According to recent research by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, seven out of 10 of 1,905 undergraduates have gone without textbooks to save money while in school. The study also stated that textbook prices have risen 22 percent in the last four years.

Recently, a UNA student was arrested on assault charges at the Off-Campus Bookstore on Court Street after he allegedly struck the bookstore manager.

Textbook prices have been on the rise as of late, and vary in price from vendor to vendor.

Students like UNA senior Lauren Davis don’t buy many of their textbooks in order to save money.

“One, they are too expensive,” she said. “Two, if it doesn’t pertain to my future career, why should I keep it? Three, what’s the point of buying it, when in a few years there will be a new edition?”

Buying books early in the semester is sometimes not an option, she said.

“I wait on my refund check, because I can’t afford it until the refund check comes.” Davis said.

Davis said she knows more and more students are moving towards alternatives to print textbooks in order to save money.

“I know a lot of kids with Nooks and Kindles,” Davis said. “I did that with a few of my books,”

Davis said she spent approximately $250 this semester, even though all of her books would have cost upwards of $500.

“I rent a few (textbooks),” Davis said. “You need to buy them, the higher you get in your major, the more you are going to need those books on your bookshelf.”

Davis said there are pro’s and con’s to renting books.

“Financially it’s good, does it hurt me in the long run, yes,” Davis said.”It probably hurts me academically, but financially it’s the best option.”

UNA Junior Pam Scheske says she goes without many of her required textbooks.

“Most professors don’t go buy the textbook, and I can never sell them back or get money back from them,” Scheske said.

Scheske believes electronic books are not only good for the environment, but it is economically a better option than buying textbooks in print.

“We try to explain to (students), we don’t make the price. It’s the publisher,” UNA Bookstore employee Lisa Reed said.

Reed said the UNA bookstore offers rentals to students to help ease the cost of textbooks.

“We want students to rent, and buy used books,” Reed said. “Rent has been the best, because if (teachers) change their mind (about the book) the next semester, you don’t have to lose (your money).”

Reed said for a book to be available for rent, teachers have to use the book for 4 consecutive semesters. Teachers have the choice of cheaper books, and if teachers would chose cheaper alternatives to more expensive books, students could save a lot of money, she said.