Kai Luginbuhl – Associate and News Editor

The Campus newspaper plans to expand operations to distribute newspapers in residence buildings. This change could come as soon as this winter semester. In cooperation with Residence Life, Student Safety, Campus Security and the SRC, The Campus has worked to increase student viewership, particularly among those in residence.

Image courtesy of Rianna Ostrosser

The Campus has long been a platform for students to write about what matters to them, to give a microphone to any student who has something they’d like to speak about, promote or report on. However, the campus has been losing its hold on the student body for the past number of years. This is evident in the decline in the number of applicants for open positions and in the dwindling number of eager contributors. This is not due to a lack of care or interest; the current Campus staff and contributor base are loyal, hardworking and, most importantly, value what the newspaper produces. The problem mainly lies with the lack of awareness; many students don’t know the paper even exists, let alone the opportunities and salary that come along with being a contributor or staff member. 

The Campus newspaper currently distributes approximately 300 copies biweekly across campus to high-traffic areas. These areas include: The SUB, Library, Sportsplex, Dewies and several locations in the lecture buildings. Most of these papers are read by staff and students, leaving only a few, and often none, behind. However, these numbers are low compared with previous years, when The Campus had significantly higher engagement within the student community. 

This year’s Campus leadership has been dedicated to identifying why students are not reading the paper and how to address the issue. Several solutions were discussed and workshopped, and the most feasible and cost-effective option was selected: installing newspaper stands at the entrances of residence buildings. This attempt is not only to increase awareness but also improve convenience for the residence students who wish to read an issue. The Campus staff has been in a two-year effort to organize the paper’s financials, which were disrupted and not properly structured following the disruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, with increased budget and well-managed funds, the campus is prepared to grow its viewership by expanding operations. 

Newspaper racks will be installed in each residence building and will be stocked with each new issue. This effort would not be possible without the support of the SRC and Residence Life, who have each dedicated time and effort to help campus leadership implement this solution. With this new effort, the campus staff aims not only to reach more readers but also to attract new staff and contributors who can bring fresh perspectives and drive engagement on campus in the coming years.