The Justice

At the end of the semester, many students find themselves holding books that cannot be sold or returned to the campus bookstore. It was refreshing last year to see the Waltham Group participate in a "Dump and Run" project that led to the donation of 1,200 books for local nonprofit job-training bookstore More Than Words. The store, which recently hosted Anita Diamond, famed author of bestseller The Red Tent, has a unique dedication to experiential learning, empowering youth and fostering cultural opportunities. Many Brandeis students feel passionately about all of those pursuits, presenting our campus with several opportunities to continue building enduring and mutually beneficial ties with this organization.

One arrangement could involve placing receptacles around campus to allow students to drop off old or unwanted books for the store. A more ambitious plan could involve direct donations by the bookstore of unused or damaged books that are discarded or not sent back to the distributor. Both of these programs could help the store receive a wider selection of books as well as help Brandeis students looking for material relevant to their classes at reduced prices.

Expanding our partnering with More Than Words is also a cultural opportunity. Associate Dean of Student Life Jamele Adams, who serves on the store's board of directors, has realized this opportunity and taught a six-week creative writing workshop last year. Brandeis students, however, could also be involved in similar pursuits. Imagine workshops taught by students to community members about politics, history, film, music or any other interesting and engaging topic.

Students should also encourage the store's model of social entrepreneurship as patrons and in the audience for poetry, music or Meet the Author events that the store hosts. With the help of campus clubs, we can help bring high-caliber authors to the store and work with the community to help build literary discourse and comprehension.

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