Roommates.

Even the word can cause problems if new students aren't used to living with someone.

Keith Kruchten, administrative vice president-elect of the Residence Hall Association, said the best way to handle living with a new roommate in tight corridors is to try to get to know one another.

"I highly recommend going to the events of New Student Welcome Days, and especially the RHA Block Party," Kruchten said. "Because this way not only are you doing something together, but it affords the opportunity to meet other new students on campus."

With every new living situation, Kruchten said that problems will occur. He said the best way to work through these situations is to talk about them in order to prevent further differences.

"Conflicts will occur, and the best way to solve them is to keep the lines of communication open," Kruchten said. "Too often, when problems arise, roommates stop talking to each other, and this just leads to more problems and the whole problem snowballs into something huge, when it started out small."

Freshman Lauren Mangold said communication is the key when dealing with a new living situation.

"You have to talk to your roommate about problems that can occur," Mangold said. "You also have to be considerate of the other person."

For Mangold, just going to dinner with her roommate helped her not only get to know her roommate better, but it also gave them an opportunity to spend time together outside of their residence hall.

"Always be considerate of each other's space and don't ever live with someone that you are really close with or even think you can be close with," Mangold suggests. "It will turn out bad."

Krista Hehl, a freshman pre-physical therapy major, also said communication is the key to a successful living situation.

"Be patient with each other," Hehl said. "You have to be more understanding toward people. I always had my own room and was not use to sharing it. At first it was kind of weird just talking on the phone with someone else in the room, but you get used to it."

Although there has been much debate regarding roommates living with someone they know, Kruchten said living with someone you don't know offers opportunity to meet new people.

"Getting a random roommate is a gamble, but almost always a good one," Kruchten said. "By living with someone you don't know, it opens you up to a new culture, a new way of thinking, a new ‘style' so to speak. College is about new experiences and living with someone you have never met before; it is one of the best growing exercises I can imagine."

Alex Underwood, president of the Residence Hall Association, agreed.

"Go out together, meet new people together, have fun together," he said. "The quickest way to bond is to have shared experiences."

Well come on in a sit a spell. Ya'll gonna git a rare opportunity to learn somethin' useful.

You will be able to hear the straight poop about De-town and Northern from someone who has lived in the area all of his natural life, me.

As you can tell by the byline that my name is Nick and, yes, I am Swedish. That doesn't really have to do with anything except that there are a lot of Swedes and Swedbergs in the area. This fact isn't important for this column though.

What matters is that you are new to NIU and need a guide to the tri-city (DeKalb, Sycamore and Cortland) area. Welcome to your Townie's Guide to the Lesser Metropolitan Area.

Eat

This is my favorite subject to talk about. If the type is smudged, it's probably because I am drooling on the paper.

Despite the apparent lack of any good restaurants, there are a few chic dining spots in the area.

If your tastes run on the expensive side, there are options for you. Restaurants like Johnny's Charhouse, 1950 DeKalb Avenue No. A, and La Za Za Trattoria, 2496 DeKalb Avenue, are some of the more expensive and classier joints.

However, if you are the typical college student - like me - you are poor. We have the standard fare of fast food restaurants and greasy spoons available for your dining pleasure. There also are the standard pizza places, like Papa John's, Dominos and Pizza Hut.

Some of the more unique pizzerias in DeKalb include Pagliai's and Pizza Villa, with its famous spinning clown doll. That thing still gives me the creeps every time I see it.

For all of you insomniacs and late-night partiers, DeKalb has two options for a sit-down restaurant meal. The Junction, 816 W. Lincoln Highway, offers the standard greasy spoon fare, but closes for a couple hours each night.

Around The Clock, 1039 W. Hillcrest Drive, on the other hand, is open 24 hours a day, no reservation required.

On the subject of restaurants, a buddy of mine raised an interesting question one day. He wondered whether I was a Lukolos or a Tom & Jerry's man. Both are similar restaurants that serve delicious carbo-loaded food.

