Westminster College in Fulton could cut student newspaper

The future of the Westminster College student newspaper is in doubt after the Student Government Association’s preliminary budget recommended cutting the paper’s funding.

The government association’s recommendation to cut the paper’s $8,000 budget was part of move to reduce budgets across the campus in Fulton. The Columbia Daily Tribune reports it is unlikely the newspaper budget will be restored.

Although the budget decision isn’t final, staff of The Columns is considering options for keeping the paper alive, such as publishing only online or producing it as part of a class.

Maureen Tuthill, adviser for The Columns, said the staff also is exploring if it would be possible to fund the print edition from advertising costs, while also discussing ways to reinvent its entire business model.