Rising Textbook Prices Affect Mason Students
 

Nicole Olsen, Fairfax, VA- The novelist Lady Mary Wortley Montagu once said that “no entertainment is so cheap as reading.”  However, after buying their textbooks this week, most George Mason students would probably disagree. 

Junior Adam Pike, a Computer Science major, says “textbooks are expensive but what can we do?  We are here to get a degree, and our professors tell us in order to earn that degree it requires buying these books.”  He then glances down and at the stack of six hard covered books in his arms. “So do I buy them?  Of course I do; I don’t believe I have much of a choice.”

 Adam’s spent $457 at the bookstore this semester, the most he has ever spent on books. For some, that would be getting off easy.  Kari Saade, a Junior majoring in Systems Engineering, was on his second trip to the bookstore.  He had already spent $630 and still had more to buy. 

 As students crowd the bookstore this week, waiting in serpentine lines that will wrap around the room and out the door for their chance to pay hundreds of dollars for books they are compelled to purchase, they may wonder if there is any relief in sight.  Unfortunately, the future isn’t looking any better.  

 Thursday’s Washington Post stated that according to the Government Accountability Office, textbook prices nearly tripled from 1986-2004.  The article noted that much of the price increases can be attributed to the growing amounts spent on developing these books.  Today many textbooks come with CD-ROMs, web sites, and workbooks. 

 These extras cause many students to forgo the less-expensive used copies and splurge on new plastic wrapped editions.  Freshman Government major Kathleen Bowen forked over $100 for her new Spanish book.  “It’s frustrating” she said, “but I have to have the CD and workbook too.”  The Post article went on to say that the used book market suffers further because publishers release new editions of each book more frequently than they use to.  

 To have a shot at scoring used books and saving some money, bookstore employee and Sophomore Nursing student Sara Kern suggests you buy your books early.  She says the week before class there is still a good supply of used textbooks and practically no lines at the checkout.