Since I'm from around here, I prefer Tom & Jerry's and its famous gyros. Lukolos is not without its charms, though.

Drink

A staple of many college students' nightlife is the bars, and NIU is no exception. Each bar has a different personality.

Molly's Eatery and Drinkery, 1022 W. Lincoln Highway, is the quintessential meat market. Everyone I talk to says that is the place where all the pretty ladies go. And where the ladies are, so follow the men.

Fatty's, located downtown, is a bit more laid back but gets just as crowded as any bar on Tuesdays. Fatty's offers 40 cent drafts where others offer 50 cent drafts on Tuesdays.

Having recently turned 21, I only have begun going to the bars. They are fun every once in a while, but the prices are so expensive, you could easily drop a mint.

Be Merry

The key to having a good time, whether at the bars or anywhere else, is the people you surround yourself with.

Parties are fun, if you invite the right people. I have had the fortunate experience of partying with different sorts of people.

The first are my friends from back in high school. These friends, along with others from my hometown, prefer the laid-back good time. They like to play guitars and sing songs. They'd like nothing better than sit around a bonfire and drink beer till the wee hours of the night.

The other are the people I have met here at college. They are from all sorts of different places: the suburbs, down south, the big city, etc. The majority of them are from the bigger cities to the east and prefer the big parties with loud house music.

Some people I have met don't like to do either. They prefer to go to the movies or just hang out with their friends in their residence hall rooms and apartments.

I enjoy doing all of those options with people. The thing that you will figure out is what you prefer to do. You then will find people who have similar tastes. Now is the time to find out what you like and what you are like.

Nick Swedberg

If you’re new to NIU this year, you’re probably wondering how much you should worry about your schoolwork. Everyone, it seems, has a different message about the level of challenge associated with university-level academic work. Some will tell you that it is overwhelmingly difficult; others will tell you that if you try hard enough, you can accomplish anything; and still others will tell you that college coursework is even easier than high school.

With all of these conflicting messages, how should new students assess the true impact of a full schedule of university-level courses? This is a complicated question, and one to which the full answer probably won’t be known until the end of the semester.

Students might find that their grades are not necessarily based upon how much effort they invest into a course, but instead may be based upon whether they achieve the performance objectives established for the course. Since it takes everyone a different degree of effort to master course material, this can be frustrating.

It will help to keep in mind that university classes include a greater emphasis on self-regulated learning. For example, students usually are expected to complete textbook reading on their own (while in-class time often is spent learning different material). Having trouble concentrating on the reading? Try forming study groups with classmates. Also, try skimming each chapter before you sit down to read it in-depth. Don’t hesitate to write notes in the margins or to circle key ideas. Then, if you need additional help, you’ll be prepared to meet with your instructor.

Staying alert in class and following the main points of a classroom lecture -- things that were easy in the past -- may seem difficult once you are taking courses in unfamiliar subject areas. Being bored in a class can be a symptom of other study skills problems, so don’t be embarrassed about seeking help.

Wondering where to turn for assistance? Be sure to talk with your community adviser in the residence halls for referrals to tutoring and other resources, and consider calling the Counseling and Student Development Center for an individualized study skills consultation; we help students with time management, textbook reading, note-taking and test preparation.

It’s also important for students and families to talk with one another about academic difficulties. We often hear that families don’t want to be perceived as overly pressuring, but have a genuine interest in knowing how their students are succeeding academically. Students tell us that they want to talk honestly with their families about academic difficulties, but are worried about being perceived as failures. We encourage students to share academic concerns with their families and to brainstorm with parents about resources that might help.

As a new student, it’s normal to experience academic challenges during the first semester at a university. The key to overcoming these challenges is to understand that to be a truly independent learner, each of us needs to know when to ask for help. Because the entire NIU community -- students, their families, instructors and staff -- is invested in each student’s success, students will find that help readily available.

"Finding Your Way" is the theme for the 2003 NIU new student and family orientation programs, which take place between June 9 and Aug. 6. The staff of the Orientation Office and I hope that your orientation day will be the start of a great journey as an NIU student or family member. We are dedicated to helping you find your own path to success, both today and when you return to campus for classes in the fall.

