Here Come the Spanish Professors

[CalallenStang]

Uh-uh. This isn't a case of liberal arts vs. science, either. We are raising $750M, building a damn pool, we CAN find $400000.

Ironically, Ludden's salary is about $400,000

[Digetydog]

This is funny.
Writer misdirects anger toward SMU Basketball
Poster misdirects anger toward SMU Faculty-this guy is a writer for the DMN-not an SMU teacher

Bingo.

Seems our real need right now for academic advancement is more access to scientific journals. $400,000 a more a year in journal subscriptions would probably help SMU more than 10 obscure hard copy books a year (not to mention how quickly physical books are becoming antiquated). But journal prices have been getting out of hand, and even Harvard is saying they cannot keep up with the runaway cost [$3.75M yearly].

I also see a lot of hard copy vs. e-copy when it comes to the debate about university presses. Something to also keep in mind, the value of the press is also that it is a peer reviewed publication. It's pretty much what differentiates the work of an amateur historian (insert whatever discipline here) and a professional one. Therefore, it's still important when presses such as Harvard, Yale, Cal, Chicago, UNC, etc, seem to publish their newer works electronically. I'd like to see a study on the expenditures of running a press. I would wager that not all that much of it is the actual physical printing and binding of books (I think).

By delivering our law journal to the printers "camera ready," our printing costs were not that high. Since we had virtually unlimited unpaid labor available, the cost of getting the journal out wasn't really that high.

I suspect most of the cost of the Press was staff and overhead. Did they have much in the way of staff?

[MustangSTATS]

I also see a lot of hard copy vs. e-copy when it comes to the debate about university presses. Something to also keep in mind, the value of the press is also that it is a peer reviewed publication. It's pretty much what differentiates the work of an amateur historian (insert whatever discipline here) and a professional one. Therefore, it's still important when presses such as Harvard, Yale, Cal, Chicago, UNC, etc, seem to publish their newer works electronically. I'd like to see a study on the expenditures of running a press. I would wager that not all that much of it is the actual physical printing and binding of books (I think).

For journal prices skyrocketing in cost are coming from publishers cashing in on the academic prestige of the journals while they still can, it has nothing to do with cost. Peer review exist regardless of the medium, and is done by professors for free. Open digital journals are not give us money and we will put you in our journal operations. Some of the most respected journals in computer science or open journals. This is more of a shift cause by the digital age.

Not sure what the cost of a book now a days would be for physical or digital publication. Seems that any physical aspects could be sourced out to another company, and the only important part would be having skilled editors/publishers.

[skyscraper]

DMN article from spring 2010 when SMU shut down the press fills in a lot of facts for those interested:
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/educatio ... s-6013.ece

[EastStang]

A couple of points. (1) "Publishing" is a whole new world today with IPads, Kindles, and Blogs. (2) Printed books are still out there, but it is a shrinking medium. (3) SMU Press needed a hero, a white night, a circle of English majors so to speak. (4) The writer should not have brought in athletics.

[RyanSMU98]

A couple of points. (1) "Publishing" is a whole new world today with IPads, Kindles, and Blogs. (2) Printed books are still out there, but it is a shrinking medium. (3) SMU Press needed a hero, a white night, a circle of English majors so to speak. (4) The writer should not have brought in athletics.

I am guessing you would not be part of the circle of English majors, as 4 points is by definition more than a "couple" Just messing with you, and I happen to think your "several" points are spot-on!

[PK]

...and they might have gotten better results with a white knight.

[Bergermeister]

WE ARE SMU! We can do both!

You mean we COULD have football AND baseball.