LOCAL/S TATE
CRIMvE
Series of thefts
occur from E.H.
Kraus building
A staff member from the E.H.
Kraus Building reported laptops
stolen on Wednesday, according to
Department of Public Safety
reports. The damage was estimated
at several thousand dollars total,
though the number of stolen laptops
is not known. The caller reported a
suspicious person in the area prior
to the theft.
A staff member also reported that
a digital camera and Walkman were
stolen sometime between Tuesday
night and Thursday morning. The
value of the stolen items is not
known.
A staff member returned from
vacation Saturday to find computer
equipment was stolen from his
office. There is no estimate on the
value at this time.
The cases are currently pending
investigation, and at this time, DPS
declined to comment on whether or
not the series of thefts is related.
There are also no suspects, but DPS
is looking into several leads.
Computer stolen
from North Campus
loading dock
DPS reports indicate that a
$2,500 Dell computer was stolen
from a dock of the Electrical Engi-
neering and Computer Science
Building Wednesday afternoon.
The computer was left unattend-
ed, and stolen one hour after deliv-
ery. There are no suspects.
Mason Hall room
plays host to
Inapping man
A male subject was discovered
sleeping in an empty Mason Hall
classroom Thursday afternoon by a
staff member. He was arrested by
DPS for trespassing, and was not
affiliated with the University.
The subject was released the
same day pending arraignment and
further investigation.
Freeloading
woman steals at
University Hospital
A staff member of the University
Hospital claimed to observe a
woman shoplifting Friday from the
gift shop. The woman stole two arti-
cle s of clothing, but the price is not
known at the time. The suspect was
located and interviewed by DPS,
which is investigating the case.
Fire extinguishers
set off on UGi
study tables
Two fire extinguishers were dis-
covered after being set off on first
floor study tables of the Shapiro
Undergraduate Library.
The incident was reported to DPS
by a staff member yesterday morn-
ing. DPS found no fire, and does
not have any suspects in the case.
No books were damaged by the
extinguishers.
Walkman, bike
reported stolen
from CCRB
Staff of the Central Campus
Recreation Building reported that a
Sony CD Walkman was stolen from
the men's locker room Wednesday.
DPS has no estimate on the value of
the item, and also has no suspects in
the case.
Another caller reported a bike
stolen from the CCRB between
Dec. 20 and Tuesday.
Suspects throw
ice, shatter Daily
office window
Early Friday morning, a Michigan
Daily staff member reported that
four or five unknown male suspects
threw a piece of ice through a win-
dow of the Student Publications
Building.
The suspects exchanged words
with a staffer, but fled the scene
before DPS arrived.
The ice shattered the window, and
a piece of glass caused a minor cut
on a staff member's lip. DPS esti-
mates the damage at $50.
The Michigan Daily - Monday, January 12, 2004 - 3A
Online book buying
saves bucks for cash-
conscious students
By Adrian Chen
For the Daily
FOREST CASEY/[
Visitors of the 16th North American International Auto Show at Cobo Hall in Detroit view Mitsubishi's
new concept vehicle, the RPM 7000, on Saturday.
Students enjoy celebrity
cars ,
w
"
*
new
nayvgatio
AUTO SHOW
Continued from Page 1A
Verne Troyer, who starred as Mini-Me in two
of the "Austin Powers" movies, signed auto-
graphs at the DUB Magazine booth on Saturday
and yesterday. In addition, several celebrity
vehicles were on display, such as Shaquille
O'Neal's 2003 Cadillac Escalade and OutKast
artist Big Boi's 2004 Hummer H2.
One exhibit popular in the age group of 24
to 50 is the Toyota Prius, Motor Trend's 2004
Car of the Year. The hybrid has been out since
2000, and is one of the most popular cars for
younger buyers, said Jay Saulsberry, a sales
consultant for LaFontaine Automotive Group
of Dearborn.
"Unfortunately the car is in a demand that is
greater than the supply. We can't keep up with the
market,' Saulsberry said.
There is currently a four- to six-month waiting
list nationwide for buyers of the vehicle.
q' technology
Because of its high demand, Toyota has not
yet been able to market the Prius, but according
to Saulsberry, when they begin, advertising will
be geared at a younger generation.
"It's a really nice car - the technology is
the next generation, and at an affordable
price. You should be spending close to
$40,000," Saulsberry said.
Actual retail price of the car starts as low
as $19,985. The Prius includes safety features
such as side airbags, and also features a
voice-activated navigation system not found
in any other Toyota vehicle.
But students don't necessarily come to the
show to see cars they will buy. Engineering
sophomore Steve Kelly said he enjoyed looking
at sports cars such as the Porsche GT and
Acura NSX.
"There's nothing like the thrill of taking turns
fast," said Kelly.
- Megan Graydanus contributed to this report
for The Daily.
Here's a tough one. What do an iPod, a roundtrip
ticket to Europe and an Ecology of World Vegeta-
tion textbook all have in common? The answer:
Each can be bought for around $300.
At the start of each semester, the steep price of
books becomes painfully apparent to many students.
Although they only account for a small percentage
of college costs, four years' worth of textbooks can
add up to a significant financial burden.
Luckily for students, the Internet has made
finding and buying used textbooks at discounted
prices much easier. Two sites, Amazon.com and
Half.com, have become especially popular desti-
nations for students searching for bargain text-
books. These sites allow students to list books for
sale and set their own price, or search among
books already listed for the ones they need. A
major advantage of these sites is the sheer num-
ber of used books available for purchase. A
search for "African History" with Half.com pro-
duces more than 250 results.
LSA sophomore Bobby Kellman said he was
satisfied when he ordered his books online.
