In our first lead editorial after taking over as the 109th Managing Board in February, we wrote, "We acknowledge that outside perspectives often can reveal mistakes, biases and inconsistencies frequently rendered undetectable to our singular perspective. Therefore, we soon will offer a weekly ombudsman column." I am pleased to announce that the Managing Board has chosen, from a field of several qualified candidates, Michael Zarkin as The Cavalier Daily’s first paid ombudsman.

Zarkin, a rising third-year Law School student, spent two year’s as managing editor of Alfred State University’s newspaper, Fiat Lux.

As ombudsman, Zarkin will write a weekly column critiquing the newspaper—including criticism, praise and explanations of certain editorial decisions. Zarkin is eager to participate in a dialogue with the University community regarding the content of the newspaper. He will maintain an e-mail account to respond to questions and concerns. Zarkin can be found at: Ombudsman@cavalierdaily.com.

The new ombudsman is a way for us to combat the perception that The Cavalier Daily has become complacent ever since The University Journal ceased to exist. Zarkin will keep us on our toes.

In addition, to solicit further feedback, we committed in February to "initiate, strengthen and pursue a more involved and responsive relationship with the University’s faculty and administration and also city and state elected officials."

We have been meeting with student leaders, faculty members and administration officials since February and have come a long way in strengthening relationships that were compromised by past actions or left to atrophy because of inaction. We are pleased to report that The Cavalier Daily now maintains a very open and successful working relationship with nearly every segment of the University population.

We also have been diligent in providing new and exciting opportunities for our staff members. The Cavalier Daily, in connection with the Class of 1963, is pleased to announce our first summer intern, Chris Nehls. The internship, which provides a $3,000 stipend for an entire summer’s worth of work, was proposed and funded by Charles Cudlip from the Class of 1963. Nehls will be responsible for giving the Class of ’63 superb coverage in the Alumni Supplement issue scheduled to come out June 5. By combing through archives, contacting Class of ’63 members and reproducing old articles, Nehls will help to retell the story of that particular class. In addition, Nehls will be charged with following up in the subsequent summer issue on various activities from the weekend itself. It is the hope that this endeavor is the first of what may become an annual summer internship position created to give top-notch coverage to reunion weekend events.

Once Nehls’ work with reunion activities is complete, he then becomes responsible to the CD Managing Board to complete a number of projects, including contacting rising first-year students and enticing them to come down to the basement to write in their first week of school. Nehls will tackle a number of tasks that we have not had a chance to get to yet.

One other long-term project at the top of our priority list is the expansion and renovation of the basement of Newcomb Hall. The Cavalier Daily simply has grown too large for the space we have. We would like to expand with larger news and production rooms, a conference room, some storage space and a few more offices. If anyone has comments or suggestions or can help in any way, please contact us.