Sumeral
Vol. LXXXII, No. 57-S Ann Arbor, Michigan-Wednesday, August 8, 1973 Ten Cents Twelve Pages
U'profs assigning their own
books:
By REBECCA WARNER
A vast number of University faculty
members maintain a lucrative sideline to
their teaching activities-assigning books
to their students which they themselves
have written.
Publication, an activity expected of al
faculty members, raises an ethical issue
when professors require students to buy
their texts, and then collect royalties on
the sales. But although this practice ap
pears in virtually all schools and depart-
ments, University administrators have
never seen fit to regulate the situation
here.
MEANWHILE, the practice brings hun
dreds of dollars to a number of faculty
members each year.
Ethical question
During only a week of filing professors' STUDENTS MAY believe profits earned P
book orders, University Cellar employe on required texts cause a conflict of in- co
Fred Chase has found more than 70 pro- terest. But professors on Chase's list over- pu
fessors assigning their own books. Of the whelmingly denied their choice of books alt
70, 15 made the assignments for courses could be influenced by desire for personal is
with estimated enrollment of more than profit. cot
1 100 students. In addition, a few professors For example, physics Prof. W. Wallace P
assigned several of their own books-one McCormick, who assigns his own text- Fu
professor requires five books between his book to his Physics 125 classes, claims $12
two courses. there is "certainly no conflict of interest, 85
Chase decided to reveal his partial list in my opinion." ,
- of faculty members when he noticed how
widespread the practice was. "This makes McCormick says he assigns his own book pe
me angry," he says. "They're getting paid "because I think it's the best thing in the y
by the University for giving their knowl- field. There's nothing like being able to
edge to the students, then they're making use your own book. You have everything M
a profit on their books. It's like they're just the way you want it. You always have in
getting paid twice for the same job." objections to someone else's book."
raised
McCORMICK'S introductory physics
urse attracts 450 students a term. Three
blishing houses confirmed that a roy-
y rate of 10 per cent of the retail price
standard profit for the author of a
urse book.
McCormick's nationally used text,
undamentals of College Physics, sells for
2.95. Cellar records show the store has
used copies of the book and is order-
g 150 new, and the Cellar does 50 to 60
r cent of all course book sales.
A conservative estimate, therefore, puts
cCormick's profit for fall term at $364
royalties on new books bought by his
See PROFS, Page 10 .
Rulng may
require U
to release
salarylists
By GORDON ATCHESON
The University, which has steadfastly refused to publish faculty salary
lists, may be required to release such information based on a formal
opinion announced yesterday by state Atty. Gen. Frank Kelley.
Kelley declared that the names
and salaries of public employes, in- decision and "could not comment on it."
cluding professors and administra- Kelley based his opinion on several court
tors at tax supported educational verdicts, including a controversial law-
institutions, must be considered suit against Saginaw Valley College. The
public record. small, state-supported school was ordered
DESPITE EFFORTS by The Daily and to disclose full salary information last
other organizations to force disclosure, June by a Bay County Circuit Court
the University has kept salary information judge.
secret contending release would constitute SAGINAW VALLEY dropped an appeal
invasion of privacy. attempt last January and released the
"The attorney general's opinion only information, as Michigan State University
reaffirms our claim that salaries are and Delta College have done in the past
public information," * Daily Co-Editor two years.
Christopher Parks said yesterday. "Government employes, including those
"We hope the University will now cease in higher education, are paid from taxes
its obstructive tactics and expeditiously collected, and therefore I believe that the
release the data," Parks added. "But public should have access to this informa-
additional legal options will be explored tion," Kelley stated in his opinion, which
if necessary." carries the force of law unless overturned
KELLEY'S DECISION a p p a r e n t l y by the courts.
caught University officials by surprise. Earlier this year The Daily, Student
President Robben Fleming refused to corm- Government Council (SGC), and several
ment on the opinion because he had not other groups filed a lawsuit against the
seen a copy. Board of Regents demanding the release
University General Counsel Roderick of salary lists.
Daane also said he was unaware of the See U', Page 10
Ca vender's cutie
With tryouts less than a month away, this young "marching man from Michigan"
polishes his marching band arrangement of "I gotta gal in Kalamazoo" on an
empty case of 90 proof gin.
Now it's Agnew's
turnto sweat...
Story on Page 3