College Clips
Published Aug. 26, 2005
Students find ways around pricey textbooks
Students nationwide, who cite textbook costs as a "worrisome" expense, are finding more ways to save money on a semester's stack of books, according to a national survey released Wednesday.
Fifty-five percent of students said they have to dip into their savings accounts to pay for books, according to the survey by Half.com and Survey.com. One in six have avoided or dropped a class because the required books are too expensive. Another 56 percent said they didn't buy a textbook for a class because of its cost.
With the rising cost of textbooks paired with increasing anxiety stemming from how to pay for them, more alternatives to the campus bookstore are emerging.
Bigwords.com is an online search engine that allows students to find books by typing their ISBNs onto the site. The site gives price comparisons for the books among several major Web sites, including Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.
— The Daily Iowan (U. Iowa)
Florida State Seminoles cleared to use name
Florida State athletics took home a victory off the field Tuesday when the NCAA overturned its ruling that would have prevented the school from displaying the Seminole mascot during championship events.
On Aug. 5, the NCAA identified 18 schools that had "hostile or abusive mascots, nicknames or imagery" that negatively affected the Native American community. Beginning Feb. 1, 2006, those schools would have to cover up any use of their Native American logos or mascots to either host or participate in any NCAA championship.
Backed by Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Florida State University President T.K. Wetherell made his displeasure public in regards to the ruling and claimed that Florida State would use any avenue needed to get the ruling overturned.
"I was pleased to be informed today by the National College Athletic Association of its decision to accept Florida State University's use of the Seminole name, related symbols and imagery," Wetherell said.
— FSView & Florida Flambeau (Florida State U.)
U. Pittsburgh ends its relationship with Semester at Sea
The University of Pittsburgh severed its relationship this summer with Semester at Sea after 24 years of administering the program. The program's co-sponsor immediately sued the university and called its decision a breach of contract.
Paul Watson, the director of enrollment for the Institute for Shipboard Education, Semester at Sea's nonacademic sponsor, said in June the university and the institute came to an agreement in which the school would continue to give students academic credit for Semester at Sea through the spring 2006 semester.
The agreement settled the lawsuit that was brought against the university in response to the university's decision to pull out of the program.
The institute's faculty will remain on the campus through August 2006 in accordance with its existing lease.
— The Pitt News (U. Pittsburgh)