After operating at the same price for 22 years, the staff of Mosaic can no longer continue to publish the annual spring magazine with their current budget, according to Jackie Jackson, instructor of languages and literature and Mosaic editorial adviser.”The cost of printing has slowly creeped up,” Jackson said. “We are at the point now where we are several hundred dollars short for our budget.”
In order to get the magazine printed this year, the staff had to obtain the remainder of the money. “We were able to find other funding at the last minute,” Jackson said.
According to Jackson, rising printing costs and their revenue level remaining the same caused the problem.
“We have had the same funding since 1983. We get 20 cents per semester,” Jackson said. “I was hoping that maybe in the coming fall, we could have a referendum to raise it to 50 cents. We’ve started the steps to get permission to have a vote.”
If Mosaic cannot get an increase in its funding, Jackson said the staff will have to look at cutting back on some things.
“Maybe we wouldn’t be able to print a color cover, as many pages or as many books,” Jackson said. “We would still try to put one out.”
According to Damian Breaux, Student Government Association president, Jackson met with him to initially discuss the increase in October. Breaux informed Jackson that the best way to proceed would be to go before the Student Senate and have a senator adopt a resolution.
“I am presuming that prices are not going to go down. They are just going to go up,” Jackson said. “That is why I feel it is in the best interest that we are going to ask for more money.”
Breaux agrees. “They could use a fee increase,” Breaux said. “It is still in the initial process.”
“It has gotten so expensive to go to college,” Jackson said. “But I don’t think that anyone will begrudge for another 30 cents.”
After the resolution receives Student Senate approval, Breaux, University President Stephen Hulbert and the Board of Supervisors of the University of Louisiana System must approve it. Once the Board of Supervisors approves the fee increase, it would appear on the ballot of the next election on campus to receive final approval from the student body.
Breaux does not believe that the referendum will be ready until spring elections.
“Unless it moves fast, we can slide it in with Homecoming,” Breaux said.
According to Breaux, he would support the fee increase if it receives the approval of the Senate. Breaux introduced the matter to the finance committee on June 22.
Mosaic, sponsored by the Nicholls English Society, features poetry, essays, short dramas and stories written by Nicholls students. In addition, Mosaic showcases music, art and photography. The staff of approximately 10 students is responsible for selecting the content that will appear in the magazine. Students on campus can submit their work to be featured in the magazine. Copies of the 2005 Mosaic can be obtained in Peltier Hall.
