E-textbooks can save money
The recent article, “Stakeholder group to address textbook costs,” (Sept. 4) fails to address all of the cost-savings options currently available to students.
There already exists an option that could save students big money immediately – e-textbooks. E-textbooks increase flexibility, lower cost, help the environment and boost classroom efficiency, benefiting students and faculty. Five leading higher education publishers recently partnered to create CourseSmartTM, the largest online digital marketplace that offers several thousand e-textbooks and course materials in a common format at one Web site, offering students a savings of up to 50 percent. More than one third of the most popular college textbook titles (those expected to sell at least 200 copies nationwide this Fall) are now available in e-Textbook versions from CourseSmartTM, providing students with even more options.
Publishers understand that college costs are a concern, so they offer a variety of lower-cost, print options from which faculty can choose, including split editions, no-frills editions, custom books and abbreviated editions.
New alternatives and an expanding range of technologies are helping more students pass their courses, stay in school and graduate sooner, saving students time and money while improving their success rate. As the cost of higher education continues to escalate, today’s college textbooks may be among the best long-term investments a student can make.
Stacy S. SkellyDirector for Higher EducationAssociation of American Publishers
Escort without the Safety
It seems as though every time I pick up Technician, someone is complaining about DUIs on campus. Sure, it’s [a] problem, but are the campus officials doing all that they can do to help solve the problem? During orientation, I was informed that if you went out and partied “a little too hard” and needed transportation, call a safety escort and no questions would be asked.
At the time, I thought this was a good idea to help solve an inevitable problem: Students drinking and driving. The truth, however, was unveiled to me one night when I requested transport to get to my dorm. After sitting in the car a bit, three students joined me, all of whom reeked of alcohol. It wasn’t two minutes before the driver began interrogating them and informing them that because he smelled alcohol he was obligated to call the police and have them all breathalyzed. Not to mention he threw the word “expulsion” [around] quite a bit during his questioning.
I don’t know the fate of these three students, but there is one thing I do know: those students will now go tell all their friends who will tell their friends that using the safety escorts when intoxicated is a ticket out of N.C. State. Now, you have an entire network of students who will opt not to use the safety transport when they really need it. The bottom line is this – students are going to drink. The question I prompt to NCSU is which is worse? A safe ride? Or a DUI?
Kate Gardnerfreshman, management
