In a highly contentious session of the University Senate at Rutgers University in NJ, the legislative body passed a bill making it easier for students to opt out of funding the student newspaper. The legislation will add a checkbox to tuition statements that acts as a refusal to pay the annual $9.75 subscription fee for the Daily Targum. Previously, students could ask for a fee refund, but only at the end of the year and by submitting paperwork. The drafters of the bill say they are streamlining the refund process for students as well as helping all student-funded groups to be treated more fairly. Yet some, like Rutgers professor and University Senate member Robert Boikess, fear the checkbox might put the financial stability of the paper in jeopardy. “I don’t want to see the Targum in serious financial trouble,” said Boikess, “I want a high class independent newspaper at Rutgers.” Rutgers President Richard McCormick voted against the bill, but the senate’s passage means the final decision about its implementation rests in the hands of McCormick and his fellow administrators. Targum editors are concerned they will not be able to provide as high quality of news service to Rutgers students with less funds; the editors fear they will have to cut an entire day our of the week of the paper’s daily production.

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