The Stanford Daily Vol. 261 Issue 13 (5.13.22)

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OPINIONS/4

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STANFORD TAIKO

THE GREAT TRICK

Mostly Sunny 77/53

“Whiteness makes us quiet when we should be loud”

Sunny 80/53

Performance group celebrates 30th anniversary with master Kenny Endo

Tomorrow

The Stanford Daily An Independent Publication

FRIDAY May 13, 2022

Volume 261 Issue 13

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CAMPUS LIFE

Noose found outside of Branner Hall A hate crime investigation is underway, University says

By GEORGIA ROSENBERG EXECUTIVE EDITOR FOR PRINT

By ANASTASIIA MALENKO NEWS EDITOR

Content warning: this article contains references to anti-Black racism and violence.

A noose was discovered hanging in a tree outside Branner Hall on Sunday evening, according to a message from Vice Provost for Student Affairs Susie Brubaker-Cole and Vice Provost for Institutional Equity, Access and Community Patrick Dunkley.

The Stanford Department of Public Safety (SUDPS) has since removed the noose and a hate crime investigation is underway, according to the message.

“We cannot state strongly enough that a noose is a reprehensible symbol of anti-Black racism and violence that will not be tolerated on our campus,” Brubaker-Cole and Dunkley wrote. “As a community, we must stand united against such conduct and those who perpetrate it.”

The Daily has reached out to SUDPS for additional information on the incident.

Brubaker-Cole and Dunkley wrote that the University has “begun to develop an outreach plan to provide assistance to all who are in need, bearing in mind that this is not the first time this has occurred at Stanford in recent years.” Most recently, in November, two cords resembling nooses were discovered in a tree along the Lake Lagunita walking trail.

Two reports regarding Sunday’s incident have already been filed through the Protected Identity Harm reporting process, according to the message.

“We would like to express our gratitude to those who reported the noose and contacted DPS, and are working this evening to support directly impacted students, faculty and staff,” Brubaker-Cole and Dunkley wrote. “We are sharing this message with the full university community so that everyone is informed and we can move forward as one committed to ending anti-Black racism.”

They encouraged those with knowledge of the incident to contact DPS at (650) 723-9633 or the Department’s 24/7 communications center at (650) 329-2413. DPS is investigating the incident by reaching out to grounds maintenance, dining hall, professional and student staff, as well as residents.

According to the PIH website, it is not known whether a Stanford community member caused the incident.

Stanford President Marc TessierLavigne released a statement on Monday condemning the recent discovery of a noose outside Branner Hall.

Tessier-Lavigne referred students to the Protected Identity Harm (PIH)

Please see CRIME, page 5

ANANYA NAVALE/The Stanford Daily

The Stanford Powwow is the largest student-run powwow in the nation. The theme for this year’s powwow was “intergenerational resilience,” celebrating the various Native American and Indigenous cultures that have been passed down for generations.

Stanford Powwow returns in person Indigenous communities come together on campus

By ENKHJIN MUNKHBAYAR BEAT REPORTER

By NICOLE BENALCÁZARPAVLIK CONTRIBUTING WRITER

As Neela Samayoa walked into Stanford’s Eucalyptus Grove, the air filled with the thumping sounds of traditional powwow drumming.

After traveling from South Dakota

to Palo Alto, a journey of more than 1,500 miles, Samayoa still could not help but feel at home — she knew her community was finally starting to come together again. As a dancer and a member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe, Samayoa wore her northern traditional regalia for her Teen Girls Traditional dance contest.

The nervousness that Samayoa

felt ahead of the dance contest could not dilute her joy — after two years of virtual Powwows, Samayoa, her loved ones and indigenous students from around the country gathered at Stanford for the 51st Annual Stanford Powwow.

“It is just such a better feeling to hear the drum and perform in person,” she said. “It is a feeling that you can’t get over.”

The theme of this year’s Stanford Powwow, held from May 6 to 8, was “Intergenerational Resilience.” Over the weekend, thousands of attendees from hundreds of tribes congregated to celebrate the Native American and Indigenous culture and the values that have been passed down through

Please see POWWOW, page 11

CAMPUS LIFE

Students rally in support of reproductive rights

By BRYAN MONGE SERRANO

THOMAS YIM/The Stanford Daily

Stanford Planned Parenthood held another rally last Friday in support of Roe v. Wade. Attendees listened to personal stories from speakers, including abortion providers and those who have received abortions.

Stanford Planned Parenthood held a protest in support of reproductive rights on Friday. The protest brought Stanford students and affiliates together, following the rallies held by Stanford Law School students and Stanford Planned Parenthood and undergraduates earlier in the week.

On Thursday, Stanford Planned Parenthood announced that a group of students was planning to counter demonstrate the event. Leading up to the rally, both groups chalked their respective messages on White Plaza, using tactics similar to those employed in the undergraduate rally on Tuesday.

Ryan Miller, a US Marine Corps veteran, came to support the prochoice rally.

Please see RALLY, page 5

UNIVERSITY

Janitorial union seeks community support

By ITZEL LUNA BEAT REPORTER

BEN LEES/The Stanford Daily

UG2 janitorial workers held negotiations with the company on May 6 to advocate for higher salaries, among other requests.

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University janitorial workers contracted through UG2 are asking members of the Stanford community for support as they prepare to enter negotiation meetings with UG2 on May 6. The union of UG2 janitorial staff is calling for a $2 increase in hourly wages each year over the next three years, an increase in vacation days and hazard pay for work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Stanford administration is only a representation of its students, which is why we have appealed to you all for your support

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and to raise awareness, both with the University and with UG2,” said union representative and janitorial worker Inmar Liborio in an interview originally conducted in Spanish. Liborio is a member of the janitorial executive board and vice president of the Northern California Janitorial Division.

In addition to the wage increase, the janitorial union is requesting four additional vacation days. The requested vacation period would align with the University’s annual closure period. Among the union’s other priorities are a new dental plan for workers employed for more than five years, a 60-cent pension increase and hazard pay for

work during the pandemic.

“We’re not asking for the moon or the stars. These are minimal things because the world is very expensive,” Liborio said. “We do a job that I would say is excellent and we are not getting what we deserve.

We are asking for equality.”

Stanford service workers are employed either by the University itself or by UG2, a custodial and logistics company with which Stanford contracts. For staff members employed directly by Stanford, contract negotiations with the University occur via the Service Employees International Union (SEIU)

Please see JANITOR, page 11

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2 N Friday, May 13, 2022

The Stanford Daily

WORLD & NATION

Law professor calls for platform transparency

By JED NGALANDE BEAT REPORTER

Digital platform giants, such as Facebook and Google, possess power “unrivaled in world history” over the flow of information, said Stanford law professor Nathaniel Persily J.D. ’98 during a Wednesday session of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law. The subcommittee, led by chairman Chris Coons (D-Del.) and ranking member Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), invited leading experts on technology, communication, political science and social studies to discuss the future of U.S. government relations with digital platform companies during a hearing on platform transparency.

Persily ranked among these select witnesses. A decades-long expert in constitutional law, electoral policies and campaign politics, Persily has served as a nonpartisan contributor to legislative redistricting plans in Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and New York. President Barack Obama also selected him to lead the research of a 2013 bipartisan commission to determine solutions to long poll lines witnessed in the 2012 elections.

Recently, Persily has focused his research on social media platforms,

which he warned during the hearing have become too central to the sociopolitical system to operate with minimal transparency.

“We cannot live in a world where Facebook and Google know everything about us and we know next to nothing about them,” Persily testified before the Senate. “These large platforms have lost their right to secrecy. Their power over the information ecosystem is unrivaled in world history.”

In a 2021 Washington Post opinion article, Persily argued that Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen’s use of the platform to uncover documentation detailing executive knowledge of drug cartels and human trafficking rings, as well as details of Instagram exacerbating a societal body acceptance crisis, showed that the U.S. government needed to intervene — particularly because a company like Facebook is too large to suffer market repercussions.

Persily described digital platform firms as “information monopolies” that “control all of the information which is now most revealing about social problems.” He added that their power is unprecedented: “we’ve never been in that position before,” he said.

Perisly contrasted current power dynamics to the pre-internet era, in which social scientists had

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

Stanford law professor Nathaniel Persily, an expert in electoral policies and constitutional law, said that power wielded by large digital platforms like Google and Facebook necessitates regulations. free access to almost all societal information, as it would come from government surveys and statistics, according to him.

To mitigate issues concerning transparency, Persily said that laws mandating extensive information sharing would ensure that policy makers in both the U.S. and Europe would not be “legislating in the

dark.” He added that transparency measures could inform the public and diffuse much of the rising distrust regarding social media platforms.

Persily also emphasized that transparency measures would encourage social media platforms to make products more socially responsible.

“I think for transparency, what is sometimes undersold is that it will change the behavior of the firm,” Persily said. “I get criticism that it’s weak legislation because it’s not breaking up the companies or it’s not going right after content moderation. But once the platforms know that they’re being watched, they will change their behavior.”

SPEAKERS & EVENTS

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Follow curiosity, Bill Nye says

GSC zeros in on missing mail

Bill Nye “the Science Guy” urged students to embrace open dialogue

By BRANDON KIM BEAT REPORTER

Bill Nye, the science educator known by many for his PBS show “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” encouraged a packed crowd at CEMEX Auditorium to follow their curiosity and “change the world” on Friday evening.

Nye emerged on stage to shouts of “Bill!

Bill!”, a reference to the theme song of his children’s show, as he joined moderator and Vice Chair of Education in the Department of Emergency Medicine Michael Gisondi for an hourlong Q&A. In an evening underscored by messages about the challenges and importance of science communication, Nye cracked jokes about technology and shared anecdotes about his mishaps as an up-and-coming stand-up comedian.

In the open question portion of the evening, Nye advised students on how to fortify science communication in a politically polarized society. He stressed the need for engaging “the other side” in open dialogue. Although those with “extraordinary beliefs” may deny science initially, Nye said, consistent efforts to change their views can pay off.

“Listen to the other side, and quietly debunk it,” Nye said.

Nye has received past disapproval for his efforts to follow that same mantra. His well-publicized debate with young Earth creationist Ken Ham was criticized by some for giving creationists a platform. On Friday, Nye expressed his hope that his debate with Ham would help sway those with creationist beliefs, noting that the Youtube video of his debate with Ham has received millions of views.

The self-proclaimed “Science Guy’’ opened the evening by tracing his circuitous path from a Boy Scout to a mechanical engineer. But his start in comedy came when he

won a regional Steve Martin-look alike contest. After years of harboring aspirations in the field of science, his decision to leave the profession ultimately came down to his disappointment in a growing culture of mediocrity in engineering. Nye told an anecdote about the design of the Ford Pinto, whose faulty fuel tank design led it to burst into flames in rear-end collisions. The car embodied the mediocrity that encouraged him to quit the field.

His start as the “Science Guy,” he said, came completely by coincidence. After a guest failed to show up to a Seattle comedy show called “Almost Live!”, Nye was tasked by one of the show’s co-hosts to fill six minutes of screen time. The result, Nye said, rwas a bit on the household uses of liquid nitrogen. The name “Bill Nye the Science Guy” was an offhand remark from one of the show’s other co-hosts, Nye said.

Nye also told his Stanford audience that interns working on his PBS show would be presented with a “Rules of the Road” document outlining production guidelines. At the top of the document, he said, was written the show’s objective: “Change the world.” Nye implored students to seize the opportunity to make their impact.

“The world has never been this weird,” Nye said. “But it’s also, frankly, never been this cool.”

Nye encouraged students to engage in segments of the field that captivate them.

He promoted the Planetary Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing space exploration, for which he serves as chief executive officer. According to Nye, space-related research has never been so important, especially with regard to planetary defense against asteroids, which he emphasized could result in a complete “wipe” of human civilization.

“This is the most exciting era in space exploration since the Apollo missions,” Nye said.

Many people take for granted the ubiquity of “space assets” in our daily lives, Nye added, pointing to the success of Ukrainian

By BRANDON KIM BEAT REPORTER

ANANYA NAVALE/The Stanford Daily

Bill Nye encouraged students to use their passions create tangible change in the world, while also emphasizing the importance of embracing science in our current climate. ”The world has never been this weird,” Nye said. “But it’s also, frankly, never been this cool.” fighters as an example of the importance of space-related technology. Ukraine has managed to avoid being overwhelmed partly because of assets like GPS which help to track opposing Russian forces, Nye said.

“The discoveries we make in space change the world,” he said.

Nye left the crowd of Stanford students and educators with a message about the importance of resilience in life and in the field of science. Responding to a student who asked Nye whether he had ever “forgotten how much [he] liked science, proclaiming that she had just failed her physics midterm, Nye reflected on how he too had once failed a major exam as an undergraduate at Cornell University. But more than four decades into a career that has taken him from budding engineer to comedian to T.V. star to educator, Nye said that he has realized just how little his early academic struggles have mattered in the end.

“Learn from this and move on,” Nye urged. “There’s nothing cooler than science.”

The Graduate Student Council (GSC) criticized UG2, the Stanford mail and package service provider, for continuous mail and package issues and brainstormed ideas for resolving several election ties between candidates for GSC seats during its Wednesday meeting.

Student concerns about missing flatmail, packages and mail being returned to sender have been a continued topic of discussion between the GSC and Residential & Dining Enterprises (R&DE) this year. When UG2 replaced FedEx as Stanford’s mail service provider in September, the move was met with swift criticism from students upset with a pattern of missing packages and long wait times.

Though many of the issues were resolved in fall quarter, graduate students have recently noticed a series of new problems with the package center.

According to Executive Director of R&DE Student Housing Operations Imogen Hinds, R&DE representatives met with the United States Postal Service (USPS) last week to discuss potential solutions.

“We are hoping to have better communication going forward with USPS,” Hinds said. R&DE representatives are slated to meet with USPS again in the near future, she added.

Hinds asked councilors to help collect examples of mail being returned to sender as per request by USPS. According to Executive Director of R&DE Strategic Communications Jocelyn Breeland, USPS has denied both holding mail or returning mail to sender, as well as knowledge that students are facing these issues.

“Whatever information you can share that will help us demonstrate the magnitude of the issue and the fact that these are not cases of misaddressed mail will help us get them focused on identifying a solution,” Breeland said.

Though the bulk of the complaints about misplaced or returned mail have come from residents in Escondido Village Graduate Residence (EVGR), R&DE will send an email about the issue

Please see COUNCIL, page 11

LOCAL

Rading talks district election Ajwang Rading is running in California’s 16th district

By JED NGALANDE BEAT REPORTER

The Daily sat down with Ajwang Rading, a civil rights and public policy lawyer who is running for California’s 16th U.S. Congress seat — the district of Silicon Valley and Stanford University that is currently held by Rep. Anna Eshoo (DCalif.).

Once a legislative fellow for Sen. Cory Booker B.A. ’91 M.A. ’92 (D-N.J.) and a leader at the Equal Justice Initiative Community Remembrance project in Montgomery, Ala., Rading said he hopes to bring “a new generation of leadership” and a focus on the climate crisis, health care reform and housing policy to the 16th congressional district.

The non-partisan primary election between Rading, Eshoo, two other Democratic chal-

lengers, three Republican challengers and an independent will be held on June 7, after which the top two performers will advance to a general election scheduled for Nov. 8.

This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.

the wealthiest congressional district in the country — and I think that’s code for the largest wealth inequality. How is it that a place like Silicon Valley still has people who are unhoused, undereducated and who don’t have access to affordable medicine and health care?

