In the news

Textbook Rebellion, a national movement to lower textbook prices, visited UNM Tuesday with its mascots, Mr. $200 Textbook and the Textbook Rebel.

UNM’s chapter of New Mexico Public Interest Research Group sponsored the event to gather petition signatures and get students interested in ways to lower textbook prices.

“This event is important because students care about textbook costs,”NMPIRG organizer Rashi Mangalick said. “The average student pays $1,100 or more on textbook costs, and it can even deter some people from wanting to go to college because they can’t afford it.”

Textbook Rebellion advocate Nicole Allen said the rallies held at more than 40 campuses across the nation have been successful.

“We are starting to see a lot more affordable alternatives come to the market,” she said. “In the longer term we’re seeing solutions like open-source text books, which the Textbook Rebellion is really focused on promoting. They’re freely available online and can be purchased at a low cost.”

Student and PIRG intern Alexandra Chin said she hopes the rally brings together students’ and faculty members’ concerns about textbooks.

“This rally rebellion is very important because school revolves around textbooks,” she said. “NMPIRG did a study, and they found that there is a large percentage of students who aren’t buying the books because they’re too expensive, and that takes away from their education.”

Mangalick said the goal of the event was to encourage at least 200 students to sign the petition.