Union View Newsletter - Spring 2003
Not Just Buying New Furniture...SUB Dining Room Remodel

Student Union dining room remodelStarting in May the Student Union plans to remodel its dining room. The design chosen will provide "new life and energy" to the space. The remodel will change the feel of the Dining Room to a more colorful, comfortable, and contemporary atmosphere.

The changes include new carpeting, a new stage in a new location, new seating booths, live plants, panels for privacy, and new configurations. Forty more seats will be added to the total seating capacity. Along the windows lining the patio, café counter seating will be added.

Students and staff were involved in generating ideas and making decisions. An interior designer from Lombard–Conrad Architects provided design. Funding for the project comes from student fees and generated revenues from Student Union programs and services. The Student Union does not receive any state dollars.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jack Rahmann, (208) 426-2537.

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The Bookstore's Under Construction

The Bookstore was originally designed to accommodate a student population of 6,000-7,000. Now with enrollment up to over 17,000, student needs are not met with the current arrangement; therefore, the Bookstore is under construction to provide better service to students. This means students will spend less time waiting in checkout lines, have an increased selection of needed texts and materials, and the store will be an easier, quicker, and more attractive place to shop.

Funding for this construction project is money that has been reserved by the store for this purpose and has been approved by their advisory board. The Bookstore does not receive any state appropriations or student fees. This development will not affect the cost of textbooks.

Kim Thomas said "...the Bookstore does all it can to reduce the costs to students. Textbooks are published in low quantities (as compared to mass market books). When the costs of writing, editing, and publishing are spread over fewer copies produced, the costs are high." The Bookstore receives only a small fraction of textbook profits. (Please see the chart below.)

This is the first phase of store improvement. Projected completion date is mid-April. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Kim Thomas, Bookstore Director, or (208) 426-3048. Also, visit the Boise State Bookstore web site at www.boisestatebooks.com.

Where the New Textbook Dollar Goes*...

  • 32.1¢ - Publisher’s Paper, Printing, Editorial Costs
    All manufacturing costs from editing to paper costs to distribution,as well as storage, record keeping, billing, publisher’s offices, employee’s salaries and benefits.

  • 15.3¢ - Publisher’s Marketing Costs
    Marketing, advertising, promotion, publisher’s field staff, professors’ free copies.

  • 11.5¢ - Author Income
    Author’s royalty payment from which author pays research and writing expenses.

  • 11.4¢ - College Store Personnel
    Store employee’s salaries and benefits to handle ordering, receiving, pricing, shelving, cashiers, customer service, refund desk, and sending extra textbooks back to the publisher.

  • 9.9¢ - Publisher's General and Administrative
    Including federal, state and local taxes, excluding sales tax, paid by publishers.

  • 7.0¢ After-Tax - Publisher’s Income
    After-tax income from which the publisher pays for new product development, author advances, market research, and dividends to stockholders.

  • 6.8¢ - College Store Operations
    Insurance, utilities, building and equipment rent and maintenance, accounting and data processing charges, and other overhead paid by college stores.

  • 4.7¢ - College Store Income
    *Note: The amount of federal, state and/or local tax, and therefore the amount and use of any after-tax profit, is determined by the store’s ownership, and usually depends on whether the college store is owned by an institution of higher education, a contract management company, a cooperative, a foundation, or by private individuals.

  • 1.3¢ - Freight Expense
    The cost of getting books from the publisher’s warehouse or bindery to the college store. Part of cost of goods sold paid to freight company.

*The statistics in this illustration reflect the most current 2000-2001 financial date gathered by the National Association of College stores and financial data provided by the Association of American Publishers.

These numbers are averages and do not represent a particular publisher or store.

©2002 by the National Association of College Stores http://www.nacs.org/common/research/textbook$.pdf

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New Menu Options at the Food Court

Chicago ConnectionOver the semester break, the Student Union added Chicago Connection to the food choices in the Union Food Court. The locally-owned pizza company offers better selection and quality. Now students may enjoy hot sandwiches, lasagna pies, Blue Bunny® Ice Cream, as well as a large variety of specialty pizzas available in mini, small, medium, and large sizes.

Chicago Connection was selected to replace Pizza Hut because it had a great reputation and students ranked it in the top 3 choices of pizza. They will deliver to anywhere on campus between 4 and 11 PM and students may use their flex dollars or Bronco Bucks. The pizza is also available on the catering menu.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Jay Hayes, General Manager for Aramark (formerly Fine Host), 426-1642.

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Annual Luau Celebrates South Pacific Culture
Hui-O-Aloha dancers

Sponsored by Hui-O-Aloha, the Luau this year will be held Sunday, April 27, 2003 at the Student Union Jordan Ballroom. Doors open at 6:30 PM. The first 350 people will receive leis.

The students are planning a full buffet dinner beginning at 7 PM with South Pacific specialties, including roasted pig. Entertainment starting at 7:30 PM will comprise of music, song, and dance from Hawaiian, Samoan, Tahitian, New Zealand, and Tongan cultures. And, of course, the famous fire-knife dance will be performed to top off the evening. Performers consist of Boise State students, as well as community members.

