to use the same primary wholesaler the bookstore already uses, so there will be no change in costs to the bookstore itself – most of the savings will be student sav-ings.

“It’s pretty much revenue neutral for us.

We won’t make any more money and we won’t make any less money. We’ll make as much as we always have,” Foster said.

“In the long run we hope to save the

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DVC classes becomea bitgreener

ASDVC discusses possible executive position

New program eases wallets

In an effort to cut rising academic costs to students, the DVC bookstore will be rent-ing out textbooks in addition to selling them starting next semester.

The program, which the school began pi-loting at the beginning of November, will expand to cover almost all the textbooks the school carries, and allows students to rent textbooks for a semester for signifi-cantly less money than purchasing.

Bookstore manager Bill Foster, who has been running point on the rental program, said that the savings would be sizable. “New rentals will be 55-60 percent of the new sales price, to students,” Foster said. “If it was a $100 book they’d be able to rent it for $55. If it’s available used, and it would normally sell used for $60, we’d rent it for $35.”

Foster said that the bookstore had been considering renting books for two or three years, but had only recently been able to find an acceptable program model – spe-cifically one that didn’t require instructors to make a multi-year commitment to the same book.

The rental program will also continue BOOKS, Page 2

While most of us are focused on final exams and winter break, a few students at DVC are taking the time and initiative to help create a more environmentally friendly campus.

The Associated Students of DVC are considering forming a new executive officer position, tentatively called the Minister of Environmental Affairs, who would pursue and promote ideas to keep the college environmentally conscious, ASDVC President Katerina Schreck said.

“The position’s main purpose is going to be for student green advocacy, work-ing with the college Sustainability Com-mittee and forming [an ASDVC] Sustain-ability Committee,” Schreck said.

The Sustainability Committee at DVC has proposed a resolution to remove Styrofoam containers from the Crow’s Nest, Basement Café and cafeteria, and has been endorsed by ASDVC.

Schreck created the ASDVC Sustain-ability Committee, currently an ad hoc, in November in hopes of brainstorming

JONATHAN ROISMANEditor-in-chief

SCOTT BABAStaff writer

DEGREE, Page 2

In the spirit of environmental con-sciousness on campus, DVC is now gear-ing some of its curriculum toward eco-logical responsibility.

Engineering instructor Joe Valdez has created a new associate of science de-gree in environmental science, which is available for the first time this semester. The degree centers on environmental concerns that have an impact on the human race, ecological systems and en-ergy diversity.

“We didn’t have a program dealing with the issues of water resources, wa-ter conservation and energy in Califor-nia,” Valdez said. “It’s a hot topic.”

The associate degree in environmen-tal science includes courses in engineer-

Bookstore allows textbook rentals to reduce student financial stress next semester

DVC is entering the Green Age, it seems, with the removal of en-vironmentally-unfriendly materials at the top of its ecological agen-da.

DVC’s Sustainability Committee has proposed a resolution to eliminate the use of Styrofoam containers from the Crow’s Nest, Basement Café and the cafeteria.

“The purpose is to encourage, force-fully, DVC Food Services to stop serving food and drink in Styrofoam contain-ers,” said John Freytag, an instructor of oceanography and marine biology at DVC and Faculty Senate corresponding secretary, who has been working with the Sustainability Committee.

The 20-member Sustainability Com-mittee is charged with promoting ideas for environmental awareness and sus-tainability on campus.

The committee is concerned largely with the health dangers that Styro-foam presents, particularly with hot food and drink. It also contains carci-nogenic compounds, and its effects are detrimental to the human reproduc-tive system, Freytag explained.

Another worry for the committee is the environmental impact of using Styrofoam products. Styrofoam is not biodegradable, creating a problem in landfills, and it breaks down into small pieces, which are

ANNIE SCIACCAEditor-in-chief

Committee pushes for material switch

ASDVC, Page 2

JULIUS REANews editor

Scrapping

Baron Bredenberg, senior inventory and receiving clerk, stacks books for the upcoming semester, most of which will be available for rental.

KEVIN HAYES / THE INQUIRER

STYROFOAM, Page 2

Styrofoam

INQUIRERThe

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Need to Know

The Sustainability Com-mittee is charged with promoting ideas for en-vironmental awareness and sustainability on campus.

Styrofoam contains car-cinogenic compounds, and its effects are det-rimental to the human reproductive system.*

*Attributed to oceanography instructor John Freytag

Styrofoam is not bio-degradable, creating a problem in landfills, and it breaks down into small pieces, which are often ingested by ani-mals.*

HARRY POTTER 7: COMPETENT,

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