FEATURES/3

REVIVING FROST

EXECUTIVE ENDORSEMENT
The Daily Editorial Board endorses Zimbroff-Wagstaff
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T Stanford Daily The

WEDNESDAY April 11, 2012
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An Independent Publication
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Volume 241 Issue 36

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Web-only content featuring expanded elections coverage and ongoing analysis of ASSU happenings.

Profs. debate activism in ed.

Politics damaging liberal education, study says
By ILEANA NAJARRO
STAFF WRITER

Check out assu.stanforddaily.com.

STUDENT LIFE

Chaparral diversifies for funding

Humor magazine seeks new route to garner student support for special fees
By NATASHA WEASER
DESK EDITOR

A recent study by the California Association of Scholars has opened a vigorous debate among professors about the meaning of a liberal education: Is a liberal education about learning all sides of the argument or should it lean more toward student activism? The debate also touches on whether party affiliation of professors affects the traditional educational environment. Stanford Hoover Senior Fellow Peter Berkowitz responded to the study in a March 30 op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, stating that the political affiliations of faculty members motivates them to focus more on teaching students to become agents of social changes at the expense of focusing on

coursework that is faltering in quality. The study reads, When individual faculty members and sometimes even whole departments decide that their aim is to advance social justice as they understand it rather than to teach the subject that they were hired to teach with all the analytical skill that they can muster, the quality of teaching and research is compromised. Robert Anderson, UC-Berkeley economics and math professor and chairman of the system-wide Academic Senate, said that the study puts forward a lot of allegations that are not supported by the facts presented, because its main claim is that faculty members leftward political leanings decrease the quality of undergraduate education.

Please see ACTIVISM, page 5

SERENITY NGUYEN/The Stanford Daily

MONEY

The Stanford Chaparral, the campus humor magazine founded in 1899, has not received special fees from students for the past two years. While the group has benefited from alternative sources of funding, co-editor-in-chief Sam Coggeshall 12 says the publication is expanding its services in an attempt to receive special fees funding this year. We wanted to show that love was not just about soft music and dinners but about laughter, too, said Coggeshall in reference to this years Valentines Day event Black Love, for which The Chaparral hosted comedian Kevin Avery. The collaboration was part of an increased promotional effort from the publication after failing to secure special fees for two years in a row. Last year, it was one of two campus groups that did not receive special fees. In order to secure special fees funding this year, the publication has been employing new strategies, including helping to host comedy events on campus. In addition to the Black Love event, the magazine partnered with the Jewish Student Association (JSA) to bring comedian Dan Mintz to campus in November last year. This is part of our efforts to broaden readership and presence, Coggeshall said. We are trying to get our name out there by bringing more than the magazine to campus. According to Coggeshall, The Chaparrals strong support from alumni, including some who write for popular television series such as The Simpsons and The Office, enables it to bring guest comedians to campus. The publication plans to host similar events this quarter. Although content changes were not part of the publications new strategy, the group employed other methods, such as increasing distribution, hosting open houses, experimenting with new art designs and updating its website. Coggeshall attributed the loss of special fees in part to the change in the voting system in 2010. According to Coggeshall, instead of choosing which student groups not to vote for, a new voting procedure was introduced last year in which students had to select the student groups that they specifically wanted to receive special fees. Our presence just was not big enough, Coggeshall said. Not everyone knows what the Chappie is. Our humor may not necessarily be for everyone, but we feel that if more people were aware of us they would enjoy

SoFi loans popular with GSB

Social financing loans offered by alumni to GSB students
By ROBERTO VARGAS With the U.S. Department of Educations recent finding that approximately 9 percent of student loans are in default, and in response to a growing $1 trillion market, Social Finance, Inc. (SoFi) has stepped in. It was really an opportune time to intersect social and finance, said Mike Cagney, SoFi CEO, of taking a different approach to financial services. Cagney elaborated that SoFi addresses the need for students to meet their financial commitments at a reasonable interest rate. The business is structured around raising funds from alumni and dispersing them to current students, creating both a financial and social return. At Stanford, SoFi originally chose to target the Graduate School of Business (GSB), where about 65 percent of graduate students borrow funds. SoFi raised approximately $2 million from 40 alumni and dispersed the funds to students. The approval process for the loans was similar to that of a standard loan, requiring a credit check and some background information. A major draw of the program is the vested interest that financiers have in the students themselves as well as the potential for alumni mentoring and interaction. Although SoFi does not provide direct one-on-one financing, many students and alumni have taken advantage of SoFis online networking platform to form a social community, according to Cagney. Another appeal of SoFi lies in the numbers. SoFis loans provide funds at a fixed interest rate of 6.24 percent, which is very competitive with other financing options. Students generally take advantage of a low interest of approximately 4 percent for federal Perkins loans, but they are often left with a debt gap that they must address at a later time. The Stafford loan is an example of an option that students might turn to, offered at 6.8 percent. Compared to SoFis 6.24 percent interest rate (which can be lowered to 5.99 percent for students using an automatic payment option), these loans are much less attractive and burdensome. Benjamin Kessler, a current user of SoFi finance, praised the company. Compared to other student loan programs, its far and away the best with regards to the mutual benefits of the loan as well as the fixed interest rates, Kessler said.

MEHMET INONU/The Stanford Daily

Professor Emeritus James Adams and Mechanical Engineering Professor David Beach spoke Monday afternoon about the importance of emotions in leading good product design.

Aesthetics and emotions drive successful design

By AARON SEKHRI In a series of remarks dominated by anecdotes and observations of the actions of companies that create successful products, Professor Emeritus James Adams supported his supposition that, when it comes to design, emotions lead rather than follow. On Monday afternoon, in the industrial atrium of the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (d.school), Mechanical Engineering Prof. David Beach sat down with Adams to discuss Adams book, Good Products, Bad Products, and to reflect on the eponymous course that Adams taught for over 20 years at Stanford. Speaking in front of a crowd composed mainly of faculty and graduate students, the two academics touched on the nature of good design, with an emphasis on quality as the defining factor in the success and longevity of products. Adams began the discussion by noting how alien his design methodology and philosophy was at the time he first started teaching at Stanford during the mid-1960s. The predominant thinking at the time, he explained, was to quantify quality and reject any standard that was not immediately measurable. Adams deviation from this standard, instead focusing on qualitative quality courses, represented a major shift in the approach of design. Beach labeled this divergence the intellectual core of our enterprise. Despite admitting that such an understanding of quality is monumentally slippery, Adams asserted that, without such intuitions, the essence of good product design is lost because of his hypothesis that quality is fundamentally a product of emotion. Beach chimed in, saying that, We may think we are making rational decisions about what products we buy or what products we admire, but in fact probably the stronger driving forces have something to do with our

