By Amelia Kibbe
Features Editor
Walking into Café La Verna or passing through the Reilly Center, upperclassmen have probably noticed a newly empty space.
Newspaper stands that were once filled with prominent newspapers such as the The New York Times are now a thing of the past. Last year, the Campus Executive Board and the Student Government Association (SGA) decided to save money by cutting the campus readership program.
Of course, there is certainly a need for budget cuts. It is no secret St. Bonaventure University is struggling financially, and the student readership was an easy cut. According to Richard Trietley, vice president of student affairs, the program has cost as much as $18,000 a year in the past—a lot of money.
However, it is still sad to see it go. St. Bonaventure is a rural campus away from the bustle of a city. Reading USA Today, The Buffalo News and The New York Times (the newspapers the university previously subscribed to) are one way to stay in touch with current events around the world. It was a model for the many journalism students on campus who dream of writing for such prestigious businesses. On Fridays, it was an honor to see The Bona Venture, solely the work of students, on the stands alongside the these publications
The newspapers were also readily available. Students who became bored while standing in line at the dining hall or waiting for a friend in the Reilly Center could easily pick up a newspaper and learn something new.
One might argue that with all the technology available, newspapers are soon becoming a thing of the past. Students are reportedly getting their news elsewhere. But are they really?
When most students get on their smart phones, they immediately go to the Twitter or Facebook apps.
And yes, while what they read is technically news it’s not the same type of journalism that is found in The New York Times. When the campus supplied newspapers, students didn’t have to go to any effort to read the news. There was no logging on to an account and no waiting for a page to load.
While standing in line at the crowded west end of the Hickey Dining Hall, students could read the headlines easily and pick up a paper for more information.
And, after reading the first part of the front page article, students opened the paper to read the rest of the article. This led to reading other articles that looked interesting, which led to more informed students.
Many would argue that it is easy to read news online. And, depending on the site, this is true. But many prominent news sites including The Buffalo News and The New York Times have pay walls that force a reader to pay in order to read all the articles.
It’s a pretty safe assumption that few college students would be willing to fit this into their tight budget.
Finally, there’s the sentimental value. Ever since I was a little girl, I have enjoyed reading the newspaper in the morning. I like to skim the articles and look at the images. I like to see the layout of stories. It is not the same to squint at a little screen.
As was mentioned before, there is a need for budget cuts. In fact, according to SGA President Alex Noguerola, the money saved was reallocated back into the SGA budget to be used to help many other necessary clubs including The Bona Venture.
However, St. Bonaventure should at least provide an alternative so students can have a similar opportunity.
Noguerola said that alongside SGA, he is talking with representatives from The New York Times to possibility provide online access to the newspaper.
This action is commendable. It does not replace the newspapers that once filled the stands, but it gives students a choice.
Either way, it keeps the issue alive and not shoved under the table.
kibbeae13@bonaventure.edu
