2 = The Michigan Daily'-Wedresday, July 23 1997
Students trade books online
By Dolores Arabo
Daily Staff Reporter
Students can say goodbye to the days
they waited in long lines with hopes of
collecting only a fraction of what their
used textbooks are worth.
Michael Wellman, an Electrical
Engineering and Computer Science
professor, and LSA senior Ryan Papa
are currently renovating an online auc-
tion site, named the
"auction bot,"1
where students can
buy and sell their
used books. m o e
"The auction isa
made for students b 'fg ;
who would like
more money for
their books and
students can find
cheaper books
there," Papa said.
Shaman Drum Bookstore manager
Hobart Taylor explained the reasons for
"high" textbook prices. He said whole-
sale book companies often set the
prices for the buybacks when the book
will not be used the next semester.
"People are under the illusion that
buyback prices are terribly low but they
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are subject to the laws of supply and
demand," Taylor said.
When books are going to be used
during the next semester, owners usual-
ly receive half of the money they origi-
nally spent for textbooks, Taylor said.
Papa said the existing auction has
been in use for more than one year, but
he hopes to make it easier to use.
Wellman, who supervises the project,
is a member
of a research
7M-save group that
focuses on
a id artiftesa; ntel-
d f ligene in
=engineering.
- Jackie Bertin They formed
the online
LSA junior textbook auc-
tion for stu-
dents in an
attempt to contribute to the growing
Internet community.
"We wanted to show how it can be
done," Wellman said. "It also serves as
an infrastructure for our own research."
All University students are eligible to
use the bidding site. After entering an
unigname and password for authoriza-
tion, students follow a series of instruc-
tions.
By entering the name of the class that
requires the textbook and the book's
title, students are able to accept and
make bids. Each website visitor also
receives an account that allows them to
check the status of their bids.
LSA junior Jackie Bertin said that
after having a bad used-book-selling
experience at a bookstore, she would
benefit from using the auction site.
"I would use it. You can save money
and avoid being ripped off at the book-
stores" Bertin said. "You don't even
have to leave home to use it."
Daniel Racey, an Engineering senior,
said the online bidding system can save
time that is usually spent waiting in
bookstore lines.
"It seems convenient and accessible
and it will save me a half-hour of wait-
ing in line at the bookstore," Racey said.
Taylor said the auction does not
threascn him because the service is
help ful to students.
"' am supportive of any efforts that
increase students' ability to receive the
highest amount of money for their
books," Taylor said.
Students can access the online auc-
tion at http://auction.eecs.tumica. edu.
Paul Edsz-, a recent Ann Arbor Pioneer High School graduate, stocks book for
next semester's classes at Shaman Drum Bookstore on Stale Street.
_. --
SCUGA
Continued from Page 1
"His relationship with the other head-
masters at other schools are all very
good," Ross said. "I think we all can
agreed that each school has lots of
strengths and complements each other
real well in southeast Michigan."
However, Robert Galardi, principal
of Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, said
any way by which high schools can be
compared may be hazardous.
"When it becomes publicized knowl-
edge, (parents) start to shop for
schools," Galardi said.
Pioneer, one of the city's three public
high schools, received a 0.2 rating
according to the SCUGA guildlines.
Galardi said his philosophy is that of
, o
a public school educator - he believes
it is the school's responsibility to edu-
cate every student in the district, as
opposed to weeding out students who
do not show potential success.
"It's hard for me to truly approve the
ability to say we only want the kids who
will be successful here," Galardi said. "I
think it all goes back to the mission of
the college."
Mike Gill, director of development
for University of Detroit High School,
said he can see the reasoning behind the
SCUGA list.
"I can understand why the
University would need to put a system
in place for them so they can make
sure they attract the best types of stu-
dents possible," Gill said. An 'A' at
one high school may not be an 'A' at
Want to
write for
the Dai
Come to a
mass meeting
Sept. 8, 10, 16
or 18.
7 p.m. atthe
Student
Publications
Building.
another, he said.
On the other hand, a student whose
school is in a below-poverty district and
receives fewer resources than other
schools could be ata disadvantage, Gill
said.
"It seems like that kid has a lot
stacked against him from the start," Gill
said.
The SCUGA guide lists U of D as
0.1, but the school was told that its
accurate rating was at least 0.2, Gill
said.
Steven Stout, assistant principal of
Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard High
School, said universities, as well as high
schools, must have a loose set of crite-
ria they try to meet.
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E mailletters to the editor to daily.letters@umich edu. World Wide Web: http//www pub. umich. edu/daily/.
NEWS Heather Kamins, Managing Editor
STAFF Delores AraboMarla Hackett, Stephanie Hepbur, Pete MeyersChrstne M Paik Jason StolerMatt WelerWilesert
EDITORIAL Jack Schillaci, Ed*
STAFF KristinrAtrola. koieny li Ezabeth Lucas, ooPna opadhay PaulSerlla.
SPORTS Mark Snyder, Managing Editor
EDITORS Crs Farah Sharat Ra:,
ARTS Elizabeth Lucas, Aaron Rennie, Editors
STAFF Coln Bartos, Sangta Baruah Sarah BedooAnitha Cn iAnn\ovalszk<,Kuran Nandalur Joshua Rich, Jack ScholnaJuia Shin,
Phiip Son
PHOTO Margaret Myers, Sara Stiliman, Editors
STAFF Jeo r Brad ey Swi t boan Damian Cap. RooGsI eJoeo WestrateE
ONLINE Elizabeth Lucas, Editor
SALES Steve Booher, Man*
SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR Lindsay Ble er
STAFF oinsayBeier, Ginny Hiitz Mamie Kadish, John Mac a o n Sra ManiKindra NaidaDoarren OrtsmlanDivia Ram ishan.
FINANCE MANAGER Jonathan Wang
DESIGNER Seth Borden
SYSTEMS ANALYSTS Kemir Baker, Todd Brockdorf, Jonathan Witz
A school needs some manner
which it measures students who are
accepted and those who are not accept-
ed, Stout said.
Gabriel Richard received a 0.1
SCUGA rating by the University.
"Based on what we have offered, we
just felt that was low," Stout said.
Tia Bennett, whose son Justin attend-
ed Gabriel Richard and will enter the
University's College of Engineering this
fall, said many factors may contrib@
to the admissions counselors' tallying
process - but the extra points will only
take students so far.
"They're going to get them in the
door, but then it's up to them," Bennett
said. "Ultimately, it's up to the student."
/