The Stanford Daily [TSD]: 2022 is expected to be a very difficult year for Democrats, especially those in the House of Representatives. The district you are running for has a Democratic incumbent. Why are you running?

Ajwang Rading [AD]: I am running because I think, first and foremost, we need to have a new generation of leadership in Congress that’s tapping into Silicon Valley’s brilliance.

Silicon Valley is known for bringing so much innovation — the boldest ideas in the world come from these very streets. Yet when you look at our policy making from this congressional seat, it doesn’t match that.

I say this with great respect to Congresswoman Eshoo, but this is

TSD: According to FiveThirtyEight, Congresswoman Eshoo has voted 100% with the Biden agenda. What is your take on the president’s legislative recommendations?

AD: I actually hope to be 100% with the president as well, and any Democratic president. Where I think our community needs to pay attention is committees and subcommittees.

The congresswoman sits on the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and yet we’re not introducing any bold ideas on climate change. Scientists and the global community are saying that we have about eight years to make a meaningful impact on climate change action, and yet the Democrats are still talking about carbon taxes like

Photo courtesy of Ajwang Rading

In an interview with The Daily, Ajwang Rading, one of seven candidates vying to replace Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) in Congress, called for a new generation of leadership in Washington that reflects the ingenuity and innovation of Silicon Valley. it’s 2001.

TSD: When it comes to climate, is your primary focus on policies mitigating the effects of human caused climate change, or are your policies more focused on investing in the renewable energy sector for jobs purposes?

AD: When we talk about climate

action, it’s an all-of-the-above approach. First, you have to talk about financing. It’s one thing for the richest municipalities to talk about installing solar panels, but this needs to take an entire country approach.

The goal is to get carbon neu-

Please see ELECTION, page 11

Friday, May 13, 2022 N 3

The Stanford Daily HEALTH

COVID cases spring to 389 Reported cases are up from previous week

By GRIFFIN CLARK

By HANNAH BASALI STAFF WRITER

This report covers a selection of incidents from April 13 to April 18 as recorded in the Stanford University Department of Public Safety (SUDPS) bulletin. Learn more about the Clery Act and how The Daily approaches reporting on crime and safety here.

THURSDAY, MAY 5 I At

3:23 p.m., vandalism with damages amounting to over $400 occurred at Rains Apartments.

I Between 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., burglary from a vehicle occurred at Cantor Arts Center.

I Between May 4 and May 5,

vehicle theft occurred at Munger Graduate Residences.

SATURDAY, MAY 7 I At

7:44 a.m., an adult was cited with possession of a controlled substance at Escondido Village Graduate Residences (EVGR) building B. I At 2:40 p.m., an adult was arrested for possession of a weapon at school at 625 Nelson Rd. I Between May 6 and May 7, petty bike theft occurred at 576 Alvarado Row.

SUNDAY, MAY 8 I Between 1:43 a.m. and 3:05

a.m., an adult was cited for unauthorized entry at the Avery Aquatic Center.

I Between 11:30 a.m. and

12:30 p.m., grand bike theft occurred at the Beckman Center.

I At 4:30 p.m., student safety was threatened through battery at Arboretum Grove.

I At 7:45 p.m., non-criminal hate violence was reported at Branner Hall.

MONDAY, MAY 9 I Between May 6 and May 9,

a bike was stolen at Castano Hall.

I Between May 5 and May 9, petty bike theft occurred at EVGR-D.

TUESDAY, MAY 10 I Between

May 9 and May 10, petty theft of property from a vehicle occurred at 121 Campus Drive.

STAFF WRITER

Stanford reported 249 new COVID-19 cases among students and 140 new cases among faculty, staff and postdoctoral scholars for the week of May 2, according to the COVID-19 dashboard.

Case counts increased by 56% among students and 9% among employees compared to the prior week. According to the dashboard, 328 students are in isolation as of Monday, which is an increase from the 239 students reported last week. The University attributes the rise in cases to travel and gatherings, according to the dashboard.

This case count is the highest reported by the University since the start of spring quarter. The uptick in cases comes after the University welcomed 1,150 admitted students and at least 1,500 guests to campus for Admit Weekend on April 29. Stanford enforced various COVID-19 precautions during the weekend, including prohibiting admitted students from entering student residences.

The Daily reached out to University spokesperson E.J. Miranda for comment regarding how the recent trends compare to Stanford’s expectations.

MHAR TENORIO/The Stanford Daily

Stanford continues to provide students with Color COVID-19 tests and require biweekly tests for unvaccinated students. While vaccinated students are no longer required to test through Stanford’s surveillance system as of April 11, the University continues to emphasize that vaccination, testing and masking can prevent serious illness, according to the dashboard.

The University’s sevenday positivity rate rose from 6.09% last week to 9.32% this week for students and rose from 1.35% to 1.57% for employees. The number of tests administered to students rose slightly from 2,628 the prior week to 2,671 this week, according to the dashboard.

The seven-day positivity rate for students is greater than Santa Clara County’s 5.8% rate and California’s 3.9% rate.

Peer institutions are also experiencing increases in student positivity rates. Harvard reported an increase to a 2.98% positivity rate, and the University of California, Berkeley, reported an increase to an 8.5% positivity rate. Stanford’s 9.32% positivity rate remains above that of Harvard and UC Berkeley.

Of the 140 new employee cases, 55 are included in the University’s testing count.

The remaining 85 individuals tested outside the University’s surveillance testing system through rapid antigen tests or tested positive earlier than last week but just reported it to the University, according to the dashboard.

A total of 3,581 students and 2,114 faculty, staff and postdocs have tested positive through Stanford’s surveillance testing system since June 29, 2020, according to the dashboard.

4 N Friday, May 13, 2022

The Stanford Daily

OPINIONS The Stanford Daily

Jonathan Garcia

The great trick that whiteness plays on us

Established 1892 Executive Team Emma Talley Editor in Chief

Georgia Rosenberg Executive Editor for Print

Savanna Stewart Executive Editor for Digital

his is my first year on the Stanford campus. As we draw near the end of spring, I am left with a resounding wondering, which I think is shared by my peers — is it always like this? This question brings me deep shame, as I am met with an obvious answer from within myself — of course, and you knew better. It must be.

With yet another egregious incident of anti-Black racism and violence — the second time that a noose has been found on University grounds during this academic year — our student population is not left with many other conclusions.

As I am learning, Stanford is a rather small school. It presents as very large but our community is small and insular. So acts such as these are especially incendiary. We walk past these people every day.

Something about racism that I think gets lost in the perpetual shuffle of diversionary tactics — denials, institutional bureaucracy, statements, panel discussions, academic research, a lack of statements and other forms of misdirection — is that racism brings you closer to death.

It is about killing people. It is that simple.

Sunday’s affairs have shortened the life span of students on campus.

They take hold of space in the brain, and they manifest as a tightness in the body. They tire and weigh down on. They impact the quality of education that we can receive. They contribute to attrition on campus. Friendships wilt.

Glances are exchanged, and sighs are shared. And for some, irreversible damage has been caused.

Some will never feel safe again in our community. To some others, this may not feel like a major concern, but it should be. Because we can never get those people and their trust back — nor do we deserve that until we receive true answers and solutions.

We cannot be surprised that these actions keep happening in this space we share.

When you invite prominent guest speakers with long histories of racism and discrimination, when

T

This is the Petri dish that breeds organisms of hate,bigotry, and ignorance.

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you allow student organizations which antagonize historically marginalized groups to operate on campus, when your student body has been, and continues to be, homogenous at the intersections of privilege — these are the kind of responses that become emboldened on campus.

This is the culture we sit on at Stanford.

This is the Petri dish that breeds organisms of hate, bigotry and ignorance. It is actually the perfect setting. We cannot be absolved by blaming this all on a few bad actors.

Walking through Stanford can be very difficult for anyone not occupying a position of power — I know it has been for me. I have been asked to verify that I am a student on campus multiple times — even by my classmates. When incidents like this occur, you begin to question if you are making up an alternate reality, externally, to validate your feelings, internally. You begin to make excuses for the behavior you are experiencing: Am I exaggerating? Did that really happen? Maybe I am taking this way too personally.

This is the great trick that whiteness plays on everyone, including white people — that whiteness is a construction made by each of us, not a construction of the larger system and the history that we share. It prevents you from listening to your intuition. It makes you

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question what you know and feel.

And if whiteness can convince you that you are the one making up these problems, then that means you are alone in solving them. It creates a sense of isolation, and you cannot trust the feelings that you have, nor their sources. And if you determine that you cannot trust yourself, then you surely cannot trust anyone else, which in turn leads to the antagonization and hatred of people who are different from you.

This is the state of vulnerability and fear that white supremacy feeds on. It makes us quiet when we should be loud. But knowing about this tactic does not make it any easier. Writing this article has not made me feel any better.

I want to be very clear: these recent attacks affect our Black com-

munity members first and foremost, and it is their well-being and voices that we should be centering.

But to all the non-Black people in our community, this directly impacts you as well. When one person’s safety is threatened, your safety and my safety are threatened, too. We do not treat these threats of hate accordingly because we have a history of re-founding and othering in this country, and that history has been rewarded.

We also do not treat these threats accordingly because there are rarely concrete outcomes of accountability when actions like this occur.

But all our collective well-being will crumble eventually. There are no winners in displays of white supremacy. There are only those who are harmed and those who believe

they will not be harmed.

Even those who enact violence, however, are deeply impacted by its effects. It is myopic and negligent toward the history of abuses of power to assume that anyone will be left unscathed. That is why we all should take these moments personally.

With the year continuing to unravel here on campus, I return to our principal question — is it always going to be like this? This is not rhetorical. I am looking for answers from our leaders.

We need to know how to prepare for what is coming.

JONATHAN GARCIA Graduate student in the Master of Liberal Arts program. He also works in the Inclusion, Diversity & Purpose department for Discord. He is from Fontana, California.

Antonio Lopez

Measure I (Know I Can) still remember the smell of powder — not the kind that once flooded our streets, but the kind that filled our classrooms. The chalked hands of my school’s sole music teacher hovered over us. We sat “criss-cross applesauce” on the carpet, its thin layer of shag not much of a cushion between our cabooses and the floor. Huddled together, all thirty-two of us, we were trying to decipher the sheet music our teacher had just given us. A song? Tania cried out, What’s that got to do with the STAR test?

Marcel seconds her dissent: Ayo, ain’t we supposed to be doing math problems or something?

But Ms. Parker would have none of it. “Back to the top guys, c’mon, we only got 40 minutes here. And don’t just say the words. Really listen to them. Understand the meaning.” Like a broken faucet, the words spill out in stutters, lumps of syllables that betrayed our confusion. But eventually, after endless loops of the song on the old Panasonic stereo, our voices flowed into a single stream of I’s.

I

I Know I Can Be What I Wanna Be If I Work Hard on It I’ll Be Where I Wanna Be ooo

If I had to encapsulate my experience as a K-8 student in Ravenswood School District, it would be this moment with Ms. Parker in Edison Brentwood Academy: her insistence, and the insistence of countless educators who stayed despite the low pay, that Black and Brown children are only captives to our imaginations. No zip code, no conservatorship by the state or a county grand jury, no one would determine our outcome in life but us. ooo

“I Know I Can” by Nasir Jones.

Throughout my whole career as a Ravenswood kid, I carried the Queensbridge poet’s words with me. But as inspiring as Nas’s words were and still are to me, my years in higher education

and public service have made me realize that our public schools, like the cities in which they’re housed, can only flourish as much as we invest in them. Displacement, a high cost of living and a hyper-saturation of schools in our small city have taken their toll on our district. And in 2020, citing budget cuts and precipitous declines in enrollment, the school board closed Brentwood as well as Belle Haven Elementary School. ooo

On the upcoming June ballot, residents of East Palo Alto and Belle Haven will consider a measure that would, if passed, provide 110 million dollars in bonds to the Ravenswood School District. The district plans to dedicate the majority of those funds to modernize Costano Elementary School and Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle School. Many of the aging portables have outlived their temporary use. Buildings have remained largely untouched since the 1950s. Beyond replacing these portables with permanent classrooms, Measure I seeks to upgrade the efficiency and technology of elementary schools in the area. ooo

Some will argue that we shouldn’t give more to a school district that has already received measures in the past.

“Antonio,” they say, “haven’t we given enough?” How may I adequately respond by summarizing the history of inequality in a single breath? How may I convince parents, who have perhaps attended Ravenswood themselves and had a less-than-memorable experience, that a single measure will not undo decades of redlining, blockbusting and white flight, on top of a weak tax base?

We need decades’ worth of resources to repair decades of damage. ooo

Others will be blunter in their assessments. “Why should I give to a district that’s mismanaged funds in the past?” The logic behind this statement seems almost biblical, arguing that children must inherit the mistakes of their predecessors. By that same logic, is our own city then ineligible for state

and federal aid? Is the fact that our children were and will continue to be taught there not enough of a reason to support Ravenswood? ooo

To the anti-reform skeptics, I wish to remind you that on the road to selfdetermination, even nations err. We are a young city that has had less than forty years to position itself on a par with centuries-old municipalities. As the great Bob Hoover said in an interview for “Dreams of a City” (a documentary filmed in the late 1990s about East Palo Alto), “Unfortunately, none of us are experts in the area of community development, of building a city, so we are kind of learning as we go along.

This is on-the-job training.” ooo

What value is there in continuing to point fingers? Let’s join hands. Yes, we must learn from the past, but why let it obscure the present? And that present is the fact that, over the years, Ravenswood leadership has taken countless steps to improve the quality of learning for its students. In 2008, the same year I graduated from Edison McNair Academy (now Los Robles), the district partnered up with concerned educational advocates and philanthropists to create Ravenswood Education Foundation (REF), whose private funds have increased instructional quality through coaching and collaboration time, enrichment in the arts, SEL support, and more. Just this past year alone, REF has raised over 9 million dollars for Ravenswood. Recently, REF has implemented a program that matches teacher pay viz. neighboring districts to ensure we hire the best and brightest educators. Just this past month, the Robotics team at Chavez went to the world robotics championship! And just the other day, as I distributed Measure I literature, I had a conversation with Liliana, a first grader at the Los Robles dual immersion program. She practically spoke better Spanish than I did. And in a city where two thirds of the population is Latino, in a state where Latinos are the largest ethnic minority, we must equip our children, regardless of their backgrounds, with the skills they need to

Photo courtesy of Magali Gauthier

Antontio Lopez argues in favor of passing Measure I and expanding funding for the Ravenswood School District. tackle their tomorrow.

ties they serve.

ooo

ooo

This is a school board with skin in the game. This is a district that believes a child should not have to travel outside their own community in order to receive a good education. As school leaders, parents and fellow elected officials, we are all on mission to make Ravenswood second to none.

This is a song that our children have been singing, but our bickering voices have muted theirs. This is a call for self-accountability, for us to recognize that so long as we as a community divest from our institutions of learning — our public schools — they will continue to struggle.

ooo

This is not just the letter of a policymaker. This is a letter of appeal as an alumnus, as a born and raised East Palo Altan whose entire life was transformed due to education, including my time at Ravenswood. ooo

This is not a showcase of poverty, nor is it a feel-good story of an alumnus who “succeeded.” This is one of many stories throughout the country of school districts that, like the cities they are in, struggle to retain the communi-

In spite of how the years have hardened me, I am still singing that song alongside our children. I hope that by voting Yes on Measure I, and through your donations and volunteering to canvas alongside us, you will too.