This is a great family event kids will enjoy. Tickets are on sale at the Information Desk at the Student Union. Advance ticket price is $8 for students and $12.50 for general. Door Ticket Prices are $10 for students and $15 for general.

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10th Annual Native American Pow Wow
Inter_Tribal Native Council Pow Wow
     Head Man..........Tim Mason, Owyhee, Nevada
     Head Woman.............Danielle D. Jim, Boise, Idaho
     Host Drum..................Sage Point, Fort Hall, Idaho
     Arena Director...........Cedric DeCory, Boise, Idaho

Master of Ceremonies
Little Bear Watson, Fort Hall, Idaho

The Inter-Tribal Native Council is sponsoring the 10th Annual Pow Wow on April 12 and 13, 2003. The public is invited to attend this spectacular cultural event. Grand entry times are Saturday, 1 PM and 4 PM, and Sunday, 1 PM. In conjunction with this event, craft vendors will be in the Hatch Ballroom. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.

This is a special year for the Pow Wow. It has come a long way since its first event ten years ago; only 25 were in attendance with only one hand drum. Last year’s Pow Wow had an attendance of about 800 and five hand drums. It has grown to one of Boise State’s largest events.

The non-profit event invites all drums and dancers to participate in the competition. The Inter-Tribal Native Council raises money throughout the year to sponsor this event. They award $7,000 worth of prize money. There will also be a raffle throughout the event.

There is a wide variety of dances including traditional, fast and fancy, fancy shawl, grass, and jingles. Each performer will wear hand made attire. Participants are from all over the nation with the leadership coming from Nevada and Idaho.

New this year is a partnership between Idaho State University and Boise State University. Each school will help one another plan and implement cultural events and celebrations for Native American organizations.

Special guest performers include Hui-O-Aloha, Island Rhythms and Vietnamese Student Association. For more information, please contact Julie Manning, 713-1868, Claudia Thomas, 860-0988, Boise State’s Cultural Center, 426-4259, or visit the Guide to Entertainment at entertainment.boisestate.edu.

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Faculty Profile: Ross Burkhart

Faculty Profile: Ross BurkhartRoss Burkhart is an Assistant Professor of Political Science here at Boise State. He earned his Bachelor’s in Political Science at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in 1988 and earned a Doctoral Degree at University of Iowa in 1996. He started at Boise State in 1997 as a visiting professor and then was hired on a tenure track in 1998. He has been published numerous times and is currently conducting research to explore the relationship between economic success and democracy in countries around the world.

Burkhart serves as the faculty advisor for the Political Science Association (PSA). The organization tries to raise awareness of programs of interest to Political Science students and also to recruit students who might enjoy taking Political Science courses. The club sponsors professor research presentations, the Faculty/Student Dinner to help students and faculty get to know one another, as well as community/social events, such as volunteering at the Boise Rescue Mission, Idaho Food Bank, Rake Up Boise, and Into the Streets.

One event Burkhart and PSA members are involved in is the YMCA Youth Government Program. This program is designed to teach high school students the basics about government and allows them to actually participate in and experience government, such as drafting their own legislation. Burkhart serves as the Southwest Region Director and sits on the Southwest Committee. The Political Science students volunteer to help students at these conventions.

Burkhart was awarded the ASBSU Outstanding Faculty Recognition in 2002 and Outstanding Faculty for the Honors College in 2001. PSA’s President, Slade Sokol said, "Dr. Burkhart is an outstanding advisor to the Political Science Association, period. He is readily available for discussion on the goals and endeavors for our student group and is continually involved in all aspects of the organization. His experience and dedication to the PSA is indescribable and irreplaceable. In my opinion, he sincerely cares about the organization and its activities wholeheartedly."

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Staff Profile: Melissa Wintrow

Melissa WintrowMelissa Wintrow has many roles here on campus. She is the Women’s Center Coordinator, the advisor to the Single Parents Club, and an instructor in Women’s Studies. She is also involved in "at least" five committees on campus. She explained, "This job is so fun, I can’t say no!" Wintrow always has a positive attitude.

Wintrow graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in English/Literature at Miami University in Ohio in 1988. She continued her education and received a Master’s Degree in Higher Education in 1990. Her past work experience includes positions at Eastern Michigan University, Michigan State, and Portland State before she moved to Boise and became the Women’s Center Coordinator at Boise State.

She said she feels it is her responsibility as the Coordinator to highlight and spotlight people. For instance, Jake Livinsky was recently the focus of an article outlining his position as the President of the Single Parents Club. She also expressed that a large part of her job is networking, knowing the environment and the issues enables her to connect people in meaningful ways. Wintrow also strives to raise awareness about the problems, joys and contributions of women.

One of her greatest achievements at Boise State is the development of the Returning Women’s Discussion group designed to help women who are returning to school after a long period of time or who have never attended. The program seeks to normalize anxieties and help women to know they belong and are not alone and to make their transition smoother.

Wintrow is also involved in the community with the Women’s and Children’s Alliance and issues surrounding domestic violence. She expressed that the accomplishment she is most proud of is her involvement with Rape Crisis Advocacy. The Women’s Center has grown a great deal since 1993 and will continue to skyrocket. "There is so much to be done; just gotta do it."

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CREDITS Produced by Boise State Student Union
Writer ..........Hollilyn Waite
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