Recently, this office conducted a survey with NIU students, alumni, administrators and faculty to pinpoint the most common issues and concerns new students have when they arrive here. They also shared their advice for making a successful transition to the campus. Here's just a portion of what they said:

Most common issues for new students

•Managing time and setting priorities.

•Achieving a balance between academics and social life.

•Balancing freedom and responsibility.

•Adjusting to life in the residence halls and living with a roommate (for commuting students, the challenge is getting connected and establishing relationships on campus).

•For transfer students, adjusting to a new institution with its own unique policies, programs and culture.

•For freshmen, making the transition from high school teachers to university faculty who expect students to take responsibility for their learning.

•Asking for help from faculty and staff when it's needed.

•Getting involved on campus and feeling a sense of belonging.

•Staying connected with family and friends at home while. developing new friendships at NIU.

•Exploring and/or confirming the choice of a major.

Advice from the experts

•Use a daily planner to keep track of classes, study time, work, recreation, etc. We recommend the NIU Academic Planner, available at the University Bookstore.

•For freshmen, be prepared to put in much more study time than in high school.

•Learn to manage your money and establish a budget. Make sure you can balance your checkbook. Watch out for credit card promotions and credit card debt.

•Open, honest communication is the key to good relationships — with your roommate, your instructors, your floor mates, and your family. Don't wait to resolve problems until it's too late. •Get involved in at least one campus organization or activity your first semester here. You can choose from intramural athletics, residence hall activities, events at the Convocation Center, fraternities and sororities, honors organizations, campus ministries, and much more. Involved students are more satisfied and more likely to be successful in college.

•Get to know at least one faculty member during your first semester. Don't be afraid to contact your instructors during office hours and via e-mail. If you need help with a class, talk with the instructor or use NIU's tutoring or study skill resources.

•Read the Northern Star on-line (www.northernstar.info) or in paper format every weekday.

It's one of the best sources for campus information and coming events.

•Learn about campus safety and resources to help keep yourself safe.

•Homesickness is normal at first. Stay on campus the first several weekends and give your new environment a chance. Invite family and friends to visit you here.

•Come to NIU with a positive attitude, self-motivation and an openness to new people and experiences.

•Bring realistic expectations to college. Great times with new friends are in store for you, but there also will be long hours of studying, especially around mid-terms and finals.

•Enroll for UNIV 101 (for freshmen) or UNIV 201 (for transfers). The courses are designed to give you the information and support you need to succeed here. One of the best aspects of the course is the chance to meet other new students in a small group environment. Research at NIU and at colleges and universities across the nation has proven that UNIV students do better academically and are more satisfied in college than those who don't take the course.

•There's help available for almost any student concern at NIU and there are people here who care about your success, happiness and well-being. You'll find them in your residence hall, in the classroom and in many of the Student Affairs and academic support service offices. Take initiative and use the many resources you have available.

Best wishes as you find your way to success at NIU!

Dear New and Returning NIU Students:

Welcome to another bountiful year at Northern Illinois University!

This year is all about wealth and wanting more. I want students to be greedy in their university experience. We have a responsibility to improve the quality of life and learning on this campus for ourselves and for future generations of NIU students, so we must constantly ask for more.

First and foremost, you are here to complete your degree. It is a daunting and privileged task, and the SA is here to help. There are hundreds of deadlines that must be met and a mountain of papers to read and write that will ensure success. I want the SA to be your wealth of information in that quest by consolidating this data and placing it at your fingertips.

But, completing your degree requires a lot more than simply going to classes and studying. Learning is more than books and exams. Your college years are often called the best years of your life. You should be rich in your life here at NIU, but you should not have to spend a fortune to enjoy it.

Figuratively speaking, this richness can be found in our social diversity. There are nearly 200 student organizations - including Greek fraternities and sororities, pre-professional organizations, and social clubs - recognized by the SA and ready to welcome new members. We will hold an organizational expo this fall to introduce you to those opportunities.