ANTONIO LOPEZ Councilor for the City of East Palo Alto.

From 1999-2008, he attended Ravenswood schools Edison Brentwood Elementary and Ronald McNair Middle School. He is currently finishing his second year of his Ph.D. in Modern Thought & Literature at Stanford.

Friday, May 13, 2022 N 5

The Stanford Daily ENVIRONMENT

Forum highlights energy initiatives

By BHUMIKORN KONGTAVEELERT BEAT REPORTER

With the official opening of the Doerr School of Sustainability on the horizon, the Precourt Institute of Energy held its annual Global Energy Solutions Week from May 2 to 6, during which the institute showcased Stanford’s advancements in energy and sustainable infrastructure research.

Private and public sector partners came together to provide a holistic view of the current energy landscape.

Researchers, policymakers and entrepreneurs in attendance emphasized the need to concentrate efforts to solve unaddressed questions, such as the role of research and the private sector in this clean energy transition.

The conference also showcased many energy start-ups that came out of the Stanford ecosystems.

This year’s theme was Frontiers in Energy Technology. Five main topics spanned the week: hydrogen for decarbonization, energy storage solutions, research energy showcase, AI for clean energy and climate resilience and electricity grid innovations.

These are some of the takeaways from the forum’s keynote lectures and research presentations.

Hydrogen economy: Stanford Hydrogen Initiative Professor of materials science and engineering and Co-Director of Stanford Hydrogen Initiative Friedrich Prinz said that Stanford is currently researching the applications of hydrogen for decarbonization and associated supply chains during a presentation on May 2.

Since 2019, Stanford Energy Corporate Affiliates, Stanford Natural Gas Initiative and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis have collaborated on the research, which focuses on the generation, storage, distribution, applications, policies and techno-economics of hydrogen transitions, according to Xiaolin Zheng, professor of mechanical engineering and Co-Faculty Director of Stanford Hydrogen Initiative.

There is a growing interest among businesses and the utilities sector in the use of hydrogen as fuel and as long-term storage for excess renewable energy, as the generated power is not readily dispatchable and can be volatile, according to Prinz. Consequently, there is an expanding need for a long-term form of energy storage to be used as fuel on demand, ac-

RALLY Continued from page 1 “A lot of veterans fought under the pretext that Afghanistan women were being brutally subjected by a patriarchal society, and so to come back home and that’s the case here on the Homeland is particularly concerning,” said Miller.

About 250 students, faculty and staff came together to chant and march. Attendees listened to the stories of abortion providers and those who have received abortions. Organizers also spoke about the relationship between the Supreme Court’s leaked decision overturning Roe v.

Wade and the Federalist Society — a conservative organization that advocates for textualist and originalist interpretation of the Constitution — as well as errors with the rationale behind the court’s draft.

Jacob Neidig ’23 expressed his concerns about the rising presence of pro-life rhetoric on campus. “I fear that there are people on campus that don’t respect women’s rights and don’t respect women as people,” said Neidig.

Kate Shaw, director of gynecology at Stanford, alongside Debbie Bamberger, the first nurse practitioner trained to provide abortion services in California, spoke about their professional experience as abortion providers and personal experiences in reproductive justice.

Both Shaw and Bamberger emphasized how common the procedure is. “1 in 4 women get an abortion by the time they turn 45,” Shaw said. Shaw left an impression on the crowd when she shared the journey of her gradual realization of the fraught state of abortion rights across the country.

“It wasn’t until I left California to start medical school that the blinders started to come off and I really started to understand the many, many efforts that had been underway for decades, intended to chip away at abortion access, at times subtly,” said Shaw, who studied medicine in New York and completed her residency in Oregon. “The people determined to make abortion illegal and inaccessible have been diligent and persistent.”

“We cannot take the right to an abortion for granted any longer,” Shaw continued. “Wake up. Pay attention to what’s happening. Talk

cording to Prinz. One of the main goals of Stanford Hydrogen Initiative is to research pathways to decrease the cost of hydrogen production to make the technology a viable option for energy storage, Prinz added.

How a diesel engine company is adapting to hydrogen transitions Multinational American diesel engine company Cummins Inc. is making significant investments into the research and development of new engines, such as emerging electrolysis technology, that allows the company to aid in net-zero transitions of the heavy-duty transport sector, said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Tom Linebarger ’86 M.S. ’93 M.B.A. ’93 during a keynote presentation on May 2.

Despite the enthusiasm for netzero transition in recent years, policymakers are putting off significant transitions by only making promises to change in the future, waiting for technology to be fully realized instead of making incremental changes now, according to Linebarger.

The winner of the race between hydrogen-fuel-based vehicles and electrical vehicles (EV) will depend on which types of infrastructure are built first, he added. Hydrogen’s cost will only decline when there is a more developed hydrogen economy that allows the supply chain to benefit from economies of scale and innovation, according to Linebarger. Unlike Prinz, Linebarger predicted that the projected cost of hydrogen required to get the key players in the heavy-duty vehicles industry moving might not have to be as low as predicted.

On the policy side, Linebarger said he observed a lag in government funding for the large-scale industry transition, despite the promises that have been made. The private sector is also still waiting for the establishment of a price on carbon as a key to unlock actions, he added.

“It costs money to [decarbonize] but I have nowhere to put the cost,” Linebarger said.

Department of Energy on Hydrogen Director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office Sunita Satyapal said that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which issued $9.5 billion in funding to the hydrogen space, has the potential to nurture domestic supply chains during a keynote lecture on May 2.

Funding has allowed Department of Energy-funded demos to persuade major companies such as Amazon and

about abortion. Take action.”

Bamberger shared how her clinic was bracing for the impact of the imminent overturning of Roe with Planned Parenthood Mar Monte and partners in Nevada gearing up to take care of 200 to 400 more patients per week.

Esteban Herrera-Vendrell ’25 stood in the crowd holding his sign up as he listened. “It’s just absolutely ridiculous that people have to be out here debating whether or not women have access to a basic human right, especially on this campus,” said Herrera-Vendrell.

Erin Sifre J.D. ’24, who spoke at the rally, explained the history of the Federalist Society’s influence on the Supreme Court. “Non-law students may wonder how this question came before SCOTUS after nearly half a century of legal precedent,” Sifre said. “This is by no accident — this is part of the Federalist Society’s long-term plan to use so-called constitutional originalism as a tool to overturn fundamental privacy rights, which implicate all Americans.”

The Federalist Society is closely connected with 5 of the 9 Supreme Court justices and works to identify conservative legal talent and place them in positions of power, according to Vox News.

Sifre criticized the complicity of the Stanford Law School’s Federalist Society chapter in the Court’s leaked decision, stating that “Scott Stewart, an SLS alum and member of the Federalist Society, is the solicitor general for Mississippi and argued for the overrun of the law in this case.”

Before and after the protest, Stanford ACLU hosted a table, where attendees wrote letters to representatives urging them to strengthen abortion rights. Their letters specifically targeted New Hampshire, New Mexico, Virginia and Montana.

“These are four states that don’t have legal protections against abortion, so with the overturn of Roe v.

Wade may or may not decide to restrict abortion in their state through their state legislatures,” said Zoe Tweedie ’25 of the Stanford ACLU. Ultimately, Hiran Dewar ’23, the co-president of Stanford Planned Parenthood, said that she is hopeful of student engagement moving forward. According to Dewar, the group will continue working with other student organizations to advocate for reproductive rights.

Walmart to develop around 115 hydrogen charging stations to date, according to Satyapal.

Russian conflict: Is it time to reconsider energy security?

Director of Stanford’s Hoover Institution and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that Germany and the broader European Union’s dependence on natural gas pipes has allowed Russia to weaponize energy resources and hold the EU hostage during a fireside chat with Dean of Doerr School of Sustainability Arjun Majumbar on May 2.

Rice said that she believes this is a wake-up call for nations to localize their energy sources to prevent political turmoil.

In the short run, Germany has to find alternative sources for its energy supply, which can be difficult given logistical constraints, according to Rice.

However, in the mid-term to longterm transition, an energy-efficient and more sustainable energy mix will be vital for national security. Assigning price on carbon is an important vehicle for this transition, as it assigns monetary value to signal to stakeholders that a transition is inevitable, she added.

Energy storage technology transitions Senior Vice President of Powertrain and Energy Engineering at Tesla Drew Baglino ’04 discussed Tesla’s Gigafactory and the difficulties in scaling up complex manufacturing systems as Tesla aims to produce up to 500,000 electric cars per year during a fireside chat on May 3.

One of the issues with this largescale production is the limitations of raw materials and supply chains.

Baglino said he fears that dependence on external sources of minerals may impact the battery industry in the long run and require a lot of land to extract these resources. The importance of shifting resources to wherever manufacturing happens has become increasingly pressing, Baglino said.

Baglino identified up-and-coming research into the extraction of lithium from brine and oil fields as a possible solution to the exhaustive supply of lithium from mining. Other possibilities include using alternative battery types with elements that are more available, such as sodium, and recycling used batteries for the long-term sustainability of the battery space, he added.

However, Baglino said that the real unexpected challenges arise when simple processes are done at a larger scale, such as water treatment,

Photo courtesy of Precourt Institute for Energy

The week-long energy solutions conference reported on Stanford’s research ecosystem in an effort to bridge the gap between research, industry and policy in the climate transition. burning lithium-ion batteries and developing cheaper electrolytes.

Baglino said he believes academia can play an important role in developing new tools for modeling and analysis that will accelerate the production timeline, citing finite element analysis as one tool that came out of such research.

Energy policy and economics: Natural Climate Solution and Sustainable Finance Managing Director of Sustainable Finance Initiative (SFI) Alicia Seiger said that a lack of good data and widely agreed working framework of who is liable for emissions contribute to the limitations of regulating and developing strategies for net-zero efforts, citing the group’s recent book, during a presentation on Wednesday.

Over the last thirty years of climate action, there have been three turns in how researchers have viewed climate solutions: green finance, risk and net-zero, according to Seiger.

Green finance relies on free-market economies of scale to lower costs and make climate technology deployable, while risk relies on internalizing the potential social costs of not transitioning, Seiger explained. Climate action is currently in the third turn, net-zero, where growth in climate investments is captured by the emissions potential, making it easier for price settlement and accelerating interest in innovation and investment, Seiger added. However, the focus on emissions potential alone may risk climate solutions and lead stakeholders to fixate on climate accounting without handling more complex problems, according to her.

While there has been an increase in announcements of net-zero goals, a lot of focus in investment has been on the technological, more permanent carbon storage solutions that are still being developed, according to biology postdoctoral scholar Connor Nolan. Nolan said that future natural solution-based climate investment should “under-promise and over-deliver.” Nolan’s framework makes nature-based carbon dioxide removal investment more expensive but secures more environmental and devel-

opmental benefits from the investments, rather than being a vehicle for firms to emit even more greenhouse gasses, he explained.

SFI’s research initiatives will continue to explore carbon accounting, regulation and compliance of carbon credits; just economic transitions of climate change and the role of blended finance in supporting sustainable public infrastructures in developing countries, Seiger said.

Artificial intelligence in climate Researchers spoke of numerous climate solutions that are enhanced by the rise in artificial intelligence applications, which allow for more complex computation and data-driven decision-making.

One such project is “MESMERIZE: A Macro-Energy System Model with Equity, Realism and Insight in Zero Emissions,” led by Ines Azevedo, associate professor of energy resources engineering. The project develops complex models and datasets that integrate social equity and human health concerns, intended to help policymakers develop more comprehensive, economy-wide decarbonization solutions for different U.S. regions, according to Azevedo.

Ongoing research by Stanford graduate students also shows the potential of utilizing machine learning to understand complex energy problems. Gege Wen Ph.D. ’22 developed CCSNet.ai to model subsurface carbon dioxide sequestration in saline reservoirs, while fifth-year Ph.D. student Zhecheng Wang M.S. ’18 developed DeepSolar to offer a better understanding of solar adoption for researchers and policymakers.

While the forum has concluded, Stanford plans to continue further developing the research-industry ecosystem in the future. Transition Vice Dean of the School of Sustainability Stephan Graham referenced the School of Sustainability’s opening next year as an example of such development.

“This ecosystem will provide funding opportunities for research teams that want to take action and address problems with time-bound urgency,” Graham said.

BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY

ORCA helps founders connect with peers Stanford startup promotes accessible entrepreneurship

By SARAH RAZA BEAT REPORTER

Charlie Wehan ’21 was taking classes at Stanford and iterating on product ideas when he found that identifying teammates for his class project proved to be difficult. When he received access to a Google spreadsheet of students and their ideas for a Management Sciences & Engineering class, he wondered why all students didn’t have access to a similar network.

Wehan built on this experience to co-found The ORCA Network — an online platform that connects early-stage startup founders to a peer network — along with Arda Bulut ’21.

Through ORCA, users can find like-minded students to join their team, ideas to collaborate on, mentors to learn from and investors to partner with.

ORCA currently has over one thousand members on Stanford’s campus, according to Bulut. With its recent expansion to five peer institutions, including Brown University, Columbia University, University of California Berkeley, University of Virginia and Rhode Island School of Design, its membership is expected to grow.

Wehan and Bulut began building

CRIME Continued from page 1 website for updates on the investigation and available community resources.

Tessier-Lavigne wrote that the incident, which is being investigated as a hate crime, shows “how far we still have to go” in advancing equity, inclusion and belonging in the Stanford community.

“It is especially dispiriting that this incident does not exist in isolation, but is part of a longer series of incidents, here and elsewhere, that continue to seek to intimidate and marginalize members of the Black

ORCA when they were sent home due to COVID-19 in the middle of their junior year. As quarantine put Stanford soccer on pause, the former teammates decided to put their extra time towards building ORCA, which they eventually launched during their senior year.

Upon graduation, both Wehan and Bulut played soccer professionally, continuing to work on ORCA every day after practice. With Wehan playing in the US and Bulut playing in Europe, ORCA got attention around the clock.

Though playing professional soccer had been a childhood dream, the two decided they wanted to be able to put more time towards their startup. In the summer of 2021, they each made the difficult decision to quit soccer and work on ORCA full time.

“The biggest factor for quitting was that soccer was pretty individual — I was doing everything for myself,” Wehan said. “But ORCA is a way we can have a tremendous impact in the world.”

Throughout the platform’s growth, impact has been top of mind for the ORCA founders.

“It’s a social network, but a purpose-driven one,” said Executive Director of the TomKat Center for Sustainable Energy Brian Bartholomeusz Ph.D. ’85, who has been a mentor to Wehan and Bulut.

“It has a lot of potential for social justice and sustainability; you could

really tailor this and create something powerful.”

Associate professor Chuck Eesley, another mentor to Wehan and Bulut, echoed this sentiment, saying ORCA could provide a more level playing field for access to entrepreneurial opportunities among underrepresented communities.

Professors at the Graduate School of Business have already begun using ORCA in their classrooms. Eesley said that prior to ORCA, his students would look for teammates on a Google spreadsheet, which only “barely worked.”

“It became very helpful to say, ‘You can go to ORCA, create an account and post your initial idea on there,’” he said.

Head of Outreach Philip Bogdanov ’25 said he learned about ORCA when he talked to his soccer team about the same need Wehan had: finding a platform to network with other students.

The ORCA team plans to continue its expansion to other universities so that students can collaborate across campuses, Bogdanov said.

