For the month leading up to the Nov. 2elections to the Friday after them, racks will be set up around theDe Anza College campus containing copies of the New York Times. DeAnza student’s free access to a paper with over 14 millionworldwide users was part of a joint effort by De Anza PresidentBrian Murphy, the De Anza Associated Student Body senate, and theTimes. Intended to get students informed and interested in thisyear’s presidential election, the newspaper is in cooperationwith student initiatives for voter registration.

    Over the last two and a half years,Murphy has been working with the American Democracy Project, acivic engagement program sponsored by the New York Times, and TheAmerican Association of State Colleges and Universities whichrepresents state colleges and universities all over the UnitedStates. The project aims to create programs for students toparticipate more in the lives of their local communities and intheir own political power. De Anza was the first community collegein the country invited to participate in the American Democracyproject.

    Murphy and John Politoski, NorthernCalifornia education manager for The New York Times, decided thatproviding free copies of the newspaper would support students bygenerating interest in the election and in voter registration. Athousand copies of the newspaper are distributed among 10 racksaround campus and the copies have run out every day. “Peopleare responding well,” said Nadine Foster-Mahar, DASBpresident. She said that she would like to see students become moreknowledgeable on issues that are out there, not just politics.

    When approached by the DASB and New YorkTimes representatives, La Voz Editor in Chief Steven Cabanaformally approved the presence of the publication on campus. Hesaid that it brings more readership to newspapers in general andthat “any kind of increased newspaper readership isgood.” The Times also works collaboratively with faculty incurricular projects.
They will provide workshops on the use of the newspaper in coursecontent, which can also be required like a textbook. The New YorkTimes has been working with colleges and high schools since the1930s, said Politoski, but has a new emphasis to reach out tocommunity colleges.

    Brian Murphy said, “The New YorkTimes has the most comprehensive national coverage of political,cultural, social, scientific events in the world. It’s one of theremaining papers that still has foreign correspondence.”Murphy also said, “A vast majority of young people don’t readnewspapers anymore. I think that is too bad. Unlike the Internet orthe television, the Times gives you the opportunity to reflect uponthings and to think them through.”
“Most American news programs simplify to the point ofstupidity and are condescending in their approach to what peoplecan understand. On the other hand, the Times is written in aliterate, competent way. I know from talking to the editorialleaders that it’s pitched at about a 10th-grade comprehensionlevel,” said Murphy. “There is nothing in the Timesthat a De Anza student couldn’t sit down and thoughtfullyreview.”

    De Anza students had varied responsesabout the chance to pick up the New York Times for free. ScottLeslie said the he is a “political junkie” and has readthe Wall Street Journal or another big city newspaper every day forten years. Having the New York Times on campus saves him a dollar aday, but he would still read it even if it were not so easilyavailable.
    “I just read it because the electionis coming up” said Brenda Alvarez.
She said she wants to be informed of what’s really going on andabout the propositions.
    “It’s important to educate [yourselfabout] what’s going around you and in the world,” saidStephen Meggers, who usually picks up the New York Times atStarbucks.
    “I don’t read it, but I know it’s agood paper,” said Julie Hitchcock.
    Rosalinda Torres said, “I don’t likereading” and that she prefers to watch the news forinformation.
    Debbie Tuck said she subscribes to the SanJose Mercury and is satisfied with local news. If she wants newswith a different opinion, she looks on the web.
    “I pick it up only for the sportspage,” Said Mark Wells.
    Tanya Estacio said “I haven’t hadtime [to read the New York Times] because I had midterms lastweek.”