ASM presents solution to high textbook prices

The Associated Students of Madison’s Affordable Textbook Campaign presented a resolution addressing campus textbook policies to the Faculty Senate’s University Committee Monday.

Jonah Zinn, chair of ATC, said the campaign is looking for faculty support to make cheaper textbooks a reality at UW-Madison.

“We do understand that there are efforts around campus to reduce textbooks costs,” Zinn said. “[But] it would be a great public statement if the faculty of this campus would come out and say we acknowledge that there is a problem and we acknowledge that there are solutions to this problem.”

ATC made several recommendations to the committee. They suggested professors provide book lists at least one month before classes start, use new editions of textbooks only when necessary and become educated about alternative textbook options, such as open source and electronic options.

Zinn said ATC recently conducted a survey about textbook costs on campus. They found 88 percent of respondents said they would shop around for books online or at other stores if book lists were available earlier.

Dennis Maki, a professor in the Department of Medicine, said it can be difficult to bring down prices because professors make little profit on the textbooks they write. However, he said he would support making book lists available earlier if that would help students find cheaper prices.

“If giving you a four-week lead time would be an advantage for you, at least from my perspective, I don’t think that’s too much to ask from faculty members,” Maki said. “If that would help, I think we should do everything we can to try to advance that.”

Judith Burstyn, a professor in the chemistry department, said it can be difficult to avoid buying new editions of textbooks because publishers often stop printing old editions, making it difficult to have enough textbooks for certain classes.

Brustyn said ASM’s textbook campaign is one of many attempts to find a solution to the textbook problems on campus. She said UW-Madison libraries have also made an effort to ensure that books are available to students.
 

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