On behalf of myself and the rest of The Daily Cardinal, I want to welcome you all back to campus. Whether you are a new or returning student, we are excited to have you back at UW-Madison. As a new editor I am looking forward to hearing from many of you and your diverse set of opinions.
I want to encourage as many of you to contribute and share your opinions as possible. If you have never written seriously before, it is never too late to find your voice. You do not have to be an English or journalism major to contribute to the opinion desk here at the Cardinal, but instead anyone who has a powerful opinion or argument they wish to share with our campus community.
Part of what led me to my position as an editor is my love for writing. Oftentimes, it feels like the emphasis on writing and how to be a good writer tends to get lost as many are more encourage to pursue jobs in STEM fields. While fields in math and science are incredibly important and valued, careers in humanities where writing is integral should be just as valued.
The ability to craft a story can change the world for the better; words have meaning and can impact generations to come. Writing can help someone find their voice. Writing can help you stand up for what you believe in. Here at the opinion section, we hope that our readers will feel comfortable enough to share their voice with our campus, and that our articles will inspire respectful discussion and perhaps even disagreements at times. We would love to hear from both sides of an issue in order to gain a better perspective of our peers.
In life, it often seems like the person who has the loudest argument wins, regardless of if their argument is actually sound or backed up by facts. Instead of trying to shout and pointlessly argue, writing allows us to clearly and eloquently articulate an argument. Writing enables us to state a sound argument that is backed up with research and evidence, not just fiery emotions in the heat of the moment. A well-written argument can help others better understand your motivations for an opinion, and even spur long-term change.
We all have things that we passionately believe in. It can be hard to understand the viewpoints of those you fundamentally disagree with. But just because you disagree with someone does not mean you have to immediately shut them down. At the opinion desk this year, we hope we can cultivate a community where writers and contributors from a vast range of views feel safe and comfortable sharing beliefs on a variety of topics. By encouraging a diverse set of opinions and respectful debate, we hope that we can help others learn to understand each other better, even if they disagree or have different viewpoints.
I hope that our opinion section can play a small part in encouraging our fellow classmates to speak up. Do not be afraid to stand up for what you believe in and to share your opinion. Writing is a powerful way for you to share your experience with the world. While others may not always agree with you, they cannot deny the way you feel or the beliefs you have. I am looking forward to reading your articles and getting to know our campus community better.
