The Trail

Issue date: 3/2/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Lauren Foster Resignations of staff members cause hardships for Tamanawas.

Tamanawas, UPS's own yearbook, was established in 1920 with the purpose of providing a record of the school year, but presently, it is unclear whether the campus community desires this photographic record. In its third year back after a hiatus, Tamanawas, an ASUPS media, is experiencing some complications.

All of the original staff from the start of this academic year have resigned, except for Freshman Zack Preefer, the Editor in Chief.
"I don't want to quit," Preefer said. "I have a personal ethic to carry on. The yearbook will be published on time."

Tamanawas began the year with approximately five committed staff members who were all freshman (except for one). Over the course of the year, all of them have quit because of either frustration from the project or a change in interest.

"A yearbook is a great way to have an archive of pictures, Preefer said. "But, we have so much frustration to deal with that I don't have hard feelings towards them for quitting."

Preefer explained how the campus community has commonly been unresponsive and unappreciative of their work. For example, they have had to deal with problems such as athletic coaches outright denying them photo and quote requests.

"I was hired because I could deal with chaos," Preefer said. "Unfortunately, at the time, I took this as a compliment instead of a clue. Everyone else (upperclassmen) who knew about the yearbook, knew what it was."

Preefer was hired by ASUPS in late October in a scramble after things failed with the initial Editor in Chief of this year. He was one of only two freshmen who applied for the job.

Preefer also feels that he has experienced a lack of help from ASUPS.

"I was never given a continuity report," Preefer said. "There was no infrastructure. I had to learn everything myself."

Preefer did not begin work on the project until November but has sacrificed a lot since, including his schoolwork.

"I anticipated this to be a quarter of the work then what it has amounted to," Preefer said. "It is a colossal job. Staff members have had to take on too much."

Continued...

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