i get these awesome emails from as_government
Friends,
Below is the press release the UCLA CALPIRG chapter released to the
media today to announce that over 500 mathematics professors from over
125 of the largest and most prestigous universities around the country
have signed on to a letter to publisher Thomson Learning echoing our
requests for the company to take a few simple steps to lower their
prices.
Each CALPIRG chapter is doing a similar event on their campuses today.
While there is still a long road to hoe before the publishers begin
taking responsibility for their actions, the involvement of so many
faculty represents a milestone in our efforts and is the product of a
lot of hard work from many students across the UC system. Feel free to
to contact myself or your local chapter for more information.
Best,
Dave Rosenfeld
*******************************
David Rosenfeld
CALPIRG Campus Programs Director
3435 Wilshire Blvd. #380
Los Angeles, CA 90010
p. 213-251-3680 x335
f. 213-251-3699
daver@calpirg.org
www.calpirgstudents.org
"30 Years of Public Interest Advocacy"
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 7, 2004
CONTACT:
Merriah Fairchild, 310-210-3348, mfairchild@calpirg.org
HUNDREDS OF MATH PROFESSORS FROM OVER ONE HUNDRED UNIVERSITIES CALL ON
THOMSON LEARNING TO ADDRESS TEXTBOOK PRICE CONCERNS Faculty Request
Comes After Publisher Dismisses Student Concerns
In reaction to a prominent publisher's refusal to stop driving up
textbook costs by publishing "new" editions which are not significantly
"new", hundreds of college mathematics professors today issued a joint
call to action. Thomson Learning, in correspondence with student
advocates, has refused to take simple steps to reduce textbook costs or
to even acknowledge that a problem exists.
The call to action, signed by over 500 mathematics faculty at over 125
of the largest and most prestigious universities nationwide, reiterates
four simple requests that student advocates made to Thomson Learning in
February. The letter, which includes department chairs and Field Medal
winners, was circulated amongst faculty nationwide.
The call to action was prompted by a recent report by CALPIRG, Ripoff
101: How the Current Practices of the Publishing Industry Drive up the
Cost of College Textbooks, which found that students are paying an
average of $900 a year for textbooks, a significant increase from
previous years. The report also found that textbook publishers use
gimmicks to artificially inflate the price of textbooks. For example,
the report found that textbook publishers put new editions on the market
frequently - often with very few content changes - making the less
expensive, older textbook obsolete and unavailable. On average, the
report found that publishers keep textbook edition on the shelf for an
average of only 3.5 years before updating them. Meanwhile, seventy-six
percent of faculty surveyed said that the new editions they use are
justified half the time or less; over half of those faculty said that
the new editions they use are "rarely to never" justified. The report
found that once a new textbook edition is produced, the used copy is
quickly made obsolete, forcing students to purchase the more expensive
new editions. For example, over fifty-nine percent of students who
searched for a used book for the fall 2003 quarter/semester were unable
to find even one used book for their classes, and were forced to pay an
average of $102.44 for a new book, verses an average of $64.80 for a
used book. In addition, the report found that faculty are often
inconvenienced by this practice because new textbook editions require
many professors to revise course syllabi to reflect changes in chapters
and page numbers.
Thomson Learning's widely used textbook, Calculus: Early
Transcendentals, was highlighted as an example because an inspection of
the book revealed only cosmetic changes between the current edition,
produced in 2003, and the previous edition, produced in 1999. However,
the price difference was significant - a new copy of the book sells for
about $130, while a used copy of the previous edition sells for between
$20 and $90, depending on where one looks.
Thomson Learning also charges American students significantly more than
their foreign counterparts. According to the publisher's website,
Calculus: Early Transcendentals sells for $125 to American students, but
only $97 ($125 C) to Canadian students and only $65 (35 pounds) to
British students. This practice is widespread in the industry, and has
come under a great deal of recent scrutiny.
Both the report and a fact sheet on the book can be downloaded at
www.CALPIRGStudents.org.
"Textbook prices appear to be extremely high, especially when comparing
prices in different countries. These students appear to have a case, and
it should be investigated," said Ronald Miech, Undergraduate Vice-Chair
of the UCLA Mathematics Department.
Following the report, student leaders sent Thomson Learning a letter
that included four simple requests:
. Continue to publish the current edition of Calculus: Early
Transcendental
until there has been significantly new content in the field of calculus,
applications of calculus, and/or the teaching of calculus that would
justify an update.
