The meaning of the Muscoljuan

In late January, the 2008-2009 edition of the Muscoljuan finally came out for students to have of their memories from last year. With the theme of bridges, this yearbook is only the second one to be done in all color, and marks the end of one era of technology, and the beginning of another.

The name Muscoljuan is derived from the beginnings of the words: Muskingum College Junior Annual. The yearbook used to be put together by the junior class as a gift to the senior class. Currently, the yearbook staff is comprised of students from all years.

This year’s edition is special because it represents remembering the past, and anticipating the future. Focusing on the new bridge built to connect the east and west hills, it stands for all of the future students at Muskingum who will one day walk across that bridge. Bridges in New Concord, like the historic S bridge, open up windows to the past.

Every edition is divided up into sections of people, academics, athletics, organizations, campus life, and Greek life. Class photos can be found in people, honoraries live in the academics section, and each organization on campus has a spread in its respected section.

Faculty advisor for the Muscoljuan, Professor Meghan Wynne, works with many photographers on staff, and even goes to some of the events herself to take photos.

“We make it a priority to try and get as many different faces as possible in the yearbook,” said Wynne. “Of course, if you are more active around campus, then you will show up more frequently in the photos.”

The Muscoljuan staff has implemented a new computer program to be used on the 2009-2010 edition that eliminates some of the tedious nature of photoshopping because the new software can edit the pictures for them right there within the program.

First-year student and an assistant editor on the staff, Hannah Worthington, is trained in the new software and excited to use it on the next edition.

“The new software is great! It allows us the opportunity to work on the yearbook anywhere rather than just in the office which enables us to get spreads done quicker,” said Worthington. “It also tells us where pictures have been previously used, therefore, no pictures will be duplicated in the book.”

The new software is called Studio Works and makes the staff’s use of Adobe Photoshop almost obsolete, unless of course they need to remove some minute imperfections, like the red eye effect, for example.

What many first-year and upper-class students may not know is that the cost of the yearbook is included in the yearly tuition.

Ruthy Gentry, a junior, was shocked to learn that students do not need to pay for a yearbook right out of their pocket to pick one up.

“I had no idea that our yearbooks were included in our tuition,” said Gentry. “In high school, yearbooks were so expensive and taken so seriously I just kind of forgot about them in college.”

Every student can pick up a copy of the 2008-2009 Muscoljuan in the yearbook staff’s office on the ground floor of Cambridge Hall, or see Professor Wynne in her office on the same floor.