Daily 02.17.12

Mens basketball edges out Oregon State at Maples
CLOSE CALL
SPORTS/6
INTERMISSION/INSERT
Today
Tomorrow
JEREMIH PERFORMS
Mostly Sunny 61 46
Partly Sunny 59 36
The Stanford Daily

FRIDAY February 17, 2012
An Independent Publication
www.stanforddaily.com
Volume 241 Issue 13
Facebook expansion stirs local debate

Menlo Park likes Facebook, seeks local benefits from company
By CATHERINE ZAW
STAFF WRITER
In December, Facebook relocated its headquarters from Stanford Research Park in Palo Alto to the former headquarters of Sun Microsystems at 1601 Willow Road in Menlo Park. In the coming year, the social networking company plans to expand its campus and seeks to amend the existing conditional development permit in Menlo Park by increasing the existing employee cap to roughly 6,600 employees, concerning neighbor East Palo Alto.
East Palo Alto not yet ready to unfriend Facebook

By SARAH MOORE
STAFF WRITER
Menlo Park has been responding enthusiastically to Facebooks proposed expansion of its headquarters, with citizens and officials expressing their support for the development. Supporters detailed a list of long-term and short-term benefits the city expects to receive from Facebook at a Menlo Park city council meeting last Tuesday. While Menlo Park has largely been receptive to Facebooks growth, its officials have acknowledged that residents and city representatives in neighboring East Palo Alto are worried about the transportation and health implications resulting from the expansion. Officials from both cities are set to meet today. Facebook relocated to its current headquarters in Menlo Park, which is made up of two adjacent sites, in December. The first site, East Campus, is the former Sun Microsystems Campus located at 1601 Willow Road. The second site, West Campus, was formerly part of the Tyco Electronics campus, located at 312 and 313 Constitution Drive. According to the Facebook representatives who attended the council meeting, Facebook is currently only requesting to develop its East Campus.
Though the city of East Palo Alto has expressed concerns about Facebooks proposed expansion in neighboring Menlo Park, city officials and some residents said they believe the social networking companys growth will positively affect the area. Other officials and members of the public, however, continue to express sentiments that the city of Menlo Park has not adequately heard or addressed their worries. Menlo Park has drafted an environmental impact report for the expansion, but East Palo Alto representatives said they feel the effects on their community have not been adequately addressed. The draft did not include some mitigation measures that could help, said East Palo Alto Vice Mayor Ruben Abrica. Maybe the city cannot solve the entire problem, but there are some areas [in which] it can definitely improve the situation. The East Palo Alto City Council discussed issues with the expansion and brainstormed possible solutions with members of the public at a regular council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 14. Concerns in EPA Because the commute route of many of the
Please see MENLO, page 5
SERENITY NGUYEN/The Stanford Daily
Please see EPA, page 5
SPEAKERS & EVENTS
Khan Academy founder talks future of learning

