Most students have an inkling that, besides being an alternative campus bookstore to the UCSD Bookstore in the Price Center, Groundwork Books is also a political, community-oriented, student-run co-op. But most students do not know how long Groundwork Books has been around, how hard it is has fought to stay rooted on the UCSD campus and the difficulties it still faces.

Starting in 1979 as a metal cart wheeled around Revelle College, Groundwork Books has grown into a major textbook source for students. Professors in the humanities and social sciences now commonly place book orders through it. But as students and faculty have expressed, it’s also more than just a bookstore.

Ethnic Studies professor Charles Briggs said, “”[because] money-making isn’t the only goal there, [Groundwork] gives us a model of how we can think about building a community that not only serves the particular needs of an organization, but at the same time, the vast number of interests and needs that are held by the members of the community.””

Worker Sarah Espino explains, “”It’s not just like a textbook store, it’s like a general bookstore, and we also have events … politically oriented [like] Zapitista events.””

The University Centers Web site describes Groundwork as offering “”books and media off the beaten path,”” including a small video library for rental. Groundwork is also heavily supported by volunteers, like Thurgood Marshall College freshman Julie Sanchez, who was attracted by the opportunity to contribute to a liberal cause.

As Groundwork defines itself on a red poster inside the store, it is a “”political collective”” that strives to build the “”groundwork”” for a future “”nonhierarchical and nonauthoritarian system of social organization.””

The necessity of improvements is evidenced by the first week of the quarter, which bring lines that spill out of the cramped bookstore. Students sometimes have trouble finding their books, which may be on the floor. Bookshelves become dividers for students to squeeze around as they form a line to pay.

“”I was here yesterday, I am here today and I have a class in ten minutes,”” said Jessica Sullen, a transfer student in John Muir College. “”Every time I come in here, it is a ridiculously long line.””

Recognizing the limitations of the mostly volunteer staff, Muir junior Jonathan Ying said, “”I find it ludicrous, but I can’t really blame them because these are student volunteers. They can’t control how many students come in here … Blame it on the UC Regents.””

Groundwork workers and volunteers admit to these shortcomings and are frustrated with the limited space.

“”We don’t have adequate space,”” said volunteer worker Laura MacIntyre. “”Because of that, we can’t do used textbooks as much.””

However, MacIntyre also points out that providing textbooks at all is “”something fairly recent”” since Groundwork mainly provides books from independent publishers.

“”[It was started] as a favor to faculty members that supported us,”” she said.

“”Now faculty members who don’t even know what we’re about place orders with us. We’re not really cut out to do that.””

The student workers also said that Groundwork has tried to attain a second floor in the past, but plans for expansion have always failed, according to MacIntyre. She has worked for Groundwork since 1989 and returned to volunteer after graduating.

MacIntyre recalls the struggles she’s seen in Groundwork’s dealings with the university.

“”The university has continuously tried to get us out of this space because they feel we’re directly competing with the bookstore,”” she said. “”We’re not, we’re a co-op, we’re a nonprofit organization and we’re just trying to provide what we can to the students and to the general San Diego community.””

With the University Centers expansion and renovation fee referendum approaching, Groundwork could possibly change its future. However the current proposal, which lists expansion and improvements for many stores, does not mention Groundwork.

Brook Falkenstein, the University Center interim assistant director, said that past administrators, like Tom Tucker, were reluctant to change things but that “”contrary to propaganda, we don’t tell [students] what to do with their money,”” and, if anything, she said that the university would support Groundwork.

Board Chair of the University Center Advisory Board (UCAB) James Lynch was surprised to hear about Groundwork’s desire for expansion.

“”Gary Ratcliff approached the co-ops last spring, and all the co-ops gave a cold response … I’ve been on UCAB for three years, and this is the first I’ve heard of it,”” he said.

MacIntyre is skeptical about the expansion process due to past dealings with the university.

“”One of the things they’re talking about now is expanding … However, because of their lack of faith and the way that they’ve negotiated with us in the past, we’re very suspicious. We cannot trust them, we have no reason to trust them,”” she said.

In addition, Groundwork also faces competition from the UCSD Bookstore.

“”Now, we’re not competing with [Price Center]. If a professor orders with them, we don’t carry their books. What they do is come in and take our booklist … and they’ll start providing [books] to undercut us. They use really predatory monopolistic practices to get us out of business,”” MacIntyre said.

Still, for those who want to help Groundwork, there are ways to contribute, such as volunteering like MacIntyre and Sanchez.

“”If you don’t like the lines, come help us out. We have a volunteer discount of 27 percent,”” MacIntyre said.

Although expansion may be a touchy subject and currently not included in the referendum proposal, Falkenstein says that if students want Groundwork to be expanded, they can lobby the A.S. Council. For now, it seems that as long as Groundwork is around, so will the lines.