Donley chosen as editor in chief

The Daily Collegian will be starting Spring Semester with its third editor in chief of the year.

Former Managing Editor Megan Donley (senior-journalism) was named acting editor in chief effective Jan. 5 after former Editor in Chief Julie Randall left the Collegian staff to accept a reporting job at the Centre Daily Times.

"(Donley's appointment) will enable the News Division to move ahead full speed," said Collegian Inc. General Manager Gerry Lynn Hamilton, who said Donley was the logical choice for acting editor in chief.

Donley, who was appointed by Hamilton and will hold the position until May, will go before the Collegian Board of Directors for approval in February. In March, the board will select the editor in chief and business manager for the following year and begin to transition, Hamilton said.

"I'm nervous about myself (taking the position)," Donley said. "I'm not nervous that the Collegian will put out anything less than a quality paper."

Some of her goals for the semester include increasing the number of student-oriented stories in the paper, improving the arts coverage and expanding communication with student groups, Donley said.

During her Collegian career, which began Spring Semester 1995, Donley has served as Commonwealth Educational System beat reporter, assistant campus editor and campus editor.

Donley replaced Randall after Randall decided leaving the Collegian would be the best decision for her career. Randall, who worked with Donley during her three years at the Collegian and is Donley's roommate, said she is confident that Donley was the best person for the position.

In October, Randall replaced former Editor in Chief Rachel Hogan, who had been appointed to the position last March. Hogan left the University on medical leave and did not return this semester. Hogan also lived with Randall and Donley before she left.

"I think it's an unfortunate set of coincidences that kind of all happened at the same time," Donley said. "I have two people who are available any time to go to for advice and understand the situation better than anyone else, but I feel badly that things didn't work out for either of them."

The Collegian's News Division is not the only division that has seen a change in leadership this year. In December, the board selected Megan Hennigan to succeed Christopher Taylor as business manager after Taylor left the position for academic reasons.

"It has been a most unusual experience in modern Collegian history," said Hamilton, who has been with the Collegian for 20 years. "From the point of view of leadership in the Business and News divisions, I'm very confident."