Student Government President Taylor Cox announced Wednesday that Student Government would stop providing bluebooks and Scantrons throughout the semester and would begin only funding these items during midterms and finals. The announcement became convoluted, however, when Cox was approached for comment and recanted.
Although Cox initially said after his announcement that SG would begin funding the operation through other means, a news release posted on the SG website immediately afterward confirmed the initial announcement that Scantrons and blue books would only be available from SG during midterms and finals.
“Student Government will reduce the distribution of free scantrons due to feasibility and financial demands,” the news release, which has quotes from Cox, SG Vice President Carrie Hebert and Chief Justice Morgan Faulk, states. “Scantrons and Blue Books will be available during midterms and finals week.”
Despite what the news release claims, Cox, who was hesitant to comment, said SG would continue funding the distribution of Scantrons and bluebooks throughout the entire semester through other means. One of the alternative ways to pay for the Scantrons and bluebooks would be for the College Councils to pay for the program.
“We called a meeting on March 15th with all of the College Council presidents,” Cox said. “Each president has to vote if they would like to use the student dollars that they receive from tuition to go toward the Scantron initiative.”
However, if the College Councils decide not to fund the program, Cox said he will use money from his contingency account — or surplus account — to fund the program.
If the program is paid for via Cox’s contingency account, the number of available Scantrons and bluebooks would be limited, though it is unknown by how much.
Cox said the program to provide free Scantrons and blue books was reevaluated due to the increased demand for Scantrons and bluebooks.
“Use of the program has grown exponentially in the past four years, and demand currently exceeds our ability to supply free testing materials,” Cox said in the news release.
LSU isn’t the only university to cut its Scantron programs. Other SEC schools have had to cut and reevaluate their Scantron programs, according to Cox.
“I met with other student body presidents during the SEC exchange about their Scantron programs,” Cox said. “All of them have said that their Scantron programs have either already ended, or will be ending soon because it is no longer feasible for them to fund them.”
“Student Government will reduce the distribution of free scantrons due to feasibility and financial demands. Scantrons and Blue Books will be available during midterms and finals week.”
