SUPERFLUOUS CDs in "bundled texts," new editions differing only by a sentence or two, and spending upwards of an average of $900 every year has prompted a nationwide debate about textbook pricing. Student concern has translated to political impact -- just this year, 40 resolutions in 15 states have been passed solely on this issue, including recent legislation urging professors to be mindful of textbook prices, choose earlier editions where possible and avoid purchasing unnecessary "bundled items." Instead of engaging in annual textbook complaints, students should exploit all available alternatives to get the best bargain possible and enact concrete reforms to combat this endemic problem. In addition, the University and its faculty needs to push even harder for the implementation of textbook legislation.
With a plethora of options available to University students with regard to textbooks, any cries of exploitation ultimately should be deemed laughable and premature. The University Bookstore provides students three options: new books, used books at a fraction of the cost and relatively new "e-books" that are even cheaper than used books.
Furthermore, the Bookstore releases an Online list on its Web site during the summer with the required texts (and prices) that professors order for their classes. "As the orders are received and vetted, the information is posted with a lag time of a few days," said University Bookstore official John Cates. If students were really so keen on paying less for textbooks, they would spare a minute or two of their leisure-filled summer vacations and compare the posted prices with other offers online and obtain the best bargain accordingly.
Aside from this option, there are alternatives to the University Bookstore on Grounds; the Student Bookstore on the Corner sells greater quantities of used books for selected courses, and used bookstores on the Corner and at the Downtown Mall sell some older version textbooks. There is also the increasingly popular option of purchasing textbooks from friends or potential sellers who flood class listservs announcing prices and conditions in auction fashion. University students must fully exhaust these options in order to minimize textbook spending, although searching for the best bargain always incurs a transaction cost.
It is also important to emphasize that publishing textbooks is and always will be a green-minded, money-driven industry. Therefore, students should translate their misdirected blame-throwing into addressing the root problems and undertaking concrete reforms in conjunction with the University faculty. Setting up a Web site or forum for the exchange of used books would facilitate trading amongst the student population and provide sellers and buyers with a proper channel through which to communicate, substituting the annoyance of mailing entire class listservs.
In addition, University students should look to previous initiatives undertaken by other states and universities around the nation for sources of inspiration. The first step would be the establishment of a University task force to deal with the issue, as other colleges have done. The task force should suggest undertaking measures such as textbook rental programs (implemented in Illinois and New Jersey) and placing more textbooks within campus libraries. In addition, the task force must conduct research on key issues -- such as viable alternatives for low-income students so they are not discouraged from taking courses merely because of textbook costs.
Student complaints directed at the University do, however, have limited legitimate grounds, particularly on the issue of faculty placing textbook orders late. The timeliness of textbook orders is vital since it amplifies the Bookstore's ability to purchase used books in high demand at lower prices, as well as new books for students.
I asked the Bookstore for a month-by month account of the orders received to conduct my own investigation as to how efficiently faculty members are in getting their orders.
The results were shocking -- 381 out of a total of 797 textbook orders received by the Bookstore from professors (from May to August) came in July and August. In other words, almost 50 percent of textbook orders were placed a month before school began, leaving little room, if any, to purchase used books and sometimes even resulting in late arrivals of new books. Some orders were even made as late as the beginning and middle of this week. While I realize that professors work for the best interests of students and are entitled to their "academic freedom," if this freedom is impacting student finances so seriously, the University must crack down on the problem. Just as professors would like their students to be punctual and to submit assignments on time, we expect no less from them in regards to textbooks.
With money-hungry publishers hiding behind the First Amendment yet again, students, faculty and the University must each do their part to combat the problem of textbook pricing. A greater exploitation of the vast options already available to students, timely ordering of books by professors and the University's cooperation to facilitate student-faculty relations in this regard will all help to ensure that in the end, the textbook problem has quite a textbook solution.
Prashanth Parameswaran is a Cavalier Daily Opinion columnist. He can be reached at pparameswaran@cavalierdaily.com.
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