Wehan and Bulut’s goal is for ORCA to become the go-to platform for students with an idea. They’re hoping to become a part of innovative solutions to “tomorrow ’s biggest problems.”

“If we can play a part in fostering the growth of even one idea that could change the world ... that would be rewarding,” Bulut said.

community and many other communities because of their identity,” Tessier-Lavigne wrote. Similar incidents occurred on campus in November 2021 and July 2019.

According to the PIH website, the noose, which was discovered on Sunday, was made out of ropes that had not been removed from the tree after a student organization performance years ago. Now, the University plans to work on a “protocol and culture of removing ropes from trees, including ropes positioned for the purposes of outdoor activities such as rope swings, frisbee golf or theatrical productions,” according to the website.

“My heart aches for the members of our Black community who are experiencing a full range of

emotions as a result of the appearance of this noose, including feeling targeted, fearful or dismayed,” Tessier-Lavigne wrote. “I stand with you in rejecting hate and in stating that conduct of this kind has no place at Stanford.”

Over the next week, the University plans to hold multiple events supporting community members.

Black CAPS “Let’s Talk” Students Hours will take place from May 11 to May 13 at the Black House. The Black Staff Alliance and the Faculty Staff Help Center are co-sponsoring a monthly dropin group on May 12. Additionally, The Office for Religious and Spiritual Life (ORSL) continues to offer care and counseling by spiritual leaders.

6 N Friday, May 13, 2022

The Stanford Daily

CULTURE MUSIC

Beat that drum Stanford Taiko features guest ensemble in Bing

By UJWAL SRIVASTAVA

A

fter a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the rumbling rhythms of Stanford Taiko filled Bing Concert Hall on Saturday night. “Harmonic Convergence,” the group’s first in-person performance since 2020, celebrated 30 years of Stanford Taiko and featured guest artist and taiko master Kenny Endo, who was belatedly celebrating his 45th anniversary in the artform.

“We’ve wanted to have Kenny perform at Bing since it opened in 2013 and this was the perfect opportunity to realize that goal,” wrote Steve Sano, professor of music and cofaculty advisor of Stanford Taiko. “This is also Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and it was very special, indeed, to contribute to the celebration with last night’s event.”

The first half of the concert showcased Kenny Endo and his Contemporary Ensem-

UJWAL SRIVASTAVA/The Stanford Daily

Stanford Taiko performers point their sticks to the sky while a flute player (above, left) continues. The performance featured many of the organization’s new members, as well as the Contemporary Ensemble, led by renowned taiko master Kenny Endo. ble, featuring Kaoru Watanabe, Sumie Kaneko, Abe Lagrimas Jr. and Chizuko Endo. They performed a variety of Kenny Endo’s original compositions utilizing several Japanese and Western instruments. The compositions ranged from traditional pieces to arrangements with inspirations from

other cultures and improvised jazz melodies.

The concert opened with a piece called “Clarity” and was followed by “Yume no Pahu,” a piece inspired by Hawaiian and Tahitian music. After completing an intense 10-year taiko training in Japan, Kenny Endo moved to Hawai’i, where he learned about

the issues faced by the native population. He dedicated this song to “support their struggle to control their destiny.”

The ensemble presented “Sounds of Kabuki,” a traditional piece, followed by an-

Please see TAIKO, page 9

MUSIC

The death of concept albums Remembering Pink Floyd’s seminal works

By CHLOE ANNE WALSH COLUMNIST

Courtesy of Tyler Newman

The cast of “Solstice Party” (above) is frightened by an emerging terror. The outdoor staging and chilly air of spring quarter added to the uncertainty and fear of the play, which was performed for the second time ever at the fire pit outside Lake Lagunita.

THEATER

‘Solstice Party’ plays at Lake Lag

By BHUMIKORN KONGTAVEELERT DESK EDITOR

O

n Saturday night, the Lake Lagunita fire pit was transformed into a kitchen in the forest behind an old farmhouse, where the characters of “Solstice Party” celebrated the longest day of the year as the sun slowly set in the background.

“Solstice Party,” written by Susan Soon He Stanton, follows a group of friends who travel to upstate New York to celebrate the summer solstice. Former “frat bro” Andrew (Matthew Canlas ’23) brings his younger, yoga-instructor girlfriend Pipi (Skya Theobald ’24) to meet his college friends: investment banker-turned-farmgirl Jo Ann (Regan Lavin ’22), her chef-turnedfarmer husband Dominique (Chance Staples ’25) and lesbian Trish (Eryn Perkins ’25), who is missing her wife. The awkward but enthusiastic fixer-upper ranch hand Stan (Danny Ritz ’23) is an outcast; over the course of the play, he bonds over existence at the margin with Pipi, who doesn’t quite belong with the friend group.

“Solstice Party” succeeded in breaking boundaries through its creative set choices and strong actors, but the show’s confusing plot and technical challenges were performance weaknesses.

Director Chloe Chow’s ’23 decision to adapt the Stanford Theater Lab’s spring production to the outdoor space richly complemented the play’s too-often-relatable feeling of being left

out: joining an already tight-knit friend group or trying to coalesce when you’ve grown out of each other. The audience sat on picnic blankets and chairs in front of the fire pit, physically placing the viewers inside the action. The real sunset and emerging nocturnal hums of the lake provided a grounded backdrop for the production’s experimental take, immersing the audience in a unique viewing experience.

The complex blocking — the choreography of character placement and actions — creatively utilized the vast outdoor stage. As the characters walked around Lake Lagunita to go fishing, brushing past Stanford members on their daily runs, it felt as if these characters naturally emerged from somewhere within our campus — that they were real, grounded people who could’ve easily existed here.

The embedded tension that unfolds over the course of the play is its central focus, exaggerated by sinister tones and an unexpected — although arguably gratuitous — cliffhanger ending. Chow paid large attention to building up nuanced character dynamics; the relationships between old friends and social outcasts of this tight-knit but flawed friend group inquire about the nature of community at times of uncertainty. Given that this was only the second time this play has ever been performed, Chow wonderfully adapted the semi-thriller “Solstice Party” into a play that focused on community.

The cast added significant depth to the rela-

tionships of these flawed individuals, employing great performances to bring out Stanton’s intended theme of self-delusion. My favorite scene was when the characters gathered around, halfdrunk in a circle, to ask questions and revisit their past. It was here that Jo Ann admitted: “When I’m happy, I don’t wanna be told anything; when I’m sad — everything.”

As the sun set halfway through the play, battery-powered lighting, designed by D Fukunaga ’25, became a sinister character of its own, hinting toward the grim twist at the end of the show.

The technical side of this production was very impressive given the logistical difficulties of operating outdoors. Lighting and sound devices had to be set up and taken down every night during technical rehearsals and final performances, according to assistant director M Seng ’25 and producer Tyler Newman ’25.

Acting-wise, Ritz’s portrayal of the quirky, energetic Stan and his unique vocal performance shone in this production in the few moments when the characters sang songs around the bonfire. Ritz’s versatility to perform more serious, darker themes towards the end of the show solidified him as one of the actor-singers to watch out for on campus.

In contrast to Stan’s charming personality, Lavin’s performance effectively portrayed her character’s unlikeability; Jo Ann’s judgmentalinsecure complex allowed the audience to reflect

Please see PLAY, page 8

Welcome to “I’m With The Band.” In this column, I’ll teach you how to become a fan of all the iconic bands that you have always heard of, but may not truly know yourself. I’ll introduce you to some deep-cut songs that’ll elevate your status from “surface level fan” to “real fan,” and explain why, in my humble opinion, these bands are worth getting to know. Hopefully by the end of this series, you’ll see why you should become a fan of them, too.

“The band is just fantastic, that is really what I think. Oh, by the way, which one’s Pink?” sings Roy Harper in “Have a Cigar” by Pink Floyd.

I

n 2018, Forbes released its official obituary for ‘the album.’ After years of slowly fading into a relic of the past while the music industry evolved into a singles-based industry, writer Bobby Owsinski claimed that whether we liked it or not, the concept of the album was dead.

I am here neither to argue nor to challenge the streaming services that have single-handedly transformed the ‘concept album’ into an ‘obsolete concept.’ I simply think that, if the concept album is truly dead, then it deserves a proper eulogy for everything it has given us. Or, maybe more specifically, the band that has created the greatest concept albums of all time is deserving of one.

So, Pink Floyd, this one’s for you.

I first heard Pink Floyd in my dad’s car the summer before my freshman year of high school. Back then, I didn’t know that each song I heard was part of something bigger. Each track was meticulously selected in order and length in order to give me the full picture of what I was listening to. I didn’t know then that what was playing off of the old stereo system wasn’t just music, but the bridging of sounds, stories and the human experience.

All I knew was that I was hearing soundscapes of cinematic beauty and brilliance that I had never quite heard in music before. And when it comes to

Please see FLOYD, page 8

Friday, May 13, 2022 N 7

The Stanford Daily

MUSIC

Get mad to some punk Soul Glo’s “Diaspora Problems” simply rocks

By BRANDON RUPP COLUMNIST

Welcome to Beandon’s Musical Corner, the only place on campus for in-depth, exhaustive reviews of the latest releases in rock, jazz, experimental ... and pretty much everything else. Brandon Rupp (also known by his mononymous musical title “beandon,” under which he releases music and DJs as KZSU’s Student Music Director) explores a new title and gives unfiltered feedback, regardless of the genre. Feel free to send him music; he’d love to take a look!

F

or certain unaccustomed audiences, this week’s record will be a tough sell: a politically charged, progressive fusion of hardcore punk, industrial rock and rap. For those craving a particularly unique and engaging listen, however, Soul Glo’s most recent record, “Diaspora Problems,” is a relentlessly punishing statement that cannot go under your radar. It’s certainly a contender for my favorite album of the year, for the effortless delivery of its massive ambition.

Philadelphia hardcore band Soul Glo have spent their last three records shredding almost any expectation one could have for a hardcore punk band. With a name that references a gag from “Coming to America,” Soul Glo’s music has been able to aggressively push back against institutional anti-Blackness while still retaining moments of levity, an example being a (fantastic)

song on their most recent album, “Driponomics.” The track sings about scalping while simultaneously joking about reselling designer clothing drops for artificially high prices. Naturally, when art juggles this broad contrast — like the juxtaposition between systemic racism versus seemingly flippant absurdism or deeply political hardcore punk versus personal and unguarded emotion — audiences are jolted by the sheer boldness of it all.

Never before has an album title so concisely, yet perfectly, described its central driving force: as Jordan explains, “As products also of the African diaspora, every problem we have as people is a result of it.”

The didactic (yet emotionally gripping) lyrics cannot go unmentioned: the band’s politics are crystal clear and fueled by immense anger. It doesn’t get much blunter than, “I’m so bored by the left, protests and reluctance to militarize,” which forms the lyrical motif of “ We Wants Revenge.” The band’s brand of leftism is further elaborated with the track “Coming Correct is Cheaper.”

“The true consumption is that of the rich / And I don’t mean on no trendy left shit / The tradition of their habit is all the fine print is / You think you understand ownership?” the track sings.

The lyrics get almost uncomfortably personal at points, with “GODBLESSYALLREALGOOD” featuring heavy-hitting lines like, “sometimes I wonder how it seems to you from your point of view / Because only inside my pain can I be

Graphic: BRANDON RUPP/The Stanford Daily

With their newest release, Soul Glo has again raised the bar for angry, politically charged, hardcore music. “Diaspora Problems” channels insane anger and catchiness, columnist Brandon Rupp writes. that comfortable / I wept when I wrote this, but I’ll laugh again.”

This is a relentless album listening experience elevated by standout lyrics. Beyond all of the screaming and incomprehensible howling, Jordan’s intelligent and poetic use of language rings true as one of the best parts about this album.

I am glad to assure you that, with “Diaspora Problems,” Soul Glo have perfected their method of madness for maximum effect. Unlike their brief previous music, this record almost reaches the 40minute mark while never once letting up sonically: there are far more words in each line than it seems should be humanly possible, and there are enough riffs in one song to fill about five or six tracks. The howling vocals of lead singer Pierce Jordan can range from startling shrieks to guttural growling, showcasing his most dynamic vocal performance since the inception of the band. Potentially as a result of their signing to legendary punk label Epitath, the band’s production has also seen a notable step-up, with random noises and an influx of sam-

ples being interwoven among guitar stabs, massive (and audible!) basslines and perfectly mixed drums.

But the music’s catchiness is the main event. Strangely hooky for a hardcore punk album, “Diaspora Problems” makes it irresistible to yell out the crude lines of songs like album highlights “Gold Chain Punk (whogonbeatmyass?)” and “Spiritual Level of Gang Shit,” the latter having a satisfyingly ascending melody that repeats the title until the song fades out. “Driponomics,” the album’s most overt rap track, is another highlight. The looping distortion, aggressive 808s drum patterns and stop-start groove of the beat are all the perfect base for absolutely insane flows from Jordan and special guest Mother Maryrose, who gives the best-featured performance on the album.

The noise/industrial rock influence comes through with the opening of “Coming Correct is Cheaper,” which features a rhythmic freak-out over a sliding bassline.

The structure of “(Five Years And) My Family” plays with these gen-

res most overtly in the form of a calming 30-second electronic introduction leading into searing guitar passages that finish with an industrial guitar breakdown.

Though the album may seem like a mess of genres, noises and influences, Soul Glo’s chaotic spirit has found a way to make each of the record’s individual compositions feel both purposeful and fully deserved.

It goes without saying that if you are, even in the slightest, a fan of hardcore music, this record is a must-listen. The consistency and passion of its aggression is almost unrivaled in contemporary music, at least on this scale of ambition.

Horn parts? The Think break?

Spoken word? With “Diaspora Problems,” Soul Glo doesn’t bother to consider whether or not to include these elements — their crystal-clear vision supersedes any notion of what is “normal” for hardcore music, and the genre re-defining record is all the better for it.

Editor’s Note: This article is a review and contains subjective opinions, thoughts and critiques.

THE GRIND

Farewell to V12s The final 12-cylinder Aston Martin refuses to drive off quietly

By MATTHEW TURK MANAGING EDITOR

P

rofessors can feel inadequate, too. Let’s draw upon an example from one day back in early March, when my economics professor paced across the lecture hall to no end, tangentially detailing the drama of a recent conference at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research. In short, he named the supply shortage of semiconductors as a contributor to the sky-high prices that are taking the automotive industry by storm. He did not understand, however, why computer chips were so essential to the manufacturing process, and given that he holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in electrical engineering, he told us that he was afraid to ask his colleagues at the conference. Such an inquiry would expose the humiliating reality of his imperfect knowledge of the subject matter — supposedly.

This outward confession from a leading academic that he is a human being, just like the rest of us — with fears and instances of selfdoubt — provided, rather notably, a quaint sensation of relief.

Then, a few PowerPoint slides later, he told us that we would now take five minutes to stretch, drink

water or use the restroom.

Several of my classmates took this “break” as an opportunity to line up before the dais and ask more questions to the professor.

Since I was already seated reasonably close to him, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to listen in on what my professor was saying in response to the students. Soon enough, though, he had answered their questions on exchange rates and globalization with apparent ease and was now preparing to resume the lecture.

Except, not before he noticed that I was still staring at him.

“You have a quick question?” he said.

“Well, I don’t really have a question about econ right now, but I think a lot of cars need some kind of a microprocessor for the engine control unit,” I said.

