StudentNation

StudentNation is a program of the Nation Fund for Independent Journalism and is made possible through generous funding from the Puffin Foundation. StudentNation focuses on first-person accounts from student activists, organizers, and journalists and has helped launch the careers of contributors to The New York Times, Vox, Business Insider, Teen Vogue, the Guardian, and more. If you’re a student and you have an article idea, please send pitches and questions to [email protected]. 

Students walk around Northeastern’s campus.

Northeastern’s Lack of Transparency Undermines Student Journalists Northeastern’s Lack of Transparency Undermines Student Journalists

The lack of access to university administration makes it hard for student reporters to report fully on campus affairs.

Oct 9, 2026 / StudentNation / Heidi Ho

Cornell students gathered for a week of community action after a lawsuit filed by a former student alleging that she was gang-raped by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity sparked outrage.

Inside Cornell’s Week of Protest Inside Cornell’s Week of Protest

“We won’t be silenced anymore. Our university needs to start protecting us, like they should’ve with Jane Doe and all other survivors on campus.”

Oct 9, 2026 / StudentNation / Jeannine Chiang

Since 2020, the David Network has grown from a collection of pro-life student activists to a burgeoning conservative career network.

The Conservative Organization Building a New Young Elite The Conservative Organization Building a New Young Elite

From pro-life summits to Palantir résumé drops, the David Network is discreetly building a pipeline for conservative college students.

Oct 8, 2026 / StudentNation / Ethan Sun

A crowd gathered around a 12-foot cardboard version of Claes Oldenburg’s lipstick sculpture to protest their university and government.

Yale’s Protest Tradition Is Back Yale’s Protest Tradition Is Back

For the first time in more than 50 years, Yale students gathered around an iconic sculpture to protest their university and their government.

Oct 7, 2026 / StudentNation / Zachary Clifton

At just 17 years old, Milan van Dam is not only the youngest-ever member of the executive committee, but also the youngest member of the DNC.

What Gen Z Actually Wants, According to the DNC's Youngest Member What Gen Z Actually Wants, According to the DNC's Youngest Member

Milan van Dam says Gen Z is the generation that is most empathetic toward their peers.

Oct 6, 2026 / StudentNation / Cate Latimer and Alice Scott

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke to 1,200 people at the “Students vs. Billionaires” town hall.

Cornell Students Challenge University Power at a “Students vs. Billionaires” Town Hall Cornell Students Challenge University Power at a “Students vs. Billionaires” Town Hall

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke to Ithaca students about tuition hikes, sexual violence, free speech, and university governance.

Oct 2, 2026 / StudentNation / Jeannine Chiang

Sohei Kamiya, leader of Japan’s Sanseito party, delivers a speech at a Sanseito street rally in Tokyo.

Japan’s Far Right Is Courting Young Voters Japan’s Far Right Is Courting Young Voters

Sanseitō has attracted young voters through a robust social-media strategy, Charlie Kirk–like public speaking events, and anti-establishment messaging.

Sep 30, 2026 / StudentNation / Sena Chang

People walk through the Cornell University campus.

As Cornell’s Rape Case Draws National Attention, Students Want Accountability As Cornell’s Rape Case Draws National Attention, Students Want Accountability

A new lawsuit alleging that a former student was drugged and gang-raped by Chi Phi fraternity members is sparking outrage in the Cornell community.

Sep 29, 2026 / StudentNation / Jeannine Chiang

Caitlin Asher shares children with her best friend, Amanda Oelrich, and Amanda’s husband, Chris.

Is Platonic Co-Parenting the Future of the Family? Is Platonic Co-Parenting the Future of the Family?

Disillusioned with the nuclear family and apprehensive of tethering their reproductive futures to the bleak hellscape of modern love, young people are seeking a different way.

Sep 25, 2026 / StudentNation / Samantha Camire

Stanford University

How Trump’s Crackdown on Speech Has Damaged the Student Press How Trump’s Crackdown on Speech Has Damaged the Student Press

I serve as editor in chief and president of The Stanford Daily. Our newsroom has keenly felt the effects of Trump’s campus crackdown, which is why we sued the federal government.

Sep 24, 2026 / StudentNation / George Porteous

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