Literally speaking, higher education should be affordable at best and accommodating at least. Part of our responsibility in student government is to keep an eye on the university and state administrations and to persuade them to control the rising costs of degree completion. We will do everything in our power to communicate your need to our representatives and to influence their sympathy toward your plight.

But, your wealth is not yet secure. It is only yours if you choose to claim it. Claim it by taking advantage of NIU and the rich community it offers. And, increase it by telling us how we can invest your interests.

The Student Association is here to work as your brokers. Anyone is capable of hatching an idea to better the quality of life and learning on the campus, but making it work requires individuals committed to following the idea to implementation.

On Sept. 23 and 24, you will have the opportunity to elect your senators, your direct representatives to the SA. They are expected to be responsive to your needs, bringing your issues to the front and advocating the appropriate responses. It is your responsibility to keep them accountable to their mission.

Cooperation between the branches of government and you, the student, can accomplish amazing things. Together, we can work to enhance your wealth of education and richness of life over the next few years of your university experience. Spend and invest these treasures wisely, and always be seeking more.

Welcome to NIU. Huskie Athletics offers you exciting Division 1A sports. We are home to the best student section in the Mid-American Conference -- the Dog Pound!

Huskie Athletics is here to make your experience at NIU a memorable one. We invite all students to attend athletics events free with a valid student ID.

We are excited that Huskie football opens on Aug. 28, as we host the Top 10 nationally-ranked Maryland Terrapins. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. The game will be televised by Fox Sports Net, so be sure to wear your black and red. This is a game you will not want to miss, as more than 10,000 NIU students regularly attend NIU football games.

If you have any questions about NIU Athletics, please check out www.niuhuskies.com or stop by the Athletics Ticket Office at the Convocation Center.

Welcome to Huskie Country! We want your next four years to be a great and fun experience!

In a few weeks, grades will be announced, and invariably, some students will not be happy.

There is recourse for some of these students, however - grade appeals.

According to university policy on grade appeals, students can undergo procedures for grade appeals only for "capricious grading," not for an instructor’s judgment of work quality.

The policy describes "capricious grading" as one or more of these occurrences: "(a) The assignment of a grade to a particular (undergraduate) student on some basis other than performance in the course. (b) The assignment of a grade to a particular (undergraduate) student by more exacting or demanding standards than were applied to other students in that section. (c) The assignment of a grade by a substantial departure from the instructor’s criteria distributed in writing during the first fourth of a course."

In other words, "you have to convince the committee, the instructor, the chair, that a grade other than the one you were assigned was more fair," NIU Ombudsman Tim Griffin said.

There are four possible steps that could be taken in order to appeal a grade. If the conflict is resolved at any step, then the student does not proceed to the next one.

Students always should speak with the instructor of the course as the first step.

"Students don’t realize this, but half the time they thought they got a wrong grade, they did," Griffin said, attributing the problem to human error like an instructor adding along the wrong line in a grade book.

He also said that there are no statistics on student appeals, but based on his experience with students who seek his advice, a considerable number of these conflicts are resolved in this first step.

If speaking with the instructor does not amend the situation, students should "confer with the chair of the department in which the course was offered," the policy states.

If the conflict still is unresolved, a student then would submit to the chair of the department a petition to the Grade Review Board. The deadline for this step is "the end of the fourth week of the semester following the semester or summer term in which the grade was assigned," the policy states.

This means that if a student wishes to appeal a grade earned in the spring or summer, then they would turn in the petition by the fourth Friday of the fall semester.

"We’ll be glad to talk with [students] about [grade appeals] at any point in the review stage," Griffin said, adding that his office offers a template and tips for appeal petitions.

Each department is required to have a panel of potential appeal board members available. At least one student is required to sit on the board, Griffin said. A committee will be chosen for each case, and it will receive evidence from the student and instructor regarding their respective positions. The student will be provided with the instructor’s response to the board.

