Welcome to the opinion section.

As the name suggests, this section features stories that are different from the traditional, unbiased news coverage we strive to provide elsewhere in The Daily. Our columns, cartoons and editorials offer reasonable and well-researched, though certainly biased, viewpoints on issues significant to our readers. And because these stories are intentionally partisan, we handle them a little differently.

Daily columnists are hired separately from the news staff, spend little time in the newsroom and play no part in the news coverage process. In fact, no one is allowed to write for both the opinion section and the news desk. Columnists write about subjects of their choosing, with a large amount of freedom in how that subject is covered, as long as they present a well-reasoned argument.

Editorials, on the other hand, are the official view of The Daily. The editorial board discusses the issue and comes to a consensus. While there can be dissent, the editorial represents the majority opinion.

In this way, we strive to offer rigorous and relevant arguments from a broad range of perspectives, which supplement our news coverage. And while we are consistently accused of leaning too far left or too far right, we are dedicated to bringing diverse opinions to this page.

But we can’t accomplish that goal alone. We need your voices. We need columnists ­­from all across campus, from different student groups and all corners of the political spectrum. We need letters to the editor when a particular column, editorial or cartoon inspires your support or opposition. We need comments on OUDaily.com on any story, in any section, that catches your attention.

We are dedicated to expanding our coverage of significant issues that affect the OU community. But the freedom afforded our columnists to choose their own subjects means we need your help to bring a variety of perspectives, interests and priorities to our staff. Writing for the opinion section is your chance to inform and persuade, and to start a dialogue on the issues most important to you.

If you’re interested in becoming a columnist for The Daily, or in contributing a guest column or a letter to the editor, please email dailyopinion@ou.edu or drop by the newsroom in Copeland Hall, Room 160. And be sure to check out the discussions in the comments section of stories and columns on OUDaily.com.