Student story: Publication staffs join forces

By Gunnar Hein/Advanced Writing

A lack of interest has forced staffs of the “Kedzie Krier” newspaper and “Wildcat” yearbook to team up.

The publications are a tradition at the Flint Hills Publication Workshop, but there was a glitch this week in completing that task when fewer students applied for the staffs.

“We only had three people for each staff,” yearbook production instructor Linda Drake said. “It wasn’t fair to put pressure on just three kids, so we decided it would be better to combine efforts.”

Students who signed up and were accepted for either publication are now focused on the “Kedzie Krier.” One camper returned to her original track. Staff members include seniors Delaney Bates and Maura Eveld, and juniors Meghan Daley, Kyler Jost and Jennifer Manning.

“It’s very stressful,” Jost said. “We are crunched for time with only five people and have three stories and two page designs each.”

Jost originally was supposed to work for the “Wildcat” staff. However, he said he was handling the change well. Drake, who has 17 years experience running the “Wildcat,” has made the transition easy for the yearbook hopefuls.

“[Switching to the “Kedzie Krier”] wasn’t that big of a deal,” Jost said.

Jill Chittum, who has been in charge of the “Kedzie Krier” for 12 years, had slight reservations concerning the combination of staff.


“I was a little worried at first that the yearbook kids would be disappointed,” Chittum said.

Chittum remains confident the newspaper will turn out to be a success.

“I think this is a group of hard-working kids,” Chittum said. “They understand what it means being on a short-time [schedule].”

The “Kedzie Krier” will be released the last day of the workshop.

“They have done an excellent job,” Drake said. “They are very on track.”

The question still stands: What will happen to the “Wildcat?” The yearbook will still be created this summer but will be a one-man show.

“It’s going to take some time, but it will be worth it,” student assistant Brent Gipson said, who has experience working on yearbooks at Kansas State University and McPherson High School. “I’m just designing it by myself. It shouldn’t be that hard.”