The Optimist opinion page: probably one of the most widely read, controversial and misunderstood pages in the paper.

No page inspires more letters to the editor from readers than this-many of which could be avoided if the paper could do a better job of explaining the purpose of each element on the opinion page.

Here is the guide. This is what can be expected from this page throughout the year.

First and foremost, at the top of every page will be an editorial-what you are reading now. Editorials are not signed and are the opinion of the Optimist staff as decided and written by the editorial board-the faces stretched across the bottom of this page.

Commonly mistaken for the opinion of one person or a staff member too afraid to put his name on the opinion, editorials are unsigned exactly because they are not the opinion of one person.

The editorial board will look at a variety of university, local, national and international issues every week and vote on the opinion of the board. The board will then take that majority opinion and write the editorial based on it. Editorials are expected to be factual, but they will take a stance on one side of an issue.

Columns are the opinion of one staff member and will have his or her face and name attached to them. They may be about a variety of issues-both serious and humorous.

Columns should not be mistaken for news articles found on all other pages of the newspaper. News articles should only present the facts and not any preconceived biases of the writer. Columnists-although still accurately portraying facts-are free to espouse their opinion on this page.

The Optimist welcomes letters to the editor from readers. This is the readers’ chance to publicly give their opinions on Optimist stories or other issues happening on campus or around the world.

The Optimist will do its best to run all letters in a timely fashion, assuming the letters adhere to the policy laid out at the bottom left of every opinion page. Feel free to disagree with opinions in letters, but do not attack the writers personally and still expect to see the letter run.

The opinion page is one of the most-read pages in the paper for a reason. Opinions matter to people-everyone has them.

So come by this page every issue. Read what others think about what’s happening on campus and around the world. Write and send in some opinions of your own.

Just come here expecting to see someone’s opinion.