It’s that time of year again. No, I’m not talking about tax time. It’s GSB election time. Campaigning for the 1999 GSB elections doesn’t start until Monday, but during the past week, I have already received a dose of what only those in GSB feel is the most important news to hit Ames.

In the past week, I have been confronted by GSB senators, mainly those who are thinking about running for president and vice president, about the Daily’s coverage of GSB. So, in light of the more than average number of phone calls I have received, I decided to state my opinion about the whole situation for the 20th and last time.

Let me start at the beginning of how the controversy that continues to boil internally within GSB started and how I became a factor as editor in chief of the Daily.

As published on the front page of the Daily Thursday, current GSB President Bryan Burkhardt and Vice President Jamal White have signed letters of intent to run for president and vice president again next year.

Rumors about their possible quest for a consecutive term had been circling, from what I can guess, for weeks. However, I didn’t learn of the rumors until Monday.

On the front page of Monday’s Daily, an article ran about Burkhardt and White’s reflection of how far they have come on their election promises and what they still want to accomplish. This article is a rather common article that the Daily runs about the same time each year.

On the front page of Tuesday’s Daily, an article ran about Burkhardt and White giving money to the Panhellenic Council for a conference trip through the GWC special projects account. The GWC special projects account is made up of money from Burkhardt and White’s unused tuition money.

And on the front page of Wednesday’s Daily, an article appeared about GSB members traveling to Des Moines to present student issues to the Iowa Legislature.

I received my first phone call from a GSB-associated person on Monday night, and the five people to follow all had the same complaint — the Daily was giving Burkhardt and White an unfair advantage over other presidential candidates because it was giving them free publicity.

I was amazed to think that some GSB senators actually expected and wanted me to ignore the activities of GSB — they said Burkhardt and White, but since Burkhardt and White are part of GSB, I took that as meaning GSB.

I would say coverage of Burkhardt and White, but two of the past three articles have been specifically about GSB activities.

I cannot help that Burkhardt and White have had their hands in the issues, but it is not surprising that as GSB president and vice president, they are involved in many GSB activities.

As editor in chief of the Daily, I cannot ignore the next two-and-a-half months of Burkhardt and White’s term just because they are running for re-election. However, the fact that they may run for re-election also will not affect the way they and GSB are covered.

The mistake I see most senators making is that they are separating themselves and Burkhardt and White from GSB. They are one and the same when we cover GSB.

They complain that they are at a disadvantage because their names are not receiving the same amount of attention. Anyone in politics should know that the incumbent always has more name recognition than the new person on the scene.

It’s like when you apply for a job; the employer is going to look at your past experience, and that past experience is going to make your name more recognized and maybe even get you the job.

What many don’t understand is there is a difference between government coverage and election coverage. I know the difference, but if you’re biased, the line gets foggy — so let me draw it for you.

Every year, the Daily does election coverage after the presidential candidates have been announced. This year, the Daily will run profiles of each presidential slate on the bottom-fold of the front page. The articles will be about the same length and will give the candidates a chance to state their platforms. Each article will have a color photo of the candidates all geeked up in their most professional clothes.

All the election coverage will take place in plenty of time before the election.

I’ve stated my case. And I hope that this answers the questions anyone may have about the Daily’s GSB or GSB election coverage so I won’t have to waste my time answering any more phone calls. At least, I hope it answers the questions of those GSB senators who are insecure and paranoid.

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Tara Deering is a senior in journalism and mass communication. She is editor in chief of the Daily.