Sara Ramsey, the 2003 editor in chief of MSU's yearbook, Red Cedar Log, already has plans to make big changes for next year's edition.

Sitting with her legs sprawled out on the floor, sifting through a list of improvements, she diligently marked them with a big red 'S' shaped sticky notes.

One thing Ramsey noted was the overabundant use of color within the publication, she said, which will be toned down for next year's edition.

"This year we are going to make it more art-museum and less carnival," the environmental soil science senior said.

Ramsey said improvements for the book will include a major overhaul of each section's organization and design.

The book is partially funded through a $3 designated portion of the student paid ASMSU tax. Advertisements and other portions of the ASMSU tax help pay salaries of the yearbook staff.

Seniors can get their pictures taken for free to be included in the books and portrait photographer Carl Wolf donates $15 dollars per person to help fund the next year's book. Last year there were about 1,000 seniors in the yearbook, and Ramsey said she's hoping for 3,000 this year for next year's book.

Ramsey said the majority of the problems with last year's yearbook happened because the publication was under-staffed.

"It is hard to put out a 416-page book with only two designers," Ramsey said.

In past years, organizations were encouraged to submit their own photographs of activities, Ramsey said, which became a problem because some of the images sent in were not high quality. Ramsey said the yearbook staff will be taking more active steps to go out and attain more event photos on their own.

Students can pick up a copy of the 2002-03 yearbook in the lobby of any resident hall as well as several local college bookstores.

Cathy Stone, manager at the College Store, 4790 South Hagadorn Road, said she has seen many students who were anxious to pick up a copy of the yearbook.

"We had a shipment of 1,000 books that were completely gone in two days," she said.

Ramsey said she might consider distributing yearbooks after sports events or tailgating parties.

"They could just show their student ID and get a yearbook," she said. "It is unfortunate if students don't know the books exist, because they paid for them, and they should be able to have their own copy."

Despite Ramsey's efforts to create more awareness, pre-med sophomore Rachel Lee is just one of the many students on campus who are unaware the yearbooks are available to them.

"I had heard of it, but I had never seen it until recently," Lee said. "I personally wouldn't even want one."

Lee was flipping through the pages of her friend's copy with disinterest because she didn't know anyone who appeared in the book.

"It is ridiculous that I would even have to pay the $3 for a book that is too big and too impersonal," she said.

Lee also said there was not enough diversity within the pages of the book.

"A lot of people and organizations got left out," she said. "The book had tons of candid pictures of only certain people."

Ramsey agreed last year's book was not as diversified as it could have been and has been working on ideas to correct the problem for next year.

"We want to make sure every college is represented in the book," Ramsey said. "We want to show that many people of different ethnicities and backgrounds are here to study and we want to incorporate that."