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Monday, January 25, 2016
Northern Star
815-753-5606 H @NIUNorthernStar H NorthernStar.info/Opinion
Pledge of time needed for SA
Students should ask for help when applying for FAFSA
Campus Life Building, Room 130 545 Lucinda Ave. DeKalb, Ill., 60115 Web: www.NorthernStar.info Fax: 815-753-0708 Editorial Board Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the Editorial Board; columns reflect the opinion of the author alone.
Northern Star Editorial Board
Editor in Chief & Publisher: Jackie Nevarez Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-0105 Managing Editor: Rachel Scaman Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-0177 News Editor: Alexander Chettiath Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-9643 Digital Editor: Margaret Maka, Jessica Plessner Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-9644 Perspective Editor: Angela L. Pagan Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-9637 Sports Editor: Chris Loggins Sports@NorthernStar.info 815-753-9637 Scene Editor: Darius Parker Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-5606 Photo Editor: Nick Bosshart Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-1602 Other Advertising Manager: Derek Noel Ads@NorthernStar.info 815-753-0108 Circulation Manager: Andrew Parnell 815-753-0707 Adviser: Shelley Hendricks 815-753-4239 Business Adviser: Maria Krull 815-753-0707
Hanna Markezich Northern Star
Explore options before buying books for classes
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Perspective
Kaylyn Zielinksi Columnist
faster than their new counterparts. Used books are always less expensive than the new copies at the bookstores. There are two required books for CHEM 110, according to the University Bookstore and Village Commons Bookstore websites. If both of the texts were bought new, a student would spend $229 compared to only $171.75 for used versions of the same books. It is always a possibility for students to sell their books back to the bookstores or online after the semester is over, but there is not always a guarantee that the stores or websites will be accepting the books back; often students do not receive much in comparison to how much was spent. For example, The Associated Press Stylebook bought new for $20.99 would only receive a max buyback price of $4 according to the ‘Sell Your Books’ feature in the Village Commons Bookstore app.
There are many ways for students to get books for classes, but the best resource depends on how long students plan to have the book. Students need to take time to research their options in order to get the best price. The University Bookstore and Village Commons Bookstore are Letters to the editor the best and easiest places to purLetters should not exceed 300 words and chase books, Chegg.com has low may be edited for clarity and brevity. The rental prices and the NIU library’s deadline for a letter is 4 p.m. one day before the desired date of publication. I-Share and Interlibrary Loan serSubmissions may be held due to space vices are the best for borrowing limitations. books. Buying college textbooks Letters written by students should include is an investment averaging $1,225 the author’s year and major. Letters should include a phone number where the for students attending a public author can be reached. Phone numbers four-year university during the will not be published. Letters may be academic 2014-15 year, according submitted to Editor@NorthernStar.info. to College Board. Students should Advertisement policy treat getting required books like The Northern Star does not knowingly ac- any other investment by spending Founders Memorial Library cept advertisements that discriminate on time to research the best option. resources the basis of sex, race, creed, handicapped Students with required course or veteran status, or sexual orientation. Nor does the Northern Star knowingly On-campus bookstores readings rather than textbooks print ads that violate any local, state or “Students should try go to the should utilize the university’s Ifederal laws. bookstores for books they need Share service before deciding to To place an advertisement, contact the to purchase before classes start to purchase or rent books. I-Share Northern Star advertising team at 815753-0108 or ads@NorthernStar.info. find a used copy ... most students lets students search and borrow a To view advertising rates, go to buy their books rather than rent book from either the local FoundNorthernStar.info/site/advertise/. them,” said Jody Boardman, gen- ers Memorial Library catalog or eral manager and buyer at Village other academic libraries that use Hiring Student employees must carry a minimum Commons Bookstore. I-Share. If the book is available, it of six NIU semester hours and must have Boardman’s advice means can be requested and later picked a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better. students should be going to get up at Founders Memorial Library Students of all majors and experience their books as soon as possible with a OneCard for free. This is a levels are welcome to apply. Apply at www.NorthernStarJobs.info. because used books tend to sell great service, but students should
be cautious when deciding to borrow these books from the academic libraries. “There are not many academic libraries that buy textbooks so it is not always possible to use IShare to find a textbook. Students should also know the lending periods for I-Share may not always be very long,” said Rosanne Cordell, assistant dean of Public Services at Founders Memorial Library. Students who decide to use this free service should be aware that the books they borrow may not be available for renewal. The library offers another service called Interlibrary Loan which is a great way to find course readings for a short lending period. These books should also be borrowed when needed in the class because the lending period is not guaranteed for the semester. Online resources Many of the more expensive books that are not available for rent from The University Bookstore or Village Commons Bookstore are available to rent online from Chegg. com at a discounted price. For example, CHEM 110’s required Student Study Guide/Solutions Manual for General, Organic and Biochemistry — $69.00 used and $92.00 new from University Bookstore and Village Commons Bookstore — is available for $19.99 to rent from Chegg.com and due back June 3. College is expensive, so getting books for class at a reasonable price takes work and students need to do their research to find the right option for them.
With three Student Association official resignations one week into the semester, future and present SA officials should keep in mind the commitment involved with being an elected official. Applications for the SA director of Academic Affairs and director of Cultural Affairs were posted on the HuskieLink website Tuesday, and Ari Owens, director of Public Affairs, said Timi Adeboje and Sergio Gutierrez had resigned their respective posts due to being involved in other extracurricular activities. Neither former director responded to a request for comment. Raquel Chavez, first-year law student, resigned from her position as student trustee on the Board of Trustees, according to a SA news release Thursday. The former student trustee’s resignation comes from her desire to focus on her role as a law student at NIU, according to the news release. The Editorial Board commends the former SA officials for realizing their limits when it comes to participating outside of the classroom, but at the same time, we encourage future SA officials to consider the job they are applying for and make sure they have the time for the year-long commitment. Applications for the director positions are due by 4:30 p.m. today, according to Owens. The Editorial Board encourages qualified students to apply for the positions, but to also keep in mind the work commitment involved in representing 20,130 students. As for the student trustee position, the SA said it is working with the Board of Trustees to fill the vacant position. It is important that a student trustee sit on the board, as committee meetings for the group begin as early as Feb. 4. It is also crucial the SA put together a democratic process for the position, as it is originally voted on directly by the student body in the spring executive elections. The Board of Trustees “operate, manage, control and maintain [NIU],” according to the Board of Trustees bylaws, ultimately making the big and final decisions for the university. It is important to have a student representative present and active in NIU’s decision-making processes as soon as possible.
Letter to the Editor: New city laws need revision Read online at bit.ly/1ZMjmos.