Spring Break
Don't take textbook tax sitting down
Megan Lynch
Issue date: 5/1/09 Section: Commentary
In Thursday's paper, there was a story about the state of Connecticut putting taxes back on college textbooks. This is just another plan to generate funds for the state. However, it will be a punishment to Connecticut college students. First a 6 percent increase in our tuition, and now the same in the cost of our already outrageously priced textbooks. Adding the tax will cause UConn students to either starve, or just buy their books somewhere else.
Students should actively oppose this tax proposal, or they are going to notice an unnecessary increase in next semester's co-op bill. An average textbook costs about $100. With five classes, that amounts to $500, but now it will be $530 - and that's only if your book only costs that much. Many books can get up to $300, of which I'm sure many students are aware. Paying for tuition and the taxes on books will be a daunting task.
There are several things students can do to fight this. Students can write letters to the Connecticut legislature telling them how they feel about this idea and what they will do to combat it. If enough students express their disdain, maybe lawmakers will change their minds.
Since many students already purchase their books online, this tax addition would most likely lead to even more online buying. Books online are already much cheaper and almost anything can be found in good condition. It takes a little more effort to find them online, but it is well worth it, especially to get around the tax. If enough students do this, then the state will notice the lack of sales and, if it is bad enough, they will be forced to change something. The Co-op will still be stocked well into the beginning of the semester, and sales will suffer.
The state of Connecticut taxes anything it can, and there is no reason for it to go after textbooks. Government leaders continue to contradict themselves when they promise student voters that they will protect education and keep the prices low, but then they turn around and let something like this happen. They need to stay true to campaign promises, and students need to make sure to hold them accountable. You can write letters to individual leaders if you notice them going back on promises. The only way they will listen is if we keep on them to do what we, the voters, really want. The only way they will know what we want is if we tell them.
Students should actively oppose this tax proposal, or they are going to notice an unnecessary increase in next semester's co-op bill. An average textbook costs about $100. With five classes, that amounts to $500, but now it will be $530 - and that's only if your book only costs that much. Many books can get up to $300, of which I'm sure many students are aware. Paying for tuition and the taxes on books will be a daunting task.
There are several things students can do to fight this. Students can write letters to the Connecticut legislature telling them how they feel about this idea and what they will do to combat it. If enough students express their disdain, maybe lawmakers will change their minds.
Since many students already purchase their books online, this tax addition would most likely lead to even more online buying. Books online are already much cheaper and almost anything can be found in good condition. It takes a little more effort to find them online, but it is well worth it, especially to get around the tax. If enough students do this, then the state will notice the lack of sales and, if it is bad enough, they will be forced to change something. The Co-op will still be stocked well into the beginning of the semester, and sales will suffer.
The state of Connecticut taxes anything it can, and there is no reason for it to go after textbooks. Government leaders continue to contradict themselves when they promise student voters that they will protect education and keep the prices low, but then they turn around and let something like this happen. They need to stay true to campaign promises, and students need to make sure to hold them accountable. You can write letters to individual leaders if you notice them going back on promises. The only way they will listen is if we keep on them to do what we, the voters, really want. The only way they will know what we want is if we tell them.
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