Students discuss coffee shop, bookstore changes

Student Senate hosted another forum for students and staff last Thursday to discuss topics on the coffee shop, bookstore, and universal parking passes for Spring Daze later this month.

At 6 p.m. today, there will be a forum to discuss the coffee shop, again, and constitutional changes.

Senate is looking for ways to improve the flow of traffic through the Book Ends Coffee Shop, in the Reta E. King Library. The coffee shop is not generating enough profits from cash and credit/debit cards transactions right now. Tracy Shuck, director of dining services, stated the coffee shop has lost about $30,000 from 2014 to 2016. Shuck also added the dining services may have to subsidize $30,000 from Senate to cover losses.

People in attendance at the forum had the chance to give their input on ways to improve the coffee shop. Some ideas included adding variety to the drink and food selection, trading off how money is used in other areas, possibly add a barista, and offer various coupons and discounts.

Some changes mentioned included possibly closing the shop and replacing it with coffee pots. A problem the coffee shop is it is not attracting enough commuter students. Dining services does not profit from students who use bonus bucks, which consists mostly of on-campus students.

One problem that arises with the coffee shop is its location. Dining services wants the shop to promote a social atmosphere where people can relax and hang out, but is hard to promote in the library. Dining services is hoping to create a more “social atmosphere” on the main floor, Shuck stated.

On the topic of the bookstore, CSC’s administration wants to move away from being a traditional bookstore and more merchandise based.  The bookstore will still sell books and will have a new book company that is more cost effective.

Some topics students mentioned with changes to the bookstore, included changes in time slots, longer hours, and/or weekends being open. Products that may be included in the future bookstore are cheaper polo shirts, water bottles, go cups, Kleenex, and custom products. Students are also hoping to see more apparel items and less school items. The administration is possibly looking to do a survey in the near future to gauge a wider student response and interest on possible changes.

Discussion on the universal parking passes for Spring Daze was not brought up due to time constraints, but will be discussed at today’s open forum in the Student Senate/CAB office in the Student Center.