These permits allow students to park in more then one spot.

When a student does not pay off tickets, they could find a boot on their vehicle.

                          An omonious sign when one does not follow the rules.                        

Small-Town Hosts Big City Event

Bemidji Bicyclists Participate in Critical Mass

By: Amy Borgman

 “No Comply,” the solo skateboard shop in town, promoted the event.

Critical Mass originated in San Francisco in 1992, but has found its way to smaller communities since. The event is often portrayed by news media as a radical protest, but participants generally view it as a celebration. It was created to remind drivers to share the road with cyclists by forcing them to yield to a giant mass of bicyclists commuting through the city at once. The event has become popularized all over the world. For instance, Budapest hosts two Masses a year and in one 2008 ride participation reached an estimated 80,000 cyclists.

        Bikes available to rent for students in the Sustainability Center of the lower Union.

Although the media covered the event as a protest, riders generally share the feeling that they are participating in a socially unorganized celebration - a party, if you will. It’s an opportunity to exercise the rights granted to all cyclists and to obtain the power inherent in numbers. 

            Bemidji, Minnesota, is a small city on a global scale, yet its appreciation for riding and cultural phenomena is large. Bemidji bicyclists took notice of the event about fifteen years ago, according to past participants, and have been organizing Critical Masses on the last Friday of each month since. This year, R. Graham Beyer, a Michigan native and avid cyclist, posted fliers around town and the Bemidji State University campus promoting a ride on Friday, August 27.

            The ride started at 5 p.m. The meeting spot was obvious as R. sat five feet above everything on his "tall bike" in front of Paul and Babe.  A tall bike is one bike frame welded on top of another frame. The single-speed chain is rotated down in order to reach the rear hub of the wheel. R. worked at the German camp at the Concordia Language Villages all summer and saw the bike frames hanging out of a dumpster at the end of the season. He explained, “I’m a crafty person, so I figured I should do something with them.” Thus, his Beetle Juice-inspired tall bike was born. The bike definitely turns heads, but R. still rides around town with pride and with a helmet.

        R. is no stranger to posing for pictures with his bike, as many bar-goers become intrigued. 

At the stroke of 5, ten people gathered at the triumphant statues of Paul and Babe and R. communicated with everyone about how the ride should be done. He explained how the rides he had participated in were usually approached with a “go with the flow” attitude but needed to be safety-conscious as well. The group decided to ride two abreast, and would not pull any tricky maneuvers like “corking,” when the bikers stop in the middle of an intersection, halting traffic.

The crew included a preschooler, a comic book storeowner, and a man from Minneapolis who moved to Bemidji recently to seek out his small-town soul. All the other riders had participated in Critical Mass events in the past in Bemidji and were anxious to hit the road again on that hot and windy day. The commute went from Paul Bunyan Dr. to Anne St. then rounded back to Paul and Babe. The venture was approximately 5 miles long and was replete with honks from angry and intrigued drivers. More inspiringly, at least five bicyclists joined the Mass throughout the voyage.

             Bemidji encourages people to ride with the addition of a bike lane.

                 598 words

By:Luke Landgraf

 

This is the Beaver Bookstore that is located off campus at 107 23^rd NE Bemidji, MN 56601.  Students can buy and sell their books here or sell their books on campus.  This store also provides online book services.

Amazon.com is an online bookstore that allows students to buy books at a more affordable price.  Buying books on this online site is cheaper, than it would be buying them online on the campuses’ book store.

The Bemidji State University bookstore is located on campus.  The things you will find here differ from each end of the store.  On one side you will find books and the other side you will find ether net cords and clothes. 

Textbook too expensive

Publishers Raise Prices On College Textbooks

By: Luke Landgraf

The US Government Accountability Office said “the annual rate of inflation of college textbooks was at an annual six percent.”  They said “the inflation is due to the demand from the publisher and book writer.”   Along with the high book prices, how much of the textbook do you actually use?

Brady Scott a BSU sophomore worked all summer long leading up to his freshman year to pay for books. “I spent about $400 on books,” he said “I used most of them but I didn’t use one book at all and used another once or twice.”   Why are books so expensive when students have to buy so many?   “I don’t know why they are so expensive,” said Scott Borcher a BSU philosophy professor.  “If we don’t use most of the book I usually tend to make photo copies.”

BSU students have two options when buying their textbooks. The Bemidji State University Book store is located right on campus, and the Beaver Bookstore is Located right off campus at 23^rd NE Bemidji, MN 56601.  Both bookstores allow you to buy their books online.“ Our bookstore and the book located on campus prices are slightly different,” said Jane an employee that works at the Beaver Bookstore located off campus. “Our bookstore has two other store locations just like this one.”  At the end of each semester bookstores have a window of opportunity for students to sell their books back. “When we buy the books back we pay a little more because we have two more stores in different locations.  So when we bought the books back the demand for those books is greater,” Jane said.

