iookstore
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By Wei At bars "X
Handfuls of books costing fistfuls of dollars have led
many students to believe that someone is making a big
profit on textbooks.
Local bookstore managers say, "it's not us."
Most bookstore profits come on miscellaneous items
such as cards, candles and sweatshirts rather than books,
according to managers of the University, Campus and
Nebraska Bookstores.
University Ccokstore rnafioyer John litsfforu aiu m
store would not make any money if it depended on book
sales alone.
"When students pay $50 for books, they think someone
is making a big killing," Stafford said. "We're not. The
wholesaler is."
Nebraska Bookstore manager John Wehr said
miscellaneous items are sold just to keep in business,
particularly between semesters when book sales are down.
According to Campus Bookstore manager Stanley
Linnertz, book prices are high because of a paper shortage,
not arbitrary markups by bookstores.
He said book prices have risen steadily during the years,
but "not as much this year as in previous years."
AH three bookstore managers said they sell books at the
publishers' list prices. The books, however, are bought at
the industry discount , of 20 per cent, they said. This
means that the book a student bought for $10 costs the
bookstores $3.
Low prices paid by bookstores for used paperbacks
reflects the high volume of trade needed to make a profit,
Stafford said.
"It takes a pile of paperbacks to create any dollar
value," he said. "You have to yell an awful lot of them to
make any money."
Paperbacks at all three stores are bought back for 10 to
20 per cent of their original value, the managers said.
Standard textbooks are bought back from students at 50
per cent of the publisher's list price, whether the book is
new or used, they reported, and the used books are then
resold for 75 per cent of their list value.
Prices paid for used books also depend on whether the
books will be used the next semester.
According to Wehr, bookstores often can't pay students
the full 50 per cent for their used books because professors
have not told the store which books will be used the next
semester.
"We're not blaming the professors," he said. "But in
many cases the faculty does fail to turn in their order."
"Gabe, one more beer & we
have to go fix fence."-Let's
do it tomorrow Walker." "Ok."
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Activities endangered
by student fees bill
UNL student activities could be placed on the endangered
species list if a bill introduced by slate Sn. James Dickinson of
'"'Under LB362, students attending state colleges and students
on NU campuses would no longer have to pay an activities fee
now included in tuitions.
To a UNL student, this bill would mean he would not have to
pay $51.50 in fees. That amount now helps support such
organizations as University Health Center, Nebraska Union, Daily
Nebraskan, ASUN and student recreation programs.
Introduced during the 1973 session, LB362 currently is in the
education committee. Dickinson Wednesday said he planned to
try again to advance it to the floor. During hearings last year,
Dickinson said the bill failed to receive the five votes necessary to
move it from committee.
Dickinson said he was against mandatory student fes because
they are a tax by the University on students.
"The Legislature is the only bodv that should be able to levy a
state tax," he said. "If more money was needed once student fees
were eliminated, then the regents should justify it through regular
budget channels."
Students are being deceived, he said, because they are not
aware of how student fees are spent.
"Students two years ago were paying to support radical
speakers such as Jerry Rubin, without their knowledge." Rubin
spoke at an ASUN Senate-ponsored conference on justice.
According to projections based on a report by the UNL
comptroller, however, eliminating the $1.2 million now collected
from mandatory student feea could be disasterous. The report
contained the following conclusions:
-the University Health Center would lose 69 per cent of its
operating funds and employes would have to be laid off.
Eventually, student health operations would be reduced severely
and only minimal services could be provided.
Bob Lovitt, UNL financial coordinator, said the center could
be reduced to a "Band-Aid and aspirin dispensing station."
-ASUN would not receive auaranteed operating funds if
student fee payment wa voluntary.
-Expenditures for UNL's Recreation Dept. would be reduced
by 66 per cent. There would be no funds to offset deterioration
of athletic equipment.
-Funds used to support Nebraska Union operations would
decline by 25 per cent.
it
f
State Sen. Richard Marvel
Alcohol, regent bills
'still have a chance'
Although they refuse to endorse bills that would allow selling
and drinking alcohol on campus and create three nonvoting
student regents, the Board of Regents hasn't tossed up abarricada
that could hinder the bills' passage.
In fact, according to Con Zutavern, ASUN Legislative Liaison
Committee chairman, the board's action won't even present a
hurdle.
"We already have a mandate" on the student regent bill, he
said. "We don't think the regents' action is going to affect the
senators' deusiens." The mandate, he said, was given when the
bill won first round legislative approval on a 34 0 vote.
But Zutavern said It might be a different story with the
alcohol bill. He said he believed the board's actions improve the
chance of emending the bill to eHow liquor consumption, but not
sale, on the campus.
The regents voted unanimously Saturday to oppose the
student regents,' the Board of Regents hasn't tossed up a barricade
endorse the alcohol on campus bill, LB783.
State Sen. Steve Fowler of Lincoln, a supporter of the student
regent bill and 197172 ASUN president, agreed with Zutavern.
Ho said he doubted that legiiiators' stands on the student regent
bill will be altered by the repents' action.
Stte Sen. Richard rTtarvs! of Hastings, sponsor of L0223,
cou3u not be reachad for comment
According to Anne Campbell, NU director of public affairs
and a University lobbyist, NU "is planning to fet the senators
know how the regents feel" on the two bills. She refused to say if
"letting tha senators know" would mean the release of a
statement or more active lobbying.
thursday, february 7, 1974
page 2
daily nebraskan