4N6HFDRD WNT 4YE6R F E TR4A6EEO Thursday, September 9, 2010 micigndaily.com Ann Arbor, Michigan THE TEXTBOOK MARKET New rules offer students more info for book buying Former head of the Democratic National Committee and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean (left) and United States Rep. Mark Schauer last night in Rackham Auditorium. At rally, politicians urge crowd to vote in November midterms Federal law requires professors to release book lists at registration time By JENNIFER DOMINGUE Daily StaffReporter With the start of a new semes- ter, many students have been racking up expensive bills from buying textbooks. But a new fed- eral law recently took effect that aims to alleviate this financial burden. A recent provision to the Higher Education Opportunity Act requires colleges that receive federal funding to release the required textbook lists at the time of class registration. Also, textbook publishers now have to release prices and revision addendums to schoolA and pro- fessors so prices are more widely available. Supporters of the new law, which went into effect Jul. 1, 2010, say the new provision will give college students ample time to search for cheaper textbook options on websites, use text- book buy-back programs or rent books instead of going to a cam- pus bookstore. According to a press release distributed last month by the the Student Public Interest Research Group, the new legislation will provide much-needed help to students wihen buying textbooks. Students spend an average of $900 on textbooks each year, according to the release. Despite the new law, some University students say they won't be changing their textbook buying strategies. But some students, like Engi- neering junior Paige Beyers, said they purchase their textbooks at the bookstores in town just before school starts and this new legislation probably won't affect their textbook-buying practices. "I spend about $500 or more per semester for my textbooks at the bookstore," Beyers said. "I a wAysgo just before classes start." LSA junior Ryan Jackson said he no longer purchases his text- books at a bookstore, but rather rents them from Chegg.com, a website that rents textbooks to students at a discounted price. "I save about $200 now by renting my textbooks," he said. Tina Couch, vice president of public relations for Chegg.com, wrote in an e-mail statement that the company is in favor of See TEXTBOOKS, Page 7A At event, Dingell, Dean, Schauer and Peters talk Obama agenda, 2010 races By BETHANY BIRON Daily StaffReporter Former Democratic presiden- tial candidate Howard Dean and United States Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) headlined a College Democrats rally last night aimed at getting students involved in the midterm elections. Special guests at the event called, "Moving Michigan For- ward," included U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer (D-Mich.) and U.S. Rep. Gary Peters (D-Mich.). The speakers discussed a variety of topics, but focused primarily on the importance of winning Demo- cratic seats in Congress to contin- ue supporting President Barack Obama's policy decisions. Each speaker was received with cheers from the crowd of students and other University community members, who filled most of Rackham Auditorium. Dean, a past Democratic National Committee chairman and former Vermont governor, said Obama stands for the val- ues that many college students believe in - equal rights and opportunities - and added that if Republicans assume majority control in Congress, America will be "starkly different" and regress to days of intolerance. "I remember what it was like to see the dogs loosed on people, who simply were crossing over into a different colored neigh- borhood to vote," Dean said. "I remember what it was like to see the police turning fire hoses on peaceful demonstrators. We are notgoingback." Dean said if Democrats truly want change, they must work not only toward getting their candi- dates elected but also to inspire Democratic sentiment through- See DEMS, Page 7A MEET AND GREET At open house, students rub elbows with administrators Students say they relish chance to talk with 'U' officials By KYLE SWANSON Dadiy News Editor Hundreds of students packed (to the historic University presi- dent's house on South University Avenue yesterday to chat with top administrators about everything from biochemistry to architecture to their experiences at the Univer- sity. Starting at 3:30 p.m. yesterday, University President Mary Sue Coleman visited with students who stopped by her house for the annual president's open house, continuing the event until 6 p.m., nearly an hour beyond its sched- uled end. "It's always so fun to meet stu- dents," Coleman said, adding that she especially enjoyed interact- ing with seniors and international students. "Ijust appreciate the fact that students take advantage and come over to talk to me." "I just wish I had more time to talk to everybody," she continued. "It's really inspiring to see (the students). I always come away from these sessions really admir- ing the kind of students we recruit to Michigan. It's really wonder- ful." And while some students came See OPEN HOUSE, Page 7A CAMPUS ORGANIZATIONS To strengthen communities, groups organize their own welcome weeks Workers at the Recycle Ann Arbor plant sort through non-recyclable materials yesterday. The City of Ann Arbor is partnering with RecycleBank to offer households incentives for recycling. A2 partners with company to offer recycling incentives Series of events add to typical Welcome Week activities By VERONICA MENALDI Daily StaffReporter New and returning students were welcomed to campus last week with traditional Welcome Week events like New Student Convocation, the first football game in Michigan Stadium, block parties and of course, free food. But some campus groups are using the start of the semester to bring members of various com- munities together and introduce students to less traveled areas of campus. This week marks the start of Black Welcome Week, an event organized by the Black Student Union, which features a mix of academic and social events. LSA junior Chatoris Jones, treasurer of BSU, said the aim of the event is to "bring unity" to the commu- nity. "We want all the incoming freshmen to get to know one another," Jones said. The week's events include a drive-in movie, a girls' and guys' game night and general health talks. Also on the agenda is a pre-professional day in which researchers and different organi- zations on campus come together to speak to new students about getting involved. In years past, Black Welcome See WELCOME, Page 7A RecycleBank tallies points redeemable at local retailers By CLAIRE GOSCICKI Daily StaffReporter The City of Ann Arbor has partnered with RecycleBank - a program that aims to pro- mote environmental friendliness throughout the United States and United Kingdom - for a new ini- tiative to increase recycling among single-family homes and duplexes. Area residents who sign up to participate in the program will be offered incentive points according to the number of pounds of mate- rials they recycle each week. And those points can be redeemed at local and national retailers, gro- cers and restaurants. Each time a household recycles with a RecycleBank 64-gallon cart, sensors in the cart will track participation and credit Recy- cleBank points to a household's online account. Last July, Ann Arbor moved See RECYCLING, Page 7A WEATHER 111 HI:72 GOTA NEWS TIP? LO: 54 Cull 734-763-24 9 or e-mail TOMORROW L O: ; news@michigandaily.com and let us know. NEW ON MICHIGANDAILY.COM 'U clarifies tush Hashanah aHYendYnce policy. MICHIGAN DAILY.COM/BLOGS/THE WIRE INDEX NEW S ................ ........ .....2A CLASSIFIEDS ................ 6A..6A VolCINo.3 AP NEWS. . ..3A SPORTS. . ....8A ©2010tThe Michigan Daily OPINION ...............4A THE B-SIDE ...........l... B inichigondoilycom A