David L. Adams
1947 to 2007
With profound sadness we must announce the death of Dr. David L. Adams, longtime director of student media at Indiana University's School of Journalism.
Dave was a national leader for press freedom for student journalists and he served as publisher and director of the Indiana Daily Student and the Arbutus since 1989. He was inducted into the College Media Advisers Hall of Fame in 1997.
Dave's tenure at the IDS, one of the nation's oldest and most respected college newspapers, was filled with national acclaim. In 2005 and 2006, the IDS was selected as Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper by the Society of Professional Journalists.
In March, the Arbutus was selected as Best Large Yearbook by the College Media Advisers.
Most importantly, Dave devoted his life to the student journalists at Indiana University for nearly two decades.
"We were shocked to learn today about this tragedy, and we will miss his presence tremendously in Ernie Pyle Hall." said Bradley J. Hamm, dean of the School of Journalism. "Dave's legacy will live on through his students, and we will remember him for many, many reasons, most especially for his unmatched enthusiasm for all aspects of the student press."
In lieu of flowers, friends of Dave Adams can contribute to the David Adams Scholarship Fund administered by the IU Foundation. In order to direct your contribution to the scholarship fund, call the IU Foundation at 1-800-558-8311 or 812-855-8311, or make checks out to the IU Foundation, with “For David Adams Scholarship/School of Journalism” in the memo field.
Coverage in the Indiana Daily Student
Dave's faculty biography
Share your memories of Dave on the IDS Blog
June 3rd, 2007 at 5:23 pm
Dave Adams was more than an advocate, advisor and mentor; he was an inspiration, listener, and friend. Besides having a bowl full of yummy candy for the IDS and yearbook staff to munch on when discussing journalism and/or life, Dave shared his heart and soul like an open book that was filled with compassion and understanding only surpassed by his love for free speech and the First Amendment. I will miss his truthful feedback, sense of humor, and passionate insights about all things journalism, but I will miss his warm smile and open door to the safest place in Bloomington even more. He will never be forgotten, and he will always be missed.
June 4th, 2007 at 9:30 am
My most recent interaction with Dave was at the reception for School of Journalism graduates prior to commencement ceremonies this year. His enthusiam for students and his love for student press of all types shined brightly in every conversation. He will be missed and my sympathies to his family.
June 4th, 2007 at 9:54 am
I was lucky to work with Dave as the managing editor of the Arbutus on the 2001 yearbook. I am a yearbook and newspaper adviser now and Dave set such a great example for me. Two summers ago I came back for an Indiana High School Journalism Institute yearbook advising class and I had Dave as a teacher. It was such a treat to be back in his classroom again. He truly was proud of me and the work my students do. It was great to get that reassurance that I was doing a good job and from him that meant the world. My favorite thing about going to yearbook workshops was seeing Dave and catching up on what was new with both of us.
June 4th, 2007 at 10:14 am
Dave came into my J410 class this past April to talk about some of the controversies the IDS and Arbutus had dealt with in the past few years. He was funny, smart but especially passionate about the decisions made by the students. It was a wonderful presentation, and I'll remember how highly he spoke of student journalists. I wish I had the chance to know him better.
June 4th, 2007 at 11:47 am
The years I spent at Ernie Pyle Hall include many fond memories of Dave. Probably the most vivid is his arrival in class one Halloween in full Dracula regalia, right down to the blood and fangs. Yes, class was "business as usual," and we accomplished what was on the agenda for the day, but what a memory! A few years after that I was student-teaching at a local high school, and I wanted to take my young newspaper staff on a field trip to the IDS. It only took one phone call to Dave. The trip was a success, thanks in large part to Dave giving freely of his time to answer questions and guide a group of wide-eyed high-school kids on a tour of the IDS facilities. He will be sorely missed.
June 4th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Dave's boundless enthusiasm for his job and for student journalism will remain an inspiration for all of us in the School of Journalism. He was a tireless advocate for student journalists and a fierce defender of student press freedom. He is irreplaceable.
June 4th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
Dave will always have a place in my heart as I was the first out gay man to work on staff at the Indiana Daily Student back in 1993. When I was outed in the newsroom and had my ability as a journalist questioned, Dave stood by me and supported me throughout one hell of a fall semester.
He helped me attend a National Lesbian and Gay Journalist Association convention the following year and even as he was struggling to come to terms with his being gay, he always had a smile whenever we talked.
I am the journalist I am today in large part to his tutelage.
June 4th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
After Roy Aarons led a group of us in relaunching the long-defunct Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Interest Group of the Assocation for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication, Roy didn't want to be the first Head of the new Group for various reasons that included his health and other projects. Roy asked me to be first Head, but I declined because I was already scheduled the next year to be Head of the huge Mass Communication & Society Division (I agreed to be the GLBT Interest Group's first Vice-Head/Program Chair instead). Sue Lafky of the University of Iowa was then asked to be the GLBT Interest Group's Head. When it soon became apparent that her health would limit her work for the Group, Roy and I approached Dave Adams about being Co-Head with Sue Lafky. Although very busy, Dave was pleased to help. Roy, Dave, and I all worked well together, and–having long known Roy–I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know and work with Dave. And I had been happy to see him and work with him ever since. We will deeply miss his intelligence, his humor, his experience, his energy, and so much more.
June 4th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
Dave was the kind of person you wanted in the newsroom not because of his passion for the news and making the truth known (which was great) but because he held the kind of compassion for people that is seen far too seldom.
June 5th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
David Adams was one of the good guys in the yearbook business.
June 15th, 2007 at 10:46 am
Perhaps it's because he, himself, refused to be silenced by outside forces - that he encouraged students like me to express ourselves without apology.
June 30th, 2007 at 10:06 am
It's unbelievable that the scholastic journalism world has lost one of its most devoted supporters of the First Amendment for all people in the United States. His energy, humor, enthusiasm and unflinching standards will long define the very best of journalism educators and human beings.