NEWS
Textbook ordinance seemingly effective
Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.
Also by Cara Harshman:
- City officials bust marijuana dealer (February 28, 2008)
- City votes to protect 2 downtown landmarks (February 27, 2008)
- Police update suspect detail (February 27, 2008)
- Victim suffers broken teeth (February 26, 2008)
- Crime climbs; officials ask residents to beware (February 25, 2008)
Related Stories:
- Council delays textbook ID vote (April 18, 2007)
- Selling books back may require ID (January 19, 2007)
- Theft suspects have day in court (May 1, 2007)
- Students hit by random thefts (April 27, 2004)
- Regents examine book prices (December 4, 2007)
by Cara Harshman
Thursday, February 28, 2008
The University of Wisconsin Police Department released statistics indicating a City Council ordinance passed seven months ago aimed at stemming textbook thefts was effective in the second half of 2007.
According to the report, 22 textbook thefts occurred on the UW campus between July 1 and Dec. 31 of 2006. In that same period in 2007, 3 textbook thefts occurred, an 86 percent decrease.
Assistant District Attorney Mike Verveer said in his experience as a prosecutor, he has tried a number of individuals for stealing textbooks everywhere from libraries to lockers at Grainger Hall.
“Many of the defendants were drug addicts and textbooks were an easy source of money to satisfy their habits because they could literally take the textbooks down State Street and walk out with cash in their hands,” Verveer said.
But since the textbook ordinance passed, “the number of cases that we’ve had referred to our office involving textbook thefts has dropped off to nothing,” he added.
UWPD first recommended a textbook ordinance to the City Council and Ald. Eli Judge, District 8, inherited the ordinance from his predecessor Austin King when he took his seat on the City Council in April 2007.
Working with bookstore owners, students and city officials, Judge crafted an ordinance that Pat McGowan, president of the University Book Store, said, “truly cuts down on book theft.”
“I think [the textbook ordinance] provides a very strong, visible deterrent to stealing a textbook,” Judge said. “This ordinance says if you’re going to do it, we’re going to see you.”
When the ordinance passed, the University Book Store was already in compliance with the ordinance, which requires students to show their identification when selling books back so police can track names if someone reports their books as stolen.
“From our standpoint, taking IDs is something we’ve always done,” McGowan said. “I’m glad everyone is [checking IDs] now.”
If a Madison textbook store, like the Underground Textbook Exchange, the University Book Store or Beat the Bookstore does not comply with the ordinance, they could lose their license, Judge said.
According to Judge, the early textbook ordinance days were met with a slew of complaints from people who said forcing students to show their ID would just be an added burden.
For McGowan, the benefits outweigh the costs.
Anonymous (February 28, 2008 @ 7:10am):
This ordinance makes SO much sense. Of course it's helping. Remember when everybody was up in arms about Austin King proposing this? Hackery, pure hackery.
Glad Eli Judge and Mike Verveer are still on the case. Getting a textbook stolen sucks.
Anonymous (February 28, 2008 @ 9:02am):
Austin King's proposal isn't Eli Judge's final ordinance.
Austin's wouldn't have passed. And didn't
Eli had to reform Austin's work, because Austin could not get the coalition together. Congrats to Alder Judge.
Anonymous (February 28, 2008 @ 10:35am):
What about selling the books on Amazon numb nuts
Anonymous (February 28, 2008 @ 2:51pm):
Hey numb nuts... most crack addicts don't have a computer, or paypal, or an Amazon account. Can you argue with the theft reduction numbers?
Anonymous (February 28, 2008 @ 3:40pm):
My nuts aren't numb, but the people stealing the books aren't sophisticated, it's usually drug addicts scoring quick cash
Anonymous (February 28, 2008 @ 10:47pm):
ok the first two comments have no idea what their talking about. Eli had to revise it? That's insane. Well done Austin!
Anonymous (February 29, 2008 @ 2:05pm):
My understanding is that any ordinance proposed goes through revisions to make it passable. Yes, the Austin version had flaws, and the process of having it go through revisions and such (by both Austin, Mike V., AND Eli) are what got it passed.
I think Austin deserves some credit for proposing the bill after he was contacted by the cops, and I think Eli and Mike V. deserve credit for keeping it alive and getting it passed once Austin retired.
The ord makes great sense, and I personally feel safer on campus! My perception is my reality! Argue with that!
Add a comment
We welcome your thoughts, but please keep your feedback thoughtful, on-topic and respectful. Offensive language, personal attacks, or irrelevant comments may be deleted.
Login...
Not registered? Sign up now.
It's quick, free, and the email address you provide will not be sold or solicited.
