News & Notes

The Sun and Higher Education

This month’s issue begins with a revealing, in-depth interview with professor Pranav Jani on campus activism. Although The Sun has never had a university affiliation, we’ve been located in the college town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, for our entire existence, and the work, interests, and values of university students have always been important elements of the magazine.

Staying Active

From the Archive

In our April interview [“Lesson Plan”] Pranav Jani, an English professor at The Ohio State University, discusses the current state of activism on college campuses. With the Trump administration bullying schools into cracking down on political speech, are our institutions of higher learning still a free marketplace of ideas?

New-Release Roundup

March 2026

Recent book releases from Sun authors include a collection of dark tales set in small-town Indiana, poetry that wrestles with the sacred, and a memoirist’s reflections on caring for her parents in their final years. Pick one up today and support these wonderful writers.—Ed.

A Study In Contrasts

Poetry in Our March Issue

The poems in this month’s issue are a study in contrasts. Kenneth Hart’s “Indecision” is a metaphorical reflection on what is “probably the least attractive quality in a man,” as the author says. “Los Vecinos” tells the story of Alison Luterman’s immigrant neighbor, a wise and generous woman, against the backdrop of nearby ICE patrols. What the poems do have in common is that they’re both absorbing and skillful pieces of writing.

David Berman Playlist

March 2026

 In our March issue we included a selection of the late David Berman’s poetry as a Dog-Eared Page. I’ve long admired Berman as a poet, but it was his music that first drew me in. Shortly after hearing some acquaintances cover his “Black and Brown Blues” in high school, I picked up two CDs by his band Silver Jews: The Natural Bridge and  American Water. I bought them while on a field trip to New York City—you couldn’t find CDs like that in the rural area where I grew up—and I’ve been a fan ever since. If you enjoyed his poetry and would like a primer on his songs, below is a David Berman playlist with some of my favorites—hopefully as good a place to start as any. —Derek Askey, Senior Editor

New-Release Roundup

February 2026

Recent book releases from Sun authors include a novelist’s chronicle of her mysterious illness, a fantasy set in the mountains of Appalachia, and a debut poetry collection. Pick one up today and support these wonderful writers.—Ed.

Bonds of Love

Poetry in Our February Issue

February often brings relationships to mind, and the poems in this month’s issue offer views of three different kinds of love. Joseph Bathanti’s “Lasciare Stare” is a beautifully written memory of a tender interaction between the author’s parents. In “Love Language,” a striking poem by Madelyn Chen, the speaker cares for an unnamed man by bringing him flowers. Bob Hicok’s “The Eulogy I Didn’t Give (V)” describes the impossible task of eulogizing a relationship that has no end, even after death.

Turn on the News

Selections from the Archive

In this month’s interview Columbia University journalism professor Sheila Coronel talks about the challenges the news media face today: consolidation of ownership, competition with online influencers, and accusations from the White House that they are an “enemy of the people.” The Sun’s founder, Sy Safransky, left the newspaper business in the 1960s in pursuit of what he called the “real truth,” which he felt was bigger than the day’s news, and the magazine he started has largely reflected that view. But that hasn’t stopped our authors over the years from reflecting on the role of journalism or the importance of a free press.

The Sun at Tattered Cover Book Store

June 13, 2026 at 12pm

Join senior editor Derek Askey at the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver, Colorado, for this hour-and-a-half-long workshop where participants will learn about The Sun’s Readers Write section and draft entries for forthcoming, not-yet-announced topics. As time permits, participants will share work in an open, supportive environment, and have the opportunity to ask questions about submitting writing or the selection/editing process at The Sun. 

Outpouring

Read this web-only poem about the protests in response to ICE

In the aftermath of a second killing by federal agents in Minneapolis, Alison Luterman wrote “Outpouring,” a poem about the massive protests in response to ICE’s presence in the city. It’s a reflection of the enormity of emotion that these terrible events have brought forth—outrage and fear, yes, but most of all love for our neighbors.