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/ NEWS / WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
POLITICS
Law could make books cheaper
BY KIRSTEN KWON kkwon@kansan.com
The hefty cost of books could decrease thanks to a new federal textbook price disclosure law that went into effect July 1.
The law requires publishers to clearly state their prices and the changes made to every new edition of textbooks. This will give professors the information needed to choose less expensive books for their courses.
Faculty must give their lists of required books to the book stores sooner, allowing students to know exactly how much a course will cost before enrolling. Professors were required to submit their book lists by March 15 for the fall semester.
tor, said.
As a part of HEOA, or the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the law was created to provide more information to both teachers and students in an attempt to help students save money.
"The goal is to allow students the information up front so they know the true cost of the course including the course materials," Estella McCollum, KU Bookstores direc
their responsibility to seek it. The details were not readily available or required.
Nicole Allen, textbook advocate for Student Public Interest R es e a r c h Groups, said their campaign to make textbooks more affordable aims to help students,
Megan Greene, professor of Chinese history, said that the problem of high-priced textbooks lies
who lack any control over prices.
"The goal is to allow students the information up front so they know the true cost of the course."
"It limits the publishers' ability to rip people off," Allen said. "They're able to take advantage of students because they don't have a choice."
Professors were not denied information like the prices of books before the law passed, but it was
ESTELLA MCCOLLUM KU Bookstores Director
with the constant need to buy new editions of the same book. She said because the publishers make small changes to the books, the older editions are taken out of circulation, making it difficult to
Photo courtesy of Photo8.com
avoid the newest version.
"It's hard to let your students use the older editions because then there's not enough of them for all the students." Greene said. "It's kind of being forced to buy the newer edition."
In attempts to end this cycle, the new law states that publishers must include the dates of the last three editions. Allen said she was confident the law would be enforced.
come to that," she said.
Faculty members must also abide by the law to their greatest ability. McCollum said that although there are some cases in which professors can't list their books by the required date, those who do are helping students save money.
"The increased amount of time helps us gather more used books for the students and price shop," McCollum said.
"Watchdog groups like ours will be watching, but I don't think it will
STATE
Police recommend charges for hazing
PITTSBURG — Pittsburg State University police are recommending charges against 15 people in an alleged hazing incident involving students from a southwest Missouri high school.
The incident occurred last month during a football camp on the university campus and involved members of the Seneca High School team. Fifteen students are suspected of hazing 17 alleged victims.
The university announced Monday the campus police investigation has been sent to the Crawford County prosecutor, who will decide whether to file charges. The Joplin Globe reports that campus police recommended charges ranging from felony aggravated battery to misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor hazing.
Associated Press