SF State Students Still Unsure of New Bookstore
During spring semester of last year, rumors spread about San Francisco State’s bookstore becoming managed by the Follett Higher Education Group. The news of the once non-profit bookstore changing management to a for-profit company seemed to come as a shock to some SF State students. The news couldn’t have contrasted any better with the anti-corporate slogans of the occupy protest rallies still echoing in the back of students’ heads. Word spread fast and soon the campus was split between people opposing the new bookstore and the people indifferent to the change.
Now, a full semester later, student opinions of the bookstore are just as split as they were before the doors opened.
“ I felt it was really frustrating. They messed up one of my classes and listed all of the recommended books as required and the one required book as recommended. I bought the books off Amazon,” said Becca Rowan, senior BECA major at SFSU. “I went tot he bookstore to complain and they didn’t do anything about it. I think if they were still a non profit I would have had an easier time getting them to maybe exchange [the books] and give me the book that was actually required.”
Another student who wished to remain anonymous had a completely different experience.
“I didn’t notice any real difference between the bookstore now and what is was before… all the employees pretty much were as respectful and as helpful as always.”
When asked how he felt about there being a for profit bookstore on campus, he said:
“I think it’s fine. I haven’t noticed a big change in the way they deal with their customers. As far as whether I think its right or wrong, I don’t really have an opinion on that”
According to their website, The Follet Higher Education group “…is a family-owned bookstore provider that has operated with integrity and respect for more than 139 years.” Their website claims they manage more than 930 bookstores nationwide, including 12 CSU campuses, these include San Francisco State, Humboldt State and Sacramento State to name a few. Their vision is to “…help your bookstore succeed by sharing the knowledge that helped us succeed.”