Application deadlines for editor of the Technician and Windhover publications have been extended due to lack of candidates. 

With an extended submission date of Feb. 23 at noon, members of the Technician staff said they hope someone will step up to the challenge. There is no definite course of action if still no one applies, but some are beginning to think a structure change may ensue.

Technician Editor-in-Chief Amanda Wilkins will be stepping down at the end of her term June 1 in order to focus on her studies. The early deadline is to allow a sort of apprenticeship of the next editor in order to ease the successor into their responsibilities. Windhover Editor Mollie Mohr will graduate in May.

Student media advisor, Bradley Wilson said he was stressed by the similar situation last year, when no one applied for the Technician’s editor position.

However, Wilson said he is not as worried this year because of the quality of staff members. Wilson said it is the staff that largely dictates the difficulty of the editor’s position.

“This is a full time job, and it’s a lot of work, so it is intimidating to some people. But you are part of a team,” said Wilson. “[The applicant] has to know they aren’t out on a limb by themselves.”

As a result, Wilson said the lack of candidates stems from this level of difficulty rather than a lack of skilled students.

“This job is doable, but they have to balance wanting to have a life, school, looking for jobs and working for Student Media,” Wilson said. “So this is not because we have a weak staff.”

Paul McCauley, chair of the Student Media Board of Directors and a graduate student in sociology and anthropology, said both positions are time consuming. McCauley was Viewpoint Editor of during his undergraduate degree.

“For one, the editor position is a huge time commitment,” said McCauley. “The job description is 35 hours a week, but that doesn’t even begin to cover it.”

Unlike Technician, the Windhover staff has never had a problem maintaining an editor, according to Wilson. The candidate that Mohr had been grooming chose at the last minute not to apply.

Wilson said he knows people will compare the situation to that of last year, but he said it does not have the same uncertainty.

“Last year’s search for an editor really stressed me out,” Wilson said. “But this year I’m a lot less stressed because we have so many talented students on staff.”

The trending lack of applicants could be due to the Technician’s ability to communicate with the outside world, but not within the staff, Wilson said.

“We are really good at marketing for other clubs and activities,” Wilson said, “but we are not so good at marketing ourselves.

Both Wilson and McCauley said the position could need some restructuring.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we see an alternative structure. Maybe it’s not a job for just one person anymore,” McCauley said.

While the job isn’t easy, Wilkins, a junior in horticultural science, said she has found her job as editor rewarding.

“It is a crash course in management and a great leadership opportunity,” said Wilkins.

She did, however say that the job isn’t really about resume building and personal gain. Though people tell her it will look great on a resume, she says that the job is one of self sacrifice, to better the paper and to help her staff.

“If we get people to apply by the next deadline, then it’s a non-issue,” Wilson said.