Many students complain about the price of book at bookstores - and MSU’s undergraduate government is trying to help.
ASMSU’s Academic Assembly passed two bills Tuesday that could alleviate the cost of textbooks by setting up a book exchange program through its Web site.
The site will be a free exchange of books to all students - similar to a message board where students can set their own prices.
Jared English, representative for James Madison College, introduced the bills and said the bills call for the Webmaster to keep the site updated and for the director of public relations to publicize the new Web Site.
The bill took awhile to finalize because ASMSU had to make sure they weren’t breaking any laws, he said.
“The university wanted to make sure we talk to our lawyers about the legalese before we went ahead with it,” English said.
The international relations sophomore said it will be up to the students to make this site work and he’s hoping to have the book exchange fully operational before finals.
“I hope students take the time to do it, it requires them to take the initiative,” he said.
Many MSU students said they’re interested in what ASMSU’s Web site has to offer.
Mike Barker, an English sophomore, said he spent almost $500 on books this semester. He believes the bookstores are gouging students to make more money.
“They know students don’t have money and they take advantage of that,” he said. “That’s capitalism.”
Barker said the free exchange addition to the ASMSU Web site would give students a chance to get back at the bookstores.
“It’s a great idea and I think a lot students will use it,” he said. “Maybe I won’t have to pay $500 for paperback books.”
Valentin Solano, an English senior, paid more than $350 at Student Book Store, 421 E. Grand River Ave., and Ned’s Book Store, 135 E. Grand River Ave.
Solano agrees the prices bookstores charge aren’t fair because they don’t take into account the student’s cost of living.
“They pretty much use us, they don’t consider that we’re paying for tuition and dorm needs and all the extra expenditures,” he said.
“It’s ridiculous, they don’t understand our feelings and our needs.”
Solano said he will use the Web site and it might help him explain to his parents, who financially support him, why his cost for books might go down.
“My parents are always asking me, why are your cost of books so high?” he said. “I will definitely take advantage.”
