Questions linger about yearbook fees, 'The Mentor'
Student Federation distributes publications' money; student fees are a source of funding
Issue date: 12/4/08 Section: News
All Hillsdale College students contribute funds to student publications, but many are unaware of how their fees contribute to The Collegian, Winona and Tower Light. Many more question the relatively new $6 Winona fee.
According to the 2008-2009 Student Federation budget, the federation allocated $68,890 among the three publications for the academic year. The Winona yearbook received $26,000; The Collegian, $22,590 and the Tower Light literary magazine, $6,600.
Treasurer and senior Christine Cheatum, said Student Federation obtains funds from students' $80-per-semester fees. According to the college catalogue, it divides the $80 general fee between student publications, athletic event admission, health service, identification card and graduation cap and gown.
Winona fees draw questions
Winona editor-in-chief Shannon Finn, a junior, said students have not been upset about the new $6 yearbook fee but many inquire about it. Since 2005, Winona has charged a $5 fee, which increased to $6 this year. Students already contribute to the Winona's estimated $55-65 cost, but the staff uses the $6 deposit as a concrete indicator to predict interest.
"If you know how many people ordered up front, then it saves money and hassles later on," Finn said.
Cheatum said the Winona dealt with extra yearbooks before the new fee.
"There have definitely been surplus yearbooks," she said. "By having the $6 deposit, it insures the number there needs to be so there's not a surplus."
Rebekah Dell, director of Student Activities, said the fee is meant to eliminate excess yearbooks and wasteful spending.
"We were spending too much on books," Dell said. "We were trying to be fiscally responsible and use resources wisely."
Dell said the Winona uses the fees to defray extra costs, especially as publication expenses rise. Finn said costs have risen considerably in the past year.
"It goes back to the promotion of the book," Finn said. "It definitely helps because it's an added cushion for us to be more creative."
According to this year's fee accounts, fewer than 100 students have deposited money for 2009 yearbooks, down from around 200 last year, Finn said, but more students will probably purchase them upon arrival.
Tower Light
Senior Rachel Elliott, Tower Light editor in chief, said the twice-yearly Tower Light receives $2,800 per semester. She said it received an extra $500 from Student Federation for this semester's edition, after she asked for an increase. Elliott said she and her staff used it to print all pages of the most recent issue in full color.
"Hopefully, it will look good and Student Fed is happy it'd be investing more on Tower Light," she said. "It should look a lot more professional."
The Mentor
Dell said she re-introduced the Mentor this year but resources come from the orientation budget, not Student Publications fees. Each new student contributes a one-time, $20 orientation fee.
The Mentor is a full-color illustrated pamphlet describing to freshmen campus life, major student activities events and introducing them to administrators and buildings.
Dell said she decided to bring it back because she received The Mentor as a Hillsdale College freshman. As an art major, she designed it herself, she said.
"We wanted to bring back some of the flavor and have information to present to freshmen," Dell said. "We enjoyed them as freshmen students."
According to the 2008-2009 Student Federation budget, the federation allocated $68,890 among the three publications for the academic year. The Winona yearbook received $26,000; The Collegian, $22,590 and the Tower Light literary magazine, $6,600.
Treasurer and senior Christine Cheatum, said Student Federation obtains funds from students' $80-per-semester fees. According to the college catalogue, it divides the $80 general fee between student publications, athletic event admission, health service, identification card and graduation cap and gown.
Winona fees draw questions
Winona editor-in-chief Shannon Finn, a junior, said students have not been upset about the new $6 yearbook fee but many inquire about it. Since 2005, Winona has charged a $5 fee, which increased to $6 this year. Students already contribute to the Winona's estimated $55-65 cost, but the staff uses the $6 deposit as a concrete indicator to predict interest.
"If you know how many people ordered up front, then it saves money and hassles later on," Finn said.
Cheatum said the Winona dealt with extra yearbooks before the new fee.
"There have definitely been surplus yearbooks," she said. "By having the $6 deposit, it insures the number there needs to be so there's not a surplus."
Rebekah Dell, director of Student Activities, said the fee is meant to eliminate excess yearbooks and wasteful spending.
"We were spending too much on books," Dell said. "We were trying to be fiscally responsible and use resources wisely."
Dell said the Winona uses the fees to defray extra costs, especially as publication expenses rise. Finn said costs have risen considerably in the past year.
"It goes back to the promotion of the book," Finn said. "It definitely helps because it's an added cushion for us to be more creative."
According to this year's fee accounts, fewer than 100 students have deposited money for 2009 yearbooks, down from around 200 last year, Finn said, but more students will probably purchase them upon arrival.
Tower Light
Senior Rachel Elliott, Tower Light editor in chief, said the twice-yearly Tower Light receives $2,800 per semester. She said it received an extra $500 from Student Federation for this semester's edition, after she asked for an increase. Elliott said she and her staff used it to print all pages of the most recent issue in full color.
"Hopefully, it will look good and Student Fed is happy it'd be investing more on Tower Light," she said. "It should look a lot more professional."
The Mentor
Dell said she re-introduced the Mentor this year but resources come from the orientation budget, not Student Publications fees. Each new student contributes a one-time, $20 orientation fee.
The Mentor is a full-color illustrated pamphlet describing to freshmen campus life, major student activities events and introducing them to administrators and buildings.
Dell said she decided to bring it back because she received The Mentor as a Hillsdale College freshman. As an art major, she designed it herself, she said.
"We wanted to bring back some of the flavor and have information to present to freshmen," Dell said. "We enjoyed them as freshmen students."
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