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The Merciad
Est. 1929 Vol. 88 No. 19
Mercyhurst university
Class of 2015 unveils class gift
Maggy Urso photo
Ryan Schupp, senior Business major, and Megan Sheehan, senior Archaeology major, attend the opening of the senior gift from the class of 2015. The new concession stand is located in the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. For more, read full story on page 4.
Bookstore expands textbook and eBook rental policy By Melanie Todd Staff writer
The Mercyhurst Bookstore is expanding and improving its textbook rental service. Mercyhurst and its partner Follet have updated computer systems and their business models. The goal is to make it easier to rent textbooks across multiple devices and allows students to save money on books needed for their classes. “There was a push across the country to help independent stores like us,” Mercyhurst University Bookstore General Manager Daniel Cullen said. Now, students will be able to rent books online through the Mercyhurst Bookstore, receive reminders as the end of the term approaches and bring all books back to the buy back
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counter. “You’re so stressed during exams, you can just bring all your books to the buyback counter and our computer program can sort out which were rented,” Cullen said. Cullen said students previously would have to sort out which books were rented and which they were looking to sell back and wait in separate lines for each. “When the idea first came out a lot the industry kneejerked towards it,” said Cullen. “I learned a long time ago not to knee-jerk. It was just too new and it became an accounting nightmare.” The new system and Follet business model have changed the previous hesitancy to increase the capability of renting textbooks. “There is no risk to us and
no risk to the students. You’re happy and we’re happy,” Cullen said. Comparable to Chegg or Amazon, students also save money by avoiding the postage required to mail back a book. “I try to keep the prices below Amazon as best I can. We walk a fine line. We service the students but we can’t lose our shirts in the process,” Cullen said. Cullen is working to provide as many of those options as possible through the bookstore and keep them affordable for students. “Students want options and we try to provide as many of those options as we can,” Cullen said. Additionally, digital books are increasing in availability. The Mercyhurst Bookstore will be offering more digital books in
upcoming years. “I would be interested in using eBooks. They seem more convenient,” junior Kayley Morrison said. Offering textbooks in the form of eBooks is an expanding business model among large publishing companies. “All major publishers are doing it,” said Cullen. “It’s another option for students. Students have an access code printed on their receipt and that’s all they need.” Students can highlight, underline and even save answers to the review questions in the online versions that can be accessed on their computers, tablets or smartphones. “Kids still need books, they just don’t want to pay for them,” Cullen said. @TheMerciad
Wednesday, april 22, 2015
Herrmann Student Union re-opens doors By Jose Nufio Staff writer
The Carolyn Herrmann Student Union re-opened its doors last Thursday, April 16, at 11 a.m., with an official grand opening to take place Thursday, April 23, from noon to 4 p.m. After a flood caused by a ruptured water pipe closed the Student Union on Feb 21, the Union and the Laker Inn on the lower floor are now back and fully functional. All the damaged furniture within the building has been replaced. Most of the insurance claims were overseen by General Manager of Facility Services, Ken Stepherson, whose role was to communicate between the insurance company and contractors, and process invoices for the restoration. Housekeeping Director Julie Kiehl, and Plant Operations Manager Tom Skarupski, monitored progress of the restoration. “To date, we are at approximately $254,000 for the restoration, there are other expenses for furniture and equipment that I have not seen,” Stepherson said. Stepherson said he also expects additional invoices to arrive before he can give out a final cost. According to Vice President for Finance and Treasurer Jane Kelsey, it might take several weeks until all the costs incurred are known. Right after the damages occurred, each area within the offices had to submit with a spread sheet list of the items that needed replacement to submit to insurance. The areas included Campus Ministry, Service Learning, Student Government and the Students Activities Council (SAC). The offices have been running since the morning of April 13, but are still expecting shipments of furniture to replace what was lost in the flood. The repairs included the replacement of the wet drywall on the lower level and the first floor. All the furniture that was made of soft wood was also replaced, including the foosball tables from the Great Room. At the MSG and SAC offices, the furniture and bookshelves also had to be replaced. The offices from the first floor had the wall between Campus Ministry and Service Learning knocked down to open up the space.
Online Poll Results
How do you feel about the Laker Inn re-opening? 33% I’m so excited, I’ve been hungry 28% I make my own food, so it doesn’t matter to me. 11% I have been lost without the Laker. 28% I have gotten used to eating at Egan and the Bookstore
Be sure to vote in this week’s online poll: What are your plans for the summer?
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“I think that you are not going to see drastic things that have changed in the area, but I think overall we were able to replace everything that was lost with equal or better products,” said Sarah Allen, director of Campus Involvement. Mercyhurst Student Government, Campus Involvement and Parkhurst are teaming up to provide games and free prizes at the grand opening. As part of the celebration, there will be a dunk tank in front of the building. It will offer three chances for a dollar and all the proceeds will go toward the fundraiser for cancer research, Relay for Life, which will take place on Saturday. Among the people who will be found in the dunk tank include Senior General Manager of Parkhurst Dining Services Dean Schoenfeldt, MSG President Nick Latta, and MSG Vice-President Caleb Ohmer. There will be carnival games and giveaways themed after aquatic items, as a reference to the flooded building. For every purchase, free fish and surf board key chains will be given out. There will also be free life saver candies, water bottles and t-shirts, among various other items. A “Laker Lagoon Punch” will be served at the Laker Inn from noon to 4 p.m. There will also be a Duck Pond, where students will pull rubber ducks off the pond to win prizes. With facilities now up and running, Mercyhurst students are free to eat meals and use the offices in the Student Union right before the school year ends. “I am glad that it opened before the end of the year and I think it is great and it gives us more options for eating now. I am also excited that Campus Ministry is back open,” said Andrea Nye, junior Business Management major. Nhi Tran, junior Finance and Competitive Intelligence major is happy to enjoy her favorite meal once again. “I am excited, because I can buy sushi.” said Tran. Aside from the grand opening, future plans of the Student Union include roof work on the north corner of the building above the patio over the summer.
@TheMerciad