As Echowan begins the interview process for next year’s editor positions, applicant sophomore Anika Hanson said the mood in Echowan has changed.

“I would say the (mood) is more serious,” Hanson said. “Everyone is still friends, but everyone knows that not everyone is going to be an editor, so it is a bit more tense.”

According to Echowan adviser Julianne Herbert, interviews for editorial positions started April 13 and will end April 24.

Herbert said she, along with senior editors, interview applicants. According to Herbert, the interview consists of a question and answer part and a role-playing activity to gage how the applicants will respond to scenarios editors are required to handle.

“My senior editors and I have a series of questions that we ask each of the people who are applying for major staff,” Herbert said. “We also have a role-play, where we give them a scenario that really does happen in Echowan. And from there, (the interviewers) give me some input, then I make the the final decision.”

Hanson said the Echowan interview is set up like a professional interview, which is a new experience for her.

“They make it seem like a professional interview, which is kind of cool. We have to dress up and do a resume,” Hanson said. “I am scared and excited. I have never had a serious interview, so it is something new.”

According to Herbert, while looking for editors, hard work and commitment prove more important than writing or photography.

“(I’m looking for) honesty and integrity, number one. Number two, the ability to show initiative. Number three, the ability to be diligent, work hard to the very end, and then, number four, flat-out skill in photography or writing, but the first three make a better staffer than the skill itself,” Herbert said.

Senior web editor Meg Wojtasiak said although minor staffers feel pressure during this process, it is exciting for these staffers to experience a different aspect of Echowan.

“(The minor staffers) are definitely nervous. I know I was about to pee my pants when I had my interview, but I think it is really exciting at the same time because it is a whole new side of Echowan,” Wojtasiak said. “Being a minor staffer and then changing to an editor is a really big change.”

This year there are twice as many applicants as positions available, which make the decision even more difficult, according to Herbert.

“I have 24 people applying for 10 to 12 spots. So this year it’s really, really competitive and on one hand, that’s exciting to have so many great people to choose from, (but) on the other hand, that’s really, really hard to say ‘no’ to some people,” Herbert said.

As she puts together the staff for next year, Herbert said the talent she seens in students will create a great yearbook.

“We have a great, great staff and I’m really excited about them. We’ve got a lot of really talented people and I think that next year’s entire staff is going to be fabulous and I’m looking forward to the book, but we need to get this (book) done first,” Herbert said.