SPEAKERS & EVENTS

Please see CHAPARRAL, page 2

Please see PRODUCTS, page 2

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Senators address campaign financemess

By JULIA ENTHOVEN
STAFF WRITER

In its regular Tuesday meeting, the ASSU Undergraduate Senate approved next years ASSU Financial Manager and appointed a new member to the Constitutional Council. The senators also settled their muddled three-week debate surrounding the distribution of public campaign financing and the existence of a campaign spending cap. The senators approved Ireri Hernandez 15, nominated by current ASSU President Michael Cruz 12, to serve on the Constitu-

tional Council. Hernandez served as a chair on her high school student council. Though she said she has yet to read the ASSU Constitution, she was appointed unanimously to the post. Due to conflicting records and information from senators, Elections Commissioner Adam Adler 12 has, over the past three weeks, disseminated sometimes conflicting information to students running for the ASSU Undergraduate Senate and the Graduate Student Council (GSC) concerning a spending cap on campaigns. It wasnt at all clear which bill was con-

trolling in terms of the spending caps and public financing, Adler said. There were probably four or five different versions of the bill that I saw . . . There was no clear documentation supporting which one passed and which didnt pass. He noted that the bills that were passed by this years Senate might conflict with regulations passed in 2009. Several senators characterized the situation as a mess. Adler said that the Elections Commission will not be enforcing spending caps this elec-

Please see ASSU, page 2

Please see SOFI, page 5

Index Features/3 Opinions/4 Sports/6 Classifieds/7

Recycle Me

2 N Wednesday, April 11, 2012

NEWS BRIEF

The Stanford Daily

Stegner Fellows announced

By THE DAILY NEWS STAFF The English Department announced its ten Stegner Fellowship recipients for poetry and fiction last week. Each year Stanfords Creative Writing Program offers two-year fellowships that provide a living stipend of $26,000. Recipients commit to full-time academic activity, although the program does not confer degrees. Fellows are seen as working artists who are practicing and improving their skills. No specific academic background is required. This years winners for poetry are Kimberly Grey, Christopher Kempf, Hugh Martin, Jacques J. Rancourt and Solmaz Sharif. The new fiction fellows are NoViolet Bulawayo, Nicole Cullen, Lydia Fitzpatrick, Austin Smith and Monique Wentzelis.

Over 1,700 applicants from ages 22 to 75 applied for the fellowship award. Wallace Stegner founded the fellowship and The Stanford Creative Writing Program in 1946. Stegner, known as the dean of Western writers aimed to create a community of writers to discuss and support one anothers work. The goal of the fellowship is for each fellow to have completed a publishable manuscript by the end of the two years at Stanford. Fellows also act as writing mentors to undergraduates in the Levinthal Tutorials and the Writers Studio. Ken Kelsey worked on One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest during his time at Stanford through a Stegner Fellowship. While fellows are in residence, there are no curriculum requirements other than workshop attendance and writing projects. Stanford faculty members help guide the recipients work.
Mary Ann Toman-Miller

ASSU

Continued from front page

tion cycle. Adler also reported that the extension that the Senate approved last week for candidates who missed the public financing deadline will not have its intended effect, since only one of the seven exempted students submitted a budget by the new deadline. Senators emphasized the importance of confidentiality for public financing applicants and expressed hope that future Senates and Election Commissions will learn from the messy execution of this years program. The body then approved public financing for the total four Senate candidates who submitted budgets. With only 21 candidates remaining in the race, Ben Laufer 12 and Janani Ramachandran 14 expressed disappointed that the offer of public campaign financing

did not encourage more students to run. The senators concluded their debate over the reappointment of Neveen Mahmoud 11 as ASSU Financial Manager and CEO of Stanford Student Enterprises (SSE). Although several senators had voiced concerns last week over the performance of SSE and Mahmouds leadership, they unanimously approved her appointment following her responses to their questions over the past week. Im quite pleased that Neveen . . . put some time and thought into this response to email, Ian Chan 14 said in support of her candidacy. A lot of things . . . are outside of her immediate control and theyre working on [them], and Im pretty confident that she is aware of the issues that weve been talking about for the past couple of months and will do a good job. With their terms coming to a close, the senators discussed the transition to the 14th Senate, which will be elected on Thursday

and Friday. They agreed to plan a transition retreat, establish a mentoring relationship between outgoing and incoming members. The current Senate will have its last meeting during week five of the quarter. Cruz and Senate Chair Rafael Vazquez 12 both noted that next years ASSU budget must be approved by the current Senate. The GSC and Senate will hold a joint legislative meeting next week to discuss the budget. The senators entertained the possibility of canceling their weekly meeting for next week but decided against it when several, including Laufer and Chan, suggested that having a regular meeting is important for teaching new senators about the structure of meetings. Unlike last year . . . I think we should really focus on the transition, because they have a lot to learn and we have a lot to teach them, said Alon Elhanan 14. Contact Julia Enthoven at jjejje @stanford.edu.

PRODUCTS
Continued from front page
ego, our sensory experience, cultural stimuli and the overall emotional response. The challenge at the time, Adams argued, was communicating this to a group of mechanical engineers, a group whose quantitative inclinations left them hesitant to adopt such an approach. The solution, Adams repeatedly noted, was a firm grasp of aesthetic appreciation. He credited his year at the UCLA School of Art and Architecture, which took place after a calculus-obsessed undergraduate degree at Caltech, as the most important educational experience of his life. Aesthetics was the game, Adams reflected. And it got me thinking differently. Adams argued that what he learned in his single year at UCLA sensitized [him] to aesthetics. Any young engineer should go to art school for a year, he said. Adams also pointed out that creative endeavors have innate risk. The higher the level of creativity, Adams said, the higher the level of risk.

He emphasized the need to find balance between creative design and functional design, which he grounded in the most fundamental needs a consumer will have of the product in question. Echoing the interdisciplinary ethos of Stanfords d.school, Adams touted the diversity of academic interests of the students he taught over the years and reflected on the future of the course, now led by Beach, and the d.school itself. In response to an audience question about the role of hightechnology tools detracting from the design process, Adams asserted, Digital tools in manufacturing are a source of excitement and energy. The event, with a generally positive reception, was followed by an informal chat session. Sanjay Dastoor, a Ph.D. candidate in mechanical engineering who took the course Good Products, Bad Products several years ago, remarked, I am involved in a company now where we are making a tangible product, and I still draw on my experience from the class. It was a great talk, Dastoor continued. James Adams was definitely a great teacher. Contact Aaron Sekhri at asekhri@ stanford.edu. added that funding also came from The Stanford Fund but stated that overall funding from both the Publications Board and The Stanford Fund does not match the publications desired budget. The Chaparral was founded in 1899 and currently publishes six times a year. It is the second-oldest college humor magazine, after The Harvard Lampoon. Coggeshall defended the relevancy and the role of the magazine on campus. We are a part of Stanfords history and traditions and a balance to the intense rat-race and goal-orientated Stanford ethos, he said. Contact Natasha Weaser at nweaser@stanford.edu.