Ferald Bryan, an associate communication professor and appeals panel member for the department, said that judging an appeal consists of following the guidelines outlined in the university policy as well as weighing arguments from both sides and asking questions if necessary.

"It’s a very orderly and methodical process," Bryan said of the appeals process as a whole.

The board will decide whether the grade was fair or unfair. Griffin said usually the decision will be sent within a few days, but this is not always the case.

In the unusual circumstance students still feel the decision of the board was unjust, they may proceed on to the final step, appealing to the dean of the college in which the course was offered. The dean can then demand the case be reheard by the board. All decisions in this step are final.

Griffin said students progressing on to this step usually do so for procedural breaches; for example, the absence of a student on the board.

The regulations guiding a graduate student appeal process contain a few subtle differences, such as appealing to the dean of the graduate school in the fourth step.

"All students are entitled to their due process," Bryan said.

He recommended that students be aware of the process before considering a grade appeal, pointing out that the procedures for appealing a grade are available on the NIU Web site.

Griffin provided advice along those same lines.

"I would like to encourage students to inquire of their instructors," he said. "If students receive a grade they feel is incorrect, they should definitely contact the instructor [first]."

Most students are excited to go home, start the summer and visit with old friends.

You won't be too excited, however, to receive huge fines from Student Housing and Dining Services. So before you leave for a break filled with beaches, partying and low-paying internships, make sure the condition of your room won't make you have any fines.

First, make sure any repairs possible are reported to the Fix-It Line at 753-4948 before you move out. Housing and Dining asks that the following rules be followed upon checkout in order to avoid fines.

- All NIU-issued furniture must be present and accounted for in your room.

Whatever was in your room when you arrived in the fall should be left in your room when you leave. Leaving your chair on your floor, but in the lobby, is not going to save you from receiving any fines.

- Your room must be cleaned, and all trash must be emptied.

By clean, they don't mean empty of your personal belongings. That's right - sweep, mop and dust your furniture for the next residents.

- The NIU phone must be attached and working.

- The MicroFridge needs to be cleaned, defrosted and plugged in.

Make sure the Spaghetti-O stains are scrubbed out of your microwave, and take a towel to the fridge. The easiest way to defrost your MicroFridge is to turn the power off your unit for a while so that the ice in the freezer compartment melts. Then vacuum, dump or sponge up the water.

You can do things the hard way and scrape the frost by hand with the plastic scraper provided for you in your freezer at the beginning of the year. If your MicroFridge is not cleaned and/or defrosted, expect to receive up to $60 in fines.

- Your personal belongings must all be packed and removed from your room. Even if you have already requested to have the same room for the fall semester.

Jan Gerenstein, coordinator of Residential Technology Services, said it doesn't really make a difference if you report broken Internet equipment or not because all equipment will be checked after you move out.

Gerenstein said the most common pieces of equipment found missing are the power supply units because many students confuse them with units used for their VCRs, phones and other electronic devices. If this happens to you, Gerenstein suggests mailing or personally bringing back the equipment to the ResTech Help Desk to clear your fines.

The DSL Unit Power Supply and the Ethernet Hub Power Supply will cost you $15 if they are found missing from your room.

Make sure you leave your DSL unit(s) behind and in working order - they are the most expensive ResTech fines. If missing or damaged, you will be charged $250.

Express checkout

If you choose to go this way, all you have to do is drop your keys off in a check-out envelope at the main desk of your residence hall and sign an agreement that you consent to accept any fines incurred or split the charges with your roommate(s).

Alternate checkout

Going with option two will take you a little more time, but you will have the benefit of knowing your CA has inspected your room for any damages that you could be fined for. After your CA has inspected your room, leave your key at the main desk in a checkout envelope. Keep in mind that even though your room may be fine-free, any floor damages discovered after you leave may still be fined to you along with the entire floor.

An NIU student was killed in an apparent train accident Saturday.

Kenneth McInnis, 23, a pre-communication major, was pronounced dead by the DeKalb County Coroner's office at 2:15 a.m. Saturday.

