The precarious future of The Spirit yearbook became a little more certain after last Tuesday’s called meeting of the UTM Publications Committee, which voted unanimously to give the yearbook staff the go-ahead to produce a 2007 edition.

The committee suspended production of the 2007 edition until the staff, led by Editor Kim Ferrell, was able to produce the 2005 yearbook, which is now two years late, by Sept. 30.

The committee has set Nov. 30 as the deadline for the 2006 edition, which is also late.

Originally, the committee set the Sept. 30 deadline in order for the publisher to deliver the books by Homecoming, but Coordinator of Student Publications Tomi McCutchen Parrish said that won’t be possible, but she did say the 2005 book will be available at December graduation.

Now that the yearbook staff, which has been plagued by low staff retention, apathy and recurring technology failures, has been given the go-ahead to make the 2007 book, some committee members were concerned the staff may not have adequate resources to get the work done on the 2007 book while trying to finish the delinquent 2006 edition as well.

Publications Committee member and Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Al Hooten offered to find money for a part-time assistant for Coordinator of Student Publications and interim yearbook Adviser Tomi McCutchen Parrish.

“I will work with Dr. Rakes to find the funds for at least a minimum of a part-time person for this year,” Hooten said. “I can’t promise anything for any subsequent years, but we can try to get something for this year.”

Parrish said the position would probably cost about $15,000 per year.

Hiring an administrative assistant would allow closer advising and management of the yearbook, rather than dealing with business operations, Parrish said.

“The yearbook staying afloat hinges on the yearbook staff,” she said. “But the help an adviser can give a yearbook staff won’t be diluted by an adviser also having to do all the business and operations [after hiring an assistant for Parrish].”

After the committee approved going forward with this year’s yearbook, Parrish told the committee she will send out e-mails updating the committee on the staff’s progress.

“As far as checks and balances, we answer to you, and we report to you after every deadline,” she said. “We keep a notebook with all the proofs to show you what has physically been done.”

Before last Tuesday’s approval, the committee considered nixing the yearbook altogether and refunding students’ $8.50-per-semester fee, which has funded The Spirit since 2002.