By FELIX BOYEAUX Nowadays, there is so much emphasis on student-to-teacher ratio, said Salman Khan, founder of the online educational site The Khan Academy on Thursday evening at Cemex Auditorium in the Graduate School of Business. We at The Khan Academy do not believe in this multiple we believe in optimizing student-tovaluable-time-with-teacher ratio, or even more importantly, student-to-valuable-time-withother-human-beings ratio. A onesize-fits-all lecture is not the way to go about education. Invited to Stanford as part of the Expert Speaker Series by the Mastery in Communication Initiative, Khan spoke about how his website, with more than 3,000 lectures and almost four million unique visitors a month, has grown to become a world-renowned leader in the field of online education. Khan started his talk with a history of The Khan Academy. I was a hedge-fund analyst in Boston when my younger cousin, Nadia, came to visit, and I noticed that this brilliant child, who could solve brain-teasers way harder than what would be expected by a twelve-year old, still had gaps in the most fundamental level math, Khan said. According to Khan, the problem with the current educational system is that the time spent teaching one subject is fixed, and only the students level of mastery is variable. What his website is trying to achieve is to make the amount of time spent learning variable in order for a student to attain a certain level of mastery. We cannot build a house on an 80 percent sound foundation, and then blame the contractor of the fourth floor when the building collapses, Khan said.It would be like expecting a child who can barely break or turn left on a bicycle to become a master unicyclist. After the revelation he had while tutoring his cousin, a friend pitched Khan the idea of uploading some of the videos he had filmed of their tutoring sessions to YouTube. I had to go home and deal with the idea that I did not come up with that idea myself, Khan said, adding this is something very hard for an MBA. Using YouTube as a medium to convey knowledge was something that had not crossed his mind. YouTube is for cats playing the piano! Khan joked. The videos took off, and the children he had previously tutored told him they preferred seeing him on YouTube than in person. They can work at their own pace, repeat, rewind, fast-forward, Khan explained. There is no distraction, and more importantly, there is no shame. They do not feel like they are wasting my time. After quitting his job and getting several generous donations from, among others, the Gates Foundation and Google, The Khan Academy is now used in more than 700 different schools
Please see KHAN, page 2
NATASHA WEASER/The Stanford Daily
U. S. General Stanley McChrystal, former leader of the Joint Special Operations Command, spoke about leadership strategy Thursday afternoon. The event was held at the GSB.
SPEAKERS & EVENTS
McChrystal examines leadership

Former Iraq, Afghanistan military leader talks strategy
By NATASHA WEASER
DESK EDITOR
ROGER CHEN/The Stanford Daily
Salman Khan, founder of the online education site The Khan Academy, spoke to an audience in Cemex Auditorium about the challenges of teaching and learning today. Khan announced plans to expand his site.
Speaking Thursday afternoon at the Cemex Auditorium in the Graduate School of Business (GSB), four-star General Stanley McChrystal said that the United States has struggled to find answers to global and national issues not because the country has gotten lazy or selfish, but because it has continued to apply an outdated model of leadership instead of adapting to the changing times. McChrystals talk was part of the lecture series View from the Top, a student-run program that brings prominent figures to campus to share their insights on effective leadership.
UNIVERSITY
University expands support for victims of assault

CONTRIBUTING WRITER
By JOSEE SMITH
Please see McCHRYSTAL, page 2
Halfway through its first academic year, the Office of Sexual Assault and Relationship Abuse (SARA) Education & Response has established an initiative to get more male students involved in issues of sexual assault and relationship abuse, collaborating with other parts of the University to set up workshops and training sessions. In the future, the office plans to establish campus protocols for deal-
ing with sexual assault, according to Angela Exson, assistant dean of SARA. The University founded SARA last June to assist student victims of sexual assault and relationship abuse with subsequent personal and academic difficulties. The Office has been engaged in many facets of prevention and response from contributing to communication to incoming students, to delivering class lectures on violence against women, to assisting with the revisions to campus policies on sexual assault, wrote
Exson in an email to The Daily. In recent months, two assaults and four peeping Tom incidents have been reported to campus police. If peeping Tom incidents involve sexual misconduct, the SARA Office can address those cases, according to Exson. The protocol is to respond in a timely manner and help ensure the confidentiality of the victim. Appropriate notifications are then made to alert
Please see SARA, page 2
Index Opinions/4 Sports/6 Classifieds/7
Recycle Me
2 N Friday, February 17, 2012 LOCAL
The Stanford Daily
Journalism experts assess Bay Citizen deal

