The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 - 5
The Michigan Daily - michigandailycomTuesday, January 24, 2012 - 5
New Apple apps provide
students with e-textbooks
Despite growing
use of e-readers,
students still prefer
paper textbooks
By ALICIA ADAMCZYK
For the Daily
With the recent launch of two
new iPad applications developed
for the use of electronic text-
books, Apple may help ease the
sore backs of students lugging
heavy books around campus.
Despite the increasing usage
of electronic devices for reading
nationwide, students, a Univer-
sity professor and a local book-
store employee say they don't
anticipate that the apps will lead
to a decline in the purchase of
paper textbooks in Ann Arbor.
Last Thursday, Apple released
iBook Author and iBooks 2.
The iBook Author app allows
authors and publishers to write
and design their own textbooks
at no cost. iBooks 2 improves
on its predecessor, iBooks 1, by
including the ability to highlight
and annotate text, tap on words
for definitions and make digital
flashcards from personal notes.
During the announcement of
the release of the apps last week,
Apple said that high-school
level textbooks would be priced
at $14.99 or less, while pricing
on college-level e-textbooks
remains undetermined.
Apple has already contracted
CAMPUS
From Page 1
Dirnberger said though he
would be somewhat interested
in hearing Obama's views on
higher education, he would
rather hear him speak about his
decision to reject plans for the
Keystone XL oil pipeline - a
transnational project that would
install an oil pipeline stretching
from Canada to Texas.
"I know he definitely won't
be talking about that, but that's
what I would like to hear," Dirn-
berger said.
Dirnberger said he hopes
that Obama won't suggest rais-
ing taxes to make college more
affordable.
Though about 50 students
protested at House Major-
ity Leader Eric Cantor's (R-Va)
speech at the Michigan League
in October, Dirnberger said the
group does not plan to protest
against Obama's speech, adding
that he was particularly upset
with the protests staged during
Cantor's speech.
"As a Wolverine, I think we
should hold ourselves to higher
standards," Dirnberger said.
Amanda Caldwell, chair of
the University's chapter of Col-
lege Democrats, said she has
received various e-mails from
members requesting informa-
tion about the upcoming speech,
including students not involved
with the organization inquiring
about obtaining tickets.
"We are all very excited for
him to visit," Caldwell said.
Caldwell said she expects
that the president will discuss
AATA
From Page 1
to increased anti-immigration
enforcement.
AATA CEO Michael Ford spoke
in favor of the plan at the Jan. 16
meeting, and answered further
questions from council members
last night. Ford told the council
that Salem, Sylvan, Bridgewater
and Saline Townships are the only
four municipalities in the county
that have yet to commit to the new
plan.
During the public hearing por-
tion of last night's meeting, about
40 speakers - including support-
ers and opponents of the proposed
plan - spent approximately two
hours taking 3-minute turns to
voice their opinions to City Coun-
cil members.
Michael Benson, president of
Rackham Student Government,
said while the graduate student
several large publishers, includ-
ing Pearson, McGraw-Hill,
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and
Dorling Kindersley, to produce
e-textbooks.
Helene Neu, director of the
University's elementary French
program, said she is skeptical
about student receptiveness
toward the new apps.
A recent CTools survey sug-
gested that students wouldn't be
particularly interested in using
e-textbooks. In the survey, SO
percent of respondents cited "on
paper" as their preferred method
of reading documents - an over-
whelming majority compared to
11 percent of those who chose
"computer screen," 5 percent
who prefer a tablet computer, 3
percent who prefer an e-reader
and 1 percent who answered
"other."
Bryn Hauk, a specialist at
Michigan Book and Supply, said
despite the influx in use of elec-
tronic devices for reading, he
does not view e-textbooks as a
threat to the sale of paper text-
books.
"(E-textbooks) could have the
potential to impact sales," Hauk
said. "But with (our) new rental
program, I think we'll still have
the ability to sell a lot of books."
However, Hauk said being
able to save money on books by
purchasingthem digitally is ben-
eficial to students.
