Challenging the Noise: Students Create Forum for Discourse
Cedarville student Andrew Locke and University of Maryland graduate student Connor Burke launched Burke & Locke, a digital platform for cultural analysis. The site fosters civil discourse and sharpens student voices on politics, philosophy and economics.
In an era of online echo chambers and clickbait headlines, two college students are proving that young voices have something serious to say.
Students Launch Digital Platform for Civil Discourse and Cultural Analysis
Andrew Locke and Connor Burke, friends turned co-founders, launched Burke & Locke — a digital platform where students tackle big ideas: culture, economics, politics and the philosophy that shapes them.
Burke & Locke Platform Encourages Thoughtful Debate Beyond Social Media
Locke, a junior at Cedarville University from Roswell, New Mexico, and Burke, a second-year graduate student at the University of Maryland, first met during an academic program in Japan. Their shared interest in ideas and candid dialogue led to deeper collaboration and, eventually, to the founding of the platform.
“We have such different opinions,” said Locke. “Yet we're still able to learn through that and essentially sharpen each other's words. Conner's public policy work has made me see a different side of economics.”
Cedarville Student Combines Academics, Media and Public Commentary
Locke writes from an economics perspective, while Burke brings a background in public policy. Guest contributors round out the publication with insights from fields like political economy and philosophy.
At Cedarville, Locke balances an ambitious academic load, pursuing four majors in the Robert W. Plaster School of Business while also co-hosting a two-hour nighttime program on the university’s student-run radio station, Resound Radio. Even so, he consistently contributed articles for the Independent Institute, a think tank in California.
After growing weary of the slow editorial timelines of traditional news outlets, Locke began to formulate the idea for a more agile, student-led alternative and reached out to Burke.
“I knew Connor was doing public policy,” said Locke. “And we realized that we have a lot of ideas. We thought, ‘Why don't we just start publishing them ourselves?’”
Student-Led Media Reflects Growing Emphasis on Real-World Communication Skills
Their work reflects a growing trend in higher education: students taking charge of their intellectual engagement beyond the classroom. As universities increasingly emphasize real-world communication and digital fluency, Burke & Locke provides a platform for students to build skills, shape conversations and explore leadership in the public sphere.
“It can be tough to keep up with everything,” admitted Burke, “but it's important to my own personal and professional development.”
Moving forward, the men will invite more aspiring cultural analysts to grow their platform, helping their knowledge, connections, vision and friendship to grow with it.
About Cedarville University
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.