Editorials
Bookstore business up for grabs here
What can be done about our
bookstore?
We took the problem to Pro
vost Theodore Gross and he
feels the bookstore now serves
the function as a place where
students purchase their texts :
“It doesn’t pretend to do
anything more than that,”
Gross says, “but I would love to
see it’become a bookstore that
is really attractive, a cultural
center for the campus
community.”
If the Provost wants a better
bookstore, why doesn’t he do
something about it? After all,
doesn’t he run this place? Dr.
Gross says he has no power
over the bookstore because it is
governed by policies and ad
ministration at University
Park,. ,
That doesn’t ring true.
Both Penn State Berks
and Hazleton campuses have
book policies different from
ours. Theirs serve the students.
The trend in college
bookstores is toward becoming
a one-step shop, according to
the National Association of Col
lege Stores, and emphasis is
placed on a larger variety of
gpods accessible to students
with a wider range of services
offered at the bookstores.
Provost Gross feels there
may not be sufficient demand
for such development in our
fiiiies
Executive Editor
Managing Editor
Managing Editor
Layout Assistant
Photography Editor ..
Sports Editor
Copy Editor
Business Manager
Business Assistant ...
Sales Representatives
Adviser
The CAPTIOL TIMES welcomes letters from readers. Letters Intended for publication must Indicate
the writer's college affiliation, If any. All letters MUST be signed by the writer. Unslgrjed letters cannot
be printed. A writer's name may be withheld upon request. Letters should be typewritten and double
spaced; and, any material that is libelous or does not conform to publication standards may be edited or
rejected.
STAFF MEMBERS
Monica Auld
Mark Clauser
Thomas Dekle
Judith Faruquee
Joe Guberman
Kim Guzzi
Michele Haley
bookstore.
We disagree. Both Berks
and Hazleton with less
than half our student-customer
levels, do a better job.
If much smaller schools can
profit by providing
services—especially used books
which save students a signifi
cant amount—why can’t we?
True, handling used books is
more work but it’s also more
profitable. According to Bill
McVicker, University Park
Bookstore Manager, there is on
ly a 20 percent markup on new
texts whereas a 25 to 30 percent
markup is possible in the used
book market. The profit margin
should be enticing.
It may even be enticing
enough for students to go into
business. Students taking mat-
Vol. 17, No. 4 January 24,1983
Jerry Trently, Jr.
George P. Yanoshik, Jr.
Betsy Sheehan
Mike Markle
Robert Rejmaniak
Barbara Myers
.. Charles R. Cobourn, 111
Kimberly Bush
KeyinGulrich
Paul Saba tine
James P. Kushlan
Marsha L- Larsen
William Negley
Lisa Noro
Marcia Rogers
Bud Smith
Raquel Summerford
Pat Wenger
Ai Lee
ters into their own hands is a
sixties trait which could revive
the used book market here on
campus. Joe Guberman,
Managing Editor of The Lion’s
Tale, suggested that students
start their own co-op or book
swap through existing organiza
tions on campus as a fund
raiser. Sounds feasible to us.
Every organization wants a
fund raiser. Most organizations
want to provide a service, too~
so we can combine them both.
This solution, of course,
points up the dreadful ineffi
ciencies of our bookstore. As
Capitol Times reporter Bill
Negley said: “Comparing
Editor’s note:
While researching and interviewing for our article on the
bookstore, we encountered individuals who wished to make addi
tional comment that we were restricted from printing by space
limitations. They subsequently submitted letters to the editor.
/ [ ef erenci> 2* te IhUl^fttol* 6 a s uge es«
,rt fe ‘“tea jSv o ' «*Sg V^sS 11 ?" «n /
yc “"get. yas “#und /
’ st *Wei /
nee «allthe /
\!»S3SSiff^S!SsSSv-^\
YgSKgSssgSs sgSsg®*
\%SsSsg»sSSass?S-
Capitol’s bookstore with one
like Franklin and Marshall’s
store is like comparing a 7-11
store with Gimbels. There just
is no comparison.”
In pursuing the bookstore pro
blem, we have never come
across an issue which inspired
such total agreement for both
students and the faculty. Vir
tually everyone said that no one
has done anything and that the
bookstore needs to be drastical
ly changed to serve the students
of Capitol Campus.
But apparently people in
power think it is like the
weather, you can talk about it,
but you can’t do anything about
it.
We disagree.
As a paper and as a student
body it is time to act.
Letters
V'.w#**'****
Page 6