Shortchanged

Some Southern University students and faculty are complaining the campus bookstore is not ordering enough books to accommodate the students enrolled.
Albert Samuels, a Southern political science professor, said that due to a shortage of books he often orders more books than needed, hoping enough will be available.
“It’s frustrating faculty because it affects what assignments we are able to give out,” Samuels said. “I’m the kind of person who gives pop quizzes to try and get my students to read.”
Samuels said he is unable to follow through with his lesson plans because not all of his students are able to get books in a timely manner.
“This gives some of my students a valid excuse for not doing their homework and some of them don’t need excuses,” Samuels said.
Samuels said with so many other resources such as textbook rental stores and the Internet, it would behoove the bookstore, which is owned by Follett Corporation, to become more efficient.
Southern political science professor William Arp said he believes the main reason the bookstore may not be ordering enough books is because they are in competition with other bookstores and the Internet, which often sells cheaper.
“Students are pretty sharp these days. They try to maximize their benefits as well. They try to keep as much money in their pockets as they can (and) they’re competitive shoppers,” Arp said. “If the bookstore is saying one price for a book and they can get it cheaper on the Internet, then they’re going to get it on the Internet.”
Arp said he thinks the bookstore has realized that they should not order as many books as professors request because they have been stuck with a surplus in the past.
“They’re seeking a profit like any private business and students are going to probably suffer, especially those who want to purchase their books in a timely fashion on campus,” Arp said.
Some students are outraged there aren’t enough books and fear they may get behind in classes with less understanding professors.
“There is no reason there should be a shortage of books in the bookstore, especially not when they (the management) know how many students they should expect,” said Brittany Wright, a sophomore pyschology major from Denver. ” If the professor doesn’t understand, then we get messed over.”
Samuels said this has been a recurring problem but as far as he knows, it had not been reported to upper level administration.
Flanders McClinton, vice chancellor for finance and administration, said the problem was new to him.
“I was unaware we were short on textbooks,” McClinton said. “However, I will check up on it.”
Bookstore manager Lucy Green declined to comment, and said she needed permission from Follett to respond. Unsuccessful attempts were made to speak with a corporation representative.