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T Stanford Daily The

FRIDAY April 13, 2012

An Independent Publication
www.stanforddaily.com

Volume 241 Issue 38

Anonymous emails spark controversy

Campus-wide email signifies negative turn in ASSU election
By BRENDAN OBYRNE
DEPUTY EDITOR

Courtesy of Rameerah Anderson/Blackstage

Students chronicled sightings of Oprah Winfrey around campus Thursday through Facebook updates. Winfrey was touring the Farm with students from her Leadership Academy for Girls.

Campus has erupted over the past 36 hours in a firestorm of commentary on the actions and subsequent criticisms-turned-attacks on ASSU Vice President and Executive candidate Stewart MacGregor-Dennis 13. Following news Wednesday that MacGregor-Dennis spent over $2,000 on various online services, including scraping student email addresses from MyGroups and hiring a social media manager to earn him Facebook likes and Twitter followers, criticism of MacGregorDennis began to circulate on Facebook and over email. Students reacted in protest Thursday when the criticisms shifted to attacks against MacGregor-Dennis. The most controversial writing regarding MacGregor-Dennis came in the form of an anonymous, widely circulated email sent late Wednesday night from a person identifying as Senator Palpatine, the name of the Star Wars antagonist that has been used in recent ASSU elections as a non-partisan, write-in candidate for the Undergraduate Senate. The long, scathing email began by criticizing MacGregor-Dennis, quoting articles and opinion pieces from The Daily and Stanford Review. As the email progressed, it descended into a vitriolic attack on the personal character and mental health of MacGregor-Dennis, calling him mentally unstable and unfit to run for ASSU Executive by quoting, without attribution, an anonymous comment on The Daily website.

Another widely distributed email sent Thursday morning from an anonymous account (justice@stanford.edu) claimed to know Palpatines identity through means requiring access to Stanford computing reserved for student resident computer consultants (RCCs). The Daily could not confirm this claim. According to an RCC, an administrator sent an email to the campus RCC list asking Justice to step forward, and administrators later reported to RCCs that Justice has come forward. Campus administrators expressed disappointment regarding the email attacks, which likely violate the Fundamental Standard. Im writing to the student community regarding the recent distribution of unsolicited bulk emails and campus blogs regarding current ASSU election candidates, said Nanci Howe, director of Student Activities and Leadership, in an email to The Daily. Hurtful claims that may not be true diminish all of us and suppress open, respectful and honest dialogue. As a responsible and caring community, we embrace vigorous debate while respecting our individual members. The recent communications are contrary to these values. Howe confirmed that the University has opened an investigation of the anonymous emails. Criticism of MacGregor-Dennis took several forms in addition to the campus-wide emails. MemeChu, the Stanford meme group on Facebook,

Please see PALPATINE, page 2

STUDENT LIFE

A touch of Cambodian culture

STUDENT LIFE

Oprah Winfrey surprises students

Media giant brought two high school students from Leadership Academy for Girls to tour campus
By KURT CHIRBAS
MANAGING EDITOR

SSQL hails successful trans week

By KRISTIAN DAVIS BAILEY
DESK EDITOR

Transgender Awareness Week sees large turnout

Members of Stanfords production of The Color Purple, the Musical received text messages and phone calls from the plays director, Brandon Jackson 13, early Thursday afternoon. Jackson told them he was convening an emergency meeting at 4:00 p.m. to discuss the future of the show, and his involvement with the production. A lot of them were nervous, Jackson said. But I had to throw something out there to get them to come. According to Jackson, many members of the cast and crew missed classes and left work earlier so they could attend the meeting at the Black Community Services Center (BCSC). After everyone arrived, Jackson along with Jan Marie Barker-Alexander, assistant dean of students and BCSC director told the crowd that they had important news about the status of the show.

But instead of any news being announced, media giant and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey walked through the door. No one believed that she was standing in the room, Jackson said. Once people realized, everyone started cheering and clapping and hugging, and were really overwhelmed. She was just as magnetic as she was on TV, wrote Kelsei Wharton 12, a cast member who was present at the meeting, in an email to The Daily. It was truly amazing to see how she captured everyones attention and commanded our respect. The reveal, however, wasnt a complete shock, Wharton said. He had heard earlier in the morning that Winfrey had toured the co-op Xanadu. Combined with the fact that Winfrey had starred as Sofia in the 1985 film version of The Color Purple, Wharton said, It made sense that we would

ALISA ROYER/The Stanford Daily

Please see OPRAH, page 5

The Stanford Khmer Association hosted a performance of Cambodian classical dance by the Khmer Arts Academy of Long Beach, Calif. Students witnessed the interactive show Tuesday evening in Toyon Hall.

LOCAL

PA, EPA show concern for school suspension rates

By ILEANA NAJARRO
STAFF WRITER

Campus participation in Stanfords 2012 Transgender Awareness Week has far exceeded expectations, according to members of Stanford Students for Queer Liberation (SSQL), which was the primary organizer of the event. We were expecting maybe six or seven people to show up, said Leanna Keyes 14, an SSQL member who helped plan the week, of Mondays first event. But when I got there, 60 or 70 people were there at the same time standing room only. We were way over capacity. It was amazing. Alok Vaid-Menon 13, a member of the SSQL steering committee for the event, who has now participated in three Transgender Awareness Weeks, said that this year had bigger turnout than weve ever seen. Every event has been consistently attended, he said. The Feminist Studies and Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity programs were also heavily involved in planning the weeks events. In total, more than fifteen University and student organizations sponsored the event, including the Clayman Institute for Gender Research and an ASSU Executive Action Grant. Contextualizing the week According to Vaid-Menon, this years theme Beyond Binaries, was designed to address topics that are not usually covered in mainstream conversations, such as the binaries between sexuality and asexuality, as well as monogamy and polyamory. We tend to perceive the world as Theres only man and only woman, theres only gay people, theres straight people, VaidMenon said. We wanted people not just to learn about trans issues, but also to think critically about

Education experts address data on national student discipline trends

Palo Alto High School and East Palo Alto Academy suspension rates are significantly lower than the national average, which, according to recent data from the Department of Educations Office of Civil Rights (OCR) disproportionately affects male students and disenfranchised minority groups. Though local rates are low, Stanford edu-

cation experts and local public school officials responded with concern for the societal implications that the nationally high rates bring and offered alternatives on how to bring the rates down. The OCR released a report last month showing that approximately 1 in 3 young African American males in the U.S. are likely to be suspended and/or expelled more than once in their middle school and high school careers. African American and Hispanic students are also more likely to be restrained or secluded, the report says. In the Palo Alto Unified School District, which has an enrollment of 11,570 students

according to the Department of Education, 30 students received in-school suspensions during last school year, while 210 received out-of-school suspensions and five were expelled. Of these students, 50 percent of suspension cases and 100 percent of expulsion cases were white students. The remainder of suspensions were split almost evenly between African Americans, Hispanics and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Claude Goldenberg, a professor in the School of Education, wrote in an email to The Daily that the concerning rates are indicators

Please see SCHOOLS, page 5

Please see AWARENESS, page 2

Index Sports/3 Opinions/4 Classifieds/5

Recycle Me

2 N Friday, April 13, 2012

The Stanford Daily

those issues so that a general public would engage with them and find them interesting and therefore be motivated to attend events. We thought pretty critically about that, Sayiner added. Sayiner said that while she expected focus on ASSU elections to dominate campus attention this week, attendance also surpassed her expectations. Looking forward SSQL does not have any additional trans issues events coming up, but Vaid-Menon stressed that the concerns of the transgender community are a high priority for the group. Its always important to establish that SSQL takes trans organizing and trans issues as central to our organization, VaidMenon said. We define ourselves against mainstream LGBT organizations that have trans issues on the side. Keyes commented that she doesnt think conversations about rtrans issues are happening much on campus. I dont think that there is a lot of campus dialogue at the moment, she said. But I dont think that people are necessarily going to express their full range of opinions when a transgender person is around that doesnt necessarily mean that things are bad. Keyes noted that there has not been a hot button issue around trans rights such as last years ROTC debates and protests which may account for the decreased general attention. In terms of improving dialogue, Keyes said that more active student interest and participation in panels like Safe and Open Spaces at Stanford (SOSAS) could be beneficial. SOSAS makes a concerted effort to make sure that a wide variety of voices are represented on campus particularly trans voices, Keyes said. The dialogue that comes out of those panels is incredibly important to making sure that everyone feels safe and is informed at Stanford. Keyes added that peer health educators (PHEs) providing incentives for attending SOSAS panels and students doing personal outreach to friends would likely improve awareness. SOSAS panel attendance currently does not always meet expectations, Keyes said. Vaid-Menon noted that he hopes students who are interested will come to SSQL meetings, adding that there is no requirement of literacy in queer issues. He also commented that students tend to view this week, and others sponsored by the LGBT community, as for members of the queer community only. He said he wanted to challenge this notion. The way this week and others get constructed are as being just for the LGBT community, but we have events to allow people to reflect on their own identities themselves, he said. We want to emphasize that we all have genders and we all have sexualities.

