Blog-Proj
Blog Proj Entry #1
‘Know your rights’: Students advocate for reproductive care into Trump administration
Recently, the Stanford Women in Politics group (SWIP) hosted an event titled “Know Your Reproductive Realities Under Trump”. This event was partnered with the Sexual Health Peer Resource Center (SHPRC). A law lecturer at Stanford and Climenko Fellow at Harvard named Gemma Donofrio spoke at the event. It was a discussion for young women who will be affected by the changes in reproductive care. Some topics discussed were Trump’s reversal of Title IX education, ban taxpayer funding for gender reassignment surgery, and more. The members of SWIP had a call to action for Stanford University saying the school should have more support and reduce stigma of women’s health. The President of SWIP named Isha Kalia said that Stanford should be a“little more proactive, rather than reactive”. The group suggests Stanford should use some of their resources to help get reproductive rights for everyone. This event was to encourage change within their school community and provide information to those who will be affected by changes to reproductive care.
Chronically Online: ‘Day in the Life’ influencers democratize the Stanford experience
A common social media trend is to post “A Day in My Life” video. Influencers film their daily routine including their meals, classes, trips to the gym, and more. There are plenty of these influencers at Stanford who share what their typical day looks like. Some use it as motivational videos to encourage people or simply just to be entertaining. Another popular type of video is “Get Ready with Me” where people film their getting ready process. Each video in this category all feature Stanford in the title. For example, “Get ready with me as a Stanford student” or “Day in my life as a student at Stanford”. Student Mia Lee posts these types of videos and receives millions of views on each video. She even has a total of 2.8 million followers between all platforms. Other influences use Youtube to post their journey as a student there. Janelle Olisea makes these videos as a form of a time capsule to document her college experience. These videos are so popular that fans will come up to them all over to say hello. This form of content involves lots of work with filming, editing, and voiceovers. Despite the work, this has become a trend that has spread over college campuses all over.
Blog Proj#2
Students fundraise for animals affected by Pasadena fire
The People for Animal Welfare (PAW) at Stanford were able to raise over $1,700 for animals impacted by the California wildfires. Some residents who were forced to evacuate and had to leave their pets behind. Many shelters, including the Pasadena Human took in over a thousand animals, leading to overcrowding. PAW decided to start a GoFundMe to support local shelters that were overwhelmed. This group is very excited by the amount of donations and support. It was shared online, social media, and throughout campus. These donations are very needed as the animal intake keeps increasing. Intake keeps growing as refugees are returning to their towns, but without a place a full time place to stay. Shelters have sent their adoptable animals to shelters around the state to make room for the new ones. PAWS plans to keep fundraising for shelters and partner with a movie showing group. In person fundraisers are planned for the upcoming weeks to further these donations.
Students rally support for LA students amid fires
Communities all over California are suffering from the aftermath of the fires. Besides physical destruction, residents are dealing with exposure to poor air quality and toxic materials that were burned. This constant exposure to smoke can lead to dangerous medical risks such as premature births, dementia, loss of memory, mental impairment, and mental health problems. Citizens of those areas have been recommended to wear protective face coverings to limit their intake of the air. Schools in the area such as UCLA even had to have virtual classes due to air quality. The senior class President, Shreya Ramachandran, and the StanfordCaresforLA group created a GoFundMe. It has received almost three thousand dollars in a short amount of time. The Stanford community has come together to help support their state. A charity concert and a partnership with a local cafe are happening in the upcoming weeks. The proceeds will all be donated to relief efforts. It is crucial that everyone, including students, come together and do their part to aid in the relief process.
Blog Proj #3
Class of 2028 enrollment data shows decrease in Black, Latino student enrollment
In 2023, the Supreme Court put a ban on race conscious admissions. The class of 2028 has shown a decrease in Black and Latino students. The amount of admitted Black students decreased by 49.4% and Latino students decreased by 14.4%. However, the percentages of White and Asian students increased. Students fear that this decrease in minorities will reduce the amount of diverse voices on campus. There are worries that movements will get weaker without the number of voices in the mix. Students believe that Stanford accepted the ruling without any questions. They did not account for the issues that the ban will include. Some students suggest that Stanford should partner with high schools in minority communities to help recruit more diverse students. The dean of undergraduate admissions, Richard Shaw, says that Stanford will pay more attention to those communities. Overall, students criticize that Stanford says they prioritize diversity, but that their actions say otherwise.
Report finds high levels of plastic chemicals in dining hall food
The Plastic List included the dining hall at Stanford on a list of places with food containing levels of plastics. Stanford was ranked higher than other universities in the same area. Foods such as chicken, rice, beans, and more were found to have high levels of plastic. This causes some concern because ingesting microplastics means that toxins are also being ingested. It could also lead to issues with lung function and injuries. These plastics can potentially damage cells. Once microplastics enter your system, they are hard to get out. This list discovered a bigger problem with the overall food being served in dining halls. One student at Stanford described how they found bugs in their food. Students feel they deserve to eat food that is safe and healthy. The dining hall is the primary source of food for college students, and they should not have to worry about the quality of the food they are eating.
