Life support for the Quaker
Low student initiative proves fatal for yearbook
Sarah Blau
Issue date: 3/30/07 Section: Forum
- Page 1 of 2 next >
Yearbook club, The Quaker, died last year. Now, settled in its coffin with a frozen budget and a staff of zero, I wonder if this class will drive the last nails into Guilford's yearbook tradition.
The yearbook's fatality resulted from a lack of student initiative.
"Since I've been here the difficulty has been getting people who want to work on yearbook. It's a student organization, and so it's up to students to step up and take control and create the book for one another," said Bill Woodward, Associate Dean for Campus Life.
The Quaker's numbers have been dwindling for years according to 2005's editor-in-chief, Angela Hunnewell, '05. No yearbooks have been printed since she graduated.
Woodward, along with Director of Student Involvement and Leadership Adrienne Craig advertised for a yearbook staff for the current year but uncovered only a small interest from students.
"We give the book away for free and there are still boxes and boxes of the last book that came out that nobody even wants ... so we're seeing that there's not even that much of an interest," said Woodward.
I can not believe students do not want these yearbooks. At least once a year I pull out my old yearbooks to show new friends and remember old acquaintances. The Quaker allowed us to store our own memories in a hardback edition for ourselves and for future generations.
The yearbook archive presents everlasting snapshots of Guilford's development over the years. Editions from the past connect our generation with prior generations. We can see the evolution of campus life, the annual serendipity streakers, and even our current professors as students. Do we want to cut off this treasure trove of history? No!
Most of us enjoyed the benefits of clubs like The Quaker without realizing that we needed to take some responsibility for them.
"A lot of people don't realize what they're missing 'til it's gone, and nobody wants to step up when it's time" said Hunnewell.
The yearbook's fatality resulted from a lack of student initiative.
"Since I've been here the difficulty has been getting people who want to work on yearbook. It's a student organization, and so it's up to students to step up and take control and create the book for one another," said Bill Woodward, Associate Dean for Campus Life.
The Quaker's numbers have been dwindling for years according to 2005's editor-in-chief, Angela Hunnewell, '05. No yearbooks have been printed since she graduated.
Woodward, along with Director of Student Involvement and Leadership Adrienne Craig advertised for a yearbook staff for the current year but uncovered only a small interest from students.
"We give the book away for free and there are still boxes and boxes of the last book that came out that nobody even wants ... so we're seeing that there's not even that much of an interest," said Woodward.
I can not believe students do not want these yearbooks. At least once a year I pull out my old yearbooks to show new friends and remember old acquaintances. The Quaker allowed us to store our own memories in a hardback edition for ourselves and for future generations.
The yearbook archive presents everlasting snapshots of Guilford's development over the years. Editions from the past connect our generation with prior generations. We can see the evolution of campus life, the annual serendipity streakers, and even our current professors as students. Do we want to cut off this treasure trove of history? No!
Most of us enjoyed the benefits of clubs like The Quaker without realizing that we needed to take some responsibility for them.
"A lot of people don't realize what they're missing 'til it's gone, and nobody wants to step up when it's time" said Hunnewell.
Be the first to comment on this story