AWARENESS
Continued from front page
their own identities and the way that our own culture perpetuates these binaries without allowing more complex narratives. Vaid-Menon said that SSQLs decision to hold the week during spring quarter, as opposed to winter quarter like last year, was logistical. We didnt want to jam pack it into all the other events going on, Vaid-Menon said. We want-

ed to do it at the beginning of the quarter, so people could learn from these issues and be inspired, and actually act on them. So we hope that people who were affected by the events this week will feel galvanized. Sibel Sayiner 15 said that in her first year helping organize the event, she thought SSQL succeeded in identifying diverse topics that were attractive to the student body. Planning went relatively well and smoothly, Sayiner said. We had a few hijinks about exactly which issues we wanted to address and how best to present

PALPATINE
Continued from front page
posted an infographic mocking MacGregor-Dennis Facebook cover photo and his social media following, as well as applying a scumbag Steve hat to the candidate. The post garnered almost 200 likes. Ralph Nguyen, one of the founders of MemeChu, did not respond for comment. Static, a blog started last fall quarter that describes itself as a site for Stanford activists to meet and talk, posted a poem titled The White Mans Dirty Work decrying MacGregor-Dennis outsourcing of work to people of color, especially women in developing countries. The final line of the poem, which was co-written by Holly Fetter 13 and Aracely Mondragon 13, reads Your slave I will no longer be. It remains to be seen what effect the shift in campus atmosphere will have on election results. Polls close Friday at 11:59 p.m. and election results will be announced at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Voters may edit their ballots until polls close. They have negatively impacted the election, said Elections Commissioner Adam Adler 12 of the anonymous emails. Ive received emails from people who are basically turned off from voting because of those things. Adler said he believes the integrity of the election has not been compromised, but the student body may look less favorably on the election process due to the Palpatine email. People dont like it, he said, referring to the situation as a whole and the use of the Senator Palpatine gimmick for partisan purposes. Robbie Zimbroff 12 and William Wagstaff 12, MacGregor-Dennis main competitors for ASSU Executive, released a video commenting upon the attacks. A lot of what weve been seeing, to us, goes beyond this scope of this election, said Zimbroff in the video posted on Facebook early Thursday morning. For the next few days, and for the rest of the race, we just ask people to be respectful, and to treat people like [they] want to be treated. MacGregor-Dennis declined to comment for this article. Contact Brendan OByrne a bobyrne@stanford.edu.

ALISA ROYER/The Stanford Daily

Transgender activist scholars Eric Stanley and Dean Spade discussed Toward a Critical Transgender Move- Contact Kristian Davis Bailey at ment Thursday evening as part of Transgender Awareness Week. This years events had high turnout. kbailey@stanford.edu

Green it! Clean it!

ALISA ROYER/The Stanford Daily

Vinod Khosla of Khosla Ventures addressed an audience in the Knight Managment Center Thursday afternoon as part of the 2012 Berkeley Stanford Cleantech Conference.

The Stanford Daily

SPORTS
The NHL playoffs at their finest

Friday, April 13, 2012 N 3

Joseph Beyda

HOME AT LAST
totaling 34 RBI so far this season. That type of hitting has been coming early in games, as Stanford has jumped out to at least a three-run lead through three innings in its three consecutive wins. According to Ragira, getting on the board right away is going to be important this weekend, as the Cardinal by and large failed to do so in its series loss to the Ducks in Eugene a year ago. I think just scoring early and playing good defense [are going to be key], he said. Our pitching is going to be good with Mark and Mooney. Oregon is going to be hardpressed to score runs against Stanfords two stellar junior starters, righthander Mark Appel and lefthander Brett Mooneyham. By no means one of the best-hitting teams in the conference, the Ducks had a team batting average of just .261 as of Monday, a mark that doesnt even crack the top 200 nationally. But questions have emerged surrounding the Cardinals Sunday starter, a position that could be earned by either freshman John Hochstatter or sophomore A.J. Vanegas. Hochstatter impressed with an early-season 3-0 record, but has dropped three straight decisions and yielded the starting spot to his fellow righty last weekend against Washington. Vanegas pitched well for his first win of the season against the Huskies, giving up just one earned run in his six innings of work and giving Stanford head coach Mark Marquess all the more reason to give him another look. The Ducks will send out a pair of righties to open the series in senior Alex Keudel and freshman

CARD READY TO HOST DUCKS

By JOSEPH BEYDA
DESK EDITOR

ts April, which means the start of that magical time of the year when success is indicated by growing a long beard, death knells come in the sound of airhorns and widespread repetitivestress injuries are induced by miniature towels: Its the NHL playoffs. And even though hockey may be less appreciated than football, basketball and baseball by the national media, the Stanley Cup playoffs are a spectacle unlike any other in American professional sports:so grueling,so exciting, so stressful that theres really no good excuse to not tune in. They call the Stanley Cup the hardest trophy to win in professional sports, and not without reason. Youve got to be lucky in a game centered around a tiny, awkwardly shaped disk sliding across a sheet of ice, where a fluky bounce or two can be the difference. Youve got to be healthy in a game that can leave rosters with breaks and sprains from top to bottom by the end of the season. Youve got to be consistent in a game so low-scoring that a few seconds of mental error by one player can decide 60 minutes of action. And youve got to do it 16 times. Two months of near perfection.A bad week and youre out; a good week and youre not quite out yet. History speaks to just how much parity there is hockey. Since the current playoff format was instituted in 1994, nine No. 8 seeds (out of 34) have upset a No.1 seed in the first round;by contrast, only four No. 8 seeds in the NBA have won a series since the playoffs expanded to 16 teams in 1984, and two of those upsets were in more volatile five-game series. Only four seven-game series in American sports history have been won by a team that came back from a 3-0 deficit. Three of them were in hockey. Anyone can win any game, any series, any year against anyone else, which makes for some pretty good storylines. The playoff opener on Wednesday was between two interstate rivals,the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins, each of which made it to the Stanley Cup final in recent years but came in as just a middle seed. No matter; the Penguins jumped out to a 3-0 first period advantage on their home ice but saw that lead erased, with the Flyers tying things up in the final eight minutes of regulation and winning in overtime, 4-3. Playoff overtime exemplifies everything that makes hockey so unique. Everything is magnified and nothing is certain. Theres no bottom of the 10th if you give up a run, no five-minute period to make up for an early three-pointer, no field-goal-onfirst-possession rule to bail you out if you lose the coin toss. Sudden death means sudden death, and thats what it often comes down to. In a thrilling first-round series between the one-seed San Jose Sharks and the eight-seed Colorado Avalanche two years ago,the Sharks were 30 seconds away from going behind 2-0 in the series,an embarrassment on home ice for one of the leagues top teams. But a late tally off a rebound forced overtime, and a power-play goal by San Jose sent the series to Colorado knotted up at one game apiece. Just two days later, the two teams found themselves in a scoreless game through 60 minutes and headed to overtime yet again. Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle proceeded to make the biggest mistake of his prestigious career, backhanding the puck into his own net from a bad angle to give away the game and the chance at a series lead. Two days later, Boyle got some redemption by scoring San Joses only regulation goal just a minute into Game 4.The score was tied at the end of regulation for a third straight contest but this time the Sharks came up with the sudden-death goal, and a series that couldve easily been swept by the Avalanche was tied at 2-2. It all changes that quickly, and weve got two full months of twists and turns ahead. Most people seem to be picking the New York Rangers to win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1994, but there are still 15 other teams that truly have a chance at winning it all.No other American sports league lays so much on the line come playoff time. So if youre going to give hockey a try, nows the perfect time.With every series televised nationally this year, theres always going to be a game on. Sit back and relax. Youre in for a wild ride. Joseph Beyda hopes that his beloved seventh-seed San Jose Sharks will finally pull through this year. Send him your playoff predictions at jbeyda @stanford.edu.

Its been almost a month since the No. 6 Stanford baseball team hosted a weekend series, but with No. 16 Oregon coming to town for a three-game set at Sunken Diamond, the squad is playing some of its best baseball at just the right time, riding a three-game win streak into tonights opener. That said, the Ducks have won six of their last seven and are fresh off an impressive series win against No. 17 UCLA. Having played just two of its last nine contests on the Farm, the Cardinal (21-7, 4-5 Pac-12) will finally have a chance to improve on its 14-2 home record with seven straight matchups at Sunken Diamond against Oregon (21-9, 8-4), San Jose State and No. 21 Arizona State. Those previous home wins were fueled by Stanfords highpowered offense, which cooled off somewhat during spring break but has come back with three big games in a row: an 8-6 win over Washington, a 19-6 victory over Cal and an 8-3 win over Pacific. Leading the charge has been sophomore first baseman Brian Ragira, who is currently riding a 13-game hit streak and is one of two Stanford starters hitting above .300. I think Ive been a little more consistent early on this year than I was last year, said Ragira, who was named the 2011 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year with his .329, 46RBI performance a year ago. I feel pretty good about it. Ragiras not the only Cardinal infielder with a hot bat, with junior catcher Eric Smith hitting .366 and third baseman Stephen Piscotty

MEHMET INONU/The Stanford Daily

Sophomore first baseman Brian Ragira (above) is currently riding a 13game hit streak as the No. 6 Stanford baseball squad is ready for a three-game homestand series against No. 16 Oregon starting tonight.
Jake Reed. The duo has combined for a 2.26 ERA and a 7-5 record, and Oregon has won the first two games in all of their last three series with Keudel and Reed on the mound. To counter those hurlers the Cardinal will need the same topto-bottom offensive production that it has been getting recently, even with Marquess making minor shifts to the batting order and at designated hitter over the last few weeks. Its good that weve got all this momentum going into that series, said junior shortstop Kenny Diekroeger, who had two doubles and a solo homer in the squads 83 win over Pacific on Wednesday. Hopefully we can keep it. Tonights opener is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. but with rain a possibility nothing is for certain, as the Pacific game was postponed a day to account for the weather. Saturdays game begins at 1 p.m., with the Sunday finale set for noon. Contact Joseph Beyda at jbeyda @stanford.edu.

