As a senior here at the University, I’ve had my fair share of issues with textbooks. Freshman year, I remember being determined to be ready on the first day of class with all the required materials for my courses. Prepared to use them every week, I spent loads of money on different textbooks and materials, even making sure I bought the newest — and most expensive — editions. But, while some classes did require the use of the materials every week, some had me buy textbooks that I did not touch for the entire semester. 

With that, I quickly learned that “required materials” didn’t always mean required. Counterintuitive, but true. I even learned that, oftentimes, the textbooks that classes did require could be bought secondhand from former students for much cheaper prices. In fact, I learned that you could even rent required textbooks for however long you needed them. The moral of the story is: Do your due diligence before spending a fortune on textbooks. 

That includes making sure your student fees don’t include sneaky textbook fees. 

The University has recently launched a new textbook program called Day1Access, and truthfully, the idea seems like an incredible solution to rising textbook costs. In short, the program automatically charges you for the required materials of a course through Canvas at a reduced price — reduced from the price offered by the publisher that is. While it is true that this program can be a helpful money-saving initiative, it turns out that this is not always the case. A quick Google search will tell you that in many cases, used books or rentals end up being much cheaper than the reduced price that Day1Access offers.

The biggest issue with Day1Access is the automatic charges. Chances are, if you’re being charged for it, you heard about it in passing but weren’t given all the information. One thing is for sure: You weren’t given the choice to enroll in it in the first place. 

If the program is truly made for the benefit of students and is the best option, why isn’t it offered openly? Why is it sneakily hidden in the mountain of fees charged by the University? It all leads back to money. At the end of the day, it is more profitable for a big textbook publisher to charge all students for “discounted” textbooks than for students to buy secondhand or rent. 

Furthermore, the Biden administration was preparing to crack down on automatic billing, making sure students would have to individually authorize the billing before it would go through on their account. While the administration posted a fact sheet detailing these plans in March, they have yet to take action on the issue. 

So, what gives? It probably has something to do with the Association of American Publishers spending a casual couple million dollars in lobbying yearly, and how they recently retained a new lobbying firm to ensure automatic billing stays unrestricted. 

If Day1Access truly was the best, most affordable option for students, it wouldn’t hurt publishers one bit to have students authorize enrollment in the program. In fact, I would be the first to sign up and parade around the benefits of the program. But the evidence doesn’t lie. Day1Access is just another poorly hidden cash grab at the expense of students. 

Sanchita Teeka is a senior in LAS & Gies.

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