I was appalled by your "Letters to the Editor" column that appeared in the Friday, April 12, 1996, issue of The Xaverite school newspaper. In that article, you bash a fourteen-year-old child that had spoken out to you in the defense of her doll. You challenged her to grow up, you insinuated that her world is not real, and you criticized the way that she spends her time. The poor thing must be devastated.

Quality, tradition, excellence, staff, budget, time? What does it actually take to get a club started at Saint Xavier University? Some Saint Xavier University students are banding together in hopes of creating a traditional yearbook. With the world heading into the 21st century, the group is also planning a yearbook online for the World Wide Web.

Saint Xavier hasn't produced a traditional yearbook since 1988. In 1992 the University released a "Year in Pictures" which was a photographic review of the year. Noticing the lack of a yearbook in the past few years, senior Christine Mouser wanted to change the trend.

Mouser stated, "As the Editor-in-Cheif of the sesquicentennial yearbook project, I have made a genuine effort to organize a most capable staff of individuals without prejudice. In compliance with the Mission statement of the University, I have made it my purpose to include various individuals with a multi-generational, multi-ethnic, and international venue."

According to Mouser, the yearbook on-line, set up by Brock Hankus and other students, will include non-traditional features.

Mouser added that putting together a traditional yearbook and a yearbook on-line is, "a very exciting activity not only because of the tremendous amount of support that we are receiving from the faculty and students, but also because of the fact that we will be the first university anywhere in the world to produce a yearbook on-line."

Early this semester, Mouser and students interested in creating a yearbook began plans for a 96-97 yearbook by assembling over 60 members as photographers and writers.

Afer going to Student Life Services to notify the university that the club existed and needed funding, Kim Johnson, Director of Student Leadership and Development, decided it would be best to postpone it until the next academic year, citing the lack of establishing a yearbook budget in advance so money could be allocated for such. Johnson is also concerned with the quality of a yearbook produced this late in the year and waning student interest.

In an October 3 memo to the Yearbook Committee, Johnson stated, "After conversations with colleagues at other colleges and universitites, I have come to the decision regarding the issue of a Yearbook at Saint Xavier University. I regret to inform you that Saint Xavier University will not be publishing a yearbook for the 1996-1997 academic year."

Saint Xavier requires that all organizations must be recognized by the university in order to use the school's name, use the facilities of the University as a group and to request operating funds from the Student Finance Committee. For this reason the on-line yearbook can't become official unless the Public Relations Department and Institutional Advancement give their approval.

To become a recognized student organization each group must have a member of the administration, professional staff, or faculty as a moderator. All officers and members must be currently enrolled students of SXU; this includes undergraduate and graduate students, alumnus, faculty or staff members. Each club must have a constitution explaining the purpose of their club's existence and what it will produce for students.

To petition for recognition, an organization must submit a constitution, list of potential current officers', name of the organization's potential moderator, and signatures of 100 currently enrolled students to Johnson and the Director of Inter-Club Council, Celia Ocampo. After filing the petition, I.C.C. can grant a probationary charter for one year. At the end of the probationary period, the organization will be reviewed for charter.

Johnson agrees that the re-establishment of a traditional yearbook at Saint Xavier is a "good idea," but has stated that a project of this size involves a number of time concerns.

The publishing of a yearbook is a costly endeavor. The production cost coupled with my concerns about waning student interest in the traditional yearbooks appear to be common concerns among institutions of higher education. The Finance Committee would surely look forward to discussing a proposal this Spring, in anticipation of a possible 97-98 yearbook," stated Johnson.

Steve Murphy, Vice President of Student Life Services stated in an October 4 memo that he supported Johnson's decision. "At this time I am convinced that there are not identifiable human or financial resources available to produce a yearbook. I also support Kim's suggestion that interested students continue to meet toward the possibility of planning a 1997-1998 yearbook (traditional or non-traditional format.)"

Murphy also encourages students to use their talents on existing publications, the Xaverite or Opus.

Venise Fitzgerald, yearbook's Director of Financing, said, "A yearbook is important to the archives of any institution. This type of literature when read years later, can give its reader an idea of the events and activities that took place within the corridor of the institution that is in review."

Dr. Susan Beal, yearbook moderator said, "It is our desire to have a yearbook which commemorates SXU's 150 years of academic excellence. We also plan to highlight the diversity which exists at SXU today."

"The students have been busy since this past summer getting things organized," said Beal. "It is our desire that this is a community effort that will please everyone."

Anyone interested in writing for the yearbook or those with comments can contact Chris Mouser via email at cmouser@vaxd.sxu.edu.