Category: In the Spotlight

Stanford community gathers in solidarity with students at University of Missouri

On Thursday at noon the campus community gathered on White Plaza to take photos in solidarity with the students at the University of Missouri, where racial tensions came to the fore this week. Stanford community members were encouraged to wear Stanford gear. Photographer Tamer Shabani was there.    

Christian McCaffrey for Heisman Trophy winner!

They say it’s tough for an athlete on the West coast—never mind one who is a running back—to win the Heisman Trophy, which recognizes the best player in college football whose performance exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. We’ll see about that. Stanford’s astonishing star CHRISTIAN McCAFFREY is in the thick of the competition.… Read more Christian McCaffrey for Heisman Trophy winner!

Stanford community pays tribute to military veterans

Each year, Stanford takes time around Veterans Day (Nov. 11) to honor those who have served in the U.S. military. In addition to today’s events, Stanford will honor veterans in Stanford Stadium on Saturday and with a 5K run at The Dish on Sunday. The commemoration will begin at 11 a.m. this morning, when Stanford… Read more Stanford community pays tribute to military veterans

NATO commander calls for recalibration in Europe

NATO must bolster its presence in Europe as a way to counter Russian aggression in the region. That was the message from General PHILIP M. BREEDLOVE, the supreme allied commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), when he visited Stanford on Monday. “Europe is clearly at a crossroads,” he said. Breedlove addressed the need… Read more NATO commander calls for recalibration in Europe

Photo exhibition on Central Pacific Railroad's history comes to Stanford

Walk through the second floor of Stanford’s Packard Electrical Engineering Building this week, and you will encounter a surprising visual history of the Central Pacific Railroad line, the first transcontinental railroad network between California and Utah. A new exhibition at Stanford titled “The Chinese Helped Build the Railroad. The Railroad Helped Build America” tells the… Read more Photo exhibition on Central Pacific Railroad's history comes to Stanford

Stanford's Tree attends the Country Music Awards

Ah, the life of a college mascot! Half-time shows before adoring fans, TV coverage on major networks, rubbing elbows with celebrities at awards presentations. What a life! This week, the Tree, mascot of the Stanford Band, was invited to the Country Music Awards in Nashville. Tree SARAH YOUNG, a junior majoring in psychology, traveled with… Read more Stanford's Tree attends the Country Music Awards

Anna Deavere Smith talks about the healing power of stories

On Oct. 28, hundreds gathered at Memorial Auditorium for a night of storytelling and conversation with former Stanford faculty member ANNA DEAVERE SMITH, an award-winning pioneer in the field of documentary theater. Smith is best known for her one-woman, multi-character performances, which depict people reflecting on moments of intense catastrophe. Her plays range in dramatic… Read more Anna Deavere Smith talks about the healing power of stories

Stanford education researchers to help measure civic, political discourse among youth

The Spencer Foundation has tapped researchers at Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) to be part of a $2 million initiative that will create for the first time ways to measure the nature and quality of civic and political discussions among youth, whether face-to-face, in writing or online. The project includes five research teams at… Read more Stanford education researchers to help measure civic, political discourse among youth

Scientific community honors Stanford's Arthur Bienenstock

ARTHUR “ARTIE” BIENENSTOCK, professor emeritus of photon science at Stanford University and the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, was honored with an all-day symposium in recognition of his outstanding contributions to science, academia, graduate student education and U.S. science policy. In the more than 50 years of his career, Bienenstock has held a variety of positions,… Read more Scientific community honors Stanford's Arthur Bienenstock

Stanford professors receive top honor from sociology journal for speed dating paper

Stanford Professors DANIEL MCFARLAND, of education, and DAN JURAFSKY, of linguistics and of computer science, are the recipients of this year’s Roger V. Gould Prize from the American Journal of Sociology (AJS) for their paper analyzing social connections and what makes people click. The prize is awarded to the AJS article that, according to the… Read more Stanford professors receive top honor from sociology journal for speed dating paper