Mourning the “Bookstore”

The Bookstore has served as a landmark on campus—a symbol of the school’s academic atmosphere, enthusiasm for literature, and everything else that the notion of “book” represents.

The building’s name has changed from simply “The Bookstore” to “Hitchcock House,” and now, this center of our campus has replaced the book with the Vineyard Vines bag.

We do not need an entire room of fancy Deerfield paraphernalia available year-round when we were fine with them available in their old location on Parents’ Weekend and at the start of school. We would much rather have a variety of books accessible to us in an inviting house whenever the need for a fresh read comes along.

Students have always regarded the bookstore as a place that embodies the spirit of Deerfield. This change compromises the meaning behind this comforting icon.

We urge the administration to reestablish the values that the building, in the heart of campus, represents and put books back in a prominent position in the bookstore.