The average University student spends about $300 on required textbooks each term, University Bookstore General Manager Jim Williams said.
University freshman Brian Morgan, however, won’t be spending a dime on books this term. At 12:26 p.m. Wednesday, Morgan became the 200th student to receive a term’s worth of books for free at the University Bookstore.
Since fall of last year, the bookstore has been awarding 25 students at random each term, and 15 during the summer, with up to $400 in required books. Morgan, a music education major, said he was only going to spend about $20 on books, but the bookstore bought him the $75 cassette package that he needed as well.
Williams said most students feel “financial pain” and are thankful for the help. He makes it no secret that he enjoys giving away the free books almost as much as students enjoy getting them.
Jennifer Creighton-Neiwert said that as a member of the bookstore’s board of directors, it was originally her idea to do the giveaway.
“There was a group of board members about two years ago who were looking at different scholarship ideas for books to offset the rising cost of books and tuition,” she said. “We didn’t know if we should look at financial need or academic level, so we decided to make it random.”
First, a precise time is picked. Then Williams selects the cash register by drawing a number out of a hat. When the moment arrives, bookstore staff members approach the winner as they blow into their “duck lips,” making a loud quacking noise.
“We love our duck lips here,” Williams said.
There will be one more chance to win this term at the bookstore’s annual meeting. Anyone who would like to be on the board of directors (composed mostly of students), has questions for the bookstore or wants a shot at free books should attend. It will be April 19 at 3:30 p.m. in the Gerlinger Lounge. Williams will give his “State of the Bookstore Address,” and board nominations will take place.
If the student awarded has already purchased most of his or her books, that person will be reimbursed.
Creighton-Neiwert said that upon doling out the prizes, Williams has been called an angel “multiple times.”
Williams explained that once a woman was at the register about to put $320 toward books and told the cashier that after the purchase, she didn’t know how she would afford to feed her daughter that night.
When Williams asked if he could buy the books for her, she hugged him crying and said he was an angel. He admitted getting a little misty-eyed on that occasion.
Williams said he wants students to know that the bookstore really does feel the financial burden they undergo. Most people don’t realize that students collectively own the bookstore. Williams said they have one of the lowest bookstore profit margins in the country. The 10 percent discount saved students over $1,031,000 last year.

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