OpinionsEditorials

Policies deserve student attention

Two weeks ago, the Campus Times ran a story about the University of La Verne Bookstore’s return policy.

This article told the stories of three ULV students who were unable to return their unneeded books, although they were not used or opened. While their stories are unfortunate, the students are partially out of line for getting upset with the Bookstore or its employees.

Textbook returns and exchanges are accepted 48 hours after the first week of a particular class has started. This rule has been in effect for more than a year. It is not a hidden policy the Bookstore has. In fact, it is printed on the back of every receipt and was posted on fliers around the Bookstore.

When one considers that some classes meet only once a week, 48 hours does seem like a short period of time to return books. Regardless, students need to recognize that there are policies that must be adhered to. When the rules and deadlines are made obvious, and students do not take the time to understand them, we cannot complain when the outcome is not satisfactory. Ignorance cannot be used as an excuse.

Take this same situation out of the college atmosphere. Do credit-card companies really care if people are only one-day late paying their bills? No-the following month the person would be charged a late fee. Whether the person who owes money read the information regarding the credit agreement is irrelevant. Whether a person has used credit from that particular company also does not matter. In the real world, one day late is late, no excuses or exceptions granted.

The Bookstore is simply trying to protect itself from taking back damaged books. The longer a student has a book, the more likely the book will get damaged. As a business, the Bookstore has to create policies that will help it earn a profit. If ULV Bookstore General Manager Clayton Simmons allows a student to return a book one day after the 48-hour deadline, then he would have to grant everyone the option of following the return policy. If that were to happen, students would start to complain that the Bookstore would not accept books according to its policy, and so on and so on. The circle only revolves when it is convenient to the student. The issue at hand is not a dramatic one, but instead is just one that requires students to pay attention.

At the same time, professors need to be more responsible when requiring students to buy books. Professors should also be aware of the Bookstore’s return policy and make sure that they do not change the book requirement after that deadline has expired. It is not fair for students to spend money on books that they do not need and would not have bought if the professor did not require it.

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Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the Campus Times Editorial Board.

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