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Show THE FORUM Too Much Liberalism? Wednesday Utah Avalanche Awareness Program, Gore p.m. Wild Wednesday Activity, 8-- Jacob Webb 10 Contributing Writer Thursday Griffin Womens Basketball vs Montana Tech, Payne Gym 5:30 p.m. Key Bank Diversity lecture Scries, Jennifer f;inney Boyian, Vieve Gore Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m. Griffin Mens Basketball vs Montana Tech, u Payne m 7uu p.m. V A Saturday Grilfhi Women's Basketball vs UM-Wester- n, Gym 5:30 p.m. Pa tie Jan. 26, 2005 Griffin Mens Basketball vs UM-Wester- L n, Payne Gym 7:30 p.m. JJ J Monday I MPC Information Social, Foster Faculty Lounge 5 - 7:30 p.m. Tuesday Campus Ministry, Biblical Poetry and Song Foster Faculty Lounge 7:15 - 8:30 p.m. N D A Campus Ministry, Healthy Spirituality, Healthy Sexuality, Foster Faculty Lounge 7:1 5 - 8:30 p.m. Westminster is in danger of denying its conservative population an equal voice. Evidence of this is found in each classroom where the professor stands, not as a disseminator of relecamvant information, but as an paigner for liberalism. Let me give you some examples that are consistent with many similar experiences in other courses. The professor of my art course used a tangent to miraculously deviate from a discussion about a piece of art that idealized political issues to her negative impression of the incumbent president Unfortunately, the pessimistic comments were without supportive facts. My communications professor also frequently alluded to the popular I hate Bush opinion, especially during the recent election. Some instructors are simply blatant about their mid-centu- ry positions. I am taking a class from a professor who is not ashamed to display a Bush was not my CHOICE pin during class. Dear professors, if students really need to know your position then what is wrong with using your office hours for liberal happy hour? I remember learning about the definition of liberalism and why Westminster is considered a liberal arts college when I took a freshman orientation course. The entire class discussed how its definition includes a broadminded attitude and is based on the traditional arts and sciences of college curriculum. However, the course content never included a disclaimer that allows for professors indiscreet comments. Rather than educate about the relevant subject, instructors demand our class time (that students frankly pay a lot of money for) to express opinions. If Westminster intends to stand behind its and tolerant reputation, alleged open-mindwhich its LGBT Safe Zone stickers reflect, then perhaps a managerial adjustment is in order. If banning such things is out of the question, I suggest Westminster hire more outspoken conservative professors. Otherwise, potential and current conservative students could be turned off enough to seek a haven that does not consider liberal tangents part of its curriculum. Speaking of disclaimers, no one needs to remind me that this is a private college and the same freedom students use to choose a place of education also affords people certain rights of speech. I enjoy Westminster because of the excellent education I receive from its alluring environment and small class size, but when a professors freedom of speech conflicts with students education, there has been a breach of constitutional rights. While Westminster students can be overbearing in expressing distaste for conservative or Republican leaders (it was a little obvious when the campus concierge displayed only Democratic endorsements during the November election), students are not like professors who are expected to be diplomats that represent an organized institution.CS ed iftijiiSiSCampus Bookstore, the Better Option? Editor Staff Writers Jessica Faulkner Trenna Ahistrom Kimbertie Biesch Production Manager Emily A. Brown Addie Ryder Ashley M. Bunk David C.Cannell Christina D. Clark Business Manager Heather Hooke JenneyA. Diamond Nelson T, Emeric Benjamin Foreman Joel L. Gardner Tara L. Hair Stephen T. Hasiam Chris Hoffman April Mackay Photo Editor Emma Ryder Adviser Marilyn Karras-McKinn- on Kate D. Pappas Corky Richard Photographers Roy Crane Jonathan Cracroft Contributer Ryan Lee Rieger Stan Sarkisov Kayla Smith Jessica M. Shurtleff Jacob Webb Tessa R. Woolf Jason A. Williams The Forum is published every Wednesday. We encourage students, faculty, staff and other aii letters fa: The Forum, Westminster College, 1040 S. 1300 E Salt Lake City UT 84105. You can also the editor at fonjmwestminstercoliege edu. Only signed letters wiB be accepted. The Forum reserves the right to edit all submissions. Views expressed are those of the wnters, and are not to be considered those of the Forum, ASWC, the faculty, staff or administration. readers to write letters. Address 4W t f v f - ' i t j L fr MARKETING ASSOCIATE: Great student job. . ..flexible hours, fun environment! PT starting at $9.50HR with the ability to make up to $11.50HR. Shifts start at 13 hr s week. Located downtown, accessible to TRAX, lots of free parking Opps. for advancement To apply: 7 www.mbmleasing.comjobs.asp or call (800) - 434-671- NANNY NEEDED! Mon. and Fri. 12-- 5 or 6 for 1 12 year old girl in sugarhouse. Experience, references, reliable transportation, and CPR cert, preferred. $7hr. 801- - 485-205- 1. DARLING SUGARHOUSE APARTMENT. 