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New Rochelle, NY - US Senator Charles Schumer presented a proposal that would make up to $1,000 of college textbook costs tax deductible for working families during a news conference Jan. 15 at Iona College. A recent study conducted by Schumer reveals that the average New York college freshman or sophomore will pay over $900 on textbooks this year.

Following his presentation, Senator Schumer engaged in a conversation with Iona President James A. Liguori, CFC, and several members of the College's administration and student body regarding the skyrocketing prices students pay for textbooks. "This is a problem students face at all colleges and we are in the process of organizing a student committee that will seek to implement innovative ways Iona can help alleviate the exorbitant cost of textbooks," Kim Morey, Iona Student Government Association president, told the Senator. Morey explained one idea the students have is to create a web site where Iona students can post a messages either looking for textbooks required in Iona courses or for someone to buy a textbook they no longer need.

Alexander Eodice, PhD, dean of the School of Arts and Science, spoke about Iona's initiatives to replace course textbooks with online materials in certain upper level courses. "Iona faculty are also extremely conscientious of this issue and are reminded to research the books they require. If a 15th edition book is significantly less and nearly identical to a 16th edition book, they will often order the one that costs students less money," he said.

Please visit http://www.senate.gov/~schumer/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/press_releases/PR02308.html for more information about Senator Schumer's proposed legislation or to view photos from the news conference.

Celebrating 200 years of Christian Brothers Education, Iona College is a private, co-educational institution of learning in the tradition of American Catholic higher education. Iona offers undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science, and business administration, as well as master of arts, master of science and master of business administration degrees and numerous post-graduate certificate programs.

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For questions or more information please contact:
Meghan Finn
Public Relations Office
Iona College, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, N.Y. 10801
tel: 914 633-2005 fax: 914 637-2711

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