The Sun Magazine Celebrates Ties to Higher Education

Nonprofit literary magazine provides free subscriptions and classroom resources for students and instructors.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 2:36pm

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An abstract, impressionistic photograph of a college campus scene, with blurred figures and buildings in a warm, hazy palette of colors, conveying a sense of community and intellectual exploration.The Sun magazine's long-standing connection to higher education is reflected in its accessibility to students and engagement with academic communities.Chapel Hill Today

The Sun magazine, a nonprofit literary publication based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, has maintained close ties to the local university community throughout its history. The magazine provides free subscriptions to students who can't afford them, makes its content available to instructors for classroom use, and occasionally sends editors to speak with students about the publishing process.

Why it matters

The Sun's commitment to engaging with the academic world reflects its broader mission of fostering intellectual discourse and creative expression. By supporting students and educators, the magazine helps nurture the next generation of writers, thinkers, and engaged citizens.

The details

The Sun has never been officially affiliated with a university, but its location in the college town of Chapel Hill has made it a natural resource for the local academic community. Many instructors incorporate the magazine's content into their curricula, using its articles and photographs as prompts for student writing. The Sun also provides free subscriptions to students who might not otherwise be able to afford the publication, as well as to libraries, academic institutions, and teachers. Additionally, the magazine's editors are sometimes available to speak with individual students or entire classes about the publishing process.

  • The Sun magazine has been located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, for its entire existence.
  • The magazine currently offers free subscriptions to students and academic institutions.

The players

The Sun magazine

A nonprofit literary publication based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, that has maintained close ties to the local university community throughout its history.

Pranav Jani

A professor who was featured in a revealing, in-depth interview in the magazine's latest issue, discussing campus activism.

Derek Askey

The senior editor of The Sun magazine.

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What they’re saying

“Many college instructors use The Sun in their classrooms, either by sharing work that has appeared in its pages or using topics or photographs as prompts for their students' writing.”

— Derek Askey, Senior Editor

“We provide free subscriptions to students who might not otherwise be able to afford one and to libraries, academic institutions, and teachers.”

— Derek Askey, Senior Editor

What’s next

Instructors interested in having a Sun editor speak to their classes can email al@thesunmagazine.org with details about their request.

The takeaway

The Sun magazine's deep connections to the academic world, through free subscriptions, classroom resources, and editor visits, demonstrate its commitment to fostering intellectual discourse and creative expression among the next generation of writers, thinkers, and engaged citizens.