TAKING A PEEK
By JACK BLANCHAT
MANAGING EDITOR

MENS VOLLEYBALL

In its final performance before the 2012 season, the Stanford football team takes to the field at San Franciscos historic Kezar Stadium on Saturday in its annual Cardinal-White Spring Game. While the season is still six months away, the Stanford coaches are hoping that Saturdays intrasquad contest will help settle several critical position battles before fall training camp, and provide some continuity for the Cardinal heading into the 2012 season. Naturally, all eyes are on the quarterback competition, where redshirt junior Josh Nunes and sophomore Brett Nottingham have emerged as the leaders to take over Andrew Lucks job. The two quarterbacks will split snaps with the first team offense on Saturday, while freshmen Kevin Hogan and Evan Crower will work with the second team offense. Both Nottingham and Nunes have impressed so far in the two spring sessions not only with their physical skills, but also with their ability to use audibles to command the offense in a fashion similar to Luck. Behind Nunes and Nottingham, several running backs will also have a chance to fight their way into the starting lineup for next season, particularly sophomore Ricky Seale and freshman Kelsey Young. With sophomore Anthony Wilkerson injured and junior Tyler Gaffney taking his talents to the baseball field for the duration of spring, Seale has carried the ball well enough to be the likely successor to Jeremy Stewart as the final piece of the four-back rotation that led the Cardinal to two consecutive BCS bowls. Meanwhile, Young has also carried the ball and worked out of the backfield as a receiver as well, making him a versatile option for the Cardinal offense to exploit, especially with a lack of depth at wide receiver. Perhaps the most unclear position group this spring is the offensive line, which could remain in flux until the beginning of the 2012 season. While juniors Kevin Danser and Khalil Wilkes

Seniors hope to end strong

By DANIEL LUPIN
STAFF WRITER

SIMON WARBY/The Stanford Daily

Senior running back Tyler Gaffney (above) will not be playing in the annual Cardinal-White Spring Game on Saturday as he will be using his talents on the baseball field for the rest of the spring season.
have been battling for the right guard spot and sophomore Cole Underwood has squared off with redshirt freshman Brendon Austin for the all-important left tackle role, any leaders that might emerge from this spring could be overtaken by one of several players among the nations best recruiting class of offensive linemen. On the outside, Stanford will be searching for a starter across from freshman Ty Montgomery, who has been participating in the second session of spring practice while recovering from a hand injury suffered during the first session of spring. Young will square off with Drew Terrell and Jamal-Rashad Patterson, who have been playing with the first team offense all spring. On the other side of the ball, the Cardinal defense will be looking for starters along the defensive line and in the backfield, and will once again be without injured star linebacker Shayne Skov, who is still recovering from a knee injury

The emotions promise to run high in Maples Pavilion this weekend, as the seniors on the Stanford mens volleyball team will play their final two matches at home and have a chance to end their storied careers in style. The fifth-ranked Cardinal (18-6, 15-5 MPSF) will take on the UCSanta Barbara Gauchos (7-17, 515) on Friday night before squaring off against No. 3 UCLA (21-6, 15-5) on Saturday in a match that has major conference tournament seeding ramifications. In addition to Saturday being Senior Night, a tribute will be held for UCLA head coach Al Scales, who is coaching the final regular season match of his career after 50 years at the helm of the Bruin program. The winningest senior class in Stanford history, with a career record of 82-32, will hope to send off its seven members with a proper tribute and a win against the rival Bruins on Saturday. UCLA comes into Maples Pavilion on the heels of a disappointing and controversial loss to BYU, one that knocked them out of control of the race for the top seed in the upcoming Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) tournament. The Bruins appeared to have won the match, but that decision was overturned after officials reviewed the

Please see FOOTBALL, page 6

Please see MVBALL, page 6

MENS TENNIS

Cardinal prepares to take on Bruins, Trojans

By GEORGE CHEN
DESK EDITOR

On the heels of a rained-out Tuesday match against San Francisco, the No. 11 Stanford mens tennis team now faces a pair of marquee matchups as it heads into one of toughest and most important weekends of the season. The Cardinal (14-5, 4-0 Pac-12) is taking a road trip down to Los Angeles to face No. 6 UCLA (18-2, 4-0) on Friday and No. 1 USC (23-0, 4-0) the next day. These pivotal matches mark the final stretch of the regular season as the inaugural Pac-12 Championship is less than two weeks away.

The last time Stanford met the two Southern California foes in early February, the Cardinal was swept by USC, 7-0, and then fell to UCLA, 6-1. The team was playing without star player Bradley Klahn in both of the losses, crippling both the singles and doubles lineups. The blowouts luckily did not count towards the teams conference record, but losing on home court certainly fueled Cardinal in trying to redeem itself. Since losing those two matches, Stanford has rebounded by winning critical games against tough opponents. A few weeks after the lopsided losses, the Cardinal defeated then-No. 6 Kentucky and then-No. 7 Baylor at the National Team Indoor Champi-

onships in February. Stanford then followed up the impressive showing with a dominant 6-1 win over then-No. 13 Cal. But even with Klahn back on Stanfords roster, winning any of the two upcoming matches will be no easy task for the Cardinal. UCLA has three singles players who are ranked in the national top 120, with senior Nick Meister leading the Bruins at No. 32. As for doubles play, the duo of Meister and sophomore Adrien Puget are ranked in the top 50. USC will most likely prove to be even tougher to beat as the Trojans have been

Please see MTENNIS, page 6

4 N Friday, April 13, 2012

The Stanford Daily

OPINIONS
L ETTER
FROM THE

E DITOR
Established 1892 Board of Directors Margaret Rawson President and Editor in Chief Anna Schuessler Chief Operating Officer Sam Svoboda Vice President of Advertising Theodore L. Glasser Michael Londgren Robert Michitarian Nate Adams Tenzin Seldon Rich Jaroslovsky

AN INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER
Managing Editors Brendan OByrne Deputy Editor Kurt Chirbas & Billy Gallagher Managing Editors of News Jack Blanchat Managing Editor of Sports Marwa Farag Managing Editor of Features Sasha Arijanto Managing Editor of Intermission Mehmet Inonu Managing Editor of Photography Amanda Ach Columns Editor Willa Brock Head Copy Editor Serenity Nguyen Head Graphics Editor Alex Alifimoff Web and Multimedia Editor Nate Adams Multimedia Director MollyVorwerck & Zach Zimmerman Staff Development

The Stanford Daily

Incorporated 1973 Tonights Desk Editors Kristian Davis Bailey News Editor George Chen Sports Editor Alisa Royer Photo Editor Charlotte Wayne Copy Editor

Dear Readers, Campus dialogue hit a low this week, disintegrating to a point unprecedented in my time at Stanford. For at least one student, this University stopped being home. We must not stand by a culture that engenders attacks levied against students by anonymous peers. Those who think they are providing a public service by trafficking in the most mean-spirited of remarks are woefully mistaken. Such violations of the Fundamental Standard should be investigated

and duly addressed. What troubles me the most about the past 36 hours is the marked absence of kindness. I am shocked by the extremes reached on campus this week, and I know most Stanford students are, as well. Our actions, our language, our daily choices matter greatly. This weeks events must be addressed and should never repeated. Sincerely,
MARGARET RAWSON President and Editor in Chief, Vol. CCXLI

E DITORIAL

Contacting The Daily: Section editors can be reached at (650) 721-5815 from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. The Advertising Department can be reached at (650) 721-5803, and the Classified Advertising Department can be reached at (650) 721-5801 during normal business hours. Send letters to the editor to eic@stanforddaily.com, op-eds to editorial@stanforddaily.com and photos or videos to multimedia@stanforddaily.com. Op-eds are capped at 700 words and letters are capped at 500 words.

Co-ops at Stanford
O
ne of the perennial criticisms of life at Stanford is the lack of community in non-tier one housing, a criticism that perhaps overlooks the good fortune of guaranteed on-campus housing in a very expensive area with limited public transportation options.With the Housing Draw now open, students can rank the sixty-plus different dorms, self-operated houses, and cooperatively-operated houses. A majority of students will ignore the co-ops, writing them off as hippie housing. Given this reputation, the Editorial Board would like to highlight cooperative housing as one of the best options available, as it brings together desirable aspects of other housing on campus. Stanfords seven co-ops vary considerably in size and culture. If they do share a certain something, it is perhaps a common pride in their cooperatively-operated culture. This, however, is not something to be written off. The lessons in cooperatively managing a house are manifold, from learning how to delegate tasks or follow directions in the kitchen to the risks of free-ridership. The few hours a week students put in to cook, hash or clean bathrooms offer valuable life lessons. Every Stanford student will eventually live independently after graduation, and aside from teaching domestic skills, co-ops offer the chance to learn how to more effectively manage and work with other people in a non-professional situation. These lessons are, of course, not unique to co-ops. To some extent students learn how to live with others from their first roommate experience freshman year, and some students choose to live independently while at Stanford in Mirrielees or Rains. At other schools without fouryear housing guarantees, it is even more common for students to live independently and they learn many of the same lessons that co-ops offer. What independent living does not offer, however, is the sense of community found in co-ops. Perhaps even more than freshman dorms and self-operated houses, co-ops have distinct personalities. This is not to say that co-ops all have the same community (students choosing to live in Terra may well rather live in a self-op or dorm than in Kairos or Columbae, and vice versa). Instead, they engender feelings of belonging among those choosing to live there. This is partly due to the size of the house it is far easier to get to know everyone in a 40-person house than in a dorm with 200 people but it also has to do with shared experiences. In a freshman dorm, shared activities bring everyone closer together despite differences in personalities and interests, and the shared experience of putting in the work to keep the co-op running smoothly has the same effect. Co-ops, then, offer a best-ofboth-worlds combination of the closeness of freshman year and the lessons of independent living that we will all need to draw upon post-Stanford. The decision by Housing to require use of Tier 2 Housing for a year in a co-op is perhaps a reflection of the inherent desirability of living in a coop. Given their increasing popularity, the Editorial Board believes housing should, if feasible, consider creating additional coops on campus. It is true that the subcultures of the Stanford co-ops are not for everyone, but this is not to say that co-ops themselves are objectionable. If anything, more students choosing to live in co-ops would allow for more diversity in the cultures of co-ops. Students who might not otherwise consider a co-op should think twice, realizing that a year in a co-op will leave them more prepared for the real world, both in the practical skills they will have gained and in the relationships they will have made along the way.

