Texas Tech University - La Ventana Yearbook (Lubbock, TX)

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THE COST OF A HIGHER EDUCATION DOES NOT STOP WITH TUITION MAJOR COSTS Imagine a bill for $2,536. That is what some students pay for books and supplies over the course of four years. The largest one-time bill I have seen from a student was $317, said Daisy Rubalcada, a floor saleswoman for the Red Raider Bookstore. Through a consensus gathered from sev- eral bookstore managers and students, most agreed that architecture and art majors have the biggest cost to bear. Architect majors have to buy special markers that cost $44 a piece, Rubalcada said. Some of their books are $150 a piece. One hundred and fifty dollars may be the most expensive book, but an average cost is around $40. Imagine buying just one $40 book for each class every semester Even if a student were taking the mini- mum 12-hour load, it would cost around $1,280 for eight semesters. And who gets out in four years only taking 12 hours a semester? So now add a summer school cost. Malcolm Miller, an advertising major from Midland, said he has spent as much as $120 for one class. For one of my art classes I had to buy 1 2 tubes of paint at $4 a tube, two paint brushes at $6 apiece, canvas at $6 apiece, paint pallets, architecture tape at $8 a role and glue. Miller said. This came to a total of $200 by the time I replaced used-up items during the semester. This was just for supplies, too. Debbie Ault, an art minor from Houston, said that for one class she had to buy three color filters for her camera. That cost me around $40, Ault said. You also have to buy chemicals to develop your film. The problem is that once you run out of the paint or canvas, you have to go back for more, said Miller. I have to replace my chemicals for my photography class, usually twice a semes- ter, Ault said. It usually costs around $30. I feel like I don ' t have any money. Rubalcada said architecture majors will spend around $500 a semester and that art majors will spend around $300. Biology majors spend around $300 due to the large books, lab kits and goggles they have to buy, she said. She said home economics majors spend around $200 a semester. Agriculture majors have big, expensive books, Rubalcada said. English majors don ' t have to spend a lot on one book, but they usually have to buy so many books for one class. Music majors have expensive books, too, but they don ' t have to buy many of them, said Rubalcada. Miller said he has learned more about his major through his experience as an adver- tising sales representative for The Universi- ty Daily than he has learned in his classes. In class you just get definitions, he said. Ault said she has learned a lot t hrough hands-on-experience. I might even pay more than I am now at another school, she said. Plus, I am the one who has chosen to take this route. With the extra fees included in college tuition, a student will spend around $450 a semester. Then add an average of $150 for books for a 12-hour class load. Over a course of eight semesters, the average Tech student might spend around $4,800 for higher education. That figure does not include dues that must be paid to be a member of an organi- zation on campus. Dues can range any- where from $5 to $300 a semester. When you walk on stage and receive your diploma, though, it ' s all worth it, Ault said. — Lisa L. LaBrant Matching course numbers and instructors. Kiniberl; Russell, an English major, begins her trip througlf Varsity Bookstore, which will end at the cash rcgiste with a $250 bill. (Photo by Corby Roberts) 24 — Major Expenses ■dM

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% COLLEGE LIFE IN THE BIBLE BELT Peer pressure is strong among college students. The pressure often deals with drugs and alcohol, but at Texas Tech there also is a different type of pressure — the pressure to go to church. William Conover, a Horn professor of statistics and sponsor of the Chi Rho Catho- lic organization, said many Tech students are more conscious about religion than oth- er students across the country. Conover said this is partly because Lubbock is in the Bi- ble Belt of Texas. He said it has become a social norm to go to church. Why do you think people dress up on the Tech campus but at West Texas (State University) and Canyon, the stu- dents don ' t dress as nice? Conover said. It is because of peer pressure. He said Tech seems to have a better par- ticipation in religious activities than other universities. My daughter had gone to a college in San Antonio, but she later transferred to Tech. She said the Tech students are better behaved and more religious, Conover said. She said there seem to be less drugs and more pressure to go to church. Betsy Heffner, director of Christian edu- cation at St. John ' s United Methodist Church, said the Sunday School depart- ment has a regular attendance of 30 Tech students. This is up from last year ' s statistics, but down from the ' 70s, Heffner said. In the e A ' 70s people went through a period of getting in touch with themselves, and many of them did so through spiritual means. Barbara Riker, president of Chi Rho, said one reason students may attend church more at Tech is because Lubbock churches cater to the college students. First Baptist on Broadway has a 9:30 a.m. service just for college students, and if you look down Broadway from the Tech seal you can see at least four churches of differ- ent denominations. Riker said she thinks students are less religious than they use to be but that reli- gion is moving up in importance among stu- dents. Christy Shipman, a member of the All- Greek Bible study, said going to school in the Bible Belt probably does not have an effect on students. People are going to do what they want to do, Shipman said. The town is not that conservative. You can ' t go to a liquor shop inside the city limits, but you can buy liquor at any club in Lubbock. What ' s the differ- ence? Shipman said if students are brought up going to church, they probably will contin- ue to go even when away from home. A big part of the Bible Belt are Southern Baptist churches, but that does not mean Baptists are the only Tech students who go to church. There are 1 9 registered religious organizations on the Tech campus. Non-religious organizations seem to par- ticipate in the religious scene, too. Sorori- ties, fraternities and academic organiza- tions attend chapter church, usually once a month. This is when the entire sorority will go to church together, and then we may go do something afterwards, said Jana Rhea, chaplain for the Chi Omega sorority. — Lisa L. LaBrant Religious organizations such as the Catholic Student Association serve meals to students for the purpose of acquainting them with the church and each other. Students April Slaughter and Debra Weldon help out with a Sunday dinner at St. Elizabeth ' s church. I Photo by Barry JohnsonI Bible Belt — 23 Designed by Lora Luiz

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Electrical engineering major Greg Grant not only spends nione on books, but on engineering supplies such as the power supply meter he is using to complete a project. A typical semester will cost him up to S500. ' Photo h Robert Williams! ■ typical semester at Texas Tech costs Jamie Martin, n accounting major in the College of Business Admin- ■tration. about S300 for books. IPhoio by Corby ' obertsi Chemical engineering major Kimberlie West looks at another textbook needed to complete her book list at the beginning of the semester IPhoto by Corby Ro- berts ' Oeitgned by Lora Imi: Major Expenses — 25