. Establish a fairer pricing system so that students in America
are getting
charged the same amount as their counterparts in other countries.
. Ensure that sales materials and sales representatives disclose
to faculty
all products, their prices, and the length of time Thomson Learning
intends to keep on the market the current editions of its textbooks and
related instructional materials.
. In addition to the hardcover version, produce an online version
of
Calculus: Early Transcendentals, and pass the cost savings on to
students.
In the ensuing correspondence, Thomson Learning has refused to directly
address these requests or even acknowledge that a problem exists, only
saying in a letter dated March 15, "we can only assure you that we do
our best to match our business practices with our customers' needs - a
responsibility we take quite seriously."
"Thomson, as a top seller in this market, should take lead in
establishing reasonable prices for textbooks," said Professor Miech.
The company has also not responded to students' questions aimed at
clarifying both Thomson Learning's disclosure practices and exactly why
the company charges American students significantly more for the same
book than in Europe, Africa or the Middle East. In their March 15
letter, the company said, "The 'proof' you request is readily available
in the materials designed for the appropriate audiences."
"Even if we disagree on the nature of the problem, we think that our
questions are reasonable and worthy of more direct answers," said Mark
Thornton, a UCLA student.
On the positive side, the company has announced that it will offer a new
line of low-frills, reduced price textbooks. However, the line covers
only a small number of books, nor does it address other key demands such
as the lack of new content in new editions and the vast price difference
between American and foreign versions of the book.
"Thomson Learning took a commendable, but extremely small, first step
that only demonstrates that there is lots of room for them to improve,"
said Thornton.
Following the release of the letter, the students plan to begin
contacting their campus Academic Senates and college presidents to ask
for their involvement.
"We're not asking for much. Frankly, I'm surprised at how unresponsive
they have been," said Thornton.
###
Ripoff 101: How the Current Practices of the Publishing Industry Drive
up the Cost of College Textbooks can be viewed at
www.CALPIRGStudents.org. CALPIRG is a statewide, student directed and
funded environmental and consumer organization with campus chapters at 7
universities around the state.
Below is the press release the UCLA CALPIRG chapter released to the
media today to announce that over 500 mathematics professors from over
125 of the largest and most prestigous universities around the country
have signed on to a letter to publisher Thomson Learning echoing our
requests for the company to take a few simple steps to lower their
prices.
Each CALPIRG chapter is doing a similar event on their campuses today.
While there is still a long road to hoe before the publishers begin
taking responsibility for their actions, the involvement of so many
faculty represents a milestone in our efforts and is the product of a
lot of hard work from many students across the UC system. Feel free to
to contact myself or your local chapter for more information.
Best,
Dave Rosenfeld
*******************************
David Rosenfeld
CALPIRG Campus Programs Director
3435 Wilshire Blvd. #380
Los Angeles, CA 90010
p. 213-251-3680 x335
f. 213-251-3699
daver@calpirg.org
www.calpirgstudents.org
"30 Years of Public Interest Advocacy"
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 7, 2004
CONTACT:
Merriah Fairchild, 310-210-3348, mfairchild@calpirg.org
HUNDREDS OF MATH PROFESSORS FROM OVER ONE HUNDRED UNIVERSITIES CALL ON
THOMSON LEARNING TO ADDRESS TEXTBOOK PRICE CONCERNS Faculty Request
Comes After Publisher Dismisses Student Concerns
In reaction to a prominent publisher's refusal to stop driving up
textbook costs by publishing "new" editions which are not significantly
"new", hundreds of college mathematics professors today issued a joint
call to action. Thomson Learning, in correspondence with student
advocates, has refused to take simple steps to reduce textbook costs or
to even acknowledge that a problem exists.
The call to action, signed by over 500 mathematics faculty at over 125
of the largest and most prestigious universities nationwide, reiterates
four simple requests that student advocates made to Thomson Learning in
February. The letter, which includes department chairs and Field Medal
winners, was circulated amongst faculty nationwide.
