Student Council voted unanimously last night to drop a proposed resolution to support a referendum imposing an increase in the student activities fee to fund Council’s Newspaper Readership Program.
The resolution was dropped because Council members agreed that a proposed deal with The New York Times may be more cost-effective and readily achievable. Plans to continue the popular newspaper program are now on hold until the next Council takes office after the completion of the upcoming University-wide elections.
The Newspaper Readership Program provided 1,300 issues of The New York Times and USA Today to students every day at various locations on Grounds, including Observatory Hill Dining Hall and Newcomb Hall, during its trial period last semester. The program proved to be “enormously popular,” Council President Matt Schrimper said, adding that a Council survey showed that 80 percent of the University community participated in the program by picking up a newspaper. He also said that the survey showed that the program has increased newspaper readership by 20 to 30 percent on Grounds.
Although Council members said they would like to continue the program, it will likely continue without USA Today. Schrimper and Architecture School Rep. Steven Reilly, the program’s lead organizer, have been working with both USA Today and The New York Times to continue the program, but The New York Times has been the most flexible, Schrimper said.
“USA Today had been very adamant that the program would need to proceed long-term as a student fee,” Schrimper said.
Funding USA Today distribution would cost about $60,000 annually, Schrimper said, whereas the proposed agreement with The New York Times would permit the distribution of the publication on Grounds for $25,000 a year. Schrimper noted that this charge is “very much within our budget” and would not, therefore, require a contribution from the student activities fee. Moreover, because the program is under management by both the Student Council and the Arts & Sciences Council, the continuation of the program would only cost Student Council between $13,000 and $15,000 a year.
Schrimper added that a possible deal with The New York Times would not require the University to sign a contract but would simply be a “pay-as-you go” plan. Reilly, meanwhile, noted that although the number of available newspapers paid for will ultimately be determined by the next Council when it plans its budget, the quantity will either be the same or slightly lower than the number distributed during the trial period.
Both Schrimper and Reilly opposed the imposition of a student fee to support the program. Reilly said it was something they “really want to avoid if possible,” adding that the fee would not likely be imposed if Student Council proceeds to work with The New York Times.
Some students were also opposed to an increase in student activities fees to fund the program. Engineering graduate student Vijay Srinivasan said he “wouldn’t be okay with it the fee because the newspapers aren’t as widely available” as he would like. In contrast, fourth-year College student Jeremy Camacho said he believes the fee would be a minor sum but admits that he “doesn’t read the newspaper very often” anyway.
Schrimper also said, the Board of Visitors, however would not be “too excited about raising student fees” to support the program, adding that proposing the idea to the Board would be a “very difficult process.”
Read More
Student Council votes to relocate Hereford orchard and basketball hoop
By Lauren Seeliger | 9 hours agoStudent Council passed a resolution Tuesday to relocate the orchard and basketball hoop of Hereford Residential College due to construction in the surrounding area.
Dean Rucker honored with Z Society’s highest honor, Pale Z Award
By Brendon Bordwine | YesterdayThe Society has a storied history of honoring University leaders with the Pale Z.
Students receive free STI testing through U.Va. Health and Wellness
By Jackie Bond | YesterdayThrough funding from Student Council, students are now able to receive free STI testing with SHW which includes tests for HIV, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and Hepatitis C.
