By
Niusha Faghih
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Confusion over affiliation with UA causes mistake
UA campus mail policy was broken last week when 10 to 15 coupon books were distributed to all of the UA departments in an effort to advertise to faculty and staff.
Brooks Publishing, better known as College Coupons, has been distributing College Coupon books at the University of Arizona for more than twenty years, but is not affiliated with the UA. This is the first year the UA Postal Services Center has distributed the small books to campus departments.
Only mail affiliated with UA departments is supposed to be sent through the UA Postal Services Center, said Reynaldo Lopez, the center's manager.
However, College Coupons sent the books, smaller than the size of index cards, through the mail without permission of the UA.
Two types of books were distributed by College Coupons - one that stated "compliments of Arizona Bookstore" and another that stated "compliments of www.bookstore.arizona.edu" at the bottom right corner. That Web site is the UofA Bookstore's Internet site.
Officials involved with the situation said the mistake, that cost the UA only $14, was "innocent." Between 10 and 15 coupon books were sent to UA departments on seven routes, which costs the UA $2 each.
Since the UofA Bookstore logo was on the cover of the coupon book, Lopez assumed that it was a legitimate use of the UA postal system.
"The only reason we let this go through is because we thought it was bona fide through the (UA) bookstore," Lopez said.
He also said that these types of coupons have been sent for many years, but this is the first time his agency mailed them.
"I was the one that gave the OK," Lopez said. "I assumed it was endorsed by the UofA Bookstore."
Frank Farias, director of the UofA Bookstore, denied sending Joyce Stokes, College Coupons regional manager, to the UA Postal Service Center for the distribution of the coupon books.
"I think the person (Stokes) acted on their own," Farias said. "She was not directed by us, and she was not deliberately trying to misguide Reynaldo. I think it was an honest mistake."
"It's just a series of errors," he added.
Stokes said she wanted the books sent through the UA mail because that would be the most effective way to advertise to faculty and staff, Stokes said.
"I've been scratching my head trying to figure out the most effective way to get the coupon books to the hands of faculty and staff," Stokes said. "UofA Bookstore did not promote us, they are only an advertiser. Nobody at the bookstore tells me how to distribute."
Stokes also said that they have at times used the mailing system at other universities to get the coupon books to faculty and staff. College Coupons distributes to 43 other universities around the United States.
"This is actually the first time we let something go through," Lopez said. "Usually, we don't let menus and political things through."
Lopez said he would be more careful in the future and check with heads of departments.
"I think we did a no-no," Lopez said. "It's one of those up-in-the air things."
