As the Fall Semester slowly raises its weary head, students at Penn State will begin to involve themselves with both the academic and social aspects of this great university. They will join professional organizations, honor societies, fraternities and sororities, or one of the many student organizations that Penn State has to offer in order to find their niches and become involved in this diverse community.

Often times, however, students fail to realize and take advantage of one of the most conventional ways of becoming involved with their communities: Speaking out and voicing their opinions.

As one of the finer points of the Penn State experience, students have the privilege to express their ideas and concerns about this university and its surroundings.

It is this privilege, a personal right protected and guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, that makes The Daily Collegian's opinion page unique and vital to students.

As a student-run newspaper, the Collegian attempts to reflect the ideas and concerns of its audience — the students and the university community.

The opinion page creates an outlet for the expression of these ideas. It is a place where students can say that someone is right or wrong, fair or unfair. It also presents an opportunity for students to express what issues they believe are the most important to them during their college careers.

The Collegian is currently seeking editorial cartoonists and columnists for the fall semester. What could be more fulfilling than knowing that, as a student writer, you have allowed your ideas to reach the largest possible audience at this campus?

Editorial cartoonists take worldwide and community events and transform them into a non-traditional format that allows other people to consider their views on the issue at hand.

Columnists are opinionated, and very much so. What better way for students to express their thoughts than by writing opinion columns for the pages of a newspaper that reaches an audience of about 20,000 readers on a daily basis?

And don't forget that if something bothers you or elates you, students have the opportunity to write a letter to the editor expressing exactly how they feel.

The opinion page is a space that allows the students to show their professors, peers and surrounding community what is on their minds. It is a gateway for opinions that might not otherwise be expressed at a university of Penn State's size.

Take advantage of its power.