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2.6.98
twelve.a
Few takers for Jayhawker tradition
hilltopics
Decreasing sales of KU annual reflect nationwide apathy for yearbooks
story by cammi heinmann features@kansan.com
daily kansan
the university
the Jayhawker, the university of Kansas' yearbook, suffers from a tradition of low student interest. Currently 27,000 KU students, only 2,100
interest of the approximately 27,000 KU students, only 2.100
Of the approximately 27,000 KU student have ordered yearbooks this year.
"This is not a KU or Lawrence phenomenon," said Bob Turvey, adviser for the *JoeyTainer* staff. "Yearbooks everywhere are struggling. We are a society of video, and yearbooks don't fit into that."
Turkey said that the number of yearbooks sold each year had ranged from 1,700 to 2,400 in the last 10 years.
Karen Bretzman Prell, a marketing manager in the Karen Bretzman Prell
twenty-five colleges and universities are increasing, we’re said, “As the size of a college or university increases, the percentage of yearbook sales decreases.” The percentage of yearbook sales decreases. Behnossi Khalilou. Oathe senior and Joathiankeer. Behnossi Khalilou. Oathe senior and Joathiankeer. That KI students were less likely to put editor, t
with the course say,
"Kansas — the university — is disjointed. Khalil
said, 'People identify more with their own school, not
said, 'The schools put
with the whole university. If each of the schools put
out its own yearbook, then not a priority would buy KU
Buying a yearbook is not a priority for most KU
Students. Some books said the reason was because
students. Some books said the reason was because
of the $30 price tag. Others said they didn't want a
book because they're not in it enough.
yearbook because they were no
in high school, you were in it a lot," said Megan
Herring. Bonner Sophomore. "At KU
you're in it only you go and have your picture
taken." The girl said that although they were no
"Many students said that, although they were no longer a *jayhawk* this year, they intended to get one their senior year.
"It will probably get one before I leave," said Sarah Nichols Gardner junior. "Just so I can say, 'Hey, want to KI!'."
when Kali said that even students who had ordered a Kaliish said not bother to pick it up in May." They pay $50 and then forget the yearbook, "They pay $50 and then forget the yearbook," they pay $50 and then forget the yearbook, "They pay $50 and then forget the yearbook," t
they just want to get out of here.
The Jaynaker staff usually prints 2,000 copies of the book. Khalil said that of the students who order books, Khalil last year, only 50 or 60 percent ordered their Jaynaker.
Linked up to avoid last year's net loss on letterw
Looking to avoid last year's net loss on letterw
earbooks, Khalilh said that this year, only 1,800
earbooks would be printed. That year the co-
earbooks would be printed.
year book. We have to cut our losses a little bit.” she said.
We have to cut out books in a light hit. John Humback, lecturer at the *Jayhawk* board, said that college yearbooks to the *Jayhawk* board, said that college yearbooks from a second-class citizen status. He said suffer from a second-class citizen status. He said that influenced yearbook sales and the ability to find students for the *Jayhawk* staff.
that students for the *Jayhawk* staff would write book for
your books will our possession.
We have to cut them a little bit," she said.
talks to she too at the college level, it's a University-wide book for it. And students,” Hardnail said. “How personal can it be? And yet they last because of tradition. You don't want to be the one to pull tradition. You don't want to be the one to pull the plug”
The yearbook tradition began at the University in 1873 with *Hierophanes*. This yearbook, published by students from hierophane societies—there was a time when the University had official secret societies—when the University had called *Hierophanes* after the interpreter of *Rorleshinian mysteries.*
sacred booklet the yearbooks that followed were: The Kansas
the yearbooks that followed were: The Kansas Cycle (1863),
The Kikeburge (1828), The Kansas Cyclone (1863),
The Helianthus (1898) which William Allen White
edified and which was the first annual to include
printed photographs, The College Comedy (1894),
The Kurt-Book (1896), The Oread (1899) and The
Clerks (1890).
Galaxy (1900).
The first Jaylauker appeared in 1901. It was the first annual produced by an elected committee with members from each class.
members from each faculty consisted of 10 build.
At that time, the UAlbany university consisted of 10 build.
Hawkes, 79 faculty members and 1,169 students.
Since 1901, KU students have created a *Joeynauker*
*KI* tradition.
every year to 1984 and 1985, the mamed a Jaywham queen. The 1915-1986 editions mamed this competition in Wall Disney served as a judge for this competition in the 1908s, Gregory Peek in 1945 and Hugh Heimer in 1967, in 1969, Gov. Robert Docking chose the last Jaywham queen
YEARBOOK HAICS
The yearbooks of the University of Kansas include these interesting books:
■ Helianthus (1869), William Allen
■ Helfonius (1889), William Atea
■ this annual to include printed
■ The Kirk Book [1890]. This was the first year book to show individual characters.
it just as important to have a document for the University. "Turvey said, 'A yearbook wears the test of time'."
In 1971, during the Vietnam War, the students published a unique edition of the *Joykanner* known as the "Year Box." This annual was a blue cardboard box filled with a bodegge of faculty trading cards
Jayhawker queen
*1920 Thomas Hunt Benton, Wach
Disney, and Cecile D. DuMille
*1930 John G. Ewing
Unfortunately, satisfaction from a yearbook is often delayed. Khalli said that the yearbook staff received five to 10 calls a semester from alumni who want to purchase past *Joytankers*. The University Archives receive eight to 10 requests every year.
Khalli said that the *Joytainer* staff had only 'some'
- 1905 Gregory Pack
* 1947 Prology author, Hugh Hafner
* 1969 Gov. Robert Docking chose
Linda Ewing as the host queen
**1971 Joynowar. The yearbook**
become known as the "veebox"
it was a blue cardboard box that contained:
● licking cards featuring faculty members
of the more recent yearbooks,
Turvey said that he took a call from a woman who
was a KU student in the 1940s. She had had a
boyfriend here, and they had planned to marry
but then he left to fight in World War II and was
killed in action early in the war.
a **Bobellet** of senior "portraits," such as drawings, photo montages, poetry, childhood snapshots, Bible verses, flowers and antiquar masks
"She wanted a picture of him to remember their time here at KU. Turvey said. "She wanted a yearbook picture."
Although sales and student-interest remain low,
Survey said that the job/hawker was financially sound. In his experience, the yearbook has broken
- A newspaper
- A booklet of sports teams
Khalilah said that she was not worried about the low sales or popularity of the joynaker. She said though that the yearbook would continue even if it lost money.
**book entitled "Recommended
Fiction" for Bear Minds," which
included poetry, short stories and
art by students**
our money.
"Out of sheer tradition, there are certain things that you keep up, said Khailah." "The yearbook is one of those things. It's a sort of history book. Students may not want them now. But 10 years from now there will be a student who needs to find out something about what was happening on cam pus today. We're like a textbook. We provide KI history."
1992 Joyhower: The Joyhower
1993 and 1994 joyhower These joyhower additions were nominated for Poseyawer awards, the top national honor granted to college newspapers or yearbooks.
vker 1976
1976 Joyhowner yearbook courthouse University Archives