A Jan. 28 Herald letter writer "ranted" about a daughter-in-law at Western being required to buy a $120 textbook published by her professor. This, the writer quite correctly insisted, creates a conflict of interest if the professor profits from such sales. Advice to the writer: send your letter to WWU demanding a response. Western's code of ethics for faculty bans "any exploitation of students for personal advantage." This may be avoided if faculty donate royalties to an independent third party. But other conflicts of interest also arise, including bias in textbook selection and possible hostile reactions by a faculty/author during classroom discussion or testing. Not all students possess enough nerve to openly criticize a weak book written or edited by their professor. Faculty often can avoid requiring a single book that costs $120. Last year I taught a Huxley College class requiring three texts worth $37 (total) at the ASB bookstore. These included an 800-page biography of an American president, a classic book often called "the environmental bible" and a book examining a current national problem with a ground-breaking solution happening today in Whatcom County. These three books for $37 provided a deep dose of history by an award-winning scholar, the ethical basis for an entire college, and a strong challenge to think and act in our time. High-priced new editions containing miniscule edits need not be required.

Bob Keller

Bellingham