MARKS MY WORDS

A time for introductions

magine yourself having a longawaited, intimate chat with a friend. You could be anywhere at a party, walking to class or even in line at the CoHo to pick up a hot cup of ChaiX (a caffeinated concoction that blends a shot of espresso into a chai tea latte). You and your friend are happily catching up on classes, love lives and other gossip. Suddenly your friend looks past you and shrieks, Oh my GOD I havent seen you in forever! Youre puzzled until, turning around, you realize that this exclamation wasnt directed at you. And, with only that warning, you realize your one-on-one time must come to an end. There is a third party on the scene. Who is this number three? He, or she or N3, might be any number of people. Sometimes, N3 is a complete stranger to you. Your friend lived with N3 freshman year, or studied abroad with N3, or hiked in the wilderness with N3 last summer. Whatever the stories they shared, you were unfortunately not a part of them. And so, as your friend and N3 excitedly exchange pleasantries, you find yourself suddenly abandoned. You check your phone; you allow your eyes to wander around the room; you count the moments until N3 leaves. A small part of you hates N3 for absolutely no reason. Another part of you desperately wants to be friends with N3. It isnt a fun place to be, especially when your friend and N3 manage to only talk about the things that completely exclude you. If they talked about the weather, youd have just as good a claim to say

something.No way, I think its kind of cold too! But you cant add much to the discussion when N3 and your friend immediately bring up their common memories. In a worst-case scenario, their reminiscing rapidly intensifies. Remember that time we got totally lost? That was so funny! Was it? You wouldnt know. You werent there. Even if you try to follow the conversation, it wouldnt matter because you dont know the people and places involved in the story. John was so hilarious that night! Whos John? Why was that hilarious? Oh, sorry, you had to be there to appreciate it. If they dont reminisce, something equally exclusive might happen: The conversation might turn to personal details about N3 and his/her classes, love life and other gossip. As you listen to an unfolding saga that concerns why N3 can never, ever hook up with so-and-so again, you wonder if you should still be there or pretend you have to go to the bathroom. But no! This was your conversation with your friend first! You have to take it back, no matter the cost. And so, rather than look around aimlessly or check your email, you insert yourself in the conversation. You laugh when your friend and N3 are laughing. You gasp, giggle and say aw at all the right places during the story, no matter what the topic is. You casually slip in questions like, Whoa! What happened next? that let you stay engaged without having to say anything else. While these strategies can usually work, its annoying to have to use them. The thing is, you should-

Miriam Marks
nt have to go on the offensive. You shouldnt have to pretend you were also lost on the streets of Madrid at 5 a.m. or hiking up the same mountain in the pouring rain. Rather, the burden lies on your friend. It is the unspoken, unwritten responsibility of the mutual friend in this case: the burden of the introduction. The mutual friend would do well to introduce you to N3 as soon as possible. The introduction paves the way for an inclusive conversation. It gives you some small grounds for familiarity, and it gets your foot in the metaphorical door of conversation. Once you have a name for N3, and you have been established as a participant in the conversation, you can enter the fray without feeling like a complete outsider. To all the mutual friends out there: Yes, your position is a little unfair. Introductions arent easy, and sometimes they dont seem worthwhile. What if your friend and N3 will never meet again? Indeed, they may not. But this is no excuse. You never know if, somewhere down the line, your friend and N3 will be in a class, student group or relationship. For the minimal effort of one introduction, you might take the extra step to open up the conversation and potentially pave the way for something more. Feel free to include Miriam in the conversation using melloram@stanford.edu.

EXISTENTIAL FORTUNE COOKIES

Take a hike!
up on everything that I havent done yet. Of course, there will always be time to catch up on those things. But how often do we sit down at our computers and look at lolcats? I decided that this weekend would be different. I wanted to enjoy something out of the ordinary by finding something very ordinary to do. I went for a hike. Catherine and I drove down Galvez to Embarcadero and kept going until we got to the Bay. Once we crossed over 101, we were at the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve. It is a great place to go for day hikes and bike rides. Of course the hike only lasted about half an hour because we ran out of time. Despite having left shortly after arriving, I highly recommend it as a place to go and relax. The water itself smells a little because of the bacteria that builds up in the marshes, so be warned. Another thing that you want to watch out for is the wind and the cold. It gets quite chilly and I only had a light jacket on. The trails are peaceful though, and the traffic is very light. I am surprised that there werent more people there. One of the great things about the place is the openness. You can sort of get a sense of that when you go to the Dish, but it is usually even more windy there, and its really steep. The Baylands arent much further, and you can even ride your bike there, although its a long ride. The best thing about the Baylands for me wasnt the flying fowl, the giant odd-looking dog on a leash or the lady painting landscapes that didnt represent what she was looking at. The thing that really made the experience worth

Unsigned editorials in the space above represent the views of the editorial board of The Stanford Daily and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Daily staff. The editorial board consists of five Stanford students led by a chairman and uninvolved in other sections of the paper. Any signed columns in the editorial space represent the views of their authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the entire editorial board. To contact the editorial board chair, e-mail editorial@stanforddaily.com. To submit an oped, limited to 700 words, e-mail opinions@stanforddaily.com. To submit a letter to the editor, limited to 500 words, e-mail eic@stanforddaily.com. All are published at the discretion of the editor.

ometimes, when you are feeling stressed out and you have no time at all in your schedule, you really just need to take a break. The first week of class this quarter was exceptionally busy for me. I had all sorts of meetings to attend, classes to shop and rehearsal for a play every night. The day-to-day grind of class and meetings and practices leaves you exhausted. By Friday I didnt even want to get out of bed. Friday night, I thought, Ah, the weekend is finally here. I can catch

Sebastain Gould
it for me was the fact that the parking lot we parked in was directly under the flight path of the small private aircraft landing at the local Palo Alto Airport. I cant really estimate the distance, but they were close enough to touch . . . figuratively. One of the other things I thought about while there, besides wishing I had an airplane, was my hunger. I regretted not bringing a bunch of sandwiches to enjoy at the picnic tables that border the water and the trails. Besides the airplanes and animals and fellow human beings, the water itself is just peaceful. I spent less than an hour there, but I felt a lot more relaxed. It was like going to a zoo, but I didnt have to pay and there were no kids running around screaming everywhere. Once back at Stanford, I realized that the Baylands have had a more profound impact on my dayto-day life. When I am walking to class or sitting at home on the computer and start to get stressed out about all the things I need to do, I think about returning to the park and walking around again. Even if I dont go back to the park, thinking about the peaceful experience brings comfort to me. Sebastain hopes you will all take the time to check out this awesome local spot. In the near future, he will be going to some of the other Bay parks and preserves, so if you want to hear more make sure to shoot him an email at sjgould@ stanford.edu.

O P-E D
Why we are all responsible
usually been played out in wellthought and well-researched argument. I am sad to say that I can no longer praise the Stanford student body and its rich civic dialogue; we have descended into petty rehashings of who tweeted what. However, we are all culpable for that email, and any negative consequences it may have. All of this Stewart-bashing started out relatively harmless; Ill admit, I definitely smhd at the lifehacking oped as well. Nevertheless, every single time that we joked about Stewart made it more okay for someone else to push the joking a little bit further. While only some Stanford students were directly involved in sending these attacks, we are all responsible for having created a Stanford community where it was okay to personally criticize another student publicly. Someone took it to another level one where personal attacks on another students mental health were publicized for the campus to see. In the future, I ask us, the Stanford student body, to reflect on our actions before we take them. As a school of some of the smartest and most driven individuals in the nation, many of us have been bullied at some time or another. I was bullied often as a child; my family and friends helped me through that period of my life, but that didnt make it any easier. Our actions have consequences and our words matter. Please consider the negative psychological impact that what you say can have on someone else. Thank you for your time and this chance to serve you. It has been an honor to serve the Stanford student body, and I wish the best of luck to whoever succeeds me.
MICHAEL CRUZ 12 ASSU President 2011-12

his op-ed is in response to the recent discussions by the Stanford student body surrounding Stewart MacGregorDennis 13, a candidate for ASSU Executive and the current ASSU Vice President. I am glad that the overwhelming statements and comments that I have received have been in opposition to the recent Star Wars-related email and its deeply personal attacks against Stewart. Historically, Stanford student body politics have not been personal. When the Stanford student body has had a disagreement, the disagreement has usually been on an issue of substance, whether on ROTC, stipends, or ASSU-University relations, disagreements have

The Stanford Daily

Friday, April 13, 2012 N 5

Tubbs conducted research in Cape Town, South Africa, and Madigele is an international relations major and international student from Botswana. It was incredibly inspiring, something Ill remember for the rest of my life, something that I still cant believe really happened, Tubbs said. Tubbs said he was notified of the lunch only moments before. Stanford is a place where you get surprised, he said. Im so thankful, and humbled, and I thought, This can only happen at Stanford. Tubbs said a highlight was Winfrey reaffirming his desire to improve his hometown community of Stockton, Calif., where he is currently a candidate for the Stockton City Council. Talisman member Nick Biddle 14 also said he heard midday that Winfrey had visited Xanadu. This launched a series of texts to the Talisman chat list that notified everyone to be on the watch for Winfrey, he added. We were all on the lookout, Biddle said. Anything that we heard about we would text to the list. He said emails told members to try to study in areas where Winfrey might be likely to visit, like White Plaza and outside Hoover Tower. Finally, the group heard from a Talisman alumnus that Winfrey and two students had attended a class at Encina Hall. The group performed Avulekile Amasango, a traditional South African song, outside of the hall as Winfrey and students were about to leave on a golf cart, Biddle said. They stopped [the cart], Biddle said. They got out, and started singing with us, and also did all of our motions with us. Biddle said that the students were surprised that the Talisman members knew the meaning of the song, the title of which is translated to the gates of heaven are open, we are crossing the River Jordan. The group also performed Be Like Him, a gospel rendition of another traditional South African song. It was absolutely one of the best experiences weve had as a group probably, Biddle said. I think universally it just felt really great because [Winfrey] kind of affirmed what we do. Jackson said that he had been working for the past few months with Barker-Alexander to have Winfrey attend Stanfords performance of The Color Purple. He said the play, which is being put on through a partnership between the Stanford Drama Department and Black Stage, went through a difficult approval process last spring quarter over concerns that the production would not have enough funding. While the play wont open until May, Jackson said having Winfrey visit was almost like coming full circle . . . for her to see the impact that were making here at Stanford that she made on a global scale. Winfrey was a producer of the original Broadway version of The Color Purple musical. Wharton said after the discussion he introduced himself to Winfrey and shared that he will be performing Harpo in the up-

OPRAH

Continued from front page

be called for an important meeting on the day that Oprah was on campus. Still, he added, I never imagined that she would be walking around and engaging students on campus all day long. Winfrey spent Thursday touring the University with two students from her Leadership Academy for Girls, which she founded in South Africa in 2007. Winfrey was spotted around campus taking pictures with Stanford undergraduates and being serenaded by the student a capella group Talisman. Barker-Alexander said Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Richard Shaw put her in touch with Winfrey because two students from Winfreys leadership academy had expressed interest in applying to Stanford during the upcoming admissions cycle. Gayle King, Winfreys close friend whose daughter Kirby Bumpus 08 attended Stanford, also helped connect her with Barker-Alexander. Winfrey and the two students attended a lunch with Shaw, Barker-Alexander, Judith Goldstein, director of the international relations program, and two Stanford undergraduates, Michael Tubbs 12 and Tumisang Madigele 13. According to Barker-Alexander, Tubbs and Madigele were invited because their academic interests matched those of the prospective students.

