Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Top Stories

Through the generations

Through the generations
Getty Images

Kevin Frazier is an Assistant Professor at the Crump College of Law at St. Thomas University. He previously clerked for the Montana Supreme Court.

A lot of folks have deeply held opinions about Gen Z. Some say they lack initiative—how else could they spend that much time on TikTok? Some question their maturity—it’s not possible to be independent while still being on your parents’ phone plan, right? A lot like judges at the Westminster Dog Show, these folks tend to look for flaws rather than opportunities to tap into potential.


I’m about two months in as an assistant professor at the Crump College of Law at St. Thomas University, and in the short time I’ve spent with students in my Civil Procedure class, it has become clear that Gen Z—like every generation before it—defies generalizations and stereotypes.

Leaders for life. That’s the mission at STU—a small Catholic school in Miami Gardens, Florida. The students who come here do so because they know that the scale, scope, and significance of contemporary social ills mean that no one can sit on the sidelines. That’s why, STU students are proactively seeking the skills that will allow them to contribute to problem solving today and for decades to come.

Of course, I can’t speak to the habits and motivations of every student but I can share a few short stories that contest the conception of Gen Z as a bunch of wannabe social media influencers.

At 9am on the first day I held office hours, two students were outside my door. We’d only covered the syllabus and the timeline of litigation at that point, so I had no clue what they planned to discuss. Both quickly filled in the blanks for me — they were building a relationship and demonstrating their commitment to making the most of every educational resource at their disposal.

On the second day of class, I looked at the clock—class didn’t start for another five minutes but nearly every student was in their seat, at attention, waiting to learn the skills they plan to use to lead for life.

At the end of the third class, a line of ten students formed to ask follow up questions. These weren’t simple “yes or no” inquiries indicative of a student napping rather than note taking—they were thoughtful comments that showed a strong desire to not only understand the material but master it.

You’re thinking…so what? That happened when I went to school, too.

That’s exactly the point. There’s no Sorting Hat placing us in the “right” generation; demographers draw lines in the chronological sand and hope for the best. Every generation has members who struggle, who languish, and who “partake” more than they participate. Focusing on those few distracts us—members of older generations—from the more important task: providing younger individuals with “future proof” skills and inspiring them to tackle challenges rather than cower before them.

Gen Z and every generation that follows will face more perils that require worldwide coordination, collaboration, and communication than any prior generation. Take AI, for example—it presents the perfect storm of risks. Absent the sort of problem solving I mentioned, AI may undermine governments, cause widespread skill atrophy, and unleash a kind of war that not even Hollywood can imagine. Climate change, pandemics, and income inequality carry similar risk profiles.

If you find even one of those risks compelling, then you have a motive for investing in Gen Z rather than interrogating their social media habits and their love of vintage shirts and baggy clothes.

You may have already known all this about many members of Gen Z—that young person down the street perhaps…the one with a drive to learn, a desire to make an impact, and devotion to readying for society in advance of the dire threats looming on the horizon. Let’s talk more about that person and the many members of Gen Z just like them. There’s not much value in tearing down the generation we need to build up institutions that crumbled on our watch.

Read More

Is the Ban on Abortion More Important Than Democracy?
Abortion at the Dinner Table
Getty Images

Is the Ban on Abortion More Important Than Democracy?

After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, 93 prosecutors from 29 states vowed in a statement that they would not pursue abortion cases. In return, 17 states have attempted to pass laws curbing prosecutorial discretion, a legal principle that has existed since the United States’s founding.

On average, more than a quarter (28%) of cases are dismissed by prosecutors for various reasons, including insufficient evidence, constitutional violations, procedural errors, lack of resources, more pressing priorities, or negative public opinion. Prosecutors are public servants, propelled to power by the people, committed to justice. They make decisions based on the tenets of their position.

Keep ReadingShow less
Girls drawing an American flag with chalk
United States continues to be a ‘flawed democracy’ in annual study
LWA/Dann Tardif/Getty Images

Innovating America’s Democracy Is Our Tradition and Our Responsibility

The American story is one of constant innovation and renewal, where democracy rises to meet the challenges of each new age. Our history documents a journey of transformation, inviting us to reflect on centuries of innovation in American democracy. Citizens have routinely amended outdated practices, reinforced core tenets, and forged new institutions. Our story highlights that reform is not only possible—it is tradition.

As we celebrate America’s 250th year, which began on July 4, 2025, we must also reflect on the nature of innovations in our democracy as a platform for encouraging Americans to embrace the next phase of reform. If we are successful in adding a new set of reforms to the historical arc, ones that remove the overly partisan influences on our electoral system, we might be able to reverse the hyperpartisan spiral George Washington warned us about; and we may re-align our electoral incentives to promote the kind of cooperation among elected leaders that might allow us to have on-time responsible budgets and the kinds of practical policies the country needs. It feels like a daunting task, but our forebears often tackled what were monumental revisions to our democracy in their times. And it would be a shame to let the 250th anniversary of our country come and go without taking up the charge given to us by those who came before us, the responsibility to leave our generation’s mark on our improving democracy. We have all the tools and ideas we need. We must decide if we have the will.

Keep ReadingShow less
Hands raised in a classroom.​
In the summer of 2025, the Trump administration’s education agenda is beginning to mirror the blueprint laid out in the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025.
Getty Images, FreshSplash

Ukrainian Teen, U.S. Student: A Shared Fight for Stability

Heart-stopping: not the description that comes to mind for most high school volunteer projects. But on a Friday afternoon late last March, my role as a virtual English tutor with ENGin was exactly that.

For nearly a year, I’ve been meeting weekly over Zoom with a 14-year-old Ukrainian teenager named Max. During our sessions, we’ll chat about everything from Marvel movies to the latest football scores—he’s a die-hard Real Madrid fan—and play games like charades or "Would You Rather." But on that particular Friday, Max wasn’t online.

Keep ReadingShow less
Vance Makes Push To Increase Support for Trump’s Big Bill in Ohio, but Locals Remain Divided

Vice President JD Vance speaks to the Metallus workers in Canton, Ohio to speak on the Big Beautiful Bill on Monday, July 28, 2025.

Angeles Ponpa/Medill News Service

Vance Makes Push To Increase Support for Trump’s Big Bill in Ohio, but Locals Remain Divided

CANTON, Ohio — Vice President JD Vance returned to Ohio on Monday to promote the Trump administration’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” casting it as a path to revive local industry and reward workers.

Inside the Metallus steel plant, Vance was welcomed by local officials and workers who embraced the tax and labor provisions. Outside, critics voiced concern over cuts to health care, education, and safety-net programs.

Keep ReadingShow less