SXU bookstore @SXUAdmission on X (Twitter)
As the fall semester winds down and we get closer to the start of the spring, the time to buy textbooks is once again right around the corner.
The Xavierite Editorial Board recently discussed the possibility of Saint Xavier reopening a physical bookstore.
It has now been more than two years since SXU last had a bookstore on campus. The previous bookstore was closed in May 2021. It was located in the space at Shannon Center which now serves as the home for SXU’s ESports team.
As stated in an Xavierite report from March 18, 2021, the decision was said to be made due to “increasing cost of textbooks and the growing trend of students choosing to purchase their textbooks and course materials from online retailers.”
However, in its absence, students have made their disapproval with the decision clear.
One of the issues among students is that despite the promise to help reduce costs by going fully virtual, students are still finding much cheaper prices from outside retailers than from the online SXU bookstore. Some students even have yet to make a single purchase from the online bookstore.
One Xavierite Editorial board member stated, “I’ve never once considered buying the books from the SXU bookstore, it’s way too much money. Renting them outside the bookstore is far more affordable.”
Another member added that, “I’ve never used the online bookstore aside from checking the list of books for my classes so that I can buy them elsewhere.”
In addition to the failed promise to save students’ money, another student stated that their issue is the inconvenience of relying on online retailers to get their textbooks in time for the first day of class.
A member of the Xavierite Editorial Board echoed, “One of the benefits [of having an in-person bookstore] is that I would not have to worry about shipping everything and the potential of those shipments being delayed.”
Not only would having a bookstore on campus make it much easier for students to buy their textbooks by cutting out the need to wait for shipping, but some students also believe that this would help grow the sense of community in our campus.
Some members even suggested that adding a bookstore would help grow our school spirit by giving students a place to go to for SXU merch.
“We don’t have a lot of visible school spirit on campus, so having a central location for SXU merchandise would be a big plus.”
Though the online store already offers a variety of SXU merchandise, this would make it much easier for students who live on campus to shop for items to decorate their dorm. This could also provide SXU with an opportunity to earn more revenue by offering in-store exclusive merch.
Overall, the general consensus of the board was in favor of bringing back the bookstore. However, some members did raise concerns about finding a new home for this bookstore.
One member added, “I think it would be hard to locate a spot since where it used to be is now the ESports lounge, and it wouldn’t be fair to kick them out. It’s not their fault the school made a poor decision.”
The integration of the SXU ESports team has been one of the more positive developments to come out of the campus bookstore’s closure as it added yet another small community to the larger SXU campus life. It’s safe to assume that shutting it down in order to give the space back to the bookstore would only cause more frustrations between the students and the administration.
A possible solution was then offered by another board member, who suggested that, “they could renovate a spot in the Warde similar to the Hub or Coffee Cats where it’s a nook instead of a full building.”
Whether you prefer to surf through shelves to find your textbooks, or if you’d prefer to buy them from the comfort of your home, the majority of the Editorial Board members agreed that students should have both options available to them.
One of the reasons why it was decided to shut down the in-person bookstore was due to the perception that times are changing and physical stores are not as popular as they once were. However, we must consider the fact that its closure came at a time when COVID-19 restrictions were still in effect.
Fast forward to today, visiting coffee shops and bookstores has once again become a favored activity, especially among college students. Bringing back the SXU bookstore would surely be a welcomed addition by students.