Courtesy of Rameerah Anderson/Blackstage

Oprah Winfrey met with cast members from Stanfords upcoming production of The Color Purple during a visit to tour campus Thursday. Winfrey starred in the 1985 film adaptation of the book.
coming Stanford play. Harpo is the husband of the character Winfrey played in her performance. It was a great experience that made me critically think about my role in investing in others and always doing what I can to lift everyone up to their fullest and deserved potential, he said. However, most of the discussion was focused on the prospective students, Wharton added. They talked about how their academy is their home is much like Stanford its a bubble, Jackson said. They share fears about whether or not they are ready for reality, and what comes along with that. It was very good to hear how brave they are in even applying to school, and show far they have come. It was indescribable, Jackson said of Winfreys visit Contact Kurt Chirbas at kchirbas@stanford.edu.

SCHOOLS

Continued from front page

that schools fail to foster a feeling of success for their students. Weve just not done a good job creating learning environments where all students feel they can thrive, be challenged and benefit from putting forth good effort, Goldenberg wrote. There are many students from other groups in similar situations, so its

not just African American students we are failing to reach. Bill Koski, Stanford law professor and director of Stanfords Youth and Education Law Project, has worked with youth regarding school disciplinary practices and has witnessed a common trajectory for students. When you suspend kids, when you expel kids, it puts them on track to possibly not graduate from school and worse scenario gets them involved in the criminal justice system, Koski said. Koski said there is no agree-

ment on specific reasons for the disparity in the punishment rates, but Palo Alto High School Assistant Principal Jerry Berkson, suggests that financial resources of school districts may play a role. If youre at a less affluent place, sometimes youre not getting the same quality of education, you get frustrated, you act out, then you get suspended, Berkson said. Palo Alto High School, with a demographic of predominantly white students, has had no expulsions this past year and minimal suspensions, according to Berkson. One of the reasons theres success here in Palo Alto is because you have parents who were successful in school and that in turn was given on to their kids and thats a good cycle, whereas if you have people who are not finishing school, who are not successful, the cycles going to continue on that side as well. Goldenberg said he agrees that parents do play a role because they can establish expectations, encourage, set limits, give unconditional love, take an active interest in their welfare and let their children know the importance of giving your best effort at school. However, Goldenberg also noted the cycle of influence parents have on their children that can negatively affect them. But one of the things that happens is that parents can get discouraged, too, either due to their own experiences or if they see their son or daughter doing

poorly, Goldenberg wrote. Weve seen cases where parents start out with pretty high expectations for their childs school success, but if a child starts to do poorly or become disaffected with school, the parents expectations start to erode, which then probably contributes to a downward spiral. Sharon Johnson, principal of East Palo Alto Charter School, said that students cultural backgrounds may also have an effect on the rates of disciplinary measures. There are cultural differences that may not match the culture of the classroom and its the culture of the classroom that should change to meet the needs of where students are coming from, not the other way around, Johnson said. East Palo Alto Charter School shares similar suspension and expulsion rates with Palo Alto High, though Johnson noted that boys are sent to her office at a much higher rate than girls. The study by the CDRC revealed that, in fact, males are overall more likely to be suspended or expelled. We think that schools are not really set up for the energy that boys bring to the classroom and that we need to think really hard about how to make the environment so that there is a time and space for more movement and physical learning, Johnson said. Regardless of the cause for the rates, methods by which to reduce them revolve around rethinking the use of out-of-school suspension practices and strengthening school community. Rather than try to assign

blame to anybody I think the better route is to try to not exclude kids from school particularly from low-level offences, Koski said. Johnson said that exclusionary discipline practices remove a students accountability from an offense. If there is a fight on campus we would rather have the student be held accountable to the other student they were fighting with they would lose the privilege of being in the classroom with their peers until they could show that they could act responsibly with their peers and treat everyone with respect, Johnson said. Goldenberg wrote that elementary school is where reform of discipline and a positive academic environment must start. An example would be of the character curriculum Johnson uses at her school in which students partake in daily morning check-in aimed at fostering a loving, respectful community with positive peer pressure. Were preparing you to own your own future and we do this in elementary school by focusing on why they made the choices they made and helping them realize that those were their own choices and that they have control over their future, Johnson said. From the schools standpoint, the most important thing is to create school environments where all students can feel successful and where they have a stake in doing well, Goldenberg wrote. Easier said than done! But that is what we must do. Contact Ileana Najarro at inajarro@stanford.edu.

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The Stanford Daily

MTENNIS
Continued from page 3
crowned the national champions the past three seasons and are carrying a 43-match winning streak. The fact that USC has three singles players ranked in the top 20 and five singles players in the top 60 is a testament to the teams depth. Among the talentloaded Trojans lineup is defending NCAA singles champion Steve Johnson, who is ranked second in the nation. Just as formidable is USCs doubles lineup, which consists of three doubles teams that are ranked in the top 20 in the country. Not to be outdone, Stanford currently boasts two top-50 singles players in No. 30 Ryan Thacher and No. 46 Bradley Klahn, who has been playing and playing well despite a lingering back injury. The Cardinal also appears in the national rankings in doubles play, with the duo of Klahn and Thacher ranked

fifth while the team of Thacher and freshman John Morrissey, who stepped in for Klahn while he was injured, ranks in the top 60. The Cardinal has been playing well recently, sweeping both Oregon and Washington in 7-0 victories last weekend as part of Pac-12 play. With only two weeks left in the regular season, its all the more important for the team to keep its conference record perfect. Victories over elite teams such as UCLA and USC are critical in providing the Cardinal with momentum for the postseason. The teams overall performance down the stretch will certainly have major implications for its confidence heading into the Pac-12 Championship and eventually the NCAA tournament in early May. The Cardinal will face the Bruins at 1:30 p.m. on Friday and then battle the Trojans at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Contact George Chen at gchen15 @stanford.edu. played a small amount in relief of Masifilo and redshirt junior Ben Gardner last season, but the two have played so well this spring that they could possibly overtake Gardners spot at a starter. In the defensive backfield, a rotation of players will look to take over the spots of three departing starters, including freshman Wayne Lyons and sophomore Ed Reynolds, both of whom missed last season with in-

MVBALL

Continued from page 3

final two points and decided them in favor of BYU. Needless to say, UCLA will be hungry and motivated when it takes the court, not just because of the loss, but also in honor of its coach. Scales, who is considered perhaps the greatest mens collegiate volleyball coach ever, has led UCLA to 21 national championships. But in order to set the stage for the matchup with the Bruins, the Cardinal must first take care of business on Friday. Stanford cant afford to lose focus against UCSB, who stunned No. 4 BYU on the road earlier this season. The Gauchos, who were the national runners-up a season ago, are winners of two in a row, following a sweep of Hawaii last week. They are led by junior Miles Evans and freshman Kevin Donohue, who average 3.49 and 2.73 kills per set, respectively. Should the Cardinal get past the Gauchos unscathed, a tall order stands ahead of them on Saturday against UCLA. Stanford took perhaps its most lopsided loss earlier this season in Westwood, falling to the Bruins in straight sets and providing little resistance. If things are going to be any different this time around, Stanfords seven seniors, four of them starters, will have to set the tone. Outside hitter Brad Lawson is a two-time All-American, National Player of the Year candidate, the school record holder in career aces and the 2010 co-MVP of the NCAA tournament. His 13 kills against UCLA in January easily led the team, and he will have to play well for Stanford to find success.

ALISA ROYER/The Stanford Daily

Senior Bradley Klahn (above) and the Cardinal mens tennis crew are taking a road trip down to Los Angeles for a critical weekend of stellar competition that will feature No. 6 UCLA and No. 1 USC.
juries. Lyons looks to be the leader to take over Johnson Bademosis spot at cornerback, which was expected out of a player who was rated as the nations sixth-best safety coming out of high school just a year ago. Reynolds, who Shaw said was the springs best safety so far, is a surprise contender to take over one of the starting safety spots, as he seemed likely to be buried behind Jordan Richards and Devon Carrington, both of whom saw significant playing time last season while Reynolds was sidelined by a knee injury. While all of these spots are open, and could continue to change when the nations fifthbest recruiting class comes to the Farm this fall, Saturdays Cardinal-White game in San Francisco could go a long way to tipping off fans and more importantly, the Cardinal coaching staff as to which players will be suiting up for the first Stanford squad in the post-Andrew Luck era. The Cardinal (and White) will take the field at San Franciscos Kezar Stadium at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Contact Jack Blanchat at blanchat@stanford.edu.

FOOTBALL
Continued from page 3
he sustained last September. Along the line, the replacement for graduating senior Matt Masifilo will likely be either junior Josh Mauro or sophomore Henry Anderson, who both bring 6-foot-6, 275-pound frames to the competition. Both

This past week of practice has been the most fun week yet just because Ive finally started to realize how little time remains and that I need to just enjoy each moment, Lawson said. As far as UCLA goes, its quite obviously going to be huge for us, Lawson admitted. If we get hot and play like we have been this week in practice, I dont think theres a team in the MPSF that we cant contend with. Lawson is not the only senior All-American on Stanfords roster. Libero Erik Shoji is already a three-time All-American, the school and national record holder for digs in a career and in a season, and the reigning MPSF player of the week after tallying 43 digs in Stanfords three matches last week. Possibly the best libero in collegiate history, he will be crucial in stymieing UCLAs efficient attack, which hits .334 as a team, good enough for third in the nation. Setter Evan Barry is a two-year starter and the national leader in assists per set. He is an All-American candidate himself. Middle Blocker Gus Ellis is a four-year starter who is just three blocks away from breaking the schools all time blocks record. He, Lawson and Shoji are the three starters who remain from Stanfords national championship team in 2010. Dylan Kordic, Charley Henrikson and Jake Vandermeer have all been used more sparingly throughout their Cardinal careers, but each has made important contributions to the Farm during their years here. The final chance to salute Stanfords seniors will be at 7 p.m. on Friday, against UCSB, and again at 7 p.m. on Saturday against UCLA. Contact Daniel Lupin at delupin @stanford.edu.