Blog Proj #4
University permanently removes Green Library banner, citing institutional neutrality
Hanging above the Cecil H. Green Library was a banner reading “K(no)w Justice, K(no)w Peace”. The banner was placed in 2020 to promote a new exhibit about police brutality. The exhibit shared stories of people such as George Floyd and Breanna Taylor. The banner was recently removed from the building to maintain neutrality. There were complaints from faculty saying that it violated the university’s mission to be neutral. An investigation was conducted to see if the banner actually violated the policies. It was determined that it did not because it was an advertisement for an exhibit. This happened a week before President Donald Trump required that universities remove all diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. Some believe this might have influenced the decision. Since it has been up since 2020, some believe it should be a permanent piece. The university argues that if it was up permanently, that would be a violation of taking a stand. It has now been taken down, despite the feelings of students and faculty.
UGS proposes Title IX education reform, removes sanctuary campus resolution
The Undergraduate Senate (UGS) created a resolution to increase education of Title IX. These educational programs talks about sexual violence and prevention. It opens up space for conversations about these topics. The goal is to take a more preventive stance rather than dealing with it after the fact. This program would include a four year course that would be tailored to each grade. The principles of it would be continuous education, cultural changes, and sustainability. It would also include access to contraceptives and help students feel safe at night. UGS is also investigating adding requirements for students interested in rushing for Greek life. That is a part of campus that often has issues with sexual violence, so adding courses could be valuable. Standard met with students from Dartmouth who imposed a similar program to better understand the best way to do this. UGS also removed the sanctuary campus resolution. It was removed due to the fear of unnecessary press and violating university neutrality policies.
Blog Proj 5:
University to comply with Trump administration rule change for trans athletes
The Athletics Department at Stanford said that it will conform to NCAA policies that make it so trans athletes cannot play on the team that they identify with. This policy enforces that those assigned male at birth cannot play on the women’s teams. However, they can still be a part of the team that matches with their sex at birth. President Trump made an executive order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports”. The article quotes a transgender studies scholar Susan Stryker. She says that there is limited evidence to suggest that trans women who have been on puberty and hormone blockers have a measurable difference in terms of athletic ability. These policies go along with new efforts from President Trump to make Title IX policies only apply to discrimination on the basis of sex, and not gender or sexual identity. Despite these policies, Stanford claims they will continue to support and welcome every student.
Students rally for Ukraine three years after full-scale invasion
Stanford hosted an annual rally supporting Ukraine on the anniversary of the Russian invasion. The national anthem was played and a moment of silence was done to honor the fallen. The goal of the rally was to support Ukraine but also educate people on the realities of the war. Students emphasize the importance of understanding Russian propaganda. It also provided a place for students to share their experiences and personal stories. Students also criticized President Trump for his stance on the war. The event also included speakers such as Philosophy Professor Ethan Nowak. He shared his experience learning to speak Ukrainian in order to show support and honoring them. The rally was attended by faculty and students who held posters in support. The Ukrainian flag was very present and held by all in attendance. Stanford students wanted to ensure those in Ukraine know that they stand with them. It was a day of honoring the fallen and those fighting for freedom.
Blog Proj 6:
New class and heightened enforcement aim to curb bike collisions
The Stanford University of Department of Public Safety (SUDPS) is trying to increase bike safety on campus. They are also trying to decrease the number of accidents by cyclists. The office of transportation has been hosting online bike safety classes. It educates students on how to ride safely on campus, go over the rules of the road, and ride with other drivers nearby. These classes come in response to many complaints about unsafe driving by those on bikers. It talks about specific rules, the importance of helmets, and exposing students to the specific routes on the Stanford Campus. The online program allows for students to access resources 24/7. Instead of fees for citations, students can go to an online meeting. Students must attend those meetings within 30 days of receiving the citations. The one-hour classes are taught by police officers. The format is very laid back and students have found it to be very helpful.
University updates flag and banner policy for student residences
The housing and resident offices updated a policy on flags hanging outside dorm windows. The Stanford Website section on free expression says that students may now hang banners, flags, or signs on the inside or outside of their windows. Students were confused by the original policy that prohibited the banners despite having a free speech policy. Students found it as a violation of free speech and that they should have the right to express themselves. The policy that prevented students from hanging banners occurred in September. However, students did not follow these policies and continued to hang banners. Students living on campus said that banners could be seen all over campus despite the banning rules. The policy was not heavily enforced. The article included quotes from faculty members including the special advisor to the Provost, Bernie Meyler. It was explained that the office of the Provost worked with various groups on campus to make this decision. Students are happy that the rules have been changed and now allow them to express themselves.
