12%. THE NATIONAL COLAGE NEWSPAPER S Dollars and Se I NOVEMBER 1989 9 NOVEMBER 1989 A llars and Sense 0 U- THE NATION COLLEGE NEWSF Out of this world U. of Kansas students will help NASA formulate human habitats in space. Page 13 Stolen textbooks U. of Southern Florida officials suggest ways to thwart theft and aid recovery, including multiple hidden identifica- tion markers. Page 13 l=WT"RFPRI=NF='E iR'R Early reports key to stolen textbook recove i Ium 9 'm i ~- m- - I E -Lik. m,.> I I Jeans for Africa A U. of North Texas, Denton student takes used clothes home to Africa. Page 15 By Rita Dell . The. Oracle U. of Southern Florida -40. I . Students and outsiders commonly steal textbooks, most often from the library and the residence halls, and attempt to sell them back to the Textbook Center on campus or the Book Center for U. of Southern Florida, said Lt. Bob Staehle of the University Police. Staehle said the content of the books doesn't matter very much to the thieves. "If it's in good shape and is a USF-required textbook that can be resold, they will take it," he said. Two 18-year-old female students were apprehended when they tried to sell stolen textbooks to the Textbook Center last Febuary, according to UP records. The books, which were valued at $141, were reported stolen from a study table at the library. In this case, the owner immediately reported the theft to the UP, who routinely informs both book cen- ters about stolen textbooks, Staehle said. He said the two suspects also were in possession of two other textbooks that had not been reported stolen. The suspects told officers they had found the five books abandoned in front of Cooper Hall and had tried unsuccessfully to find the owner, Staehle said. "Textbook theft really picks up at the end of each semester with the book buy-back," Staehle said. Doug Gatanis, who is the text manager for the Book Center for USF, said, "We have at least 30 people at the beginning of a semester reporting their books stolen." Gatanis said book thefts are reported to the center most often during the first and last two weeks of class. Gatanis said when he is informed of a theft by the UP or by a student, he tries to get a description of the book and of any distinguishable marks. He said he then puts the information into a computer. Gatanis said. "We then report it to the police," he said. Gatanis said he looks for people who bring often or who don't look like students. However, unless the books are reported sto is not much that can be done, he said "Even if we think the books are stolen, refuse to buy them back," Gatanis said. Jeff Mack, the general manager of all U stores, said the Textbook Center also uses a system to identify stolen books. Mack said his biggest problem is getting pe the center know about stolen books so he ca information on the computer. Staehle said students could protect their picking out the same page in each book an in their names or social security numbers print. The thief probably wouldn't take time ti something like that, he said. Local dairy cow piles to generate additional electricity for farmers By Charlaine Davis The Lumberjack Humboldt State U. When life gives you cowpatties, make electricity. Humbolt State U. engineering Professor Peter Lehman and a group of four students are doing just that. If the group's project is successful, local dairy cows may soon be helping to power their own farms. The idea to build a working biogas digester on a local farm grew out of Lehman's developmental technology class. "We talked about the technology in class and some of the students were interested in pursuing the areas as the- sis work," Lehman said. The project is still in the planning stages, with decisions about materials and final design yet to be made. The pro- ject also needs some cooperation from nature to get started. "We are planning to start when manure dries out," Lehman said. "We hope to have it built by the end of sum- mer." Lehman said the goal of the pilot pro- ject is to get other dairies interested in the idea. "We want to show them that it's not a mysterious technology. It's simple, easi- ly understood, easily serviced and it works." The idea of converting waste into useable fuel may be new to Humboldt County, but is common in places like China and India. "It's simple technology, not high tech," Lehman said, "We're not talking com- puters and guided missiles." A digester starts with an airtight con- crete trough with a rubber top and a sep- tic tank. Add a pump to get manure into the trough and a system to extract the resulting gas and sludge, and that is a simple digester. Bacteria in the trough breaks the manure down into two parts, biogas and sludge. The biogas consists of methane and carbon dioxide, which can be burned in the same way as natural gas. It can be used to heat buildings or water, or as a fuel for lanterns and gas-powered elec- trical generators. Lehman said that most farms use elec- tricity for all of their energy needs, including water and household heating. Because fuel is burned to create electric- ity, Lehman said heating can be done more efficiently by burning the fuel directly. For John Mason, whose Arcata dairy farm will receive the trial-size digester, the energy savings is a big incentive. Mason estimated that the electricity to See COWPATTIES, Page 15 If someone tries to sell computer will match it back a stolen textbook, the and alert the employees, NASA uses schools to design space habitats By Janette Poole . Kansas State Collegian Kansas State U. Kansas State U. has been selected by NASA to formulate designs for human habitats in outer space. The project will examine the control of closed environmental systems used in space travel and living said Allen Cogley, department head of mechanical engi- neering at Kansas State U. Cogley said the mechanical and chem- ical engineering departments were cho- sen to administer the project at his uni- versity, including an advanced design team of about 30 students per year. The KSU proposal, "Automation of Closed Environments in Space for Human Comfort and Safety," provides $25,000 per year for the salary of a grad- uate assistant, permanent equipment, communication networks, travel expenses and supplies, Cogley said. The graduate assistant acts as the liaison between the university and NASA. At least 20 percent of the team mem- bers, who will be able to obtain credit from their departments for their work, will be from departments other than engineering, Cogley said. Applicants should be second-semester juniors or first-semester seniors because of the time commitment and the level of work involved. The project is an excellent opportunity for future employment with