New leaders 'uncorked'

The Digital Collegian - Published independently by students at Penn State

[ Summer 2006 ]

Collegian Insider 2006
Champagne flowed after board chose top management.

By Elaine Hughes

Collegian Staff Member '06

It didn't take long this year to hear the pop of the champagne cork as The Daily Collegian Board of Directors took little time in selecting new student leaders for the 2006-07 academic year.

The board needed only a few minutes to deliberate behind closed doors on March 14 to select Erin James, a senior majoring in journalism, as the next editor in chief and Craig Rippley, a senior business management major, as the next business manager.

By tradition, the board's announcement was met with applause and well-wishes from staff members -- along with the traditional champagne toasts. Reigning Business Manager Clay Kohler ('06) purchased and popped the bottle in honor of Rippley's appointment, while reigning Editor in Chief Jennette Hannah ('06) did likewise for James.

In the news account of the event published in the Collegian, board Chairman Don Cistaro said he appreciated the students' willingness to make sacrifices to do their duties.

Erin James

"Erin's management style makes her well suited for the editor in chief position," Cistaro said. "I recognize Craig's enthusiasm for increasing revenue sources and his business background as a strength."

James said she would focus on revamping the newspaper's Web site in the upcoming year.

"I would like to have updates on the Internet in the middle of the day so people can view breaking news as it happens," she said in referring to a host of changes.

James said she wanted to be editor in chief because of her passion for journalism.

"I've wanted to be a journalist for as long as I can remember," James said. "I love being at The Daily Collegian and working with the people here. There's no place I'd rather be."

In the next year, Rippley said he, too, would focus on building the Collegian Web site.

Craig Rippley

"I can't name any specifics because I don't want the competition to get ahead of us," Rippley said. "I also want to increase revenues and circulation."

Rippley said he wanted to apply for business manager since he started working at the Collegian.

"I've always been driven to achieve as much as possible," he said. "Since I started training, I had visions of where I wanted the newspaper to go."

Both James and Rippley said they were excited for their new positions.

"I'm absolutely thrilled," Rippley said. "We've got lots on our plates for this upcoming year, and I believe we've got the staff to get us there."

James said she felt "ecstatic" about her new position.

This report was adapted from an article in the March 15 Daily Collegian.

Photo by 2006 Collegian Photo Editor Michael Gourdijian

Current Editor in Chief Erin James signs the champagne bottle given to her by her predecessor, Jennette Hannah (’06), during the celebration following the board’s management selection meeting.

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Past meeting present

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The Kent A. Petersen Memorial Scholarship. This is open to full-time students who are members of The Daily Collegian staff, have proven financial need and demonstrated their continued involvement with the newspaper is in jeopardy as a result of this financial need. This scholarship was established in memory of the late Kent A. Petersen. Kent was an intern with the Penn State Sports Information Department, and as a student he worked as a sports reporter at The Daily Collegian.

The Ostar-Hutchison Daily Collegian Scholarship This is open to all sophomore and junior members of The Daily Collegian news staff currently enrolled at Penn State who have a proven financial need and who demonstrate that their continued involvement with the newspaper is in jeopardy as a result of financial need. This scholarship was established by Dr. Allan W. Ostar, a 1948 alumnus of the College of Education, and his wife, Roberta Hutchison-Ostar, a 1948 journalism alumna. Both Allan and Roberta worked at The Daily Collegian as editor in chief and news editor, respectively.

The Collegian Alumni Hall of Fame Scholarship. This is open to full-time undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at Penn State who are members of the staff of The Daily Collegian who have a demonstrated financial need. The scholarship was created by The Daily Collegian to honor members of the newspaper's Hall of Fame.

The Damon M. Chappie Memorial Award in Investigative Journalism. This is open to full-time undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at Penn State who are promising reporters and who use investigative journalism to champion open government and hold entities accountable for their actions through published articles in The Daily Collegian. The award was established to honor Damon M. Chappie.

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