“Oh, great!” he said, grabbing his laser pointer from the podium.

“Send me an email about it.”

For the rest of the lecture, I kept thinking, “Maybe I shouldn’t talk. Then I wouldn’t have to write emails about engine control units.”

At the end of that week, I started to compose the dreaded message to my professor. Once it was drafted, I read it over and considered my writing a swirling billow of unrelated wonderments at best.

Something about valve movement

in one sentence, a tangent about oxygen levels in the next. The incoherence was pitiful. Toward the end, I concluded, “I guess there are a lot of moving parts in cars, and you wouldn’t want those parts to move in the wrong way,” and pressed “Send” anyway.

Just days later, as fate would have it, Aston Martin unveiled its new V12 Vantage, a car whose 690horsepower, longitudinal engine had better come with a control unit.

In the live stream, I learned that it can produce 420 pound-feet of torque at 6,500 revolutions per minute and reaches 60 miles per hour in 3.4 seconds. Oh, and did I mention that it has a six-speed manual transmission? The Vantage is a driver’s car through and through. Never mind the price.

“This is not the product of shyness, but one of intensity,” according to Tobias Moers, a former Aston Martin chief executive. “It is a car for those who stand up and announce themselves, a car for drivers who seek intoxicating performance.”

Alas, yet, intoxication as we know it is not eternal. With the steady political march toward lowered emissions of greenhouse gasses, the phasing out of tradition-

Please see FAREWELL, page 9

Graphic: MICHELLE FU/The Stanford Daily

With short songs and soft synths, Tani — stage name Legwurk — keeps the listener hooked on repeat. Columnist Aditeya Shukla shares his favorite tracks from the artist’s small discography.

MUSIC

Still Woozy bassist is a rising indie star

By ADITEYA SHUKLA COLUMNIST

Welcome to “Slept On Songs.” In this column, you will find recommendations of songs and artists that you have never heard of but will undoubtedly love. Whether it be music released by an unknown artist last week, or underrated songs from major artists that passed under your radar, this series will make sure you have your weekly dose of fresh indie music.

Listen to all the artists I’ve reviewed on this link!

M Graphic: MICHELLE FU/The Stanford Daily

For most, news of Aston Martin’s final 12-cylinder model may hardly jerk tears. But to me, it’s the beginning of the end of an automotive era that’s interwoven with my childhood.

aking music is defined by the creative struggle of delivering personal stories to your fans without it being too complicated or unknown for them to relate with. Legwurk is an artist who effortlessly opens up to the listener while also creating a very special and relatable intimacy.

Legwurk (also known as Tani) is a member of Still Woozy’s live band, where she plays bass, guitar and synths. The influence of Still Woozy’s music on Legwurk’s can be heard in the sharp drums, chorusfilled guitars and soft, layered vocals.

With only 10 songs in her discog-

raphy, all from the last year and a half, Legwurk is just getting started on building a sonic empire. She has already amassed a respectable following, however, with her highest streaming song, “Home,” garnering 800,000 streams on Spotify.

Legwurk has a very rare skill of making sure each track feels like a gift just made for you. My favorite song by her is “Favor”: the song starts simple and personal, almost as if you’re being singled out and spoken to. It quickly and seamlessly transitions to its beautifully complicated chorus with layers of synths and leads. Each element hides a lot of rhythmic and melodic movement for you to appreciate as you listen to the track again and again. The synths are wobbly and create a spacious sonic atmosphere, while the lyrics create a sense of special intimacy. There is no moment in the track when it feels boring or predictable. You’re always eager for the chorus to come, but you can’t help but appreciate the other sections.

Just like the artist herself, songs in Legwurk’s discography are incredibly genuine. Listening to Legwurk makes you feel as though you’re seeing a close friend grow older and become more comfortable

Please see LEGWURK, page 9

8 N Friday, May 13, 2022

The Stanford Daily

THE GRIND

The pious, the devout and the faithful Or, why we should write about science

By DANNY RITZ

T

he pious and the devout are no longer strangers to me. This conclusion is perhaps a nontraditional (and, if you’re still really invested in the whole “faith or science” debate, disheartening) one to have gleaned from writing about science, but this is the truth that I am finding — I have to believe there is something I can see and say for me to see and say something. It’s just like feeling beautiful or falling in love — you must believe there is beauty in order for it to reveal itself. A la the poet and songwriter Daniel Johnston, “true love will find you in the end, but only if you’re looking, will it find you.”

The first scientific concept that moved me was bioluminescence, the production and emission of light by a living organism. Like many, I found it as a high school biology student, in the corner of a textbook page. Even so, my obsession soon blossomed into internet wormholes, articles and YouTube videos (or if you prefer their pseudo-intellectualized name, “video essays”).

But it was more than seeing light shine underwater, more than the biological basis for glow-inthe-dark Halloween costumes, more than an organism setting itself aflame that fascinated me. I was drawn to how the process occurred — the factor that bioluminescence in organisms is not the organism at all, but instead the billions of bacteria living within it.

The organism’s beauty is made by its natural processes inside, that which happens every day. That which is ordinary.

I have always found ordinary things to be quite beautiful. Moreover, I am drawn to the link between the two — the ordinary and the beautiful, how they depend on each other. There are so many beautiful, ordinary things in the world, small and large: reasons, names, cereals, hopes, types of fish, ways to love and be loved. The list is as endless as the ocean is blue.

The more life I experience, the further time pushes forward, the more I’m turning back, reflecting on how what has happened will shape what will be. Like a whale breaching to release parasites from

FLOYD Continued from page 6 getting to know a Pink Floyd concept album, sound isn’t a bad place to start.

Now, before you read any further, I’m going to ask you to put on your best pair of headphones and listen to “Speak to Me” — the opening song off of “The Dark Side of the Moon.” The quality of audio is important because Pink Floyd has little secrets buried in each of their songs, and, if you listen closely enough, you can hear all the whispers, echoes and other hidden treasures.

I’ll be the first to admit that at first listen, this opening track sounds like an absolutely lunatic compilation of noise that belongs in some “American Horror Story” episode. After all, it’s a one-minute five-second track dedicated to nothing more than sounds, with no audible instrument to enjoy. But if you know what to listen for, you’ll see that in just one minute, this opening track sets the entire stage for the story you are about to hear — the story of all the shared struggles we face on our journey from life to death.

The first sound we can detect at 0:04 is that of a heartbeat, which is the backbone for the entirety of the album. The heartbeat marks both the first and last sound the listener hears (see final track — “Eclipse”); it gets progressively louder, mimicking a drum as it connects music with life itself.

At 0:22, our second sound comes into play: time. The ticking stopwatch is subtle at first, but a second clock begins to kick in just four seconds later at 0:26 (a prelude to track four — “Time”). Less than thirty seconds into the album, we can hear the exquisiteness of both life and time; on the “Dark Side of the Moon,” we are reduced to the most fundamental aspects of our humanism.

Lunacy begins to enter the picture at 0:32 when we hear a voice

its tail, noticing these things is a necessary act of survival. If for no other reason, I ought to know what moves me in order to keep moving at all. The purpose of my interest in this all, I should clarify, is not to find answers — I am no psychologist, thank God — but instead to ask questions. I’m less interested in making meaning of things and more so noticing the patterns, both the symmetry and asymmetry.

At the end of winter quarter, I had the opportunity to go whale watching off the coast of Monterey Bay. Four hours on the water, sandwiched between two mammoth blues, the sky and the ocean searching for the sight of a raised tail or fin (or anything indicating a whale, that ocean mammoth). Basically, it was me and a bunch of other oceantourists trying to make a miracle happen on the Pacific. The guides tried to brace our expectations, told us to expect one, maybe two sightings. Somehow, there were five or six. And not only whales, but an orca, too, which made even the guides pull out their cameras.

I am learning to view the creative process and scientific method interchangeably: observe, record, recall and let the rest work its magic. Observation is the start of a full life, in art and beyond. Even gratitude comes tinged with the judgment of joy. If I can simply notice, and nothing else, when writing on the page, then the images and observations will speak for themselves. It is, to me, a matter of making myself porous to the world, letting myself remain open to the environment affecting me. Or at least, allowing the possibility of such a thing.

Faith is fragile, yet I am finding there is faith in everything. In every text, in every laboratory, in every corner of the natural world.

There’s faith in waking up to collect water samples from an ocean larger and older than human history, faith in putting pen to page to tell a story no one yet has heard; faith in spending years noting how the rain falls the way it falls, and faith in spending years wondering why; faith in that, despite everything, what you observe and what you say will make some change, will mean anything at all.

As we rode back into the harbor, my phone rang in my pocket. My mother. I answered, but chose not to FaceTime when I tell her all about what I saw because, as she quipped, I’d have to see it to believe it. But that is not all, Mother. We must also believe it in order to see it. echoing, “I’ve been mad for fucking years, absolutely years ... “ Following mania’s footsteps, we have capitalism making its grand entrance at 0:34, with the obnoxious opening and shutting of the cash register (a prelude to track six — “Money”).

For the rest of the track, the madness escalates with Pink Floyd roadie Peter Watts’ manic laughter at 0:44 and hired singer Claire Torrence’s wails (a prelude to track five — “The Great Gig in the Sky”). And just when the noise becomes just a little too loud, a little too uncomfortable and a little too much, we are seamlessly led into track two, “Breathe (In the Air),” where the listener is rewarded with the first instrumental track of the album hitting like a magical breath of relief.

If this was your first time listening to this track, don’t worry: it isn’t uncommon for first-time listeners to find it unenjoyable. And I understand that if you are listening to music simply for the tune or the enjoyment of the sounds (which there is nothing wrong with!), then this probably isn’t going to be your cup of tea.

But as an avid Pink Floyd fan myself, I’ll argue that what Pink Floyd was creating with “The Dark Side of the Moon” and their subsequent projects was more than music to be merely listened to. Their concept albums are pieces of art that have to be listened to correctly. By correctly, I mean in order, in one sitting and with your full attention.

What Pink Floyd captured with “The Dark Side of the Moon” in 1973 was built upon project after project until the band’s ultimate separation due to creative differences. In 1975, the band released “Wish You Were Here” — an album that dives into the personal loss of original band frontman Syd Barrett, who slowly faded into mental illness over the years with his combined schizophrenia and LSD usage. The 1977 “Animals” is a musical rendition of George Orwell’s “Animal Farm,” and dives into the darkness of the sociopolitical state of Britain. And the 1979 “The Wall,” the band’s crowning achievement, is a rock opera that tells the tale of a

Courtesy of OpenClipart

HUMOR

Why I didn’t call I know, I forgot to call you, but I had a good reason

By REBECCA JIA CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Editor’s Note: This article is purely satirical and fictitious. All attributions in this article are not genuine, and this story should be read in the context of pure entertainment only.

H

i, Mom — it’s me. I know, I know, I didn’t call you on Mother’s Day this year. But hear me out. I was thinking about calling you in the morning, but then I got too distracted thinking about how much you mean to me. You raised me, and you’re always there for me when I need you. It’s not my fault that I got lost in thought just thinking about how great you are.

As for the rest of the day, I was doing a lot of stuff.

PLAY Continued from page 6 on the times they have been or encountered a Jo Ann in their lives.

The entrance of Ashley (Sarah Lee ’23) in the final arc of the show took “Solstice Party” into an unexpected, supernatural twist, with plots related to a cult being introduced and unfolding rapidly. When compounded by a “was this all a dream?”-type ending, many audience members left the firepit confused. The cult theme felt like a throwaway plot, especially com-

What kind of stuff, you ask? Don’t worry about it — I wouldn’t want to bore you with all the really important stuff I needed to do. But you can rest assured that I definitely didn’t have just five minutes to spare to call you.

What I will tell you, though, is that I was really busy cleaning my room and making my bed. You always taught me to do it thoroughly, so really, it’s on you that I didn’t call you on Mother’s Day. Then, I was sobbing over old photo albums of us together that I found when I was cleaning my room, and I didn’t want you to see me like that.

Plus, if I had called you, I wouldn’t have had any material to write for this article, and you wouldn’t have wanted that, right?

So, thanks for understanding, Mom. You’re the best, and I love you. Happy Mother’s Day!

pared to the play’s rich emphasis on each character’s secret dark past. While the earlier part of the show proved to be a great character study on how flawed humans interact, the underdeveloped twist felt unwarranted and distracting to the inspection of humanity that was already being slowly developed and interrogated.

Although the show’s ambition to transform the outdoor space into a stage is commendable, the acoustics made it challenging to experience both the actors’ performances and the already confusing plot. The vast stage and outdoor setting placed the actors further away, and the temporary

sound system didn’t quite catch the little inflections in line delivery, which would have provided even more depth to the show.

While the pairing of slow-burn, slice-of-life writing and contrived twist left me more confused than curious, Chow and the cast opened a window into the fragile landscape of relationships and the undercurrent of longing to be honest with oneself. Stanford Theater Lab’s charming and technically impressive production set a high bar for the possibility of site-specific performance.

Editor’s Note: This article is a review and contains subjective opinions, thoughts and critiques.

Graphic: MICHELLE FU/The Stanford Daily

Though streaming has arguably destroyed the idea of “concept albums,” columnist Chloe Walsh still remembers the genre in Pink Floyd. Their output was imaginative and true sonic art, Walsh writes. musician named Pink and his life’s journey towards alienation from the bitterly cruel world surrounding him.

But, don’t be mistaken! Extensive concept albums may be the bread and butter of appreciating Pink Floyd’s greatness, but this shouldn’t take away from the inarguable fact that the band also knew how to absolutely rock out.

David Gilmour is renowned to this day as one of the world’s greatest guitarists, infamous for his slow blends and delayed sound. If you’re looking for an example of his excellence, the second solo in “Comfortably Numb” is a great place to start (specifically, this live version).

“Fearless” off of “Meddle” is a great showcase of the band’s more traditional-sounding classic rock work, with still enough weirdness and a nasty enough guitar riff to constitute a Pink Floyd song.

“Empty Spaces/Young Lust” off of “The Wall” is one of my personal fa-

vorites, with the transition between the two making the listen all the more rewarding so you can properly jam out to Gilmour’s gritty “Ooooo I need a dirty woman/I need a dirty girl.” And of course, no eulogy would be complete without acknowledging “ Wish You Were Here,” a poignant song about love and loss that remains most fans’ favorite for a reason.

So, Pink Floyd, I know I’m reaching the end of my allotted space and I still haven’t mentioned the epicness of your light shows, how you convinced an actor to light himself on fire for the “Wish You Were Here” album cover, your influence on all modern psychedelia from Radiohead to Tame Impala, or the trippiness that is the 1982 “The Wall” movie.

But, Pink Floyd, you have single-handedly changed my life.

Thank you for showing me that the coolest artists can come on stage wearing a simple black tee-shirt and

jeans and still put on the greatest performance this world has ever seen. Thank you for proving to me that certain songs over 23 minutes are worth the listen, and that “Echoes’’ is one that still isn’t long enough (and that certain songs are too long — see “The Trial’’). Thank you for teaching me that albums deserve to be listened to from start to finish, and that even in today’s single-based industry, the historical significance of the concept album will remain adored for decades to come.

Oh, and thanks for reminding me that at the end of the day, there’s a little bit of madness in everyone, and therefore a little bit of Pink Floyd in all of us.

My picks: One of These Days, Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Pts. 1-5), Fat Old Sun, Is There Anybody Out There?

