Yearbook Delay Instigates Change
by Natalie Patterson
Issue date: 12/1/08 Section: News
For Lehman's class of 2008, memories of the college will forever be tainted by the absence of a special memento: the yearbook, which graduates usually flip through to reminisce about their alma mater. Unfortunately, the book was never produced.
The traditional yearbook used to remember classmates and colleagues, extracurricular activities, and times they've spent making lifelong friends and contacts has been delayed. In fact, it's been held-up for six months. Lehman failed to produce a yearbook even after students forked over $60.00 each per copy. The graduates received post-cards apologizing for the absence of the book with the promise that it would be published by this month.
Former editor in chief of The Meridian Aisha Al-Muslim complained, "How can Lehman expect alumni to donate and maintain links to a school that constantly lets them down."
Ode Hoppie, assistant director of Student Life is in charge of producing the book. He sought to assure the recent graduates that the book is not canceled. He explained that this year's copy has not been forthcoming due to oversight on his part in not consulting and including enough graduating seniors on the content and layout of the book.
"I take responsibility for the absence of the yearbook because I relied too much on the active more visible groups on campus such as athletics, and student clubs for content. I realized that I should have included other groups such as academic departments and part time students in the process," said Hoppie.
Hoppie indicates that Lehman intends to ensure that there is no repeat of the problem by accepting bids from vendors for the design and layout of the 2009 publication, which is due in May 2009.
As for student participation on the design and layout process, Hoppie pointed out that in the future the process is going to be more democratic. He plans to publicize recruitment for the yearbook committee on campus, as well as send out mass email messages inviting interested seniors to join the committee. These committee members will share ideas to develop a yearbook that students will be proud of and hopefully will be more representative of the entire graduating class than in previous years when only a select few determined what appeared on the pages of the book.
The traditional yearbook used to remember classmates and colleagues, extracurricular activities, and times they've spent making lifelong friends and contacts has been delayed. In fact, it's been held-up for six months. Lehman failed to produce a yearbook even after students forked over $60.00 each per copy. The graduates received post-cards apologizing for the absence of the book with the promise that it would be published by this month.
Former editor in chief of The Meridian Aisha Al-Muslim complained, "How can Lehman expect alumni to donate and maintain links to a school that constantly lets them down."
Ode Hoppie, assistant director of Student Life is in charge of producing the book. He sought to assure the recent graduates that the book is not canceled. He explained that this year's copy has not been forthcoming due to oversight on his part in not consulting and including enough graduating seniors on the content and layout of the book.
"I take responsibility for the absence of the yearbook because I relied too much on the active more visible groups on campus such as athletics, and student clubs for content. I realized that I should have included other groups such as academic departments and part time students in the process," said Hoppie.
Hoppie indicates that Lehman intends to ensure that there is no repeat of the problem by accepting bids from vendors for the design and layout of the 2009 publication, which is due in May 2009.
As for student participation on the design and layout process, Hoppie pointed out that in the future the process is going to be more democratic. He plans to publicize recruitment for the yearbook committee on campus, as well as send out mass email messages inviting interested seniors to join the committee. These committee members will share ideas to develop a yearbook that students will be proud of and hopefully will be more representative of the entire graduating class than in previous years when only a select few determined what appeared on the pages of the book.
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