Kansas University freshman Amanda Thow spent about $600 last semester on books and sold back what she could for $75.
"I think it's outrageous," Thow said. "It's like worse than buying a new car and trying to sell it after a year."
KU students are joining the fight to keep textbook costs down.
KU's student government has joined a nationwide effort, involving student government associations and student public interest research groups, to beat back the prices. The Affordable Textbooks Campaign is calling for publishers to keep textbook editions on the market as long as possible, rather than issue frequent new editions. They want publishers to allow professors to order unbundled textbooks that don't have added features like CD-ROMs, which raise textbook prices. And they want more forums for students to buy used books.
"I think it's a problem," said Hannah Love, a KU student and Freshman/Sophomore College of Liberal Arts and Sciences senator for KU's student government. "The more research I read about it the more I realize we're getting screwed here."
According to a July report of the Government Accountability Office, a typical student at a four-year institution spent an estimated $898 for books and supplies for the 2003-04 school year. In the last two decades, costs increased at twice the inflation rate.
Katie Rose Hargreaves, an Olathe junior at KU, browses through the stacks of books at the Jayhawk Bookstore, 1420 Crescent Road.
KU has an online book exchange open only to students. The forum helps, Love said.
"No one cares if it's an old book or a new book," she said.
Love said the campaign would continue.
"We're young and energetic and ready to go," she said. "If they're not scared, they better be."
The national campaign has been going on for a few years and is making headway, said Hannah Nguyen, coordinator of the national campaign, based in Portland, Ore.
Alternative publishers offering similar services without the glossy thrills have popped up, and there have been cases of professors successfully bargaining for cheaper prices, Nguyen said.
The campaign isn't without its critics. Bruce Hildebrand, executive director for Higher Education with the Association of American Publishers, said the campaign was filled with inaccuracies, and that even the GAO report was flawed.
"They're selling snake oil to so many of the students," he said, "and it's not really fair."
Hildebrand said the GAO report's estimate regarding textbook costs included the cost of class supplies, which many people fail to report or fail to realize. He also said the report's conclusions about textbook price increases over time failed to take into account changes in the technology. Essentially, he said, a book today looks better and is more advanced than a book two decades ago.
"It's not an apples-to-apples comparison," he said.
As for the practice of bundling additional information and offerings with a textbook, Hildebrand said the add-ons, such as online quizzes and homework, helped raise student success rates.
"There's no supporting data for what they're saying," Hildebrand said of the campaign. "It's being spun. We think it's unfair to the publishers, and we think it's unfair to the students. And it's particularly unfair to the faculty."
In response to the allegations, Nguyen said, "We have the support of two years of our own research as well as research by the GAO that proves that publishers artificially increase the price of textbooks."
Thow, the KU freshman, said she may hold off buying books this semester and try to figure out which ones she really needs.
She bought one new $90 book last semester that she opened only once.
"That's groceries for like a month," Thow said of the money she feels she wasted.
Comments
LJWorld.com doesn’t necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy. Also, read about banned accounts and harassing comments.
good_kitty (anonymous) says…
This semester, I went into the bookstore and copied the isbn numbers. I then sat down with my laptop and ordered all books but one online. I saved twenty dollars on a hundred dollars worth of books and only had to buy one book at the bookstore. Ha Ha! I have made it a goal to not buy my books at the KU bookstore anymore. Online is where the savings can be found.
www.cheapesttextbooks.com
betti81 (anonymous) says…
Textbooks are outrageous. I highly recommend sharing when possible. it saved me loads of money my last year at ku. and the truth is, i rarely opened my textbook (the novels i read) and graduated with a very high gpa by simply going to class. professors tend to tell you all you need to know for the test. i think professors should seriously consider if they actually need to assign textbooks. And to Hildebrand--i could careless how glossy or nice the text book is and in four years of college i don't believe i took a quiz or test my teacher didn't write.
yourworstnightmare (anonymous) says…
"i rarely opened my textbook (the novels i read) and graduated with a very high gpa by simply going to class. professors tend to tell you all you need to know for the test."
I am glad to see that students attending University have a love of learning...
I have always been a supporter of the populist idea of accessible higher education for all, but students like this make me think that higher education should be limited to those who are truly prepared and serious about it.
