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COMMENTARY
Julie Ann Matonis

At some point in our lives we were told that if we don’t have anything nice to say, then we shouldn’t say anything at all.

I think it’s time to modify that.

Before you think it’s open season on insults, let me clarify. It would be a boring world if everyone agreed. Thankfully, that’s not how the world works.

We do disagree — and arguing isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as long as the debate is civil. We’re here to encourage such debate and act as a moderator.

Changes are being made to the opinion page that hopefully will grab your attention and get you involved.

We’ve brought back “Student Speak Out.” Once a week, we’ll ask random students — maybe even you — a question about what’s going on here or around the world. Think war with Iraq, the economy, cloning or just The Main and parking. We’ll print the best responses accompanied by a picture.

In a new feature called Point/Counterpoint, two columnists will debate one issue and present opposing views.

We’re also bringing back Quote/Unquote on Fridays. The week’s most thought-provoking, interesting or even funniest quotes that ran in the Skiff will be reprinted.

I spent the fall semester in Washington, D.C., with 14 other TCU students. This group had opinions on everything and most weren’t afraid to lock horns. Watching their heated debates was better than seeing most sporting events. However, I also learned a lot from listening to their different points of view.

Now that I’m back in the TCU bubble, I want to see that atmosphere of exchange continue. That’s what our new and returning opinion features are all about.

One of the best things that can happen to a columnist is to have others disagree with him or her. The ultimate compliment is when a reader writes a letter to the editor or a subsequent column in response. I still have the two-page, double-spaced letter that a student wrote me after my column on beauty pageants appeared in the Skiff. Strangely, I didn’t mind that she thought I was stupid and naïve. I didn’t even mind when another student came up and told me that she hated my column.

Before you get too scared to write for the Skiff, I should say that columnists are not bombarded with hate mail. Few people ever respond to columns or stories. I know a lot of people who just go straight for the crossword puzzle. For me, even an angry letter is a nice reminder that people are actually reading the Skiff.

I’m not suggesting that everyone should verbally assault the columnists that appear in this paper, but if you disagree with a topic, make sure they know.

It’s easy to have an opinion, but it’s hard to find the right way to convey it. I struggle with that every time I sit down at the computer to write a column. But why should we stay quiet? The days of not saying anything need to be over. Just spit it out already.

Co-opinion Editor Julie Ann Matonis is a senior broadcast journalism major from San Antonio.