advertisement

Taxpayers could help fund SIU newspaper

SPRINGFIELD - The Southern Illinois University system's new president says there's a deal to spare the Carbondale campus' financially troubled student newspaper.

And there's a prospect Illinois taxpayers may pitch in.

Although details of the plan aren't yet public, SIU President Randy Dunn met Wednesday in Springfield with aides to the Illinois House speaker and Senate president. Dunn says he's confident the Daily Egyptian won't cease publication as feared.

The newspaper's future turned cloudy last week when SIU's board declined to approve a student fee to help pay for the daily. The newspaper's administrators insisted that revenue would help keep it from losing a projected $200,000.

Pending Illinois legislation could send $70,000 to the newspaper, though at least one lawmaker questions whether the state should fund a student paper.

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.