We received a lot of letters in which people seem to not completely understand the purpose of all the parts of the paper. We decided to devote some space to explaining what we do and why.
The opinion page is devoted to presenting a wide array of different opinions on broad and specific issues. Opinion columns, like the one to the left of this editorial, reflect the opinion only of the writer. Most of the columnists are on staff, but some are not. We periodically accept columns from outside writers.
Editorial cartoons reflect only the opinion of the cartoonist.
Staff editorials (such as this one) reflect the opinion of The Daily Cougar. This is not to say that all editorials reflect the opinions of all staff. This would be impossible for obvious reasons. The decisions for editorial topics are made by an editorial board that meets twice a week.
There are five members: two section editors, the managing editor, the editor in chief and a guest member. Letters to the editor are submitted by members of the UH community and are not representative of the opinion of the university or of The Daily Cougar.
News articles appear on the front page and are factual in nature. These are the most carefully monitored pieces that appear in the paper because, while we technically cannot be held legally responsible for an opinion, if the news articles are not correct, the paper could be successfully sued.
In the words of newspaper editor Charles Scott: "Comment is free, but facts are sacred."
Which brings us back to the opinion page. The opinion page is meant to be an open forum for many different opinions. We receive many letters condemning The Daily Cougar for allowing certain things to run. Columns dealing with sensitive issues always elicit responses - and some people demand that we quit running them.
And we welcome those letters because they help keep a healthy dialogue going in the community.
But keep in mind before you make those demands that freedom of speech is only free if we allow those with opinions we find distasteful equal voice.
We must not only tolerate "wrong" opinions but encourage them, for one day we might be the ones in the wrong.
Keep in mind that in a time not so very long ago, the words of Martin Luther King Jr. were considered by the majority to be offensive.
This is the principle behind allowing columnists freedom to express their opinions however offensive they might be. The editor in chief does have final say on what goes in the paper, but once she starts ruling with an iron fist instead of allowing the columnists to be autonomous, The Daily Cougar will only have one voice.
The gray-box editorials reflect the opinion of The Daily Cougar editorial board and editorial staff. All other opinions, letters, commentaries and cartoons reflect the viewpoint of the writer. Letters to the editor reflect only the opinion of the individual writers. No opinions expressed in The Daily Cougar necessarily reflect those of the University of Houston administration or the student body at large.