Douglas College rejects free photocopying

Nikalas Kryzanowski, The Other Press (Douglas College)

NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. (CUP) — The Douglas College students’ union has rejected a proposal from a private company to provide students with free photocopying.

The start-up company recently presented a contract to the DSU for its ad-supported photocopying system.

Students would be able to make unlimited free, one-sided photocopies while the backs of each printed page would contain bright, full-colour advertisements. The company would have provided the union with special photocopying machines and paper, which would come from recycled materials and be slightly thicker than regular paper.

The union’s representative committee debated the ethics of subjecting students to such advertising and noted some copyright concerns that could result.

“We could be dealing with the potential for copyright infringement. There would be nothing stopping someone from photocopying a 200-page textbook,” said Geoff Lenahan, DSU internal relations co-ordinator, noting that the free photocopies could be too much temptation for some students.

“It’s predatory and distracting,” added another board member.

The company also requested that no other free photocopy service be made available on the campus.

Free ad-supported photocopying on college campuses is a relatively new idea, as businesses try to find new ways to reach students.

The company that consulted the DSU is also presenting their plan to several other schools in the area.

A Japanese company, Oceanize, started offering the service to students in Tokyo back in April 2006.