The Daily Collegian Board of Directors selected student leaders last night for the 2006-07 academic year.

Following deliberations behind closed doors, the board selected Erin James (junior-journalism) as the next editor in chief and Craig Rippley (junior-business management) as the next business manager.

To be considered for the position, the candidates wrote proposals with goals for the upcoming year and answered the board's questions about their plans.

Board Chairman Don Cistaro said he appreciated the students' willingness to make sacrifices to do their jobs.

"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."

Rippley and James will assume their duties one day after the last publication of the semester. Rippley will replace current Business Manager Clay Kohler (senior-broadcast journalism), and James will take the place of current Editor in Chief Jennette Hannah (senior-journalism).

James said she will 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.

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 will also focus on building the Collegian Web site.

"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 Daily 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.

"But I still have a lot to learn in the next few weeks," she said.