Newspaper pilot ups circulation in first week

The IU Student Association-sponsored newspaper pilot program has jumped out to a great start, as nearly 500 papers have already been added to the trial since the first day, said IUSA Vice President Grant McFann.\nThe New York Times has gone from roughly 800 papers in service around the campus to 1,000, and USA Today has gone from 1,200 to 1,500 in the first week. Many bins are completely emptied by midday, especially for the more popular of the papers.\n"Every e-mail we've received from students has been positive," McFann said. "They really enjoy having the opportunity to get their hands on some national news."\nThe results of the first survey have yet to come in to IUSA, but the popularity of the papers can be seen in most bin locations. The combination of papers now available to students allows for them to stay caught up on all walks of life.\n"I still read the IDS for local stories, mainly the opinion page," junior Adam Bishop said. "But for business news, I read The New York Times, and for sports I would pick up the USA Today."\nShould the popularity of the papers continue, the issue of funding will be debated by a committee of students, faculty and Indiana Daily Student representatives to decide the fate of the program, McFann said. He added that although the pilot is currently being funded by USA Today, a possible means for funding would be a two dollar activity fee placed on every student's bursar bill.\nFor senior Brian Wolf, the charge would be worth it.\n"I still read the IDS for local stuff, but I enjoy the national news in other papers," he said. "It's a nice change for now. I was a pretty religious IDS reader, but now I grab the IDS only if the headline is worth reading."\nAfter a similar pilot program last year, several alterations have been made. The number of papers has been boosted in order to ensure more students receive the papers, as opposed to professors who have the advantage of being on campus earlier. Even with the boosted numbers, however, some students said they found empty bins even as early as noon.\n"I always try to find a New York Times before my first class to stay up to date with what's going on in the world," freshman Sean Duffy said. "My first class isn't until after noon though, so I can never find anything but the Indy Star."\nThe results of the first survey should be in by next week, at which point IUSA has decided to add an additional survey to stay up to speed with student responses. They will present the third and final round of surveys on the last day of the pilot.\n"I am very pleased with the success so far," McFann said. "It's been a good experience for everyone on campus, so hopefully we can come together and figure out the problems and find fixes for those, then put something into work for next year."\n-- Contact senior writer Brian Janosch at bjanosch@indiana.edu.