Readership Program brings New York Times, USA Today to students

Readership Program brings New York Times, USA Today to studentsSeptember 15, 2004Michele Barrettmibarret@syr.edu

New program brings USA Today, New York Times to students

Students arriving at Syracuse University are finding newspaper dispensers with free copies of The New York Times and USA Today. The newspapers are available in residence halls and at other campus locations as part of the Student Readership Program, which was piloted last spring.

The Student Association, in collaboration with the Division of Academic Affairs and the Division of Student Affairs, is supporting the program. Beginning this fall, all SU undergraduates can use their SU I.D. cards to access free copies of the Times and USA Today, every weekday when classes are in session.

“The type of collaboration between the Student Association, and Academic and Student Affairs, demonstrates the great academic things that can happen when we have high expectations of ourselves. All of us who are faculty truly look forward to talking to students about what they are reading in both newspapers and helping them explore what this means about the world issues we all care so much about,” says Deborah A. Freund, vice chancellor and provost.

During the pilot program, a survey gauging student interest was conducted, and feedback was extremely positive, with student comments such as, “Newspapers are crucial to our knowledge of current events as well as our discussions in many of our classes,” and “I don’t usually have any spare change to purchase newspapers, but I am thrilled to be able to just pick one up and read it.”

“The Readership Program is important because it gives our students the opportunity to take learning outside of the classroom, be it the Quad, their dorm room or while they sit down to a meal,” says Andrew R. Lederman, president of the Student Association. “What is just as important is that reading a newspaper can expand one’s knowledge beyond what is taught in a traditional class or within one’s course of study.”

According to Barry L. Wells, senior vice president and dean of student affairs, “our pilot program earlier this year was very well received by students and we felt continuing it was a great way to help them stay current on changing world events that impact their lives and those of their peers.”

The free newspaper boxes are located in Booth, Brewster/Boland, Day, Dellplain, Flint, Haven, Kimmel/Marion, Lawrinson, Sadler, Shaw and Watson Halls, with access for Washington Arms and Walnut Hall located at Haven Hall. Other campus locations include the Schine and Goldstein Student Centers, E.S. Bird Library, Slocum Hall, Huntington Beard Crouse Hall, The College of Arts and Sciences, the Whitman School of Mangement and Newhouse I.

For more information on the Student Readership Program, contact Kristen Jones-Kolod at 443-4357 or kjonesko@syr.edu.