As a reporter and an editor for The Daily Eastern News, I’ve dealt with countless complaints about the publication. An exuberant student even went so far as to call me a “liberal piece of crap.”

Even though I may not be the person responsible for the mistake or the author of the article in question, I’m still an ambassador for the publication and have to handle any situation in a responsible way.

I assure everyone who reads The DEN that the student journalists who work night and day to produce the newspaper are not biased. Spawned ideas grow with unforeseen opportunity or blind ambition, not planned favoritism.

However, a better way to handle disagreement is to speak out. Yelling at an individual isn’t normally appropriate. A newspaper is supposedly a mechanism and protectorate of democracy, so students should use it to their advantage.

In the year that I’ve been at Eastern, I can only remember three instances in which more than two letters to the editor were published at one time. In fact, maybe 10 instances come to mind of any letters to the editor being published.

As opinions editor, I want to change that. While the mainstream student body has only been on campus for a few days, I’ve already told several ranting or inspired students to write their feelings down and submit it to The DEN.

Posting anonymous comments on dennews.com has become a popular trend, but I think there’s a stronger emphasis when a name is present. The anonymity discussion is not a lengthy debate, but I’m more concerned with those who do not speak out at all.

I wish to initiate dialogue between organizations or communities on campus, as well as between our staff and our readers.

However, I’ve also encountered many opinionated students who don’t want their names to be associated with their comments.

If a point is valid, why not take credit for it and help initiate change? I’m open to allotting space for guest columnists to express opinions about any variety of topics, including campus issues.

This is not a long-winded, would-be advertisement. I’m calling my fellow classmates out and urging expression of any kind. I get irritated when I listen to people gripe, but don’t take action to make the change they want.

If an American citizen doesn’t like what the president is doing, but that person didn’t cast a ballot in the election, then be quiet. Likewise, people will always disagree with The DEN‘s coverage choices if our readership doesn’t put pressure on us for what they feel is important information.

Whether you think we’re idiots or brilliant student leaders, tell us and participate in this public forum called media.

Make me do my job because if you hide behind a blank piece of paper, then nothing will get written.

Rick Kambic is a senior journalism major. He can be reached at 581-7942 or at denopinions@gmail.com.