Longer store hours would allow students grab last-minute meals and essentials.
By Camila Chavarria, Staff Reporter
I started taking more afternoon classes during my junior year at CSUDH—the latter part of the afternoon, to be specific. When those midday munchies would kick in, I’d head over to the campus Bookstore for a drink and a snack, but would find it closed by the time.
The Bookstore is open Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., and on Fridays until 2 p.m. It’s closed over the weekend. There are so many times when I’ve walked over to Loker Student Union hoping to get something specific, only to see the Bookstore locked up with the lights off. I’d leave feeling totally disappointed, especially since it’s one of the few places on campus to get a fast and relatively cheap meal.
Now, I realize that the Bookstore may not have fully recovered from the effects of the pandemic—in some ways, that’s just like the rest of campus life at CSUDH. And I know that budget issues are forcing a lot of changes around the university. That would make sense—I understand that worker shortages can affect operating hours and the ability to keep things running smoothly.
In addition to checking out customers at the register, I imagine staff have a lot of other administrative duties and store maintenance to stay on top of—inventory, restocking items, scheduling, and decorating the store throughout the school year. Fewer employees means less time to do everything that needs to be done every day.
Still, I’d like to think a bookstore is one of those key landmarks of any college campus, and I wish there were more resources available to keep our bookstore open during off-peak hours.
There are vending machines near some classrooms, but they don’t always have what I need. Like this one time, when I was feeling really sick and I had forgotten my medicine at home. I immediately thought of the bookstore because they carry a little bit of everything. But when I got there, they had already closed for the day. I ended up feeling even worse in class.
Another time, I had an allergic reaction during class—my arms and hands broke out in rashes and bumps. I ran to the bookstore for Benadryl so I could feel better and get through the rest of the day.
I am always relieved whenever I am able to make it to the Bookstore during operating hours. There aren’t too many other places for students to go on campus if they need to pick up a Scantron for an exam, some over-the-counter medications, or any other last-minute personal essentials.
Those are just a few reasons why I think the bookstore should expand its hours past 5 p.m. Having more access means having more options when I—or other students—really need them.
As someone who lives with anxiety, I constantly run through “what if” scenarios in my head: What if I forget my pills? What if I need sanitary pads or a Scantron? What if I get sick during class? The Bookstore has always been my go-to place for those last-minute solutions.
I may sound dramatic, but the Bookstore really does save me sometimes. It has the variety of things I need throughout the day, and it’s not just convenient for me—I know it’s helpful for others, too. Sometimes, a simple snack can turn a bad day around. Other times, it’s about being able to grab an essential item that makes the rest of the day manageable.
As university administrators cut costs and redirect funds, I hope they’ll reimagine what a bookstore can and should be here at CSUDH. I’ll be graduating in 2026, and I’d love to be able to stop by after 5 p.m. for something I need.
But even if it doesn’t happen while I’m still here, I hope the hours are expanded for the future Toros — so they have more access and more options when they need them most.