CHAPARRAL
Continued from front page
the magazine. According to Kate Abbott 12, co-chair of the ASSU Publications Board, the Chaparral has been receiving its funding from the board instead. Abbott is a Daily staffer. The function of the Publications Board is to provide fees for publications that do not receive special fees, Abbott said. But the amount a publication can receive decreases with every additional year. Coggeshall, who is also a cochair of the Publications Board,

The Stanford Daily

Wednesday, April 11, 2012 N 3

FEATURES
By LUCAS OSWALD

Frost Amphitheater revived

t the heart of campus, there lies a hidden sloping field of wide grassy steps surrounded by verdant vegetation so tall and thick that if it werent for the distinctive Hoover Tower nearby, you might forget you are in the center of Stanfords campus. The 20-acre field narrows slightly as it dips into a stone uprising at its bottom, where musical performances take place. This outdoor arena is known as Laurence Frost Amphitheater, and strangely enough, hardly anything has been played from its stage in the last two decades. Frost wasnt always silent, however. As many current Stanford students now lament, it was once the annual stomping ground of the Grateful Dead, just one of many popular OLLIE KHAKWANI/The Stanford Daily bands to visit the amphitheater. But the frequent visits of The Dead caravan were not Frosts only highlight. The amphitheater was built in 1935 with funds donated by the parents of John Laurence Frost 35, who died of polio soon after his graduation from but is also composed of it; the audience stands on ascendStanford. From 1938 to 1984, it served as the location for ing grass flats that curve upward from the performers like an upturned band shell, creating tremendous acoustic deStanfords commencement ceremonies. All of my commencement exercises were held livery. Frost, at its best, is an unbeatable venue, Stathatos there, recalled Steve Stathatos 74. It was an ideal time of year for the venue warm weather and all the foliage said. After an unfortunate turn of events including a motorin full display. As I recall, various flowering trees like cherry and apple surrounded the place, and red and cycle gang brawl at an Elvin Bishop concert in 1971, the venue began its slow cycle into disuse. With the growing white roses bloomed around the stage. Although the amphitheater was originally used only costs of concerts in combination with Frosts lack of infrafor University ceremonies, it soon found use as a concert structure, fewer and fewer productions were held at Frost venue for jazz artists and classical productions. Duke over the years. Today, Frost is rarely visited. In the last five years, the Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald played together at Frost for only notable performances have been Grammy awardstudents, as well Louis Armstrong and even Miles Davis. As popular music shifted genres in the late 1960s, Frost winning bassist Victor Wooten and rapper Mos Def. However, the silence at Frost will not last long. was visited by a new era of musicians. On May 7 1967, JefOn May 19, Stanford will host the Frost Revival Music ferson Airplane became the first major rock band to perform at Frost, just as they were reaching international star- and Arts Festival, an all-day event that will fill Frost with dom. Many other musicians followed, including Eric Clap- Stanford students and members of the general public. This seems like an unexpected shift in the Universitys ton, Carlos Santana, Ray Charles and Creedence Clearmentality toward Frosts use, but according to Stanford water Revival. The stage was a favorite of the Grateful Dead, who Concert Network (SCN) co-director Alberto Aroeste 12, returned to the venue a total of 12 times. Their contin- the Stanford administration is largely supportive of their ued dedication was due in part to the fact that they efforts. The lack of infrastructure is still a problem, but with a themselves were from the Bay Area, but it has also been lot of work and proper funding, the event will have full faattributed to their fondness for the venue. Frost Amphitheater is not only surrounded by nature cilities and services for performers and guests.

Emily Pollock 13, SCN co-director, notes that despite the beauty of Frost, it remains a difficult venue to work with. What you see is really what you get a concrete stage and lawn an awesome environment, but its hard to get all of the necessary equipment out there, she said. The physical set-up of the concert may no longer be an issue, but Stanford is now more concerned with selling all 6,000 tickets, which will be available to Stanford students for $20. But with headliner Modest Mouse and openers Benjamin Francis Leftwich and Eyes Lips Eyes, it is likely that the group will have little trouble selling tickets. Im not worried about ticket sales since this event holds so much intrinsic value to students and the general public, Aroeste said. Were very excited to bring back Frost in a big way and have students experience the venue some for the first time in the way it was meant to be experienced. And what does this mean for the future of Frost? We hope that new generations of students and the general public will start appreciating Frost as SCN and older generations of Bay Area residents and alumni do, Aroeste said. With this newfound appreciation, perhaps there will be more than just the sounds of crickets and other wildlife coming from the amphitheater in coming years. Contact Lucas Oswald at loookas@stanford.edu.

Bridge
M.J. MA/The Stanford Daily

counseling and listening skills. In addition to serving as a necessary component of the Bridges training program, this class is a requirement for most counseling positions on campus. In addition to Education 193A, the Bridge trainees must take Education 193P: Peer Counseling at the Bridge, a one-unit class that instructs participants on how to properly counsel students and covers the expectations of work at the center.

The Bridge counselors who do not live in the house take three-hour shifts and very often do not receive many calls or drop-in visitors. However, when calls do come in, counselors can make a huge difference in the lives of the students and other individuals who enlist their services. For Tara Hasan 13, a counselor at the Bridge, the thanks she receives from the students she counsels are a constant reminder of why she volunteers there.

