Aseret Gonzalez, the student vice president of academic affairs, revealed at Wednesday’s meeting the Council on Academic Affairs is discussing the possibility of online textbooks.

Gonzales assured the student senate members that whatever the outcome of the discussion, no action will be taken yet.

John Poshepny, a senior finance major and student senate member, said he is not in favor of online textbooks.

“I’m not a fan of them,” Poshepny said. “As a finance major, I like to have my (physical) textbook to reference.”

Although Poshepny said he is also understanding of the arguments made in favor of textbook conversion.

“I think it’s a very double sword issue,” he said.

Tommy Nierman, a senior business major and student senate member, said he believes that as a technologically advanced society online textbooks are a natural progression but he feels that implementing online textbooks now would be a little too early.

“More research needs to be done on students’ opinions as well,” Nierman said.

However, as the discussion progressed, the senate seemed divided on the issue.

Mitchell Gurick, a freshman career and technical education major, said online textbooks would be better both economically and environmentally, as well as better for student’s backs instead of carrying a backpack full of books.

Kaci Abolt, the student vice president for student affairs and a junior communication studies major, said she thinks the conversation should not end in student senate but continue among students.

“It’s a good conversation to have with students and faculty together,” Abolt said. “I think it’s definitely something to look into.”

Abolt said she remains unsure of whether or not she liked the idea of reading textbooks on a computer screen.

Jarrod Scherle, a student executive vice president and a graduate business student, said he would not be swayed one way or the other regarding the issue.

The tradition of textbook rental, which has been at Eastern since 1899, would be something he would miss, Scherle said.

“I think it would be a shame to give up that tradition,” Scherle said.

Other topics of discussion from the meeting included the opening of the leadership wall in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union is being scheduled for an Oct. 26 release.

Nierman also released the preliminary results of the student surveys that student government sent out regarding the electronic boards. The students have been mostly in favor of the boards, according to Nierman.

Kathryn Richter can be reached at 581-7942 or [email protected].