Student Union
Want to Write for Student Union?
But even if you don't want to write often, we welcome guest posts from anyone who has a story to share about studying in the U.S., whether it's your visa interview experience, your TOEFL study plan, memories from an exchange program, or whatever! Take a look at our previous guest posts, and submit your own guest posts or ideas using this link.
Want to be a writer for the Student Union's 2016-2017 season?
We seek talented and creative writers to contribute to the Student Union blog about international student life in the U.S.
As a regular blogger, you will share your experiences, challenges, triumphs and lessons learned with other international students. You will have a lot of freedom to write about what is important or interesting to you, and will have an opportunity to help shape the blog’s direction and to experiment with multimedia journalism and innovative forms of storytelling.
You will also build a portfolio of professional writing, and we will help you perfect your writing and storytelling skills.
You must:
- Have exceptional writing skills in English
- Be a college/university student (or be applying to college/university this year)
- Be willing to contribute at least once a month when school is in session
- Multimedia skills (video, audio, photography) would be a plus
We’re looking for people from a range of backgrounds, majors and degree levels (grad and PhD students included). Last year’s writers included a high-school exchange student, a community college student, and undergraduate and graduate students in everything from biology to classics to journalism.
We are in Washington, D.C., but you can be anywhere on the planet. We are looking for people from around the country who can provide a variety of perspectives.
To apply:
Submit a cover letter and a writing (or multimedia) sample to kstruck@voanews.com. Please be sure that your cover letter or writing samples tells us a bit about who you are – where you’re from, where you go to school, what you study, etc.
Application deadline: Rolling admissions.
Questions? Contact Kathleen Struck at kstruck@voanews.com
See all News Updates of the Day
Trump administration opens antisemitism inquiries at 5 colleges, including Columbia and Berkeley
The Trump administration is opening new investigations into allegations of antisemitism at five U.S. universities including Columbia and the University of California, Berkeley, the Education Department announced Monday.
It's part of President Donald Trump's promise to take a tougher stance against campus antisemitism and deal out harsher penalties than the Biden administration, which settled a flurry of cases with universities in its final weeks. It comes the same day the Justice Department announced a new task force to root out antisemitism on college campuses.
In an order signed last week, Trump called for aggressive action to fight anti-Jewish bias on campuses, including the deportation of foreign students who have participated in pro-Palestinian protests.
Along with Columbia and Berkeley, the department is now investigating the University of Minnesota, Northwestern University and Portland State University. The cases were opened using the department's power to launch its own civil rights reviews, unlike the majority of investigations, which stem from complaints.
Messages seeking comment were left with all five universities.
A statement from the Education Department criticized colleges for tolerating antisemitism after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and a wave of pro-Palestinian protests that followed. It also criticized the Biden administration for negotiating "toothless" resolutions that failed to hold schools accountable.
"Today, the Department is putting universities, colleges, and K-12 schools on notice: this administration will not tolerate continued institutional indifference to the wellbeing of Jewish students on American campuses," said Craig Trainor, the agency's acting assistant secretary for civil rights.
The department didn't provide details about the inquiries or how it decided which schools are being targeted. Presidents of Columbia and Northwestern were among those called to testify on Capitol Hill last year as Republicans sought accountability for allegations of antisemitism. The hearings contributed to the resignation of multiple university presidents, including Columbia's Minouche Shafik.
An October report from House Republicans accused Columbia of failing to punish pro-Palestinian students who took over a campus building, and it called Northwestern's negotiations with student protesters a "stunning capitulation."
House Republicans applauded the new investigations. Representative Tim Walberg, chair of the Education and Workforce Committee, said he was "glad that we finally have an administration who is taking action to protect Jewish students."
Trump's order also calls for a full review of antisemitism complaints filed with the Education Department since Oct. 7, 2023, including pending and resolved cases from the Biden administration. It encourages the Justice Department to take action to enforce civil rights laws.
Last week's order drew backlash from civil rights groups who said it violated First Amendment rights that protect political speech.
The new task force announced Monday includes the Justice and Education departments along with Health and Human Services.
"The Department takes seriously our responsibility to eradicate this hatred wherever it is found," said Leo Terrell, assistant attorney general for civil rights. "The Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism is the first step in giving life to President Trump's renewed commitment to ending anti-Semitism in our schools."
- By VOA News
STEM, business top subjects for international students
The Times of India breaks down the most popular subjects for international students to study in the U.S.
STEM and business lead the pack. Read the full story here. (January 2025)
- By VOA News
Safety and visa difficulties among misconceptions about US colleges
U.S. News & World report addresses some of the misconceptions about U.S. colleges and universities, including the difficulty of getting a visa.
Read the full story here. (January 2025)
- By VOA News
Work opportunities help draw international students to US schools
US News & World Report details the three top factors in foreign students' decision to study in the U.S. They include research opportunities and the reputation of U.S. degrees. Read the full story here. (December 2024)
- By VOA News
British student talks about her culture shock in Ohio
A British student who did a year abroad at Bowling Green State University in Ohio talks about adjusting to life in America in a TikTok video, Newsweek magazine reports.
Among the biggest surprises? Portion sizes, jaywalking laws and dorm room beds.
Read the full story here. (December 2024)
