News
 

Bookstore deal ends fund-raiser

University working to allow Bowling Club's shirt sale to resume 
despite contract clause

by Portia-Elaine Gant
Senior Staff Writer

As a fund-raiser, the Cougar Bowling Club often held what President Mike Ransdell called "spirit sales." The club would rent a space at the front of the University Center and sell T-shirts with the University's logo for $5.

In the middle of last semester, however, that changed.

"To sell the T-shirts, we have to go through Campus Activities," Ransdell said. "One of the times we went to register for the space, they told us we couldn't sell T-shirts anymore because the bookstore had gone to (auxiliary services) about the issue. They changed the contract. No one in student activities was aware of it, and from what I understand, no one knew that it was a situation."

Director of Auxiliary Services Ann Lamar said the contract had always stated that student organizations were exempt from the clause that gave the bookstore the exclusive rights to sell merchandise bearing the University's logo. However, when a new five-year bookstore contract was renegotiated in 2000, that exemption was simply overlooked.

"I think it was just an error. It was just missed," Lamar said. "We asked for it, and as we went through contract negotiations the people who put the language in the contract didn't pick up on it. Lots of people review and talk about a lot of things, but this was one of those things that just fell through the cracks."

Although it went unnoticed by auxiliary services, the bookstore was well aware of the bowling club's sales.

"The bookstore asked me to look into it, and that's when we realized there wasn't an exception for student organizations. It was an error on our part that we missed it," Lamar said.

The contract is not up for negotiation again until 2005, but Lamar said she recognized the need for immediate intervention. Ransdell and his club members wrote a letter to Student Government Association President Jon Quintanilla explaining that the shirt sale was a large portion of their fund-raising. Quintanilla forwarded the letter to Lamar.

"It raises about six to seven thousand dollars a year as a fund raiser," Ransdell said. "We have other fund raisers and the members pay weekly dues, but we need about $20,000 a year."

Lamar explained that, although the contract can't be changed for another year, she is trying to help student organizations.

"As I understand, only the bowling club sells T-shirts, so I'm trying to work with (the bookstore) to see if they will allow the bowling club to sell shirts, but not at the UC," Lamar said. "I am trying to get the bookstore to allow a change before the contract ends."
 
Send comments to dcnews@mail.uh.edu