After all, I certainly wouldn't want someone with this attitude as a doctor, lawyer, or businessman.
andisue (anonymous) says…
www.bigwords.com
This is a great site. You type in the books that you need, and it compares prices at many different sites and finds the cheapest, while still using only reputable sources. You can also use this website to find the best place to sell your books. I always get more money by selling them on the internet. If only I had this information years ago!
Jamesaust (anonymous) says…
The university should have a policy that encourages instructors to design their own course materials. Not only would this save the students more money (usually)but the process of developing a good set of course materials would aid the instructor in reflecting on the goals of the course and the means of achieving those goals.
yourworstnightmare (anonymous) says…
Jamesaust,
I agree. I think most instructors do this anyway and use the text as a starting point and for background material.
Starness34 (anonymous) says…
I think that it would be helpful if your teachers had to put a list of the required books( With ISBN #"S) for their class online before school starts. That way you have more time to find cheaper books online and know that your going to be getting the right book.
moron (anonymous) says…
I know it all, I know about everything. I will open my big know-it-all mouth about anything. You name it- college text books, government, international affairs, foreign policy, religion, chemistry, geology, dogs, cats, rats, bats, pens, papers, pencils, rocket science, space exploration and of course Rolls-Royce.... even animal abuse.
Thanks.
Moron.
Harry_Manback (anonymous) says…
I buy a lot of my textbooks on half.com and amazon.com. Unfortunately, this semester all my books were special editions by the professor, so I had to purchase them all for full price. The textbook industry is such a rip-off. They republish the books with little, or no changes, and then sell them for full price. When you try to sell it back in perfect condition, you only get $5 or $10 for it.
willie_wildcat (anonymous) says…
When I went to college textbooks were outrageous and that was 3-4 years ago. I bought mine used from students who had the class and got it cheaper than the bookstores had it used. Its a shame that not only do students pay high tution but to add insult to injury books are through the roof. Too bad there cant be some kind of cap on book costs. But I guess that will happen when pigs fly.
Godot (anonymous) says…
Of course, the texts for evolution have to be updated every year, because that field is constantly changing. What is claimed to be fact one year, turns out to be proven false the next.
The_Twelve (anonymous) says…
Yes, Hannah, some students are "getting screwed." But why is it that students think they have the RIGHT to sell back texts? Just because one buys a car does not give the buyer the RIGHT to sell it back. Do you sell back your clothes each season? How about all those electronics that students have, so quickly outdated? That's life! Geesh.
It's strange that no one has posted on several facts: 1. Brochures are available at the some bookstores (since good_kitty wants to advertise her on-line sources), explaining to students why some prices are high, and why buyback prices are set the way they are; 2. The fact that a percentage of campus sales do go toward other student activities. 3. There are two levels of buyback: retail (used again at KU the following semester) and wholesale (not used)--students who sell at one location are told this, I know because I was the one who explained it (for 7 years)
I'll have to agree with yourworstnightmare about the quality of students at KU--I saw many in my days as a store clerk, who bought the text for the course in the days right before midterms or finals.Then there were those who didn't even know the name of the course instructor, or the correct name of the book they were supposed to be reading....
Oh, and gl0ck0wnr--the campus store(s) DO NOT have a lock on business (lock and load): there are two other retail establishments in Lawrence. bang!
ps< i'm a former book store clerk, Student Senator, GTA, and of course, student...I've seen/worked both sides, something many of you probably haven't. Of course, I taught in a field where there are few good texts in the first place, but the cost of the one we used (and I expected my students to read it everyday) was less than $30.00--it was used both semesters.
I don't apologize for high prices, I've paid them myself, but some commentators need to check the facts...
As for "professors [who] tend to tell you all you need to know for the test"--I hope I never set as my goal the education of parrots. Iraq has WMDs, Iraq has WMDs, Iraq has WMDs...awwk!
wonderhorse (anonymous) says…
Posted by Godot (anonymous) on January 22, 2006 at 10:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Of course, the texts for evolution have to be updated every year, because that field is constantly changing. What is claimed to be fact one year, turns out to be proven false the next.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I know you are intentionally exaggerating. The fact that the theory of evolution is being constantly updated to iincorporate new knowledge as it is discovered just gives me more confidence that the scientific process is working well.
By the way, what facts were proven wrong last year?
silver11 (anonymous) says…
bonanaza! bonanaza!! bonanaza!!!
buy two get one free!!!
silver mobile limited.
