The Daily Reveille will be testing and accepting applications for the summer and fall semesters in the Journalism Building’s Holliday Forum on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.Though applications will be accepted for many different positions, students should be aware opinion writers are not required to have any prior experience nor are positions limited to mass communication majors.Every semester, we receive complaints about how poor our writing and coverage is — this is your opportunity to fix the problem yourself.Applicants have never had a better chance of being hired than they do now. Historically, the application rate for summer and fall semesters pales in comparison to the amount of spring applicants. Thus, fewer applicants translates into a greater chance of success.Veteran writers are not given any advantages over new applicants. Matt Albright, fall 2009 opinion editor, is not obligated to give anyone precedence based on tenure.The most obvious criticism —  to my understanding — of the opinion pages is a lack of diversity. But there appears to be no viable solution to combat the situation as there is a tremendous void in the amount of minority applicants each and every semester.Students should be aware the most talented writers, based on applications and interviews, will always get the job — but there are no inherent advantages or disadvantages based on outside factors including race, sex or religion, among others. Every student who maintains a 2.0 grade point average is welcome to apply.For those of you who are serious about applying, here’s a few quick tips on how to write a successful opinion piece:Don’t let your writing come across as polite, apologetic, angry or deceptive. Say what you mean and mean what you say.Stay away from modest proposals — satire is acceptable, but don’t base your entire premise for a column on a joke or silliness.Most opinion writers should not try to be funny all the time. It’s hard enough to be funny on demand, but it’s even harder to be funny on demand on paper. Few can do it, so don’t even try it unless you possess proven comedic ability.Leave room for humility — this is what the opinion section most consistently lacks. Don’t be afraid to debate the most logical counterarguments, but don’t be afraid to be wrong.The point of an opinion column is not to convert followers but to generate honest communal discussion.There is a tendency for members of the mainstream media to abdicate themselves of responsibility for error. The omnipresent perception that admitting error — including bias and subjectivity — will lead to damaged credibility often boils over into perceived arrogance.Applicants should make it a personal mission not to subject themselves to the same common mistakes.Daniel Lumetta is a 22-year-old mass communication senior from Metairie.–Contact Daniel Lumetta at [email protected]