NASA, Cogley said. "It's a good opportunity for students and faculty to get their foot in the door," he suggested. KSU has previously participated in NASA projects. The mechanical engi- neering department design team won the national competition in 1983-84 for its work in the specialized design of a space glove. Cogley, who wrote the proposal for the university, said the program was announced in January. He said the pro- ject is interdisciplinary, with students and faculty from departments ofmechan- ical, chemical and electrical engineering, biology, computer science, human ecolo- gy, and veterinary medicine/physiology. Snakes alive Reptilian interest sparks business ideas for brothers By David Van Meter . The Shorthorn U. of Texas, Arlington An idea slithered into the mind of general studies senior Ty Kubin while he was in the Life Science Building of U. of Texas, Arlington, two years ago and he just couldn't shed it. The world was in dire need of a snake den, a small, plastic shelter used for reptiles, amphibians or fish. Ty, along with his brothers Troy, a business management senior, and John, a tire store manager, hatched the den concept into Executive Marketing International, which centers on dis- tributing an assortment of snake dens, aspen bedding and an oasis for pet bedding and drinking. EMI has matured from a $4,000-a-week business run out of a house into a sizable warehouse firm that the brothers say will boast $1 million in sales this year. "We moved out of the house when we couldn't get to the kitchen," Troy said. The company's success stemmed from "looking at the prod- ucts out there and gaining knowledge of the product needed, and from utilizing our resources," Ty said. Utilize they have. A prototype mold that should have cost $3,000 was obtained for $700. "We knew a friend on the inside who told us how to make the mold and then we did it," Ty said. Friends also helped them get free advertising printed and build an aspen-bagging machine for $1,500 instead of $10,000. Gaining product knowledge wasn't too difficult, considering See SNAKES, Page 13 100%- College Students Having 800/*- Financial Services 60%-" 200/o- ATM Card Credit Card Checking Account Savings Account Source: CollegeTrack Inc., 1989 Working abroad provides different perspectives of foreign countries By Robyn Dagget The Lumberjack Northern Arizona U. and Norma Hofneister Collegian Tarrant County C.C Living and working in a foreign country is an idea that fascinates most people, and overseas opportunities for employment are readily available for college students through various agencies. The Council on International Educational Exchange helps students find jobs in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Jamaica and the Federal Republic of Germany. In each country, a national student organization helps students find jobs and lodging. According to the exchange, 5,000 students participated in the program last year, and the aver- age search took three days. Jobs range from the unskilled - waitress, chambermaid, farmhand or cook - to semi-skilled office work. Students are allowed to work at any job they can obtain. Great Britian is a popular destina- tion for many students, according to exchange literature. The "Work in See WORK ABROAD, Page 15 It's not always easy collecting the rent By Lisa Seymour Kansas State Collegian Kansas State U. For some students, the end of the semester may mean tracking down an ex-roommate who didn't pay a dime on the bills. Wade Whitmer, director ofthe Kansas State Consumer Relations Board, said recoveringmoneyis difficult, particular- ly when the defendant lives in another county. Usually students who live together split the bills evenly. The roommates pay a deposit for most services, but these companies rarely let all roommates put See RENT, Page 13 Rent Continued from page 12 their names on the billings. It often becomes a verbal agreement, Whitmer said. He said roommates should sign an agreement indicating their responsibil- ities. "You are a fool if you don't sign a room- mate agreement with someone that you don't know well," Whitmer said. The only legal process designed to recover money from an ex-roommate is to take him to small claims court to recover money up to $1,000 or less, he said. To file in small claims court, the plain- tif must pay the bills, because he can't sue until they are paid, Whitmer said. The person filing must do so in the county where the defendant lives and the defendant is allowed to set the hear- ing date, he said. If the defendant does not appear in court, the injured party wins. Even with a favorable ruling from the judge, the ex-roommate may not pay. If the payment is not made within 15 days after the judgment, the injured room- mate may be able to garnishee his ex- roommate's wages if he earns more than $400 a month. "The biggest problem is collecting the money from the ex-roommate and going to the trouble to get it," Whitmer said, adding that small claims court is the only way to recover money. Kristy Newlon, junior, was left with bills at the end of last year. "I got lucky though, in getting my money back. I just called my old room- mate's parents and told them the situ- ation and they reimbursed me," she said. Snakes Continued from page 12 Ty's credentials. Besides snake speeches at elementary schools, Ty provided the Burmese python eggs for an ABC-TV special titled "The World of Snakes." He also did illus- trations for Venomous Snakes of Latin America, written by biology Assistant Professor Johnathon Campbell. "He's the best illustrator I've ever seen," Campbell said. "He has a great eye for detail." Ty and Troy should know what snakes look like, as huge snake skins drape the hallway into Ty's room. Inside the room are more than 30 cages filled with albino speckled kings, gray-banded king snakes, corn snakes and, of course, Burmese python eggs. The brothers had trouble finding financial backing for their business until their older brother Earl took stock in detergent, literally "He and five other guys bought stock in some detergents that jumped from the buying price of 74 cents a share to $75 a share. He made about $125,000 in two weeks," Troy said. With this financial backing the busi- ness began. Troy said everyone involved with the business put in up to 20 hour days, 160 hours a week, which cut into their schoolwork. An positive attitude has helped, too. As John said, "Any goal is achievable, if you so desire." Troy said he had no plans to start the business, but rather, just fell into it. "I never really knew what I wanted to do. I fell into it. As aresult ofthis, I never lost out on anything, except this girl from Ohio," he said. But it is Retractable.