[4] The Stanford Review was founded to provide an "alternative viewpoint" to what was expressed in the Agenda, by the "vocal few" as they were referred to in the publication's first issue, dated June 9, 1987, in an article titled "Stanford Review is here to stay."
[5][6][7] In 1995, the paper prevailed in a free-speech lawsuit against the university's speech code.
The court ruled that the code which banned insults that were racially and/or gender-motivated was unconstitutional.
[8] Incorporated in 1990 as nonprofit 501(c)(3), as of 2017, a large portion of the publication's revenue was generated by fundraising efforts and alumni donors.
While Thiel also has made financial contributions, he has hosted staff reunions at his home, and meets with the editors quarterly as a way to stay current with campus activities in general.