MADELINE SIDES/The Stanford Daily

Senior outside hitter Brad Lawson (above), a National Player of the Year candidate, is part of the winningest senior class in school history and will play a pivotal role in Stanfords match against UCLA on senior night.

vol. 241 i. 8 fri. 04.13.12

INTERMISSION GOES

inside:

GREEK

TOP 5 FRIDAY THE 13TH FACTS

Every year, Friday the 13th stirs up spooky occurrences, eerie events and bizarre happenings. Or maybe thats just what we think. Read on for the top five weird Friday the 13th facts

Courtesy Lionsgate

Birthday Party
Many famous figures in popular culture and history were born on Friday the 13th, but whats strange is the crop when considered together. We sure cant imagine these blokes celebrating together. Fidel Castro (1926), Steve Buscemi (1957) and Margaret Thatcher (1923) were all born on a Friday the 13th. Legendary rapper Tupac Shakur died on Friday the 13th in 1996.

2 3 4 5
2

Unlucky Number
Architects and civil engineers are also superstitious! Many hospitals dont have a room 13. Many airports dont have a gate 13, and most elevators dont have a button for the 13th floor.

CABIN IN THE WOODS

META-HORROR
work on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Cloverfield, teams up with Joss Whedon (Buffy, Toy Story) and J.J. Abrams (Lost, Super 8) again this time for his directorial debut. In the practically titled film, five friends find themselves alone in you guessed it! a cabin in the woods, prepared to enjoy a weekend of daring, debauchery and experimentation. From its premise to its trailer, the film has all the trimmings of a standard horror movie. I would be shocked if Cabin is anything like those movies. Anything like any movie, Goddard said with an audible pause surrounding his shock when I asked if Cabin will join the ranks of typical thrillers like Silent House and House at the End of the Street, both released this year. When I wrote Cabin my hope was for in the future, down the line people to be saying, Well, is this like Cabin? not What is Cabin like? he said. And hes right. The Cabin in the Woods defies expectation as much as

Decimotercero, Hermano
In Spain and many Spanish-speaking countries, it is Tuesday the 13th that is traditionally feared. In Italy, Friday the 17th is a day of bad luck.

Party of 14!
In Paris, superstitious diners in parties of 13 can either order an additional place to be set or hire a quatorzieme, a professional 14th guest.

13 Dollars
The U.S. economy loses up to 900 million dollars every time there is a Friday the 13th many people avoid business deals or work on the allegedly doomed date

intermission

or those of the techie variety, winter quarter was a time of scheduled interviews, job selections and contract signing. In the cold of winter, computer science majors and engineers across Stanford took refuge in the certainty of their summer plans. But for fuzzies, especially those pursuing careers in entertainment, April is the cruelest month. While many of us await emails or still manage to schedule phone and Skype interviews, the possibility of an unpaid summer internship reading (and rejecting) scripts is but the light at the end of a tunnel leading to yet more unsteady jobs and precarious life plans. And this is the gravest of many students problems. In the thawing of winter and the rush of spring quarter, its easy to forget how easy we have it at Stanford, but Drew Goddards The Cabin in the Woods kindly reminds college students everywhere of their triviality in the world as well as their capacity to seriously mess it up. Goddard, known for his writing

Goddard defied mine. When I met the 37-year-old director in the parlor of a Ritz-Carlton hotel room, he appeared nothing like the Drew Goddard I had studied from photos and press interviews. Dressed in all black with the facial hair to suggest a pretty good Halloween attempt to render Wolverine, Goddard had the poise and impatience that speak to his experience with these sorts of interviews. Its an homage to the horror movie really. It comes out of the love for all horror movies, he said. Its not really one movie; its about my love for the genre. The film may pay homage, but it certainly turns the genre on its head. Five friends in the woods is where all conventionality ends, and any viewer who thinks she knows whats coming will be in store for a rule-breaking story. As many fuzzies can attest, or perhaps even a Stanford student stuck in the right PWR might have heard, | continued on page 7 |

THEATER

C Ion private O F A N G E L S T Y investigation and jazz takes

R
ams Heads spring musical production in recent years has been largely about putting on formidable versions of recognizable shows that everyone can enjoy. This year, the board made a decision to choose something riskier, something less famous: the 1989 musical comedy City of Angels, written by Cy Coleman, David Zippel and Larry Gelbart. This risk paid off well for the company. The musical is divided between two story lines, connected through the double casting of one actor in two parts. In the real world, Stine, played brilliantly by co-terminal student Julian Kusnadi 11, is a troubled screenwriter, working in the power-hungry Hollywood system. Along the way, he has to deal with a whole host of alluring and exciting characters. His boss is a successful and boisterous film producer and director named Buddy Fidler, played by Graham Roth 12. He is constantly rewriting and claiming ownership over Stines story. But more importantly, like in any good Hollywood story, many of his problems arrive as a pair of long legs in a well-cut dress. Stines wife Gabby (Anneka Kumli 13), his quick-witted secretary (Clare Bruzek 12), the directors wife (Katie Straub 14) and a new starlet on the rise (Addy Mendoza 13) all complicate Stines life in various ways. What is twice as interesting is the movie that Stine is writing. As the show progresses, the audience watches the movie come to life as Stine projects a taller, cooler version of himself in the movies Private Detective Stone, keenly portrayed by Weston Gaylord 15. Along the way, Stone meets characters that are seemingly ripped right out of writer Stines life. Coincidentally, Stone has a capable secretary and an alluring ex-wife, must deal with a family with a powerful wife and, like any film noir, bears a host of secrets. The movie in the mind of screenwriter Stine is where the musical truly succeeds. Director Benno Rosenwald 11 draws inspiration from classic films such as The Maltese Falcon and The Big Sleep. This heightened sense of drama and intrigue bubbles through in the film with the fast and sexy dialogue, which coupled with the elegant black and white set design makes for a compelling directorial vision. The musical itself also draws heavily on the 1940s influence; much of the music is tinged with a jazzy edge that builds on the excitement of the rest of the show. Smooth jazz crooner Jimmy Powers, played by Rob Biedry 15, along with the chorus of Angel City all work together to bring the music to the forefront of the ensemble. Fortunately, all of the singers on stage are able to handle the technical jazz rhythms and melodies pulsing throughout the show. Leads Kusnadi and Gaylord play off of each

ALISA ROYER/The Stanford Daily other well and share some of the most passionate and invigorating songs. However, the show is mostly an ensemble production; each of the supporting players gets a moment to shine and each takes full advantage of his or her time in the spotlight. Highlights include Bruzeks sultry secretary, Mendozas revealing performance and Roth doing pretty much anything on stage you dont need to hire a private detective to realize that Roth truly steals the show. Amid the high production values and the talented singers on display, one thing is painfully obvious. Even if the existing show doesnt always meet lofty expectations, the cast and crew are incredibly passionate and dedicated to the show and this love for the production shines through every scene. brady HAMED
contact brady: bhamed@stanford.edu

ALISA ROYER/The Stanford Daily

friday april 13 2012

MOVIES

eginning April 19, the San Francisco International Film Festival will once again bring an eclectic mix of both world cinemas rising stars and veteran filmmakers to the Bay Area. With 200 films in 41 languages, panels, master classes and more, the 55th edition has something for true cinephiles and casual filmgo-

SFIFF
ers alike. So straight from the programmers themselves, here is your guide to the films and events not to be missed. Opening night showcases director Benot Jacquots Farewell, My Queen, starring Diane Kruger as Marie Antoinette. This fresh take on the events leading up to the French Revolution tells the familiar

THE BEST OF

Courtesy Lumiere ext week, the San Francisco International Film Festival will celebrate its 55th year. Running from April 19 to May 20, the festival will showcase hundreds of films in over forty languages and offer prizes hitting the $70,000 mark. With such a cinematic smorgasbord, such little time to wade through so many reels and a major chunk of change on the line, here are three of Intermissions top picks you should be sure

story through the eyes of the reader to the queen. The following weekend, Lynn Sheltons excellent improvisational dramedy Your Sisters Sister takes the stage for the Centerpiece screening. Emily Blunt, Mark Duplass and Rosemarie DeWitt star in this touching story about testing the bonds between friends and family. The World Cinema Spotlight, which runs throughout the festival, highlights a diverse range of literary adaptations, ranging from classics such as Wuthering Heights (dir. Andrea Arnold, starring Kaya Scodelario) and the Tess of the dUrbervilles inspired Trishna (dir. Michael Winterbottom, starring Freida Pinto) to more abstract fare such as Patience (After Sebald), Grant Gees take on W.G. Sebalds genrebending novel The Rings of Saturn. Literary enthusiasts should also look out for Chicken with Plums from Iranian graphic novelist Marjane Satrapi, the Chilean comedy Bonsi (dir. Cristin Jimnez) and Joachim Triers Oslo, August 31, loosely based on Le Feu Follet. As always, SFIFF packs a strong documentary lineup, with several this year focusing on notable and inspiring women. to hit up. Oslo, August 31st Joachim Triers melancholic ode to urban life and the city of Oslo, Oslo, August 31st is one of the very best films of the last year and a must-see. The film centers around the charming Anders (Anders Danielsen Lie), a former drug dealer and addict, who gets a one-day leave from rehab to return to the city for a job interview and to

