By: Jesus Ron
It gets worse every
year. Text book prices continue to rise and students struggle to pay
them. "These prices are outrageous this is just ridiculous." said
Charlene Cheung as she exited the NJ Bookstore toting a bag full of
books in hand. Cheung, who is a senior majoring in Finance, spent about
$500 on books last spring and $350 this summer for "just two books."
Freshman Seera Walter shared a similar sentiment, "Its only my first
year here. I spent about 400 bucks on books this semester and I'm not
even done yet! This is crazy!" Walter's friend Ebony Williams (also a
freshman) jumped in to add, ""We have no say, you don't even know how
much the book is until the last minute sometimes. We w aant more
options more information."
On Monday August, 29, the UCSGA will try to create an option for
students by organizing their second book swap . The event will be held
outside the Paul Robenson Center at 11:30 AM during the free period. At
the swap students can exchange their older text books and trade with
other students for a book they might need. UCSGA president Veer Patel
who is organizing the Book Swap said he thought the first book swap
last spring was very successful and thinks that this year there will be
an even better turnout. "Last year we floated around 150, this year we
are expecting a turnout anywhere from 150-300 students." Patel also
stated that there would be a second meet held for part time students.
"The second swap will begin at 4:00 and end at 6 o'clock. Although this
event is targeting the entire Rutgers Newark population, it is our duty
and pleasure to hold the event again, for University College Students."
Patel hopes to get faculty involved for future swaps.
Students like Sam Beeler a Philosophy and Public Health major are all
for it. ""The book swap is definitely a good idea, most students will
finish class and never touch a book again." Jennifer Rivera a political
science major, agreed, "The bookstores don't really pay much for my
used books. With the book swap at least I can get some value out of my
old textbooks. Cheap is good, free is better. That's my motto in life"
Even Derek Baker, manager of Barnes and Noble was supportive "I think
it's unique to this campus and will certainly help students." He added
that he didn't think it would affect business.
Still some students doubt the book swap will make much of a difference.
""For me personally it would be a waste of time. The chances of them
having what I need are slim to none. You lose your book and you
get...what? A piece of candy? No thanks. " said Cheung.
Cheung, like most savvy price conscious students, has her own method
for saving money on books, "I try to find ways to save - Like this
semester I went to webreg and pulled up my classes. If the professor
pulls the book early enough I can search for it online and trying to
order in advance for cheaper. But sometimes it's the wrong edition so
it's risky."
Cynthia Moradak is an accounting major who also uses the internet to
her advantage. "I can get the books real cheap off the internet and
then sell them back for a good amount. Last semester I sold a book back
for almost a $100." Unlike Cheung she thinks the book swap is a good
idea, "I wish I found out about it sooner. I already bought all my
books."
Still the net only works to an extent. Professors need to put in the
orders early in order for students to have time to hunt for books. "The
book list is up at the last minute and there's no time to order a used
one from the net because you need it right away for class," said Walter
as she stood holding a bag full of books near Barnes and Noble.
Derek Baker the manager at Barnes and Noble sympathized, "Students can
save a lot of money on used books but it all depends on professors
requesting the books early." He explains that bookstores don't know
whether they need used books and won't buy them from students until
professor's place their orders. He also stated that late orders also
drive up prices on new books. "The earlier we order the cheaper the
prices are."
Anne Halkias the campus organizer of the NJPIRG student chapter at
Rutgers-Newark works with the affordable textbook campaign
(www.maketextbooksaffiordable.com) hopes her organization can work with
faculty to help drive down prices. "Were trying to help educate them on
the issues. Whether it comes to ordering books earlier to telling them
how they can get publishers to provide cheaper books." She believes
publishing companies are not giving Professors enough information to
make solid decisions. "Professors most of the time don't even know how
much a book or why a new edition is published. Were trying to get them
to sign coalition letters that would outline things that can be done to
lower the cost of textbooks."
In the meantime resourceful students like Cheung have found more
immediate solutions, "When worse come to worse, you can borrow or even
better, just photocopy a friend's book."
