Re: Paying for the listserv

[Catharine Strauss <cstrauss -at- EPICOR -dot- COM>]

I'd like to add that students, if they aren't willing to pay the money have
several options, the same as if they weren't willing to buy the text book.

- Share the fees with another student
- The professor could set up access to the posts that was available at
specific times (just the same as professors making the texts available at
the library or resource center)
- Not pay the fees, not read the posts and still bluff through class  (it
happens)

Students will always complain about any extra expenses, but getting around
those expenses (cutting corners, being frugal, and pulling small cheats
where necessary) are an important part of the skills you learn in college.
<grin>

Additionally, 20 bucks is a drop in the bucket.  I'd consider a subscription
to this list to be as essential as a textbook and worth just as much.  I
wish I had taken a course where this list was required, my only grumble
would have been that I couldn't read it while relaxing out on a park bench
and watching people play frisbee.

-Catharine Strauss

-----Original Message-----
From: slm5v [mailto:slm5v -at- CC -dot- USU -dot- EDU]
Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 1999 8:54 AM
To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
Subject: Re: Paying for the listserv

Morning, everyone.

  I don't post often to this list, but when I do, I hope I add something
meaningful to the discussion. I am currently a tech-writing student at Utah
State, in Logan, Utah. I first became familiar with the list during a
class--the professor made us sign up. After the semester was over, I would
guess maybe 90-95% of my classmates cancelled their subscriptions. I didn't,
and I've been introduced to aspects of this industry I never would have
received in the classroom. I've even come to the list for help, and received
timely, accurate, impressive advice. Thanks all!

  My point? The argument over whether or not students can pay for a
subscription should be treated as if they were buying another textbook.
Every
semester, I MUST spend $200-400 for texts, whether I think they're valuable
or
not. I dutifully do the assignments for the semester, and when finals are
over, I sell my texts back to the bookstore (where I'm lucky to get 35% of
the
cover price). If students spend only $10 a semester to join, and don't feel
any benefit from the list, they're out $10. If they buy a useless text,
written by their professor, they could be out a whole lot more. But, if they
realize the value of the list (like I have), they'll be so much the richer.

My three cents . . .

Graham Fredrickson

"Into each life some rain must fall--what I wouldn't give for an umbrella."
--me.

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