"If it saves students money, I
think it's great, and bookstores
can always adapt," she said.
Hauk noted that e-textbooks
financial strains on students and
highlight research being done at
the University, adding that his
speech will likely be related to
his State of the Union address
tonight.
In addition to college afford-
ability, Rackham student
Hakeem Jefferson said he antic-
ipates Obama to speak about job
growth or educational initia-
tives - topics he said he thinks
are important to improve the
state's economy.
"I'm excited that the presi-
dent's coming to town," Jeffer-
son said. "I think it's important
for him to come to town not only
because he's looking to get elect-
ed in November, but because
Michigan probably needs to
hear more about his jobs plan
and ... know more about what
he's going to do to help the econ-
omy improve."
Nursing freshman Monica
Sehgal said she's happy that the
president is returning to cam-
pus following his 2010 Spring
Commencement address. But,
because this is Obama's second
trip to the University in the past
two years, Sehgal said the presi-
dent should also make an effort
to visit other colleges in Michi-
gan.
"I feel like he's coming to the
University of Michigan because
it's a liberal school," Sehgal said.
LSA junior Ifeoma Dike
argued that Obama represents
a stark contrast to former Presi-
dent George W. Bush, who didn't
visit the University during his
eight years in office.
"For me, it's very monumen-
tal because I know this is his
second time coming," Dike said.
lack some of the advantages that
paper textbooks have, particu-
larly that students can't re-sell
books.
"Students can't sell back elec-
tronic copies, so that's some-
thing they could be concerned
about," Hauk said.
LSA sophomore Bayan Fou-
nas said she would rather pur-
chase a textbook than use an
app, because she is more inclined
to read a physical copy of a book
rather than an electronic copy.
"I personally prefer books
on paper, for that more authen-
tic feel," Founas said. "It's also
more uncomfortable reading
from a lit screen."
LSA Freshman Yohei Kane-
hara said though he would be
interested in the apps, he would
only purchase them for certain
classes.
"I'd probably get a real text-
book for classes involving more
note-taking and to highlight
text, like in (general chemis-
try)," Kanehara said. "But I
would get an electronic text-
book for something I'm just
reading."
Like Founas, LSA sophomore
Jeff Duncan said he is not par-
ticularly interested in using the
new technology, since many
professors post their readings
on CTools or programs like
Wiki, that provide free access to
written works.
"In some of my classes my
teacher has a Wiki set up - I
would prefer that across the
board," Duncan said.
"It's really good for our genera-
tion and for the school."
Like Sehgal, Dike said other
cities, like Detroit, would benefit
from a visit from the president.
"If he came to Detroit, I
think that would show that he
is benevolent, and that he is
very interested in rebuilding the
community," Dike said.
LSA junior Gabriela Recinos
said Ann Arbor's central loca-
tion makes it an ideal place for
Obama's speech.
"Ann Arbor is a pretty good
place because a lot of people can
come," Recinos said. "People
from (Ypsilanti) can come, peo-
ple from Detroit can come and
hopefully people from outside of
Ann Arbor will come."
Rackham student Brad Kent
said he is looking forward to
hearing Obama elaborate on
issues discussed in his State of
the Union address.
"I'm glad that he's coming,
and I'm excited that he's going
to come after he gives the State
of the Union address so we can
hear him expound on his plans,"
Kent said.
LSA freshman Ken Leaton
said he is looking forward to
hearing Obama discuss his plans
leading into November's 2012
election.
"I'm definitely excited to
see him because I'm interested
to hear what he'll say for the
upcoming election, "Leaton
said. "I will definitely try to go."
-The Associated
Press, Austen Huford and
Daily News Editors Haley
Glatthorn and Haley Goldberg
contributed to this report.
FILE PHOTO/Daily
President Barack Obama takes the stage at the 2010 Spring Commencement ceremony held at Michigan Stadium on May
1, 2010.
From Page 1
said in a statement to The Michi-
gan Daily that the University is
excited to welcome Obama back
to campus.
