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Letters, Jan. 29 By Ashland Tidings readers Jan 29, 2020 12:00 AM A A Textbooks are too costly It is recommended by the College Board that students put aside $1,000 to $1,200 a year for course materials alone. Faced with already steep tuition and regional costs of living, the fact that this is necessary creates a profound financial burden on already struggling students. As a recent graduate coming from a working-class background, I know that the exorbitant costs of textbooks are insurmountable for many. Much of the time, financial aid isn’t enough to cover it. In my time at Southern Oregon University, I’ve read the testimonials of students having to choose between the costs of attending college, including textbooks, and their costs of living. This shouldn’t be happening. While I would love to see the implementation of open education resources, which would essentially render textbooks free, the very least I ask is that professors are made aware of the burden that textbook costs place on students and plan their course materials accordingly. Just that consideration has the potential to lighten their students’ load and allow them to be more successful. Ruin Riggs Medford Elevating Trump Would acquittal in the Senate make Trump “above the law”? If Trump is found by the Senate to be above the law, which seems to be the thrust of the Republican Defense, then that would constitute a direct transfer of power from this Republican controlled Senate to President Trump. Can there be any doubt that a Senate acquittal would mean that our president is now effectively above the law? Or that Trump would at some point use that power recklessly? And do the Republicans think for one minute that they could contain that newly minted power in the hands of this president? It appears the Republicans are too distracted by their current successes to be thinking in these terms. Their default mode has become “total war” against the Democrats, regardless. Obviously this tactic — and lots of money — has served them well. But can they truly see no common ground with the Democrats on this pivotal moment in history? Public opinion would seem to grant plenty cover for some coming together. Or is the threat of “their heads on a pike” too real from our current Trump, who at this moment in time is presumably not above the law, and therefore not yet all-powerful. Are they really hell-bent to effectively elevate President Trump to King Trump, this year, this month, perhaps this week? Jerry Nutter Ashland Webletters Graphic.jpg