Book-trading plan shot down because of contract
By Jessica Sanders
Staff Reporter

Plans for a student-run book-selling Web site have been put on hold because of administrative resistance, said Brad Thompson, Student Government Association president.

Thompson, a junior radio-TV-film major, said the site would allow students to sell textbooks at their own price and has already been designed and worked into the SGA budget.

The site would cost $500 a year to maintain and would be searchable by subject, author and title, Thompson said.

“I’ve been working on it for almost a year to get this rolling,” Thompson said. “The only problem is the administration is saying no way.”

Carol Campbell, vice chancellor of finance and business, said no competition with the bookstore is allowed, even if the competition is operated by students.

“Barnes and Noble has an exclusive contract,” Campbell said.

Amy Warriner, a senior graphic design major, said competition would help the bookstore improve their prices and service.

“The bookstore needs competition,” Warriner said. “Half the time the bookstore won’t have the right book and it will take a long time to reorder it.”

Thompson said if students are able to sell books on TCU Announce, then they should be able to sell books on a Web site specifically designed for that purpose.

Campbell said she does not know why TCU Announce classifieds are not restricted by the contract.

“I am not at all familiar with TCU Announce,” Campbell said.

Josh Harmon, a systems analyst for Administrative Information Services, said he is not aware of contract restrictions concerning book sales on TCU Announce ads.

“Nobody’s ever said anything to me,” Harmon said. “I’ve always kind of wondered though.”

Amanda Patrick, a sophomore math major, said the Web site would work if it is operated like TCU Announce.

“It sounds like a great idea if I can get more money for my books,” Patrick said. “The TCU Bookstore rips me off. Students already sell books on TCU Announce, so it would be a bigger, better thing.”

Vicky Hunter, a sophomore nutrition major, said there are times when an actual bookstore might be more effective than a virtual one.

“I think it’s great as long as you know that the class is going to use the book and they’re not going to change the book right before the class,” Hunter said.

Thompson said he is still hoping to make the Web site work, despite administrative resistance, and that SGA would like student feedback concerning online book selling.

“It’s something I definitely see happening at TCU,” Thompson said. “We’re just trying to decide what’s the next step of the plan.”

j.d.sanders@tcu.edu