Harvard Textbooks Too Expensive for Students?
Does anyone else find it hard to believe that some Harvard students make course decisions based on the cost of textbooks? Jon Staff doesn’t. In of fact Jon Staff thinks “It’s sad that students have to choose which classes they take based on the overall cost of the textbooks” (Source Boston Globe Newspaper 9-26-2007). I guess it’s one thing to shell out $31,456 in tuition ($45,620 if you stay in campus housing), but a couple hundred dollars for textbooks crosses the line, breaks the bank, and just isn’t fair to an ivy league preppy. But fear not, Jon has a solution to this injustice: Crimsonreading.org
Student innovation to the rescue
Jon Staff in partnership with the Harvard Undergraduate Council operates Crimsonreading.org a web site designed to help students save money and support charity by comparing the price of textbooks from online retailers. This site is a fantastic demonstration of a free market and I give kudos to Jon and the Undergraduate Council for putting the site together. So what’s the problem? Their book list, or lack thereof.
Not so fast — that’s my booklist
Recently the students running the site requested demanded The Coop (Harvard’s de facto student bookstore) provide a copy hand over its list of this year’s required books. The Coop refused, so students from Crimsonreading.org had to compile the list the old fashion way: they went to The Coop and started copying names and identification numbers. In true over reactive fashion, The Coop summoned the police and the students were ejected from the store. No charges were pressed but the students running Crimsonreading.org were outraged!
Note: The original post quoted the Boston Globe where they said the students “demanded” the list. Jon Staff has since posted a comment below correcting the Globe’s choice of words. According to Jon, they did not “demand” the list and they were misquoted by the Boston Globe. It should also be noted that making the word choice correction supports the assertion that the Coop over reacted when they called the police.
Almost sympathetic
I understand the underlying issue the students have with the situation but find it hard to be sympathetic. How they chose to fight the issue and their lame attempts to define the injustice made it hard to do anything but roll my eyes and think, “Here we go again. First tazer boy, then the bomb/art from MIT, and now this. Good grief!”
Here’s how this story took me from sympathy to nausea in three quick steps:
The Coop ejecting students:
Standing in the bookstore copying down names and identification numbers might not be completely on the up-and-up but it certainly isn’t illegal. Assuming the students weren’t interfering with other shoppers there is nothing wrong with creating a list for the purpose of “comparative shopping.” The Coop seemed to be taking the stance “if you’re not going to buy that book, put it down and leave immediately.”
Okay, so I’m sympathetic to students at this point.
Students “demand” The Coop’s book list:
Even though The Coop enjoys the luxury of having the list brought to them by the school’s professors, it’s still the bookstore’s list. The list isn’t part of the public domain and despite the minimal effort in getting the list, the bookstore still did the “leg work” to compile the list.
Alright, now the kids are sounding a bit ridiculous. My sympathy is starting to wane.
Students crying poor mouth while attending a highly expensive ivy league school:
I was mostly on the side of the students until I read how some “poor” students make class decisions based on the cost of the textbooks for that course. What? Mom and Dad have $31,456 for tuition but not a couple hundred dollars for books? Let’s be realistic. These students are going to one of the most expensive and revered institutions of higher learning in the country. Most Harvard students come from privileged, elite, silver-spoon-in-mouth backgrounds and they’re making class decisions based on the price of the textbooks? I don’t think so.
At this point, any shred of sympathy is completely gone and I’m starting to feel sick.
Don’t whine and hand out protest fliers — there is a better way
The Coop stifles competition by hoarding the required text book list — that’s the real issue. Since The Coop has “the list,” they have a perceived monopoly. Any student could buy their text books elsewhere, but they still need to visit The Coop to first find out what they need. And you can probably guess that once they’re there, it’s all too easy to just give in and buy the damn book. But is there a solution to this problem? Since The Coop made it clear they have no intention of handing over “the list,” then the solution to the problem lays with the source of the list: the Harvard teaching staff.
Harvard students, don’t waste your time protesting the monopolistic practices of The Coop. Turn your attention to the professors that make their individual contributions to “the list.” Solicit these individuals to email, fax, or phone in their book requirements. Do what ever you have to do, but make sure you get them to send you a copy of the list the same time they send it to The Coop. I know a protest seems like the right thing to do. Matter of fact, it’s very collegiate; however, your gripe is with the teaching staff and not The Coop. Fight the good fight — just make sure you’re fighting the right foe.
on October 1st, 2007 at 8:36 am
I’m with you, if the parents can find $32k for tuition, I’m sure they can find a few hundred dollars tucked under the seats of the sofa. As a parent, I’ve done the math and have begun very early planning for my daughter’s college education. Trust me, textbooks were factored in.
on October 17th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Hey,
I’m Jon, the alleged culprit of this story. I would tend to agree with you if your case was not made on one mistruth and one false assumption.
