La Pirogue 2003 “Something Old, Something New” Volume 55, the latest edition of Nicholls’ official yearbook is now in and available for students.
To receive a yearbook, students must present their student identification cards. Students can get their yearbooks from the Student Publications office on weekdays between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.; in the lobby of the Student Union next week, Nov. 3 through 7; at Winter Fest on Nov. 13 and from residence halls and student organizations whose distribution dates and times will be announced at a later date.
To support the publication of the yearbook, each Nicholls student pays $10 per semester. The fees fund yearbook activities, primarily the printing of the book, staff travel and compensation of the student staff.
“Let’s say if (a student) only came to school in the spring or fall, (he) would have to pay $10 for the missed semester,” Nicki Boudreaux, director of student publications, said.
According to Boudreaux, La Pirogue has both a primary and secondary function. La Pirogue’s primary purpose, according to Boudreaux, is to reflect the overall outcome of the year, by covering the accomplishments, events, and issues important to the Nicholls’ myriad of students, faculty and staff.
La Pirogue’s second function, according to Boudreaux, is to provide a professional learning experience for any student regardless of major or classification who expresses an interest in yearbook; La Pirogue is entirely student-run to serve this purpose, and student editors are responsible for content, editing, design and all editorial decisions. A professional adviser is available for guidance, training and advice but has no decisive power over the editing or content of the yearbook; also, there is no prior review done by the adviser. The preceding guidelines were established to protect the First Amendment freedom guaranteed to the student press.
Any student not currently involved in the production of La Pirogue but with a desire to be involved should get and fill out an application from the office of Mrs. Anne Toloudis, office coordinator of student publications in the Student Publications building.
“Something Old, Something New” contains over 300 pages of features and colorful pictures and graphics.
Eric Haydel, photo editor of La Pirogue and public relations sophomore from Ville Platte, said that in each individual category within the yearbook there are certain things that stand out. Many features such as major sporting events, homecoming, academics, and theatrical performances are highlighted; also, the title pages in the yearbook are full-color layouts.
“I get a really good important role in planning the book because the book is all pictures and very few words,” Haydel said. “Overall, the yearbook that came out this year is impressive. Our editor did a wonderful job; all in all, (the most recent) yearbook was really good, and (the next one) will be even better.”
Boudreaux said: “This was our first year with a new company, Herff Jones; we had been with another company before that. I was very impressed with the quality of the book; I think this is the best book we’ve put out in a while. The staff did a great job in working through the transition. Not only in the transitioning from one company to another, but also transitioning to new software and equipment.
“I liked the way they used the theme ‘Something Old, Something New’; they tried to apply that to every section of the book. There were a lot of then-and-now types of features that I really liked. I thought that it gave a unique perspective to where Nicholls began and how we got where we are