We're not hiding anymore. Starting today, you'll be able to see who wrote the opinion that speaks for our staff. And in time, you'll get to know those entrusted to offer insight on issues affecting IU students. We've created an Editorial Board of seven with one mission: To challenge decision-makers to make IU, Bloomington and the world a better place. The mission is broad, but one we undertake with anticipation. Change is coming to a neighborhood near you. In the past, the editorial choices were thrust on everyone's shoulders. It was a true and valiant attempt at a pluralistic democracy, where the editor-in-chief's vote weighed equally with a freshman reporter. But recently, it hasn't worked that way. It was the editors making the decisions because they were the ones obligated to attend. The process only added stress and hours to an already unforgiving job. Creating our opinions for readers became an obligation, not a passion. The Friday afternoon meetings were filled with long sighs and clock-watching, another task in a thankless job that, for some, never ended. Reporters rarely came. With a staff of 200, five votes for a staff editorial is anything but an accurate cross-section of the IDS. So in an attempt to improve, in which consistency is a key cog, we're building a separate staff of seven to construct our opinions. Some are editors this fall. Some were editors in the past. Some are sure to become editors one day. The new Editorial Board does not include the paper's editor-in-chief or its managing editors. We've chosen men and women with different interests, different ways of thinking and most importantly, different opinions. We hope they represent the IDS. The process by which we decide staff editorials won't alter. Now, neither will the decision-makers. They'll discuss the topics of the day and give light to the readers to find their way. It's the biggest of a series of small changes that readers can expect this fall. Monday's paper will look a little different, too. The changes will enhance each person's experience with the IDS. In the coming weeks, we'll launch a weekly business section to meet the need for corporate and economic news that today's readers demand. But don't get lost in the clutter of our changes. You can be assured we won't. We won't lose sight of our No. 1 goal: To tell the truth, every day. Hold us to it.
for the Editorial Board
