Student Affairs
Muwekma-Tah-Ruk
House Description
This tight-knit, self-operated Native American/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian-themed house is the only four-class house on the Row, meaning that it is the only official dry house on the Row. Muwekma is also the only Row house with Resident Fellows (RFs).
As its namesake suggests, the “House of the People” not only serves as an additional location for Native students to gather and reside for the school year, but also provides an exclusive opportunity for the larger Stanford community to be immersed in Native cultures through their living space. Muwekma is also known for our amazing in-house chef, Rosa, who prepares wonderful meals for all the residents.
As a Native-themed house, there are several theme requirements that the house implements to encourage interaction with the Native community, which include enrolling in a 1-unit house seminar centered around indigenous cultures, and volunteering in the annual Stanford Powwow and Hawaii Club Luau.
We are intimately connected to the Stanford American Indian Organization (SAIO) and the Native American Cultural Center (NACC), and frequently serve as a venue to co-sponsor and organize Native-themed programming and events.
Resident Fellows: Ray and Shoney Blake
Ray and Shoney Blake serve as the Resident Fellows for Muwekma with their two sons, Kieran and Niall.
Ray has been an assistant wrestling coach for Stanford for 8 seasons. He wrestled for the Cardinal as a undergraduate, serving as a team captain his 5th year, before earning his B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Political Science in 2006. When he can get out of the basement of the Arrillaga Family Sports Center, Ray enjoys going on walks around campus with Kieran and taking naps. Ray is from Chicago, Illinois, and likes to catch the White Sox when they come to town.
Shoney is also a Stanford alum, earning her B.A. in International Relations in 2006. While at Stanford, Shoney was active in Stanford’s Native American community, played varsity softball and sang for Everyday People. She earned a J.D. from the University of Chicago in 2009, and practiced as an attorney for Latham & Watkins LLP. In addition to her work as an intellectual property litigator, Shoney provided pro bono legal assistance ranging from immigration issues - including Violence Against Women Act, U visa, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and asylum applications - for individual clients to corporate issues for educational non-profit Spark. Shoney is originally from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, home of tornadoes, the Women’s College World Series, and Sonic Drive-In. She has experienced all three, though not at the same time.
Ray and Shoney play softball for Cardinal Sin, the Athletic Department's team in the Stanford Medical Center's recreational summer league. They can be found at nearly all Cardinal home football games, while Shoney can be spotted singing the national anthem at home competitions for various Stanford sports teams. Ray and Shoney's love for all things Cardinal is eclipsed only by their love for Kieran and Niall, who they hope will jump on the Stanford bandwagon as soon as they are old enough for jumping.
Community Information
Residence Type: Self-op
House Size: 34 residents
Room Types:
- Singles (for staff only)
- One-room doubles
- One-room triples
Requirements to Qualify for Pre-Assignment
Guaranteed Housing Requirement
As for all dorms that have pre-assigned residents, you must have one year of guaranteed undergraduate student housing.
Additional Requirements
- Complete the Pre-Assignment Application, which will become available in Winter Quarter.
- Interview with Resident Fellow and Ethnic Theme Associates.
Requirements for All Muwekma Residents
If assigned to Muwekma, you must:
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Complete House Seminar in either Autumn or Winter Quarter.
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Complete 2 volunteer hours at Stanford Powwow and 2 volunteer hours at Stanford Luau during Spring Quarter
House Staff
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2 Resident Assistants
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1 Peer Health Educator
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1 Financial Manager
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1 Kitchen Manager
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2 Ethnic Theme Associates
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1 Resident Computing Consultant
