SGA plugs book swap

By Meghan Hughes
The Metropolitan

Metroâs Student Government Assembly is proposing a book swap for the spring semester to circumvent high bookstore prices.

According to Metroâs 1997 course catalogue, the average full-time student will shell out about $560 per year for textbooks and supplies. That leaves some students wondering if there might be an alternative, said John Gaskell, SGA vice president of Student Services.

The book swap idea came from members of the SGA who had heard about the success of book swaps at other colleges, such as Colorado State University.

ãIt would give students a chance to save money, as well as give them an alternative to (the Auraria Book Center),ä Gaskell said.

A book swap would give ABC some competition, Gaskell said. Students complaining about the lack of used books at discounted prices would have the opportunity to swap their old books for ãnewä used books.

It also would give students more bargaining power when it comes to selling their textbooks back if the book center starts paying more for used books to compete with book-swappers.

ãFor the number of books that we have to buy, they are way overpriced,ä Metro student Niambi Nichols said.

ãMost college students donât have any money anyway, and you never get back near what you paid.ä

Up until now, the Auraria Book Center has remained relatively unchallenged in the market.

Though some smaller bookstores have tried to compete with ABC but theyâve had little success. But some students think the convenience of campus is inconvenient on their budgets.

ãOn the rare occasion that the bookstore has used books for sale, they only knock a few bucks off the original price, so youâre not saving all that much,ä Metro junior Teri Wilcox said. ãYouâd think with what they give us at buyback, the prices would be a little cheaper.ä