'DP' to inaugurate 108th Board

There's not to reason why, there's just to do or die. Tomorrow night, The Daily Pennsylvanian will inaugurate its 108th Board of Editors and Managers, retiring the current board members to civilian life and marking yet another year in the life of one of the University's longest-running organizations. As an independent newspaper with no financial ties to the administration, the DP's perennial goal is to be the advocate for the entire University community -- to ensure that whatever happens on campus does not happen in secret. Among the traditions passed from board to board are persistence, accuracy, belligerence and a fervent mistrust of anything done to students without their knowing about it. The 108th Board members, who were elected to their positions by the outgoing board in December, said they are dedicated to preserving the hard-hitting journalistic traditions of the newspaper as well as adding their own innovations along the way. Leading the 27-member board will be College junior Matthew Klein, who hails from Rockville Centre, New York. Klein, described as "anal," "hard-working," and "driven," carries to his position a year of reporting and a year of editing experience. College junior Christine Lutton, a two-year veteran beat reporter from Manhattan Beach, California, will lead the news operation. Keeping watch over the DP's business affairs will be Wharton junior Joshua Gordon who hails from Miami, Florida. As executive editor, Klein will serve as president of the corporation. He has vowed to make the DP instrumental in determining the direction that the campus community will take. "I want the DP to take a more active role in setting the agenda for the University and to help foster change," he said. Forming editorial policy with Klein is Wharton junior Michael Sirolly from Hershey, Pennsylvania. Sirolly covered two beats as a reporter and served as the editor of The Weekly Pennsylvanian this past semester. Lutton started her extensive reporting career two years ago, diving headfirst into the swirling affairs of campus life while covering the Psi Upsilon fraternity's expulsion. She said she aims to "continue the long tradition of strong reporting," adding that she also intends to "make the newspaper an enjoyable, exciting place to be." Incoming Business Manager Gordon brings two years of experience in the DP's finance department to his position as the holder of the purse strings. He headed the department this past year and served on the newspaper's executive board. Sharing responsibility for the business operations will be Associate Business Manager Guy Ashley, a Wharton junior who is returning for a second year on the business board after a term as the associate sales manager. In the news offices will be College juniors and new Assistant Managing Editors Emily Culbertson and Roxanne Patel. Both have extensive reporting experience and have covered all aspects of the University in their tenure. With Lutton, the new editors will head a team of beat reporters, coordinate long-term projects and edit the nightly stories. College senior Gayle Meyers will concentrate on the training of new reporters as associate editor. Meyers earned recognition for her outstanding coverage of the Persian Gulf War while she spent a semester in Israel. Sharing the same office, Engineering junior Margaret Kane will oversee city coverage as the new city editor, earning the post after reporting for three semesters. Among the new business managers are Wharton sophomore Barry Freeman, known for his energy and cheerfulness, who will head the training of new business staffers. College sophomore Jonathan Connett will bring his savvy understanding of the business department to his post as operations director, serving as an internal link. Also helping in business affairs will be College sophomore Eric Brotman, who as sales manager will be responsible for generating the DP's revenues. Wharton sophomore Harvey Fine will serve as finance manager and treasurer of the corporation. Running the sports staff and planning out the back page will be Wharton and College junior Joshua Astrof, College juniors Jonathan Mayo and Matthew Kelly. Sports Editor Mayo will lead the department with Astrof and Kelly as associate editors. College sophomores Paul Hu and Jeffrey Hurok will focus on the photography department as its new leaders as well as help coordinate design. College junior and four-beat staff reporter Matthew Selman inherits the dubious honor of 34th Street Magazine editor, where his feature writing talents will be well utilized. Running the magazine with Selman will be College junior Dan Sacher who has had extensive experience on the magazine's staff and is well known for his own excellent writing. Rounding out the editorial board is new Art Director Fred Chung, a College sophomore, and Weekly Pennsylvanian Co-Editors David Black and Robert Botel, both College juniors. On the business side, College sophomore Elizabeth Kopple will take over as the advertisement production manager, Wharton sophomore Kathy An as the marketing manager, College sophomore Kirsten Kingseed as the creative services manager and College sophomore Adam Levin as the associate sales manager.

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