University of Arizona - The Desert Yearbook

“From the editor , Unearthing a tradition Daniel Scarpinato EDITOR IN CHIEF A yearbook works today because the atmosphere on campus is different than just seven years agdl la 199 / , the 80-something-year-old UA yearbook, The Desert, was killed. It had been a slow death, with the book running into the red tor years. Of course, The Desert ' s problems were not unique. He scene was indicative of the loss of college yearbooks around the country. The final editor of the book in the ' 90s, Valerie Miller, said a ouple years after the publication was axed, " (The yearbook) is an teresting trend that mirrors society. We used to be into family community relationships and social events those things that would tie us together, like a yearbook. " Well, that may have been the case at the UA in the late ' 90s, but today, it ' s a whole different ballgame. The rebirth of The Desert is the symbolic dawn of a new era at the UA. The high interest in this book, the first one in seven years, illustrates the increasing level of student spirit and involvement on campus. Students in 2004 felt an emotional attatchment and bond to the university. A yearbook works today because the atmosphere on campus is different than just seven years ago. That ' s good news not only for this century old publication, but for the campus climate in general. The creative and talented all-student staff that gave new life to this important campus tradition faced challenges in finding an audience, gaining support and modernizing and sophisticating the book to fit the needs and wants of 21st-century college readers. Along the way, as we " unearthed " not just the stories and photos of the year but a legendary piece of campus nostalgia, we realized how grand our responsibility was and how our decisions could make or break this new yearbook tradition. With sales double those of 1997s and the reinvented Desert established again as an interesting campus institution, I believe the 2003-2004 Desert staff has succeeded in molding the yearbook into something that will have a lasting importantance again on campus. There ' s room to improve and areas yet to tap. Still, The Desert is stronger than ever. Cementing the year and capturing its memories was an amazingly difficult job. But the late nights, hard deadlines and hours of tedious work has caccooned into something UA students generations from now will use to assess the personalities of us, the student body of 2004. On behalf of The Desert Yearbook staff, I thank you for your support. Now, enjoy the hundreds of amazing color pages before you. ”