Editor’s note: The Daily’s editorial department acknowledges that this article is premised on a conflict of interest. This article is a special feature for Daily Week that does not represent the Daily’s standard journalistic practices.
We want YOU to join the Opinion section of the Daily. We recognize that writing can be intimidating, especially at a publication like the Daily. So, before we explain all of the reasons why you should join, we first want to tell you how we started writing.
Monica:
I came to Tufts with a lot of opinions but didn’t have any proper outlet to express them. It was one thing to discuss politics with my friends on campus, and another to thoroughly delve into my opinions on current events in a meaningful way. I am not a political science or international relations major; prior to joining the Daily, I had few opportunities to explore that side of my interests. Then, I attended a Daily general interest meeting. I watched video clips of Daily alumni and learned about the ways that writing for the newspaper set them up for success in the future. Since I came to Tufts with some experience in journalism, writing for the Daily felt like the next natural step.
At the GIM, I learned that writing for Opinion meant you couldn’t write for any of the other sections, such as News or Features. This was initially intimidating, but I honestly believe it has played a key role in how much I have enjoyed my experience with the Daily. The section is close-knit as a result of the aforementioned policy, and I have found it to be a supportive environment for me to explore my interests and form opinions on topics. Writing an article may seem like an arduous process, but you have people helping you every step of the way, from giving you ideas when you pitch, to pointing out grammatical errors during editing. Through the Opinion section, I have learned so much more about the world, both from researching my own articles and discussing others. I couldn’t recommend it more.
Sorsha:
The first opinion article I ever wrote was for the intermediate journalism class here at Tufts. I took the class because it counted toward both a requirement for a civic studies major and, for some reason, the arts distribution requirement. I spent two weeks writing and editing this article and finally read it aloud to the class. One of my classmates who wrote for the Opinion section at the time encouraged me to publish it and join the section; I thought about it, but I knew I wouldn’t prioritize writing with all the other things I do on a daily basis.
Then, the Tufts Community Union passed resolutions calling on the university to divest from Israel. Less than 12 hours after the resolutions were passed, the Tufts administration sent an email that essentially rejected what TCU had passed and shut out the student body. I was enraged; former Opinion writer Liam Chalfonte was, too. He published an article that articulated all of the frustration I felt about the situation and, through that article, showed how vital it was to speak up against injustice. I realized then that using my voice was vastly more important than anything else I was doing at the time. I joined Ops that fall and never looked back.
Evan:
I like to joke to my fellow students that Opinion is the best section in the Daily, but when I say that, I really mean it — and here’s why. The thing I remember most starting out in Opinion was when I applied to start my own column: The Death of Education. There I was, a new student, just barely surviving my first year and faced with an opportunity to express my thoughts on a topic that I was passionate about. Immediately, I found support from both my executive editor and the entire section. My fellow writers gave me tips and ideas on how to approach my writing, while my editor, Justin Hong, really brought out the best in me, pushing my writing abilities and ensuring my own voice would be heard. Even now, in my junior year, I continue to find the Opinion section to be full of amazing people. This is a community that has definitely left a distinctive and positive impact on my time at Tufts.
In addition to the support you’ll encounter as a member of the Opinion section, it’s also the place to hone your writing skills and sharpen your mind. Writing and producing an Opinion piece requires not just technical writing skills but also critical thinking, research experience and most importantly, a willingness to put yourself out there. Whether you want to discuss the nuances of the Dewick menu or the intricacies of international politics, the world is your oyster. Here, your perspectives matter and you have a voice. Join Opinion and put your voice to use!
All together:
Writing for the college newspaper might seem unimportant or frivolous, but learning how to express your opinion is essential. It’s great practice for your academic writing and communication skills. More importantly, we need new voices to speak out now more than ever. You don’t need to write about politics to play an essential role in the Opinion section: We’ve written articles about topics ranging from media suppression to smut and everything in between. Exercising your freedom of speech through the Daily is a healthy practice, and the Opinion section is the perfect place to do so. As a plus, you’ll get to meet the incredibly kind and unique cast of writers we have in our section. If the opportunity to find a friendly community, express your ideas and develop your writing skills interests you, join us at our weekly meetings from 6–7 p.m. on Sundays in the Mayer Campus Center, Room 012!