His body was found by DeKalb police at 1:42 a.m. Saturday after police responded to a reference to a possible train accident at the 1000 block of West Lincoln Highway, according to DeKalb police reports.

According to the coroner's report, no foul play is suspected and it is being investigated by the DeKalb Police Department and the DeKalb County Coroner's Office.

An examination of the death is pending.

"The grant will be used to study the rules that govern how animals grow up, or their so-called life history," Schwartz said. "This is a fundamental aspect of an animal's biology and a very difficult thing to examine in long-dead fossils, but new tools are allowing us to accurately reconstruct the important biological parameter with unparalleled precision."

Schwartz attended New York's Stony Brook University with initial intentions of studying physics and astronomy, but he said anthropology found him.

"I have always been fascinated with natural history, at one level or another," Schwartz said.

"My earliest memories are begging my parents to drive me into the American Museum of Natural History on a Saturday, so that I could go see all the wonderful dinosaur and mammal fossils. I always knew I would end up studying the history of our planet, whether it was from the perspective of an astronomer, or that of a paleontologist."

Although Schwartz has been teaching at NIU since the beginning of August, a variety of other schools has given him experience in his field.

Schwartz was accepted to do his master's and then his Ph.D. at Washington University in St. Louis. Before finishing, however, he went to South Africa where he taught anatomy at Witwatersrand Medical School in Johannesburg, South Africa.

He then was granted a post-doctoral research position at University College London. After that, he took up a second post-doc position at the Smithsonian Institution's Natural History Museum in D.C.

"NIU has generously supported my research since my first arriving here last autumn," Schwartz said. "It has taken a year, but my lab is finally up and running enabling me to begin my research in earnest."

Schwartz feels fortunate to work at the anthropology department at NIU because of the recognized master's program.

"It is important for these students to learn the ropes insofar as getting one's hands dirty in the lab," Schwartz said. "Students learn the most by actually doing it, and this is just the kind of research that will introduce the uninitiated to the process of scientific discovery."

Schwartz believes that anthropology gives students a more physical appeal to learning.

"More than any other subject, biological anthropology is a touchy-feely science; students have to hold, fondle, palpate, examine, etc.," Schwartz said. "The direct evidence on which human evolutionary scenarios are based. It is astounding to see the light bulb turn on in students when they are able to hold in their hands the entire cast of characters in the story of human evolution."

Members of the Student Association Senate marched from an aborted senate meeting to SA President Kevin Miller's office Sunday night.

Senators angry at Miller's lack of availability for scheduling meetings walked from the Holmes Student Center's Clara Sperling Skyroom after quorum for a "special session" meeting called by Miller was not met.

Miller had called a special session of the senate to give them an opportunity to reconsider vetoes made by Miller to the Campus Activity Board's budget recommendations.

The senate had approved a recommended allocation of $508,924 at last week's senate meeting.

Miller had reduced the budget by $83,943 to a total recommended allocation of $424,981.

Meyer, Gravel and members of CAB will file a complaint to the SA Supreme Court today alleging, among other things, Miller had exceeded his constitutional powers and had injured the CAB members named on the complaint.

The complaint then asks for the court to restore the CAB allocation to the $508,924 originally recommended.

Laisha Fox, SA senator and Campus Activities Board president said she tried to meet with Miller in September.

"We got one in January, a semester later," Fox said.

Doug Reisinger, acting president pro tempore, said the executives of the SA cannot do anything at this point.

"Yelling at each other will not change a thing," Reisinger said in the Skyroom. He suggested for them to go to Miller's office.

After quorum was not met, Bertrand Simpson, associate director of University Programming and Activities stayed and discussed the veto with the senators and members of CAB.

Simpson alluded to the reason for Miller's budget veto being because of the Big Time Entertainment committee and the Convocation Center.

After the pack had arrived in the Campus Life Building, they were informed by some members of CAB that Miller had just left. Sen. R.J. Gravel and Speaker Andrew Nelms then called and left messages on Miller's voice mail.