ts no secret: College life is replete with its own set of unique expectations and anxieties. Whether academic, athletic, professional or personal, these demands can take a toll on student well-being. Though the Stanford campus is home to a professional mental health and counseling center, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) located at Vaden Health Center, the University hosts another student support resource: the Bridge Peer Counseling Center. The Bridge has been an integral part of the Stanford community since 1971, when it was founded as a student-run drug-counseling center by Vincent DAndrea, former staff psychiatrist for student health at Stanford. The name of the center was inspired by the uplifting Simon and Garfunkel song Bridge over Troubled Water, released in 1970, which describes an individuals promise to support his friend in dire times. Since the 1970s, the Bridge has evolved into a peer counseling, workshop and support center for Stanford and the surrounding Palo Alto area. The Bridge staff counsels between 400 to 600 visitors annually and hosts wellness events throughout the year. Until 2009, the annual Stanford Spring Faire, an arts and craft fair that attracted people from throughout California and the Bay Area with a variety of booths and events, funded the Bridges operations. Since then, however, the center has been primarily funded through ASSU special fees. Located in Rogers House near the Faculty Club and Tresidder Memorial Union, the Bridges office is a 24 hours a day, seven days a week operation that invites students to drop in from 9 a.m. to midnight or call at any hour of the day for counseling conducted by trained undergraduate and graduate students. Several volunteer peer counselors live in the house, and counselors bring homework to their shifts, as a way to give the counseling center the casual, inviting appearance of a friends dorm room as opposed to that of a professional counseling office. The goal is to create a laid-back and comfortable environment in which students can feel safe and

at ease while discussing their problems. Despite the inviting dcor and the friendly staff, a larger number of students use the 24-hour call-in support system than the drop-in services. According to the Bridge, most cases they address relate to romantic relationships or friendships, with the second most common issue being academic stress. I was feeling really stressed [during] my freshman year, and I felt like everyone else could handle it except for me, said a junior, who chose to remain anonymous. I called the Bridge twice, and both times they really helped me feel less anxious. I dont know if I would have been able to get grounded without their help. Aspiring Bridge counselors must take two mandatory classes and pass an evaluation. Education 193A: Core Listening Skills, a two-unit course, teaches general peer

We have guest speakers every week to talk about issues students might call about, said Emily Cohodes 13, a teaching assistant for Education 193A and a current peer counselor at the Bridge. I had some pretty serious calls last year, Cohodes said. It is really important to learn how to handle them.

The reason I keep [working] with The Bridge is at the end they are legitimately thanking me for helping them, she said. The Bridge is open for walk-ins from 9 a.m. to midnight. Their call-in service is available 24 hours a day.
Ethan Kessinger

over troubled

water

4 N Wednesday, April 11, 2012

OPINIONS
E DITORIAL

The Stanford Daily

Zimbroff-Wagstaff for ASSU Executive

F
or the 2012-13 ASSU Executive, the Editorial Board unanimously endorses Robbie Zimbroff 12 and William Wagstaff 12, a pair of coterms that we feel will best represent the student body in the upcoming year.To reach this conclusion, the Board held forty minute interviews this past Friday with all three slates still in contention: Zimbroff-Wagstaff, MacGregorDennis & Druthi, and Open Source Candidates, the joke slate fielded by the Stanford Chaparral. On Sunday, we spent an additional hour discussing the advantages and disadvantages of the two sincere slates, Zimbroff-Wagstaff and MacGregorDennis & Druthi. Our ideal ASSU Executive would have a nuanced understanding of the position, broad experiences with which to give context to their work, a coherent platform with concrete, relevant, and realizable initiatives, and a strong ability to connect with students, faculty, and administrators. On all but the first qualification a strong knowledge of the ASSU we felt Zimbroff-Wagstaff was the strongest slate. Zimbroff and Wagstaff began the interview by stating a desire to not reinvent the wheel, alluding to the common-sense approach that informs their platform. They understand that there are student and administrative groups already committed to improving public service, student health, dining and other areas of campus life. Rather than create ASSU policies that overlap with or oppose the missions of these groups, Zimbroff and Wagstaff would work to fill in the gaps. One of their many concrete ideas that resonated with us was giving freshman resident assistants monetary incentives to plan events with community centers. In addition, we found their objectivity commendable. They recognized, for instance, that Vaden provides valuable services and, rather than wholly criticize Vaden, they viewed student dissatisfaction as an outgrowth of an unnecessary communication gap. With that in mind, the slate of Stewart MacGregor-Dennis 13 and Druthi Ghanta 14 demonstrated a superior knowledge of the ASSU and the ways with which to leverage the powers of the Executive, which is not surprising given MacGregor-Dennis role as ASSU vice president this year. But although Zimbroff and Wagstaff are ASSU outsiders, they appear to be working diligently to catch up, whether through reading administrative documents going back many years, attending ASSU Senate meetings, or talking with current and former ASSU leaders and campus administrators. We are confident, then, that Zimbroff and Wagstaff would acquaint themselves quickly with the ins and outs of the office if elected, and their diverse academic and extracurricular experiences over a combined eight years at Stanford will surely be beneficial in the adjustment. Perhaps Zimbroff and Wagstaffs most distinctive strength, though, is that they are highly personable. This quality is even more important given the current state of general student apathy, if not distrust, surrounding the ASSU. They were both intelligible, straightforward speakers who spoke in substance rather than buzzwords. The two also possess a synergy that will make for a highly cohesive executive unit. In addition, when asked questions to which they hadnt prepared an answer, their thought process was calm and deliberate. This is contrasted with MacGregor-Dennis selfidentified approach to dive-in, evaluate and then iterate. Although the latter philosophy may be valuable in the start-up world, we have doubts over its efficacy in student government, where one wrong remark can instantly alienate students and administrators. In short, we have more reason to believe that Zimbroff and Wagstaff would effectively communicate and forge relationships with the administration, Faculty Senate, student groups and other ASSU bodies. On many issues, ranging from reimbursements by Stanford Student Enterprises (SSE) to graduate student involvement, both slates offered similar responses. However, the two slates were vastly different in the scope of their platforms. While Zimbroff-Wagstaff presented a focused and coherent vision for next year, we ultimately felt that MacGregor-Dennis & Druthi would offer more of the same as Stanford 2.0: a highly bureaucratic student government that does little to inspire students and administrators. Their 40-page platform, which offers something for everybody, is often lacking in details. For instance, the proposed Academic Action Unit is defined as representatives from each school [that] work specifically on academic issues. What that means is beyond us, and many of their other platform points are similarly vague. Of their more concrete suggestions, many would do little to improve student life and/or would conflict with services already offered; they pledge, for instance, to offer nutrition consulting services, which are already provided through Vaden. Although we endorse Zimbroff-Wagstaff, we were impressed with MacGregor-Dennis passion for student government and Ghantas commitment to learning the intricacies of the ASSU. The two worked well as a team, and MacGregor-Dennis spoke sincerely of a commitment to become more pluralistic after criticisms this past year of his focus on entrepreneurship. Furthermore, MacGregorDennis intensity would be a welcome departure from ASSU Senators who want to end their terms early. Ultimately, though, we worry that much of their platform will not be realized; in addition, there seems to be no priority structure in place to ensure that their most pressing initiatives are effectively pursued. Zimbroff and Wagstaff, on the other hand, have for the moment narrowed their focus to a select number of pragmatic reforms that would improve almost everyones Stanford experience. This, along with their approachable personalities and diverse experiences, would go a long way in restoring credibility to the ASSU. The Stanford Daily Editorial Board is chaired by Adam Johnson 13. He is joined by four members: Mitul Bhat 12, Rebecca Johnson 11, Peter Johnston 14 and Meredith Wheeler 14. All members participated in the process, as none had affiliations with other endorsing bodies.

