Follett draws mixed reactions
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Because of its hurried takeover of the Guilford College bookstore,
Follett has had some trouble meeting student demand. Empty book
shelves are just one of the problems.
Zack Hample
STJUT WRITER
As Follett Higher Education
Group begins its first full semes
ter in control of the bookstore at
Guilford College, mixed reac
tions continue to accumulate
from both students and members
of the faculty.
Fifteen months ago, Presi
dent Don McNemar made the
controversial, but financially
practical, decision to outsource
Guilford's bookstore. While nu
merous benefits were guaran
teed, many opposed the move,
believing the corporate presence
would challenge the friendly in
timacy of the small Quaker cam
pus.
One year later, the issue re
surfaced when Follett took over
and made its presence known.
Pam Henry and Betsy Johnson,
the former long-time bookstore
managers and friends to the com
munity, refused the offer to re
main as part of the new operation.
The ensuing concern of com
munity members swept the cam
GUILFORDIAN
Greensboro, NC
pus and cast a shadow on Follett.
Intense scrutiny of the new book
store has continued ever since.
First-year student Sarah
Crane said, "I've had experiences
with [the employees] being both
friendly and also very cold."
"When Pam and Betsy were
here," added junior Eli Abrams,
"you couldn't get three feet past
the door without them at least say
ing hello to you."
Fortunately, others like jun
ior Jackie Thai, have been able to
focus on the positives. "The books
are definitely cheaper," she said.
Junior Zach Whicker pointed
out that his recent experience in
side the bookstore was "a lot more
efficient - I got out of there a lot
quicker than I have in the past."
According to senior
Stephanie Melesky, the good
comes with the bad: "I think that
efficiency has replaced being help
ful. It's lost the personal touch that
Guilford markets as being a pres
ence on campus."
Numerous professors have
also expressed dissatisfaction,
some of whom share the belief
that the initial decision to
outsource was ill-conceived. In
response, the faculty established
a bookstore committee whose
purpose is to field complaints and
help monitor Follett's proficiency
in handling them.
Second-year philosophy pro
fessor Lisa McLeod is a member
of this committee. "Some faculty
have told me that some of their
books hadn't come in or had been
told that books were out of print
when they weren't," she said.
McLeod explained that
there was not a smooth transition
between Pam Henry and Betsy
Johnson and Follett. Under
standably, they felt disheartened
and did not stay to give instruc
tions and assistance to the new
manager.
McLeod said it is still too
early to determine the long-term
success of the new bookstore, but
feels it is taking the appropriate
measures. "So far, the Follett
manager has been responsive to
complaints."
Edwins Laban Gwako, a sec
ond-year professor of anthropol
ogy, is another member of the
bookstore committee. He has
heard that Follett's new, inexpe
rienced staff has, on several oc
casions, received incorrect edi
tions of books and failed to notify
professors promptly and appro
priately.
While Gwako acknowledges
that complaints are legitimate, he
suggested that "it might be advis
able for us to go slow on whipping
them...They are in the midst of
that transitional crisis."
Gwako added, "I am con
vinced that they are doing every
thing possible to adapt to this col
lege." He justified his confidence
by considering the situation from
Follett's perspective: Follett is a
profit-motivated company, and
their performance here will cer
tainly affect their future endeav
ors.
President McNemar wants
Follett to succeed here, not only
Please see Follett, page 2
TheGuilfordian
c/o Student Activities
5800 W. Friendly Ave.
Greensboro, NC 27410
January 26, 2001
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