3 beds, 2 bath. 1500 square feet, $850month. Landlord pays utilities. Contact Candice at Prudential Utah Real Estate at 801-651-12- Dear Editor, This letter is in response to article written in the Forum headlined Buy, Sell Used Textbooks Online, by staff writer Nelson T. Emeric. Each week all the employees of Westminster Bookstore read the Forum. This week we read that article with much disappointment I, along with my employees, understand the frustration students experience because of the rising costs of textbooks. However, Emeric did not talk with anyone in the bookstore about the buyback process, and as a result, he wrote several statements that were and are not true. The first point we would like to discuss is: You receive $10, $15 or $25 (if you are lucky) for barely used textbooks. In turn the bookstore will sell the same textbook for sometimes k double the price the next semester. Many times during buyback we will buy back books that have hardly been used; however, that is not always the case. We have textbooks come back that have water damage, are extensively highlighted, food spilled on the pages, books written in, and much more. The price we pay the students has also been brought into question. This can be answered simply. We request text information from faculty members about what texts will be used for the upcoming semester. The bookstore pays the student 50 percent of the price the student paid for it if it is being used again. We do not double the price of the used textbook when we sell it If we were to double the price, the price would be more than the price of a new textbook. Sometimes a faculty member will decide not to use the same textbook, at this point it is no longer the bookstore that is purchasing the textbook for the bookstore, we are buying the textbooks for Follett Used Book Wholesalers. The books purchased for the wholesalers are not kept at the store; the books are packed up and shipped out at the end of the buyback period. Another possibility could also be that the textbook is being used for the upcoming semester; however, the bookstore is not paying you 50 percent of what you purchased the textbook for. The reason for this is we have bought back all that is needed for the following semester. buy-bac- Finally, the only reasons we would not pay a student any money for a textbook if the textbook has gone into a new edition and is not being used again, the textbook is too damaged to be sold to another student or to the wholesaler, or, finally, the textbook is not being used again and the wholesaler does not need any. The second point that was made is the Web site College Campus Connection is an alternative to your campus bookstore. This, of course, is an option. However, what the article does not point out is while students may be able to sell their books back for more than what they would get at the campus bookstore, they may also not find a buyer for their book. Another factor to consider is a student will wait for the student that is purchasing the textbook to send them the money. The article also states that you can buy the books you need for less. This also may be true; however, there is no guarantee that a Web site will have the text you desire. In addition, a student that purchases a textbook online from another student or any online site can receive textbooks that are in poor condition, or the wrong.edition. Finally, your campus bookstore provides refunds for dropped classes, or if a student decides they do not need the text. A student receives the refund at the time the book is returned to the bookstore; they do not have to wait A student can also inspect the textbook before they purchase the textbook, and we have all of the books that are required, a student usually does not have to wait for their textbook. We at the bookstore understand the desire to assist students with providing viable alternatives; however, it is also very important to provide our students with all of the information, so our students can make informed decisions that best meet their needs. In addition, we at the bookstore have an open door policy and are willing to answer questions or provide information to our students. Westminster College Bookstore is here to serve our students. We work hard to provide an environment that meets our students need. In addition, we at Westminster College Bookstore strive very hard to be a contributing member of the Westminster College Community. Jennifer Popich Store Manager, Westminster College Bookstore |