"We'll be here for a while," said Sen. Jeff Meyer.

While the group waited outside of the SA office, Brooke Robinson, SA director of public affairs, returned briefly to the SA office.

"How about you stand up for something you believe in when you don't have a microphone in your face?" Robinson said to Meyer. "You are such a media whore."

Eleven senators showed up for the meeting, which required 17 in order to be held.

"We stood at ease for four minutes," Reisinger said.

Nelms said that to his knowledge he had never heard of a meeting not meeting quorum. He said the finals schedules probably contributed to the lack of senators present.

Despite the meeting problem, the veto's budgets will go ahead as changed, Nelms said.

"The senate did not reconsider the bill because we did not meet quorum," Nelms said.

Many of the senators and members of CAB still present after the meeting complained that Miller had left quickly from the meeting, before answering questions.

Shortly after the meeting, Meyer said the changes to CAB's budget went beyond the normal line item veto power the president has. He said Miller gave amended numbers instead of vetoing specific lines in the budget.

"How was what he did a veto?" Meyer asked shortly after the meeting. "It was an amendment."

Robinson refuted Meyer's claim. She said Miller had gone through the bill and vetoed the increases only and not the proposed budgets lines.

"I think your propagating lies," Robinson said to Meyer at the Skyroom.

While using your old textbooks as the fuel for an end-of-the-semester bonfire may be popular, a much more profitable way of disposing of these much-hated objects is to sell them back to the store you bought them from.

At the University Bookstore, book buyback is May 5 through May 8 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Center Cafe West Corridor (CCW) of the Holmes Student Center and 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the bookstore service desk. Also on May 9 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. the buyback will be in the CCW. Buyback also is on May 10 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the service desk.

Students must show their NIU OneCards to the University Bookstore to sell their books back.

At the Village Commons Bookstore, special book buyback hours are May 5 through May 8 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., May 9 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and May 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The VCB also will buy students' books back at any other time during the year.

Mitch Kielb, acting director of the Holmes Student Center, said 50 percent of the books sold by the University Bookstore are used.

Kielb said the bookstore has two different ways of determining how much money to give students for these books.

If NIU will be using a book again, the University Bookstore will pay half of the new price no matter if the student bought the book new or used.

If NIU will not be using the book or if the University Bookstore does not need it, the bookstore will pay based on the price the book can be sold to a wholeseller for.

The state budget cuts to NIU won't affect how much money the University Bookstore pays students for books, Kielb said.

Lee Blankenship, owner and general manager of the VCB, said the VCB will pay at least half of the new price of a book if it was bought used and if NIU will be using it again, and if NIU will not be using the book or the VCB does not need it, the VCB determines how much a book is worth based on its national wholesale value.

Kielb and Blankenship both said a book may not be sold back if it is a new edition that NIU will not use again and a wholeseller can't sell it either or if it originally had a CD-ROM and no longer does.

"Anything you bought, bring it all back. If it's a set, bring the whole set back, not just a part," Kielb said. "If we need it all, and you don't have it, we won't buy any of it back."

Kielb and Blankenship both said general studies-type books are returned the most because these books are not typically students' major books that they feel they'll need in the future, and Kielb warned that students should think before they sell back all of their books.

"Sometimes people are too quick to sell," Kielb said. "You might need a book again to look back at in the future if you're taking other classes in the subject."

Usually, students will get a better price for their books if they sell them at the beginning of buyback week before the University Bookstore and the VCB fill up on books and have to pay the lower wholesale price, Kielb and Blankenship both said.

However, Kielb also said that sometimes the bookstores don't have the information from certain professors at the beginning of buyback week about which books they'll be using and that students might then get a better price later in the week after the information has come in.

Students can ask if their professors' information has come in before they sell their books.

Blankenship said that sometimes the VCB and the University Bookstore differ on the amount of money they give students for books when one store reaches its limit for certain books before the other does and then drops the price of the books to the wholesale value.

For information on book buyback, call either the University Bookstore at 753-1081 or the VCB at 758-0613.