Making textbooks more affordable for University students was the main topic of discussion at last night's Student Council meeting.
Student Life Committee Co-Chair Isaac Wood presented a piece of legislation to Council encouraging faculty to support the University Bookstore's buyback and rental programs, which could allow students to spend less money on required texts. If passed, the legislation would demonstrate Council's endorsement of a plan in which University professors would be urged to use the same textbooks for multiple semesters and to cooperate with the University Bookstore's efforts.
"The basic idea here was that students can use a book for more than one semester or that kids could split the cost in some way," Wood said. "The problem is that editions of texts change so often, and professors either aren't willing to use old editions or [if willing to use the old edition] they don't notify the bookstore that they will use the old one."
First-year College student Linde Groover said she was shocked by the excessive prices of textbooks when she purchased them for the first time.
"I'm a first-year and I definitely had the whole overwhelming bookstore experience," Groover said. "I had a scholarship first semester and I thought I was set. I had no idea I could be spending $600 for one semester."
Council plans to vote on the resolution at next week's meeting. If approved, the resolution would then be presented to the various school councils, enabling them to encourage faculty members to support more affordable textbooks for students.
Although Council members seemed to agree that textbook prices are a legitimate concern for students, some members expressed concern about the wording of the legislation regarding the role of faculty members.
"I understand this is a problem," Graduate College Rep. Clara Sherley-Appel said. "But I don't think we want this to be students versus faculty," noting that the current wording may place blame on the faculty for the high costs of textbooks.
Another resolution presented to Council last night would allow students to bring one sealed bottle of water into Scott Stadium during football games.
Third-year College Rep. Sterling Elmore took notice of this issue last semester when a significant number of students at a football game had to be attended to by health officials because of dehydration.
According to Elmore, the stadium's price of $3.50 for a bottle of water may be too expensive for University students.
"It's not really fair for the University to sacrifice student safety and health to make a profit," Elmore said. "If students can't afford or are choosing not to buy water, this is a problem."
According to Elmore, she has a meeting this Friday with athletic department officials to discuss the possibility of this resolution.
"I think this is a plausible solution for us," Elmore said. "But we're definitely open to alternatives that [athletic department officials] suggest."
Both resolutions will be up for approval at next week's meeting.
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