Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Utah Statesman The
Campus Voice since 1902
Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.aggietownsquare.com
Congress’ act affects registration for Aggies By MEGAN BAINUM staff writer
All professors are required to post materials online for their class before it can be open for registration because of the Higher Education Act Reauthorization, an act passed by Congress that is being implemented in the summer 2010 registration. Congress passed the act with the intent to provide students with full disclosure of costs associated with their education, John Mortensen the registrar, said. USU already discloses tuition, student body fees and class fees, but the act requires institutions to disclose additional costs, such as those associated with textbooks or other course materials. The bill is hundreds of pages long and contains other matters regarding higher education, such as campus safety and how student loans are processed. However, implementing book fees into registration is the main one USU is dealing with. According to the House bill, institutions of higher education are required to disclose in their course schedules, “to the maximum extent practicable,” the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) of every required and recommended textbook and supplemental materials and retail price information. Publishers are required to provide faculty members with price information, copyright dates of all previous editions in the preceding 10 years and to disclose whether the textbook or supplemental materials are available in any other format.
The deadlines are several weeks prior to registration so the bookstore can have sufficient time to obtain pricing information. When faculty members have an approved exception for not meeting the textbook deadline, the course materials may be listed as “to be determined.” Students and faculty should be aware that there will be some classes offered in the summer and fall that students will not be able to see or register for until the textbook information is received and processed by the bookstore. Mortensen said not only does the act not resolve any registration problems, it may create some. He said it will put a lot of pressure on faculty members to decide on their course materials much earlier in the process. The implementation of the act will be problematic for courses in which the faculty member has not disclosed information regarding textbooks and other course materials, Mortensen said. Mortensen said although the act may create problems for faculty, it PROFESSORS NOW MUST LIST ALL BOOKS needed for their class before their class will show up online when stucould be advantageous for students. “The advantage to students is that dents register. Registrar John Mortensen said while this new process could make things more complicated for professors, there are potential benefits for students. PETE P. SMITHSUTH photo illustration they will have more information up front about the costs, so they won’t in stock when the semester starts,” necessary.” Parkinson said since the deadline be surprised when they realize how Parkinson said. Parkinson said that as far as the has been moved up for the faculty, the much it is all going to be,” Mortensen However, USU student Trevor bookstore is concerned, it was too bookstore will get the information said. “The main intent of this act is a Feigleson said the act could make stu- early to tell if this act will be a blesssooner. He said that should lead to full disclosure of all costs associated dents overlook certain classes because ing or a curse. more books being bought back from with the class.” of textbook prices. “We are doing all we can to comthe students at the end of the semesDavid Parkinson, USU Bookstore “I think it would be nice to know, ply with the new legislation, and we ter, resulting in “thousands of more director, said a benefit coming from but students might skip over classes are working very closely with the dollars in the students hands” and the act is being more prepared. they would have otherwise taken Registrar and faculty to make every having more books available to start “It could be beneficial if it helps because of how much the books cost,” effort to have the needed information the semester. us better meet the student’s needs Feigleson said. “I would say it’s not available for the students,” he said. – megan.b@aggiemail.usu.edu and have the products available and
Spearhead key to unlocking history All people want By JESSICA SWEAT staff writer
USU ANTHROPOLOGIST BONNIE PITBLADO will use a spearhead brought to her at the Museum of Anthropology’s Prehistoric Artifact Road Show to learn more about its creator’s ancient civilization. CATHERINE MEIDELL photo
Inside This Issue
4/21/10 Professor teaches students how to make a healthy sound using the KayPentax Phonatory Aerodynamic System. Page 6
More than 40 years ago, one young girl unveiled a rare find while working on her grandfather’s potato farm. Today, this find will have USU anthropologist Bonnie Pitblado up to her knees not only in dirt but in excitement, too. At the second annual Prehistoric Artifact Road Show, LeeAnn Hartner from Driggs, Idaho, shared her story and her find with Pitblado. Hartner had lived in Teton Valley and came across a spearhead while digging potatoes in a field. For years it has been in her possession, her children even taking it for show and tell at school. Little did they know, they were holding a spearhead just about 13,000 years old. “It is a highly significant find,” Pitblado said. “It is in pristine condition.” Because of its age, the spearhead gains the title Clovis. “I have never found anything Clovis. That is definitely rare,” Pitblado said. “Some researchers may never even find one.” The spearhead will unlock a little more history for anthropologists and students. It is expected to give more of an idea to what materials and stone technology were utilized and available in that time. “We don’t have that footprint yet,” Pitblado said. There is little known about prehistoric civilizations in the surrounding Utah, Wyoming and Idaho areas. Hartner’s find may become the first documented of its kind. The discovery will send Pitblado and anthropolgy students to Driggs, Cache and Rich counties to see if there is more to be found. The find is expected to add to all kinds of evidence that early inhabitants of the land did in fact live in the area. Pitblado said students who accompany her become part of a team that finds more than just artifacts. They gain a richer and more hands-on experience than that of the classroom, she said. They achieve this by working with others to gain a sense of community, she said. “We are the face,” Pitblado said. “I want to be a good
- See DISCOVERY, page 4
to feel secure, Rep. Webb says By BLAZE BULLOCK staff writer
Being a Republican is all about being part of what makes America work, Rep. Curt Webb, R-Utah, said Tuesday in a speech at USU. He said contributing to society is what being a Republican is also about, Webb said. “Being part of what makes America go, not what part of what takes from America,” Webb said. “There’s a big difference. This nation will always need an economic engine. There is no money for the poor if there’s nobody making any to pay taxes.” Republicans believe in social responsibility just as much as Democrats but in a way that makes people “responsible for themselves,” Webb said. “You can’t keep taking away from the people that make money, that are the economic engines of this nation and have them have incentive to continue to make money,” Webb said. President Barack Obama wants to raise the capital gains tax, Webb said. This tax increase would give people less incentive to stay in business so they’ll just sell their businesses to avoid paying the higher taxes, Webb said. “What’s the incentive to stay in business,” Webb said. “Believe me, there is a real consequence to that one simple thing.” Webb said Republicans believe in a set of basic principles. “Limited government, freedom and individual responsibility,” Webb said.
- See WEBB, page 4
The women’s softball team wins two against Utah Valley University Tuesday afternoon. Page 9
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