The Ithacan Thursday, Sep tember 13, 20 12
∙
Volume 80 , Is s u e 3
College must disclose book prices sooner by Gerald Doherty Senior Writer
authorities until the state law goes into effect. The law’s purpose is to “prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species in Tompkins County.” Sharon Anderson, environment program leader for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, said the county is taking a step in the right direction with the new law. “There’s now a mechanism to say to people, ‘Look, not only is this the right thing to do, but it’s the legal thing to do,” she said. The water in the Cayuga Inlet has been regularly treated for the last year with low doses of herbicides. Two rounds were administered this summer. In July, the inlet was closed for a day so that endothall herbicides
To address a lack of information about textbook requirements for students during registration, the Ithaca College Bookstore and Office of the Provost are raising faculty awareness about an education law that requires early notification of textbook and class material prices. The Higher Education Opportunity Act, which Congress passed in 2008, requires colleges and universities receiving KELLY said the federal funds to college is trying to create awareness disclose the cost of of the legislation. textbooks and class materials to students by the time they register for courses for the following semester. This will allow students to know the cost of a class. Textbook information at the college is handled by the bookstore. Marisa Kelly, provost and vice president for educational affairs, said textbook and class material disclosure is only one small aspect of the act. “It really has to do with ensuring that institutions are acting in the best interest of students,” Kelly said. “That at least is the spirit underlying the law.” For example, the HEOA allows the federal government to regulate Perkins Loan and Pell Grant increases. It also requires textbooks to be sold separately from class materials in order to eliminate bundled sales to students. Though Kelly was unable to provide the percentage of how compliant the college is with the law in regard to textbook information, she said her goal is to be as compliant with the HEOA as any institution possibly can. She said she addressed the Faculty Council to promote the importance of getting textbook lists back to the bookstore on time. “It’s about making sure we have this information there,” Kelly said. “Anything we can do to make that job easier for the bookstore means we’ll be better and more accurate.” Kelly said there are some exceptions to the HEOA. “If a faculty member hasn’t been assigned to a course yet, then that requirement doesn’t apply,” Kelly said. According to Princeton University, penalties for noncompliance include fines from the Department of Education and, the most severe punishment, a limit or end to Title IV financial aid programs. Rod Beers, textbook manager at the college bookstore, said he sends out textbook adoption forms four weeks before course registration begins and asks professors for a list of books they
See Hydrilla, page 4
See Textbooks, page 4
Amanda Williams, an employee at Ithaca Hemp Company, examines freshman Scott Halstead's driver's license before he purchases a lighter.
Shawn Steiner/the ithacan
Proposed legislation targets tobacco dealers By Stephen Adams contributing writer
The Downtown Ithaca Alliance has proposed legislation to increase oversight and tighten regulations on local tobacco dealers. The proposed legislation, “Tobacco and Tobacco Products Permit Legislation,” limits the ability of local tobacco dealers to sell tobacco products and paraphernalia. If passed, the drafted regulations would require all stores that sell tobacco products or smoking paraphernalia to obtain a local license from the City of Ithaca. In the legislation, “tobacco products” refer to one or more cigarettes or cigars, chewing tobacco, powdered tobacco or any other tobacco products,
whereas “smoking paraphernalia,” items commonly found in head shops, refers to pipes, water pipes, hookahs, rolling papers, vaporizers or other apparatuses designed for inhaling tobacco. Any establishment that sells either tobacco products or tobacco paraphernalia is considered a tobacco dealer. There are six head shops located on The Commons, and there are nearly 20 tobacco retailers — not counting corner stores and gas stations. Until now, Ithaca tobacco dealers have only been obligated to register with the New York State Department of Tax and Finance and obtain a certification that authorizes the collection of tobacco excise taxes. Like most cities, Ithaca requires no
specific local permits for the sale of tobacco. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the drug remains the leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. The proposed changes would require every dealer of tobacco products in Ithaca to have a valid permit. For the first year permits will only be issued to applicants for the same location where they were issued a certificate of registration from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. The number of permits issued will have a limit, though that number has not yet determined.
See Tobacco, page 4
County weeds out Hydrilla plant from Cayuga Inlet by Lucy walker Staff writer
Efforts to eradicate and prevent the spread of hydrilla, an invasive aquatic plant species in the Cayuga Inlet, have led to a new law that will target people who knowingly harm the ecosystems. Since the first sighting last August, the Hydrilla Task Force of the Cayuga Lake Watershed, an alliance of local individuals and organizations, has worked to stop the progress of hydrilla in the Ithaca area. This summer, government agencies took action to support ecosystem protection. A New York law passed in July — which will go into effect in January 2013 — will give the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Department of Agriculture
Hydrilla, an invasive plant that was found in the Cayuga Inlet, is on display Tuesday at the Farmer’s Market dock by the Cayuga Floating Classroom. Rachel Woolf/the ithacan
and Markets the authority to regulate the movement of invasive species and punish those who knowingly endanger ecosystems.
living green Ithaca College professor and student strive to live sustainably, page 13
During its July 27 meeting the Tompkins County Legislature passed Local Law No. 4, which empowers local environmental
ready to play Football captain inspires teammates by recovering from injury, page 23
f ind m or e onl ine. www.t heit hacan.org
Testing out Eliminating test scores will lower college standards, page 10