University Daily Kansan, September 11, 1980
Page 7
Book shortages blamed on inaccurate guessing
By DIANE SWANSON Staff Reporter
Fewer books are sitting on the shelves of the Kansas Union Bookstore these days. The aisles are clear and wide, and the books once sitting on the floor are now gone.
Only a handful of students are walking around searching for required texts. Most students are finding what they want.
Sandy Williamson, Lawrence graduate student, said she had found only two of her seven required books, but she was blaming only herself.
"It's my own fault," she said. "That's what I get for bawning late."
She said her teachers were reordering the books.
Grace Wan, associate professor of East Asian studies, said two of her students had complained that there were no books left for their elementary school.
Unexpectedly high enrollment in some classes is the major cause of book shortages this semester, several instructors said.
Wan said the shortage of books was caused by a higher enrollment.
Jeanne Steffey, department of mathematics office manager, said that enrollment in pre-calculus, algebra and trigonometry classes was 100 to 200 students. Steffey said that in the past few years, department members could usually guess within 20 or 25 students what a particular class size would be. She said
she did not know why they were so far off this semester.
She said the mathematics department hated to order extra books because of complaints from bookstore management about the problem of returning overstocked books to publishers.
Ted Wilson, chairman of the department of history, sent a letter last fall to the bookstore outlining the department's grievances about text-book ordering procedures. Wilson said that although there were still difficulties, the situation was much better this semester.
LAST FALL, WILSON criticized the bookstore for failing to notify instructors when books for their classes were going to arrive late or not at all.
Late notification of books that are out of print has not been as severe a problem
However, Ron Francisco, associate professor of political science, said he did not discover until two days before classes began this year that a book he had ordered could not be sent because its publishers had changed.
Francisco said the bookstore told him that the publishers had not notified them.
"It's a little exasperating. I had to switch books and change the whole syllabus, Francisco said But the teacher is telling me that Francis and Francisco now has the new books.
Steve Word, who became the Union bookstore's manager Aug. 11, said that the company is in high demand.
than a month, he had heard that it was
that he was the only one who said that
that there had no bad many complaints.
Word said the manual system that the bookstore used was one of the most elaborate he had seen. Although it had a number of built-in safeguards, he said, the paper work was still handled by people and there would be mistakes.
**WORD SAID THAT after the bookstore received a book order from a professor, the bookstore would first go to get it, get as many used books as possible.**
Although this may take from one to three months, Word said, the time was not long.
up to 25 percent of the price of a new book.
"We like to have the orders in, processed and on the shelf by the first day of classes, but freight lines and the service play a part in that," he said.
Word said he was planning a computer Textbook Information System that would aid in determining the number of books to order. He said it would be some time, however, before it would be in operation.
The computer system would compare class enrollment figures with books purchased by students during the past several years.
Sunburst
Returns to
FRIDAY September 12 3-6 pm
3-6 pm
All you can drink!
$3.00 for guys — $2.00 for girls
8th & Vermont
841-8830
IT'S STANDING UP AND YELLING FOR THE BLUE. ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK!
K. U. Football gives you five great home games!
Sept. 20 Pittsburgh
Sept. 27 Louisville
Oct. 11 Nebraska
Oct. 18 Iowa State
Nov. 8 Oklahoma
ATTENTION STUDENTS!
Season Football Tickets
Still Available
Sept. 9-20
- Satellite Union
- SUA Office
- K.U. Ticket Office, Allen Field House
STUDENT SENATE
Also, for your convenience, Sept. 9-12 from 10-4 p.m., a table will be set up in front of Wescoe.
Footlights
Imaginative Cards & Gifts
Posters, Stationery, etc.
Holiday Plaza 841-6377
(across from Greenbank's Deer)
Classified ads get results
SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET HEARINGS
investmental budget hearings request forms are now available in the Student Senate Office. B-105 Kansas Union. The forms are due by 5:00 p.m. September 12.
Look what we've got for you Try our new menu soon.
Sandwiches
Soup and Sandwich...2.95
Today's soup with a chicken or
tuna salad sandwich
Paid for by the Student Activity Fee
Tuna Melt . 2.95
Two half English muffins tuna salad
topped with melted cheddar
The following are served with your choice of cole slaw or steak fries
Chicken Salad ... 2.95
On wheat, toast
Breast of Turkey ... 2.95
Kaiser, roll or wheat bread
Hamburger ... 2.25
Cheddarburger ... 2.45
Crock of Soup...1.75
Today's soup served with
cinnamon rolls and honey butter
Soup and Salad Bar...3.25
Today's soup with your salad creation
Odds and Ends
Salad Bar...2.75
Make your own creation
Bacon Quiche... 2.75
2600 Iowa St.
842-2292
Barbecued Chicken . . . . . 4.50
One-ball Chicken
"Our Specialty"
Country Fried Chicken...4.50
One-half golden brown chicken
Chopped Beefsteak... 3.95
Chopped to your liking
Country Fried Steak. . . 4.95
Fried Shrimp...6.95
With our own delicate heading
Sirilou Steak...7.95
Aloes cut.
Dutch Apple Pie...95
a la mode...1.25
Pecan Pie...1.25
Youngsters 10 and under
Beverages
Hamburger and Fries...1.25
Fried Chicken...1.50
Fried Shrimp...2.25
Children's Salad Bar...95
With any of the above
Soft Drinks...50
Free refill
Milk...50
Iced Tea...50
Hot Tea...40
Coffee...50
Sanka...50
Bottled Beer...85
Tues.-Thur.
11:30 a.m.- 9:00 p.m.
Fri.-Sat.
11:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Sun. 12:00-9:00 p.m.
Closed Monday