A new textbook purchasing website made available to local students has pledged to contribute a portion of each of its sales to the Courage Campaign — a major political advocacy group for marriage equality.

In support of equal marriage rights, the website — textbooks4change.com — has agreed to donate six percent of every student’s textbook purchase to the multi-issue, non-profit organization.

The schoolbook company was launched a year ago by Barak Wouk and Marshall Brekka in order to help students become politically involved without paying inordinate dues.

Wouk said textbooks4change.com allows students to realize their collective political power.

“The basic idea is that students for the longest time have been very passionate about certain issues and haven’t been able to turn that into political change,” Wouk said. “Change takes money and a lot of students don’t have any; textbooks4change.com is possibly the easiest way for students to help out.”

Wouk said he chose to collaborate with the campaign because of its strong activism and ability to garner media attention.

“The reason we partnered with the Courage Campaign is because we were really impressed with what they are doing,” Wouk said. “They were setting up a campaign before Prop 8 was passed and they were able to localize equality campaigning and centralize a media push.”

Danielle Aguilar, a third-year sociology and feminist studies major who works at the Resource Center for Sexual & Gender Diversity, said many UCSB students are especially fervent about equal rights.

“Just being here when Prop 8 was passed, I could tell that there was a lot of anger,” Aguilar said. “I definitely think a lot students would get involved.”

Additionally, Cristina Madrigal, program coordinator of the Resource Center for Sexual & Gender Diversity, said the company allows students who are not members of LGBTQ campus organizations to contribute to the cause.

“It provides an opportunity for students to be involved in a way that takes less time than being in a student organization,” Madrigal said. “By donating money when getting books, students are getting a return for their efforts.”