Bill could make textbooks available for
rent
A bill asking California colleges and universities to provide
their students with textbook rental services passed the California
State Assembly Committee on Higher Education on April 14.
If passed into law, proponents estimate the textbook rental
program could save a full-time student as much as $600 a year.
The bill, AB 2678, was introduced by Assemblyman Paul Koretz,
D-West Hollywood.
“With fee increases, cuts to financial aid programs, and
skyrocketing textbook prices, many students are going without books
or being forced out of school entirely,” Koretz said in an
April 14 statement.
“AB 2678 creates a starting place for California campuses
and provides options for starting text rental services,” he
added.
The program relies on faculty to choose books wisely and use
them for a specific period of time.
Students will pay a fee for this service, and will have the
right to buy the books they rent.
The bill is sponsored by the California Public Interest Research
Group and, if approved, could come into effect as soon as the
beginning of 2005.
Hahn’s airport plan stalls against
community
The draft of a new modernization plan for Los Angeles
International Airport lacks sufficient expansion protections,
bypasses environmental reviews and fails to adequately address
security demands, community leaders said.
Mayor James K. Hahn’s $9.1 billion airport proposal would
be sharply scaled back and a massive off-site check-in facility for
most passengers would be eliminated under Councilwoman Cindy
Miscikowski’s draft consensus plan for the airport, which was
obtained by the Daily News.
Hahn’s plan has stalled because of stiff opposition from
airlines, nearby communities and others. Miscikowski began
promoting her alternate plan after Airport Commission President Ted
Stein resigned and probes of possible pay-to-play contracting
practices were expanded.
Miscikowski’s plan will be released April 22.
“˜”˜What I’ve done, I’ve listened in the
last number of months. I’ve talked to everyone, unlike the
current commission that said it has to be this way. This does
nothing but open it up; to change the direction of this big, huge
ship,” she said.
Phil Depoian, Hahn’s new senior adviser on the airport,
said the mayor’s office is “˜”˜very
engaged” with the LAX issue but hasn’t seen the
draft of Miscikowski’s plan and wouldn’t comment on
specifics.
A key element of the councilwoman’s proposal would be
elimination of the centerpiece of Hahn’s security plan, the
offsite Ground Transportation Center, a remote check-in facility
more than a mile away from the airport.
Community leaders and others briefed this week on
Miscikowski’s plan said they could back some of the proposals
but they were opposed to a process that would require approval of
the environmental reviews necessary for Hahn’s unpopular plan
to move ahead.
GSA elections are set: The 2004 Graduate
Student Association elections will be held online for a week
beginning at noon Thursday, April 22, and will last until noon
Wednesday, April 28.
There are four seats open in these elections.
The president works closely with UCLA student affairs on student
issues, coordinates work of cabinet members and recommends a budget
for the GSA central office. The internal vice president conducts
all meetings of assembly and forum, oversees central office
operations and acts as the president in case of an absence. The
external vice president represents GSA to the UC Student
Association and conducts state and national lobbying efforts on
behalf of graduate students. The vice president of academic affairs
is the representative of the GSA to the UCLA Academic Senate and
works on major academic issues. Twelve candidates are running in
this year’s election.
Reports from Bruin staff and compiled from Bruin Reports.
Read the Daily Bruin next week for candidate and election
coverage.