There are a couple ways around the high book prices. At both bookstores you have an opportunity to buy used textbooks.  The books are not that much cheaper than the brand new books but it adds up when buying a cart full of textbooks.   A newer way to buy textbooks isn’t buying them, its renting them.  This is a cheaper way to have textbooks in your possession without buying them.  To be able to rent the textbook you have to order your books early because the rentals go fast.  “I encourage students to buy their books online, said Borcher “It is much cheaper this way,” says professor Borcher.  There are many online companies that sell books online to students.  Such as Amazon.com,  halfs.com, Buy.com etc.  Books online tend to be a lot cheaper at these type of sites rather than online book store that the school provides. 

Word count: 571

Easing into Education at Bemidji State University

                                           Easing into Education at Bemidji State University

                                           Helpful Resources to make the college life less stressful

By Tara Hjermstad

The transition into college life is often very hectic and at many times confusing. Bemidji State University offers a variety of resources to answer any questions that may come about, whether it may be about living arrangements, meals, clothing, health care, parking, tuition, class schedules, professor’s hours, or anything else having to do with campus life.

The Help Desk, located in the Upper Union, has answers to almost any question about campus, and if they are unsure, they know where to direct students. This is where students come to get their photo id, which will get them into the library, super lab or any campus events.

Each dorm has a help desk located on the main floor at the front entrance of the building. There is someone watching the desk around the clock, to make sure that the needs of each student are met, no matter what time of the day or night. Students can learn about dorm happenings, giving the opportunity to meet other new students, thus making the transfer into college-life more bearable.

Books are available at the on-campus bookstore, located in the Lower Union. Here, they often hire students to help with assisting other new students with questions on books and other supplies. Nicole Borwege, a student at BSU that works in the bookstore 2 days a week, says, “It’s always busy for the first couple weeks of school, but it’s a lot of fun working there, because I often recognize people from class and on-camps. It’s a good way to meet people and make new friends.”

Any questions about meal plans can be answered in the Union by one of the helpful lunch servers. There are certain lunch id’s needed to charge meals, so it is a must that these needs are met before expecting a meal.

Being far from home is also tough with health care, not having the familiar health care physician available. BSU offers an on-campus nurse that is highly qualified in any medical emergency. It is here that students can find comfort even in an unfamiliar health care facility.

Parking can be impossible at times, given the limited space, and it is important to find a spot that works best for each schedule. The Cashier’s Office is available to purchase parking tickets, the cost may be spendy, but it’s better than getting a parking ticket. When purchasing a parking pass, you will need your student ID ready, to make sure that the parking lot is being used for students only, since that’s what it’s for. Also available in the Cashier’s Office is tuition payments, student employment information, and any other billing questions. Pam, a secretary in the Cashier’s Office says, “It is important to pay all bills as soon as possible, to make that the fee doesn’t grow.”

The Admissions Office has maps available; to make sure that every student knows where to park to be closest to the building that their classes are in. Also in the Admissions Office, Joe Sunderman, a sophmore studying criminal justice, works 3-4 days a week under the student employment plan, says his job in the Admissions Office is basically “giving tours and answering phones.” The Admissions Office is in charge of just about everything from receiving applications, giving tours and handling scholarships.

Tuition questions are popular in many students, and the Financial Aid Office is available to offer any guidance when filing for student aid, grants or loans. This is a big step in a student’s college career, and the financial aid staff is trained in guiding a plan for each budget. Lori, a secretary in the Financial Aid office advises, “Get in touch with the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible, to make sure that all bills and payments are ready to go for the new semester.” Falling behind in payment could cause cancellation of credits, or even postponement of enrollment.

Class schedules are often very confusing the first few weeks of school. New buildings, new professor’s, new classmates are all part of this experience. It is important to get to know each professor as best as possible, to make certain that both the student and professor are on the same page when it comes to academics, being as this is the reason for college in the first place. Knowing which classes are in which building will keep schedules gliding smoothly. Each building offers a map or a staff that is familiar with campus and can guide anyone to where they need to be.

Professor’s schedules are often listed on their office doors or in the class syllabus. It is important to know each professor’s schedule, in case of any questions.

Every class that is offered at Bemidji State University has a help lab with certain hours to make sure each student is completely comfortable in every class. These help labs are often guided by upper-class students that excel in that certain subject, often times chosen by the professors.

Any other questions can be answered by the Admissions Office at Bemidji State University.

It is important that every student feels comfortable on campus, and does an excellent job of this, offering many resources to answer any questions it’s students may have.