Every quarter students are faced with the dreaded task of purchasing text books. For most students, seeing their professor's name on the text book is something that will never happen, but for students who have class with Professor Paul Laughlin, that might be a different story. Laughlin, professor and former chair of religion and philosophy, has been using his own book, "Getting Oriented: What Every Christian Should Know about Eastern Religions, but Probably Doesn't," in his Religion 380 class, Human Nature in World Religion and Philosophy. When he taught Integrative Studies (INST) 260, Human Nature in Christian Traditions, Laughlin used "Remedial Christianity: What Every Believer Should Know about the Faith, but Probably Doesn't." Originally, Laughlin used 6-7 textbooks to teach the INST class, but said it was "too pricey." Glenna Jackson, also a professor of religion and philosophy, went to Laughlin for advice in choosing a text book for INST 260, and he showed her his manuscript. Both Laughlin and Jackson used "Remedial Christianity" in classes while still in manuscript form, until Jackson pushed to have the work published. "Remedial Christianity" can be purchased on Amazon.com for $13.60, while "Getting Oriented" is listed a bit higher at $15.00. Josh Bope, senior history education major, doesn't see a problem in a professor using their own published work in class. "As long as they are objective, I don't see a major dilemma," said Bope. "I wish all of my books would cost $13." He mentioned another positive side saying "at least you know the professor thoroughly knows the topic." Freshman nursing major, Meghan Shull, disagrees. "You sit and listen to what the professor has to say during class, and then you have to read an extra 20 pages of their opinion afterward," she said. Laughlin views his text books as an economical benefit, and not a way to make more money. "I only make around $1.50 per copy sold," he said. "That's maybe enough to take my wife out to dinner each quarter, which I should do regardless of book sales." t&c;
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