By By Nicole DiGrazia and Brendan O’Reilly
Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) introduced his new Affordable Books for College (ABC) Act Monday at a press conference at the University.
“The war on high textbook prices has begun,” Schumer said to a crowd of students and three television cameras.
The senator detailed a plan that would enable students to rent their textbooks from campus bookstores at reduced costs.
This bill is in response to a study done in July 2005 by the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
The study, using data collected from as early as 1986, concluded that textbook costs have soared over the past two decades.
“Getting a college degree has become critical,” Schumer said. “But now it’s also become backbreaking with costs going up so much.”
The GAO report attributed increasing textbook costs to practices like bundling textbooks, CD-ROMs and other supplements together.
“The cost of textbooks is through the roof,” he said.
The average cost for a year’s worth of textbooks is $998.
Science textbooks average $255, economics books $130 to $145 and English books average $70 to $100.
The rise in cost has averaged 6 percent over the last 17 years on the national level, which is twice the rate of inflation.
Another contributing factor is the multiple revisions done to a text from year-to-year or even semester-to-semester, with few changes, but high costs for students.
Also, 45 percent of textbooks publish a new edition every two or three years.
Schumer addressed these issues and others as the impetus to push for change.
His proposal is a textbook rental program, which is already in action at other colleges and universities.
“This has worked in over 20 colleges,” Schumer said.
The federal government will make a total of 50 loans to both public and private colleges and universities throughout the country, up to $2.5 million, but averaging $1 million.
The loans will be interest-free and should be repaid when the schools have the funds available.
The colleges will then take the funds and purchase the required texts.
Students will rent the books, at a price lower than if they purchased them, with the stipulation that the book is returned at the end of the semester in the same condition.
The book is then rented the following semester to a new student.
Schools and colleges will also have the opportunity to try the program as a trial run with a $25,000 grant from the government.
Schumer also proposed for the Department of Education and book publishers to work together to monitor practices like professors using their own textbooks and setting guidelines for new editions.
“We need to find ways to make college more accessible and affordable without sacrificing the academic quality that makes our system of higher education the envy of the world,” President Stuart Rabinowitz said.
With this new legislation in place, the average Long Island student could save $600 by renting their books from the bookstore.
The average freshman would save $998 for textbooks.
Other aspects that Schumer spoke about included guaranteeing textbook availability in libraries under reserved sections and publishing books online to eliminate the costs associated with printing hard copies.
Most students on campus were not aware that the senator was going to be on campus and wished they had known ahead of time.
“I was lucky enough to stumble across him speaking on my way back from class,” said Lindsay Eisemann, senior biology major. “It’s an important issue that affects each and every student, especially those who struggle to pay for school. More should have been done to make the campus aware.”
The Student Government Association was pleased that Schumer has recognized a student concern they have encountered for years.
“[Schumer] has the concern of the students in mind, he realizes students pay a lot and he wants to improve that situation,” said Olin Grant Parker, vice president of SGA. “If accepted, the bill will help 50 schools in America and Hofstra will be one of them.”
The faculty and administration give Schumer their full support.
“The legislation that Senator Schumer is advancing will help students in a very real way with their expenses,” said Rabinowitz. “This is an innovative program and I applaud Senator Schumer’s vision and leadership on behalf of families, students and institutions of higher education.”

Sen. Charles Schumer anounces a new bill that addresses the ongoing problem of high textbook prices outside Hofstra Hall Monday morning. (Meghan Attreed/Photo Courtesy)
