Wednesday, January 25, 2006

By Larry Pakowski, SGA vice president of public relations

WILMINGTON, N.C. - In an effort to increase student awareness of local, state, national, and international current events, the Student Government Association (SGA) at the University of North Carolina Wilmington has announced a partnership with USA Today called the Campus Readership Program. The pilot program, lasting until February 16, 2006, is being provided at no charge to UNCW and distributes copies of USA Today, The New York Times, and The Star News to various locations around campus every weekday.

Papers can be found in the main lobbies of Wagoner Dining Hall, the University Union, Leutze Hall, Cameron Hall, Cornerstone Residence Hall, and Galloway Residence Hall.

Staff from USA Today surveyed students on the first day of distribution, January 17, 2006, and will be back on campus on February 16, 2006 to survey again. If results are positive, as expected, the pilot program should become a permanent service that SGA provides to students.

The Campus Readership Program began in 1998, and is the brainchild of Pennsylvania State University President Graham B. Spanier, who found that students at Penn State were disconnected from happenings in their city, state, and world around them. He sought out a solution that would not only provide free papers to students with easy access, but also provide students with several options and viewpoints that covered local and national news.

Since the program's inception, Penn State has become a campus where learning extends beyond the classroom and civic awareness has grown by leaps and bounds. The Campus Readership Program now extends to over 400 colleges and universities across the United States including the University of South Carolina, Duke University, the College of Charleston, and UNC Pembroke.

For more information, contact Larry Pakowski, SGA vice president of public relations at LPP4610@uncw.edu or at (910) 297-9630.