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 Mary Ann TomanMiller News Editor Molly Vorwerck Features Editor Caroline Caselli Sports Editor Nick Salazar Photo Editor Matt Olson Copy Editor

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.

Manly men do cry

BURSTING THE BUBBLE

George McGovern. Afterwards, Muskie would assert that his tears were in fact melting snowflakes; regardless, his display of emotion rebuffed what was a sure march to the presidential nomination. Yet Mr. Muskie was hardly the only man to have shed his tears in public. Walter Cronkite, whose booming voice made him a pillar of strength and integrity in living rooms across the country, teared up on the air in 1963 when reporting on the assassination of John F. Kennedy. I choked up, I really had a little trouble, he would recall. Fortunately, I grabbed hold before really crying. Andre Agassi, after having played his last game in the 2006 U.S. Open, stood at midcourt in tears, his hand clasped over his mouth, as fans gave him a fiveminute standing ovation. And Ray Bourque, one of the toughest players to play a sport synonymous with grit and toughness ice hockey cried freely after winning the Stanley Cup in his very last game as a pro. After making the playoffs 19 times, he finally won his only Cup with Colorado; the image of him holding Lord Stanleys trophy above his head at long last, tears streaming down his face, is still an image burned into the consciousness of the hockey faithful from sea to sea. This is simply a very abridged compilation of the manly men who have been overcome with emotion. Indeed, the list grows much longer, especially in our

s Bubba Watson watched his shot from deep in the woods dribble to within feet of the hole at Augusta National on Sunday, perhaps he knew he would soon be a household name. The new Masters champion, the 33-year-old self-taught golfer with the hot pink driver, is truly a maverick in a staid sport. And so when he dropped in his putt to seal the win, there was no emphatic arm pump, no Tiger-esque yelling. Instead, he broke down in tears, hugging his caddie, his mom, his colleagues, his caddie again, his mom again, all while sobbing like a baby. Cue the armchair pundits, who piled on mercilessly. Kudos to Bubba for winning, but what is with all the blubbering? wrote Bart Pfankuch of the Herald Tribune. Kathy Lee Griffin of the Today show qualified her support of Watson by saying that men who cry too much should go home to mommy. This is hardly a new phenomenon. For a long time, men crying in public was considered a great weakness. In the 1972 presidential campaign, Democratic frontrunner Ed Muskie was forced to defend the integrity of his wife in what is referred to as the crying speech. Having to stop three times and wipe his face, his tears were splashed on front pages across the country. Voters decided they didnt like this display of emotion from their would-be commander-in-chief, and so defected to support Muskies rival,

Edward Ngai
time, where cryings salty stigma seems to burn less. Yes, the criers still get mocked for example, the Speakerdubbed-Weeper of the House, John Boehner. Perhaps due to his very public repeated endorsements of Kleenex, two years after his ascension to the highest seat in Congress, he is still the butt of SNL jokes. Yet it would also be a great shame to let tears define our role models. Sure, there was once a time when sobs meant weakness and emotional instability. There was once a time where crying was unbecoming of a man, and certainly unbecoming of a champion. But it should be abundantly clear that this is not the case. The most powerful men in the world from George Washington to the Honorable Weeper have cried in public. The toughest men in the world have cried in public. The fact of the matter is, we all cry, and doing so in the presence of others simply shows them how you feel. Is that really so bad? So go on, Bubba, cry it out. After all, youve got a mighty plush green sleeve to soak up the tears. Ray Bourque and the Avs may have won it all in 2001, but Ed is sure itll be the Canucks in 2012. Cry over playoff heartbreak with Ed at edngai@stanford.edu.

RAVALATIONS

Fuzzy, premed and proud

m premed but Im majoring in communication. Cue awkward silence. The small smile on my face stays put as I count to 10 in my head, waiting for the inevitable, when one of the people Im talking to finally decides to break the silence. Thats . . . interesting. Why did you decide to do that? This is the reaction that Ive gotten used to ever since I decided to be a communication major during winter break of this school year. The idea that one might be able to enjoy and pursue both science and the humanities seems unfathomable to many of the people I talk to, both back at home and here on campus. Some of my family members dont understand why I wouldnt just want to focus on being a biology or chemistry major, since the major requirements for those departments line up neatly with a lot of the premed requisites. Meanwhile, quite a few of my friends at Stanford remain stumped by my decision. Those who are majoring strictly in the humanities dont understand how I could possibly want to sit through a math class or do a biology p-set, and those who are premed stare at me like Im carrying a disease when I tell them that I really enjoy writing. Neither side understands how I could not only be a fan but also be a part of how the other half lives. Despite the great techie-fuzzy divide, however, I personally dont see what the big deal is with being a premed humanities major. To me, the concept is simple: thanks to some of my extracurricular pursuits in high school and college, I have realized that I want to spend my life helping others by

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 op-ed, 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.

providing healthcare. That said, I am aware of the fact that pursuing medicine is no small feat. It requires the completion of many prerequisite classes, followed by four years at med school, and then board exams, residencies and fellowships. Its a long process, and the way I see it, my undergraduate career is really my only chance to delve into and hone my other academic interests so that they can aid me in the future, hence the communication degree. I dont see my interests as conflicting. Ive been slowly working through the list of premed requisites since I arrived here at Stanford, and I still plan on taking the MCAT and applying to med school alongside my strictly scientific classmates. The communication classes that Ive been taking have merely supplemented those requisites. I have learned how to set and adhere to strict deadlines, how to outline something properly, how to network, how to discern important information from fluff and how to ask the proper questions when trying to elicit information. All skills that I see as helping me out when dealing with patients. To top it all off, medical schools seem to be accepting the fact that the humanities and social sciences are becoming more relevant to the doctors of tomorrow. It was recently announced that the MCAT will be different starting in 2015. The test, which contains the traditional biology, physics and dreaded organic chemistry sections, is being adapted to include a new social and behavioral science section (think psychology) as well as a new critical analysis section that will ask students to analyze passages from a wide range of social science and hu-

Ravali Reddy
manities disciplines. The reason for the changes? Because it tests the analysis and reasoning skills you need for medical school and may prompt you to read broadly as you prepare, according to the preview guide for the 2015 MCAT. Recent studies have also shown no difference between the acceptance rates of science and non-science majors and no difference between the performances of these varied individuals at medical school. I often hear some of my fellow premeds talking about philosophy or psychology or other nontraditional paths, but at the end of the day, most of them remain traditional graduates, leaving with degrees in departments that they love but never having fully explored their other interests. To those of you who are still trying to decide what to major in, just consider this: the numbers all say the same thing theres no harm in majoring in what you want to major in, even if you plan on being premed. So, for now, Im going to keep writing and Im going to keep going to lab. Sure, it may be the road less traveled, but theres no indication that it isnt going to take me where I want to go in the end. And if college has taught me anything, its that theres no harm in a little bit of exploration along the way. Want to help Ravali study for the MCAT? Please send any tips to ravreddy@stanford.edu.

