University students unhappy after learning bookstore could be sold to American company

CALGARY (660 NEWS) — The University of Calgary is exploring ways to reduce costs which could mean selling the university bookstore to a third party.

The company in question is Illinois-based Follett which provides educational products to all types of schools.

The potential move has been met with online backlash from students who worry textbooks prices will see a drastic increase if this sale happens.

“This possibility of a decision came as a surprise to the students’ union and many students,” said Frank Finley, president of the UCalgary students’ union.

“No public conversations with anybody had occurred up until we saw this leaked through a Reddit post. This is a huge issue that people need to be directly involved in”

Don’t think I’ve seen much of this over here, but the UofC is currently planning on selling there bookstore to an American company from r/Calgary

Finley brought the issue up during a board of governors meeting last Friday where he was told that no contracts had been signed and talks were in the initial stages.

“It’s confusing to the students’ union though because it seems as though employees at the bookstore were told that this was a real possibility and, in our opinion, that would only happen if negotiations were pretty far along,” Finley said.

The University of Calgary said in a statement that no final decision has been made and that on an ongoing basis, it looks for ways to reduce costs while continuing to deliver services to the community.

“That includes exploring whether services can be provided in an alternate manner that reduces costs without impacting the student experience,” the statement reads.

“As an institution, we value open and transparent communication. We felt it important to let our bookstore team know that this was an option under consideration. No decision has been made, and any such decision would take into consideration the impact on students and our broader community.”

The University of Calgary is under financial pressure after the provincial government cut funding to the school by $25 million for the 2021-2022 school year.

Finley understands the university has tough decisions to make but this potential move would put more debt onto students who already struggle to pay for their education.

“What we’re further seeing is an outsourcing of debt from the university or the province onto the back of working students who sometimes have to choose between paying their rent or buying food and paying their tuition, and that’s a situation no one wants to find themselves in.”

If the university is unable to run the bookstore, Finley said the student’s union could take over the operation and run it at cost for students.

A student at the university has already started an online petition to stop the private sale which has already received more than 1,000 signatures.