CANDIDATES FOR UO BOOKSTORE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ryan Brady
Sammy Epstein
Rita Radostitz
Tabitha Thompson
GRADUATE 1-YEAR
POSITION
Ryan Kent Brady
Last year was the most successful financial year in
the 82-year history of the University of Oregon
Bookstore. As a non-profit organization with a
student-elected Board of Directors, the Oregon
bookstore is one of the most successful university
organizations of its kind in the United States.
However, the bookstore also faces unique
challenges in the future regarding growth,
technology, limited storage space, and service to the
student body.
As a graduate business student specializing in
finance, I feel that I can use many of the operations
and financial skills I have developed over the past
year, and from prior experience, to meet these
challenges and provide future growth opportunities
for the bookstore. The success of the bookstore
depends not only on responding effectively to the
challenges and opportunities presented, but also in
continually striving to provide the best service to the
student body at the lowest cost possible. It is my
desire when elected to the Board, to continue to
build upon the past successes of the bookstore, to
take advantage of new technology and growth
opportunities, to provide solutions to key problems,
and to be responsive to student suggestions for the
maximum benefit to the student body.
Sammy Epstein
As a law student and former graduate student in the
U of O Physics department, I have the perspective
of a student that has been a part of the University for
a long time. I am sensitive to the needs of both law
students and other graduate students. I bring to the
position significant experience in the real world, both as
a former manager of a small business, and as the former
Chief Scientist at OMSI, the Oregon Museum of
Science and Industry. In the latter position I had
significant budget responsibilities, and so am quite
comfortable in the world of budget balancing.
During the previous term I served as teaching assistant
in President Frohnmayer’s Freshman Seminar in
Leadership. Through that work, I have gotten to know
some of the up and coming freshmen who will be
movers and shakers during their college careers. I can
readily poll members of that class regarding bookstore
issues, and thereby represent needs of the
undergraduate population.
I bring both maturity and levelheadedness to the
position, and intend to provide concrete input to the
Board so as to better serve the needs of bookstore
members.
Rita Radostitz
I am a graduate student in the Literary Nonfiction
program in the Journalism department. I seek to fill the
one year graduate student position on the UO Bookstore
Board of Directors because I believe that our bookstore
is one of the best in the country, and I want to help
continue this legacy of excellence. I grew up in Eugene,
and know the importance of having an independent book
store which is responsive first to the needs of the
University, but also to the entire Eugene/Springfield
community.
Prior to returning to graduate school I was an attorney.
Through operating my law office for a number of years,
gained experience with all aspects of running a business.
Vanessa Bedford
Eric Cook Caitlin McCurdy
Lexi Meek
Kevin Platt
FRESHMAN POSITION
Vanessa Bedford
My name is Vanessa Bedford and I want to be your
Freshman representative for UO Bookstore Board of
Directors. As a freshman here at the University of
Oregon, I have become involved in a variety of
different campus activities and organizations such as
Kappa Delta Sorority, Club Tae Kwon Do, Hawaii Club
and Dress for Success, a fashion show put on by the
Career Center. I am also an Intern working for the
Oregon Athletic Department and work part time at the
Student Recreation Center. Through these activities, I
have proven that I can work successfully independent
or with a group. I have excellent communication skills
and I'm able to vocalize my ideas and opinions about
important issues. I consider myself to be very well
organized and have great time management skills. I
am very dependable and the girl you’d want to get the
job done. I know I possess the qualities it takes to be
an asset to the UO Bookstore’s Board of Directors.
Eric Cook
I am a native of Eugene, and been shopping at the
University of Oregon Bookstore since childhood. The
Board of Directors would be enriched by my
presence. My knowledge of the staff and operating
does a great job connecting with its members, but
there is more to be done. Students should be
informed about where the money they spend on
textbooks goes. Because after all, the bookstore
belongs to all University of Oregon students.
Qugu Simrat Khalsa
No statement or photo submitted.
Caitlin McCurdy
No statement submitted.
I know these skills will help me better understand the
workings of the bookstore. I understand the
importance of looking at the larger picture in order
to define how short and long term goals can be
attained. I am a voracious reader and future writer of
books, and will bring that perspective to the
workings of the Board. I also will be a voice for the
unique perspective and concerns of graduate
students. I hope you will vote for Rita Radostitz.
Tabitha Thompson
Top Ten Reasons to Vote for TT:
10. As a grad student in the Literary Nonfiction
program, I know books!
9. I am anxious to learn about, contribute to, and
be involved in all aspects of the publication
business—from shelving to selling.
8. I will quack down on inefficiency and waste.
7. I’m learning about what you want in a book
store and you’re gonna get it!
6. According to a recent report, the UO
Bookstore ranks 6th in sportswear sales and 10th
in art sales in the nation of comparably sized
stores. (Look for us at Number 1 in next year’s
Top Ten List.)
5. If you liked my work as a GTF in Journalism’s
infamous “Info Hell” class, you’ll love my work on
the Bookstore Board!
4. I want to make buying course materials a fun
experience!
3. If I’m elected, you won’t want to remove my
regime.
2. The bookstore may be ducking into new space
soon. I hope to contribute to its successful
expansion.
1. I WANT THE JOB! So if you want everything
to be at its best, or, as we say, “to the T"—think
TT and vote for me! Tabitha Thompson.
Lexi Meek
My name is Lexi Meek and I am a freshman here at
the U of O. I’m interested in the freshman position
because I want to be involved with making sure that
the bookstore is benefiting the students and faculty to
the best of its ability. I feel that I represent the
students within the U of O community because as a
fellow college student I understand the high financial
demands at the University. If elected not only will I
work toward keeping the cost of books down, but I
will aide in the development of a scholarship
program. I would also like to be a part of the new
remodeling process that the bookstore will be going
through, while keeping the public updated. So if
you'd like to save more money vote for Lexi Meek.
Kevin Platt
Have you ever walked into the bookstore, and had to wait
in line forTiours, only to be gouged on the price of your
course books? Have you ever walked in and found that
the book your professor had assigned is out of stock? As
your representative on the UO Bookstore Board, I will
bring new ideas to the table, as well as new books to the
shelves. I believe that our bookstore can be better, and I
believe that we can make it better. Through the use of my
business skills, the bookstore can evolve into a better
service for students that will provide a wider variety of
books at a lower cost. One of the most important aspects
of being on the bookstore board is having a love of the
University of Oregon as well as for books; both of these
characteristics have played dominant roles in my life. A
vote for Kevin Platt would be a vote for better service, for
experience, and for lower prices.