The Stanford Daily

Wednesday, April 11, 2012 N 5

that inspires you to think deeper about where you stand in relationship to those particular positions. Chang also said that political expression on behalf of the students as agents of change does not conflict with their academic environment. Often action and activism is a natural outgrowth of this thought process thats been engendered in the education process, Chang said. People can argue that any kind of political activity is sectarian, and I think that would be too narrow and literal a reading of that particular section of the [State] Constitution. Chang currently leads the Occupy Art class series at Stanford that explores the shifting meanings of the term occupation. Its a direct way of being able to have students talk about big ideas with events that are happening at this particular moment, and its a way for students to engage with and find connections to debate with, to have arguments with, social movements that are rising up, Chang said. Anderson said that he agrees with Changs idea of the role of political expression on a campus with liberal education as its model. I think the goal of a liberal education is to expose undergraduates to a wide variety of disciplines to help them concentrate in one of those to become a knowledgeable citizen of the United States, Anderson said. Part of being a good citizen is to be aware of the current political and social issues in your country. Contact Ileana Najarro at inajarro @stanford.edu.

ACTIVISM

Continued from front page

I think the study as a matter of social science is completely flawed because the fact that two things happen simultaneously does not imply that one causes the other, Anderson said. The only real evidence they provide is that the party registration of faculty is significantly leaning towards Democrats. Anderson said that party affiliation is not something he sees as a factor in hiring faculty because it would violate Article IX, Section 9 of the California State Constitution, which reads, The university shall be entirely independent of all political or sectarian influence and kept free therefrom. Anderson added that the reason for such a significant Democratic presence among faculty has to do with democratic ideals. Its people who are more concerned with increasing the welfare of the society in general who tend to be Democrats and who would most likely go into university teaching, Anderson said. While political affiliation alone need not carry classroom implications, the overwhelmingly left-leaning faculty openly declare the inculcation of progressive political ideas their pedagogical priority, Berkowitz wrote. He wrote that the study brings attention to why professors must avoid introducing discussion opinions extraneous to the subject to provide a wellrounded treatment of the matter under consideration. That opens the classroom to whatever professors wish to talk about, Berkowitz wrote. And in all too many cases what they wish to talk about in the classroom is the need to transform America in a progressive direction. However, Jeff Chang, executive director of Stanfords Institute for Diversity in the Arts, said allowing for students to gain tools for becoming agents of change is part of what a liberal education can provide. Liberal education is an education in which people are exposed to many different kinds of viewpoints and get to think critically about themselves in society, and they get to ask the big questions of the world, Chang said. If you challenge some kind of information and points of view,

SOFI

Continued from front page

Kessler is part of the SoFi pilot program that has prospered at Stanford. The pilot program worked with a group of 100 GSB students. The company plans to run refinancing programs at other elite institutions such as Harvard, MIT, Kellogg Business School and Wharton during the next few months and hopes to expand to 40 schools over the next year. Contact Roberto Vargas at rsvargas@stanford.edu.

6 N Wednesday, April 11, 2012

SPORTS
CARDINAL FALLS 12-9 AT DENVER
By SARAH MAISEL
STAFF WRITER

The Stanford Daily

STARTING SLOW
A slow offensive start coupled with a slew of turnovers caused the Stanford womens lacrosse team to drop its matchup against Denver last Saturday, registering its first conference loss of the season. With the loss, the Cardinal falls to 1-1 in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) play and 3-8 overall. Denver (10-1, 4-0), which has not lost a game since its season opener against Johns Hopkins, proved from the opening whistle that it will be a serious contender to break Stanfords streak of seven consecutive MPSF championships come tournament play on April 27. The Pioneers roared into the first period, scoring six unanswered goals in under 14 minutes. Senior Emilie Boeri finally broke through for the Cardinal on an assist from classmate Maria Fortino and then again on a free position shot in the same minute to put Stanford on the board. Boeri then provided the assist to freshman Emily Newstrom, who cut the lead to three with just over 13 minutes to play in the period. After being held scoreless for almost eight minutes, Denver freshman Jill Remenapp found the back of the net to end Stanfords 3-0 run. Both teams traded goals once more before the Cardinal entered the break behind 8-4. Stanford found itself in another quick deficit to start the second period. After a goal by Fortino, the Pioneers scored three times in as many minutes to lead 11-5. Freshmen Kyle Fraser and Newstrom scored to keep Stanford in the game, but Denver scored again to pull ahead 12-7. Emilie Boeri quickly shot back with a goal of her own off an assist from sister Anna Boeri, but the opposing defense quashed whatever offensive momentum remained until senior Catherine Swanson scored one final time in the final four minutes of the game. Despite its late efforts, the Cardinal could not claw back from its early deficit and fell 12-9. Stanford committed 25 turnovers to Denvers 15, and the Pioneers capitalized on the unforced errors. Although the Cardinal won nine of 13 draw controls in the first period, it quickly turned the ball over, allowing Denver to drive back down the field and score. These lost opportunities cost Stanford, as it was outshot 179 in the period. Denver junior Kate Henrich, who leads the nation with 3.1 caused turnovers per game, added six more to her season tally as she helped the Pioneers defense shut down the Cardinal. The second half was a closer matchup statistically, but the Pioneers won more draw controls, committed fewer turnovers and attempted more shots than the Card. Stanford, which comes home to play at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium for the first time in over a month, faces another difficult conference opponent in Oregon (9-4, 4-0) on Friday. The Ducks currently sit atop the MPSF standings, winning their most recent game against UC-Davis 16-13. Stanfords defense will have to provide an answer to sophomores Shannon Propst and Nikki Puszcz, who lead the team with 23 and 25 goals, respectively, and a combined 26 assists. More importantly, Stanford will have to solve its own first period woes. The Cardinal has proven that it can compete with the na-

Please see LACROSSE, page 7

SIMON WARBY/The Stanford Daily

Eric Smith spent two years as a backup infielder for the Stanford baseball team before taking over as this years starting catcher. He currently leads the team with a .360 batting average, including three hits in Mondays win.

