PULLMAN, Wash. — A senior communication major was selected as the spring 2002 editor of Washington State University’s student newspaper, The Daily Evergreen.
Tonya A. Ricks of Silverdale will replace fall Evergreen editor Chris Chancellor of Lakewood.
She was elected to the position in part because of her experience in journalism, including a professional copy editing position at the Tri-City Herald in Kennewick, said Paul Brians, a professor of English and faculty representative on the WSU Student Publications Board.
The senior also served as managing editor and arts and entertainment editor for the WSU student newspaper and reporter and copy editor for the Scroll, Ricks College’s student newspaper.
Ricks earned an associates degree from Ricks College, Rexburg, Idaho, in 2000 and carries a 3.48 grade point average at WSU. She is a 1998 Central Kitsap High School graduate.
“(Ricks) certainly had impressive experience in a number of different positions, and she was articulate,” Brians said. “She also is a dedicated journalist. She really cares about the profession and turning out a good newspaper.”
In a prepared statement for the board, Ricks said she plans to increase news coverage of campus life, putting more emphasis on issues closer to students’ everyday lives. She plans to beef up the Evergreen’s opinion section and improve the over-all quality of editing and design.
“I want to make the paper more of a service to the readers,” Ricks said.
Student editors are elected each semester by the Student Publications Board, a committee made up of WSU students, staff and faculty.
Ricks is the daughter of Nina and Rodney Ricks of Silverdale.
