Volume 1, Number 1
serving the students of the University of North Carolina at Asheville
Thursday, Sept. 9, 1982
GNCA book prices skyrocket
^ By Marty Cherrix
Students enrolled at UNCA for
the 1982 fall semester were not only
shocked by the long registration
lines, but also by the cost of text
books. According to Joyce William
son, manager of the UNCA
Bookstore, the cost of textbooks has
almost doubled since 1977. For ex
ample, “Occupations and Social
Structures,” a Sociology 300 level
book, cost $12.95 in September
1977. The same book purchased in
June 1982, cost $21.95. These
statistics indicate a 41 percent in
crease.
The UNCA Bookstore does not
establish book prices, according to
Williamson. The Bookstore pur
chases books from the publisher and
this same purchase price is charged
to the students. In other words, the
price paid by students for textbooks
is established by the publisher.
In order to offset shipping
charges,the Bookstore adds a 25
cent charge to each book. William
son says freight charges, as book
prices, have also doubled within the
past five years. She estimates ship
ping costs average between 25 cents
and $1.00 per book, depending on
the size of the book. ^
William H. Pott, Vice Chancellor
of Finance, established the 25 cent
surcharge in conjunction with the
Bookstore as a minimum charge to
each student. Williamson estimates
that 75 percent of college stores in
North Carolina assess a freight
charge to the cost of each book.
Williamson says, “At the Bookstore
we try to work with the student to
save him as much money as possi
ble.”
How can students save money on
their textbooks? Williamson sug
gests buying and reselHng used
books. The Bookstore buys back
textbooks for 50 percent of the cur
rent list price. For example, if a stu
dent purchases a new book for
$10.00, the Bookstore will pay the
student $5.00 for that book at the
end of each semester. In turn, the
Bookstore resells the same book for
$7.50, or 75 percent of the list price.
If an instructor elects to change
books and the book cannot be used
in another class, the Bookstore
resells the used book to a used book
company. UNCA began this policy
in 1977. Prior to that time, UNCA
did not deal with used book com
panies.
As a general rule, the Bookstore
pays 10 percent on the dollar for
paperbacks that will not be used
again the following semester.
However, if the Bookstore knows
definitely that the paperback is to be
used again, they will pay the stu
dent 50 percent of the list price.
High book prices, like long
registration lines, are a reality on
the UNCA campus. Students in
terested in saving money may want
to buy used books and in turn, sell
their new or used books back to the
Bookstore. Students who par
ticipate in these book buys should
take their books to the Bookstore on
specific days at the end of each
semester. The Bookstore posts the
dates and times for the book sale
around campus.
Parking a problem
By Carol Whitener
Parking, or rather the lack of it,
has become a major problem on the
University of North Carolina at
Asheville campus.
This summer parking at UNCA
was increased by 231 spaces while
student enrollment increased by ap
proximately 300 people.
“A big part of the parking pro
blem is people want to park close to
the building where they want to go,”
states head of Campus Police, Chief
Charles Carreno.
The Campus Police are aware of
the parking problem. Chief Carreno
states, “We try to be fair,” when is
suing tickets. He explained “fair”
by saying that if his men drive
around campus and see 15 or 20
empty parking spaces then tickets
will be issued to those people who
are parked illegally. If the officers
see only a few spaces empty, tickets
will not be given. Under no cir
cumstances will parking be allowed
in handicapped areas or in front of
fire hydrants, due to state law.
Planning engineer, Sam Millar,
stated, “Every year additional park
ing is added.” During 1978-79, the
200 space Zageir parking lot was ad
ded. Last summer 35 spaces were
added behind the gym.
Adding parking is a problem
because the state does not ap
propriate money for building park
ing areas. The parking fund, used to
build and maintain the parking lots
at UNCA is compiled from the
$14.00 everyone pays for his park
ing sticker and from parking fines.
Adding the Zageir parking lot cost
approximately $900 per space to
construct. The new parking spaces
added this summer cost only about
$170 each. Millar lowered the cost
of building by contracting to a local
company.
“There is a sufficient number of
spaces,” believes Assistant Vice
Chancellor for Academic Affairs,
Tom Cochran. He also stated that
no more parking will be added this
year, but there is a committee look
ing at future options.
The Campus Police will start en
forcing the parking zones by the se
cond week of September. The fines
are $5.00 for parking in Handicap
ped and No Parking zones. All other
fines are $2.00.
Last year there were 978 parking
spaces available to accommodate
2266 students. This year there are
1209 spaces available to approx
imately 2500 students.
Chief Carreno asks for the
cooperation of the campus communi
ty in reducing the parking problem.
NO
s 'jji' i
j*
Tight Squeeze ■ Due to the increased enrollment parking has become a
problem on campus. Photo by Carol Whitener
•LIKE TO SKATE?
Come to the outdoor skating party
and cookout Saturday, Sept. 11
from 6-11 p.m. in the QUAD. Music
and skates provided. Must present
I.D.