The Opinion page is a page of opinions. It sounds redundant and obvious, but this fact is forgotten at times.

The Opinion page is the voice of the community. It presents views on local, national and world topics. This page lets people express themselves whether it be the Optimist staff, a student, faculty member or another member of the community.

As news stories document what is happening on campus, this page will record the views of people on campus.

We present news with a twist in the editorial. The editorial gives our take on current news events on campus or national and world news.

Editorials represent the views of the editorial board, which consists of the editor, as well as the managing, opinion, copy and sports editors. The editorial is left unsigned because it is the view of the group, not an individual.

The editorial board welcomes comments to the views it presents. The Opinion page will run letters to the editor when possible in the print edition and welcomes feedback to the online edition at www.acuoptimist.com.

Other than the unsigned editorials, the Opinion page will run columns written and signed by members of the Optimist. Columns are written by an individual and are the sole opinion of the writer. They are accompanied by a mugshot and are not a representation of the Optimist or the university.

An Opinion page is valuable because it is a forum for encouraging change, decrying a wrong and praising the valuable.

We learn best from one another when we are forced to clearly present an argument based on fact and to then respond to those who disagree.

As the “watchdog” of the university and its organizations, the Optimist’s duty is to hold the community accountable by presenting the facts, and sometimes the best forum to do so is in editorial or column form.

In time, something will be written in this page that a person, or persons, disagree with and say should not have been published. However, the First Amendment says opposite.

“Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech.”

We have the right to say anything, but that privilege will not be overused.