Spring Break
House attempts to decrease price of textbooks
Katherine Kohls
Issue date: 2/12/08 Section: Community
"Know that the requirement to posting the course adoption information is not going to be physically possible in some cases," he said. "Trying to get on the same page may cost colleges more and that is passed along in some way, shape or form."
Schmidt also believes there needs to be better communication between faculty, administrators, students and university bookstores through textbook advisory committees.
"It's getting everyone on the same page and working together," Schmidt said. "That has shown a lot of success in places where it has happened."
James Simpson, assistant director of the Miami University Bookstore, said that Congress's idea is nothing new. He also said that he is unsure that Congress could accomplish this goal.
"We are all for lowering prices," Simpson said. "But, it is a situation where we have no control; it is in the hands of the publisher."
Miami sophomore Courtney Anvender said she has not heard of the Congressional movement.
"I think that it's a great idea," she said. "But, doesn't Congress have bigger fish to fry?"
However, Anvender, who pays for her own books, said the cost of course textbooks can be expensive.
"I think that textbooks are way overpriced," she said. "If book costs were lowered, I would have more money to spend on other things."
The Senate has already passed its version of the Higher Education Act, which does not include the restrictions on textbooks that were proposed from the House of Representatives.
Now that the House has voted, a conference committee of legislators from both chambers will discuss the differences to come to a compromise, according to Schmidt.
Although Congress has completed another stage in passing the bill, Simpson said there is another way to keep college textbooks affordable.
"The best way to lower prices is to educate faculty so they are aware of the prices and deals available," Simpson said.
Both Simpson and Anvender are skeptical as to if the bill will actually be executed and neither believes that it will make a great impact on their lives.
"Our sales margin will not be affected by lowering or subsidizing prices; we will still get the same percentage of profit from the total cost," Simpson said.
Additional reporting by Ann Koblenzer and Christopher Washington.
Schmidt also believes there needs to be better communication between faculty, administrators, students and university bookstores through textbook advisory committees.
"It's getting everyone on the same page and working together," Schmidt said. "That has shown a lot of success in places where it has happened."
James Simpson, assistant director of the Miami University Bookstore, said that Congress's idea is nothing new. He also said that he is unsure that Congress could accomplish this goal.
"We are all for lowering prices," Simpson said. "But, it is a situation where we have no control; it is in the hands of the publisher."
Miami sophomore Courtney Anvender said she has not heard of the Congressional movement.
"I think that it's a great idea," she said. "But, doesn't Congress have bigger fish to fry?"
However, Anvender, who pays for her own books, said the cost of course textbooks can be expensive.
"I think that textbooks are way overpriced," she said. "If book costs were lowered, I would have more money to spend on other things."
The Senate has already passed its version of the Higher Education Act, which does not include the restrictions on textbooks that were proposed from the House of Representatives.
Now that the House has voted, a conference committee of legislators from both chambers will discuss the differences to come to a compromise, according to Schmidt.
Although Congress has completed another stage in passing the bill, Simpson said there is another way to keep college textbooks affordable.
"The best way to lower prices is to educate faculty so they are aware of the prices and deals available," Simpson said.
Both Simpson and Anvender are skeptical as to if the bill will actually be executed and neither believes that it will make a great impact on their lives.
"Our sales margin will not be affected by lowering or subsidizing prices; we will still get the same percentage of profit from the total cost," Simpson said.
Additional reporting by Ann Koblenzer and Christopher Washington.
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