Dear editor:

I know that text books are pretty much essential to academic life at practically any level of education, but why do publishing companies have to charge so much?

Since they are a needed by most people to help with their work for their classes, there is really no need for it. Publishers will make money anyway, so why inflate the prices of the books with new editions every year, withholding the price of the books to force out competition and bundle books with CDs and DVDs that really aren’t needed?

The only excuse that can fit is plain and simple greed.

That is why I am thankful for the Open Text Books plan that will be online and be significantly cheaper than the physical books. The RSO MassPIRG is working on this plan along with other organizations to put open text books into effect. That way, professors will have more options for their student should they find an Open Text Book that will fit their classes’ needs.

The publishing companies have forced put competition killing the capitalist spirit that they are supposed to embody. Capitalism can work, and Open Text Books is one way to help it work.

Jon Chase Umass Student