Rewriting History

Masmid Actually Scheduled to Appear

In a refreshing change from years past, this year's volume of YU's undergraduate yearbook, The Masmid not only exists, but is actually on schedule to be published in September, and distributed to graduated seniors soon thereafter.

Led by Editor-in-Chief Daniel Drabkin and Executive Editor Matithyohu Balas, The Masmid has been totally revamped and redesigned with a modern layout and sharper photos. New features and sections have been added, and the pictorials of the Senior Dinner and Graduation will be full color.

The yearbook is fully supported by advertising revenue, after the Office of Student Services denied the yearbook any financial support, and YCSC was unable to come up with additional funds. Over $25,000 has already been raised to subsidize the prohibitive cost associated with producing a high-quality product.

A flurry of signs bombarded the campus from day one, as every bulletin board on campus exhorted seniors to take their portraits, purchase ads, and visit the Masmid web site to fill out their biographies. "I think we posted more signs this year than most clubs have in their entire history," said Drabkin. "230 students were photographed from a pool of 260 potential seniors, a higher percentage than in previous years."

A major innovation was enabling students to file their biographies online. The Yeshiva University Computer Society was kind enough to grant The Masmid space on its server, and Aryeh Sanders and Noam Parness designed a web site to accommodate the hardwired student.

"I'm thrilled to have undertaken this," continued Drabkin. "It's the challenge of making what seems to be impossible, possible, that led me to this project."

Balas concurred with Drabkin's assessment. "At first it was tough working with the thought of beginning a massive undertaking without the knowing if we would be able to print a yearbook. But with each additional ad, new hope arose."

Beginning the year without a layout editor, The Masmid was able to enlist Yossi Pinsker to fulfill the layout duties. "A lot of credit goes Yossi Pinsker," said Drabkin. "He not only dedicated his days and nights to this major undertaking, he believed in the project from day one."

Seniors and underclassmen alike are waiting to see the end product. "I will enjoy having a yearbook to look at years from now and remember the crazy times I had here in YU," said Donny Rose, YC '99. "I look forward to receiving a heirloom I'll be proud to show my grandchildren."