay another rental fee. If students choose to extend rental periods, buy the book or want to know the exact date the book will be due back, then they can find all of that information on the bottom of their receipts. “One thing I want students to be careful about is that if you happen to need a book for two semesters, it might be cheaper to buy a used book rather than to pay the rental fee twice,” Noriega said. Previously, students have rented textbooks from popular Web sites such as Chegg or Campus Book Rentals. However, renting textbooks through the Rent-A-Text program at the university bookstore offers additional options.
[BUY]
Common Textbooks:
[RENT]
Texts and Contexts
$38.99
$45.05
$62.00 NEW
$27.90
MLA Handbook
$21.99
$23.95
$22.00 NEW
$9.90
What is Life: Guide to Biology
$37.95
$33.64
$125.50 NEW
$56.48
Music for Sight Singing
$52.99
$60.88
$100.75 NEW
$45.34
America: A Narrative History
$30.49
$33.60
$88.75 NEW
$39.94
Child Welfare Policies and Best Practices
$42.49
$42.92
$71.00 NEW
$42.53
Human Physiology
$69.29
$72.11
$200.50 NEW
$90.23
“You get to see the book. You can choose between new or used,” Noriega said. “We also allow highlighting and writing notes in the book, which Chegg doesn’t.” Not all textbooks will be available for rentals; about 40 percent of the bookstore titles can be rented. Noriega said that bookstore personnel have received positive feedback since implementing Rent-A-Text. The Rent-A-Text program is not the only effort to shrink textbook prices. The
Higher Education Opportunity Act, which was effective on July 1, includes several provisions within the Textbook Affordability Act written by Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin to make textbooks more affordable. Three of these major changes are public disclosure, unbundling and course scheduling disclosures. Public disclosure means disclosing the prices of textbooks to professors. Unbundling refers to the discontinuance of extra fees students pay for all the extra materials that come with a textbook, such as workbooks or CDs. Course scheduling
disclosure means that the prices of the books will be listed when students schedule courses. Disclosure will help both professors and students alike. “Dick Durbin is right when he says that professors don’t know how much books cost. And to be sure, when I ask publishers’ representatives about the price, they often can’t tell me how much the book will actually cost when sold in the university bookstore,” said Associate Professor of History James Fuller. “At UIndy, most professors really do
care about their students and work to make the best decisions they can when it comes to ordering books. The new law will make it easier for us.” Fuller said that the new law promises to give more information and allow professors to make cost-conscious decisions as they order books. Hopefully through programs such as Rent-A-Text and the Textbook Affordability Act, students will be able to relieve their pocketbooks and higher education will become more affordable.
9 p.m. Welcome Back Bash @ Schwitzer
3 p.m. Academic Department meetings for psychology and business majors In the Know Session 3
10:30 a.m. Academic department meetings by majors 12 p.m. UIndy Life Expo
8 a.m. Service Projects with Circle K 1 p.m. Mid - afternoon Madness with ISG @ Smith Mall 9 p.m. Midnight Bowling @ Shelby Bowl
SUNDAY [8/29]
7:30 p.m. Playfair @ Smith Mall
1 p.m. Social Responsibility Presentation
9:30 a.m. Paving the Way to Academic Success in College
SATURDAY [8/28]
2:30 p.m. Opening Session @ Ransburg
9:15 a.m. In the Know Sessions 1 & 2
FRIDAY [8/27]
11 a.m. Greyhound Picnic @ Smith Mall
THURSDAY [8/26]
WEDNESDAY [8/25]
WELCOME WEEK 2010 EVENT SCHEDULE 11 a.m. Ecumenical Worship Service @ Smith Mall 4 p.m. Catholic Mass @ Schwitzer McCleary Chapel 9 p.m. Outdoor Movie @ Smith Mall
1:30 p.m. Discover UIndy Sessions 1 & 2 8 p.m. CPB Night of Awesomeness @ UIndy Hall
Student killed in car crash on Interstate 70 By Jacki Dillman EDITOR - IN - CHIEF Steven Ashmore passed away on Aug. 8, after sustaining critical injuries in a head-on automobile accident. Ashmore, a University of Indianapolis junior and biology major., was 21-years-old. The accident occurred in the early morning on Aug. 6, and police believe that alcohol was a factor in the crash. Ashmore’s vehicle was westbound on I-70 east when it struck the vehicle of 19-year-old Justin Markel. Markel also was seriously injured in the accident. Both
men were rushed to Wishard Memorial student. He loved animals, and art and Hospital following the was a former high school accident. football player,” Assistant A celebration of life Professor of Biology Doug was held in honor of Stemke said. “He will be Ashmore from 5-7 p.m. missed.” on Aug. 13 in Zionsville, Ashmore was an active followed by a formal student. He worked in service. the biology department Ashmore is rememas a student employee, atbered by his friends, famtended a spring term class ily and professors as an that traveled to Costa Rica avid animal lover, a hard and held an off-campus job worker and a genuinely at Caribbean Cove Indoor ASHMORE kind person. Waterpark. “Steven was a multidimensional “He was the kind of student that I
WELCOME WEEK SPECIAL!
enjoyed having in class. He was the kind of student that I really wanted to succeed in everything that he did,” Stemke said. Although nothing is finalized, Stemke hopes that a memorial grant or scholarship fund can be established in Ashmore’s memory. Stemke offered advice for students coping with the loss of a friend. “Coping with the death of a friend and classmate takes time. Try to remember what you loved about Steven.” Ashmore’s death marks the fourth untimely loss of a UIndy student over the past year. Students who need help coping with
College Survival Tips
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the death of a friend, classmate or loved one can go to the Health and Counseling Center on the second floor of Schwitzer Student Center.
Condolences can be sent to: The Ashmore Family 7909 Ferrell Lane Indianapolis, IN 46260
Pepsi-Cola on Campus
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