Cardinal Points

Issue date: 4/20/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Shumpei Kishi College Bookstore Director Jerry DeCelle said he sympathizes with students' irritation over the small amount of money given back for textbook reimbursement.

As the end of the semester rapidly approaches, students are contemplating what to do with their hulking pile of textbooks. Should they sell them back to the bookstore, keep them or donate them to charity?

Senior David Conteh has accumulated dozens of expensive books from the past two semesters - spending hundreds of dollars - but due to the realities of low-pay back, has hung on to most of them.

Conteh said he has spent almost $800 in the past on books, often because he said his chemistry and biology books are especially expensive.

"Some individual books cost me $100 and above (and) when I try to sell it back, sometimes they say they're changing the edition and they'll buy it back for next-to-nothing or they won't buy it at all," Conteh said. "So I've kept most of them."

PSUC senior Larissa Cutulle was also upset about low payback on expensive textbooks.

"I know it's not the professors or bookstores fault, but it's frustrating," Cutulle said. "Students can usually make a lot more selling them to (online retailers) like Half.com or Amazon."

Senior Krystal Lugo said she has bought books through Half.com before.

She is wary, however, about doing business online with potentially sketchy customers who might not pay her back,

"If I could get more money and make even or come close to what I spent, I would do it," Lugo said. "I have trust issues with the postal system so I don't (conduct online transactions) often."

College Bookstore Director Jerry DeCelle said he sympathizes with students' irritation over the lack of textbook reimbursement.

"Professors don't want students using out-of-date textbooks," DeCelle said. "Textbook turnover usually lasts a year for departments like computer science where technology is always changing."

DeCelle suggested a solution for students who don't want to receive minute repayment - they can be more socially-conscious and donate to the Better World Books program, currently being spearheaded by the Student Association.

PSUC sophomore and SA Senator Ryan Many lauded the book charity, which is in partnership with more than 900 other universities.

Better World Books is a program where schools donate to three different locations to help literacy in America, a developing country, or Asia, Many said.

"I think it's a good way to rationalize the money spent and it helps other countries," he said.

Senior Robin Lenfest said she was skeptical of the charity and also didn't want to go through the trouble of selling the books online either.

"It sounds like a good cause, but ultimately I need the money right away, that's why I always return them," Lenfest said.

PSUC senior Chibuzo Akujuo said she was certain she would hold on to her textbooks for the time being.

"There's so many options, but right now, I won't sell them back, because I might need them for my career or for future classes in graduate school," Akujuo said.

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