Students living in one of the University's year-old Thematic Learning Communities are collecting textbooks this week to sell back to students at discounted prices next semester. Proceeds from the sales in January will be donated to the Greater Boston Food Bank, the residents said.The residential grouping in Ziv Quad, what the Department of Residence Life calls a TLC, is one of four the department established last year. They were created, in part, to provide students with common interests the opportunity for shared learning around a common theme, according to the ResLife Web site.

The residents of Ziv 130 who are organizing the textbook drive this week make up the Justice, Service and Change community.

Gayle Gordon '08, one of the program's coordinators, described the drive as an alternative for people who are dissatisfied with the Brandeis bookstore. The bookstore, which, like at many universities, is run by Barnes and Noble, has long been the source of students' ire over what they see as exorbitant prices and unfair buyback policies.

During the textbook drive, "Drive out Hunger," students will collect books in Usdan Student Center. They began collecting Monday, and will continue until Friday. The books will be resold in the Shapiro Campus Center Jan. 18 through Jan. 26 next semester.

Any books that go unpurchased will be donated to another charity, Gordon said.

The cost of the books will vary depending on how much they cost initially. Gordon and Jaclyn Canter '08 anticipate being able to accept WhoCash. Students can also make checks out directly to the Greater Boston Food Bank.