Welcome to page four. I know it seems like a lot to take in – and you certainly didn’t think you’d do this much reading on your first day back.

But I thought I’d make it easier to navigate the opinions page by answering questions I’ve heard ad nauseum since accepting this position. Without further ado, here’s your handy-dandy guide to the opinions page.

What is that you do around here? As the opinions editor, I read the rants and raves of people who send in their columns and letters and decide what will go on this page. I also receive hate mail, contribute to the editorial board and almost everything short of being able to speed-change in a telephone booth and fly.

What is “Our Take”? Look at the space to the left. That’s The Red & Black’s institutional opinion, the only place in the paper where we can say what we really think about the hot topics around the University.

Our editorial board decides which topics to discuss, and consists of editors, student members and an editorial cartoonist. If you’re interested in joining our editorial board as a student member, read today’s “Our Take” for more info.

Why do you only run columns from the same writers? That’s boring. You, dear reader, are essential to our success. The reason we have returning columnists is because they are the ones who have dedicated themselves to writing columns.

Disagree with one of our columnists? Let us know! This space is supposed to be your forum to get your message out and to facilitate public discussion. Consider this page your megaphone, only less annoying.

Where is my letter? I sent it to your mailbox and you didn’t run it. Do you hate me? With the fiery passion of a thousand scorching suns. No, but seriously, submission doesn’t necessarily guarantee publication.

Sometimes a letter or column doesn’t run because of reasons like timeliness or length. But we promise, if you really want to get your point across, we’ll work with you to make it happen. We want everyone to get their 15 minutes of fame.

Why should I be a columnist for The Red & Black?

Columnists aren’t paid for their work, but there are perks to receiving online and campus-wide recognition for your work, and having a clip (or 20) for your own portfolio or to send home to the dear ol’ family can be pretty empowering.

Some of our columnists have become mini-celebrities around campus, and we want that to be you.

I can become a mini-celebrity? Oh yeah. Don’t be surprised when adoring strangers ask you to autograph their crinkled copies of your columns.

So, how do I get started? Send your columns and letters to opinions@randb.com. Columns should be 450-550 words and letters no more than 150 words. It’s your paper – what you see on this page is entirely up to you.

- JoAnn Anderson is the opinions editor for The Red & Black.