I think I owe you an explanation.

Since printing Monday’s editorial, “Neutral reportage,” I have received an influx of letters and seen numerous online comments contending that The Red & Black is, in fact, biased.

Sure, objectivity is a lofty goal not all student journalists – or professional journalists, for that matter – can reach.

But our readers have decried we’re biased not in news coverage, but in columns on the Opinions page.

Opinions, as a section, is completely separate from all other reporting in the paper.

Now, maybe I take this detail for granted because of numerous journalism classes, but I think it’s a distinction that needs to be addressed.

First, please note the name of the page. By definition, opinions include personal judgments and beliefs.

The section is an outlet for University students, faculty and staff to share their perspectives and, hopefully, encourage thoughtful discussion and debate.

Second, we make every effort to disclose the author of any copy on the Opinions page.

Every column runs with a prominent mug shot and byline, and a full name, year in school, hometown and major follow every letter to the editor. We print these so our readers know exactly whose opinion is being expressed.

Additionally, the following runs daily in the staff box on the bottom left-hand corner of the page:

“Opinions expressed in The Red & Black are the opinions of the writers and not necessarily those of The Red and Black Publishing Company Inc.”

The newspaper is not biased. It publishes opinions – biased or not – from the community that by no means mirror the opinions of its staff or relate to the news department.

I did not apply for Opinions Editor because I am narrow-minded, but because I appreciate the positive effects that result from informed debate – a community benefits from jockeying ideas and being receptive to alternative perspectives.

It follows that while I encourage controversy, I loathe censorship.

Any slant on the Opinions page results not because I refuse to print certain viewpoints, but because nobody submits them.

I would love to run ongoing point-counterpoints, but there’s only so much I can do.

I have a small pool of submissions to choose from each week, and until our readers more actively contribute their thoughts in a publishable form, the Opinions page will continue to express views of the few students who consistently submit columns.

If you don’t like what someone says, write a rebuttal – it’s much more effective than complaining to the girl sitting next to you in geology or griping anonymously on our Web site.

Yes, the The Red & Black prints partialities in the Opinions section, and I hope it continues to do so – an editorial page would be nothing without them.

- Kelly Shaul is the Opinions Editor for The Red & Black.