Not according to the San Francisco Chronicle! The San Francisco Symphony’s recent performance received a stunning review from reporter Joshua Kosman, who made notice of composer and performer Meredith Monk as well as SJSU’s very own flute professor Catherine Payne. Read the full article here.

No comments »

Posted in Uncategorized

Senior finance student Zach Harris searches rentable titles at the Spartan Bookstore. The bookstore currently has 60 percent of titles required by faculty members (Amanda Holst image).

By Amanda Holst, Public Affairs Assistant

In just two semesters, the new management team at Spartan Bookstore has saved SJSU students a total of $800,000 with its textbook rental program.

“It was just tapping the skill sets of the employees and getting everyone working toward a common goal,” said Spartan Bookstore Director Ryland Metzinger.

According to Metzinger, 60 percent of all of the titles that have been adopted by faculty are available for rent, but his goal is to increase that to 80 percent by next year.

Junior design studies major Olivia Lopez saved around $40 on her art history books this semester.

“Some books I do not plan to use much after I take the class; therefore I rent them,” Lopez said.

Bookstore Rental Program

Books on the shelves with green inserts are rentable and apply to both new and used books. Students save approximately 50 percent of the new retail price.

At the rental counter, students are required to provide basic contact information and a debit or credit card to use as collateral. In addition, students sign a rental agreement, requiring they return the book on a specific date and in good condition.

“The biggest problem we have with the condition of the books when they come back is spilled liquids,” Metzinger said.

Students that do not meet the terms of the agreement are required to pay a 75 percent replacement fee and a 7.5 percent restocking fee. In addition, students that do not bring books back at the end of the semester pay a penalty.

On The Horizon

According to Metzinger, the bookstore will continue to think outside of the box with promotions and hopes to save students over a million dollars this time next year.

“We want to help the students with as many options as possible with their education and course material,” Metzinger said. “It’s a very competitive market out there and we have to be on the front lines of offering students valued alternatives.”

No comments »

Posted in Campus, Student Life

Tags: Spartan Bookstore Spartan Shops students

In the past three weeks, students in the SJSU Beginning Kayaking class have seen an assortment of birds including blue and black-crowned night herons, egrets, curlews, and a pair of bald eagles nesting, and an otter, all while paddling their own kayaks in class.  Previous classes have seen a beaver, coyotes, a seal haul out with over 50 seals, and have had a huge flock of plovers fly right though our group about 2′ off the water.  The sound of thousands of wings was amazing! In addition, they are studying the effects of wind, tide and currents on kayaking, so that they are appropriately confident to go out on their own after the course is completed.  Paddling starts on fresh water (at places such as Calero, Anderson, Lexington, and Stevens Creek) and then goes to various sloughs in the bay at Alviso, Newark, Palo Alto, and ends with a 9 mile paddle at Redwood City.

Students help each other unload kayaks and get ready to paddle each week, but start off by assisting each other in the pool when they have their swim test, capsize and re-entry test.  In this way, very strong bonds are built up and the students get to know each other really well by the end of the course.  Learning about sea level rise, and seeing what may be the likely effect very close to home is an important part of the class, as is a trash pick up day (almost always, the most numerous items picked up are bottles, and soccer, softball, basketball, volleyball, and tennis balls).  At Alviso, they see the still-active shrimp boat fleet and learn about the old port of Alviso and the steamers that used to be the most reliable way to get from the south bay to San Francisco.

For most students, even lifetime residents, this is their first time out on San Francisco Bay and some take a little while to grasp that this is, in fact, the ocean!  Yes, it is salty and yes it does have tides!!  When you’re out under the old Dumbarton Rail Bridge, and you see that all the buildings seem to be right at sea level, it’s a sobering thought to realize what any sea level rise will do.

So in addition to the friends made, the fitness gains achieved over 15 weeks through strenuous paddling, and the huge stress relief that three hours of being “apart” from the frenzied world of Silicon Valley brings, these students learn about local history and wildlife, almost by osmosis!

by Dr. Shirley Reekie.

No comments »

Posted in Uncategorized

We have recently phased out HiSoftware’s AccMonitor in favor of Compliance Sheriff. A team of people from various CSU campuses worked to create a custom checkpoints to identify specific accessibility problems based on Section 508 and WCAG 2.0.
We will continue to make changes to web templates to address problems identified by Compliance Sheriff.
Links to reports can be found at webcheck.sjsu.edu or www.sjsu.edu/webservices/accessibility/reports/

No comments »

Posted in Accessibility, Announcements, OU Campus

Tags: Accessibility

Veggielution empowers youth and adults from diverse backgrounds to create a sustainable food system in San Jose (Amie Frisch image).

By the Cesar E. Chavez Community Action Center

“True wealth is not measured in money or status or power. It is measured in the legacy we leave behind for those we love and those we inspire.” – Cesar Chavez

Join us for our first ever Cesar Chavez Day Celebration Saturday, March, 31, at Veggielution Community Farm, Prusch Farm Park, 647 South King Road, San Jose. Cesar Chavez was an incredible leader who actually grew up right in our neighborhood, having worked in the fields and orchards of the East Side. We are proud to honor Cesar’s legacy in this day of service, as he has inspired much of the work we do.

This will also be our chance to welcome the spring and get our first summer crops in the ground. Please share in what will be a beautiful and memorable community event. Games and activities for children ages 2 through 12 will be offered from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and a draft-horse plow demonstration is planned for 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sponsors include Chikomekoatl, Public Allies, and Movimiento de Acion, Inspirando Servicio (MAIZ).

9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Blessing and Ceremony
Members of local Mexica/Azteca danza groups will perform a blessing in honor of the spring. Join and help us welcome in the season.

10 a.m. – noon
Invocation and Farm Work
Elisa Marina Alvarado of  Teatro Vision will offer opening remarks, then join us in planting tomatoes, peppers and eggplants and other summer crops. We will also complete a variety of service projects on the farm.

Noon – 1 p.m.
Potluck Lunch
Rice, beans, hand-made tortillas and other foods will be prepared for all participants. This is a potluck, so feel free to bring an item to share.

1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Panel Discussion: Farming and Community
Dr. Ann Lopez (author of “The Farmworkers Journey”) and other panelists will talk about farmworkers rights, indigenous/traditional agriculture and the role of sustainable farming in the future of our community

No comments »

Posted in Campus, Student Life

Tags: Associated Students Cesar E. Chavez Community Action Center