Students living in residence halls have four new newspapers at their fingertips as part of the Newspaper Readership Program, brought to students by the Inter-Residence Hall Association.

The newspapers include USA Today, the Des Moines Register, the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune. Residence hall students were charged $10 on their University Bills for the service – although not all students know about the charge.

David Boike, co-author of the original proposal and IRHA vice president said, “We just hope students realize that the extra $10 is for the readership program.”

IRHA President Paul Duncan said the program, in its fourth week, has been successful so far.

“We’ve seen the newsstand empty every day now” he said. “We’ve had to increase the number of newspapers coming in.”

The exact numbers won’t be available for another couple of weeks, Duncan said, but between 700 and 800 papers are being picked up each day. He also said he thinks between four and five students read each paper once it is picked up.

Some residence hall students said they are happy with the program as well.

Molly Hankner, sophomore in English, said she likes the service because it is accessible.

“One of my classes requires me to read the newspaper everyday, so it’s convenient,” she said.

Newspapers are available in each of the three residence hall associations – Richardson Court, Union Drive and Towers.

However, some students are angry they are being charged $10 for the newspapers – especially if they don’t read them every day.

“I don’t think we should be charged for something that we’re not using,” said Bob Fobber, freshman in history.

Megan Frakes, freshman in elementary education, said she enjoys the availability of the newspapers.

“It’s nice to be able to just grab a paper and read it between classes,” she said.

With the newspaper readership program being so new, not everyone is aware of the service.

Lucas Cox-Richard, freshman in horticulture, said he didn’t know the program existed.

“It’s a really good idea,” he said. “I just wish I would’ve known about it.”

Duncan said he and his leadership team are preparing an advertising campaign to inform students about the Newspaper Readership Program and why they should be using it.

He said he believes the $10 fee should be an incentive to read the papers.

“We encourage people to use the program, because they are getting charged no matter what,” Duncan said.

Ted Kisner, sophomore in architecture, said he thinks the fee is worth it.

“I get the use of four papers for only ten dollars a semester,” he said.

Kisner said though he usually only reads the Des Moines Register and USA Today, he still gets his money’s worth.

Hankner said she doesn’t have a problem with the fee, but understands the conflict.

“I could see how people who don’t care about the newspaper would be upset,” she said.

IRHA will meet tonight at 7 in the Wallace-Wilson Conference Room.