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NewsvineThe recent disappearance of copies of The New York Times from dining halls has raised concern among students that the Stanford News Readership Program (SNRP), which distributes a number of national newspapers across campus, is suffering from lack of funding or has been terminated.
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However, Aaron Qayumi ‘09, president of the program, put these concerns to rest.
“The SNRP is fine,” he said. “We’re not stopping. It’s just that in the last two weeks or so, there was an administrative error with distribution for The New York Times.”
Qayumi promised that this error will be corrected soon.
“It just came to my attention a few days ago,” he added. “So in the next day or two The New York Times will be circulating again. In the meantime, hopefully readers will be satisfied with the San Jose Mercury News, which has been in circulation since the beginning of winter quarter.”
SNRP, which was formed in 2002, currently distributes about 500 issues of The New York Times and 400 issues of the San Jose Mercury News on weekdays to nine news rack locations: Gates, Building 260, Manzanita Dining Hall, Wilbur Dining Hall, Stern Dining Hall, Florence Moore Dining Hall, Lagunita Dining Hall, Ricker Dining Hall and The Axe & Palm.
Nonetheless, SNRP is having a tough year. Comparing these circulation numbers to statistics printed in previous Daily articles, distribution of the papers has decreased. Financial hardships are to blame: the group failed to garner enough votes to receive ASSU special fees funding last spring.
Though the program received 67.57 percent of undergraduate votes on the ASSU Special Fees ballot last year, it did not achieve support from 15 percent of the total student population due to lack of graduate support.
“Last year, we lost the special fees because not enough graduates voted for the program,” Qayumi said. “If we had applied as an undergrad group, we would have gotten enough funding.”
“We were able to survive and keep operating this year because of emergency funding from the Provost’s Office on a one-time special basis,” Qayumi added. “Next year we will be on the special fees ballot again, but only for undergrads.”
While many students do not know about SNRP and its operations, those that are aware of the program value the papers that the group distributes.
“I would be angry if I stopped getting my New York Times,” said Justin Hefter ‘11. “I think it’s important for a university that’s famous for its academics to have a student body that’s aware of current events, especially during a time of elections.”
Despite SNRP’s wide operation, the program costs less than $4 per student per year.
“I would pay the $4 if it was that or nothing,” said Will Lindemann ‘11. “Considering how busy we all are in the Stanford microcosm, it’s important to get some exposure to national and international news in our daily life.”
“I hope that people will tell their friends about us and vote for us in the special fees election this year,” Qayumi added. “It’s crucial to make sure that this great program, which has been around for six years, stays alive.”