Besides the convenience of avoiding the lines
and waiting at a local bookstore, Kellman said
he was pleased with the amount of money he
saved. "I saved enough money to make it
worthwhile, and most of the books are in pret-
ty good shape," Kellman said.
Some websites forgo the middleman and allow
students to trade books directly with their peers.
One such site is CordX.com, founded by LSA
sophomore Brett Baudinet in 2002 and owned by
his father. Membership is free and there is no charge
for buying or selling books. There are many advan-
tages afforded by this approach to book purchasing,
Baudinet said in an e-mail interview. These include
a powerful search engine that allows students to nar-
row their search to include only the most relevant
and local results and the lower cost. "In the week
since school started on January 6, 2004 there has
been close to 100 books sold at an average 51 per-
cent off from list price," Baudinet said.
The Michigan Student Assembly, in an effort to
give students more options when purchasing used
books, created its own book-swap site, Dog Ears,
that is accessed through the MSA website. It offers
a "simple and easy way for students to go online
and find used textbooks while also offering stu-
dents the opportunity to buy or sell textbooks," said
MSA representative Jesse Levine.
The main advantage of Dog Ears, she said, is its
focus on the University community. "By buying a
book off this website you are helping out your fel-
low students," Levine, an LSA sophomore, said.
Dog Ears requires that each member provide his
or her University-assigned e-mail address before
registering for the site, ensuring that each partici-
pant is a University student. Students have
responded well to this venture, Levine said, and
currently 2,700 books are for sale are 810 swaps
have taken place. But Levine urges more students
to participate in the program, as it will increase
the effectiveness of the site. Dog Ears also offers
students the opportunity to buy or sell items such
as furniture or computers.
Dog Ears is complemented by the University's
own Marketplace website, which resembles Dog
Ears in that it is an online trading site restricted to
University students and faculty. However, it has nei-
ther the streamlined appearance nor the selection of
Dog Ears. Marketplace has only 910 books listed
compared to Dog Ears' 2700 and functions more as
a message board for students interested in selling or
buying books while Dog Ears allows students to
purchase listed books directly.
Although online book purchasing is on the rise,
many students still purchase used books the "old-
fashioned" way - through local bookstores such
as Ulrich's or Michigan Book and Supply, which
stock a large amount of used books at reduced
prices. LSA freshman Kellen Smetana cites expedi-
ency as his reason for buying at local bookstores.
"I didn't do enough preparation where I could
buy (my textbooks) online," he said.
Vatican
MARINE CITY (AP) -Th
has upheld the suspension of
gan priest and has defrocked;
priest, both of whom were a
sexually abusing minors, the,
cese of Detroit said yesterday.
The Roman Catholic+
upheld Detroit Cardina
Maida's decision to placet
erend James Wysocki, 63,c
from his job as pastorc
Cross Parish in Marine-
Feb. 1, 2003.
Maida acted after an Ar
san Review Board founde
of sexual abuseduringt
years of Wysocki's ministry
cutors did not seek charges
of statute-of-limitations issu
Maida asked Wysocki to
but the priest declined and
appealed to the Vatican.
The Rev. Timothy Birn
installed yesterday as pastor
Cross, the archdiocese said.
Wysocki was ordained in1
isciplines 1
heVatican became associate pastor at St.
a Michi- Michael Parish in Pontiac. In 1972,
a second he took on additional responsibility
ccused of as chaplain and counselor at Pontiac
Archdio- Catholic High School. In 1977, he
became pastor of St. Mary Queen of
Church Creation Parish in New Baltimore.
l Adam In a letter to parishioners, Maida
the Rev- asked for "continued prayers for the
on leave church, for Father Wysocki and
of Holy Father Birney," the archdiocese said
City on in a news release. "It is my hope
and prayer ... Holy Cross Parish
chdioce- will continue to move forward in
evidence our common service of the Lord
he early and his people."
y. Prose- Maida also announced yesterday
because that Pope John Paul II had issued a
ues. decree dismissing the Rev. Joseph
o resign, Sito, 68, from the priesthood, a
J instead process known as laicization.
Sito has been on leave since 1993
ney was from his job as pastor of St. Cletus
of Holy Parish in Warren "due to substantive
allegations of sexual abuse of
1967 and minors," the archdiocese said.
04
ch.priests
In 1999, Sito was charged with
fourth-degree criminal sexual con-
duct after he was accused of con-
vincing a 17-year-old boy to expose
himself, court records show. In a
deal with the prosecutor's office,
Sito pleaded no contest to a reduced
charge of assault, and the sex offense
was dismissed.
He paid a fine and did not go to jail.
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Is Your Professor Using the Classroom
as a Platform for Political Agendas?
This Is a Violation of Your Academic Rights.
According to the American Association Of University Professors, the use of
classrooms for political indoctrination is a violation of academic freedom.
:r o tl
IcIW @ 'rrvt ,.',01
The 1940 Statement of Principles
on Academic Freedom and Tenure
'
J
L.
k EMENNO
the daily
n s IpuS pz
The
nceton
Review
1-800-2-REVIEW
declared: "Teachers are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing
their subject, but they should be careful not to introduce into their teach-
ing controversial matter which has no relation to their subject." (This
clause was reaffirmed in 1970.)
If you are not taking a course whose subject is the war in Iraq, your pro-
fessor should not be making statements about the war in class. Or about
George Bush, if the class is not on contemporary American presidents,
presidential administrations or some similar subject.
We do not expect our doctors to impose their political opinions on us when
we go to them for treatment. We should likewise not be assaulted by the
political prejudices of professors when we pay them for an education.
If your professor is abusing his or her teaching privilege or is confused
about the professional obligations of an educator please contact us.
Take a practice MCAT or
T C ATr fn, Ti 1 Ti T