College Readership Program faces debate

Three professional newspapers might soon be available free to students in the Indiana Memorial Union if the IU Student Association implements the Gannett College Readership Program on a trial basis.\nAfter the trial, IUSA will consider the full program, which would provide up to three newspapers to each student for a fee of $10. The goal of the program is to encourage students to read newspapers to make them more informed of national and international events.\nIUSA is looking to begin the trial program through funding from the IU Foundation. Sophomore Jeff Wuslich, IUSA vice president for administration, said he has not spoken with the foundation yet this year but thinks the program will be discussed before the end of the semester. If the foundation does not provide the money, IUSA will look for other funds and grants. \nIUSA does not plan to begin the program in full swing without the test run first, Wuslich said.\n"I would like the trial period to go through with student backing, and then let the student body decide what to do," IUSA President and senior Jake Oakman said.\nIf the student body approves of and utilizes the IMU program, IUSA would consider implementing the program across campus. A larger volume of papers would be offered at a variety of locations throughout campus. \nA reason for avoiding full implementation at this point is it will cost students. Each student would be assessed about $10 on their bursar bill, representatives from Gannett said. This fee would pay for the newspapers, distribution and recycling. All of this is taken care of by the program.\n"It's hand-off for the University," said Susan Urquhart, manager of National Education Sales for USA Today.\nThe program is currently running at 160 schools across the country, including Penn State and Florida State. IU-Purdue University at Indianapolis recently approved a similar program that will provide students with The Indianapolis Star. The university will be charged 15 cents per copy.\nRatona Harr, a representative for the program, said it is a tangible program for students because it will make them "informed citizens."\nShe said being informed helps students become more active in their communities now and later in life. She added that students who stay up-to-date with the happenings of the world find better paying jobs. This program is meant to help students now and in the future. \n "(The program) increases readership both during and after college years," Oakman said. "It opens up outside news coverage."\nSome concerns have been raised about the environmental problems that may arise. Urquhart and Harr, when they spoke with IUSA, said that they would provide and operate recycling bins. \nDean of Students Richard McKaig said he supports the program if students are interested and as long as it does not result in more littering on campus. IUSA members also questioned the impact the program would have on the IDS.\n"I think it would be a tragedy to subsidize competing papers when the IDS receives no funds whatsoever from the University," said Dave Adams, publisher of the IDS. "The whole purpose is to ultimately erode the advertising base of the IDS. The IDS pays for all costs through advertising revenue."\nAdams said the program could reduce the quality and size of the paper while also taking away the free laboratory it offers to journalism students. \nA Gannett representative assured IUSA members it wouldn't affect student papers' readership.\n"(Students) are always going to read the campus newspaper first," Urquhart said. "At Penn State we found there was a two percent decline."\nOakman said he is concerned about the effect the program will have not only on readership but also advertising revenue. The program has also considered contracts with The Herald-Times and The Indianapolis Star, which is also owned by Gannett Publishing.\nThe issue of fairness must also be considered, Wuslich said.\n"Is it fair to subsidize one of these papers and cut the other out?" he said.\nIn the end, IUSA executives said they will look to student opinion for approval.\n"This is a program that 97 percent of students will take advantage of at least once a week," Urquhart said. \nThe start-up program in the IMU will help to measure if students actually read and benefit from the papers. Though students may pick-up the papers, it does not necessarily mean that the papers are being read.