Yackety Yack has dealt with overhaul, but remains on track

While fall is traditionally the time of year the campus yearbook is distributed, the 2010-2011 edition of the Yackety Yack is only halfway done.

In early October, members of the Yackety Yack asked editor-in-chief Stephanie Hertz to step down after last year’s edition had been left unfinished.

By the end of spring semester, the yearbook staff had been unable to meet deadlines, photo editor Ben Leyden wrote in an email.

Leyden said Hertz volunteered to complete the book and submit it for publication during the summer.

Hertz told staff the yearbook was finished and that she had submitted it to the publisher, Leyden said.

Hertz did not respond to several emails requesting comment.

Newly-elected editor-in-chief Waverly Lynch said Hertz continued into the new semester as editor-in-chief, reporting that she hadn’t heard from the publisher for two months.

The 2010-2011 edition was left incomplete until October when Lynch decided to take matters into her own hands and called the previous yearbook publisher.

“They didn’t have any proofs on file,” Lynch said.

Hertz was asked to step down and was then replaced by Lynch.

After the position change, the editors took it upon themselves to finish last year’s publication by the end of this semester, said business editor Breanne Crumpton in an email.

“This year, we are on track for the publication of both our 2010-2011 edition and our 2011-2012 edition,” she said.

Hertz will not be involved with the publication of the 2012 edition, Leyden said.

“The book is halfway done,” Lynch said.

The late publication date did not affect the yearbook’s sales, but they will continue to look for ways to raise revenue, Lynch said.

Under new leadership, reorganization and regular meetings are being established in order to keep everyone on the same page, Leyden said.

Purchasers have been informed of the delay, yet there has not been negative backlash, Lynch said.

The Yackety Yack has apologized to its purchasers and has limited the shipping costs for students’ convenience, she said.

“I am sorry for the false deadlines,” Lynch said. “It will be in (students’) hands in the next two months.”

The editors said they are optimistic for the Yackety Yack’s future.

“Despite last year’s troubles, the Yackety Yack is strong, and we expect this year’s book to be one of the best in the 100-plus years the Yack has been covering UNC,” Leyden said.

Contact the University Editor at university@dailytarheel.com.