Courtesy Lumiere Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel, directed by the late fashion editors granddaughter-in-law, pays homage to the chic and witty legend, while Rory Kennedys Ethel chronicles the life and times of the matriarch of one of Americas most formidable political dynasties. Marina Abramovic: The Artist is Present (dir. Matthew Akers) follows the 2010 MOMA retrospective celebrating the so-called grandmother of performance art. Closing night features Dont Stop Believin: Everymans Journey, directed by Stanford alum Ramona Diaz. The documentary chronicles the unlikely story of Arnel Pineda, who was plucked from obscurity in his hometown of Manila by the band Journey to be the lead singer on their upcoming world tour. Novelist, essayist and short story writer Jonathan Lethem will make a few personal stops. Over the course of the day in Oslo, he journeys to his favorite haunts, seeing friends of present and former days and tying up loose ends. Its a celebration of all the things the city has to offer and how even a neighborhood can have its own memories and cast. As a drug dealer, Anders, of course, knew everyone. Trier carefully shows us how Anderss relationships have developed, and, in so deliver the State of Cinema Address for the Live and Onstage segment, which seeks to engage festival-goers with filmmakers and the cinematic experience in new ways. Porchlight: True Stories from the Frontiers of International Filmmaking brings industry insiders to speak candidly about their craft. The musically inclined may enjoy Merrill Garbus of Oaklands tUnE-yArDs for an evening of reinterpretation of film scoring to accompany Buster Keaton shorts, or the live documentary presentation at SFMOMA featuring Yo La Tengo. The festival continues until May 3. Visit festival.sffs.org for complete program and location details. misa SHIKUMA
contact misa: mshikuma@stanford.edu

SFIFF
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TOP THREE FILMS OF

doing, the film becomes an exploration of growing up from carefree twenty-somethings to more responsible thirty-year-olds. Oslo, August 31st is a dialogue-heavy film about smart people, so the conversations are interesting, real and resonant. If youve ever lived in and loved a city, Oslo will movingly touch on familiar themes, friendships and feelings. | continued on page 8 |

MOVIE

TOTAL FRAT...
Courtesy DreamWorks

FEATURE

MUSIC

ear Hollywood, make better college movies. Well, actually, that should be Dear Hollywood, make better movies, period, but well settle for baby steps. Why is it that so many movies about the fabled Row suck? Why does a movie like National Lampoons Dorm Daze 2 exist? If I ruled the world . . . But thats not to say there arent some goodies. Allow me to wade through the Walmart clearance bins of crappy sorority horror movies and National Lampoon blah blah blahs to find you some Greek fare worth taking a look-see at. For those of you rushing and those of you pre-assigning to Synergy alike, here are some films to keep your spirits high as girls wander the Farm at odd hours of the night and future fraternity men do whatever it is they do at 103 oops, I mean Kappa Sig. Without further ado: Animal House: Yeah, you knew this would be on here. I couldnt help it. Still considered the gold standard for college movies, the John Belushi vehicle about a misfit frat taking on the administration still resonates with those crazy college kids . . . go figure. Revenge of the Nerds: Like Animal House, this one also involves a renegade fraternity . . . a more awesomely dorky one. But dont let the pocket protectors fool you. This 1980s cult comedy has plenty of Rrated humor and sexual angst. Yeah, you knew the latter was coming. Accepted: Im told this comedy starring the adorkably likable Justin Long and a more voluptuous Jonah Hill is actually pretty funny. After getting rejected by every college he applies to, a high school senior

him in our favor. Sandstorm Darude Ahh, Sandstorm. A seven-and-a-halfminute techno classic. We still wait with anxious anticipation for the build up to stop and the beat to drop. And when it does, its just as satisfying than it used to be. You know that moment when you realize the only dance move that fits the song is slowly bobbing up and down with an extended arm? Yeah. That moment. creates a fake university of (but of course) likable misfits. Sort of like Stanford, but the valiant young protagonist didnt have to die first. (Thanks, Leland Jr.!) Old School: If you like Will Ferrell and/or Hangover director Todd Phillips and their trademark humor, youll more or less enjoy this. While not consistently funny, this comedy about three buddies reliving their college years has its good moments, mostly thanks to Ferrell. Still, this is cramping my credibility . . . must find critically acclaimed drama . . . Love Story: This classic 1970 film stars Ryan ONeal and Ali MacGraw as a wealthy Harvard student and a working classic music student, respectively, and follows their troubled romance. In the vein of The Graduate, this is by the far the most thoughtful and intelligent film here. Aw yeah (hand thrust). Legally Blonde: Its not the most inspired choice, I admit, but good sorority movies prove hard to come by. This Reese Witherspoon rom-com is still plenty charming. Runners-up (if youre really in | continued on page 8 |

he floor is sticky, the line for the bathroom is absurdly long and countless freshmen are scuffing the bejeezus out of your new shoes but lets be real . . . did you actually think it was a good idea to break out those semi-vintage, limited-edition Air Force Ones that your main squeeze bought you at a rush event? Thankfully, Intermission has compiled this collection of songs that will undoubtedly receive plays by the D.J., but will also hopefully get you through any all-campus extravaganza. Intermission Presents: The Fratastic Playlist. Without You David Guetta ft. Usher Its gonna burn for me to say this, but Intermission can get down to D. Guetta. Not the typical R&B flow of Usher, but nevertheless, its still Usher. And were still dancing. Looks like the nights started off right on the Phi Psi light-up dance floor. The Motto Drake ft. Lil Wayne Uh oh. My jam. Its not a song. Its a way of life. I mean, how else could we justify typical, day-to-day actions? YOLO. Despite being Canadian (we see you Jimmy Brooks), Drake do[es] it for the Bay, which clearly places

Get Low Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz From the windows? AND to the walls?! When this Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz classic blasts through the speakers, we commemorate the simpler days of 2004 by making a curious attempt at crumping, while chanting Lil Johns favorite one-word, rather sloppy pastime. Relive those eighth grade days. Or for the frosh, like, fifth? Call Me Maybe Carly Rae Jepsen Well, well, well. The instant classic. With a simple melody, hook and lilting lyrics, Carly Rae Jepsen has possessed the minds of people everywhere. Who knew such a heartfelt and genuine ballade could capture the hearts of so many rugged and rough fraternity gentlemen? We surely dont know, but for that, we commend her. So why not keep the night going with this 2012 chart-topper adored by beach-volleying bros and Beiber-lovers everywhere. We Found Love Rihanna Oh, Rihanna. What would we do with| continued on page 6 | friday april 13 2012

VIDEO GAMES

or most of human history, artistic expression was a one-time action. Ancient sculptors couldnt take back a stroke of their chisel, and paint didnt come off when it hit the canvas. There was a simple but beautiful synergy between the weight of those brief artistic moments and the focused, passionate energy that inspired them. Humans are still expressive creatures, but today were afforded much more time and space to craft works of art. We can retake a digital photo or edit it later, film a certain scene until we get it just right or even re-post a tweet to make sound a little more snappy. Im no artist, but from a broad perspective, I think its fair to say that this trend makes art less emotional and more intellectual than it used to be. If nothing else, it makes art more malleable; where paintings and sculptures were once altered by little more than the elements and time, films and music can now last forever on a hard drive, going under the knife of an editor years later. (Im looking at you, George Lucas.) Weve been heading in that direction for decades, with a different flavor of technology leading the way at any given time. Recent events have convinced me, though, that video games still questioned by some as an art form at all are spearheading the trend more than anything else. And while the effect on art is nothing new, Im not sure its a good thing for video games.

MASS EFFECTS EPIC ENDING

The most recent, eyecatching example in the industry, of course, involves the ending of Mass Effect 3. Released barely a month ago to incredible critical acclaim, the game quickly drew the ire of many fans for failing to provide a conclusive ending to a trilogy into which millions of people have each invested well over 100 hours. Developer BioWare was criticized for allegedly exploiting fans expectations and caving to pressure from publisher Electronic Arts to sell downloadable content in the future. Caught between overwhelming negative pressure from the public and a respectable confidence in its original artistic visions, BioWare was in a bad place. Eventually they capitulated, announcing that an extended ending would arrive via DLC this summer. Its a landmark moment in triple-A games. As an interactive medium, the artistic message of games is inherently variable from player to player. But with only a handful of other cases the minor surgery on Fallout 3s ending comes to mind weve never seen developers take such a direct, top-down approach to altering an artistic product after its been released. To go back to my earlier analogy, that would be like Michelangelo climbing up the Sistine Chapel a decade after finishing it because a new pope believed that

ind ames

Courtesy BioWare

some of the fig leaves were a little too revealing. To be honest, I was happy to see news of BioWares plans to extend Mass Effect 3s ending. I care too much about that story to leave it where it stands. But even so, I think it sets a dangerous precedent. What if developers start assuming that its okay to sell incomplete experiences? If they can get away with fixing them later, whats to stop them from going so far as to sell us the true ending of a game? Weve already seen visions of that nightmare in games like Asuras Wrath and Assassins Creed II, which explicitly and intentionally excluded plot-critical portions

of the game and later sold them to consumers who were emotionally invested. Ill be the first to admit that downloadable content and patches give developers valuable tools that can expand and improve a product after its release, if used correctly. But they shouldnt be considered an acceptable fallback for an incomplete or inadequate single-player experience. I can hardly imagine the fallout if something similar happened in some of gamings more sacred series, like Zelda or Halo. nate ADAMS
contact nate: nadams@stanford.edu

CONTINUED FROM FRAT MUSIC, PAGE 5 out your smash hits? A staple amongst party playlists, Rihannas We Found Love never ceases to please, even if it is played millions of times. Rock to this one in 1035 and feel the nostalgia mix with the hopes of next years new (old?) residents . . . Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites Skrillex Adopt a style from the U.K. underground music scene with wobbly bass, and suddenly were in love with a man who looks like a balding version of the girl from The Ring. But really, though, Skrillex is sick. N****s in Paris Jay-Z and Kanye West You studied abroad to take in the language and culture of Paris. Now you have a perfect theme song! They may try to not let you get in your zone, but on the dance floor, theres no stopping you. Somewhere between this songs ubiquity on the fratfloor (like a dance floor but actually just any surface of a frat the floor, the dining tables, pong tables, mantles . . . ) and that Gaieties promo, we cant get this one out of our heads. #LOL. Call Me Maybe An encore? Terrific! Looks like you can have your cake and eat it too! Call Me Maybe Okay. At this point we wont be accepting any numbers. And no calls will be made. Not even maybe. isaac HALYARD
contact isaac: ihalyard@stanford.edu

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WHATWERE LISTENINGTO
A list of songs Intermission staffers are jamming to this week. HERE COMES MY BABY THE TREMELOES

THEATER

THE ALIENS
VISUAL ARTISTRY

REAL LIVE FLESH TUNE-YARDS

WE ARE YOUNG FUN.

