Committee gives students a voice
By: Ally Patterson
Issue date: 11/20/09 Section: News
As 7 p.m. approached in the Hartness Pavilion on Wednesday, Nov. 11, three volunteer members of the Student's Voice Committee and eight representatives of Furman Auxiliaries (Dining Services, University Center businesses, golf course, etc.) gathered in an informal, roundtable setting to discuss possible changes at the bookstore and in renovation plans for the UC.
The committee, which was formed under Kevin Dehlinger, the Director of Auxiliary Business Development, consists of up to twelve students who meet approximately four times per semester.
Since its founding last spring, Student's Voice has given feedback to Furman Auxiliaries "directly and in a controlled manner to provide direct contact [for students] with decision makers," said Dehlinger.
Such feedback led to the installation of Moe's in the Pala Den last year and could heavily influence bookstore merchandising, UC amenities and the future of the Tower Cafe as the committee members meet with Auxiliary reps to make plans for the possible renovation of the University Center, which could begin as early as this summer.
The three members who attended the November 11 session - Marcus Tate, Bethany Ullrich and Ashley Warner - generated advice from the student perspective that was eagerly received by the representatives.
The hot topic of the evening, bookstore pricing and its relationship to faculty refusal to punctually submit book lists to the store, sparked a conversation on textbook overpricing that gave the bookstore officials insight into the ways that students circumvent the system.
"There's really no reason for us to go there unless we are checking book prices," said Tate, who either orders his books online, checks them out from the library or simply does not buy them.
"If I had it my way," said Larry Lawter, director of the University Bookstore, "I would never sell another college text book."
Student's Voice members responded with suggestions for increasing bookstore revenue included advertising, more student-friendly (as opposed to alumni-friendly) merchandise and reformatting the bookstore to create a space where students want to hang out.
Currently, only 58 percent of books ordered by the store are being purchased. Two-thirds of the total annual sales for the bookstore come from textbooks.
"[The University] looks for a reasonable return on their investment." said Lawter, who cited the issue of professors not submitting book lists as a main reason for the high prices of bookstore texts.
Dehlinger encouraged the participants to seek out interested students to offer suggestions for future topics, including public safety and the potential UC renovation.
"[Student's Voice] is not an exclusive thing," he said.
The committee, which was formed under Kevin Dehlinger, the Director of Auxiliary Business Development, consists of up to twelve students who meet approximately four times per semester.
Since its founding last spring, Student's Voice has given feedback to Furman Auxiliaries "directly and in a controlled manner to provide direct contact [for students] with decision makers," said Dehlinger.
Such feedback led to the installation of Moe's in the Pala Den last year and could heavily influence bookstore merchandising, UC amenities and the future of the Tower Cafe as the committee members meet with Auxiliary reps to make plans for the possible renovation of the University Center, which could begin as early as this summer.
The three members who attended the November 11 session - Marcus Tate, Bethany Ullrich and Ashley Warner - generated advice from the student perspective that was eagerly received by the representatives.
The hot topic of the evening, bookstore pricing and its relationship to faculty refusal to punctually submit book lists to the store, sparked a conversation on textbook overpricing that gave the bookstore officials insight into the ways that students circumvent the system.
"There's really no reason for us to go there unless we are checking book prices," said Tate, who either orders his books online, checks them out from the library or simply does not buy them.
"If I had it my way," said Larry Lawter, director of the University Bookstore, "I would never sell another college text book."
Student's Voice members responded with suggestions for increasing bookstore revenue included advertising, more student-friendly (as opposed to alumni-friendly) merchandise and reformatting the bookstore to create a space where students want to hang out.
Currently, only 58 percent of books ordered by the store are being purchased. Two-thirds of the total annual sales for the bookstore come from textbooks.
"[The University] looks for a reasonable return on their investment." said Lawter, who cited the issue of professors not submitting book lists as a main reason for the high prices of bookstore texts.
Dehlinger encouraged the participants to seek out interested students to offer suggestions for future topics, including public safety and the potential UC renovation.
"[Student's Voice] is not an exclusive thing," he said.