Readership program comes to campus

By: Tricia Coor

Posted: 2/3/10

Students were greeted with a change this semester that just might help them stay informed in current events. Representative and legislator junior Brian Verslues worked with SGA to make Southwest Baptist University part of the Collegiate Readership Program. This allows daily copies of "USA Today" and "The New York Times" available on campus to students.
"…The goal is to get small groups of college students reading through the paper and engaging each other in the news…" said Verslues in a Nov. 4, 2009 edition of the Omnibus.
Besides the hard copies of the newspaper, students also have access to online resources through the program. By going to http://www.usatodayeducate.com/collegiatereadership/index.php/voices, students can use helpful case studies and articles about a variety of subjects. The website also provides thought-provoking discussion questions for many current issues. Students also have the opportunity to contribute submitting original work with the chance to be featured in USA Today's National Gallery of Writing.
"The online sources are outfitted specifically for college students," said student body President Becca Koe. "The different resources can help with classes and research and also just help you become an informed student on campus; it's all right there and it's all free."
Verslues plans on working hard in the next week to continue to get the word out about the newspapers now available.
"I think over time students will continue to use it [the newspapers] more and more," said Verslues.
Recycle bins for the newspapers will be available soon.