High school yearbooks are important because they serve as a time capsule where memories are immortalized in photos and print. These books contain signatures from friends and pictures of days gone by.

“This book is not your high school’s yearbook,” said Kyle Jepson, a sophomore in theatre and managing editor of The Makio, the official yearbook of Ohio State. “People seem to think that just because their picture is not in it, they shouldn’t care. But (it) is made to remember your school and to remind you of the experiences you had during your stay here.”

At such a large university, however, many students might not be aware that a yearbook exists.

“I did not even know Ohio State had a yearbook until I recently got a flier about it,” said Katie Ogle, a senior in interior space design. The Makio – named for the Japanese word which means magic mirror – has been part of OSU since 1880, according to Makio’s Web page on the Ohio Union Web site.

Although production of the yearbook stopped in 1994, it resumed in 2000 with support from student organizations, Student Affairs and the Ohio Union.

The book contains 296 pages of senior portraits, student life, organizations and athletics, according to the Web site. One of the organization’s missions is to encompass as much of the OSU student experience as possible in a quality yearbook.

Though Jepson said there is interest in buying the yearbook mostly from graduating seniors and student organizations like Greek or athletic groups, some students still feel in the dark about the details.

“I don’t know all that much about the yearbook,” said Melissa Howe, a senior in pre-science exercise. “I figured we had one, but I’m not involved in a lot of things, so I don’t feel like there’s much point for me to get one. I can see buying one at a smaller college, but at a school so big like ours, I don’t think it would seem as personal.”

Ogle said she would consider getting a senior portrait done and possibly purchasing a yearbook if she learns more about it.

“I wasn’t planning on buying the yearbook, but I might think about it if I were more informed. I think it should be advertised better,” she said.

Because some undergraduates might not feel they know much about the yearbook, the Makio organization said they are working to promote the yearbook to the campus community and trying to get the word out with fliers sent to students’ homes, which are also located around campus. Information is also available on their Web site.

Graduating seniors can have their portrait taken for free to be featured in the yearbook and The Makio itself can be purchased online or through the mail for $55. Information about scheduling a portrait sitting and ordering the yearbook can be found on the Web site.

The student-run organization is housed in the Ohio Union and advised by Ohio Union staff. The group accepts new staff members year-round and students interested in working on the yearbook can contact the current staff through the Web site.

“We can always use help on our staff and are always looking for people with new ideas and talents,” Jespon said. “The thing I love the most about Makio is all the great friends I’ve made. Makio has given me the chance to meet all kinds of people from English to Aviation majors. It’s so cool that so many different people can come together to produce one brilliant thing.”

Jepson compares buying the yearbook to buying textbooks that are expensive and only used for one quarter.

“The Makio is something you can show to your children and grandchildren 20 years down the road,” she said. “It’s proof of the time that you spent here and something that can help you remember what you’ve forgotten. Isn’t that worth $55?”