Select print. Name your document. Swipe your StagCard. Select your document. Press print. Do not forget to log out.
Since last year, this method has become a ritual for the majority of Fairfield students.
Despite outcries from students concerning the validity of having to pay to print at computer labs across campus, the plan seems to have worked.
The initial results of last year’s new swipe-to-print plan, dubbed “StagPrint,” are in. Fairfield University’s paper usage for the plan’s inaugural year decreased to 700,000 sheets of paper.
The year before the plan took effect, the usage was 2.3 million sheets, according to Joan Overfield, director of library services. For those keeping track, that is a difference of 1.6 million sheets of paper in only 12 months.
The success of the plan has resulted in the school’s decision to keep the system. Many students barely noticed the difference.
“I thought it was going to be a bigger deal than it really was,” said Mike Fontaine ’05. “I didn’t go over my given amount of paper last year.”
According to Overfield, many students should share that opinion.
“A large percentage of students did not exceed their allotted 200 sheets per semester,” Overfield said, adding that 605 students never even used the system.
One grievance being perpetuated by some students is that if they exceed their allotted 200 sheets per semester, 10 cents per sheet of additional paper is too much to have to pay.
Overfield said that the price per additional sheet will likely be reviewed now that the first year is over, but students probably should not expect a price reduction.
According to Overfield, if the price per additional sheet was lowered, the number of allotted free sheets would also have to be lowered.
Though many students do not exceed the number of currently allotted sheets, the 10-cent system in place seems to balance the allotment and the excess.
In addition to saving money on paper and ink cartridges, the plan also seems to be reducing some maintenance headaches as well.
With fewer sheets being printed throughout the year there has been less strain on the equipment. As a result, the number of service and maintenance calls has been reduced.
Yet some students still feel that having to swipe their StagCard in order to access such a service is not right.
“I’m still angry about it,” said Dave Parrot ’05. “I feel that my paying over $30,000 a year should cover my printing expenses.”
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