A year after his death, IU Student Media Director Dave Adams’s legacy and passion for student-media rights live on through newly named press awards.\n“He was truly devoted to the field of education,” said Ron Spielberger, executive director of the College Media Advisers. “He kept student media in the forefront.”\nAwards sponsored by the Student Press Law Center, the Indiana Collegiate Press Association and the College Media Advisers have been renamed to honor Adams and his efforts in student-press advocacy.\nAdams died at his Bloomington residence June 2, 2007 at the age of 59 in what was reported as an alcohol-related accidental drowning in a pond in his backyard.\nHis colleagues still expressed surprise when they reflected on his passing.\n“It was a complete and total shock to hear someone as vital as he was to die so suddenly,” said Mark Goodman, journalism professor at Kent State University and former executive director of the Student Press Law Center. \nGoodman said he and Adams knew each other when they met in 1985 through the center. \nAdams was a leader in the College Media Advisers as well as the Student Press Law Center. In 1989, he was appointed IU’s student media director. He also served as a faculty adviser for the Indiana Collegiate Press Association and held many advising positions while continuously championing the rights of student journalists and student press.\nExecutive Director for the Indiana Collegiate Press Association Robert Franken said Adams’ death created a void in the hearts of his friends and in student media.\n“I did not think Dave was old enough to die,” he said. “All \nI thought was what a great loss it would be for current and future students.”\nAdams’ Work Lives On\nDespite the shock and emotion still attached to Adams’ death, many of his colleagues decided to honor his memory and devotion to student media through creating and renaming awards in his name.\nThrough the Student Press Law Center, Goodman helped create the David Adams Student Press Freedom Fund, which supports the Student Press Law Center’s efforts in advising student journalists. Goodman said the Student Press Law Center solidified Adams’ passion and enthusiasm for student journalists’ rights. \n“Dave is going to be remembered for a long time,” he said. “So many people were affected by his work, and we wanted to take action to assure his legacy and show how loved he was.”\nFranken helped create the Ingelhart-Adams Adviser Award, which also honors Louis Ingelhart, journalism professor emeritus at Ball State University who passed away Jan. 7, 2007, at the age of 86. Franken said he wanted to honor those who championed student press and First Amendment rights, and Adams’ name and work immediately entered his mind.\nHe praised Adams for his life philosophy of working hard and not allowing small problems to distract him from providing quality.\n“It’s a testament to his strive for excellence and how he conveyed that philosophy to students,” Franken said. \nSpielberger recently renamed the College Media Advisers’ Apple Award to the David L. Adams Apple Award, which is given to a college for “Best in Show.” The Feb. 14, 2008, issue of the Indiana Daily Student and the Arbutus yearbook were the first recipients of the newly named award this year.\nSpielberger said the decision to rename the award came while reflecting on Adams’ work for the Student Press Law Center and how he was always on the side of student journalists.\n“He was a true champion of student journalism,” he said. “We wanted to honor David and his long-term commitment to advising. We wanted to keep his name in the forefront.”\nFort Wayne Journal-Gazette Editor-in-Chief Craig Klugman, a longtime friend of Adams’, said recipients of the awards should recognize Adams’ name and realize the privilege of winning an award with his name attached.\n“Dave Adams deserves that kind of tribute, and I’m happy for the student journalists who will win these awards,” he said.
A Dedicated Worker and Friend\nAdams’ old colleagues will always remember not only his dedication for student media, but for his strong influence in their personal lives.\nFranken first joined the Indiana Collegiate Press Association in 2001 and recalled Adams’ encouragement to run for a higher position in the organization.\n“He went out of his way to make me feel welcome,” he said. “He would give a lot of positive, constructive feedback. He just had a way of giving advice and made everyone feel good about it.”\nWhile making the decision to step down as the executive director for the Student Press Law Center to become a professor, Goodman said he was going through a very difficult transition. However, he said Adams was always there to support and advise him.\n“Dave was one of the few people I really confided in,” Goodman said. “It was a hard decision to leave a place I love, but Dave was always a great and thoughtful adviser.”\nFranken and Spielberger both remembered that Adams always had a smile on his face, even if situations seemed dire. They also remembered his addictive and contagious enthusiasm in his work in student media. \nKlugman attended a meeting with Adams 20 years ago to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the IDS. Adams encouraged Klugman to speak at the meeting, and Klugman told jokes about former School of Journalism Dean Trevor Brown, the trustees, the faculty and Adams’ work ethic.\n“I said, ‘Dave was on a six-month diet, and he finished it in two weeks,’” Klugman said. \nAll jokes aside, Klugman admired Adams’ continuous fight for press rights in student media. However, he said Adams’ usual demeanor was always easy going.\n“He would probably be relaxed in a car accident,” Klugman said. “He was a patient, even-tempered guy until rights were violated.”\nGoodman remembered that, although Adams was a good friend and a champion for student media, he did have some minor personal faults.\n“He was a bit of a gossip,” he laughed. “And he was so enthusiastic, he had difficulty concentrating.”\nHowever, despite these faults, Goodman said Adams is still a person who is missed not only by those involved in student-press advocacy, but by his colleagues and students.\n“He was a real person,” he said. “He was someone who could be relied on, in the best and worst of times.”
