Multimedia Managing Editor Jack Rutherford (27C) and News Managing Editor Lauren Yee (24Ox, 27C) were elected editors-in-chief of The Emory Wheel on Feb. 5. Rutherford and Yee ran unopposed and received 100% of the votes cast. Of the 49 eligible voters, 39 voted in the election. The pair will succeed current Editors-in-Chief Ellie Fivas (24Ox, 26C) and Spencer Friedland (26C) on March 5.
Arts & Life Editor Amelia Bush (28C), who was with Rutherford and Yee when they saw the results, called their reaction to the results “special.”
“When I saw them after, you could just see the smiles on their faces and how happy they were,” Bush said. “You can tell just how much hard work went not only into their platform … but also the work and dedication they’ve given to the Wheel as a whole.”
Copy Chief Angela Chan (27C), who has worked at the Wheel for three years alongside Rutherford and Yee, said she was happy to see her friends elected to lead the Wheel.
“I was so happy for them,” Chan said. “They’re so competent. I worked with both of them before, and I know how they work, their work ethic, and I just think that they’re overall great people, and I’m excited to see how they lead.”
In Rutherford and Yee’s platform, the pair expressed a desire to support editors’ mental health, recognizing the risk of “burnout” while balancing being a student and a journalist. The incoming editors-in-chief plan to address burnout by creating a space where editors feel “comfortable taking breaks from the Wheel when necessary” and having editors write fewer pieces.
Illustration Editor Ivana Chen (27N) praised Rutherford and Yee’s focus on building community, noting the goal will be essential to continuing to improve the Wheel.
“I always feel it starts with more community building and bonding, so kind of uniting all the sections more thoroughly,” Chen said. “The managing editors are very close, but bringing in assistant editors and even just like writers and illustrators who contribute once in a while, … I would appreciate.”
When discussing their platform, Yee emphasized her and Rutherford’s hope to continue the process of establishing the Wheel as a non-profit organization, which was initiated by Fivas and Friedland.
“Jack and I are really excited about incorporating the Wheel as a [non-profit] organization and also starting an endowment under it,” Yee said.
Fivas voiced her excitement for Yee and Rutherford to continue building on what she and Friedland accomplished as editors-in-chief while also launching new initiatives for the paper, such as increased accessibility to the Wheel for the Emory community.
“The 501(c)(3) nonprofit is going to be so great for the Wheel once it comes into fruition,” Fivas said. “I’m really interested in what they want to do with section resources, making sure that the Wheel is accessible as possible for new writers. It’s always a really, really important thing to focus on.”
News Editor Siya Kumar (28C) highlighted Rutherford and Yee’s previous partnership as news co-editors under Friedland, which Kumar said she thinks will help as they step into their new roles.
“They’ve already worked together before, which is definitely helpful for communication and setting boundaries.” Kumar said. “Their combination together covers all the pieces to have a good tenure as editors-in-chief of the Wheel.”
Working directly with Rutherford and Yee for the last two and a half years, Friedland said he has loved seeing the next editors-in-chief grow.
“It was really cool to see them both go from people that had some interest in journalism, to the people they are now, leading two sections at the Wheel and having these great responsibilities, but also having great reporting skills, great ethics, great editing,” Friedland said.
Yee noted how full circle it has been working under Friedland to now taking over as editor-in-chief.
“This is just really a full circle moment for me,” Yee said. “We’ve worked together before, under the leadership of Spencer as managing news editor. So it’s like one big family reunion.”
Like Yee, Rutherford expressed his gratitude to Friedland and Fivas and noted that he is excited to lead the paper into its 107th year.
“I'm super, super thankful for Ellie and Spencer and all their help throughout the process. They’ve both been wonderful,” Rutherford said. “I'm very pleased to be coming on board with Lauren. I couldn't have picked a better running mate, and I'm looking forward to getting started.”
