Campus Text Inc. will take the first step toward retaining its present location in the heart of campus next week, as its begins the second act of an on-going battle between the discount-textbook retailer and the University. Attorneys for the Bala Cynwyd, Pa.-based company have drafted a letter asking the University for permission to stay under the 38th Street footbridge during the January and September selling seasons, Campus Text co-owner Michael Saewitz said. Lacking legal funds, Campus Text last spring settled a 1996 lawsuit accusing the University and the City of Philadelphia of harassing the company's employees. Under the settlement, Campus Text must obtain permission to remain on Penn property during any selling seasons after January 1998. Campus Text will make its request within the next week, Saewitz added. "It's our hope they will understand that Campus Text provides an important service to students," Saewitz said yesterday. "I believe that the students want us to remain in business." Associate General Counsel Robert Terrell declined to comment until he sees a copy of the letter. The four-year-old company, founded as Penn Text by 1995 College and Wharton graduate Doug Levy -- who is currently a co-owner with Saewitz -- offers discounted textbooks each semester to Penn students, in direct competition with the official Penn book store. The company sells books out of a rented Ryder truck, making its overhead very low and allowing it to reduce prices. Campus Text and the University have always had an acrimonious relationship, which culminated in September 1996 when the company sued Penn, bookstore operators Barnes and Noble College Bookstores Inc. and the city for harassing its employees. The company changed its name under pressure from the University for possible trademark violations. The suit was settled last spring, but the settlement imposed several conditions upon Campus Text, including a provision requiring that they obtain permission from the University to remain on Penn property after the January 1998 selling season. The agreement also stipulated that Campus Text could only market its products on the 3600 block of Locust Walk, and limited when and where they could sell. In return, Penn agreed not to hold the suit against the company when deciding whether to let them stay in their present location. "We honored [the agreement] religiously and respectfully," Saewitz said. "We've proven that we can co-exist." He described he relationship between the two parties since the settlement as "amicable." Saewitz said if University officials deny Campus Text's request to stay on Penn property, the company will immediately start looking for another location, which may prove difficult given that Penn owns much of the land around campus. Still, Saewitz promised not to give up. "If anyone thinks we're going to fold up our tent and go away, it's not going to happen," he said. The Book Store is operated by Barnes and Noble College Bookstores Inc. under an agreement with the University. It is scheduled to move this summer to the under-construction Sansom Common complex at 36th and Walnut streets, away from where Campus Text currently operates. Regardless of The Book Store's move, Saewitz said he wants to stay at his present location.
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