By MARY HARRISON
STAFF WRITER
KHAN
Continued from front page

and has delivered more than 121 million lectures to date. It is amazing what this has become, Khan said. We receive testimonies from children with learning disabilities, dyslexia, ADHD and autism that are all for the first time able to understand algebra or physics or economics. Khan and his team are currently building a platform that would allow anyone to tutor and teach others, he said. The shortterm goal is to help the average student become proficient in subjects with which he or she has trouble. There is an abundance of opportunity for developing The Khan Academy, Khan said. In the long run, we envision being able to offer kids in rural Africa access to an education better than they could ever dream of, and enabling children with chronic diseases, student athletes, actors or prisoners to receive a free equivalent to in-person tutoring. One couldnt help but be swept away by the content of his talk, said student attendee Aaron Sekhri 15. His sincerity and good nature were obvious, and it was perhaps the best talk Ive been to this year. Contact Felix Boyeaux at felix. boyeaux@stanford.edu. begin the process of consulting with staff to assess and implement them during the spring quarter, Exson said in this months email. One of Exsons other priorities is to increase SARAs involvement with the graduate student community, as they often have unique needs and concerns that we also want to support, she said. SARA will also work with student groups to participate in their planned initiatives and to organize programming events, including a presentation and training on the issue of consent and how we all can be sure that it is effectively obtained to prevent sexual assault, according to Exson. Since April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we will be planning and collaborating on a number of events to promote education and sensitivity around this issue, Exson added. The Office is faced with the challenge of dealing with issues that are often controversial and contested, Exson said. The greatest resource that we have and will continually need is the support of the campus and the expertise and assistance from students, faculty and staff to accomplish our mission and goals. It is important to make a commitment to intervene and let someone know when you see or hear something that may subject yourself or someone else to vulnerability or danger, she added. Contact Josee Smith at jsmith11 @stanford.edu. cluded managing time and energy, working to form relationships and leading by example. When you are a leader, people watch everything that you do, McChrystal said. You have to operate with a moral compass that people believe in. He concluded with the statement that leadership is not a talent or a gift, its a choice. After McChrystals speech, audience members posed questions ranging from the welfare of veterans to democracy movements in the Middle East to McChrystals famed daily routine, which consists of one meal a day and four hours of sleep. In response to a question raised about the nature of the sensitive relationship between the United States and Pakistan, McChrystal responded by highlighting the importance and difficulty of building trust between the two nations. There is a deficit of trust [between the United States and Pakistan], McChrystal said, But I believe Pakistan has strategic interests that I believe the U.S. can help shape. McChrystal spoke to The Daily after the event, saying, I am incredibly honored to be here and I am happy with the great amount of interest shown today. Stephen Cobbe 15, who attended the speech and whose father served with McChrystal in Afghanistan, said, It was so incredibly inspiring and only reaffirmed my plans to join the military in the future. McChrystal retired from the military in August 2010, after making critical comments of the Obama administration in a Rolling Stone article. He currently teaches a leadership seminar at Yale University. Contact Natasha Weaser at nweaser@stanford.edu.
Despite minor concerns as The Bay Citizen and the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) explore the possibility of a merger, editorial staff at The Bay Citizen said they are optimistic about how the merger might affect the Peninsulas media ecosystem. Stanford and Berkeley-based journalism experts agreed, arguing that the larger size of The Bay CitizenCIR organization will lead to better news coverage. According to Jeanne Carstensen, executive managing editor of The Bay Citizen, the merger is not yet finalized. The boards of The Bay Citizen and CIR both have 30 days, ending on March 8, to review the proposal and decide whether or not to move forward. The staff is excited about being a part of a larger newsroom and anxious as any staff would be about the merger, Carstensen said. The Bay Citizen is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, which focuses on local news stories that may not get picked up by larger media outlets such as the San Francisco Chronicle. CIR, which calls itself the nations oldest nonprofit investigative reporting organization, has a much broader focus. The concern when two organizations become one is that the mission of one organization can get swallowed up by the other, said Ann Grimes, director of the Stanford Graduate Program in Journalism. Carstensen agreed, stating there are differences between the two organizations mission statements that still need to be reconciled. She said that the rules for mergers in the state
allow California Attorney General Kamala Harris to step in if she feels that the two groups mission statements are too different. Another major issue Carstensen said needs to be resolved is the fact that The Bay Citizen staff is part of a local newsroom union while the CIR staff is nonunionized. It is also unclear how the possible merger would affect The Bay Citizens agreement with The New York Times. Currently, The Times runs pieces by the Bay Citizen twice a week in its San Francisco edition. According to Carstensen, The Bay Citizen does not yet know whether the merger would affect this relationship. Stanford and Berkeley-based journalism experts said the merger represents a transformation in the way Bay Area news agencies deliver information. While newspapers across the Bay Area have been making cuts in their budgets and consequently losing staff and news coverage, small online local news organizations have sprung up to account for the vacuum in coverage of smaller stories, they said. Weve seen a lot of the start up of a lot of news sites based on covering solely local communities or certain types of areas, said Frances Dinkelspiel 81, a producer and founder of Berkeleyside, an independently owned local news website that focuses its coverage on the city of Berkeley. That is why [hyperlocal media] were created, when there was such a cutback in local coverage in newspapers, said Grimes, who is the faculty advisor to the Peninsula Press, an online news organization run by the University journalism program that features stories from San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.
Both Berkelyside and the Peninsula Press are similar to The Bay Citizen in that that they concentrate their coverage on local news. I think the question is: If the merger occurs, will that new organization continue to report on local news? Dinkelspiel said. Both Dinkelspiel and Grimes said they are not looking to expand their respective news organizations because they have established a niche market. We are local, Grimes said. We have a certain tone and character on our site because of where it is, and it would be hard to replicate that somewhere else, Dinkelspiel added. However, while the small size of these independent news organizations allows them to cover extremely specific subject areas, it also makes it difficult for them to pay journalists well. Its become a lot more difficult to make a living as a freelancer because these online businesses do not pay very well, Dinkelspiel added. According to both Grimes and Dinkelspiel, the larger organization created by a merger between The Bay Citizen and CIR could lead to fuller coverage of local Bay Area issues. Carstensen agreed, saying that the merger between the two organizations would result in a net gain for The Bay Citizen, CIR and the people of the Bay Area. I hope it will make for a more robust Bay Citizen and that The Bay Citizen will be able to deliver even more enterprise and accountability journalism to our readers, Carstensen said. Contact Mary Harrison at mharrison15@stanford.edu. and director of the Center for Relationship Abuse Awareness, another resource for students. According to its website, the organization works, to educate and train communities and institutions to respond effectively to women who are experiencing relationship abuse. Our goal was to institutionalize a comprehensive response to these issues on campus, Baran said. Since that has been achieved, we are expanding to the broader community and other universities . . . Our office is now located off-campus. We will continue to collaborate with the SARA office and provide training and education for the campus as needed, Baran said. Angela [Exson] will hire the Center to help with training and education initiatives. Future plans Exson wrote in her email about SARAs future plans, which include working toward implementing protocols to centralize the organizations response structure and conducting outreach to students. In an interview with The Daily on Sept. 30, Exson spoke about establishing protocol during the first year. There is policy for dealing with sexual assault policy but no protocol, and with relationship abuse, we have protocols but we dont have policy in place, Exson said in the interview. Sexual assault protocols and guidelines for relationship abuse have been drafted and we will
SARA

