As Asbury’s spring semester comes to an end, senior students Kaitlyn McCracken and Ellie Eberhard will be closing this chapter of their time working for The Collegian. This bittersweet transition will entail the transfer of positions Executive Editor to Dina van Heemst and Managing Editor to Carolyn Raymon.
McCracken has been working on The Collegian for three years; half of her time was spent as the opinion editor, and the other half was dedicated to the executive editor. “I can safely say that I’ve loved every single editorial meeting of my time at The Collegian, but the first one that I led was terrifying. But at some point in the meeting, without me noticing, I just wasn’t nervous anymore. The entire staff got along so well, and the meeting wasn’t just deciding on article ideas, it was a chance to get together with other students and talk and laugh about the things going on in our community and the world. The team dynamic has only gotten better, and now one of my favorite parts of my week is walking into the newsroom and seeing everyone who showed up 20 minutes early just chatting and laughing with each other. I’m just so proud of the team we made.” Both McCracken and Eberhard have committed numerous hours to the newspaper, and their dedication and heart are incredibly apparent to anyone who has come across it in the Asbury hallways and shared spaces.
Although both McCracken and Eberhard are willing to work hard to do a job well done, there is never a lack of camaraderie within the group. Eberhard states, “The memories that really stand out from my years in The Collegian are the times when our staff have all been participating and joking during meetings. There was one meeting in particular that we ended up going at least 15 minutes longer than we probably needed to, but everyone was in a good mood and laughing. Though we weren’t being the most efficient at that time, we still did what we needed to do and were having fun while doing it.”
Although these are going to be big shoes to fill, van Heemst and Raymon are definitely up to the task. Van Heemst states, “I am excited to start my role as Executive Editor next year for The Collegian and for all the opportunities that come with it. It is an amazing opportunity to be able to head a college newspaper in terms of the practical experience it provides. My goals for next year are to continue building on the strong foundation that Kaity and Ellie helped establish, particularly by amassing a large and committed staff.” Both van Heemst and Raymon have been involved in The Collegian for over a year and are ready to devote their time in order to continue what Kaity and Ellie have built, and even make it better in the upcoming semesters. Raymon comments, “Kaity and Ellie have shown me that management can be fun and relational, while also maintaining strict deadlines and producing quality work. They’re great editors. I look up to them.”
A word of advice from the former editors entails the importance of people, the primary and crucial aspect to working on something memorable and meaningful. McCracken states, “Assemble a great team. The Executive Editor is nothing if the staff is not hard working and dedicated. Every single person on the team this school year is so talented and driven. The job of the Executive Editor becomes so much easier with a group of great writers, photographers, videographers, and managers.” Eberhard shared a similar sentiment, saying, “You can’t do everything by yourself, and the staff is willing to give grace or step up if there’s a week you need some extra help.”
Although McCracken and Eberhard’s time on The Collegian has come to a close, they are leaving it in the capable hands of van Heemst and Raymon, students who are dedicated to the improvement and success of Asbury’s beloved newspaper.
Photo courtesy of Emma Farrell.
