Hatchet Editor in Chief-elect Mosheh Oinounou said he hopes to strengthen student trust of the newspaper, gain more reader feedback and continue The Hatchet’s role as a watchdog over the administration and student groups next year.
The Hatchet editorial staff elected Oinounou, a junior from Prairie View, Ill., Sunday. He will assume his new position for the May 12 issue.
“I want to reach out to the community, student leaders and administrators to make sure our coverage reflects campus,” Oinounou said. “We’ve done a lot this year to gain the trust of students and the administration. I would like to continue that.”
Oinounou (pronounced wha-nu-nu) began writing for The Hatchet the second week of his freshman year and has served as an assistant news editor, a news editor and as this year’s news managing editor.
“I thought working (at The Hatchet) was a great way to start off college, and I never left,” he said. “It’s one of the most valuable parts of college for me.”
Current Editor in Chief Kate Stepan said she is confident in Oinounou’s ability to head the newspaper.
“I think Mosheh is very well qualified as a journalist,” Stepan said. “His biggest challenge will be developing leadership skills, and I think he is beginning to meet it.”
Stepan said she hopes Oinounou continues to strive to make the newspaper a fun place to work and also ensure top-notch campus coverage.
“We started this year to accomplish our goal to make students love the paper. I hope he continues that goal,” she said.
Oinounou said he will try to foster good relationships among staff members in The Hatchet office and with other student groups on campus.
In light of this year’s extensive Student Association coverage, Oinounou said he is disappointed with the often-strained relationship between the two groups.
“The SA and The Hatchet have similar goals – to advocate for and express the concerns of students,” he said. “I want to continue the advocacy for students, but in a more unified manner with the SA, and still offer a critique of the organization.”
The Hatchet will celebrate its 100th year of publication under Oinounou’s watch next year.
“The Hatchet will play a more public role on campus,” Oinounou said, noting students should expect Hatchet-sponsored events and special historical coverage.
Oinounou said he is excited to represent The Hatchet during such an important year in the publication’s history.
Outside The Hatchet, Oinounou is also a member of the recently-colonized Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity and is active in the Jewish community. He has interned for ABC News and Senator Dick Durbin (D- Ill.). This summer Oinounou will intern for FOX News Network. Oinounou’s brother Yoni is a sophomore on campus.
Oinounou stressed his commitment to the paper, noting that The Hatchet will “always be (his) priority.”
“It is important to have a strong student newspaper to serve students,” Oinounou said. “We have the power to affect change and have been the students’ voice for 100 years and running.”
