Comments for Huntingtonian: Huntington University's Student Newspaper http://www.huntingtonian.com News for the Huntington University campus community Thu, 16 May 2013 18:39:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on OPINION: Thinking about Global Warming by Jeff http://www.huntingtonian.com/?p=20081&cpage=1#comment-1595 Jeff Thu, 16 May 2013 18:39:01 +0000 http://www.huntingtonian.com/?p=20081#comment-1595 There really isn't a difference of opinion on global climate change. Scientists have reached a near consensus opinion that climate change is real, and that human actions are making a significant contribution. Anthony Watts doesn't even have an undergraduate degree--he's a media figure who's being funded by the Heartland Institute and its backers, who happen to be billionaire investors who have an interest in maintaining the current industrial status quo. This recent piece in the Huffington Post provides yet another survey of the scientific consensus, of which there are many. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-zeller-jr/climate-change-study_b_3285245.html?utm_hp_ref=green There really isn’t a difference of opinion on global climate change. Scientists have reached a near consensus opinion that climate change is real, and that human actions are making a significant contribution. Anthony Watts doesn’t even have an undergraduate degree–he’s a media figure who’s being funded by the Heartland Institute and its backers, who happen to be billionaire investors who have an interest in maintaining the current industrial status quo. This recent piece in the Huffington Post provides yet another survey of the scientific consensus, of which there are many.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-zeller-jr/climate-change-study_b_3285245.html?utm_hp_ref=green

]]> Comment on New textbook policy: ‘not a viable option’ by Anonymous http://www.huntingtonian.com/?p=20590&cpage=1#comment-1580 Anonymous Sun, 12 May 2013 22:50:03 +0000 http://www.huntingtonian.com/?p=20590#comment-1580 How exactly can students opt out of this? How exactly can students opt out of this?

]]> Comment on New textbook policy: ‘not a viable option’ by Jenneh Sheetz http://www.huntingtonian.com/?p=20590&cpage=1#comment-1574 Jenneh Sheetz Thu, 09 May 2013 23:01:30 +0000 http://www.huntingtonian.com/?p=20590#comment-1574 Well, it sounds great for incoming freshmen and maybe super rich kids who don't care; they usually order all their books from the bookstore with their parents anyway. But for students who are a little more seasoned or just a little more savvy with their hard-earned cash, its not a viable option. I'm a English Grad, I usually paid a dollar or less or even read books for free online when the bookstore charged upwards of fifteen bucks per title. Granted, I usually missed a textbook when purchasing online or occasionally found one cheaper in the bookstore and ended up buying it the first or second day of classes, but I usually bought or rented the bulk of my textbooks online. I think I saved at least a thousand dollars throughout the course of my four college years at Huntington. I think in retrospect, I'm really glad I graduated from Huntington University while there was still a University to graduate from. It seems like many recent decisions are being made to better suit the interests of the University rather than the interests of the students. Well, it sounds great for incoming freshmen and maybe super rich kids who don’t care; they usually order all their books from the bookstore with their parents anyway. But for students who are a little more seasoned or just a little more savvy with their hard-earned cash, its not a viable option. I’m a English Grad, I usually paid a dollar or less or even read books for free online when the bookstore charged upwards of fifteen bucks per title. Granted, I usually missed a textbook when purchasing online or occasionally found one cheaper in the bookstore and ended up buying it the first or second day of classes, but I usually bought or rented the bulk of my textbooks online. I think I saved at least a thousand dollars throughout the course of my four college years at Huntington.
I think in retrospect, I’m really glad I graduated from Huntington University while there was still a University to graduate from. It seems like many recent decisions are being made to better suit the interests of the University rather than the interests of the students.

]]> Comment on New textbook policy: ‘not a viable option’ by Raquel Martinez http://www.huntingtonian.com/?p=20590&cpage=1#comment-1572 Raquel Martinez Thu, 09 May 2013 22:13:35 +0000 http://www.huntingtonian.com/?p=20590#comment-1572 Joshua, It is nice that we can opt out, since that's what I'm gonna be doing. But I have friends that are science/nursing majors whose text/lab books are printed specifically for HU and therefore, they have to buy those books from the bookstore, which means they have to buy all of their books from the bookstore. So there are plenty of students who will not have the option to choose, and I think that's unfair. Joshua,
It is nice that we can opt out, since that’s what I’m gonna be doing. But I have friends that are science/nursing majors whose text/lab books are printed specifically for HU and therefore, they have to buy those books from the bookstore, which means they have to buy all of their books from the bookstore. So there are plenty of students who will not have the option to choose, and I think that’s unfair.

]]> Comment on New textbook policy: ‘not a viable option’ by Joshua Nicholson http://www.huntingtonian.com/?p=20590&cpage=1#comment-1571 Joshua Nicholson Thu, 09 May 2013 18:51:09 +0000 http://www.huntingtonian.com/?p=20590#comment-1571 This may look like something that will negatively affect the students, but I think it is important to remember that all of the students are being given a choice to opt-out. So, go ahead and buy your textbooks online if you want to save money--that is what I did. But, if you value convenience over savings, opt-in and have your books waiting for you when you arrive. If you are concerned that students will be "tricked" into opting in, make posters and spread the information via word of mouth. As long as there exists a choice for students to opt in our out, the viability of this business model will be decided by the students who either choose convenience or thrift. This may look like something that will negatively affect the students, but I think it is important to remember that all of the students are being given a choice to opt-out. So, go ahead and buy your textbooks online if you want to save money–that is what I did. But, if you value convenience over savings, opt-in and have your books waiting for you when you arrive. If you are concerned that students will be “tricked” into opting in, make posters and spread the information via word of mouth.

