College Shorts NYU Suicide; Bargain Books

Author: Andrea Gissing and Joshua Cannon

NYU Mourns Second Student Suicide



The New York University community is struggling to accept and understand why two undergraduate students committed suicide from the top stories of the Elmer Holmes Bobst Library within one month of each other.

The most recent death occurred on Oct. 11 when 18-year old first-year student Stephen Bohler jumped exactly one month after 20-year old junior John D. Skolnik took his life. An all-campus e-mail was sent out alerting the student body to the suicide and also encouraging them to seek counseling which was offered at both the library and Bohler's dormitory.

Students who knew Bohler described him as an amicable and sociable person who did not exhibit any signs of depression or emotional problems. His mother, Carolyn Bohler said that, "He was extremely happy to come to NYU." While the investigation is continuing, officials believe that Mr. Bohler leapt from the balcony of the eighth, nineth or 10th floor at 2:50 p.m.

NYU has been trying to downplay the incidents, especially over the weekend while parents and prospective students were touring the school during an open house day.

The University - which has never had a problem with suicide attempts from atop the Bobst Library - has increased security at library by posting security guards on the balconies. Predictably, student use of the library has been light as of late.

Source: The New York Times



Students Buy Bargain Books from Abroad



As textbook prices continue to rise and place further economic burden on students, many are searching for less expensive alternatives for purchasing books - and they are finding them abroad. Much like prescription drugs, textbooks are less expensive when purchased from Europe. In America, both students and college stores alike took advantage of the price disparity and purchasing their books from the United Kingdom, France, Israel and the Far East. That is until a 1998 Supreme Court ruling stated that re-importing American textbooks from abroad violated federal copyright law.

Now, however, "gray market" sales have skyrocketed on American campuses. The books purchased abroad are practically identical to those purchased in the U.S., the only difference is often the words, "International Student Edition," printed on the front cover. Prices, however, can vary dramatically as the "Lehniger Priciples of Biochemistry, Third Edition," sells for $146.15 on Amazon.com but only $63.48 plus $8.05 for shipping from the same website in Britain.

Tom Frey, owner of the University Bookstore at Purdue University, sells many books purchased overseas at standard US prices. "I buy from Amazon.co.uk and from sources in the Far East," he said. "I knew more and more students were doing the same thing, individually." Defending its pricing policy, the publishing industry maintains that it pegs its prices to local market conditions and the per capita income of individual countries.

The lawyer for the Association of American Publishers, Allan Adler, defended the industry, saying, "The practice of selling U.S. products abroad at prices keyed to the local market is longstanding. It's not unusual, it doesn't violate public policy and it's certainly not illegal." The National Association of College Stores does not see the issue in the same light. Instead, they are urging the publishing industry to stop the pricing practice that they view as discriminating against American students.

The issue of outrageous textbook prices has come under increased scrutiny as of late since Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York proposed making the first $1,000 of textbook costs tax deductible in response to reports that students are spending 41 percent more on books than in 1998.

Source: The New York Times