Communication g roups proVide students with/alUm/Or ex:pression PETITJEAN ENDURES CHANGE; CELEBRATES 75TH ANNIVERSARY Although it has undergone many changes, th e Har ding University Petit Jean can claim to be the on lyorganization to survive a consecutive 75 years . The first edition was publi shed during the 1924-1925 sc hool year and contained 124 pages. Anyone who looks back on the old books of yesterday can see a difference. Even as late as the . 1980s, the PetitJean staffwasstill taping artic les and pictures to goldenrod paper and hauli ng the index pages to Harding Press to be printed. Now, editors type copy into a computer and send labe led pictures to the printer. Computer technology has allowed the Petit Jean staff to provide readers with color photos and graphi c designs, suc h as computer-generated illustrations, various fonts and lette r sizes. As time goes on and more technology is inven ted, prices begin to r ise. The 1998 book sold for $30; in 1948, the price was $6. According to Jess Vanhooser, the 1948 business manager of the Petit Jean, it was the responsibility of the editor and business manager to generate the income to pay for .. the yearbook. Heand Edna Hodge, the editor, persuaded Dr. George S. Benson that theyearbookshould be paid for byHard ing, who would charge the students a fee to pay for their yearbooks. Vanhooser joked about the cost. "I remember everyone griping about having to pay $6 instead of $5. I was just happy that I wasn't responsible for it if'~e didn 't se ll them all." Today, the 328-page yearbook is paid for through general fees of students who are enrolled for 12 hours or more in both the fall and spring semesters. During a reunion at Homecoming, many previous Petit Jean editors gathered to read current books and view their old works. Jay Simpson, the 1983 editor, said he noticed the style ofwriting had changed through the years. "It seems that writing styles today just aren't as formal. When I was an editor, contractions were a nono." At the reunion alumni also shared many reminiscent thoughts about days gone by. "I miss Myra Lou the most," said David Wall , the 1985 editor. When the Petit Jean office was built, it was furnished in memory of Myra Lou Tyer by her husband and daughter, Arlo and Pam. A picture of Mrs . Tyer adorned thewall andwatched over workers. When the Student Center was remodeled in 1992, the picture was removed and a plaque was attached to the wa ll outs ide the Petit Jean office door to commemorate their gift. Each edi to r said that the experi ence they gained on staJf was invaluable. I'Because I was in charge of the staff, I had to be much more organized," said Tracy Johnson , the 1993 edi to r. "I struggled to think what events the entire student body wou ld want to see and had to think very far down the road to ensure that they were covered." Although many things have changed, the PetitJean cont inues to function in much the same way. Editors and staff writers can sti ll be found wo rking away amidst stacks of papers t rying to bring a qual ity book to the students, something everyone can be proud of at a reunion another 75 years down the road. - Elizabeth Bratton Elyse Slavska and Myca Haynes enter weather graphics into the monitor for the TV-J6 newscast. TV-16 brought White County andHarding students a newscast every weekday at 5 and 7p.m. ~ ~ Doug Waddil!, sports editor ofthe Bison, prepares the week's "Bison Sports Challenge." The f Bison staffworkers put in many long hours to provide a weekly newspaper for students. ]; l COMMUN ICATION 259 •
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