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Ser v i ng t he st udents of t he Un iversit y of Hawa i ‘ i at M ā noa si nce 1922
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Volu me 105 Issue 17
Independent bookstore serves faculty and students JANE CALLAHAN Associate News Editor Revolution Books, an independent bookstore in Puck’s Alley, is one of the outlets that some University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa professors order books from for their classes. The store’s operation works solely on a cooperative system, refl ective of the communist ideologies to which they promote. “Everyone who works here volunteers. Whoever has more time, gives more time. I’m here more often because right now I have more time,” said Carolyne Hadfield, a member of the collective and a volunteer to the store. In a capitalist system, the store has not gone with out scrutiny by the students since its opening in the community in 1976, when they fi rst began selling books, t-shirts, posters, as well as hosting group discussions. “We’re a political bookstore,” said Hadfield, who noted that, as a result, several students have gone to UH administration because professors had class texts ordered through the store. The claims usually center on disdain for being “made to support communism” through students’ purchases. “If that’s the case, I’d like to see a student sue a professor for ordering their books through Borders or the UH bookstore, for supporting capitalism!” joked Mary Baker, research assistant of indigenous studies in the political science department. Hadfield expressed her awareness of some of the students’ reservations for various reasons. “I had one customer who was in the military and had a high clearance, and he was afraid of what would happen to his clearance if he came into the store,” said Hadfield. Nicole Kim, a sophomore
afraid to come in to a certain bookstore, what does that say about the community we live in?” While the store carries works by Bob Avakian, the Chairman of the Revolutionary Communist Party, as well as a weekly newspaper titled Revolution News, they also have many books on education, sociology, drama, music, language and history. In reaction to their practices, the store has experienced breakins and vandalism. Hadfield recollected that after they started carrying books on reproductive rights, someone glued the store’s locks shut, threw rocks through the windows, and left a “disturbing” sign with a death threat. Responding to the incident, Hadfield said, “You have to handle it the way you would in a better society. If people don’t agree with you, that’s fi ne! Let’s have that conversation. That’s what education is all about: going to the outside edges. If we don’t, then we will never solve problems.” There are counter-arguments as to the store’s place in a capitalist country. A UHM student who wished to remain anonymous said “The irony is that if we lived in a communist regime, their store wouldn’t be allowed to exist … a store that challenges the government and status quo.” In fact, Revolution Books NIK SEU / KA LEO O HAWAI‘I does not currently make a profit. Carolyne Hadfield, a volunteer at Revolution Books, maintains that open discussion While a large percentage of purchases are UH-based, running about topics is essential to learning. the business is still difficult. “I had a mother come in to “Every month we lose money. art major, said the store “is very nice and helpful to the students.” buy books for her son, because The staff puts in their own money She also expressed hesitation to she didn’t want him exposed to to cover the gaps … otherwise go into the store because of its the store. She was a Latina wom- there’s no way we could possicommunist association. “I was an, and we have lots of books (on bly keep up with the rent,” said kind of scared to go in, because that topic). She ended up buying Hadfield. “We have people who more books for herself than for donate to sustain us, and we have they are communists.” a big fundraiser once a year in At times, skeptics are surprised her son!” recalled Hadley. She added, “If people are November or December.” by what they fi nd in the store.
Hadfield reiterated that it is not a profitable business. “We’re not here to make money … [the store] is here to reflect the kind of society we [the staff] want to live in.” Candace Fujikane, an associate professor of English, orders her texts through the store. “ The store is economically helpful to the students, since the store buys back books from students in my classes.” Joshua Fujino, a senior majoring in economics stated, “Students like the store because it’s cheaper than UH books.” Hadfield said that the store has developed a rapport with faculty members. “We work fairly closely with the professors in the UH community,” said Hadfield. “We work to meet the needs of individual classes and teachers. The ‘personal thing’ is part of us.” Fujikane recognized that the communist association with the bookstore has raised issues in the past. She states that she is open with students about the type of store Revolution Books is, and that if any students are uncomfortable then they are free to purchase the texts from Amazon.com or other bookstores, such as Borders. “I had a student whose family members were refugees from the Vietnamese communist era, and he had a problem buying books from that store,” she said. Fujikane admired that the store offers educational opportunities outside of books. “I like that they put together public discussions for issues that are important, different, and relevant,” said Fujikane. The Revolution Books’ staff recently ordered new texts on the See Revolutionary Books, page 3