The U.S. Department of Education's Senior Policy Advisory Hal Plotkin will join students and faculty at the University of Maryland College Park tomorrow at a press conference to help launch a campaign for affordable textbooks. The campaign kicks off a six-week cross-country tour that includes tour stops scheduled in Ariz., Calif., Colo., Conn., Ill., Ind., Mass., Md., N.J., N.M., Ore., Pa., Wash., and Wis. A full list of campuses will be released at the event.
The event is sponsored by a national coalition for affordable college textbooks and events are planned on at least 30 campuses in 14 states. The tour will feature two 'mascots' in larger-than-life textbook costumes who will help local advocates distribute cost-saving tips to students and collect signatures on a petition. Textbook costs remain a major barrier to higher education for many students, with prices rising more than four times the rate of inflation.