Blog-proj 7:
Rains Graduate Housing residents face a string of car thefts
The parking lot by Rains Graduate Housing has suffered two car thefts and a stolen car battery. Residents have felt anxious about leaving their cars there. The article features an interview from one of the graduate students who returned to the parking lot to find broken glass where his car once was. Blake Wedland was the Ph.D. student interviewed. He reported the theft to Stanford University Department of Public Safety (SUDPS), but was unhappy with their help. He says that they did not seem to take him seriously and were dismissive. Adam Dai is another Ph.D student featured in the article. His car was also stolen and has yet to receive any information on its whereabouts. He feels that SUDPS is doing their best, but are lacking the infrastructure needed to deal with these issues. Students are advocating for increased police presence and security cameras, but there has been no updates from security. Students are frustrated as there are no other lots for them to park in by their residence building. It is an important issue that students are begging to see change occur from security.
Students, researchers protest federal research funding cuts
Students and affiliates protested federal research funding cuts outside the San Francisco City Hall. A Stand Up for Science rally occurred to protest the cuts by President Trump’s administration. Stand Up for Science is a national organization run by young students in science. The Trump administration had limited funding for institutions. This could affect Stanford by resulting in the loss of $160 million in funding. Legal challenges have been filed against these cuts but a difference is already being noticed. Professors are being denied grants and study sections. The rally included speakers such as professors, Nobel laureates, and other esteemed faculty. They argued the importance of these funds and how vital they are to education. Students could be seen holding posters saying phrases like “Science Saves Lives” and “You know it’s bad when the nerds get involved”. This is a topic important to students and faculty, and these beliefs are being outwardly expressed.
Blog Proj #8
Feasting and fasting: Students observe Ramadan together at Stanford
Students observing Ramadan arose early to eat their meal together before the sun came up. In the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar, Muslims observe Ramadan. This includes fasting, prayer, and reflection. The purpose is to show their dedication and devotion to Allah, which is their God. Fasting begins as soon as the sun rises, which means they must eat before then. Stanford students gathered together for Suhoor, which is the meal eaten before fasting starts. Stanford provides Muslim students with a build your own station where students can get food for Suhoor. These options include burritos, chia seed pudding, protein shakes, and more. Students also gather to partake in the morning prayer called Fajr. It is a way for Muslim students to connect with each other during this holy time. Students also gather to break their fast after sunset. These meals would typically be done with families but students are away at school. Connecting with other Muslim students allows that to occur in a unique way. There were even non-Muslim students joining in on the festivities and supporting their Muslim peers.
Physics department wins Pi Day pie-eating contest
Pi Day is celebrated on March 13th of every year. At 3:14 an event was held by the Stanford University Physics Society (SUPS) and the Stanford University Mathematical Organization (SUMO). The event was a pie eating contest featuring representatives from both departments. The judge was Stanford President, Jon Levin. Each team featured faculty members who were willing to partake in this fun event. The teams had a large pie and they had to race to see who could finish it first. Competitors started by using forks but then turned to their hands. The Physics department took the win and completed their pie fastest. This event was created as a fun way for the departments to connect. The idea was created by León Garcia ‘27, who is the SUPS Co-President. SUPS approached SUMO with the idea and they were very willing to participate. The event became more popular once the President announced his involvement. It was an entertaining experience for students to attend, and they got free pie at the end!
Blog Proj 9:
Police Blotter: Motor vehicle theft, contempt of court and misdemeanor arrest
This was a different style of article that typically appears on the Stanford Daily. This article is a report that covers criminal activity and other incidents that happened on campus. The article covers everything that happened between March 10th and March 23rd. This coverage also appeared on the Stanford University Department of Public Safety (SUDPS) bulletin. The article was split into sections based on the day. It started on Monday, March 10th. Some highlights include multiple bicycle thefts, a car breakdown, a stolen electric scooter, and a threat with the intent to terrorize. For each event, the location and time is also provided. The other days experienced more robberies, vandalism, noise complaints, hit-and-run, car burglaries, stalking, and more. The purpose of this article was to inform the Stanford community about what has been going on within the campus. It may bring attention to the threat of crime and inspire students to be more careful.
Green Library now open 24 hours Sunday through Thursday
As of March 31st, the Stanford’s Green Library will now be open 24 hours a day from Sunday through Thursday. The change does not impact Friday and Saturday, which will still close at 7 p.m. and 6 p.m. The movement to change the hours came from the Undergraduate Senate. It was passed by the Associates Students of Stanford University (ASSU). However, it took 419 days after the decision for the hours to be implemented. Students and the Undergraduate Senate were frustrated by this delay and continued to fight for it. The delay was due to a slow hiring process of the new staff needed. A criticism by students is that the library has to close from 11:55 to 12:05 for the staff to switch over. During that time, students have to leave and wait outside until 12:05. Students find that detail to be annoying and pointless. The library staff is still experimenting with the new hours and will take time for all the kinks to be worked out. There is a student feedback form to hear the thoughts of students.
