Who owns our campus? This is a question most students at TheUniversity of Memphis never think about. But walking across campus,carefully scanning the "advertise here" ads on the new library bookdrops and garbage cans will make you ponder that question.
Most of us never bother to ask simple questions about ourcampus, even though we pay more than $2,000 to attend everysemester.
I remember a simple time when students could walk into theUniversity Center and choose which teller machine they wanted touse. Now, thanks to "exclusive contracts," First Tennessee is the"exclusive" teller provider on the campus.
I may be reaching a little into left field here, but how manypeople remember the Memphis Area Teachers Credit Union that oncestood proudly on Southern? After losing the bid to become thebanking institution on and around campus to First South, MemphisArea Teachers Credit Union had to relocate to another location,despite complaints from students and faculty.
Why are these companies getting all this access to our campus?Well, it's a simple explanation. All the companies involved offeredThe University a substantial amount of money to run these serviceson campus.
Barnes and Noble, for example, offered to pay the university$550,000 plus 8.5 percent of gross sales in annual commission if itwas awarded the contract. Follett, a rival company, offered$450,000 plus 7 percent of gross sales. Due to the expensive pricesat the bookstore, we know who got that contract.
The University is facing a financial crunch due to the enormouscut backs in higher education. The University needs money, but thatis no reason to sell out students who are already stretched enoughwhen it comes to money. A simple trip to the Tiger Den or UC MarketPlace can easily KO a typical college student's pocket.
This is not completely the fault of The University. The studentpopulation has grown more passive in dealing with things on campus.I'm from an era when students got together and protestedunfavorable things on campus. We boycotted the bookstore a numberof years ago due to excessive prices and scare buy back procedures.We were rewarded with a program called "the deal." Under thisprogram, students were guaranteed at least 30 percent of theoriginal cost for any book purchased from the campus bookstore andthen sold back.
Contracting is a phenomenon that is happening all over thecountry. However, it is up to students to take an active stance onissues like this. This is our campus, and we should have some inputon with whom we do business. We hear numerous complaints everysemester about the bookstore prices and how they sell books for$100 but don't buy them back at the end of the semester. However,we only get blanket excuses or directions to the corporate officein Alabama.
We students have a voice and the power to make changes. If we donothing, the problems will only get worse.
I understand The University's money woes, and I am verysympathetic to the situation. However, other ways need to beexplored to solve these financial problems.
Don't sell us out for a bid and 7 percent.
