Hello, all. I find myself in a bit of a pickle.

I don't know if I'm followed by any professional photographers or amateur photographers with professional cameras, but I'd like some advice.

I'm taking a photography class in the fall semester, and to do so I need to buy myself a camera. I have absolutely NO experience with "nice" cameras, having only used cheapo digital and cell-phones in my life.
These are the specifications given by the professor:

"However, you do need a good working 35 mm camera.
This camera must have a manual mode  (not all automatic settings)."

What I'm asking is, do you have any suggestions of a nice, but cheaper camera that I could use for this? Where (or what website) would you suggest buying one from?
If you have one that you're willing to part with, what would be your price?
If you know someone who might be able to answer these questions, or sell me a camera, would you ask them for me?

Any help I receive will be GREATLY appreciated, and I will love you all forever if your advice leads to me getting a good camera. In fact, I might reward the particularly good advice with a free commission or something of the like.

Thank you all, and I hope this works. ^.^