Everyone knows a college education is not cheap -- what they might not realize is that along with the expense of tuition and board, students have to endure astronomical textbook prices.

The student-led California Public Interest Research Group conducted a survey of 156 professors -- among them teachers at Berkeley and six other UC campuses -- which found that textbook publishers charge steep prices for unnecessary new editions. Seventy-six percent of the faculty surveyed said the new editions, usually costing $100 or more, are justified only half the time or less.

Assemblywoman Carol Liu, D-La Canada-Flintridge, chair of the Assembly committee on higher education, is introducing legislation to curb some of the practices that make textbooks so pricey. Let's hope this bill passes in time to help the wallets of next year's students.

UC students, on average, will spend $898 on textbooks this year, compared to $642 spent in 1996-97. Couple this with a 40 percent tuition increase in the past two years, along with an anticipated 10 percent increase next year, and it is no wonder many young people are putting off college or are opting out of attending altogether.

That there is yet another obstacle preventing students from furthering their education and following their dreams is a travesty. Publishers are not only ripping off students, they are ripping off our future.