Since 1988, the Consortium of University Publications has allowed student publications at the University to pool resources and equipment, permitting them to put money toward publication and distribution costs.
In addition to the 11 organizations comprising the cooperative, the COUP itself is a Contracted Independent Organization which also is eligible to receive appropriations from Student Council.
According to COUP President Andrew P. Pratt, the allocated funds are used to purchase, update and repair equipment for its member publications.
"Basically, the COUP operates as a way to save Student Council money," Pratt said.
A cost-saving consortium
Like many CIOs, the COUP recently has experienced a reduction in funding as a result of increased demands on the fixed resources of the Student Activity Fund, from which appropriations are drawn.
By sharing workstations provided by the COUP in the basement of Newcomb Hall, publications are better able to use their individual allocations for printing and distribution purposes.
"The COUP is extremely efficient," said Chris Vickers, editor-in-chief of the Virginia Advocate, a member publication. "It is a great resource. It would be completely infeasible for each publication to acquire or maintain all of the resources offered by the COUP."
If not for the resources offered by the COUP, individual publications would be strained to purchase and maintain sufficient equipment in addition to the costs of printing, Pratt said.
"Without the COUP, Student Council would be in the position of being able to provide each publication with maybe one computer," he said. "Under the umbrella of the COUP, each publication has access to a bunch of computers."
Despite the relief the COUP offers Student Council and its member publications, Pratt said, recent cuts in appropriations have created a strain on the operation of the COUP and individual publications.
Dwindling funds
Until last school year, Council was generous in its allocation of funds to the COUP and its member publications, Pratt said. Student Council often over-budgeted in its appropriations in years past, assuming that much of the allocated money would be returned.
"This past year Council was forced to become more financially responsible because there were a lot more groups applying for funding," Pratt said.
As a result, Council has been forced to be more stringent with its allocations, including funds given to the COUP.
If Council continues to cut funding to the COUP, member publications will have to use their individual allocations to purchase and maintain equipment, Pratt said. As a result, the publications will lack the financial means to print and distribute.
"Basically, 100 percent of our budget is printing," Vickers said. "There is no way to cut our funding without cutting the number of issues we publish."
Media matters
Reducing the circulation of student publications would likely have a detrimental effect on the diversity of written expression at the University by limiting the publication opportunities available to students, Pratt said.
"The COUP publications offer an important forum for people to be able to write and critique ideas at the University," Pratt said. "Limiting that voice is problematic."
Members of the COUP say they recognize that funding cuts have put an extra financial burden on many of the University's CIOs. However, because publications affect such a large portion of the University population, budget shortfalls for media organizations cause a heightened sense of frustration.
"COUP publications offer professional training not available in any academic department at the University," Pratt said. "Gradually allowing them to dwindle away is a problem."
Editor's Note: The Cavalier Daily does not apply for appropriations funds.
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