Don't Forget Your Bluebooks!

By Broadside Correspondent Erica Terrini

No matter how far in advance professors and faculty members announce their test dates, students always seem to be caught by surprise on test day.

On top of preparing for a test at the last minute, students now have to provide their own Bluebooks and Scantrons, in addition to making it to class on time for the test.

This scene has some George Mason University students saying the need for personal supplies is more of a hassle than anything.

“I think it’s kind of a pain,” said junior Sarah Gardner. “I don’t know how many times that I’ve forgotten or brought a pack and had to hand them out to everyone else…it’s frustrating.”

Mason does make purchasing testing materials as easy as possible.

Both Bluebooks and Scantrons, as well as other testing supplies, are available in the Barnes & Noble bookstore on campus and can even be purchased in a vending machine in the Johnson Center that is stocked with Bluebooks, Scantrons, notebooks, folders, pens, highlighters, batteries and floppy disks.

“The new vending machine just makes it easier to get supplies,” said Mason Bookstore employee Tim Randolph. “When there is a rush in the morning, students can just go pick up anything they need from the machine so they don’t have to wait in line, and it helps regulate the traffic in the store.”

Regardless, the initial argument continues because students feel they have enough stress with grades and the subject material at hand.

“It’s unfortunate that with the high rate of tuition, that the supplies aren’t even included,” said sophomore Haywood Watkins.

“I don’t mind paying for Bluebooks or Scantrons at all because I know the tuition rates would probably go up, and it’s cheaper for everyone to just buy what they need,” said freshman Bethany Littlejohn.

One other point to consider is that many other universities in Virginia also require students to purchase their own testing materials to avoid higher tuition rates.

Of the 39 universities in Virginia, 12 other higher education schools share this policy with Mason.

There are 10 colleges and universities in Virginia that require their students to purchase Bluebooks, but they provide the Scantrons for each department.

Seven Virginia colleges and universities provide both Bluebooks and Scantrons for their students.

There are a total of nine colleges and universities that vary, meaning that their students may be required to buy either Bluebooks or Scantrons, depending on the department, or more specifically, their professors.

For some, this consensus is enough to establish that many Virginia schools prefer that their students purchase their own testing materials.

However, when examining the ratio of schools that provide one of the testing materials, the majority of schools are willing to cut their students some slack by providing either Bluebooks or Scantrons.

From this perspective, a smaller amount of schools have their students buying both of the necessary materials.
Ultimately, there appears to be a balance of benefits and disadvantages in this case of testing materials and while some Mason students feel strongly for the disadvantages, many look more so to the benefits.

“I don’t really mind paying for the Bluebooks and Scantrons; it’s just never really bothered me before,” said senior Shannon Britt.

Then there are some students that have a far different perspective, neither regarding tuition rates nor the general inconvenience of getting the supplies.
“I wouldn’t mind paying for those things if there wasn’t so many issues around the parking on campus,” said senior Jessica Marshall.

There is no question that in many instances, stocking up on Bluebooks and Scantrons can be a hassle for many Mason students.

“Its up to the school, it really is a school decision and ever since Barnes & Noble has been open since 1999, that’s just the way it’s always been here,” said Jack Smith, general manager of the Mason Bookstore.