Editor’s Note: This article is a review and contains subjective opinions, thoughts and critiques.

Friday, May 13, 2022 N 9

The Stanford Daily

HUMOR

Metal straws solved climate crisis IPCC announces climate change is over

By SEAMUS ALLEN STAFF WRITER

Editor’s Note: This article is purely satirical and fictitious.

All attributions in this article are not genuine, and this story should be read in the context of pure entertainment only.

A

ccording to a recent press release by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), climate change is over.

While many scientists gave dire warnings about the potential for rising sea levels, crop failures and mass extinction if we did not take drastic action to prevent rising temperatures, the panel says they underestimated the extent to which

TAIKO Continued from page 6 other Kenny Endo composition, “Sunflower,” dedicated to Ukraine. They wrapped up the first half with “Symmetrical Soundscapes,” a fast-paced, improvised percussion composition with influences of Brazilian samba, and “Jugoya,” a song about the full moon.

Kenny Endo’s stop at Stanford is part of a larger tour celebrating his 45 years of taiko. Although this anniversary was in 2020, the tour was postponed due to COVID-19.

In all his years of playing, Kenny Endo said his biggest takeaway from taiko is that “there is never an end to learning.”

“It always keeps you humble, because there is so much more to learn, and so much more to create,” Kenny Endo said.

In the second half, Stanford Taiko performed a variety of traditional and fusion pieces, creating an interactive environment as they invited the audience to clap along and participate with them.

The group opened their segment with “Rites of Thundering,” composed by Kenny Endo, and followed with four Stanford Taiko compositions: “Amaterasu;” “Unburden;” “Reverberations,” which featured piano; and “Tales of a Balloon.” In between performances, Stanford Taiko members performed playful interludes, including a combination of taiko and tap dance.

“I’m so thankful for everyone who came and stayed throughout our show, and I think we had a successful performance yesterday,” wrote Rachel Wang ’24, a second year in Stanford Taiko.

The night culminated with a joint performance featuring Kenny Endo and his group as well as current Stanford Taiko members and alumni, who played “Tatsumaki,” a Stanford Taiko favorite.

“It is our signature piece that we perform on the most important occasions and one of the first pieces written by a former member after [Stanford Taiko’s] founding,” Wang wrote. “Our song captain, alum Mark Nishimura [‘16

LEGWURK Continued from page 7 with expressing themselves. Many of Legwurk’s songs have lyrics in the first person, creating a very direct conversation between the artist and the listener. Many songs are perfect for a nighttime drive, mellow enough to fit the mood but bouncy enough to keep you alert and energetic on the wheel.

By creating songs full of pleasing harmonies on guitars with clean, sweet tones, Legwurk proves her technical prowess in music with every song she releases. Just one example is shown on the track “This and That”: with bright and slightly somber vocals, the song features a tight, snappy melody. The lyrics have a meaningful, sincere nature, giving the song an emotional dimension. At the same time, the instrumentals make you want to dance to the rhythm of the beats.

Speaking to AnalogueTrash about the song, Tani said, “This is my attempt at putting all my feelings into one song. I want this song to make you dance and cry at the same time, cuz that’s all I feel like

citizens would take their messages to heart and purchase metal straws.

According to Dr. Hoesung Lee, the head of the IPCC, the panel would like to give a special thanks to white suburban moms for leading the charge in purchasing metal straws, cotton tote bags and expensive organic foods.

“We thought we were going to have to make major changes in order to rein in capitalism’s tendency towards destructive and unfettered growth,” Dr. Lee said, “but the solution was right there in front of us.” According to the panel, plastic stickers passed out on Earth Day and videos of CEOs standing in forests talking about conservation also played a major role.

To commemorate the occasion, IPCC has released a limited edition set of reusable plastic water bottles.

M.S. ’17], arranged the piece so that everyone ended up on stage together, which makes me tear up every time. I think this arrangement encapsulates precisely the spirit of taiko performing — we’re a community of Japanese drum lovers who want to share the strength, charm and inclusivity of this art form far and wide.”

This year represents a year of rebuilding for the club, as many students are playing taiko with the group on campus for the first time.

“Out of 16 members this year, nine of them are first years,” Wang wrote. “Only Vianna Vo [‘21], a fourth year and an Artistic Director, has done a spring concert, three years ago before the pandemic. Therefore, Vianna has contributed tremendously to our group’s rebuilding efforts this year, taking up so many responsibilities a normal member would never be expected to carry.”

Sano acknowledged the challenge of having three classes of pseudo-frosh and commended the efforts of Stanford Taiko alumni who have dedicated their time to coaching new members.

“It was such a joy to see Stanford Taiko return to an in-person performance in Bing,” Sano wrote.

“One of the best things was welcoming master taiko artist Kenny Endo and his Contemporary Ensemble as collaborators on the concert, and seeing so many people from the greater taiko community at the concert coming out to support the artists and the art form.”

“I’ve had a long relationship with Stanford Taiko in the music department here,” Kenny Endo said. “And I really appreciate their support for what I do. I like to try to support what they do and this collaboration is a really great result.”

Wang shared a similar sentiment about the importance of the taiko family. “[Our] 30th year not only marks our establishment for three decades but also serves as a witness to the friends and mentors we’ve made along the way,” Wang wrote. “We’re so happy to be back at the Bing stage, sharing our music with the local communities.

To me, most importantly, I feel so lucky to have become a part of this family.”

doing these days.”

Most of the songs are under three minutes, making you itch for more. “Night Gown” has a driving beat accompanied by a groovy bass.

Soft synths with a low pass filter are sprinkled all over the track, creating space in the frequency spectrum for the vocals to shine. Its concise two-minute-49-second runtime almost forces you to play it again and again, as you crave more of the same sound.

Another Legwurk track that I love is “Waiting on Me.” Starting with just acoustic guitars, the track soon evolves into a funky beat with vocal effects and high-pitched synths. Well before the track becomes repetitive, Legwurk delivers a bridge with her signature chorusfilled guitars arranged in a fun rhythmic pattern building up to the last big hook.

Whether it’s music you need to play while you relax and decompress after a long day, or music to get your head bumping and legs tapping to the rhythm as you work, Legwurk has a little something for every moment in our complicated, ever-changing lives.

Editor’s Note: This article is a review and contains subjective opinions, thoughts and critiques.

CRYSTAL CHEN/The Stanford Daily

Stanford's School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences will soon be torn down to make way for a new building. The University will wait for the structure to naturally erode.

HUMOR

New school gets $1B after CS typo

By OM JAHAGIRDAR MANAGING EDITOR

Editor’s Note: This article is purely satirical and fictitious.

All attributions in this article are not genuine, and this story should be read in the context of pure entertainment only.

”C

limate and sustainability is going to be the new computer science” panicked John Doerr yesterday after discovering that his $1.1 billion donation had accidentally been made to the new sustainability school. “At least it better be,” Doerr

FAREWELL Continued from page 7 al, gasoline-powered engines is all but inevitable. As Moers continued to tout the car as a “spectacular finale for an iconic bloodline,” twinges of bittersweet memories cascaded down the comments section. I knew that another 12-cylinder Aston Martin was not in the pipeline — and so did Moers.

“This is the last of the breed, the final time we’ll put our biggest engine into our most agile sports car,” he said.

For most, I would imagine, this news is hardly tear-jerking. But to me, it’s the beginning of the end of an automotive era that’s interwoven with my childhood. It’s the discontinuation of not only a feat of engineering, but a feat of artistry that symbolizes the unencumbered joy I once found in naturally aspirated internal combustion, Sunday cruising and the deep redolence of leather.

Internal combustion is a paragon of controlled chaos. I knew this factoid in first grade, when my older sister and I presented on the phenomenon at our lower school’s science fair. Our trifold board was plastered with goofy screenshots of race cars from “Toontown” and abstruse chemical diagrams that, in all likeli-

continued. “I’m paying helluva lotta money for this.”

According to inside sources obtained by the Stanford Occasionally, the sustainability school initially tried to return the money. “Usually we only get checks that big from fossil fuel companies,” explained Arun Majumdar, the dean of the new school. “It took us by surprise.”

Doerr reportedly declined to take back the money, arguing that “It’s really just not worth my time to correct every mistake I’ve ever made. I’m a busy man. Time is money, people.”

In a statement later published by his secretary, however, Doerr struck a different tone. “This is the kind of

advocacy we need to see more of these days. People contributing to sustainability without even thinking about it. I care deeply about the planet and definitely not only about putting my name on a building.”

According to Majumdar, Doerr has made an excellent unintentional investment. “He’s getting a lot more bang for his buck, $1B would only get him a 30-person classroom in a CS building. Maybe a couple mediocre TAs.” When asked for comment on the lost funding, engineering school dean Jennifer Widom didn’t seem concerned: “What’s the guy’s name again? Door was it? Yeah, we’ll scrape by without him.”

hood, we obtained from a brisk Google Search. Pages upon pages of animations abounded the Internet as well — typically demonstrating the compression-ignited systems in diesels. Something about all that hot air and fuel repeatedly getting squashed by pistons seemed like a disaster waiting to happen. Cool!

One of these days, one of those explosions is going to be a little too strong, no? But maybe an element of perceived precarity made it invigorating to study.

At that time, a few months into 2009, the first-generation Tesla Roadster had already hit the market. In the years since, the heavy-hitting Lamborghini Aventador has seen its heyday and is signing off as the Ultimae; BMW has announced a model based on its M760i xDrive that will be called the Final V12.

Indeed, many others are already in the rear-view mirror, including the Rolls-Royce Phantom, the McLaren F1 and the Jaguar EType. These gas-guzzling, atmosphere-polluting beauties will pass on the torch now, ringing in a new era.

Conversely, not all recent developments in the advent of this era came with a warning. Take last summer for instance, when a 13-year-old electric car manufacturer from Croatia called Rimac Automobili merged with Bugatti. The 123-yearold French brand is known for its breakneck supercars whose quad-

turbocharged engines take a single minute to pump in the amount of air a human breathes in five days and can deplete a full tank of gasoline faster than you can read the Wikipedia entry on carbon monoxide.

“It cannot be,” you say. But it is.

Heck, even Hummers are electric now, and one of them was parked by Florence Moore Hall last month.

Call it obscene — go right ahead.

But in any case, may we agree that this vehicle is ... different.

Different. Maybe that’s what I’ll miss — the variation, the enrichment of the intermingling of so many types of cars. No man drives down the same road twice, so to speak. This transient stage between rumbling, strictly internal combustion and whirring, strictly electric locomotion will likewise come and go, to be replaced by another unique landscape, if only a forbearing one.

Humility is a road that ought never to go out of style. And simultaneously, there’s something unshakable about the three silent words that overlay the final frame of the Vantage’s unveiling. As it screams down an open street with all its might, streaks of red trail the taillights. Then, the conclusion comes into resolution: “NEVER LEAVE QUIETLY.” It’s a chilling moment, almost as if a keen ear were to listen closely, the ghost of Dylan Thomas could be heard.

10 N Friday, May 13, 2022

The Stanford Daily

SPORTS TENNIS

Men and women head to Sweet 16 Cardinal teams advance through two rounds of NCAAs

By ELLS BOONE DESK EDITOR

championship tournament, Stanford defeated No. 13 Wagner (35-4, 16-0 MAAC) and No. 4 UCLA (24-6, 4-2 MPSF) en route to its 11th NCAA finals appearance in the last 12 seasons and eighth NCAA title in program history.

Given the two teams’ close match two weeks ago, many anticipated a battle for the

It was a successful weekend on the national stage for Stanford’s two tennis programs, as both the men’s (19-5, 6-2 Pac-12) and the women’s (19-5, 7-2 Pac-12) teams advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

On the men’s side, the Cardinal traveled to Cambridge, Mass. to participate in the Harvard Regional. They took down No. 35 Mississippi State (14-13, 4-8 SEC) in the first round 40. Sophomore Arthur Fery and senior Alexandre Rotsaert stayed in the No. 2 slot and took down their opponents 6-4. On court three, freshman Max Basing and fifth-year Timothy Sah won 6-1.

Singles was more of the same for Stanford.

Basing was the first off the courts after securing a 6-3, 7-5 victory on court two. Next was Rotsaert, who took a 6-4, 6-2 win on court three. Finally, Sah earned the clinching point with a 6-2, 7-6 (5) triumph at the No. 5 spot.

The first-round victory set up the Cardinal to play host No. 14 Harvard (19-5, 7-0 Ivy League) the next day. The Crimson had advanced past Monmouth (20-4, 6-0 MAAC) in the opening round.

Stanford continued its momentum from the previous match, winning the doubles point thanks to Fery and Rotsaert, as well as Basing and Sah. Singles would not be nearly as smooth sailing. Rotsaert quickly handled his opponent on court four with a score of 6-2, 6-0. Then, Harvard

Please see NCAA, page 12

Please see TENNIS, page 12

SCOTT GOULD/isiphotos.com

Sixth-year Makenzie Fischer (above) prepares to shoot in a match at Avery Aquatic Center earlier this season. On Sunday, Fischer led the Cardinal with four goals and two steals, as they defeated No. 2 USC to capture their eighth NCAA title in program history.

CHAMPS AGAIN

WOMEN’S WATER POLO WINS EIGHTH NCAA TITLE

By MADELINE GRABB STAFF WRITER

No. 1 Stanford women’s water polo (25-2, 5-1 MPSF) closed out its season in style on Sunday, claiming the NCAA title with a hard-fought victory over conference rival No. 2 USC (20-4, 6-0 MPSF). Through 32 minutes of unyielding play, the Cardinal managed to contain the Trojans, swimming

away with a 10-7 win and the NCAA championship in Ann Arbor’s Canham Natatorium.

The matchup presented a rematch of the MPSF title game just a fortnight ago, in which Stanford clawed its way out of a fourth quarter deficit for an 11-9 win. The conference title gave the Cardinal an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament and landed them the top seed.

In the first two rounds of the NCAA

WOMEN’S GOLF

Stanford qualifies for NCAAs

Cardinal finish tied for second at home

By GAVIN MCDONELL MANAGING EDITOR

BOB DREBIN/isiphotos.com

Junior designated hitter Brett Barrera (above) swings at a pitch in a game at Sunken Diamond. Against USF, he hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning to cut the Dons’ lead to 6-4 and spark a comeback.

BASEBALL

Comeback in the city: Baseball defeats Dons

By KAUSHIK SAMPATH STAFF WRITER

No. 8 Stanford baseball (3014, 15-9 Pac-12) defeated the USF Dons (24-27, 11-13 WCC) 97 in San Francisco on Tuesday.

Late-game comebacks have become a common occurrence this year for Stanford, and this game featured yet another one for the Cardinal. After getting down early in the contest, the Cardinal offense produced a huge fifth-inning rally to lead the team

to victory.

Sophomore starting pitcher Drew Dowd got the start for Stanford. After getting out of a jam in the first inning to keep the Dons scoreless, Dowd gave up a walk and hit two batters, which loaded the bases with nobody out.

After securing two quick outs, Dowd allowed a single to USF right fielder Harris Williams III, which plated two runs. After this play, Dowd was removed from the

Please see BASEBALL, page 12

For the 12th consecutive season, No. 1 Stanford women’s golf will be heading to the NCAA Championships. With their season on the line, the Cardinal finished in a tie for second at the NCAA Regional at the Stanford Golf Course on Wednesday, punching their ticket to the national tournament in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Last season, Stanford dominated the regional tournament from start to finish. Then-freshman Rachel Heck and then-sophomore Angelina Ye finished one-two, as the Cardinal won by a whopping 30 strokes. This year, with four of the top-25 teams in the country in the field — No. 12 USC, No. 14 LSU, No. 24 Texas Tech and No. 25 Kentucky — such a lopsided victory would not be in store.

