New, more efficient bins in high-traffic areas hope to increase the use of the free newspapers offered as part of the USA TODAY Collegiate Readership Program.x
Auburn currently has six bins located near the Student Center, offering free daily issues of USA TODAY and the Birmingham News with a quick swipe of a TigerCard, and two bins in Tichenor Hall that do not require a TigerCard.
"We just felt that this was a worthwhile cause to pursue," said Kirby Turnage, assistant vice president of auxiliary services.
After noticing a low usage rate, Turnage said last semester was spent analyzing how and why students use the service in hopes of improving it.
"We are going to move the bins inside to more highly traffic areas," Turnage said. "I would expect to see it more highly utilized this fall."
One major complaint with the old bins was that some would not open.
The bins were battery-powered, and the batteries would die. By replacing those bins with new ones that plug into an outlet, Turnage hopes this problem will be solved.
"We just got brand new boxes that were delivered this week," Turnage said. "We are actually moving to a power source."
Auburn has been part of the USA TODAY Collegiate Readership Program for more than 10 years.
The CRP, created in 1997, teams up with local newspapers to bring free papers to more than 500 college campuses across the country.
"The goal of The Collegiate Readership Program is to enhance the learning environment on campus by exposing students to the news in their living, working and community spaces," according to the CRP website.
SGA, which donates $20,000 annually to the cause, the Department of Communications and Journalism and auxiliary services work together in order to bring the newspapers to campus.
In order to provide students with free papers, the CRP offers a special low rate to universities for their participation.
"What's cool about the contract is that we only pay for the papers consumed," Turnage said. "USA TODAY may put in 100 papers, but if only 25 are used, then we only pay for 25."
While the papers are aimed to encourage students to keep up with current events, the majority of students aren't taking advantage of the program.
"I'm always in Lowder, so I rarely make it to the Student Center," said Rebecca Wren, senior in accounting. "I may read the papers if they were more available to me."
While students may not utilize the swipe-card boxes in the Student Center, students in Tichenor Hall are able to get free newspapers from two open bins that do not require TigerCards.
"A lot of times for class, we are required to bring in articles or newspapers, so it's helpful having free newspapers on campus," said Aubrie Davis, senior in journalism.
With copies of USA TODAY and the Birmingham News available daily and The Auburn Plainsman coming out every Thursday, perhaps students will become more proactive in taking advantage of their free source of information, even if it means taking a longer walk to the Student Center.
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