The start of a new semester can be an exciting and invigorating time for students; the prospects of creating new friendships, building up your knowledge base and furthering your academic career as you progress toward graduation. As break comes to an end and the first emails from professors begin to roll in, the reality of the new semester sets in; in addition to exorbitant tuition and fees you must pay simply to be enrolled, you're also looking down the barrel of a $1000+ payment to the bookstore for all of the textbooks and access codes required for your classes. Just this semester I was required to purchase four separate access codes, each costing around $200. The excruciating and unnecessary burden put upon students by the professors and department heads who continually require these heinously overpriced materials peddled by profiteering textbook manufacturers is unacceptable and cannot be allowed to continue in good faith.
Over the past ten years, textbook prices have been increasing at a rate four times higher than the rate of inflation. According to Kathy Kristof of CBS News, this is largely due to the increased use of online access codes which are bundled with textbooks and required for homework assignments and sometimes even tests. This single-use, often single semester, access codes prevent prudent students from buying used or older versions of a textbook in order to save money without sacrificing their ability to do well in a class. Now, if you don't buy the often ridiculously overpriced access code, you may find yourself without the ability to get credit for homework or other assignments, and you may be locked out of a class altogether.
Some may argue that expensive textbooks have always been a fact of life for students and millennials just like to complain about everything, but these arguments fail to attack the greater issue; why are students expected to purchase access codes required by the university or department in addition to tuition and fees? These access codes are not like regular textbooks purchased for a class which can be resold or rented or kept for one's grandchildren; these access codes are one use for one class for one semester and then they are gone. Why must students purchase these for each and every class that arbitrarily decides an online homework program is necessary when the economic burden ought to be put on those who have decided a need for these programs exists?
These online access codes are an abhorrent racket designed to take even more money from students who are already likely to be economically struggling, and the departments and professors who require them are unapologetic accomplices and enablers of this absolutely deplorable industry designed to profit off the backs of those simply trying to further their education and better their prospects for the future.
