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A freebie that sparked a real fight
The proposal would have used student government funds to offer New York Times digital access. Supporters framed it as an academic tool and a quality-of-life perk. Critics framed it as spending student fees the wrong way.
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What Fresno State’s ASI voted on
The vote happened at the Feb. 18 meeting of Associated Students, Inc. (ASI). The plan was to provide students with a New York Times subscription at a total cost of $15,705.
A New York Times representative, Todd Halvorsen, joined the discussion via Zoom. Student senator Sarah Sevy also spoke in support of the proposal. After debate, the motion failed with a majority of “no” votes and three abstentions.
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The “67 cents per student” pitch
Supporters focused on the per-student math. Sevy argued the cost would be about 67 cents per person, making it feel like a small add-on rather than a big purchase.
Her point was simple: students already fund lots of campus experiences. She compared the subscription to other fee-supported events that aren’t “essential,” but are still valued.
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What students would have gotten
The plan was not just about news articles. Sevy pointed to extras like wellness content and games, including Wordle. For some students, those features make the subscription feel more “daily-use.”…