"As a public research univer-
sity, we share his commitment
to a strong future for our state
and our nation," Coleman said in
the statement. "We are particu-
larly honored that he will visit
following his State of the Union
address."
Political Science Prof. Ken
Kollman said winning the sup-
port of a "core constituency" of
working and middle class voters
in Michigan would be crucial to
Obama's re-election.
"Winning Michigan is very
important to his re-election,"
Kollman said. "It's also a state
where he can cash some chips in.
He can take a lot of credit for sav-
ing the Big Three or at least two
of the Big Three. He is in a fight
for working-class white voters all
over the country, and there are
a lot of such voters in Michigan
that ... appreciate what he did for
the Michigan economy but are
also worried about future job
prospects."
Michael Traugott, a research
professor at the University's
Institute for Social Research,
added that Obama may have
chosen the University due to
his working relationship with
University President Mary Sue
Coleman or his connection with
Valerie Jarrett, a senior advis-
er to the president and a Law
School alum.
"I think there's probably a
variety of reasons (he's com-
ing)," Traugott said. "One of
them is, of course, that in the
fall, Michigan will be an impor-
tant state for its electoral votes."
Last June, Coleman was one
of six university presidents from
around the country to join with
Obama in creating the Advanced
Manufacturing Partnership,
a joint venture between the
Obama administration and uni-
versities to increase the number
of advanced manufacturing jobs
in the United States and develop
more sophisticated manufactur-
Event Details
ing processes.
Traugott added that the
proximity of Michigan's Feb.
28 Republican presidential pri-
mary could be another incentive
for the president to visit to Ann
Arbor this week. He noted that
Obama will probably tailor the
speech to discuss his policies
that are popular with Michi-
gan voters, including the 2009
bailouts of General Motors and
Chrysler.
"There will be an interest in
framing the Michigan Republi-
can primary in terms of topics
that he thinks he has a particu-
lar advantage on, including
unemployment and the bailout
of two of the Big Three automo-
bile companies," Traugott said.
Despite the state's upcoming
primary, Obama's main focus
will be continuing to mobilize
Democratic support, particu-
larly against the past economic
policies of the Republican candi-
dates, Kollman said.
"His big thing now is to try to
draw contrast between himself
and the Republican Party as a
whole and to try to be running
against them as a party," Koll-
man said. "He doesn't exactly
know who his opponent will be
yet, but no matter who it is, he's
going to try to tie them to eco-
nomic policies that are seen as
not willing to step up places like
Michigan," Kollman said.
The Ann Arbor Police Depart-
ment, along with the Universi-
ty's Department of Public Safety
and the U.S. Secret Service, has
been working to prepare for
Obama's visit, Ann Arbor Police
Chief Barnett Jones said.
"The president's coming to
town, and every measure will be
taken," Jones said.
Ann Arbor Mayor John Hief-
tje said the law enforcement
agencies are workingtogether to
prepare for the visit. Hieftje said
that while Ann Arbor is used to
hosting big events, "everybody's
on deck when the president
comes to town."
"Aside from having the presi-
dent come, and obviously folks
like that, we also host a lot of
very large events in town, (like)
the largest art fair in the coun-
try," Hieftje said. "Seven times a
year, Michigan Stadium is filled,
so we're used to big events and
traffic control, (and) I think it
will be well-handled."
Obama was the fourth presi-
dent to give a commencement
speech in Ann Arbor, following
former presidents Bill Clinton in
2007, George H. W. Bush in 1991
and Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.
Other former presidents have
delivered historic speeches at
the University. Then-Senator
John F. Kennedy famously
announced his intention to cre-
ate the Peace Corps program
from the steps of The Michigan
Union on Oct. 14, 1960 as he was
running for the presidency. For-
mer President Gerald R. Ford
also began his ultimately unsuc-
cessful 1976 re-election cam-
paign at a rally at Crisler Arena.
In his address to the 2010
graduating class, Obama
stressed the need for civic
involvement and discussed the
difficult economic environment
that University graduates would
face as they entered the work
force.
