Paper to continue publishing weekly physical edition after student officials previously raised concerns over sustainability, fiscal impact
By VINCE BASADA — campus@theaggie.org
The ASUCD Senate passed The California Aggie’s 2025-26 annual budget on May 7, allowing the paper to maintain its weekly print operations after previously indicating desires to see its physical circulation greatly reduced or eliminated.
The decision, made during the Senate’s weekly meeting, means the student-run newspaper will continue printing issues weekly. In return, the paper’s leadership offered to give up $10,000 reserved from its services rendered budget line, which includes print operations and special editions, among other expenditures. The Aggie also completely cut its publicity budget — with the promise of working with Creative Media for publicity goals next year.
The approved budget also reduces advertising goals to $22,000 down from this year’s current goal of $45,000, compensating for the change in print expenditures. Pay for all existing positions will be retained through the end of next school year.
Unlike most entities that rely on student funds, The Aggie is not subject to individual line item revisions and unadulterated fiscal scrutiny by the ASUCD Senate. Instead, it is overseen by the Campus Media Board, composed of university and student representatives, and only requires a final yes-no vote from the Senate.
ASUCD units and committees across the board faced cuts going into next school year, part of larger austerity measures to address a decrease in allocation from student services to ASUCD, according to Controller Mostafa Rasheed.
Additionally, several ASUCD officials and entities expressed concerns over the sustainability of print operations and excess copies left in distribution racks, as well as the paper’s projected inability to meet advertising revenue goals. The Senate initially rejected The Aggie’s proposed budget in late March over these issues.
The newspaper’s leadership has maintained that the print edition is essential to its mission of disseminating accessible and free information.
In an internal message to staffers, Editor-in-Chief Chris Ponce asserted that the resolution allows The Aggie to retain its scale and staff while also helping address larger fiscal issues.
“We had serious concerns leading up to our initial budget hearing, especially given alarming comments made to us by ASUCD leadership prior to that first budget hearing,” Ponce said. “We met with the ASUCD executive team to negotiate the status of next year’s budget. There are minor cuts throughout The Aggie’s upcoming budget, but I am proud to say we have walked away with something we can be proud of.”
Ponce also announced that the paper will be reintroducing/creating new jobs for the 2025-26 year, including paid assistant editor and new media manager positions.
The budget of KDVS, which is also overseen by the Campus Media Board, was approved at the same meeting without issue.
The California Aggie maintains editorial and operational independence from the ASUCD student government. Advances of this article were not made available to ASUCD officials prior to publication.
Written by: Vince Basada — campus@theaggie.org
