On Friday, Margaret Bauer was named editor in chief of Student Life for the 2005-2006 school year by the Board of Directors of Washington University Student Media, Inc., the newspaper’s publisher.
Bauer is a junior who works as the online editor for Student Life. She will take control of the paper at the beginning of April after next year’s staff has been hired.
“It’s not something I expected to be doing senior year,” said Bauer. “I wasn’t hoping for something that high, so to have gotten it is really a great thing.”
Bauer began working for Student Life as a staff writer for the news section in her freshman year. Last year she assumed the position of copy chief.
Bauer is enthusiastic about her new position and has an optimistic view about the future of Student Life.
“I hope to improve the general quality of the paper,” said Bauer. “What I’d like to do is keep us on a kind of even keel and continue the success we’ve had in the past year with investigative reporting. One thing I’d really like to do is improve the paper’s diversity as far as ideas and the general cultural and religious backgrounds of the staff are concerned.”
The current Student Life leadership expressed confidence in Bauer’s selection.
“I have every expectation that Margaret will be very successful in leading Student Life over the coming year,” said current Editor in Chief Jonathan Greenberger, a senior. “I am sure she will do many exciting things with the paper, and readers will benefit from her tenure.”
The board interviewed Bauer on Friday before making its final decision based upon her application, interview and the recommendation of the staff.
The editor in chief hires the editorial staff, ultimately oversees the entire production of the newspaper and makes all final editorial decisions. Student Life is staffed by Washington University students and is editorially and financially independent from the University.
“I’m excited because I feel like we have good people, we have a good staff and it’s a good place to be,” said Bauer. “We can continue the good things we’ve been doing this year.”
In addition to selecting Bauer, the board also recognized two graduating staff members for their achievements over the past four years. Editor in Chief Greenberger received the Gregory M. Freeman Award for Career Achievement. In addition, Contributing Editor Rachel Streitfeld received the Gregory M. Freeman Award for Excellence in Journalism.