Paper student directory may become extinct by 2011
Rosie Githinji
Issue date: 11/10/09 Section: News
|
Belobrajdic attended the Senate meeting to discuss eliminating the paper directory that is distributed around the campus every year.
Belobrajdic said one reason to eliminate paper directories is it would be more environmentally friendly. There are around 3,000 directories that are thrown away each year out of about 10,000 that are printed, according to Belobrajdic.
"We produce more student directories than we need and have to dispose of them," Belobrajdic said.
The university would not be able to make the move until 2011 because of the contract with the vendor. The university receives about $8,000 from revenue and ad sales from the paper directory, but Belobrajdic assured the Senate that money was not an issue.
There are two ways to find numbers and addresses on the internet, according to Belobrajdic. One is CougarNet and the other is through the main SIUE Web site.
Senators voiced concerns that there would be problems with going online with the directory. Some of the problems could include spam e-mails and not being able to access the directory if there are problems with the Web site.
There was also a concern about what Belobrajdic termed "searchability" when the online directory is being used. Some of the freshmen are not in the online version and are harder to find, as well as those not on the main campus.
Trustee Amber Suggs said the paper directory keeps the East St. Louis campus connected to the main campus and eliminating a paper version will make it harder to access numbers.
Belobrajdic asked the Senate if there was value in keeping a paper directory, but was told it would not affect students if there was only an online version. Senator Margaret Sherer said she agreed.
"I think that students far and wide are never going to use [the directory]," Sherer said. "I personally have never used the student directory."
Financial Officer Jeffry Harrison said having the directory exclusively online would be sufficient for students needs.
"I think the online approach would be going in more of the right direction," Harrison said.
The Senate also approved the nomination for a new Senator. Joel Durham is replacing Andrew Biggs on the Senate after Biggs turned in his resignation on Oct. 2.
Durham is a member of the Finance Board and works in the theater and housing department. He is also a member of Delta Lambda Phi.
"Basically I feel that I'm a good fit to be a student senator," Durham said. "I'm plugged into many different aspects."
The Senate also approved one personnel appointment of Ravneet Kaur as the vice chair to the Student Organization Advisory Board as well as two travel requests for the American Society of Heath-System Pharmacy and Campus Crusade for Christ in the amount of $675.
The next Student Government meeting is at 2 p.m. Nov. 20 in the Goshen Lounge of the Morris University Center.
Be the first to comment on this story