The University of Alabama is big. Very big. With hundreds of student organizations and tens of thousands of students, the Capstone provides seemingly limitless possibilities for forging a path through college. Unfortunately, this breadth also means that extremely involved students still only have a limited view of the Capstone and are often unable to fully take advantage of UA’s diversity.

I believe that the Opinion page can help bridge this gap between these perspectives. It offers students the chance to engage with other members of the Capstone community from all ends of campus. When I accepted the position of Opinion Editor, I had a simple vision for the page: to make it a hub for student conversation on a rapidly changing campus.

And campus is indeed changing. The University I entered as a freshman will be entirely different from the one from which I will graduate. Housing has altered its residence halls to favor suit-style living, while new greek houses tower over their older counterparts. Bama Dining has altered its meal plan requirements for freshman, the mail system on campus has been completely replaced and Transportation Services has increased the price of permits to pay for new parking decks.

Lest I forget the elephant in the room, the University’s rapid growth over the past decade has held implications for all facets of student life. As the influx of students continue to grow and new constructions keep popping up around campus, these effects will only become more severe. Yes, Alabama is changing, and the Opinion page is one of the key areas that empower students to comment on it and interact with other members of the student body from across campus.

In the past, this page has demonstrated its potential when campus is engaged. From parking and the plus/minus system, to the Machine and the quality of service at Little Italy’s Pizza, campus issues have been pushed to the forefront of conversation by this page. These discussions have created change at the Capstone on various levels. However, even when change was elusive, the debate was largely healthy for campus and led to changes in student perception.

With that in mind, I invite all students to join a UA tradition and engage with the Opinion page. I am proud to have a diverse team of columnists that represent a wide array of beliefs, backgrounds, political affiliations and personalities. Still, there is always room for a new perspective in the greater campus conversation. This page is one of the only areas of campus that allows for conversation between the entire student body.

Whether it is writing a Letter to the Editor, voting in an online poll that will be published, commenting on a column or simply reading the page, you can add to the discussion.

So let your voice be heard. You may be surprised who reads, and responds to, your opinions.

John Brinkerhoff is the Opinion Editor of The Crimson White. His column runs weekly. Submit letters to the editor to [email protected].