Not only can students pick up a copy of The Nicholls Worth on Thursdays, they can now obtain five different publications everyday of the week through the readership program funded by the Student Programming Association and residential services.
A contract was signed between the SPA and residential services with USA Today. USA Today takes on the responsibility of delivering the newspapers daily to the University early each morning.
The five publications delivered are: USA Today, The Advocate, The Daily Comet, The Wall Street Journal and The Times Picayune.
James Irwin, SPA president, said students are taking advantage of this program.
“I can’t get an Advocate after nine. They go quickly,” he said.
Tricia Collins, mass communication junior from Galliano, said she absolutely loves the readership program.
“This program helps me to be updated on current events and gives me a wide selection of news to choose from,” Collins said.
“I didn’t read the newspaper on a daily basis until the readership program began,” Joshua Falgout, junior from Gheens, said.
“I am a business major and having easy access to the Wall Street Journal has been very beneficial,” he said.
Irwin hopes the readership program will create a more educated and aware student body. It was the faculty adviser of the SPA, Allayne Pizzolatto’s, idea to begin the readership program.
Pizzolatto said the mission of the SPA is entertainment and education.
“The newspaper meets both of those goals. I think it is so neat to see the students with the papers,” she said.
The SPA and residential services are only charged on consumption of the newspapers. Any leftover newspapers are picked up by USA today.
“USA Today is really out there to educate and support students through this program,” Irwin said.
The readership program will continue as long as funds are available. Irwin said if funds do run out, it means that students are reading the newspapers and additional funds will be sought.
After this year, it is up to the next SPA council and residential services to determine if the program should be continued.
USA Today and The Daily Comet are delivered to every building. The Advocate is delivered to Talbot, the Union, Peltier and some residential halls. The Wall Street Journal can be found in Powell/White, and The Times Picayune is located in Long and Ellender halls.