In order to keep the Student Readership Program for next year, the Student Association discussed taking $50,000 from its reserve fund to pay for half the program.

The program provides free issues of The New York Times and USA Today on campus to undergraduate students during the week.

It was originally funded by the Office of Academic Affairs, the Co-Curricular Fee and SA. Because Academic Affairs’ budget next year is especially tight and the Co-Curricular Fee can only afford to pay for half of the program’s funding, SA was asked to pick up the other half, said Comptroller Michael Brannen.

Some SA representatives wondered why the program could not be funded through the Student Activity Fee. Because SA’s reserve fund has an extra $70,000, it will be able to fund its half of the program, Brannen said.

‘I’m supportive of the Student Readership Program,’ he said. ‘I’m supportive of funding it,’ but it does not have to come from the Student Activity Fee.

Next semester, President Wayne Horton said he will ‘shop around’ other colleges to find additional sponsorship to keep the program active on campus.

‘The possibilities for the Student Readership Program are endless,’ he said.

A referendum for the designation of the money will be drafted and presented to the Assembly to vote on at a later date, Horton said.

Published on April 17, 2006 at 12:00 pm