As long as there exists a choice for students to opt in our out, the viability of this business model will be decided by the students who either choose convenience or thrift.

]]> Comment on New textbook policy: ‘not a viable option’ by Eric Spencer Fomley http://www.huntingtonian.com/?p=20590&cpage=1#comment-1570 Eric Spencer Fomley Thu, 09 May 2013 18:07:27 +0000 http://www.huntingtonian.com/?p=20590#comment-1570 "rental prices will be competitive with Amazon used books." All that told me is pay the same amount to Amazon and you can keep them instead of give them back to the bookstore... This is by far the most ridiculous "business model" I have ever seen. All or nothing is NEVER the way to be a competitive company or consumer friendly. “rental prices will be competitive with Amazon used books.” All that told me is pay the same amount to Amazon and you can keep them instead of give them back to the bookstore…
This is by far the most ridiculous “business model” I have ever seen. All or nothing is NEVER the way to be a competitive company or consumer friendly.

]]> Comment on New textbook policy: ‘not a viable option’ by Raquel Martinez http://www.huntingtonian.com/?p=20590&cpage=1#comment-1569 Raquel Martinez Thu, 09 May 2013 17:56:46 +0000 http://www.huntingtonian.com/?p=20590#comment-1569 Like "Concerned" said, this just means that I will NEVER buy another book from the bookstore. Simple as that. Have fun with your "business model". Amazon is going to appreciate it! Like “Concerned” said, this just means that I will NEVER buy another book from the bookstore. Simple as that. Have fun with your “business model”. Amazon is going to appreciate it!

]]> Comment on New textbook policy: ‘not a viable option’ by Unkown http://www.huntingtonian.com/?p=20590&cpage=1#comment-1568 Unkown Thu, 09 May 2013 17:44:45 +0000 http://www.huntingtonian.com/?p=20590#comment-1568 For once I wish this University would include students in their thought process of making decisions that are supposed to be beneficial. Most of the choices made for student only are good for a select amount of none. Think of the students rather than money. For once I wish this University would include students in their thought process of making decisions that are supposed to be beneficial. Most of the choices made for student only are good for a select amount of none. Think of the students rather than money.

]]> Comment on New textbook policy: ‘not a viable option’ by Concerned http://www.huntingtonian.com/?p=20590&cpage=1#comment-1567 Concerned Thu, 09 May 2013 17:24:54 +0000 http://www.huntingtonian.com/?p=20590#comment-1567 This is a win-win situation in my opinion. There is now a better "business model" and I no longer have to face the dilemma of where to get my books because I can go straight to Amazon without any second thoughts. I don't see how this benefits the university in any way except maybe for the fact that they might be able to trick some students who forget to "opt-out" before the semester starts. Too many decisions are being made "to benefit students" without consulting them first. This is a win-win situation in my opinion. There is now a better “business model” and I no longer have to face the dilemma of where to get my books because I can go straight to Amazon without any second thoughts. I don’t see how this benefits the university in any way except maybe for the fact that they might be able to trick some students who forget to “opt-out” before the semester starts. Too many decisions are being made “to benefit students” without consulting them first.

]]> Comment on New textbook policy: ‘not a viable option’ by Disappointed Graduate http://www.huntingtonian.com/?p=20590&cpage=1#comment-1566 Disappointed Graduate Thu, 09 May 2013 16:56:18 +0000 http://www.huntingtonian.com/?p=20590#comment-1566 This is another example of HU making decisions that directly benefit the university and its administrators/business partners over the students. The institution at which i currently work has a similar model, and it is disastrously inefficient and is not cost-effective for students attempting to cut costs for already-expensive Christian higher education. If HU and similar institutions want to avoid pricing themselves out of the market, they need to worry more about the "add-on" costs of college rather than the "tuition price." It looks like this is an attempt to keep the university financially healthy at the expense of offering appropriate options to students. Moves like this that alienate students (and alumni, like me) while financially expedient in the short run, will damage their reputation and ability to request funds from their donor base in the long run. It is not a smart way to do higher education, and in conjunction with various other policy decisions made since I walked a few years ago, has caused me to distance myself from the institution. This is another example of HU making decisions that directly benefit the university and its administrators/business partners over the students. The institution at which i currently work has a similar model, and it is disastrously inefficient and is not cost-effective for students attempting to cut costs for already-expensive Christian higher education. If HU and similar institutions want to avoid pricing themselves out of the market, they need to worry more about the “add-on” costs of college rather than the “tuition price.” It looks like this is an attempt to keep the university financially healthy at the expense of offering appropriate options to students. Moves like this that alienate students (and alumni, like me) while financially expedient in the short run, will damage their reputation and ability to request funds from their donor base in the long run. It is not a smart way to do higher education, and in conjunction with various other policy decisions made since I walked a few years ago, has caused me to distance myself from the institution.

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