ASUN nudges profs to choose books for class

The Association of Students of the University of Nebraska had a guest speaker and passed a government bill and senate resolution during its meeting Wednesday.

Senate Resolution 1 encourages students to remind professors to turn in textbook adoption forms, said ASUN Academic Committee Chairman Justin Solomon, a sophomore family science major.

Textbook adoption forms let the University Bookstore know which texts it should buy back from students. This puts more cash in students' pockets after finals as well as the following term, because greater knowledge of required texts lets the store find cheaper books from wholesalers.

Even though the deadline to turn in textbook adoption forms was Wednesday, ASUN was working with the bookstore to see if teachers could turn the forms in late, Solomon said.

The number of textbook adoption forms turned in jumped about 20 percent last semester.
ASUN supported a similar resolution in November 2008.

Students could raise their hands in class, or use Blackboard and WAM to remind professors when the forms for textbook adoption are due. Solomon said professors have already been contacted by the bookstore.

Solomon said last year, ASUN found student reminders helped. John Parish, director of the bookstore, told Solomon the store has a new campaign manager feature that is used to remind teachers about the form. However, some professors felt harassed, Parish told Solomon.

"This is just as effective as a formal means of communication, if not more," Solomon said.
Juan Franco, vice chancellor for Student Affairs, also spoke for the first time with the new senate about the relationship he has with ASUN.

Franco said he thinks senators will learn a lot next year and thanked them for taking the risk of running for ASUN. He tries to attend all ASUN meetings to find out the issues that are important to students, but he rarely interferes with discussion. Senators may notice he sits in the back of the room.

Franco serves as liaison between students and the chancellor and his senior team, as well as an advocate for students.

"I try to be your voice if you're not there," Franco said, adding he wants ASUN senators to represent the students well.

Students' representatives may disagree sometimes, but that's OK, Franco said.

"We all want the same thing for students," he said. "A quality educational experience for students at a reasonable cost in a safe environment."

kimbuckley@dailynebraskan.com