Email:silvermobilephonestore@hotmail.com
OR
: silvermobilephonestore1@yahoo.com
Tel: +2348027210292
brand new sim free/open lines/unlock.
We are mobile phones wholesalers and we do sale in pieces to enhance
our sales.We deals on all brands and models of mobile phones such as
Nokia,Motorola,Samsung,Sony Ericsson,Sagem, Nextel,Sidekick
II,Sprint,Ipods, Laptops, Mp3 players etc at very cheap prices.Also, this is to
reach
our customers globally that its the season of buy two get one free.
We are using
this medium to reach interested buyers of mobile phones.Do kindly reply
back if you are interested. the kinds of mobile phones are listed below:
motorola razor v3 for........$150usd,
motorla razor v6 for........$170usd,
motorola a1000 For $160,
motorola mpx 220 For........ $135usd,
motorola mpx 300 For........ $155usd,
sony ericsson w800i For........$160usd,
sony ericsson k700i For........ $150usd
sony ericsson k750i For........ $160usd
Sony Ericsson K500i For......... $130,
Sony Ericsson S700i For........ $140,
sony ericsson p900........ For$165,
Sony Ericsson P910 For just $170usd,
Sony Ericsson: Z1010 For...........$175,
NOKIA 9500 For........ $150usd,
NOKIA 9300 For........ $130usd,
NOKIA 6260 For........$140usd,
NOKIA 8800 For $150usd,
nokia n90 For........ $180usd
nokia n91 For........ $190usd,
nokia n92 For..........$200usd
NOKIA 7610 For...........$150,
NOKIA 6682 For............145,
Nokia 6820 for ..........$130,
NOKIA 6682 For..........$160,
NOKIA 7650 For ..........$165,
NOKIA E60 for.......... $160,
Nokia 6230 for.........$130,
Nokia 6230i for ..........$140,
NOKIA E61 for.......... $165.
NOKIA E70 for......... $170,
sendo x For..........$140,
siemens sx1 For..........$140,
NEXTEL i930 For........ $130usd,
NEXTEL i860 For........ $110usd,
samsung d500 For........ $120usd,
samsung d600 for........$130usd,
samsung z500 For........$160usd,
samsung d415 For........ $110usd
samsung sgh-t500:For....... $120
samsung sgh-t200:For....... $100,
samsung sgh-e600:For $130
samsung
33sgh-d410 For........$135,
samsung sgh-p100 For........$100,
samsung e330c:For.........$120,
samsung e800c For............$150,
samsung d720 For .............$150,
samsung d730 For .............$155,
Wilbur_Nether (anonymous) says…
gl0ck0wner, in a high-caliber post, wrote: "Tell me the difference between a 2004 edition algebra book and a 2005 algebra book."
The difference: availability. Prof's can assign an older edition, but students finding it is another issue.
yellowrose (anonymous) says…
I know that textbooks are expensive but when most students buy their books, all they have to do is open the package and the cover of a book and begin reading. As for the CDroms, most students just have to pop them in the CD player and push a button. Students, you don't realize just how fortunate you are. I have to move heaven and earth to get the titles of books I will need for each semester and have them in the hands of braille transcribers and special recording studios at least 3 months before they are needed. While taking classes in the fall, I'm constantly working to get accessible books and materials for classes that I'm not yet enrolled in. Before I can use the CDrom that comes with a book, it has to be recorded on a cassette because screenreaders can't read the graphics. You might pay $100.00 for one or two books but, you leave the counter with your ready to use books. I sent the first 15 chapters of a book to a braille transcription organization to get an estimate on the transcription cost. How would you like to pay $3,000.00 for only half of a textbook in addition to the cost of the print copy of that book? I won't have that textbook when I start the class that uses it because the cost is prohibitively expensive. I'll have to hire people to read it to me. I know your books are expensive but believe me, you can count your blessings that they are immediately available to you if you choose to use them. Sometimes, the books I receive in braille or recordings are defective and can't be used at all. Sometimes they arrive 5 or more weeks into the semester and I frantically try to play "hurry up and catch up," which isn't easy when falling so far behind. In some cases, publishers have not given permission or provision for their materials to be made available to students like me. I've had to drop classes because of these kinds of circumstances. Be thankful for your gift of sight which makes your books much less expensive than they could be. Good luck in the fall semester and when you get ready to complain about the cost, remember what I've described hear and *please do* count your blessings.