Press "Enter" to skip to content

Opinion Edition

Summary

This op-ed offers a concise, argument-driven perspective on a current public policy issue, grounded in evidence, practical experience, and clear analysis. The piece aims to provoke thought, inform debate, and present policy implications accessible to policymakers, practitioners, and scholars alike.

Submissions should:
- Be approximately 800–1,000 words
- Present a clear thesis on a timely public policy challenge
- Draw on relevant data, research findings, or case studies
- Offer actionable insights or recommendations for decision-makers
- Be written in a compelling, accessible style suitable for a broad public policy audience

The Sanford Journal of Public Policy welcomes op-eds from academics, practitioners, students, and thought leaders who can bring fresh perspectives to pressing local, national, or global policy issues.

Women’s Mobility Is Not a Celebration 

Mar 20, 2026

I was raised without being told “you can’t.” Yes, I was one of the lucky ones.   I was born to parents who would probably never describe themselves as progressive. Yet…

Peru 10 presidents in 10 years: Luis, democracy, traditional macroeconomic indicators and an overlook pain

Feb 27, 2026

At 5:00 a.m., before the sun rises over Lima’s gray coastline, Luis turns the key in his combi and listens to the engine cough into life. He…

They Could Be Heroes: Data centers don’t have to be villains in the clean energy transition

Jan 8, 2026

Amid all the head-spinning plot twists in the summer blockbuster thriller Eddington—in which Joaquin Phoenix, as a small-town sheriff in the summer of 2020, confronts everything from the COVID-19 lockdowns to online radicalization—one villain stands above the…

The Youth Boom No One is Preparing For

Dec 19, 2025

If you listen to the Youth Bloom podcast as religiously as I do, you know how Catherine Nzuki opens every episode: ‘By the year 2050, one in…

What Will It Take for People to Care About Climate Change? A Job.

Dec 12, 2025
[Durham, N.C.] According to a 2025 Pew Research Center report, adults rank the global economy amongst the top two major threats to their country. Climate…

When Being a Student Isn’t Enough

Dec 12, 2025

Durham feels different lately. When news spreads about ICE activity nearby, the air changes – quieter, heavier. Students share messages urging caution. For those of…

Our planet has beef with the meat industry, and you should too

Dec 12, 2025

I remember watching the movie, Babe, for the first time when I was nine. I felt such an immense sadness for this poor, intelligent, CGI…

From Georgia to Ukraine: Putin’s Pattern of Invasion We Keep Ignoring

Dec 12, 2025

The scale of the war in Ukraine is the most pressing issue of the contemporary world. One might wonder why Ukraine is vital in the…

When Algorithms Become Slumlords: Chicago’s Rent Crisis by Design

Dec 12, 2025

INTRODUCTION   Chicago is amid a full-blown affordability crisis. Nearly half of residents now spend more than 30% of their income on rent, and 1 in…