As an employee of The State News and a freshman double majoring in journalism and international relations through James Madison College, it feels as though I’m almost starting to write as many words as I speak on a daily basis. This realization caught me by surprise.

Coming from an Italian family, we always have screamed, antagonized or jested to convey our emotions, especially at dinner table disputes over the day’s events. From a very early age, my family taught me how to form an argument and how to trounce an opponent quickly and effectively.

Although the context has changed — and I attempt to write more eloquently than I speak — I am still the little Italian boy at the dinner table who loves to argue.

But during this past semester of writing for The State News, covering numerous events and speaking to a number of campus officials and students, I’ve been exposed to a variety of perspectives I had not encountered during my high school years at Lake Orion High School in Lake Orion, Mich.

Hearing people speak about what motivates them and seeing where their passions lie, I was inspired by their opinions, even if I did not always agree with them. This triggered a newfound respect for advocates on campus and in East Lansing and an understanding for their organizations and ideas.

And, just to clarify, I do not respect those who hold blatantly unfathomable and hateful opinions of others, such as members of the Westboro Baptist Church, or WBC. As a journalist, you’re exposed to a variety of opinions on a daily basis, and to watch groups such as the WBC spread a message of hate and intolerance is, in my opinion, one of the worst social offenses a person can commit.

With this new awareness of diverse opinions on campus and seeing members of different groups who support different causes stand up and quarrel with one another about why the other’s argument was erroneous, it thrills me to see such passion in our student body and the East Lansing community.

It also made me realize how crucial an argument can be to one’s existence. I watched as students worked tirelessly to spread awareness and foster support for their organization’s ideas. Passion behind an idea or argument gives us reason to care about the world around us, especially in seeing how that idea grows over time.

Seeing students and community members intelligently argue for their principles also helped reaffirm my belief in a well-researched argument. It is of the utmost importance to make sure you know all sides of an argument and why you’re arguing for your side before you can consider active debate.

With this in mind, all of my opinion columns this next semester will be well-researched and considerate of others’ opinions. I’ll be very honest with you, my opinions lie in the center of the political spectrum, and I am never close-minded toward others’ political views.

But, being a student in James Madison College, I do follow every aspect of politics and current global issues very closely, and this will help me to form a more solid argument in my columns.

I will never print an argument about a topic I do not understand.

Now, there will be a moment in this semester when I write a column you might vehemently disagree with. The chances of this happening are very high — I promise. I encourage you to go online to our website and comment on the story and tell me why I’m mistaken. I am always willing to hear others’ perspectives and respect those who present them.

If there is a point this summer when you feel so impassioned by something I write that you would like to have an open debate with me, I would highly encourage you to send me an email. I am rather approachable and enjoy open discussions about issues of concern.

Those who know me well know I am more of a comedian than an advocate for any cause, and this allows me to hear others’ beliefs without disregarding their positions. When that moment occurs, and you feel as though my position is flagrantly inaccurate, I’ll buy the coffee.

Alex McClung is a State News staff writer. Reach him at mcclung3@msu.edu.