In a faculty luncheon on Thursday, Frances Rady, the Southwest education manager for The New York Times, spoke to faculty members about incorporating The New York Times into their classrooms.
Rady told the faculty they could use the newspaper to bring world issues into their classrooms by giving current events quizzes, analyzing articles that pertain to class material and using the newspaper for research.
“In class, the use of newspapers closes the learning loop by giving students practical applications,” Rady said.
Rady said incorporating newspapers into the teachers’ curriculums would engage students in critical thinking and provide them with national and international issues.
“It’s the responsibility of a higher learning institute to open doors for students,” Rady said.
Leigh Clemons, an assistant professor of theater, said she uses The New York Times to find specific examples in the articles.
“The newspaper helps reinforce what the students are learning in class,” Clemons said.
Last semester, newspapers appeared in front of CEBA, Coates Hall, Tureaud Hall and Middleton Library, providing students with free papers.
Because of the newspaper’s success on campus during the past year, Student Government is searching for permanent funding for the program.
Brad Golson, SG president, said he will research during the summer to find different funding opportunities.
Currently, Coca-Cola is sponsoring the program, but Golson said he would like to use the fund for a different program on campus.
Jason Wesley, the former SG vice president, said he and former SG President Allen Richey proposed the newspaper program because they knew it would benefit the entire campus.
“A large amount of students want to be informed,” Wesley said. “Watching TV isn’t always the best way to get news.”
Golson said the newspapers give the classroom a new dynamic.
“It allows students to have discussion in class, because everyone in the class can have the article in front of them,” Golson said.
Also, Golson said the program allows students to create a routine of reading the newspaper.
“When students leave LSU, they will continue to be informed and involved in their community,” Golson said.
Richey said the newspapers allow students to be members of a “bigger world community” and look deeper into issues.
“By using newspapers in the classroom, students can take what they learn and relate it to the real world,” Richey said.