2008 Woodie Awards
Readership program faces uncertain future
By: Angela Ludwinski
Issue date: 3/22/07 Section: News
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Despite dwindling funds, the Student Readership Program will remain at Webster University until the end of the spring 2007 semester.
The Student Readership Program provides the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and USA Today free of charge in kiosks located in the Sverdrup building, Marletto's Marketplace, Webster Hall, the University Center, East and West Halls and the H. Sam Priest House. However, the program can be costly.
According to SGA Sergeant-at-arms Bailey Barrett, the Student Government Association pays 35 cents for each newspaper picked up, but does not have to pay for unused papers. SGA pays $1,000 to $3,000 each month depending on how many students have picked up the papers.
The program is in jeopardy because of the rise in student involvement and organizations.
SGA President Gabe Bullard said more students are becoming involved on campus due to the addition of East and West Halls and the increased number of residents on campus. These students want SGA to give them money for organizations. This money would typically have gone to the readership fund and has caused a shortage of money to continue to pay for it.
If alternate funding is not provided, SGA will be faced with a choice.
"We might have to decide whether or not to give more money to student organizations or to the readership fund," Bullard said.
Some SGA representatives have already made up their minds.
"Why are we doing something that we can't fund?" Barrett said. "This is money we could be giving to organizations for conferences and trips."
To help fund the program, SGA is looking for alternate sources of revenue. One idea has been for senators to talk to the deans of their departments to help fund the program.
"It's always been our goal to have academic offices to help pay for it," Bullard said.
SGA representatives have already approached the dean of the Arts & Sciences, David Carl Wilson.
The Student Readership Program provides the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and USA Today free of charge in kiosks located in the Sverdrup building, Marletto's Marketplace, Webster Hall, the University Center, East and West Halls and the H. Sam Priest House. However, the program can be costly.
According to SGA Sergeant-at-arms Bailey Barrett, the Student Government Association pays 35 cents for each newspaper picked up, but does not have to pay for unused papers. SGA pays $1,000 to $3,000 each month depending on how many students have picked up the papers.
The program is in jeopardy because of the rise in student involvement and organizations.
SGA President Gabe Bullard said more students are becoming involved on campus due to the addition of East and West Halls and the increased number of residents on campus. These students want SGA to give them money for organizations. This money would typically have gone to the readership fund and has caused a shortage of money to continue to pay for it.
If alternate funding is not provided, SGA will be faced with a choice.
"We might have to decide whether or not to give more money to student organizations or to the readership fund," Bullard said.
Some SGA representatives have already made up their minds.
"Why are we doing something that we can't fund?" Barrett said. "This is money we could be giving to organizations for conferences and trips."
To help fund the program, SGA is looking for alternate sources of revenue. One idea has been for senators to talk to the deans of their departments to help fund the program.
"It's always been our goal to have academic offices to help pay for it," Bullard said.
SGA representatives have already approached the dean of the Arts & Sciences, David Carl Wilson.
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