SMU press release on CRAM

For Immediate Release

October 10, 2008

Students, bookstores found national roundtable to fight costs

Students announced this week the formation of the Canadian Roundtable on Academic Materials (CRAM), a nation-wide initiative of campus bookstores and students’ associations from 21 schools across nine provinces. The organization will work to ensure Canadian students have access to affordable and relevant academic materials of the highest quality.

CRAM was formed in response to a growing crisis of rising costs and decreasing quality in Canadian educational materials. The Roundtable brings together, for the first time, campuses from across the country to address this issue. Saint Mary’s University Students’ Association (SMUSA) and the SMU Campus Bookstore are two of the founding members of CRAM.

“The costs of textbooks have been rising steadily over the past few years,” said Adam Harris, Vice President Academic Affair for SMUSA. “These costs, which have risen at a rate well above inflation during the last 10 years, are negatively affecting students. We have not seen an increase in quality or a significant change in the content to warrant such a price increase.”

The decision to form the Roundtable stemmed from discussions held in the winter of 2008 to develop a collective approach to the crisis in academic materials. This original discussion included post-secondary student groups and campus bookstores from across Canada. Momentum to address this issue continues to grow.

“Tuition costs are just one piece of financial burden students face,” said Alex Lougheed, University of British Columbia Alma Mater Society Vice-President Academic and co-spokesperson for CRAM. “Increased costs of academic materials are a major financial burden yet to be addressed.”

CRAM launched their national website Oct. 8, which includes their key principles. “This website will provide a forum for stakeholders to share experiences, solutions, and resources for campus-level efforts,” said Pamela Weatherbee, University of Calgary Vice-President Academic and co-spokesperson for CRAM.

In December 2008 CRAM will meet for a national conference in Toronto. At this conference, CRAM will continue building their organization and discuss critical areas such as faculty choice in textbook selection, alternative delivery methods, and strategies for controlling price inflation. Adam Harris will be representing Saint Mary’s students at this important meeting.

To learn more about CRAM, please visit http://www.theCRAM.ca, or contact Adam Harris directly by phone (902) 496-8710, cell (902) 880-0308 or e-mail vpacademic@smusa.ca