Students looking to get a jump-start on readings for their
classes were met with another excuse to procrastinate Monday
““ long lines at the Associated Students UCLA textbook
store.
Late Monday afternoon, the line doubled back twice and stretched
about a hundred feet down the corridor on Ackerman Union’s
A-level near the Campus Photo Studio. Dozens waited inside the
store, books in hand.
ASUCLA Executive Director Bob Williams said the lines might be
related to the academic calendar. Because the quarter started on a
Monday, many students were not back until just before classes
started and textbook sales over the weekend were slow, he said.
But most students were amicable about the experience.
“It is a little chaotic because there are so many people,
but it’s been worse before. It also depends on what time you
come,” said Sabrina Schafer, a fourth-year art history
student. “Now it’s been pretty quick, they have a lot
of people working.”
Some cited the need to purchase course readers available only at
the campus bookstore as well as the difficulty of finding the right
books at less expensive off-campus locations as possible reasons
for so many students waiting in line to buy.
“A lot of the cheaper places don’t have the right
books, and now it’s the first day and a lot of courses
require you to do the reading before class, so we have to pick up
all our books,” said Raquel Barrientos, a third-year history
student.
Schafer said that despite the lines, waiting to buy books at the
store was the best option for her.
“I’ve tried ordering them in advance, but you never
know what books you’re going to need or if you’re going
to stay in the class,” she said.
Compiled by Shaun Bishop and Elizabeth Jensen, Bruin senior
staff.