those who may be impacted, and further action is conducted on a case-by-case basis. Awareness through education Exson said SARA has collaborated with students, faculty, staff and other campus partners to assess the needs of the community and how the Office can best be of service. We have been conducting outreach, education and professional trainings to increase awareness of sexual and relationship violence, Exson said. I have been working with students to create spaces for survivors to engage and
support each other in addition to accessing campus and community resources. SARA has collaborated with Residential Education, the Graduate Life Office, iThrive at Stanford and the Office of Judicial Affairs, and has participated in their respective training efforts. We have worked with the Office of Alcohol Policy & Education (OAPE) on their Say Something pilot program for bystander intervention, and in training the Sober Monitors for campus events, Exson added in the email. SARA has also established a Male Engagement Initiative, which asks men to assist with efforts to prevent and raise awareness of sexual and relationship violence. The first event for this initia-
tive will feature Kevin Powell, an acclaimed author, activist and media figure in the movement to end gender-based violence. Powell will speak at the Black Community Services Center in the Henry and Monique Brandon Family Community Room on Feb. 21. SARA hopes to address the problem of sexual assault and relationship abuse by increasing awareness through education and spaces for dialogue. The best way to empower ourselves and each other is through factual knowledge of the underlying causes of all forms of sexual and relationship violence and in holding those who commit these violations accountable, Exson said in the email. Nicole Baran 00 is the founder
McCHRYSTAL
He prefers to be called Stan, although I recommend you call him General McChrystal, joked Joel Peterson, director of the Center for Leadership Development and Research at the GSB when he introduced McChrystal, former commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan, to a capacity-filled audience of more than 600. He is known for creating a revolution in warfare that fused intelligence and operations, Peterson added, referring to McChrystals counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan and Iraq. McChrystals leadership of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), which oversees the militarys most sensitive forces, is credited with the December 2003 capture of Saddam Hussein and the June 2006 locating and killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the former head of Al Qaeda in Iraq. President Obamas Dec. 2009 order to send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan was based on McChrystals assessment of the war. McChrystals speech focused on leadership strategy rather than solely foreign policy, although he did share anecdotes from his military career throughout the speech. Citing New York Times columnist and bestselling author Thomas Friedmans book The World is Flat, McChrystal warned of increasing competition between nations worldwide. You have to lead and learn and adapt or die, McChrystal said. At the heart of this is effective communication. McChrystal also laid out his key leadership intangibles, which in-
The Stanford Daily

