April 27, 2022 - May 4, 2022 EDITOR: Katelynn Robinson • news@thedailyaztec.com
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The Daily Aztec
Immediate Access replaced with Equitable Access books by Eugénie Budnik, Gabriel Schneider SENIOR STAFF WRITER, STAFF WRITER
San Diego State announced it will be switching from the textbook access program Immediate Access to a new program called Equitable Access starting in the fall 2022 semester. “Most students don’t realize that this is happening,” College of Engineering Student Council President Tito Hernandez said. “Most students don’t care because the communication behind it is really, really poor. Most students don’t know exactly what is happening, and they’re really going to suffer because of that.” All of the students interviewed about the new program said they found out through social media and actually did not see the email sent out by the school. Equitable Access will allow all undergraduate students to access their course materials on the first day of instruction for a flat fee of $22 per credit. Students will be able to access their materials through the add/drop date even if they opt out of the Equitable Access program. However, many students aren’t convinced about the cost benefit that the new program offers. “Next semester I have 17 units. So, 17 times $22 equals about $374. Which I find crazy to be spending that amount on just books. The majority of the time, I can find my books on Amazon for way cheaper,” psychology second year Sarah Robles said. A statement published by RedShelf, the technology company which partners with SDSU to provide access to course materials for students said the “Equitable Access program aims to improve student affordability, readiness, and success by ensuring that every student has access to
Photo by Gabriel Schneider
Starting in fall 2022, SDSU will be switching to a flat-rate $22 Equitable Access program for course materials.
all their required course materials.” The previous Immediate Access program allowed students to access their course materials by the first day of class on a variable book to book rate. Students will still access materials through RedShelf and will be billed for the program later in the fall semester through student account services. The decision to enforce an opt-out rather than an opt-in was pushed by the publishers in the negotiation process. Mara Macías, an SDSU Imperial Valley Librarian, said publishers are focused on making money, but the focus for the school was to get the best prices for students. “This is a breakeven proposition for the bookstore,” Macías said. “This is not a money making proposition for the bookstore.” Students are in the program
immediately after they register for classes and can start to opt-out on July 27, when book lists are released. After the add-drop date, students will be notified that their account was charged with an Equitable Access fee that is added from the amount of units taken. If a student forgets to opt-out and contacts the student account services it will be changed over and they will not be charged, according to Macías. Macías emphasized that each individual student needs to decide if Equitable Access will be beneficial with the amount of units and required textbooks in their schedule. Financial aid can be used with Equitable Access unlike the past program Immediate Access. SEE ONLINE
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Anti-abortion group: continued from page 2
pro-choice group and people who are generally interested in what we have to say,” Mapp said. “The biggest difference between all three of us is how we are handling the situation in total.” She said the pro choice group was being reactionary and using a mob mentality instead of having a civil conversation. “People are going to believe what they want to believe and it’s up to our optimism and willingness to have a conversation to really get anywhere,” Mapp said. “All of this reactionary –all of this clinging to emotion is not helping anyone.” Mapp said, unlike the counterprotesters, the anti-abortion group was not going into peoples faces, calling names or be threatening unlike reactions from the counterprotesters. “Civil discourse is about learning the other side,” professor of communication Michael Rapp said. “Keeping an open mind and then from there making educated decisions.You want to take the emotion out of it because we act differently and speak differently when we are emotional.” Rapp said communication is about understanding people not getting them to agree with you. “You want to take the emotion out of it because we act differently and speak differently when we are emotional,” Rapp said.
Photo by Gabriel Schneider
On Monday, students gather to counterprotest in front of Hepner Hall.
San Diego Metropolitan Transit System to launch Youth Opportunity Pass, free access for 18-years-and-under
Photo by John Paul Cavada
From May 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023, riders 18 years old and under can ride for free with the Youth Opportunity Pass.
by John Paul STAFF WRITER
Cavada
Over 85% of college students live offcampus, according to San Diego State’s Division of Student Affairs and Campus Diversity. SDSU prohibits freshmen who live on campus from bringing their cars to campus. The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System will launch a pilot program, the San Diego Association of Governments Youth Opportunity Pass, for free public
transportation from May 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, for all riders 18-yearsand-under. SDSU’s Parking & Transportation Services is aiming to spread awareness about this pilot program to freshmen students given the no-car rule. Sponsored by the San Diego Association of Governments as part of its Transit Equity Pilot, this pilot program was developed in collaboration with the MTS, the North County Transit District and the County of San Diego. All riders 18 years and under can ride
the MTS and NCTD services for free with the SANDAG Youth Opportunity Pass, according to SDSU’s Parking & Transportation Services. Riders must carry an eligible form of identification, such as a school picture ID, driver’s license or birth certificate,whenever riding, according to the MTS website. The pass covers free transit rides on all fixed-route MTS buses and trolleys, and the NCTD’s Flex, Breeze, Sprinter and Coaster. It does not cover MTS Access or NCTD Lift paratransit services. Students who want to apply for the SANDAG Youth Opportunity Pass, can register through the MTS webpage within the PRONTO application or pick up a free Youth PRONTO card from the MTS Transit Store or NCTD Customer Service Centers, according to the SANDAG webpage. SDSU’s Transportation Analyst, Silvia Croft, shared her expertise on how the pilot program could have a long-lasting impact on first-year students. “It’s one of those opportunities for younger students…to get people to try alternate modes of transportation. Getting them used to something without
having to pay for it,” Croft said. Croft said the pilot program would help resolve some financial hardships students may be facing. “Especially people who choose not to have vehicles with gas prices, with how high they are right now. You’re looking at $6 per gallon. You would think that people would be able to move their kids without having to pay an additional fee to get them on transit,” she said. As of March 11, average gas prices have reached an all-time national high of $4.331, according to data from AAA gas prices. “Especially college students, I know how difficult it could be…I understand the financial hardships that a lot of students encounter. I really do see this being a positive program and I see our students finding a lot of opportunities through it,” Croft said. The possibility for this pilot program to last indefinitely would rely on the ridership, the need, and the overall usage, according to Croft. For more information on the SANDAG Youth Opportunity Pass, students can visit the SANDAG webpage here.
