Yearbook Staff Persists Despite Lower Numbers

SHANNON LI
News Editor
When the yearbook comes out at the end of the year, everyone rushes around asking others for signatures and pointing out their friends that appear on its pages. But do you ever think about how the yearbook is made possible?
This year’s release will be the 97th volume of The Alhambran Yearbook, which holds pictures of students and activities, including clubs and special events. Preorders started in the beginning of the year and prices have increased as the end of the year approaches.
In the ‘08-‘09 school year, Yearbook was changed from a seventh to a sixth period. As a result, their member count decreased due to scheduling conflicts.
“Recruitment is very difficult. We have students that want to be on staff, but cannot because they need to fulfill their A-G requirements,” said adviser Jacqueline Chow.
In addition, another problem Yearbook has been facing is the departure of its more seasoned members.
“This year, we have a lot of inexperienced people and the seniors are gone. We have only four returning members,” said junior Anna Wu. “It’s a lot more difficult.”
Yearbook held an open meeting in January to recruit more members. The recruitees are currently learning about the workings of the programs used, such as InDesign, and will join the sixth period class next year.
“Three-quarters of the class last year were seniors, so this year we had to do a lot more training because we have a lot of newcomers,” said Editor in Chief Macy Duong. “The editors are new as well.”
Despite these obstacles, however, the members of Yearbook remain optimistic.
“Yearbook is a learning experience. Photographers get to learn all the technical terms and be proud that their work is selected and published,” said Duong. “Freshmen who didn’t know graphic design are making fresh new designs we hadn’t thought of before.”