In the opening round on Monday, Stanford got off to a slow start but rallied on the back nine to end the day in third place out of 12 teams.

“I thought we were a little tight coming out of the gate, and that’s to be expected,” head coach Anne Walker told GoStanford after the first round. “The conditions were hard — wind was blowing, and it was cold. We were several over through the first six holes, then I saw everyone settle in, start to be patient and putts started falling. I was really proud of the way we came back to shoot one-under for the day.”

The No. 1-ranked amateur in the world, freshman Rose Zhang, led the Cardinal with a two-under-par 69 in the first round. Zhang made three birdies, while her only bogey of the day came on the difficult 10th hole.

Junior Brooke Seay found herself two-over-par through six holes but reversed the momentum of her round to tie Zhang’s 69. Seay shot a bogey-free 33 on the back nine to do so.

“Brooke has been playing great all spring, but these last two weeks she’s been working so hard,” Walk-

er said.

Senior Aline Krauter and sophomore Sadie Englemann rounded out Stanford’s scoring on Monday with rounds of 72 and 73, respectively. After one day, Stanford trailed USC by three shots and LSU by four.

Heck, the tournament’s defending champion and reigning Annika Award winner, posted a four-overpar 75 on Monday in her first competitive round in over a month.

Heck missed the Pac-12 Championships due to a non-COVID-19 illness.

“I think it was a big deal to have her get 18 holes under her belt,” Walker said after Heck’s first round. “I feel she was right on the edge today; she was a little bit rusty. Anyone that took four weeks off would be rusty, and if she can play again tomorrow, then that’s a

Please see GOLF, page 11

BRANDON VALLANCE/isiphotos.com

Freshman Rose Zhang (above) hits a tee shot in a tournament in the fall.

In the NCAA Regional at the Stanford Golf Course, Zhang led Stanford with a second place finish individually, posting a final-round 66.

Friday, May 13, 2022 N 11

The Stanford Daily

GOLF Continued from page 10 small win.”

Heck would not return to the lineup in round two. Freshman Caroline Sturdza filled her spot in the five-golfer lineup at the last minute.

“Sturdza subbed in late, got to the first tee with 20 minutes’ notice and goes driver, three wood to 20 feet for eagle, and I think that set the tone for her,” Walker said. “It was a really comforting first hole.

I’m very proud of her.”

Sturdza posted a gutsy, even-par 71 on Tuesday.

In the second round, Krauter, a postseason veteran, tied her lowest score of her career in relation to par.

She birdied the third, fourth, seventh and 15th holes in her bogeyfree 67.

“Krauter’s shots in general — they’re better than they’ve ever been,” Walker said. “But her patience is higher, and she understands the game really well.”

JANITOR Continued from page 1 2700, while UG2 subcontracted workers are represented by the California division SEIU USWW. Last September, SEIU negotiated a collective master contract for all of California and managed to achieve a small salary increase for the 22 janitorial companies it represents, which include UG2, according to Liborio. This contract is state-wide and does not take into account the specific needs of janitorial workers at Stanford, Liborio said. Because of this, side agreements are often negotiated to address more nuanced issues.

In March 2021, Stanford asked janitorial workers to present information on their demands, prompting the subcontracted workers to form a committee to prepare a formal request letter to send to the University. A copy of the letter was also sent to UG2, which Liborio said had hired a representative who tried to discourage workers from pursuing the requests.

The Daily has reached out to UG2 for comment.

“While presenting a proposal of a salary increase and other small benefits that could slightly mitigate our economic crises, in an extra collective contract, which we call a side letter agreement, we have received a negative attitude from UG2 executives,” the janitorial union said in a statement calling for community support for the UG2 staff employed at Stanford.

The statement was originally written in Spanish and translated by The Daily.

The janitorial union statement explains that as of February 2022, janitors directly hired by Stanford received a wage increase of $125 every two weeks as a form of hazard pay for working during the pandemic, which they will receive

ELECTION Continued from page 2 tral, but in addition, tackling methane. Methane has dire effects of trapping heat in the atmosphere — at times more effective than carbon. We need to have a conversation about our agricultural practices and the production of meat in this country as well, because it is fueling huge methane emissions.

Lastly, we need to talk about the United States’s role in the global community. China and other adversaries have been investing in fossil fuels in developing countries because the United States has taken a step back in terms of its leadership on the world stage.

We need to conceptualize how to create effective trade agreements that promote renewable energy and promote U.S. companies to actually expand their markets into developing countries as well.

TSD: You hope the U.S. will adopt 100% renewable-based electricity production by 2035. This is a plan even more advanced than that of Germany, which is rather dependent on fossil-fuel importation. Do you think that the U.S. can be self-sufficient on renewable energy sources?

AD: By 2035, without any doubt. It isn’t as if we’re waiting for some new technology to develop to get there. A majority of the ideas to get to a carbon-neutral future exist right here, throughout the California 16th district.

What I hope to do is create a climate innovation hub that brings together our smartest minds from Stanford and other universities, our greatest activists, small busi-

Englemann and Zhang also broke par in the second round, with scores of 69 and 70, respectively.

Entering the final round, Stanford was chasing USC from four strokes behind.

On Wednesday, the Cardinal made a final run to get close to USC but ultimately finished in a tie for second with LSU. Zhang led the final-round charge with a statement front nine.

The true freshman got her round underway with a birdie on the easy par five first hole. Later, Zhang made eagle on the seventh hole and birdie on the eighth on the way to a scorching 31 on the front.

Zhang cooled off a bit, but she added a final birdie on the 17th. She would finish with a five-under-par 66, the lowest score of the Stanford Regional. Only USC freshman Amari Avery beat her, and just by a single stroke in the tournament’s individual competition. In eight starts in her young college career, Zhang now has three wins and three second-place finishes.

“Rose is incredible. She didn’t have her A-game this week, but there she was still scratching for the

title at the end,” Walker said.

Seay finished her strong tournament performance with a oneunder-par 70 on Wednesday. Her one-under-par total for the tournament was good for a tie for eighth individually. Englemann tied for 12th in the individual competition, while Krauter tied for 16th.

Overall, it was a strong regional performance for the top-ranked Cardinal team. Most importantly, by finishing in the top four teams, Stanford qualified for the NCAA Championships. Still, Walker knows that the team needs to improve.

“I think before we head to Arizona, we have quite a bit of work to do,” she said. “There were some missed shots here or there. Some of that was playing at home and having a cushion, but we’ll get to work and refocus.”

Next, after over a week of practice, the team will head to Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, for the NCAA Championships, which begin May 20. The Cardinal will need to survive four rounds of stroke play qualifying to advance to the match-play bracket.

until December 2022. In addition, as of March, these workers received a 3% wage increase. Since this increase was negotiated between directly hired workers and Stanford, subcontracted workers did not receive a wage increase.

“We, the janitors hired by the company UG2, ask for understanding and justice as we have cleaned and disinfected Stanford University facilities since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and many of our partners were infected, bringing the disease to their families,” the statement reads. “On Tuesday, April 12, UG2 presented us with a counterproposal, in which we are denied the requested increase, arguing that what was negotiated in the master contract was sufficient for our work.”

While Stanford said that it appreciates the work of UG2 custodians, it said that the negotiations are between the union and UG2, not the University.

“While the University is not a party to those contract talks, we hope the two sides can reach an agreement soon,” wrote Stanford spokesperson E.J. Miranda in a statement.

The UG2 janitorial union has asked Stanford Students for Workers Rights (SWR) for help in garnering student support ahead of the May 5 negotiations. In the days that followed, SWR created a petition that has amassed over 1,000 signatures. Their goal is to amplify janitorial voices and support the workers’ efforts.

“It was raised to our attention that this is happening and that janitorial staff are not getting what they want,” said Ashwin Prabu ’25, a member of SWR. “A petition seemed like the easiest, more implementable way that we could show numbers and quantify Stanford student support.”

In addition to the petition, SWR hosted a teach-in on Saturday to discuss next steps. Approximately 15 students gathered on Columbae

lawn and some joined virtually to speak about the current state of the janitorial contracts as well as how to get further involved with SWR. Students were prompted to share their thoughts on how they view Stanford, with some using terms like “landlord,” “business” and “concentrated wealth.”

SWR also tabled during Admit Weekend alongside the Young Democratic Socialists of America and wrote messages in chalk encouraging students to sign the petition.

“There are kids on campus that do care about these issues and would be infuriated if they heard about what is going on,” Prabu said. “It’s simply about raising awareness about the current issue.”

During the teach-in, SWR leaders also gave an overview of the history of inequality related to subcontracting companies. They explained that there have been nationwide discrepancies between how directly hired and subcontracted workers are treated. During the pandemic, for example, many directly-hired workers who were laid off were still paid, while most subcontracted workers were laid off with no pay and lost benefits.

Liborio explained that janitors at Stanford have protected students during the COVID-19 pandemic, putting their own lives at risk. Now, he hopes subcontracted janitors receive the recognition and support they deserve. He also expressed strong appreciation for students’ support and hopes it continues as they head into negotiations.

“In a union meeting we had last week, I did tell them that the students will support us. We recognize students’ fight for justice. As it’s written on Green Library, ‘No Justice, No Peace.’ We, as janitors, try to keep the peace, but when we need to fight, we will fight,” Liborio said.

ness owners, entrepreneurs and our everyday citizenry to form a committee and create the ideas that we need to do this maybe by 2030.

If we could mass produce hundreds of thousands of ships and planes during World War II, we can do this.

sure universal health care coverage. Are you looking for a public option that will compete with private insurers or are you looking for a “Medicare for All” single payer system?

AD: I would love a “Medicare for All” system — however, at the same time, you have to think pragmatically and about where it fits financially.

I don’t see our country having the bandwidth to push that and at the same time climate action over the next few years. I think climate is more of a priority in terms of spending.

But, in the meantime, that doesn’t mean we don’t fight for a public option, free or affordable generic drugs and hold the pharmaceutical industry accountable.

TSD: What do you think will serve as the most powerful tools in addressing the issue of homelessness?

AD: First, let’s tackle private equity firms and forward investors who are buying single family homes and keeping them empty. Housing needs to remain local and human.

But we need a holistic approach of care for marginalized communities: mental health resources, educational resources and vocational training programs.

TSD: On the topic of issues with multiple lanes of approach, do you view education the same way? Would you invest in the public school system, voucher programs, school choice and charter schools or all of the above?

AD: All of the above, but I think my biggest priorities are two-fold in education. One, I think we’re so long overdue for universal preschool. The words that a child hears when they are three, four and five directly dictate whether they’re going to an extraordinary institution like Stanford.

At the same time, we need to rethink the debt that we’re putting on college students and whether we’re really hindering their opportunities to enter into the workforce, get into homeownership and start a family.

TSD: On your campaign website, you mentioned wanting to en-

TSD: If you were elected to Congress, there is a chance that you will have to work with a Republican majority. How are you prepared to contend with that?

AD: I would love the opportunity to work with Republicans. I think there is a sense of divisiveness that both parties are participating in, and I think sometimes you just need a new negotiator to come into the room.

With Putin’s war on Ukraine and European dependence on Russia for fossil fuels, there’s a unique moment arising for the next Congress to speak about climate change through a national security lens that I think would get a lot of Republican support.

While I hope to work with Republicans, if there are Republicans still questioning whether a woman has the right to choose to do with her own body, we must fight that ferociously and meet that intensity with a deep commitment to human rights.

POWWOW Continued from page 1 generations.

In 1970, a mere 25 Native American students enrolled at Stanford, joining the 14 who had enrolled in 1968. The first Stanford Powwow was held in 1971 to offset the negative image of the University’s Indian mascot at the time and to bring diverse Native American presence to campus.

51 years later, Stanford is now home to more than 450 Indigenousand Native-identifying students and hosts the largest student-run powwow in the nation.

Nevertheless, work remains to be done for the Native community on campus, the University and the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, whose ancestral lands include the Stanford campus, according to Alyssa LaTray ’23.

Among the information booths present at the Powwow were the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe and Justice for Muwekma, a new student group at Stanford.

Together, the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe and Justice for Muwekma are working to inform the public about the California Senate Joint Resolution 13 (SJR 13), a piece of legislation that seeks federal recognition of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe.

This status would grant the Muwekma Ohlone certain rights and services from the US government including healthcare services, educational grants and reclamation of ancestral remains.

As a member of a formerly nonfederally recognized Little Shell Chippewa Tribe and descendant of the Blackfeet Tribe, LaTray was eager to volunteer to table for the Justice for Muwekma at the Powwow, she said. LaTray understands first-hand the impact a federal recognition can have.

“Prior to a federal recognition of my tribe, a lot of my people had no access to healthcare,” LaTray said.”

Now we have government funding that is really helpful for mental health and health care resources. We are even building a gym with the help of the funding.”

The government’s reluctance to offer recognition to the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe that they have built on is “absurd,” LaTray added.

Isabel Dean ’25, who is a member

COUNCIL Continued from page 2 to all graduate students. According to Breeland, R&DE is curious about whether these mailing issues extend beyond EVGR. Councilors additionally heard from first-year aeronautics and astronautics Ph.D. student Emi Soroka M.S. ’21, who monitors the EVGR mail reports address, about more detailed student complaints.

Soroka emphasized the severity of mailing issues, sharing examples of student complaints about missing bills and missing credit cards. Less than two years after EVGR residents reported problems voting via mail in the U.S. elections, Soroka is worried that a similar problem will arise again.

“We have a very serious mail problem and I don’t think it’s getting better,” Soroka said. “In fact, I think it’s getting worse.”

Soroka urged councilors to look into providing PO boxes for students who need critical items delivered and to publicize how to escalate mail and package issues when they are not resolved by UG2.

Councilor and fifth-year modern thought and literature Ph.D. student Jamie Fine expressed gratitude for Soroka’s reports, but noted that the GSC cannot legally provide PO boxes for students. However, councilors could help pressure R&DE to provide PO boxes for students, she said.

Emily Schell, also a councilor and a fourth-year developmental and psychological sciences Ph.D. student, questioned the viability of Stanford’s partnership with UG2 given the deluge of student complaints regarding mail and packages.

“It’s been pretty clear that UG2 has been failing to fulfill its contractual obligation,” Schell said. “This partnership from the beginning has created more problems than it’s solved.”

Election ties Councilors also brainstormed solutions for resolving ties among several contested GSC positions for the 2022-2023 school year. The council has elected 13 of its 15 voting members to positions, according to GSC co-chair KC Shah J.D. ’22, after the recent 2022 ASSU election.

The council’s conundrum is centered around the remaining two positions, with four write-in candidates tied for the Graduate School of Business (GSB) representative and three write-in candidates tied for the

of Chickasaw Nation and Choctaw Nation, echoed the importance of a federal recognition of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe. She said that she appreciates the work that the Justice for Muwekma group does on campus.

“We hope the attendees get a chance to recognize that they are in the beautiful Muwekma Ohlone tribal area,” said Monica V. Arellano, the vice chairwoman of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area. Arellano addednshe was excited about the first-ever dance performance of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe at the Stanford Powwow.

