I got this idea a while ago really. I can't remember when, but now it seems to be so much a part of me it's like it's always been there.
Do you know what you pay to keep the Agora open? If you are a full-time student registered for two semesters its $18.64 ($9.32 for part-time). It's even more if you take classes in the Spring/Summer sessions as well. The only Student levy item that’s higher in price is the direct SFUO one (excluding the Health Plan). At the moment, we pay the $18.64 to save about 2% on our textbooks (the Agora charges 5% below MRSP while the Campus Bookstore charges about 3% below)[approx]. I know that not all of my books are available at the Agora (and even if they are I don't like the store) which means that I don't even break-even on this transaction; I will "save" about $2 this year.
Now the Agora did/does serve a purpose. Before it was opened the Campus Bookstore was charging 10% ABOVE MRSP. So it has served a valiant purpose. But really, I think there are better ways to continue this. Paying well over $500 000/year as a student body to keep this store open does not at all seem fiscally viable. So what can we do?
When the Agora was opened, the world was a different place, especially the way online shopping worked in Canada. Why can't we make a deal with Chapters Indigo to provide them with our textbook requirements, the same way it happens with the Agora, and have them set something up on Chapters.ca where students can search by Course Code and the books come up? Chapters.ca is a very good place to buy books. The prices are 30-40% cheaper on average than in the stores and with $39 or more you get free shipping. They ship from Mississauga so it’s pretty quick. Don't have a credit card? No problem, go to one of the Chapters/Coles stores and buy a gift card in the amount you will need, and you can purchase online with it. In the current economic climate, I'm sure they would enjoy that much new business.
It may not be a complete plan, but something like this would keep the Campus Bookstore competitive and save us money at the same time (and $18.64/year to boot).
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
This is not a bad idea. In the very least it stimulates discussion on the issue. One of my biggest complaints about the UofO is the SFUO and there fiscal irresponsibility. The SFUO is insanely wasteful but students do not have a choice, they are forced to pay into this union that most often is run by incompetent childlike students who want to save the whales and employ peasant in third world countries above the wage market.
ReplyDeleteI think another way of fixing the agora cost problem would be to allow students to opt out of the student union/federation. After all, a fundamental freedom in Canada is the freedom of association as stated in section 2d of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in Part I of the Constitution Act, 1982.
I DO NOT WISH TO ASSOCIATE WITH THE SFUO and their mismanagement of MY MONEY.