By Karen Lewis
Ryerson students may soon be able to re-live their university days over and over again.
Copyrite Services manager Michael Durrant and assistant manager Brian Brodersen are looking into the possibility of a Ryerson yearbook, combining graduates from all programs.
At this point, Durrant and Brodersen are investigating the financial and logistical feasibility of the project, which they will present to the RSU’s Board of Directors. The student representatives will take it from there.
“It’s up to the Board of Directors to decide how they want to deal with this project.” Durrant said.
Ryerson has not produced a graduate yearbook for 26 years. Financial problems and lack of student interest contributed to the demise of the Ryersonia Yearbook in 1969.
Money is still a concern to many students. Janice Black, who is graduating from the Early Childhood Education program, says a yearbook would be a “neat idea” but “it would depend on how much it cost.”
Durrant estimates the project requires between $34,000 to $40,000, assuming that 1,100 to 2,000 books are produced.
Aside from the funding, the project’s success will depend on the amount of student interest. “The final decision will come down to the students,” Brodersen said. “It will be up to (them) to decide whether it is a relevant project or not.”
If the yearbook is given the go ahead, Durrant and Brodersen think it should be a student based project. “It’s not necessarily our job to put the yearbook out,” Durrant said. “I think it’s the job of the students.”
Some faculties at Ryerson already produce their own program-based yearbooks, but Durrant envisions a graduate yearbook encompassing all programs to help strengthen school spirit.
All students at Ryerson have a “common bond by being at one common institution.” Right now, the university does not “have enough of a bonding influence,” Durrant said. “A yearbook is one more thing towards improving student life and morale.”
Julie Sanford, a second-year business student, is less than thrilled about her chance to get a yearbook when she graduates in two years. “If the idea they’re going after is to create school spirit, it’s going to take a lot more than photographs and writing down some pet peeves.”
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