Speak your mind: point your view in our direction

People often tell me that life is an educational experience. But
they should not forget that college is a perfect time to accelerate
that process of learning.

While the information you get in the lecture hall shapes and
hones your thought-processing skills and the way you view social
and political problems, the ideas you are exposed to outside of the
classroom can contribute just as much, if not more, to your world
views. The rallies you attend, the speakers you listen to, the
student groups you approach, the events you witness, and the
articles you read in the Daily Bruin all expose you to a diversity
of ideas you may not otherwise get from a lecture where a professor
blandly spits out facts. Too many times, professors act as if
students are faceless sponges, soaking up information and then
squeezing out the facts during test time. It happens too often that
the courses we take end up as a standardized exercise for how well
we can use our short-term memories to get a good grade. We need to
realize that the experiences and ideas that will influence and
teach us new things may come from other sources.

One of these sources is the Viewpoint section of the Daily
Bruin. As one of the newspaper’s integral sections, Viewpoint
aims to expose readers to a diversity of opinions from students,
faculty, and other members of the UCLA and the local communities.
Unlike most classes where students memorize and regurgitate facts
with hardly enough time for significant discussion, the Viewpoint
section allows arguments to flow back and forth between
students.

This dialogical process makes it possible for students to
examine more than one side of a particular topic. Moreover, the
section becomes an open forum where students can engage in
meaningful, passionate, angry, funny, and sarcastic debate.

It is important to understand that we all have our opinions. All
of us feel strongly about certain issues. Viewpoint allows you the
opportunity to share your thoughts with the community at large. By
doing so, it also gives you the chance to hear what people have to
say against you and to test your ability to argue forcefully and
effectively. It is this process of exchanging ideas that makes UCLA
such a great place for learning.

Another great aspect of the Viewpoint section is that it allows
for discussion on a myriad of topics. It is more than just a page
where people can entrench themselves in serious political debate.
It also allows for comedy, satire and discussion of social life and
issues that directly affect students.

With that, I encourage each and every one of you to submit your
opinions to Viewpoint, either in the form of submissions or by
applying to be a columnist. Silence will get you nowhere.

Speaking out is one of the most effective ways to communicate
your ideas to a mass audience. It remains one of the only ways that
you can reach out to students and have them see your point of view.
By engaging in conversation with one another, students have the
opportunity to think more critically about their views and
reexamine the faults in their own arguments. And trust me, a really
well written and passionate column will elicit good responses.

Finally, let me just say that no person on this campus lives on
an island. We are social beings who communicate with each other.
The policies and events that affect one student are bound to have
an impact on many others. Unlike many other students in this
country, we are attending a top-rate university that offers many
opportunities for leadership and experience. As part of this elite
institution, we have the privilege to debate and discuss issues and
policies that will greatly affect our families in the future.

The Viewpoint section of the Daily Bruin challenges you to speak
your mind and introduce your views to other students. We respect
and print articles from all sides. I also encourage you to apply as
columnists at the end of every quarter. In addition to being able
to write your OWN column every other week, you’ll also gain
the status of celebrity as your picture appears with your column on
every copy of the paper. We are in the process of gaining an
education. But only through dialogue can the process of learning
truly take place.