The mistruth (not your fault) — The Globe reported that we were demanding the reading list from the Coop. False. We wanted Harvard College to centralize a database of required text’s ISBNs to be distributed to the Coop, Harvard libraries, and non-profits like CrimsonReading. Why make everyone do the legwork?
The false assumption — That everyone (or their parents) pays the ridiculous price of tuition. A majority of Harvard students are on financial aid. Many qualify (through financial circumstance) for nearly free tuition. When this is the case, paying nearly $1000 a semsester for books is an issue.
I hope that makes you less ill.
on October 19th, 2007 at 7:04 am
Jon, let me start by thanking you for finding us, reading the post, and adding an excellent comment to the discussion.
Now, to address your point about the Globe’s misquote — what can I say? I’m highly frustrated that the professional media can’t get it right. There is a significant difference between “requesting” the list and “demanding” the list. I would have thought that a professional reporter understood the difference and knew that word selection can clearly influence the tone of an article. To try and rectify the situation I will at least insert a correction into my post. Unfortunately my reach is far less than the Global. Sorry about that.
Now, as for your point about “a majority of Harvard students are on financial aid”, that might be the case, however, until I see supporting Harvard admission data I’m sticking to my original thought that book fees aren’t “breaking the bank” for Harvard students.
All that being said, I’m still getting the impression that you believe the Coop should give you their list. The list is the Coop’s market advantage for its implied monopoly on Harvard textbooks. Requesting the list is certainly your right but there is also nothing wrong with the Coop turning down your request, and doing so does not warrant public protesting. Your energy should focus on the Harvard teaching staff. They have the power to “level the playing field” by putting their book list in a central location for all to see or provide a copy to everyone that asks.
Your solution lays with the Harvard teaching staff and not the Coop. Thanks again for the comment.
on December 30th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Bret, before you jump to conclusions I think you need to do some more research. Jon is correct that the majority of students receive a great deal of financial aid.
I have a few dear friends who attended Harvard and they deserved those full scholarships they received. Brilliant people who will make an impact on this world. It’s nice to know there are rising stars in this world you can take leadership positions away from the ridiculous people who are in power these days.
Harvard is blessed in the fact that yes, it used to have plenty of rich “ivy league preppy” as you call them. It still has a decent amount and therefore has a ridiculously large endowment. However, unlike most schools without huge endowments, Harvard is able to use this money towards financial aid.
Coughing up that much for books is absurd. As a graduate of one of the Seven Sisters (all female equivalent to the former all male Ivy’s) I am incredibly thankful for half.com and such websites. Granted we have a great independently owned bookstore for our books and I would support them whenever my measly salary as an RA or babysitting money would allow me.
Perhaps the bigger issue is why we as a society value a Harvard education over a state school? Please don’t kid yourself and deny this fact. My Ivy education in conjunction with my many internship opportunities (some through my college) made my resume shine when job hunting came around. Granted I DO believe I received an excellent education but I also worked hard and got the most out of it.
Even beyond the issue of value, there is the general cost factor. Why is it that nearly every other country in the world has some system to let their children attend college for free (or nearly free)?? I’m incredibly thankful for my dual citizenship with an EU country (and the US) so I can get my MA for free. As a young professional I have an excellent job, however, am still unable to save any decent amount of money due to student loans. Perhaps you need to rant about things that are actual issues. Don’t send your kids to Harvard if you have such an issue with Ivy League schools. There are plenty of amazing schools out there but stop making assumptions about every student at an Ivy League institution.
Also, if you went to college you should remember that banding together as a community is a learning experience. It makes you grow and makes you realize what is important in your life and what is not. Activism on campuses should not be discouraged even if you see it as silly. This is how we grow into better people.
If you’ve ever been to The Coop, you should know that they make plenty of money without forcing college students to buy from them. Do you really think that the kids’ whose parents pay their tuition, books, and spending money would take the time to order stuff online and search for the best deal?? No, they will take mommy and daddy’s credit card to The Coop.
on December 31st, 2007 at 11:59 am
Thanks for the comment Sister Seven. Your opinions are greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, I think you’re comment was slightly off track.
I do believe I acknowledged that I thought what Jon is doing is a great idea. I even corrected previous misquotes that came from the original Boston Globe article after Jon pointed them out. The problem is the group trying to get the Coop to release the book list.
The Coop has no obligation to release the list: it’s their market advantage. There is no incentive for the Coop to give away the list just because students are protesting. I suggested going to the source, which I believe Jon is trying to do or has done, and level the playing field by demanding the book list from the actual teachers.
Your points of the cost of higher education are well made. Unfortunately, that wasn’t necessarily the point of my post. Thanks again for your comments.