Book-list battle with campus store frustrates SGA
MEGAN JONES/Assistant news editor
Issue date: 3/24/05 Section: News
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Imagine being able to access the book list for your classes online, giving you more options on where you spend your money when it comes time to buy books for the semester.
The Student Government Association wants to make this fantasy a reality, but has encountered many roadblocks due to the contract Eastern has with Barnes and Noble, the campus bookstore operator.
"I think it's a good idea," said Robert Halsell, a freshman aviation major. "If it's online, we can just print it out and keep everything simple."
SGA President Lance Melching said the university contract with Barnes and Noble requires the bookstore to compile a list of books for all the classes at Eastern, but the bookstore is not required to release the list or any changes made to the list.
"It is a matter of public record," said Lisa Crowe, the campus bookstore manager who was hired at the beginning of the semester. "We are not restricting information."
Halsell thinks students should be able to get the book-list information.
"We are the ones trying to get books," he said. "It doesn't make much sense why they would hold the information. It's kind of selfish on Barnes and Noble's part."
Becky Coyle, manager of University Book and Supply, the off-campus bookstore, said the Barnes and Noble contract should not limit who has access to the information.
"We try to make sure we have all adoptions correct and have all adoptions and changes," Coyle said. "(Barnes and Noble) thinks the information is theirs because it is providing the forms to professors so they can make an adoption."
Adoptions are made each semester by professors to establish what books will be used for their classes.
"We collect the information through hard work and research," Crowe said. "We're not merely getting information, but also researching to make sure the book titles (and book numbers) ... are correct."
Coyle said the staff at UBS is not allowed to call or e-mail professors about what text books they plan on using in their classes.
The Student Government Association wants to make this fantasy a reality, but has encountered many roadblocks due to the contract Eastern has with Barnes and Noble, the campus bookstore operator.
"I think it's a good idea," said Robert Halsell, a freshman aviation major. "If it's online, we can just print it out and keep everything simple."
SGA President Lance Melching said the university contract with Barnes and Noble requires the bookstore to compile a list of books for all the classes at Eastern, but the bookstore is not required to release the list or any changes made to the list.
"It is a matter of public record," said Lisa Crowe, the campus bookstore manager who was hired at the beginning of the semester. "We are not restricting information."
Halsell thinks students should be able to get the book-list information.
"We are the ones trying to get books," he said. "It doesn't make much sense why they would hold the information. It's kind of selfish on Barnes and Noble's part."
Becky Coyle, manager of University Book and Supply, the off-campus bookstore, said the Barnes and Noble contract should not limit who has access to the information.
"We try to make sure we have all adoptions correct and have all adoptions and changes," Coyle said. "(Barnes and Noble) thinks the information is theirs because it is providing the forms to professors so they can make an adoption."
Adoptions are made each semester by professors to establish what books will be used for their classes.
"We collect the information through hard work and research," Crowe said. "We're not merely getting information, but also researching to make sure the book titles (and book numbers) ... are correct."
Coyle said the staff at UBS is not allowed to call or e-mail professors about what text books they plan on using in their classes.