Union plays musical chairs

Four days after being elected as interim editor in chief of the Long Beach Union Newspaper, Loren Kopff has decided to resign from the position. Kopff is writing a formal resignation letter to the Associated Students Inc. Publications Board.

Union Staff Member Scott Stern nominated Kopff as interim editor in chief, without prior notice, during a Publications Board meeting last Thursday. After a hasty question and answer drill, revolving around editorial discretion, the board appointed Kopff over former Union Editor in Chief David Weiner.

Kopff said he was taken by surprise by the spontaneous appointment. After further consideration, he said he realized it was not a position he was ready to fill.

"I thought I might as well try," Kopff said, "but I did not expect the decision to turn out the way it did."

Mixed reactions came from the Union staff after Kopff's appointment. Some said Kopff, who has worked as a sports editor for the paper, could fulfill the assigned responsibilities. Others said they felt that he was unqualified.

"Some people have sincerely expressed their disapproval of my being chosen over David," Kopff said. He added that despite the discontent, no major conflicts have risen from the situation.

Michael Coombs, Union managing editor, was in favor of Wiener. Coombs is now acting as interim editor in chief for the Union.

"The Union means a lot to me," said Coombs. "It's a necessity to get things back on track."

Kopff said that if the climate at the Union was less chaotic he probably would not have resigned. He said that the Union has been experiencing budget and personnel problems.

The Union has also been experiencing backlash caused by recent publications of nude women.

A.S. Vice President Celine Cordero said that she has received many complaints about the Union's controversial subject matter.

At last weeks meeting, a disgruntled student told the board that she and other students, were offended by the Union, and that its actions verged on sexual harassment.

Kopff said his decision to resign was not based on apathy about dealing with these issues.

"Because a lot of people were unhappy [about the appointment], I knew I wouldn't get the support I would need to help work out these problems," Kopff said. "I want to think more about which direction the newspaper is going."

The recent budget problems will prevent the Union from publishing next week's issue. But according to Coombs, funding problems have been solved.

Coombs said that the Union has received moneys from A.S. Current Year-end Unallocated Funds. The Union will resume publication April 1.

Kopff said he will continue to work as a sports writer for the Union.

Applications for editor in chief will be accepted until the end of this week.