University of Virginia Library

Free Enterprise?

For years I have wondered why
two bookstores, adjacent to each
other and under the same management,
would have different
names. Possibly it is to give the
appearance of competition to
matriculating first year men. I suppose
I accepted this as a rule of
enterprising businessmen. More important,
however, is the mystique
which exists giving the Corner
bookstores the exclusive rights to
sell hardback books to the University.

The nature of this agreement
between the Board of Visitors and
the Corner bookstores has never
really been clarified, and the tactics
used by the Corner bookstores to
gain access to class book lists of
faculty who prefer to do business
with the Newcomb Hall Bookstore
should be scrutinized. It does not
appear that the establishment is
fostering the ideals of free enterprise.