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ESTABLISHED 1946
T UESDAY, JAN UA RY 4 T H, 20 1 1
PS UVA N G UA R D.CO M
Rent or buy? PSU Bookstore kicks off new textbook rental program Corie Charnley and alison barnwell Vanguard staff
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his term, the Portland State Bookstore implemented a rental program as an alternative to purchasing new or used textbooks. The program is expected to offset rising textbook costs, according to Kenneth Brown, president and chief executive officer of the bookstore. “[The bookstore] is constantly searching for ways to address cost issues because we’re not seeing textbook prices come down from publishers,” Brown said. Though the program has been in the works for nearly a year, the bookstore’s first day of renting out books was on Dec. 17. “We had hoped to have it up and coming fall term, but we had some technical issues that caused some problems,” Brown said, citing a flood that caused severe damage to the basement level of the bookstore last February. According to Brown, the rental process is simple. Once students are ready to check out at the register, the cashier can determine which textbooks are available for rent. If a student wishes to rent, they will then need to provide an e-mail address, phone number and credit or debit card information. Textbook rentals are then due at the end of the term. If the book is not returned, the student will be charged a $10 penalty fee and the difference between the rental price and the book’s retail price. In addition, if a course is dropped and the rented textbook must be returned, students can do so by Jan. 14. Brown said that the PSU Bookstore would not accept textbooks that have extensive damage, such as those that have water stains or pages missing.
“We’re being fairly reasonable, but there are books; however, the program was popular situations where we wouldn’t take it,” he said. with students. “We don’t expect it back in brand new condiIan Holten, a PSU junior, visited the booktion; we expect it to be a used book by [the end store yesterday and saw advertisements there of the term].” for the rental program. He decided to rent his Prices for book rentals vary, depending on the economics textbook. condition of the textbook and its availability. For textbooks that will most likely be bought back by the bookstore, Brown recommends that students opt out of the rental program. Additionally, for multiterm courses, the rental program can be an inconvenient choice, as students would have to re-rent their textbooks at the end of each term, according to Brown. “We’re not renting SARIA DY/VANGUARD STAFF books that are at reTextbook for rent: Student demand for textbook rentals has been high since the program's tail for under $35,” implementation. Brown said. “With lower cost books there’s a lot of handling and “Anything to make it cheaper,” he said. a lot of costs associated with that…for the first By the middle of yesterday, bookstore employround this term we kind of went in a little ees reported that the stickers made for the rentals more conservatively.” had run out and that replacements of 200 and However, the bookstore plans to expand the 400 were ordered. program in the future. Aside from the textbook rental program, the “It’s going much more smoothly and better PSU Bookstore has been searching for ways to than I expected,” said Brian Capovilla, a PSU make textbooks affordable. In October, it entered graduate who works as a cashier at the book- into a Hewlett Packard pilot program, called store. He described the complications that the Odin Ink, that allowed textbooks to be printed new system adds to the checkout process, es- on-demand. The machine provides a quick and pecially as employees learn to register rental relatively cheap way to produce books. ■
Professor to speak to local archaeologists Anthropology Department Chair Kenneth Ames to talk about Meier Site Christina J. Maggio Vanguard Staff
Tonight, Dr. Kenneth Ames, Portland State professor and Anthropology Department chair, will speak to local archaeologists about the Meier Site, which is located near Scappoose, Ore. According to Ames, the site is also one of the most significant sites in the Lower Columbia River. The Meier Site was excavated between 1987 and 1991. It dates back to 1400 AD to the founding of Ft. Vancouver in the 1830s, and discoveries at the site include a constructed plank house that revealed local residential habitation. Tonight’s speech will disclose the results and analyses of artifacts that were excavated from the site. “The site is the vantage point from which to talk about Lower Columbia River archaeology, and why it’s important,” Ames said. “I want to show why these types of sites need to be protected from local development and human stupidity.” Ames has been a PSU professor since 1984 and has been doing local archaeological research since 1987.
ADAM WICKHAM/VANGUARD STAFF
Supporting archaeology: Kenneth Ames will speak at OMSI tonight.
In addition, Ames has been the Anthropology Department chair for the past nine years. He frequently gives updates at public lectures on a variety of subjects linked to archaeology.
Aside from the Meier Site, Ames is also studying the Cathlapotle and the Clahclellah Site in the Columbia Gorge. His research also delves into household organization and production of Chinkoon tribes, regional interaction and trade and site formation processes, he said. Ames’ speech will specifically cover the Meier Site and its surrounding areas. The lecture is meant to inform local archaeologists—and the public—about the site, its ancient inhabitants and the other sites near Meier. These sites are dated within the last 500 years and are closely tied with recognized and unrecognized Native American Tribes, according to Ames. According to the society’s website, the OAS stresses the importance of working with professional archaeologists in the advancement of knowledge, and educating the public. “The Oregon Archaeological Society is comprised of local amateur archaeologists; people for whom this is a hobby, passion and interest,” Ames said. The lecture will be held in Oregon Museum of Science and Industry’s auditorium at 7:45 p.m. It is free and open to the public. The presentation is preceded at 7 p.m. by a general business meeting, which is also open to the public. Visit www.oregonarchaeological.org or call 503-727-3507 for more information. ■
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Students given platform to voice their opinion on rising tuition ASPSU works on forming tuition-setting committee Sierra Pannabecker Vanguard Staff
ASPSU is teaming up with the Office of the President to create a tuition-setting committee to be put into action this semester at Portland State. The committee will be comprised of selected students and will serve as a liaison between university decision-makers and the student body in general. “ASPSU has always had an informal role in tuition-setting, and President Wiewel and I would like to formalize that role and he would like it to be in line with the proposed model put forth in the [Oregon University System] restructuring proposal,” said ASPSU President Katie Markey. Markey issued an e-mail this week urging ASPSU student senators and executive branch members to nominate students who would be interested in being on the committee. While neither Markey nor the president’s office can comment on the extent of the committee’s power, Markey said that it “will play an active role in determining the tuition for PSU students.” Reports of rising tuition costs have been popping up all over the nation and the world. Last month, the Associated Press reported that students in England, France and Germany rallied to protest steep tuition increases, which were part of a plan to close the gap left by reduced federal funding. During the week of Dec. 6, thousands of British students rioted outside Parliament Square, angered by the proposed plan that would triple tuition at British universities. The case is much the same in the U.S. According to an article published by the Chronicle of Higher Education on Dec. 16, state budget hardships have led to 96 percent of public and 85 percent of private institutions to increase tuition. The tuition committee will begin convening this month. For those interested in participating, e-mail aspsupres@gmail.com. ■
WINTER TERM SCHEDULE JAN. 7: Last day to submit an application for an undergraduate degree or certificate for spring graduation. JAN. 9: Last day to receive a 100 percent refund for dropped classes. JAN. 9: Last day to add classes or make section changes online. JAN. 10 TO 16: Last period to receive a 70 percent refund for dropped classes. JAN. 14: Last day to add classes via a Special Registration Form. JAN. 16: Last day to drop classes without receiving a “W.” JAN. 16: Last day to adjust enrollment for financial aid purposes. JAN. 17 TO 23: Last period to receive a 40 percent refund. JAN. 24 TO 30: Last period to receive a 20 percent refund. FEB. 20: Last day to withdraw from classes.