Stonehill, I love you, but I have a bone to pick with you and I am positive I do not stand alone.
We have so much going for us — strong academic programs with outstanding extracurricular activities and even more fantastic opportunities available. By college standards, we have great housing, great community, amazing study abroad programs, alternative spring break programs, high grad school acceptance rates and without a doubt, we all bleed purple. So Stonehill, I must ask, Why the Hill is our Bookstore located in the basement of the residence hall Boland?
It does not make sense. You walk down grungy stairs to a door resembling that of a purple dungeon or prison door leading to solitary confinement. I am a tour guide so naturally, I point out the bookstore (by the way, nice new awning) and you should see the looks I get. People are scared to venture into a basement; isn't that where we should store all the Christmas lights or the paper WB Mason donates? I can tell you for sure, that is not where I should be sending prospective families to buy their first Stonehill sweatshirts nor be bringing my Nana when she wants to buy a Stonehill mug for her tea.
A second issue with the current location of the bookstore is neither the parking nor the stairs are ideal. What if there are people interested in visiting the bookstore, but it is not accessible because of the stairs and poor parking? There isn't an elevator unless you can get into Boland which obviously has restricted access for the majority. In my opinion, this is all the more reason for relocation of the bookstore.
Stonehill, we are better than a basement bookstore with no windows and small spaces where you are more likely to knock something over than not. Stonehill is awesome, so let's put all of that gear we sport so often in a place that is accessible.
Lucky, my irritation has led me to devise a simple four-point plan.
With the newly built Spoco, space has freed up in several locations across campus. Yet, my attention is focused on the Old Student Union, which previously housed the old football locker room and trainer facilities for varsity athletes. There is ample floor space and room that could be used for storage. It could relatively easily be turned into a well sized, significantly less cluttered space than our current basement bookstore offers.
Let me tell you why this proposal is feasible and logical:
1. It is accessible. There is perfect parking located directly behind the Old Student Union, no stairs and a perfect location for both past, present and prospective students. As students, the bookstore would be located in the center of campus, making quick stops easy and directions would be simple for prospective students.
2. It is visible. Think about how much sales would increase if the location was in the middle of campus. Ease of access would significantly increase; the bookstore would be located directly in between the two main access points of campus, forcing everyone to pass it. Right now, the bookstore is "out of sight, out of mind" for nearly all of campus.
3. It is not causing the relocation of anything. Right now, the locker room and old trainer's facility for varsity athletes are empty. Nothing is stopping the bookstore from hopping on over to its new and improved location.
4. It is above ground. There are windows, more than one door and not an entrance that looks like a cell.
Finally, Stonehill's Bookstore doesn't have to be like the unsuccessful, 35 year-old-man still living in the basement of someone else's home.
