THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2009
NEWS 19
CAMPUS
Jayhawker yearbook returning with fresh look
BY STEPH SCHNEIDER sschneider@kansan.com
Since its near extinction four years ago, the Jayhawker yearbook is making a comeback.
University students and faculty are keeping the yearbook tradition alive with a new look at a lower cost.
It was hard to find people to take the Jayhawker over after the 2006- 2007 issue, Tom Johnson, general manager of KJHK, said.
Johnson said the Jayhawker became less cost effective because of the popularity of the Internet and general lack of interest. He said only 1,000 to 2,000 people bought the yearbook in 2006.
"It's a seemingly important time capsule," Johnson said. "So we've been asked to resurrect the last two years of it."
The last two years of the Jayhawker were each produced by two people, an editor and designer, and will be available in August. The 2009-2010 edition will be produced by the University Daily Kansan and will be available May 2010, Jon Schitt, Kansan sales and marketing advisor, said.
Though the Jayhawker had not been produced the last two years, Johnson said most people did not want to see it go away.
"We want to keep the tradition alive" Johnson said.
Students will be told to go to a specific location to obtain their previously ordered copy, or worst case, it will be mailed to a permanent address, Johnson said.
Kat Bostic, St. Louis, senior, said if the yearbook was less expensive and more appealing to students she might buy it.
New changes to the Jayhawker are being made as well. The yearbook will be a 180-page magazine layout, and include advertisements, Schitt said. Previously, the yearbook did not contain advertisements. The price of the book will be reduced from $50 to $10.
"I haven't found it interesting enough to buy," Bostic said.
Schlitt said a new Jayhawker Web site, www.Jayhawker.com, was being developed to attract more students. The Web site will have exclusive
content available only to those who bought a yearbook.
Facebook makes it easier for people to stay in touch over the years, therefore there wasn't as big of a need to have a yearbook with photos of past students to serve as a keepsake, Schlitt said.
"There will always be a need, however, to remember the year," Schlitt said.
Schlitt said he had not seen any other schools produce a yearbook in a magazine format and at such a low price.
"Most yearbook subscription numbers are dwindling." Schlitt said. "This presents a great opportunity for us."
Edited by Justin Hilley
Chance Dibben/KANSAN
After a two-year absence, the Jayhawker is returning to campus in August. The new yearbook will resemble a magazine and be less expensive.