6C - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, September 3, 1997 Textbook costs irritate students UNIVERSITY MSA leaders hope to meet students' needs Publishing costs, late orders from professors, often keep prices high. By Jason Stoffer Daily Staff Reporter Neither demands for civil rights nor demonstrations against the War in Vietnam caused the largest mass arrest in University history. The most popular cause at the University in the 1960s was textbook costs. On Sept. 25, 1969, more than 100 stu- dents were arrested in a protest to demand administrative help in opening a non-prof- it, student-run bookstore. While times have changed, textbook costs continue to make a significant dent in student pocketbooks, and are a cause out of its way to help students and profes- sors. "We try to have more personalized ser- vice," Smith said. "Ulrich's, Michigan Book and Supply and the Union Bookstore have a more generic, McDonald's-type operation." These other three major campus book- stores also have used-book pricing that is more profit oriented. According to "How Books are Priced," a pamphlet published by Barnes and Noble, bookstore profit margins are significantly higher for used, as compared to new, books. Bookstore profits on a new book are 15 percent, with used-book profits soaring to 33 percent. Michigan Book and Supply textbook buyer Irv Scheek said he "cannot justify" By Katie Piona Daily Staff Reporter for irritation. The Office of Financial Aid estimates that text- books cost students $530 per year. LSA senior Kerri Smith said this figure is far from reality for many students. "Books cost me any- where from $300-$600 per term," Smith said. "Some of my English courses have eight, 12 or even 15 books, many of which are unavailable used." Michigan Student Assembly Vice President OlgaSavic urges students to save money by shying away from new-book pur- chases. :::B:""-.y" -:.i:th}i?" i:e ii+ib i: }::i ok i:4::} . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... . . . . . . . ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .y ,. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . u... d.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 995-8877. . .p. . .............................. these margins. "I've been in business for 32 years, and this is how everyone all over the country does pricing," Scheek said. "I pay stu- dents the same price I pay the used book warehouse for books." LSA sophomore Syed Amir accused bookstores of price gouging and said this puts a strain on his Baby pictures, grinning faces, pets and an alien endorsement. Incoming students will soon become familiar with ima on the bright flyers adorning the walls of campus buildiiigs and the numerous candidates urging students to vote for Michigan Student Assembly representatives. Each November and March, University students cast ballots for their school's student government representatives. In addition to voting for candidates, students must approve referendums, including fee increases and campus constitution amendments. While colorful campaigns bring the most attention to MSA, many members say they hope to bring a serious purpose to MSA. MSA President Mike Nagrant said he hopes to boost the number of students vot- ' ing in assembly elections to 25 percent. "I think that's the goal that MSA should shoot for," he said. Approximately 5,000 students, or 15 per- cent of the student population, voted during the assembly's March presidential elections, z. the largest number ever. Many students attribute the increase in voter turnout to MSA's new online-voting option. The assembly's 49 members meet once Nagrant a week to discuss issues like the formation of a student-regent position and the approval of funding to stu- dent groups. Members also participate in committee work throughout the week. "The most important function is student group support, cer- tainly," he said, referring to MSA's duty of dividing funds among various student groups. "(MSA) is the official student voice on campus." During the 1996-97 MSA elections, students approved two fee increases that will raise the MSA fee from $3.69 to $5.69 this fall. Nagrant said the increase was necessary for the assembly to meet all the funding requests from student organizations. "There's one statistic that says it all: We fund 40 percent student groups," Nagrant said. Budget Priorities Committee Chair and SNRE Rep. Karip Morgan said the fee increase is essential to enrich students' lives because the funds contribute to numerous campus events. "I'm just really excited about having that money for more student groups;' Morgan said. Half of the $2 fee increase will be allocated specifically for. community-service projects. Aside from giving money to groups on campus, MSA works to change other aspects of the University. Nagrant and Vice President Olga Savic are in the processO creating a coursepack store for students to purchase coursepa- cks without excess fees. "Most likely, I think we can get it totally in place by winter," Nagrant said. "There's some progress being made:' At the least, a bidding system will be organized by the fall to get students the best coursepack deal, Nagrant said. Rackham Rep. Ray Robb said graduate students do not get a equal voice on MSA simply because they are outnumbered by undergraduate representatives. "It's been easy for MSA to overlook the concerns of graduae and professional students, and that will have to change," Rd said. ., . . . oisi ...l0W "Always look for used and try to hit ised book stores like David's or Dawn Treader," Savic said. "Eventually, if you've known people who have taken cer- tain; classes, you can borrow or buy books from them." Officials at the independent bookstore Shaman Drum Bookshop say the store is ,committed to holding down student costs. Its efforts include selling a large number of used books at little or no profit. "I try to get at least 50-percent or 60- ;ereent used books to help students," said Carrie Smith, Shaman Drum's textbook office manager. "including labor costs, we actually lose money buying back books." Smith said that Shaman Drum will go p: 313 S. budget. it~ a 62-7407, "Prices are high. This is my first term here and I I Oek paid about $60 for a used £1