Spring Break
National legislation proposed to lower textbook cost
Colorado student orgs follow suit
AARON HEDGE
Issue date: 9/25/07 Section: News
Hildebrand said students assume that publishers are faulty for the high price bundling generates. But the blame actually lies with teachers, he said.
"The faculty go through (curricula) and choose what works best for their instructional needs and their students," Hildebrand said. "Nobody is asking the question 'Who is choosing the textbooks?'" The answer: "The faculty," he said.
Adding to the equation - frequent new editions of books make them unnecessarily expensive, when subjects like math never change. It would be more efficient to use old editions of books, instead of republishing every one to three years, said Gibson.
Some states have already signed legislation that is aimed at making textbooks cheaper.
The State of Washington signed legislation in April nicknamed the "Textbook Transparency Act" that requires publishers to make information about textbook publication available to campus communities.
"It required publishers that are affiliated with our universities to disclose price to professors and students," said Bryce Gibson, student lobbyist for Associated Students of the University of Washington (ASUW).
But Chad Chitwood, press representative for the U.S. House of Representatives warned that at state levels, textbook transparency legislation could complicate the national problem.
"If you have 50 states doing 50 different things, it's just going to exacerbate the problem," he said.
U.S Rep. Julia Carson (D Ill.) and other lawmakers proposed a bill to the House of Representatives that would require "disclosure of prices and bundling practices," according to a press release from the House.
But Colorado students want more issues to be brought to the table at a state level, such as a rental system.
"Our proposal goes beyond that," Gibson said of the national initiative.
But Hildebrand said that legislation wouldn't do much to lower the price of textbooks and stressed the importance of professors' responsibility.
"No bundle is created without a professor explicitly requesting it," he said.
Hildebrand thinks that students can find competitive prices elsewhere.
"Students are wizards on the Internet and they are picky shoppers," he said.
Senior reporter Aaron Hedge can be reached at news@collegian.com.
"The faculty go through (curricula) and choose what works best for their instructional needs and their students," Hildebrand said. "Nobody is asking the question 'Who is choosing the textbooks?'" The answer: "The faculty," he said.
Adding to the equation - frequent new editions of books make them unnecessarily expensive, when subjects like math never change. It would be more efficient to use old editions of books, instead of republishing every one to three years, said Gibson.
Some states have already signed legislation that is aimed at making textbooks cheaper.
The State of Washington signed legislation in April nicknamed the "Textbook Transparency Act" that requires publishers to make information about textbook publication available to campus communities.
"It required publishers that are affiliated with our universities to disclose price to professors and students," said Bryce Gibson, student lobbyist for Associated Students of the University of Washington (ASUW).
But Chad Chitwood, press representative for the U.S. House of Representatives warned that at state levels, textbook transparency legislation could complicate the national problem.
"If you have 50 states doing 50 different things, it's just going to exacerbate the problem," he said.
U.S Rep. Julia Carson (D Ill.) and other lawmakers proposed a bill to the House of Representatives that would require "disclosure of prices and bundling practices," according to a press release from the House.
But Colorado students want more issues to be brought to the table at a state level, such as a rental system.
"Our proposal goes beyond that," Gibson said of the national initiative.
But Hildebrand said that legislation wouldn't do much to lower the price of textbooks and stressed the importance of professors' responsibility.
"No bundle is created without a professor explicitly requesting it," he said.
Hildebrand thinks that students can find competitive prices elsewhere.
"Students are wizards on the Internet and they are picky shoppers," he said.
Senior reporter Aaron Hedge can be reached at news@collegian.com.
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