ASUM fights rising costs of textbooks

Every semester, students dread walking into the bookstore because they know they are going to come out with wallets and purses a few hundred dollars lighter

Chuck Shufeldt, senior, communication, is one of those students.

"I spent a little over $1,000 on books. The problem is that I have to pay out of pocket instead of having my financial aid cover it since the cost was more than my student charge limit," Shufeldt said.

"But what really pisses me off is that they [publishers] keep coming up with new additions so frequently that it's hard to go to outside sources for my books because the old books are out of date," he said.

One student lobbying group is trying to change that.

Associated Students of the University of Missouri has teamed up with State Rep. Jake Zimmerman, D-Olivette, to introduce HB2048, or the Textbook Transparency Act.

The bill has three parts to it, said Craig Stevenson, a student at UM-Columbia and the legislative director for ASUM, in an e-mail interview.

"First, [the bill will] require publishing companies to disclose the pricing of a textbook when requested by a professor. Second, the bill would require books that are 'supplemental bundles' to be offered unbundled as well as bundled. The third thing it would do is require universities, when feasible, to create a policy that would allow students to use previously unused financial aid to purchase textbooks from the campus bookstore," he said.

The first part of the bill, as stated, requires publishers to let professors know the price of textbooks. According to ASUM, "over 75 percent of textbook publishers rarely or never volunteer the price of textbooks, and only 38 percent of publishers would give the price when asked."

Stevenson said the transparency portion to be introduced next week would require the release of the "suggested retail price, estimated wholesale price or the price that the publisher makes the product available to public."

Publishers will also have to include any notable content revisions of the new edition and the last edition. Lastly, they would have to provide all of the copyright dates of any previous edition in the last 10 years and if the book is available in any other format.

The second part of the bill would allow the book "bundles" to be sold as separate books and as bundles.

"The bundles are not a better deal unless all components are required for the class," University Bookstore officials said. "We are in favor of ordering the items separately, which gives us the option of trying to get used copies by purchasing them from the book wholesalers, and preferably from students at the end of the semester."

The House Higher Education Committee held a public hearing regarding the bill on Tuesday. The publishers had some concerns with the legislation, so Zimmerman hosted a conference call and meeting in his office Thursday afternoon. The parties involved reached an agreement and a vote could occur as early as Tuesday, March 11.

ASUM has talked with representatives from the Missouri Higher Education Consortium, which is an organization of the student government presidents and vice presidents from all of the 26 Missouri public two- and four-year universities. This organization has endorsed the bill.

Bookstore officials also favor legislation saving costs of textbooks.

"The bookstore is trying to keep the prices down by acquiring as many used books as possible from students and wholesalers. Used copies save the students 25 percent," bookstore officials said.

"In addition, when we can purchase books from students at the end of the semester, they get one-half of the new book price even if they purchased it used," they added. "Another cost savings for students is the ebook. We stock every title that is available and more publishers are adding this format each semester. The cost savings is over 30 percent of the new book."

Another option talked about has been renting books, which helped save Shufeldt money at Central Missouri State University, now known as University of Central Missouri.

"When I went to CMSU, I spent no more than $150 on my books," he said.

ASUM has looked into this option but not extensively. Stevenson said as this bill progresses, ASUM may consider renting books in the future.

"We will examine the merits and determine if we believe legislation to these regards is necessary," he said.