TheSkiffView
DIVERSITY
Morning News needs to stay on campus

This could have been one of the best things to happen on campus.

It started a year ago with a four-week test — explore readership patterns among college students by providing free copies of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, The New York Times and USA Today each day on campus. There was even a possibility of the free newspapers sticking around.

The test must have worked. At the start of this semester, all three newspapers were returned to the free boxes placed around campus.

And as much as we enjoy the free newspapers, there’s just one thing missing — The Dallas Morning News.

In August, the Morning News made an offer to join the free newspaper program. They were denied because the university had already signed an agreement with the Star-Telegram, and officials said they didn’t want to complicate matters.

However, officials said the Morning News could still be sold on campus. But there was a catch. The newspapers could not be sold in those little metal bins placed outside campus buildings. Students could, however, still buy the Morning News in the bookstore. Or if they wanted to subscribe to it, the newspaper could be mailed to students on campus, with an additional tax.

Because we all know how great it is to read the news a day or so after it happens.

The Morning News should not have been forced off campus because of the metal bins. Even if they weren’t the most attractive devices, the bins should have remained until a more suitable selling method was found.

Or maybe the university should have just let the newspapers be distributed free, like the Morning News offered to do a few months ago.

Bring the Morning News back on campus. Only then can this program reach its true potential by bringing additional view points.