Who We Are
The Undercurrent is a publication for students and young professionals that offers cultural commentary inspired by Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism. Together with our sister organization, STRIVE Clubs, we hold that the universe is orderly and comprehensible, that man survives by reason, that his life and his happiness are his highest moral purpose, and that he flourishes only in a society that recognizes and protects his individual rights. Geared towards intellectually curious young people, we aim to illustrate the importance of Rand’s ideas—both as essential tools in the pursuit of a creative, successful life and as vital catalysts for positive cultural change.
What We Do
The Undercurrent is primarily a blog, and we publish three distinct types of content:
First, we publish journalistic articles. This reporting-style content pulls from two main sources: the news and events of the day, and STRIVE-related activities (both on campus and online). Examples include interviews with public figures, reports on campus events, summaries of webinars, etc. These pieces are typically concise and largely descriptive, making them ideal for first-time or less-experienced writers. The major goal of our journalistic content is to serve as an entryway for students—both as writers and readers—to grapple with Rand’s ideas for perhaps the first time.
Second, we publish op-eds. These pieces tackle some of the most pressing issues of the day by articulating a philosophical case in concrete terms. Through them, we work to bring Rand’s unique perspective to bear on the news and campus events most relevant to our audience. Typically lengthier, deeper treatments than our journalistic pieces, op-eds allow writers to put their grasp of Objectivism on full display. Although we do not expect students to have mastered the philosophy, the major goal of this content is to allow students—both as writers and readers—to engage with the meaning and application of Rand’s ideas in an earnest, intellectually serious manner.
Third, we publish letters to the editor. Typically more concise, these submissions may be either stand-alone pieces (for instance, inspired commentary on a recent event) or sent in as part of a broader writing initiative (for instance, our 2016 #CapitalistAndProud campaign or our 2017 #SelfishAndHappy campaign). What sets these pieces apart from our journalistic articles and op-eds is that they do not speak for the publication—rather, we publish them at our complete discretion, usually with much less editing, in order to encourage engagement with and discourse on our blog.
It is our sincere hope that this blog will provide students interested in Rand’s ideas with a platform for exploring and advocating them, will serve as a forum for dialogue between our writers and audience, and will foster a sense of community among all of our valued affiliates.
Write for Us
Click here to review our Writing Guidelines and Editorial Procedure and get started on your first piece!
Learn More
The Undercurrent is primarily a student publication. While our editors are experienced and our writers engaged, we do not claim to be experts on Objectivism. To learn more about Ayn Rand’s ideas, we recommend that you start by reading her two most popular books, The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged, and by visiting the Ayn Rand Institute’s online campus.
Team
Veronica Ryan, Senior Editor
Thomas Duke, Editor-in-Chief
Matt Rousell, Writer
Celeste Hooke, Writer
Jon Hersey, Writer
Contact
Have a question or a comment?
contact@the-undercurrent.com
Interested in writing or want to submit an article?
editors@the-undercurrent.com
Are you a donor or interested in learning more?
donors@the-undercurrent.com
Mailing Address
TU Publications
340 S. Lemon Ave #5680
Walnut, CA 91789
Legal
The Undercurrent is published by TU Publications, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. The Undercurrent is an independent organization and does not necessarily represent, in whole or in part, the views of the Estate of Ayn Rand, or the Ayn Rand Institute. The views expressed and facts contained in each article are the responsibility of the author.