CATCHING UP WITH SMITH

JUNIOR TALKS POSITION CHANGE, BREAKOUT YEAR
By JOSEPH BEYDA
DESK EDITOR

Junior Eric Smith, the starting catcher for the No. 6 Stanford baseball team, took over behind the plate this season after two years as a backup infielder. He currently leads the Cardinal (20-7, 4-5 Pac-12) with a .360 batting average, recently getting three hits and an RBI in the teams 19-6 win at Cal on Monday. Smith recently sat down with The Daily to discuss Pac-12 baseball, the teams midseason slump and catching for first-round draft picks. The Stanford Daily (TSD): Eric, youre 25 games into your first season as a starting catcher and youre currently the teams best hitter. What have you been doing right at the plate so far this year? Eric Smith (ES): One of my big things is just trying to stay as re-

laxed and calm at the plate as possible. I try to not let past at-bats, past pitches, past whatevers happened previously in the game or previously in other games affect what Im trying to do at the plate. Every at-bat is its own at-bat, and nothing from the past should impact how youre doing now, because if you carry at-bats, you carry calls, you carry strikeouts or you carry bad outcomes, its going to affect you during an at-bat or during a game. So I just try and take every pitch as its own and cherish every moment that I have up there with these guys. I just look for a continual goal I can [accomplish] at the plate, whether its moving a guy up, getting a sac fly or trying to get a hit. TSD: You come in as a catcher for your first time at Stanford, and all

IAN GARCIA-DOTY/The Stanford Daily

After winning its first conference game last week, the Stanford womens lacrosse team lost on the road to Denver on Saturday. The Cardinal fell to 1-1 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation and 3-8 overall.

Please see SMITH, page 8

Mosbacher Minute

Have Stanfords bats come back to life?

By JACK MOSBACHER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

hat is your favorite Maples Pavilion moment? I bet youre scanning your memory for a game-winning three that capped off an improbable comeback hoops victory over Cal. Or youre remembering one of the NCAA tournament games that catalyzed one of five consecutive Final Four runs for the womens team. My favorite moment? It may surprise you. Im a hoops fan through and through.That will never change.Ive chronicled my longing desire to witness Stanford basketball dominance, but Ive come to accept that I was recruited as a student during a rebuilding phase.This isnt to say that the court hasnt provided its fair share of excitement; its just that for every one step forward, there seem to be three turnover-prone steps back. However, the hardwood did its job for me in 2010, when the Stanford mens volleyball team took destiny on

Believing in another Maples moment

Zimmerman
Dishing the Rock

Zach

a date and eventually wifed her up.On May 8,Maples was the loudest its been in the new millennium, as the Card captured a national title on its home floor, a feat rare in any sport. Im absolutely nothing more than a casual volleyball fan. I know more about the sport than the average student, but the rules only began making sense when I arrived on campus. My high school fielded an expansion team of sorts during my senior year, but it was more of a youve played beach volleyball twice so congrats, youre the starting middle blocker kind of group than anything resembling a legitimate varsity squad. But here I am, making the case that a relatively unknown team in a relatively unfamiliar sport has a legitimate chance to repeat the magic from two seasons ago. Its not an easy argument to make the talent level at

Please see ZIMMERMAN, page 7

Jack Mosbacher was a member of the Stanford baseball team from 2008-2011. Each week, hell take a look at the Cardinals ups and downs on its road to the College World Series. For a few sweet hours on Monday night, things appeared to be back to normal. In a 19-6 shellacking in Berkeley against the California Golden Bears, the No. 6 Stanford mens baseball team returned to its early season form, scoring runs in bunches and making a mockery of opposing pitching. The previous weekend, however, this same Stanford squad barely pulled out a series victory over unranked Washington to inch one game closer to .500 in Pac-12 play. Indeed, since conference competition began, Stanfords highly touted offense has been largely silent. Will last nights breakout mark a return to offensive dominance or prove an aberration in a brutal long-term slump? In the lead-up to the season,

pundits around the country considered Stanfords offensive lineup one of the most talented in college baseball. In the early season, Stanfords bats didnt disappoint, displaying power and poise from the top of the lineup to the bottom. Based on the Cardinals brilliant performance at the plate to start the year, it was hard to imagine the team losing more than 10 games this season. Stanford started the year by lighting up the then-No. 5 Rice pitching staff like the Fourth of July after also dominating perennial powerhouses Vanderbilt, Texas and Fresno State. It wasnt just that the Cardinal could mash; it seemed that every game, a new part of the lineup was out-producing the others. It was a lineup with no obvious weaknesses and eight or nine obvious strengths. However, since Pac-12 play began, the Cardinal bats have gone cold. This past weekend, as Stanford barely stole two of three against a marginal conference opponent, the Card continued to

Please see MOSBACHER, page 7

The Stanford Daily

Wednesday, April 11, 2012 N 7

travels through Palo Alto with those guys along the sidelines, the Cardinal is in pretty good shape. Ive never tried competing at an elite level with relentless opposing fans dressed as cavemen and stormtroopers just a few feet away, but I cant imagine its very fun. With the aforementioned parity, Id be foolish to make any guarantees. After all, as a novice supporter, I cant even pretend to accurately break down the competition.What I can do is recognize that all the pieces that were in place in 2010 seem to be there again, which means that if Im putting my eggs in one teams basket this spring, Im going with mens volleyball. If youre searching for a similar Maples moment, you should, too. Zach Zimmerman was home for break when Stanford womens basketball ended UConns 90-game winning streak, but he imagines that was epic, too. Share your favorite Maples moments with him at zachz@stanford.edu or follow him on Twitter @Zach_Zimmerman.

ZIMMERMAN
Continued from page 6
the top of the national rankings is unparalleled but its one that deserves attention, which it has yet to receive. In 2010, Stanford was loaded at every position, but none more so than outside hitter. Every match was a kill fest, and the Maples floor is undoubtedly still dented from the strikes of Evan Romero, Spencer McLachlin and Brad Lawson. Perhaps the unsung hero of that match, and of the entire championship campaign, was then-sophomore libero Erik Shoji. Now a senior, Shoji ranks fifth in the nation in digs per set, and the only reason he isnt higher is because of the quality play of his surrounding teammates. Plus, he has a highlight reel that boasts one of the most ridiculous plays youll ever see a kill-preventing dig with his foot that was also a nearperfect set. Its hard to appreciate the role of libero, as defense isnt what packs stadiums. But Shoji, a three-time All-American, may be the most skilled player on the squad. Whats more surprising is the emergence of senior setter Evan Barry, who earned a starting role once Kawika Shoji, Eriks brother, graduated following the 2010 season. Barry had enormous shoes to fill but has arguably become the best setter in America, leading the nation with 11.88 assists per set. His passing ability has enabled guys like Lawson and sophomore Brian Cook to rank among the top 20 outside hitters in Division I. To say this team is full of invaluable, unsung heroes is a gross understatement.With a slew of other veterans, including senior middle blocker Gus Ellis, this team may rival the one assembled in 2010 in terms of potential.The only problem is that the competitive balance across the nation has also improved. There are currently five teams,Stanford included,within a game of the top spot in the MPSF. Seeding for the conference tournament is crucial, especially considering the Cardinals home court advantage. The gentlemen of Kappa Alpha, as much of a spectacle as they are, are among the most passionate, knowledgeable and intimidating fans in the country. If Stanford is able to secure a road to the national semifinals that

