RIT Bookstore May Face Bankruptcy, BookMaid to Become Official Bookstore
Tuesday, March 31st, 2009
- The bookstore opened 10 months ago and may now be closing. Photo via The Eggplant
RIT’s bookstore announced today that they are seeking a financial bailout. Sales reached an all time low this quarter and are predicted to be even lower next year. BookMaid.com will become official named RIT’s bookstore if the bookstore reaches bankruptcy.
The bookstore asked for a financial bailout 2 weeks ago, which was denied by RIT’s President Destler. He warned the bookstore that they can’t depend on an “unending” stream of students’ tuition dollars. Destler threatens that if the bookstore does not restructure, they maybe forced to file bankruptcy.
“We cannot, we must not, and we will not let our books simply vanish,” says Destler, stressing the importance of a textbook resource. He has pre-approved BookMaid.com as the bookstore’s replacement if it does not meet the President’s requirements.
“Everyone’s in an economic situation,” says a bookstore representative, “and RIT students aren’t willing to give us their money.” He claims that the students are being too cautious about their spendings. “We have a commitment to rip students off, and we’re having trouble meeting that commitment.” He also explained that Winter Quarter’s book sales were alarmingly low. BookMaid.com on the other hand, has been spiking with sales.
The RIT community has been hoping for the fall of the bookstore. Lauren Parsons, an RIT economics professor and Stanford graduate is certain that the bookstore is nearing it’s final days. “The RIT bookstore won’t be able to survive another quarter” she explains, “The prices are ridiculous.” She has directed all her students to use BookMaid.com to purchase the textbooks for her courses.
“I’ve bought many books on BookMaid” says Kelly Jefferson, a cashier at the bookstore, “We run out of books sometimes - and it’s the only place we can go to restock quickly.”
Students are anxious to hear the results of this economical situation. “This quarter I paid $634 for four books.” says Jason Miller, a third year mechanical engineering student, “And one of them couldn’t have been thicker than a magazine! Six hundred dollars for four books!? For realz?!”
Happy April 1st Everyone! 
