An ASMSU readership program newspaper box sits outside of the Main Library on Tuesday, April 9, 2013. There are currently readership program newspaper boxes throughout campus. Katie Stiefel/The State News
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to accurately reflect how ASMSU is charged for the papers it distributes.
ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government, has decided to cut some of its readership program locations across campus, ASMSU Director of Public Relations Haley Dunnigan confirmed Tuesday evening.
Dunnigan said the organization set a budget for the readership program and is cutting locations on campus to prolong the service through the rest of the semester.
“Normally during (presidential) election years, our readership goes up,” Dunnigan said.
She said ASMSU is charged more for the papers as demand increases – the more papers that are taken, the more ASMSU is charged. The program will return to its full arsenal of locations next fall.
The readership program is funded by a $1.25 tax per student per semester, Dunnigan said.
ASMSU will continue to distribute The New York Times, USA Today and Detroit Free Press for the rest of the school year to the Capital Area Transportation Authority Transportation Center, Berkey Hall, Business College Complex, Shaw Hall, North Case Hall and the Union.
All other locations, including readership boxes at Owen Hall and the Main Library, will not receive newspapers for the rest of the semester.
Since its birth in 2008, the readership program has run into similar issues with budget constraints, especially at the end of semesters when funds start to run short, Dunnigan said.
“It is something that is common not because of any fault on our parts but because of the usage,” she said. “That is just the nature of how it works, especially at the end of a semester when money is dwindling.”
Journalism associate professor Eric Freedman said newspapers still are beneficial to students because they offer aspects that online news does not. A reader glances at other news sections when searching for stories they want to read, and this exposes them to more diverse news than they see online, he said.
Graduate student Robin Blom said he utilizes the service, usually grabbing a copy of The New York Times each morning at Owen Hall. Blom said he raised questions after a few days of noticing newspapers weren’t in the lobby.
“It was (unfortunate) that a month before the end of the semester, they do this,” Blom said.
While Blom is disappointed, some students don’t think it’s asking too much to walk to another building for a newspaper.
“I don’t think it’s too big of a deal,” advertising junior Lucas Arias said. “People walk around campus all day. They can pick up a newspaper if it’s free, so it wouldn’t be that big of a problem for them.”
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