"The fact is, when you leave
here today, you will search for
work in an economy that is still
emerging from the worst cri-
sis since the Great Depression,"
Obama said in his speech. "You
live in a century where the speed
with which jobs and industries
move across the globe is forcing
America to compete like never
before."
-Daily News Editor
Haley Goldberg, Daily News
Editor Adam Rubenfire and
Daily Staff Reporter Steve
body supports regional transpor-
tation, he personally believes the
pending legislation needs addi-
tional work.
"On behalf of the graduate stu-
dents of the University of Michi-
gan, we certainly support the
initiative," Benson said. "I think
some of the details - specifically
the financing - need to be worked
out."
Ypsilanti Mayor Paul Schreiber,
who spoke in the public hearing
section of the meeting, said he also
supported the measure.
"Think macroscopically, think
about how bringing people in is
going to help your city," Schreiber
said.
Several opponents of the mea-
sure spoke as well, showing con-
cern with the cost of the plan.
Council member Jane Lumm
(I-Ward 2) and several other
opponents of the bill said they felt
further public input was neces-
sary before creating a new county-
wide authority.
"I want to thank the folks at
AATA for their patience," Lumm
said. "I certainly support the post-
ponement, and look forward to
gettingthe final plans."
Throughout the night, several
speakers, including Ann Arbor
resident Clark Treneski, said they
felt prolonged discussions were
testing their patience.
"We've already had two years
of public input," Treneski said. "I
am not worried as an Ann Arbor
taxpayer, I'm not worried about
my neighbors stealing my money.
This is the time to buckle down
and move forward. I just turned
70 - I'm tired of waiting."
In an interview following the
public hearings, City Council
member Sabra Briere (D-Ward 1)
said she was happy to see a large
amount of public interest over the
matter, as reflected in the expan-
sive amount of speakers present at
last night's meeting.
"I'm really pleased with the
large amount of speakers, it's not
only important, but it's significant
that the opinions are pretty evenly
balanced," Briere said. "... It's nice
to see that a lot of people care
enough to come out and that we
can hear different perspectives."
COUNCIL PASSES RESOLU-
TION IN SUPPORT OF IMMI-
GRANT RIGHTS
Earlier in the meeting, several
citizens spoke during the public
commentary section in support of
a resolution to oppose increased
anti-immigration enforcement in
the city. The council later passed
the resolution.
In support of the proposal,
audience members held signs
advocating for immigrant rights
during the meeting. Proponents
who addressed council said they
felt the resolution is an important
part of the effort to stop the unfair
deportation of immigrants they
believe to be hardworking and
non-threatening to society.
Martha Valadez, School of
Social Work representative for
Central Student Government, said
in an interview after speaking to
council that the resolution would
assure residents that Ann Arbor is
in tune with federal-level legisla-
tion proposals.
"The resolution would support
immigrant families in the Ann
Arbor community to prevent the
deportation and detainment of
immigrants who aren't serious
criminals, which is basically what
the national legislation is trying
to do" Valadez said. "It will show
that the city is aware of these
issues and we want to make sure
we can support them as much as
we can."
Ann Arbor Mayor John Hief-
tje said the resolution ensures
that people are aware of the city's
stance on a controversial issue.
"It is very appropriate for our
community ... what we're talking
about here is objecting to people
with long standing ties to the
community from being jerked
from their homes by a process
that I think in some ways has got-
ten out of control," Hieftje said.
Ann Arbor resident Joseph
Summers, vicar of the Episcopal
Church of the Incarnation, said
he opposes aggressive measures
that tear apart immigrant fami-
lies.
"Our public policies are a
reflection of our core values and
who we are," Summers said. "In
recent years we've seen immi-
gration customs enforcement
known as 'ICE' acting like goons
for the Imperial forces from Star
Wars, breaking down doors in
the middle of the night, and ter-
rifying families, and separating
husbands and wives from their
children. It's simply unaccept-
able."