LEAVE (GET OUT) JOJO

he production design at the SF Playhouse has been consistently remarkable this year, and The Aliens is no exception. The intimate space, where every facial expression is visible to the entire audience, proves the perfect venue for this slice-of-life play in which nothing really happens and yet every detail gains significance as the play unfolds. Bill Englishs set is beautifully detailed and creates a backyard hangout, with a picnic bench center stage, garbage bins on the right and a building at the back, complete with a porch, a screen door and even a hot water heater on the buildings side. Since the space is small, every aspect is up for scrutiny, and the intimate space puts us right in the backyard with the characters. Michael Palumbos lighting is equally effective, effortlessly alerting us to the time of day, whether its the warm July sun or the cool summer moonlight. When the play opens, its a calm, sunny summer afternoon. Jasper (Peter OConnor) and KJ (Haynes Thigpen) are relaxing on the picnic bench outside. We will eventually learn that they arent in their own backyard, but actually trespassing on a restaurant. They arent looking at or talking to one another, but its perfectly relaxed and natural. Its also silent for minutes, allowing us to adapt to the pace and the rhythm of the play. They eventually start to speak, though not really about any-

Courtesy SF Playhouse thing, before they are ultimately interrupted by Evan (Brian Miskell), the sixteen-year-old who has just started working at the restaurant where they are. Evan is anxious when he discovers Jasper and KJ outdoors because customers arent technically allowed outside in the backyard, and hes unsure what to do. Out of boredom or vanity, Jasper and KJ adopt the self-conscious Evan into their acquaintance, and it is through their discussions with Evan about each other that we start to discover their back-stories. Somewhere in the middle, the focus shifts onto Evan, and the play becomes a coming-ofage story. Evan is gawky and awkward. He speaks with trepidation and often stumbles over his words. He find Jasper and KJs attentions flattering; hes not the sort who is used to being the center of attention of anything and mostly tries to fade into the background, both in high school and at work. The Aliens is all about the acting, and what a fantastic cast this production has. In his cut-off sweatpants and faded backpack, OConnor as Jasper exudes a calm coolness. As KJ, Thigpen is goofy yet proud, and when we see him humming and singing to himself, it seems natural. These two can sit in extended silences together and what we feel is that these are the silences of two people who know each other well and do not need to be engaged in constant dialogue to feel comfortable. The standout performance is by Brian Miskell as Evan. Through vocal tics, posture | continued on page 8 |

CONTINUED FROM CABIN, PAGE 2 Buffy has received record amounts of critical and academic coverage for its seminal status as genre-setting. In the same way, Cabin shrugs off its ostensibly similar counterparts and fits more aptly in the horror-comedy genre with the likes of Jennifers Body, Dead Snow and Zombieland. And where those films excelled in tight dialogue and a surging craze, Cabin shines with surprise and clever crafting, answering an age-old question: Where do horror movies come from? If the meta-plot does not sate the keenest of intellectual viewers, perhaps the Friday the 13th premier date can at least assuage those with a sense of humor. sasha ARIJANTO
contact sasha: sasha.arijanto@stanford.edu

MIDNIGHT CITY M83

friday april 13 2012

ADVICE

CONTINUED FROM SFIFF, PAGE 4 I Wish The latest film by Japanese director Hirokazu Koreeda, I Wish, is a quiet, mature and astute exploration of childhood, hope and broken families. I Wish is the story of two young brothers torn apart by divorce, each living with a different parent and grasping onto the hopeless prospect of reuniting their parents. Bullet trains are being constructed through their cities, and they hear that if you make a wish while two bullet trains pass each other for the first time, it will come true. The two brothers set out with their group of friends, each with his or her own wish (including one as far-fetched as to resuscitate a cat), to meet up and make these wishes properly. I Wish successfully walks the fine line between showing childhood as painful and full of helplessness and idyllic, simple and joyous. As far-fetched as this journey is, we cant help rooting for the children to have their simple wishes granted, and we are as heartbroken as they are when the trip leads to a loss of innocence. Much like The Kid with The Bike and Tomboy, two other great films about childhood, this is a film about kids that resonates deeply with adults and is not to be missed. The Loneliest Planet The Loneliest Planet is a quiet study of a couples relationship Nica (Hani Furstenberg) and Alex (Gael Garcia Bernal) revealed subtly during their multiday hike while on vacation in the country of Georgia. They have hired a local guide for their hike, and we watch as his presence shakes up their relationship and hinders them from communicating because they have an audience. After a startling incident on the hike, the film explores the fallout for the couple and the strength of their relationship. The dialogue in the film is sparse, which lends greater meaning to all of the seemingly small and insignificant body language: when and how close they stand together, the pace of their walk and the simple games they do or do not play. It is a slow film, but its not slow in the league of Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives. The acting is very perceptive and nuanced, and the scenery unfamiliar and beautiful. alexandra HEENEY
contact alexandra: aheeney@stanford.edu

GO

raternity rush is upon us, and while she would rather be upon fraternity members, Roxy has decided to embrace the spirit of rush and share some of the insights shes gleaned over the years about each of the frats. Kappa Sig A fraternity known for its debauchery, Kappa Sig always goes hard an adjective Roxy considers the highest praise. And while homeless isnt usually Roxys type, shes found that on weekend nights, Kappa Sigs are prepared to go to great lengths to find places to sleep closer than Suites. Maybe its just her philanthropic streak, but Roxys always happy to share her bed. Sigma Nu Sigma Nu throws the biggest parties, but Roxys starting to think theyre compensating for ahem something. And even more importantly, Roxy likes boys who are more into her than each other. Of course, if they open their kitchen, Roxys occasionally been known to open her legs. Sigma Chi Roxy thought she was done hooking up in bunk beds after freshman year, but in the frattiest of Stanford fraternities, virtually everyone lives in one-room doubles. After enough watered-down shots in the penthouse, Roxy is sometimes willing to relive her Wilbur days. Theta Delt Maybe its just secondhand smoke, but Roxy has a hard time keeping a clear head around the boys in Theta Delt. They may be the most chill,

FRAT OR GO HOME

but Roxy knows a few ways to get them excited. KA Roxy likes the chase, but usually the chase doesnt lead her over scary path [1]and through fields. That being said, Roxy is willing to go the distance for a house so full of athletes great bods and plenty of stamina? Sign Roxy up. And when the athletes are hitting the bed early for 6 a.m. lift, Roxy will be sure to be there to tuck them in. Either that or to down some EANABS Equally Attractive Non-Athletic Brothers. Roxy isnt rushing, but shes always down for a quickie. Schedule a rendezvous at Intermission@stanforddaily.com.

CONTINUED FROM ALIENS, PAGE 7 and jerky movements, Miskell creates a neurotic and uncertain teenager. Miskell is completely present as an actor, subtly reacting to everything happening onstage and modulating his speech so deliberately that the stutters really do seem spontaneous. Everything registers in his face and his body so that, even when the action isnt centered on him, its effects on him are omnipresent and distinguishable. Despite the excellent acting, the play fails to reach much depth after the first act. Offhand comments stop being a huge window into the characters, and the interminable silences, albeit impeccably played, can feel very slow and test the audiences patience. We are invited to scrutinize every detail to look for meaning, and while things begin by seeming meaningful in the first act, the second act fails to keep up. The play is technically skillful, and it is a rare treat to see three actors so intense and in such realistic banality. Its just disappointing that it doesnt offer more. alexandra HEENEY
contact alexandra: aheeney@stanford.edu

Blue Like Jazz: 11:00am, 1:30pm, 4:00, 6:40, 9:20pm Bully: 11:00am, 1:40pm, 4:20pm, 7:00pm, 9:50pm The Cabin in the Woods: 11:30am, 2:00pm, 4:50pm, 7:50pm, 10:30pm Lockout: 11:35am, 2:10pm, 4:40pm, 7:30pm, 10:20pm The Three Stooges: 11:15am, 1:50pm, 4:30pm, 7:20pm, 10:10pm American Reunion: 11:10am, 12:10pm, 1:50pm, 2:50pm, 4:30pm, 6:20pm, 7:40pm, 9:35pm, 10:30pm Titanic 3D: RealD3D: 11:00am, 3:00pm, 4:05pm, 7:10pm, 8:10pm Digital Cinema: 12:00pm

Mirror Mirror: 11:05am, 1:45pm, 4:15pm, 7:00pm, 9:40pm Wrath of the Titans: RealD3D: 2:20pm, 7:25pm Digital Cinema: 11:45am, 4:45pm, 9:55pm The Hunger Games: 11:00am, 12:00pm, 2:10pm, 3:10pm, 6:10pm, 7:00pm, 9:25pm, 10:15pm The Raid: Redemption: 11:40am, 2:05pm, 4:30pm, 7:15pm, 10:05pm 21 Jump Street: 11:50am, 2:25pm, 5:00pm, 7:35pm, 10:25pm Dr. Seuss' The Lorax: RealD 3D: 11:20am, 3:50pm Digital Cinema: 1:35pm The Artist: 6:20pm, 9:10pm

BONE TO PICK?

04.13.12

well then, email us! intermission@stanforddaily.com

CONTINUED FROM FRAT MOVIES, PAGE 5

MANAGING EDITOR
Sasha Arijanto

DESK EDITOR
Andrea Hinton
Fri and Sat 4/13 4/14

Yemen 1:50, 4:30, 7:15 Damsels in Distress2:00, 4:20, 7:25

Thurs ONLY 4/19

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen- 1:50, 4:30, 7:15, 9:50 Damsels in Distress2:00, 4:20, 7:25, 9:45
Sun thru Weds 4/15 4/18

COPY EDITOR
Willa Brock

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen 1:50 Damsels in Distress2:00, 4:20, 7:25

COVER
Serenity Nguyen

Salmon Fishing in the

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the mood for a real chick flick . . . like, with lots of chicks) The House Bunny and Sydney White are decent picks. Well, theyre really the only ones besides Sorority Row fare (starring Audrina Patridge; enough said). Seriously, this obsession with slashers let loose in sorority homes seems kind of unhealthy. And exploitative. But I wouldnt

mind if they werent so bad. Hope you enjoy these! Now go and watch Community (NBC, Thursdays 8 p.m. . . . secretly this list knows TVs where its at). alex BAYER
contact alex: abayer@stanford.edu