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Student journalists at the University of Southern Mississippi found a discrepancy in book pricing which could have implications for USM’s contract with Barnes and Noble College Booksellers Inc.

The students at USM’s Student Printz conducted an audit of 15 random textbook prices. According to the contract in place between USM and Barnes and Noble the book retailers are required to sell textbooks to students “at no greater than the publisher’s list price or a 25 percent gross margin on net priced books.”

The audit revealed that one of the 15 books, Medical Terminology Systems: A Body Systems Approach by Barbara A. Gylys, was priced 12.5 percent over the list price. The students at the Student Printz contacted John Byxbe, the assistant director of contractual services for USM, who then contacted the managers at the Barnes and Nobles. The managers did not have an answer for the discrepancy and have asked corporate headquarters for a clarification.

So far there has been no answer from corporate.

Assistant Director Byxbe assured students that he had never found any discrepancy during his various audits, and that the USM administration and Barnes and Noble are committed to find the lowest textbook prices for students.

USM’s story comes as a growing number of concerned students and academics are organizing against high-priced textbooks. On Oct. 22, the Right to Research Coalition solidified, representing over five million students and scholars who are in favor of free open access online textbooks.

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