This is the golden era of Arizona State University.
Ever since Michael Crow waltzed into town, we have seen one great change after another: $50 million here, $50 million there, changes to the Memorial Union, new parking structures and new facilities everywhere. Before our eyes, ASU is transforming into the "New American University."
Still, one building stands out like a glaring blemish. The ASU Bookstore is fast becoming the neglected stepchild of an otherwise attractive campus.
As anyone who has been in it lately can attest, the bookstore looks more like the musty old wizard store where Harry Potter bought his magic wand than a key part of a modern university.
The bookstore has zero aesthetic appeal and is extremely undersized for a population of more than 40,000 students. The walls and ceiling make it look like an attic, and the checkout lanes are so narrow, Dr. Phil would have a hard time making it through. (I guess he won't have a book signing there any time soon.)
Overall, the whole building is too constricted. Students walking through can hardly avoid running into one another to get their books. And the whole thing has a very antiquated feel to it. Former bookstore worker Zach Pirtle agrees. "They use very little technology in there," he says. "Most people that work in there are very little help, and they don't really know what's available."
A campus bookstore is one of the most pivotal locations at an institute of higher learning. With the exception of the Memorial Union and maybe the library, it is probably the most frequented site by non-students, and it is often the first thing visitors see when they come to the University. But at ASU, they are not greeted by anything welcoming.
At other first-rate schools, the bookstores are colossal buildings, which are a tribute to tourists and a point of pride for students. They have luxuries such as two-story facilities, big-screen TVs, hardwood floors, even coffee shops. Ours is more comparable to the mediocre likes of Mesa Community College.
A bookstore ought to be the jewel of the campus crown, not its ugly cellar. Embarrassingly, our archrival to the south, UA, kicks our butt in the bookstore department, as theirs resembles something closer to a Barnes and Noble than a dank warehouse. The UA bookstore is a sight to behold, complete with extravagant bonuses, such as a Clinique makeup counter.
There has been talk of a new bookstore attached the MU expansion plan. But, according to Undergraduate Student Government President Brandon Goad, it is nothing more than talk.
"I am adamant that student fees do not pay for the bookstore addition," he said. "The students will not subsidize such a profitable facility, and the bookstore has [money] saved for such a renovation. I will recommend that a bookstore is part of the expansion, but not paid for by the students."
Everyone I've talked to has indicated that the current bookstore (possibly because of its meager amenities) is extremely profitable. If the funds are available, then the "suits" in charge need to consider expansion, renovation or, better yet, a stunning new building.
Let the Golden Era begin - give us a new bookstore.
Ishtiaque Masud is an economics senior. Reach him at ishtiaque.masud@asu.edu.
