diff --git a/YACOSCore/ejbModule/org/yacos/core/article/Article.java b/YACOSCore/ejbModule/org/yacos/core/article/Article.java
index 7e49583..372f02c 100644
--- a/YACOSCore/ejbModule/org/yacos/core/article/Article.java
+++ b/YACOSCore/ejbModule/org/yacos/core/article/Article.java
@@ -80,6 +80,9 @@ public class Article implements Serializable {
 		this.mainAuthor = mainAuthor;
 		this.secondaryAuthors = secondaryAuthor;
 		this.state = state;
+		secondaryAuthors = new ArrayList<String>();
+		referees = new ArrayList<User>();
+		pcMembers = new ArrayList<User>();
 	}
 
 	@Id
@@ -210,4 +213,8 @@ public class Article implements Serializable {
 	public void setConference(Conference conference){
 		this.conference = conference;
 	}
+	
+	public boolean asMember(){
+		return false;
+	}
 }