IDS, Arbutus name new editors

For those running for editor in chief of the Indiana Daily Student and Arbutus, Tuesday featured an afternoon of questions, answers, application read-throughs, presentations and one final vote. Three hours later, three new editors in chief emerged from the Georgia Room at the Indiana Memorial Union. \nJuniors Joshua Weinfuss and Jane Charney and sophomore Theresa Schwartz were named editors in chief for the summer and fall semesters of the IDS and next year's Arbutus, respectively.\nAll three described the process as being nerve-wracking but very necessary.\n"That was definitely one of the hardest things I've had to do," Charney said. "Everything you say comes back to you, and people will always remember what you say and hold you up to your promises."\nSchwartz said although the process was long and rough, she sees a bright future next year for the Arbutus.\n"(At the College Media Advisers conference) in New York, when people saw the Arbutus, they took a step back in awe," she said. "I want to keep us in that same light, and I would just like to continue the tradition of the black-and-white photos and the overall success we've achieved. I can't wait to get started."\nDave Adams, the IDS and Arbutus publisher, said he was impressed with Schwartz's dedication.\n"Theresa has been on staff for two years and has been involved in yearbook since early-on in high school," Adams said. "She's one of those people that lives and breathes yearbook, and that enthusiasm excited the board."\nMillicent Martin, a member of the IDS Publications Board, is an arts & entertainment reporter at the Palladium-Item in Richmond, Ind., and wrote for the IDS and Arbutus when she attended IU.\n"The people chosen for editors in chief showed a lot of love for the IDS," Martin said. "They were both passionate about their jobs and the paper, and that's really important."\nWith the process over, these new leaders have their jobs cut out for them.\n"I'm excited and relieved all at the same time," Weinfuss said. "I'm excited to get going and to have the opportunity to be editor in chief of the IDS. It's an honor to be a leader of this paper, one of the most respected, if not the most respected, college paper in the nation. To lead it is a great honor."\nWeinfuss is currently the sports editor at the IDS and has worked as the women's Little 500 beat writer, men's golf beat writer and a senior writer in his six semesters at the IDS.\n"I want to continue covering Bloomington and IU without having people notice there is a break in the semesters -- that's my main goal," Weinfuss said. "One of the biggest issues over the summer is getting people involved, filling staff and getting people motivated. I hope to keep writers pumped and give young people the opportunity to do great things when there's so many tempting other options."\nAdams said Weinfuss is more than qualified for the position.\n"Josh had an excellent application, presentation and is very well-liked by his peers," Adams said. "He's been really involved in two major projects at the paper -- the Little 500 and Coach Yeagley specials. That's especially important for the summer because we do the Freshman Edition and The Orienter, so he seems ideally suited for the job."\nCharney, who will become editor in chief in the fall, is a managing editor this semester and has been arts editor, design chief, a writer and a designer. \n"I hope to keep up the great tradition that's been a part of the paper for the last 137 years," she said. "We also have to be committed to covering the city and state in addition to campus coverage. When you come to IU, you're also becoming a Bloomington resident, and it's important to recognize that."\nAdams said he has watched Charney grow from the time she was an arts editor and continues to watch her grow as a managing editor.\n"I think the Board was especially impressed with her professionalism -- it's part of who she is," he said. "A Board member told me, 'Dave Adams is very lucky to have her,' and I definitely agree."\nCharney said a major issue is to continue to motivate writers to not burn out.\n"If management can create an optimistic atmosphere in the newsroom and keep people wanting to work, we'll be continuing in the right direction," she said. "I also hope to continue localizing national stories and providing local angles on a lot of the big news."\nAt the end of her semester, Charney hopes her readers will look back and be pleased.\n"Mostly, I hope people will be satisfied that all of their questions have been answered," she said. "Also, I've been here with old staff, and now with the new staff, I'm sort of a bridge in between the two. I hope to infuse the new staff with the same love for the IDS that I have."\nLooking into the future of the Arbutus and IDS, Adams said he couldn't be more thrilled with the leaders chosen.\n"I am a lucky guy," he said. "To get to work with all of these great students, that's a great job."\n-- Contact staff writer Mallory Simon at mgsimon@indiana.edu.