Lately at The Daily Cougar, we have seen more than our usual amount of negative comments and more accusations of not representing both sides fairly. This is not due to any agenda but simply a result of how the cards fall.
As the editor of the opinion section, I am committed to publishing the opinions of the writers on staff. To those lucky and skilled enough to be published, it can be a great thing. Like any job there are pros and cons, but having your opinion in print far outweighs the drawbacks.
Having an opinion is something that many people struggle with, and it is often a challenge for most people to boldly offer their thoughts. This is what separates writers from commenters — writers work hard to inform us while at the same time offering up their opinion on the issue. The reward is being able to call something your own and to be proud of a self-made product.
When I started writing for The Daily Cougar, I quickly realized that being published was satisfying in ways that I hadn’t expected. The feeling of seeing someone reading work you have done is something you cannot understand unless you’ve experienced it. You can only gain a respect for what writers do once you’ve been published.
The opinion section is a place that allows students to voice their thoughts in the form of print journalism. If you’ve got an opinion on something, you should be proud of it.
If writing is your strong suit, then send us your opinions. But hiding behind a computer screen and keyboard to attack those who do have opinions does nothing to further your point. It doesn’t add anything meaningful to a civilized debate on the pertaining issue.
If you’re interested in sharing ideas with your fellow peers, being a writer is a great start. Having the chance to tell the whole university a story is something that The Daily Cougar offers to those who are interested. Taking an active role in important debates is what opinion writers do, and the impact can be significant.
If you would like to be heard, then come in and apply to write for us. Otherwise, respect the ideas of those who do write, because that is what the First Amendment is all about.