The call to action was prompted by a recent report by CALPIRG, Ripoff
101: How the Current Practices of the Publishing Industry Drive up the
Cost of College Textbooks, which found that students are paying an
average of $900 a year for textbooks, a significant increase from
previous years. The report also found that textbook publishers use
gimmicks to artificially inflate the price of textbooks. For example,
the report found that textbook publishers put new editions on the market
frequently - often with very few content changes - making the less
expensive, older textbook obsolete and unavailable. On average, the
report found that publishers keep textbook edition on the shelf for an
average of only 3.5 years before updating them. Meanwhile, seventy-six
percent of faculty surveyed said that the new editions they use are
justified half the time or less; over half of those faculty said that
the new editions they use are "rarely to never" justified. The report
found that once a new textbook edition is produced, the used copy is
quickly made obsolete, forcing students to purchase the more expensive
new editions. For example, over fifty-nine percent of students who
searched for a used book for the fall 2003 quarter/semester were unable
to find even one used book for their classes, and were forced to pay an
average of $102.44 for a new book, verses an average of $64.80 for a
used book. In addition, the report found that faculty are often
inconvenienced by this practice because new textbook editions require
many professors to revise course syllabi to reflect changes in chapters
and page numbers.
Thomson Learning's widely used textbook, Calculus: Early
Transcendentals, was highlighted as an example because an inspection of
the book revealed only cosmetic changes between the current edition,
produced in 2003, and the previous edition, produced in 1999. However,
the price difference was significant - a new copy of the book sells for
about $130, while a used copy of the previous edition sells for between
$20 and $90, depending on where one looks.
Thomson Learning also charges American students significantly more than
their foreign counterparts. According to the publisher's website,
Calculus: Early Transcendentals sells for $125 to American students, but
only $97 ($125 C) to Canadian students and only $65 (35 pounds) to
British students. This practice is widespread in the industry, and has
come under a great deal of recent scrutiny.
Both the report and a fact sheet on the book can be downloaded at
www.CALPIRGStudents.org.
"Textbook prices appear to be extremely high, especially when comparing
prices in different countries. These students appear to have a case, and
it should be investigated," said Ronald Miech, Undergraduate Vice-Chair
of the UCLA Mathematics Department.
Following the report, student leaders sent Thomson Learning a letter
that included four simple requests:
. Continue to publish the current edition of Calculus: Early
Transcendental
until there has been significantly new content in the field of calculus,
applications of calculus, and/or the teaching of calculus that would
justify an update.
. Establish a fairer pricing system so that students in America
are getting
charged the same amount as their counterparts in other countries.
. Ensure that sales materials and sales representatives disclose
to faculty
all products, their prices, and the length of time Thomson Learning
intends to keep on the market the current editions of its textbooks and
related instructional materials.
. In addition to the hardcover version, produce an online version
of
Calculus: Early Transcendentals, and pass the cost savings on to
students.
In the ensuing correspondence, Thomson Learning has refused to directly
address these requests or even acknowledge that a problem exists, only
saying in a letter dated March 15, "we can only assure you that we do
our best to match our business practices with our customers' needs - a
responsibility we take quite seriously."
"Thomson, as a top seller in this market, should take lead in
establishing reasonable prices for textbooks," said Professor Miech.
The company has also not responded to students' questions aimed at
clarifying both Thomson Learning's disclosure practices and exactly why
the company charges American students significantly more for the same
book than in Europe, Africa or the Middle East. In their March 15
letter, the company said, "The 'proof' you request is readily available
in the materials designed for the appropriate audiences."
"Even if we disagree on the nature of the problem, we think that our
questions are reasonable and worthy of more direct answers," said Mark
Thornton, a UCLA student.
On the positive side, the company has announced that it will offer a new
line of low-frills, reduced price textbooks. However, the line covers
only a small number of books, nor does it address other key demands such
as the lack of new content in new editions and the vast price difference
between American and foreign versions of the book.
"Thomson Learning took a commendable, but extremely small, first step
that only demonstrates that there is lots of room for them to improve,"
said Thornton.
Following the release of the letter, the students plan to begin
contacting their campus Academic Senates and college presidents to ask
for their involvement.
"We're not asking for much. Frankly, I'm surprised at how unresponsive
they have been," said Thornton.
###
Ripoff 101: How the Current Practices of the Publishing Industry Drive
up the Cost of College Textbooks can be viewed at
www.CALPIRGStudents.org. CALPIRG is a statewide, student directed and
funded environmental and consumer organization with campus chapters at 7
universities around the state.