Your perspective. Your argument. Your right to be heard.
The O Unbounded is an independent, student-founded and student-owned publication at The Ohio State University. We focus on politics, public policy, campus affairs, and social issues through news, opinion, and commentary. Our purpose is to give students a place to question decisions, challenge ideas, and contribute to discussions that extend beyond the classroom.
Whether you enjoy writing about politics, have an opinion on a recent policy decision, want to cover an issue affecting Ohio State, or simply have something worth saying, we encourage you to get involved. You don’t need previous journalism experience, a particular major, or an established writing portfolio to contribute.
Get Involved
The O Unbounded is being developed as a student organization where students can exchange ideas, discuss current events, and contribute to an independent publication.
Our meetings will be open to students interested in writing, political discussion, research, editing, podcast production, or helping the publication grow. Participation does not require a commitment to publish regularly, and students are welcome to attend simply because they’re interested in what we’re doing.
Regular contributors may eventually receive individual WordPress accounts to draft articles and submit work for editorial review. Attending meetings does not require an account.
Interested in participating? Contact us to learn about upcoming meetings and opportunities to get involved.
Pitch an Article
You don’t need to have a completed article to bring an idea to The O Unbounded. Some of the most interesting pieces begin with a disagreement, a question, or a reaction to something happening in politics or on campus.
Perhaps you disagree with a recent legislative proposal, believe a political issue deserves greater scrutiny, or have concerns about a university decision. You might also want to explain a policy debate or examine an issue that hasn’t received much attention.
Send us a brief explanation of your idea, the argument or subject you want to explore, and why you believe it matters. You don’t need a fully developed outline, but your pitch should give us a reasonable understanding of what you intend to write.
Our editors will review submissions and determine whether they’re appropriate for the publication.
Submit a Completed Article
You do not need to be a regular contributor or a member of The O Unbounded to submit an article.
We welcome original work in several areas:
- Opinion and Commentary: Political arguments, editorials, criticism, reactions to current events, and perspectives on social issues.
- Politics & Policy: Analysis of legislation, government decisions, elections, public institutions, and policy proposals.
- News: Informative articles examining political developments and current events, with an emphasis on accuracy, context, and reliable sourcing.
- Campus: Articles addressing university affairs, administrative decisions, student concerns, campus controversies, and issues affecting the Ohio State community.
We encourage contributors to develop their own arguments rather than simply repeat familiar political positions. Strong submissions should have a clear purpose, demonstrate an understanding of the subject, and provide readers with something worth considering.
All submitted work must be original. Factual claims should be supported by reliable information, and writers should distinguish between established facts, personal interpretations, and opinions.
Our editors may request revisions, clarification, or additional sourcing before publication. Submission does not guarantee publication.
Beyond Writing
The O Unbounded is more than a collection of written articles. We’re also interested in students who want to contribute to the publication through photography, graphic design, research, editing, podcast production, audio editing, website development, and outreach.
Our podcast provides another opportunity for students to participate in political discussions, respond to current events, and explore issues that benefit from conversation rather than a written article.
Whether you’re interested in developing a skill or already have experience to contribute, there are opportunities to help shape the publication as it grows.
Editorial Independence and Free Expression
The O Unbounded operates independently of university administrative control. Our editorial decisions are guided by the publication’s standards rather than institutional approval or allegiance to a particular political organization.
We welcome contributions from students with different political beliefs and perspectives. You do not need to agree with the publication’s leadership or other contributors to have your work considered.
We believe criticism and disagreement are important parts of political discussion. Contributors are free to challenge government decisions, university policies, prevailing opinions, and one another’s arguments. However, that freedom does not remove the responsibility to support factual claims, represent sources accurately, and engage with subjects in good faith.
Opinion pieces reflect the views of their individual authors and do not necessarily represent the positions of The O Unbounded. All submissions remain subject to editorial review.
The First Amendment Has No Dean.
Get in Touch
Interested in contributing an article, attending a meeting, participating in the podcast, or becoming involved with The O Unbounded?
Send us an email briefly explaining your interest. If you’re submitting an article, include its title, your preferred byline, and the completed piece as an attachment or in the body of your message.
For article ideas, a short explanation of your proposed subject and intended argument is sufficient.
Please use a descriptive subject line such as Meeting Interest, Article Pitch, Opinion Submission, News Submission, or Podcast Interest.
We look forward to hearing what you have to say.