The relationship between UMass and Amazon still largely remains a mystery to the student body. The details are filtered through administration and only released to us when it is deemed necessary. Even after we see the textbook implementation in action, the ambiguity of what to expect next is quite questionable. Will there be any advance notice or consensus taken on the next step?

Buying textbooks through Amazon rather than the textbook annex will save us money and bring revenue back to the school that is normally undercut by competitive online book sales. At least this seems to be the goal.

Normally, Amazon acts as a convenient platform for sellers to reach beyond their usual markets simultaneously allowing buyers to broaden their span of options. This new deal brings into question Amazon as a platform. Instead, the students seem to be the platform or go-between in this situation. Without this vital piece of the puzzle, the partnership would not exist. The enormous difference of course, is that Amazon is a willing platform while the student body has had this role thrust upon us.

The email that was sent out by administration indicated (excitedly, I might add) that Amazon would also help  UMass with textbook selection. This may mean that students and professors alike need to be ready to adjust to new materials. If a book that a professor wants to use is not currently offered by Amazon, which party will be forced to compromise? Personally, it sounds like the power lies on the corporate side of this struggle.

This deal may open the door for UMass and Amazon to collaborate on items other than textbooks or even for the school to partner up with other companies. In my opinion, this is exciting for administration organizing such collaborations but worrisome for the student body. The lack of weight our opinion has held in previous decisions casts a shadow of doubt over future endeavors.

UMass is a decently large university, factoring in not only the number of students but also the number of faculty members who were not privy to this decision either. At what point does the opinion of few over-step ethical boundaries when affecting so many? I believe that this should be made into an issue that students must actively fight for. Of course, I am not suggesting that campus protests should not come into play just yet. Instead, we must peacefully remain aware of the major role that we hold in the campus community.

Students and faculty should have a voice in these decisions. I am also not suggesting that the Amazon deal is anything but benign as far as we know. That’s just the problem though, we don’t know. UMass should not be run like a corporation with the students as silent, submissive employees. We pay to go here, we fund these choices that administration is making without our consideration; we deserve answers to all of our questions.