After terminating production of the 2003-04 Badger Yearbook, the yearbook staff resigned, citing lack of university support and the \constant cycle of mishandling of money.""
Badger Yearbook Editor Heather Migut said the 114-year-old annual has ceased production and its future is unclear. Although the yearbook is left with no staff, advisor or funds, the production of future yearbooks is possible if an interested student can revive the operation.
The 2002-03 yearbook, due out last summer, has not been distributed due to nearly $20,000 of incurred debt. Following negotiations with publishing company Herff Jones, former editor Heather Migut said the yearbook will pay off the debt shortly and distribute yearbooks. Students who purchased the 2003-04 yearbook will be reimbursed.
Assistant Dean of Students Elton Crim said he was concerned about ""business practices"" within the yearbook after receiving numerous complaints.
After talking with Migut, Crim said he could not believe how much debt the staff was in and expressed concern that this year's student staff could be held financially liable for the debt since the yearbook is neither university funded nor supported by an adviser.
He said the university was hesitant to get involved with an organization in debt amidst its own budget constraints.
""I never told them to stop printing. What I told them was not to sign any more contracts,"" Crim said.
Migut said the Dean of Students Office discouraged the continuation of production and offered little help.
""Due to a lack of support, a lot of the staff has chosen to resign, including myself,"" Migut said.
Herff Jones, having printed the yearbook for the last nine years, decided to cut the yearbook a price break to settle most of their debt; they are still waiting for the remainder to be paid before sending out the 2002-03 yearbooks.
""This year's [yearbook] staff has done a great job of cleaning up what they've been given basically,"" said Lori Wilson, sales representative for Herff Jones. ""Herff Jones realizes that, especially not being a student-fee supported book, the money is just not going to appear out of nowhere.""
Crim said the yearbook would benefit from a full-time professional to oversee the staff, citing that wavering student commitment led to the current problems.
""I wasn't in a position to rally the university around this cause. Nobody seems to be interested,"" Crim said. ""I don't know if [the yearbook's] dead yet, but the students are discouraged at this point.\