MOSBACHER
Continued from page 6
struggle to put runs on the board. Since conference play began, this has been a vastly less intimidating incarnation of a team that won four convincing series to open the season. Lets consider the statistics for moment. Stanford has started the Pac-12 season hitting just .250 as a team and is trailing its opponents in nearly every relevant offensive category. They have struck out 52 times in just nine conference games and mustered a measly team on-base percentage of just .291. In short, the offense has more than struggled; since league play began, its been straight-up bad. Pardon the tacky metaphor, but this slump hasnt just hit a few branches of the Stanford baseball tree it has started at the roots and spread through the entire organism. This offensive nosedive is

almost entirely responsible for Stanfords underwhelming 4-5 conference record. Now, hitting consistently in the Pac-12 is difficult for a variety of reasons. First, the Pac-12 is one of the countrys most talented conferences, arguably only surpassed by the brutal SEC. Second, the Pac-12s strength has historically been its pitching. Since 2006, a whopping 11 Pac-12 pitchers have been selected in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft. Put simply, hitting in the Pac-12 is harder than hitting just about anywhere. More importantly, this Stanford team is in a portion of the season that begs for underperformance, particularly at the plate. After playing four high profile series against some of the countrys best programs, the Stanford players took 10 days off from competition to complete their final exams. Although 10 days might not sound like a long time, for a hitter, 10 days off is an eternity. The Cardinal has obviously lost its early-season rhythm and swagger at the plate

and is struggling mightily to reclaim some semblance of its former self. Thats the bad news. The good news is the slump might be over. Sure, Cals pitching staff was running on fumes Monday night after its series at USC this past weekend, but there is no denying that Stanfords hitters looked more patient and more confident than they have for weeks. Most importantly, the case of over-anxiousness at the plate that has plagued the team recently was nowhere to be found. This team is too talented and too competitive to stay down on the mat after taking a few punches. As Stanfords lineup continues to pile up at-bats and learn from its struggles, I have no doubt that the offense will return to its previous form. As Mondays game proves, these guys can turn on the fireworks at any moment. Its not a matter of if, but when they catch fire again. Contact Jack Mosbacher at jackmos@stanford.edu.

LACROSSE
Continued from page 6
tions best in a string of heartbreakingly close losses, but it has been consistently slow to get going and has relied on its stronger second period play. To defend its conference championship, the Card will have to get on the board early rather than continue to struggle from behind. Stanford will face Oregon on Friday at 7 p.m. at Cagan Stadium. Contact Sarah Maisel at sgmaisel @stanford.edu.

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8 N Wednesday, April 11, 2012

The Stanford Daily

SMITH

Continued from page 6

of a sudden youre catching guys like juniors Mark Appel and Brett Mooneyham, who are both likely to be first-rounders this summer. What has it been like with those guys on the mound? ES: This being my first year as a catcher, having to catch guys like Appel and Mooney and even some of the guys like [senior reliever Dean] McArdle and [freshman closer David] Schmidt youre definitely thrown into the fire right away. There are generally growing periods where Im not used to catching them, to develop my catcher-pitcher relationship with them, but when theyre going good like they have been all year it makes my job pretty easy. I just have to throw up my glove and theyre going to hit it most of the time. Theyre awesome to work with, and its truly awesome to be working with future firstround picks and possibly future major leaguers. TSD: For the team, there was that really frustrating stretch where you guys dropped that last game to USC and then got swept by Arizona. What do you think you guys have been doing better to pull yourselves out of that slump? ES: In baseball thats why we play so many games, because stretches like this are going to happen to teams, and even the best teams. [Recent No. 1] Florida has lost back-to-back series. I think one of the major adjustments weve made is to try and let go of some of the frustrations people are having at the plate. People are going to go through spots, people are not going to be hitting the ball as well as they like to. I mean, everyone whos played baseball has experienced this. I think that period where we didnt play our best baseball allows people to truly figure out their approach, how they should go about playing mentally. I think this kind of stretch will really help us going forward to the playoffs, and hopefully to the College World Series. TSD: Talk a little bit about that 19-6 win at Cal on Monday. It mustve felt pretty good to get a bunch of crooked numbers up on the scoreboard again. ES: When we were at Arizona, and even at Washington a little bit, we kind of had our bats cool off a little bit. But having a game

like that where we scored 19 runs and everyones getting hits, everyones getting RBIs and everyones hitting the ball hard, its just a huge confidence boost and it really just goes back to, Oh, this is the type of team we are. Were the type of team thats going to put up monster numbers at the plate and score tons of runs every game. I think thats what we just got back to and we kind of started getting our confidence back a little bit, which is real nice to see. TSD: Looking forward, where do you see the most room for improvement for yourself, and for the team as a whole? ES: For myself, I think its to try to develop better as a catcher. I do everything I can to help the pitching staff and to help the team win, whether its catching or hitting or doing whatever I can. As a team, I think this stretch that weve had between USC, Arizona and Washington we won four games in that stretch, and I think that stretch really gives us a kickstart, a little reality shock, which is never a bad thing. Monday really showed that we got back to our basics and back to our roots as the talented team that we are. I think that if we just maintain the same plate approach, plate discipline and level of enjoyment of playing every day, I think well be good going forward. TSD: Lastly, you have the Oregon Ducks coming to town this weekend. The series in Eugene a year ago was really back and forth, with both teams getting a comeback win. What do you think is the key to pulling out the series this weekend? ES: Theyre a real good team. They just took two out of three at UCLA, a top-10 team at the time. This is going to be a really good test for us, but its like that every weekend in the Pac-12. It will be nice to get back home and play in front of our fans again. I think one of the big keys will be doing what weve been doing all year, throwing strikes and playing good defense, because a team like Oregon will really hurt you if you make too many defensive and pitching mistakes. As far as offense goes, I just think we need to carry the momentum that we had from Saturdays game at Washington and from Cal on Monday, just carry that forward to this weekend. Contact Joseph Beyda at jbeyda@ stanford.edu.