In less than two weeks, the governor will have the option of signing a bill that will help battle the rising cost of textbooks ““ a prospect that most students should find to be a boon within the realm of financing a college education.
Two different bills to address the growing concern that most students have regarding high textbook costs will make their way to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s desk, awaiting his approval before either can have any effect.
Though both bills attempt to address the problem of expensively priced textbooks for students, the one proposed by state Sen. Ellen Corbett has a more effective and reasonable approach to tackling the issues clouding textbook prices.
Corbett’s version mandates that all publishers must provide the textbook price, how long the book will be sold before a new edition is reprinted, and a clear listing of what all the editions are.
All of Corbett’s proposed mandates would only minimally allow the student to truly know the value of the investment that they are making.
Today, the average textbook costs over $100, and an average California student spends almost $900 a year on required reading for college courses.
The proposed bills from the state Congress are not effective enough to drastically lower the cost of textbooks to make higher education more affordable and more accessible.
Politicians are not doing enough to address this issue that affects all the students in the state.
The regulations that they are set to impose are insufficient because they do nothing to save a student from overdraft fees after a trip to the campus bookstore.
So what if the publisher discloses true cost of textbooks?
This does nothing to make the books more affordable. It doesn’t force any generosity from textbook publishers, and students are now allowed the benefit of knowing exactly how much they are getting ripped off.
And knowing how long the published edition will last is a minor detail. Useless warnings of expiration do not make textbooks more affordable. So the texts will go out of print and students will still have to fork over hard-earned cash or take out high-interest loans for shrink-wrapped, glossy wallet drainers.
If our congressmen really want to help the students of their state, who will potentially vote for them in the fast-approaching election, they should propose more effective courses of action.
Legislators should create a price cap for textbooks.
After evaluating the true cost of the textbook, demand that publishers not overcharge for their product.
Textbook companies should catch up with the rest of the world and start integrating a majority of the components of their books online, which would cut down production costs and save a few trees in the process.
If costs remain high, universities should buy the books wholesale so students can buy the books at a truly discounted price.
Another thing to think about is the damage that is being done to college-owned bookstores. The ASUCLA textbook store is losing revenue because students refuse to be robbed all the time and try to save money. They go online and buy out-of-date editions, which only hurt them in the long run.
While the steps taken are drawing the attention of wider audiences to a long-existing problem, the effort is simply not enough to effect change.