Students shouldn’t pay for textbooks
The burden of purchasing textbooks should be on the University, not its students.
By JANETTE FU
It’s no secret USC is one of the most expensive schools in America. With tuition and other miscellaneous fees, we’re expected to pay $90,674 on average for a school year. Given these high costs — which have risen 5% this year alone — students should not be forced to pay for textbooks.
Within that estimated cost of attendance, around $1,200 are for books and supplies. This means that in addition to the $66,640 students pay in tuition to receive their education, they need to spend even more money to have a shot at passing their classes. After all, students have no choice but to pay for textbooks if their tests and homework assignments are based on the readings.
There are a few options for students who don’t want to overpay for textbooks. USC Bookstore has a rental system where students can rent used books for a cheaper price, or they can buy used books for a lower price. Additionally, USC does give out need-based financial aid and grants to help pay for various expenses such as tuition, books and other educational expenses like rent and meal plans. However, this funding isn’t accessible to everyone.
There are other ways for students to obtain textbooks without overspending, but most of these alternatives have downsides. For example, students can buy second-hand books for less by purchasing them through websites such as eBay or ThriftBooks; however, these websites do not always carry the correct version of textbooks or even have the textbook at all. Additionally, these options often have much longer shipping times, leaving students without their necessary readings for a period of time.
Another common way for students to find cheap textbooks is to pirate them. In a survey done by Student Watch, about 11% of respondents said they had pirated at least one course material or obtained materials through an unauthorized means. While this may seem like a good option since students can download books for free, this is illegal — and can result in fines ranging from $750 to $30,000.
(Melanie Guevara / Daily Trojan)
What’s more, professors often list books they’ve written themselves as required reading. When a student buys their book, they get a percentage of the commission. It’s unfair for students who are already paying $66,640 in tuition to further contribute to these educators’ incomes.
Given the power dynamic between teacher and student, it’s inherently unethical for teachers to necessitate their own textbooks. If students don’t purchase these textbooks that professors profit from, their grades may suffer the consequences.
To combat all of this, USC should implement a library system at the bookstore where students can borrow textbooks for free. Like any library, if the student returns a book late, in damaged condition or loses it, they should pay for it.
Moreover, the University would purchase a certain amount of textbooks for a specific course, and because the books would be returned at the end of the semester, the bookstore can reuse the books over the years. Not only would this help students, but this is a more sustainable option, which aligns to USC’s commitment to achieving zero waste by 2028.
Students already pay an exorbitant amount to go to USC. They attend classes, participate in discussion sections and go to office hours. It’s unfair that students have to pay for textbooks to succeed in class when they’re already spending so much money and time to do so. USC needs to support their students in any way possible, one of which is by providing free textbooks for all.
