The Mills Crest Yearbook is a yearly publication that includes a collection of photos from Mills events, clubs/organizations and most importantly, graduating seniors of the academic year. The Crest’s aims to capture memories to create a tangible way for seniors to reflect upon their journey at Mills after graduation.
My decision to join the yearbook staff at Mills was spontaneous. I contributed to my high school’s yearbook and I thought it would be amazing to dedicate my experience to the college yearbook.
As exciting and rewarding as this experience has been, I have found numerous challenges—departments not willing to be photographed, clubs and organizations submitting photos after the deadline, and keeping a committed staff. Most challenging, however, is working with all Mills’ seniors.
The yearbook staff works very hard to make sure the flow of information for senior portraits and photo submission is constant and clear, yet often we receive complaint in return.
We use the comprehensive email alias, post on student news, publish in The Campanil, and post fliers and posters in various locations across campus. The staff sincerely understands that not all seniors have access to a computer, read the Campanil or may not even have an opportunity to read the fliers. However, if more seniors do not begin to participate in the process of creating the Crest, the availability of the yearbook may change very soon.
This year, out of 278 graduating seniors, a mere 147 took their photos. We know not every graduating senior would like to have their photo included in the Crest, or is has time to take their picture, but these numbers jeopardize the future of the yearbook.
The fee for The Crest is included in the ASMC fee, and aside from this there is a $5 sitting fee when seniors take their portrait. This fee was introduced last year to reimburse the photograph company, because so few students have been showing up to get pictures taken.
If this trend continues, on top of the aforementioned fees there will be a charge to pick up the yearbook.
Because we want to keep the yearbook affordable, it is imperative that future graduating students keep their eyes and ears open as to when to take their yearbook photo and how to participate in the production of the Crest to insure that we keep this wonderful tradition.
As the Editor of the yearbook, it is not my intention to offend anyone. The most rewarding part of my job is being able to create something that holds long lasting memories and the accomplishments of my fellow Mills women.
It is my hope that with the publication of this piece, future students will be more open to participating in the process of keeping The Crest an important part of what makes our community unique.
Kirstyne “Kirie” Lange is the Editor in Chief of The Crest. She is currently a junior and Public Policy major.
This is her first submission to The Campanil.
