By Breanna Mudd
On Aug. 12 the University of Louisville Student Government Association released the new website uoflswap.com. The site is free and is similar to craigslist.com.
Students can log in using their U of L e-mail addresses, then trade and barter with others for books, event tickets and anything else they might want. This website even allows students to transfer their meal plan dollars to other students.
Unlike other online swapping sites, however, UofL Swap is designated only to the U of L community.
“Only students, faculty and administrators at U of L can gain access to the site, which keeps our community safe,” said Kurtis Frizzell, a junior political science major and SGA academic vice president.
The SGA also cites reducing college-related expenses as a key goal of UofL Swap.
According to The College Board, the national average for purchasing textbooks at a four-year university is $1,122. The United States government has reported that textbook prices alone increase by six percent every year.
“SGA is trying to decrease college-related expenses,” said John Weber, a junior political science and philosophy double major and SGA services vice president. “Buying books and other things secondhand can help many students to do that.”
The proposal for the website was accepted in the spring of 2010. The members of SGA worked together to create the site now known as UofL Swap.
“Uoflswap.com is a successful book-swap program,” said Frizzell. “Students have wanted a campuswide book swap for years. And we made it happen.”
Some students are eager to try the site.
“That’s something I’d definitely be in to,” said Sandrine Niyiragira, a freshman nursing major. “It sounds like a great way to cut costs.”