Despite the small Native population on campus, surrounding herself with people with stories and experiences similar to her own at this year’s Powwow was a “welcoming change” for Dean. She said she felt an “overwhelming sense of belonging and pride” in her culture.

Some students have expressed frustration with other programming happening on campus during the Powwow, preventing non-Native students from attending.

According to Snehal Naik, the senior director of the Office of Student Engagement, the transition to in-person celebrations has been busy, and student groups work together to schedule events throughout the quarter. “Our vision is to help student organizers hold many and varied events throughout the quarter to provide a diversity of social life choices for students,” he wrote to The Daily.

The reach of the Powwow is not limited to Indigenous populations — the multi-day event is open to the general public, giving Indigenous community members an “opportunity to showcase our culture on campus,” she said. “Anyone can come and be a part of the experience and learn about the culture in a way that is presented by Native people.”

Along with longstanding Powwow-goers, this year was the first time at the event for many attendees, including David Madej ’22.

Madej encouraged people who have never been to the Powwow to see it as an opportunity to get to know the Native community better.

“Not a lot of people get to interact with Native American culture in a meaningful way,” he said. “I am grateful to have this exposure.” He described the Stanford Powwow as a “truly unique experience,” and encouraged Stanford students to experience it in future years.

Graduate School of Education (GSE) representative. Two of the candidates tied for the GSE representative have asked to split the position, Shah said.

According to the GSC Bylaws, five of the 15 voting members must be at-large representatives, meaning that they are selected from the entire graduate population rather than a specific school. Candidates for nonat-large districts may also be considered for at-large districts, meaning that those candidates who are not selected for either the GSB or GSE position may then be considered for any of the five at-large positions.

The council must first resolve the ties between the GSB and GSE candidates before voting on the at-large seats, according to GSC co-chair and fifth-year communications Ph.D. student Sanna Ali. However, because four of the existing candidates for at-large seats received more votes in the ASSU election than any of the GSB and GSE candidates, the GSB and GSE candidates can only compete for one at-large seat.

Councilors debated the pros and cons of selecting more than 15 voting members to the council, as well as whether increasing member count would violate its bylaws.

“I don’t understand the benefit to us with the exclusivity, because what it seems to be doing is minimizing our numbers,” Fine said.

Several proposals included selecting some of the candidates as non-voting members of the council, or allowing several candidates to share a single position. Fine floated the possibility of one candidate serving in the position for two quarters of the year, with the other serving the remaining two quarters.

Schell raised concerns about selecting candidates who lack complete knowledge of the responsibilities of a GSC seat, a problem that could be heightened among candidates who did not run for a seat, but were written in by classmates. She suggested reaching out to each GSB and GSE candidate and informing them of the duties of the role, as well as cautioning against taking the position if they anticipate scheduling concerns.

“If folks are like ‘heck yeah, I’m here for it,’ then yeah, I want them on,” Schell said. “But if they don’t have the capacity, then no.”

Councilors resolved to take up Schell’s suggestion. According to Ali, the GSC will follow up with each GSB and GSE candidate and inform them of what being a voter member entails, and ask them if they still want to compete for the position.

Candidates who do not win either the GSB or GSE seat will be considered for the remaining at-large seat.

12 N Friday, May 13, 2022

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BASEBALL Continued from page 10

JOHN LOZANO/isiphotos.com

Senior pitcher Alex Williams (above) stands on the mound during a game earlier this season against Arizona State. Wiliams went 8.1 innings in the Cardinal’s first win over Cal on Friday, allowing just four hits in total.

BASEBALL

Cardinal sweep Cal Baseball wins fifth series in last six

By KAUSHIK SAMPATH STAFF WRITER

No. 11 Stanford baseball (29-14, 15-9 Pac-12) swept its three-game series against the California Golden Bears (22-25, 11-15 Pac-12) over the weekend. With the sweep, the Cardinal have now won five of their previous six conference series.

Senior pitcher Alex Williams, the Pac-12 leader in earned run average (ERA), started for the Cardinal in Friday’s game. However, he ran into trouble in the first inning.

Cal first baseman Nathan Martorella hit a single to right center to get on base, and after a strikeout, second baseman Hance Smith reached first following an infielder error, which also advanced Martorella to third. Then, designated hitter (DH) Caleb Lomavita hit into a fielder’s choice, which allowed Martorella to reach home plate.

After allowing this run, however, Williams turned in a lights-out pitching performance, going 8.1 innings while allowing four total hits and two unearned runs throughout the game.

Feeding off Williams’ pitching, the Cardinal offense showed out early in the game. Sophomore first baseman Graham Carter closed Cal’s lead quickly, hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning to knot the game at 1-1.

In the second inning, sophomore infielder Tommy Troy, who slotted in at DH for Friday’s game, hit a double to score sophomore left fielder Eddie Park from second

TENNIS Continued from page 10 won the next two matches to tie the score at two. Fifth-year Axel Geller lost on court two and senior Sangeet Sridhar lost on court five. The two teams then exchanged points, as Fery got one back for the Cardinal at the top spot, and Harvard’s Steven Sun defeated Sah at the bottom of the lineup.

With the score knotted at three apiece, it all came down to a decisive third set on court three between Stanford’s Basing and Harvard’s Brian Shi. Basing had lost the first set but battled back to take the second. As a freshman playing in the biggest match of his college career thus far, Basing showed nerves of steel to prevail 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, and send the Cardinal into the Sweet 16.

Stanford will now face No. 3 Baylor (28-3, 4-1 Big 12) this Friday, May 13 in Waco, Texas at 4 p.m. PT. The Bears defeated Abilene Christian in the first round and Texas A&M in the second round to reach this point.

During the regular season, Baylor defeated four teams ranked inside the top 10. The other Sweet 16 matchup in Stanford’s section of the bracket is Florida State vs. No. 6 Tennessee.

On the women’s side, the Cardinal hosted the regional, and the team defended its home courts, avoiding a potential upset. First up was Southeast Missouri State (15-7, 5-2 OVC).

Stanford clinched the doubles point thanks to 6-2 victories on courts one and three. In singles, sen-

game and replaced by sophomore Tommy O’Rourke, who forced a pop out that ended the inning.

But this would be the only out O’Rourke got in the game, as he walked three straight batters in the third inning and was promptly replaced by junior Cody Jensen. During the inning, Jensen would hit two batters with the bases loaded, which gave the Dons two more runs. In addition to these unforced errors, Jensen would give up a sacrifice fly and another RBI single.

This left the Dons with a 6-0 lead.

The Cardinal cut into the lead in the top of the fourth inning after sophomore third baseman Drew Bowser hit an RBI single. But it was the fifth inning where Stanford drew real blood.

After Brock Jones led off with a triple, an error by the Dons’ shortstop plated Jones and allowed sophomore first baseman Graham Carter to reach first base. Then, junior DH Brett Barrera hit a tworun home run to cut the lead to 6-4.

Later in the inning, Bowser and junior shortstop Adam Crampton hit two-run home runs to give Stan-

NCAA Continued from page 10 2022 crown. USC 2-meter Mireia Guiral confirmed these expectations with an early goal for the Trojans. Cardinal sixth-year driver Makenzie Fischer responded shortly after with a goal of her own, knotting the score at 1-1.

Two more goals followed for the Trojans, giving them a 3-1 lead until senior 2-meter defender Chloe Harbilas found the net with 21 seconds remaining in the opening period to bring Stanford within a goal.

USC again struck first in the second period, extending its lead to 4-2. However, a valiant defensive effort allowed the Cardinal to hold off their opponents for the rest of the period. On the offensive end, junior driver Ryann Neushul scored for Stanford, narrowing USC’s lead to 4-3 at the half.

Facing a deficit, the Cardinal knew they had their work cut out for them. Fischer made the team’s intentions known, scoring the first goal of the third period to tie the match at 4-4. The two teams quickly locked into a dead heat, exchanging the next several points. Entering the final frame, the Cardinal held a 6-5 lead.

“In the half break, we decided that that’s not the energy we wanted to put forward,” Fischer said in a post-match interview with ESPN. “And I think you saw a whole new team in the second half.”

Like the third quarter, the beginning of the fourth period was a back-and-forth affair. After USC tied the match at 6-6, Fischer found the cage for her third goal of the game to give Stanford a 7-6 lead.

The Trojans answered quickly to tie the match for the fifth time that day.

However, that was the last USC goal Stanford would allow, as the Trojans were stifled by the Cardinal defense. In the final three minutes of the match, the NCAA tournament and its season, Stanford

ford the lead, 8-6.

But the game was far from over.

Dons third baseman Mario DeMera hit an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to cut Stanford’s lead to 8-7. And in the top of the eighth inning, do-it-all freshman pitcher/outfielder Braden Montgomery hit an RBI single to score Jones and extend Stanford’s lead back to two runs.

In addition to his hitting, Montgomery was arguably Stanford’s best pitcher on Tuesday, going 2.1 innings with no earned runs allowed.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, with Stanford sitting in the lead 9-7, the Cardinal brought out junior Quinn Mathews to close the game. Mathews found himself in a jam after giving up two walks and a single, as the bases were loaded with two outs. But Mathews was able to force Dons pinch hitter Brandon Greim into a pop out to save the game for Stanford.

Looking ahead, Stanford will face the Utah Utes (25-20-1, 10-14 Pac-12) in Salt Lake City this weekend. Winning the series against Utah could put the Cardinal in a more favorable position to host a super-regional in the NCAA tournament. First pitch for Friday’s game against Utah is scheduled for 5 p.m. PT. was unstoppable, tallying three more goals to earn the 10-7 victory.

Following the match, head coach John Tanner expressed pride in his team’s composure throughout the tight match: “Each time it felt like the game might get away from us, we really stood tall and made one big play after another.”

Tanner praised Fischer, who led the team with four goals. “It was Fisch,” he said. “Those were amazing finishes late in the game.”

Neushul was close behind Fischer with three goals, along with Harbilas, junior 2-meter defender Sophie Wallace and sophomore driver Jewel Roemer, who each contributed a goal. Fischer’s younger sister, redshirt junior 2-meter Aria Fischer, had a game-high three assists.

Winning runs in the family for the Fischer sisters, both of whom are Olympians. Their father, Erich Fischer, is also a former water poloist and Olympian who completed his collegiate career at Stanford.

His daughters took gold with the rest of the United States national team in 2016 and 2020, and Sunday’s win marked the second NCAA championship for Aria and the third for Makenzie.

Reflecting on her final collegiate match, Makenzie emphasized the role that mentality played for her and her teammates late in the game, citing some advice the team recently received from American water poloist and Olympian Jessica Steffens ’09. “[Steffens] said that you want to make sure that you don’t regret anything when you’re leaving the game, win or lose,” Fischer said.

“And I think that’s kind of what we embodied in the end.”

Women’s water polo becomes the second Stanford team to capture an NCAA championship during the 2021-2022 season, following men’s gymnastics’ title in April.

The team’s victory caps off a stellar run for the Cardinal and an equally remarkable collegiate career for Makenzie Fischer and the team’s other seniors.

base. Junior catcher Kody Huff hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the third inning to extend Stanford’s lead to 5-1. Do-it-all freshman outfielder Braden Montgomery added insurance to Stanford’s lead, hitting a single to score second baseman Brett Barrera from second base, which increased Stanford’s lead to 6-1.

Junior Quinn Matthews came in to relieve Williams in the ninth inning. Even though Matthews gave up one run, Stanford built a sizable lead that was too much for Cal to overcome. The Cardinal ultimately won 6-2.

The second game of the series had no shortage of in-game drama.

Stanford head coach David Esquer decided to start sophomore pitcher Drew Dowd for the game. After retiring the lead-off batter, Dowd had a rough pitching stretch, allowing four straight hits, a walk, a hit-bypitch, a passed ball and three runs.

After this stretch, Dowd was replaced by sophomore relief pitcher Joey Dixon. For the remainder of the first inning, Dixon gave up an error and a double, which gave Cal a 6-0 lead. In the third inning, Cal got two runners on base with a pair of singles. The Golden Bears then used a pair of small ball moves, which included a fielder’s choice and bunt, to plate one more run and extend their lead to 7-0.

However, as seen previously this season, this Stanford team has the offensive firepower and fortitude to mount big comebacks. The Cardinal’s scoring started in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Huff hit a tworun home run to cut the deficit to 72. Stanford plated another run in the bottom of the fifth inning after an infield error. Park then hit a single in the bottom of the sixth inning to

score Montgomery from third base.

As a result of another infielder error, Stanford scored two runs to inch closer to Cal’s 7-6 lead. Then, junior shortstop Adam Crampton singled to right center to score Tommy Troy and tie the game at 7-7.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Montgomery led off with a double to left center and advanced to third base on an error. After Cal retired a hitter on a groundout, sophomore pinch hitter Alberto Rios drew a walk to get on first base. Cal then intentionally walked Park in order to position themselves for a double play. However, Crampton drew a walk with the bases loaded to win the game for Stanford 8-7.

The third game featured a great all-around performance from Stanford. The Cardinal put up doubledigit runs, including home runs, sacrifice flies, singles and doubles. In addition, the team shut out the Golden Bears’ offense until the seventh inning.

Stanford got on top early in the game, earning a 5-0 lead through six innings. Even after a slight scare at the top of the seventh inning, Stanford added six more insurance runs to put the game out of reach for the Golden Bears. The Cardinal won the game 11-3 to clinch their first sweep against Cal since 2017.

Looking ahead, Stanford will play against the USF Dons in San Francisco before facing the Utah Utes (25-20, 10-14 Pac-12) in Salt Lake City. The Cardinal are looking to position themselves as a host for the super regionals, and losing to a mediocre Utah team could be a red mark on the team’s resume. First pitch against USF will be at 1 p.m PT on Tuesday, while first pitch against Utah is scheduled for 5 p.m PT on Friday.

ior Sara Choy was the first off the courts with a 6-1, 6-0 win at the bottom of the lineup. Freshman Alexandra Yepifanova and junior Angelica Blake also won to give the Cardinal the 4-0 sweep.

Next up was a redemption opportunity for Stanford against UCSB (21-7, 9-0 Big West). The Cardinal narrowly lost to the Gauchos 3-4 back in March.

The doubles point was in contention after UCSB won on court one and Stanford took court three.

However, fifth-year Michaela Gordon and freshman Valencia Xu came through to snatch the point for the Cardinal.

From there, it was all Stanford, as the Cardinal dominated singles play. Blake and Choy were the first two off the courts with 6-4, 6-3 and 75, 6-3 wins, respectively. The fourth and final point would come from freshman Connie Ma at the top of the lineup. Ma defeated Shakhnoza Khatamova 7-5, 6-3 to send the Cardinal into the Sweet 16.

Stanford will now face No. 2 Oklahoma (29-2, 9-0 Big XII) on Friday at 4 p.m. PT in Norman, Okla.

The Sooners took down Bryant and No. 17 Arizona State in the opening two rounds. The Cardinal will have to be wary of the Sooners, as Oklahoma beat six top 10 teams during the regular season. The other two teams in Stanford’s section of the bracket are No. 7 Texas A&M and Vanderbilt.

Both the men’s and women’s teams have a full week to recuperate and prepare for the next stage of the NCAA Tournament, but this coming weekend will be a challenge for both squads.

Freshman Max Basing (above) serves in a match earlier this season. In the biggest moment of his young college career, he came from behind to win his singles match against Harvard and send Stanford to the Sweet 16.

JOHN LOZANO/isiphotos.com