Ted M. Sickler, current Daily Collegian campus editor, was unanimously selected new editor-in-chief last night by the Board of Directors of Collegian Inc.

"I want simply to leave behind a well-trained staff in a year. As part of that well-trained staff I also want to develop a working environment that welcomes multi-racial and multi-ethnic backgrounds," Sickler said.

After reviewing the applications of the five candidates, the board interviewed each at the meeting. In the closed discussion that followed, the board discussed letters of recommendation submitted by Collegian staff members.

The interviews consisted of a set of pre-determined questions, similar for each aspirant, centering on issues of diversity at the Collegian, staff morale and the editor's ethical responsibilities.

"The board felt that he had the qualities we were looking for in the next editor," said Rosa Eberly, board president. "Sickler has the largest amount of experience in the most kinds of situations."

The decision was difficult, Eberly said, because of the high quality of all the applicants. Each possessed impressive strengths but what turned the tide in Sickler's favor was his overall competence, she said.

"Ted is extremely well-versed in several areas of the newspaper," said Diane A. Davis, current editor and board member. "Ted's strengths were right for the Collegian right now."

"He is one of the most even-handed, competent managers I know," said Ted Anthony, Collegian projects coordinator. "The high competence that has characterized the Collegian under the Sorisio and Davis administrations will continue under Ted."

"Ted Sickler has the ability to make the Collegian take great strides in diversifying the staff and improving news coverage. The next year should be really exciting for the Collegian," said Tim O'Sullivan, Collegian style editor.

"He's always organized and under control. He'll be able to handle even the most challenging situations with diplomacy," said Kim Friedman, Collegian arts editor.

"I think Ted will provide some good leadership, because he leads by example and he cares about what the paper does and what it represents," said Steve Sampsell, Collegian sports editor.

Eberly asked the candidates during each of their interviews, "Is the Collegian racist?" A negative response was unanimous, with Sickler being the one exception.

"I think it's institutionally racist, I don't think it's overtly racist," Sickler said, citing the historical underrepresentation of blacks in the newspaper business.

"That's a good answer," Eberly responded. It was one of few verbal appraisals by the board.

Diversity is "something the staff needs to do more than talk about," Sickler said. It is an issue Sickler said he plans to address in special programming and in daily news copy.