SPEAKERS & EVENTS
Friday, February 17, 2012 N 3
East to surpass West, says historian
IAN GARCIA-DOTY/The Stanford Daily
Stanford historian, archaeologist and classics professor Ian Morris addressed perceptions of historical dominance of the West over the East during a presentation Thursday evening. He projected that the East will overcome the West to control global politcs and trade by the beginning of the 22nd century.
By NATASHA WEASER
DESK EDITOR
The world at the end of the 21st century will differ more from today than how present day is currently compared to the world of cavemen, said Ian Morris, an archaeologist and historian in the Department of Classics, Thursday evening during a lecture in the Sloan Mathematics Corner. The lecture, entitled, Why the West Rules For Now: The Silk Road, the Atlantic Economy and the Pacific Century, was based off his 2010 award-winning book, Why the West Rules for Now: The Patterns of History, and What They Reveal About the Future. Morris said that geography is more important than culture in explaining patterns of the major power shifts and economic transitions throughout history, and argued that these patterns can predict the future direction of the world. He also challenged the idea of Western and European superiority, which he said is a false perception. Arguing that Europes rise was
due to geographical factors, Morris said, Europe had the benefit of the Atlantic slave trade, which incentivized a community of thinkers to ask questions that caused Europe to flourish intellectually. Europe had access to the Americas before the East Asians did simply because it was easier to get there based on distance, not because they were smarter or more wicked, Morris added. Morris also drew a parallel between how the Atlantic trade helped to elevate the United States to its current position of prominence in the global economy, and how the Pacific trade is indicating the same trend with China. Using a social development index he developed which takes into account factors such as energy captured per person, organization, spread of information and war making Morris mapped out the history of two civilizations since the last ice age that scored the highest on the index: East Asia and the West. He pointed out that the shapes of the graphs were similar, which
he said debunks the idea of Western superiority. Furthermore, Morris pointed out that from 550 CE to 1750 CE on the graph, the East was actually ahead of the West and produced crucial inventions such as ships that could sail the world. Morris also highlighted the role the Silk Road and the peoples of the steppe region that lies between Western Europe and East Asia had in connecting the two regions and shaping their history in a way that is not often acknowledged. Morris concluded with a graph based on his social development index, which projects a future in which the East will overtake the West in 2103. Western domination will evaporate, he said. This process is driven by geography and cannot be reversed. The changes that will happen in the 21st century will be on a scale that will dwarf anything that has ever happened to human history, Morris said. Contact Natasha Weaser at nweaser@stanford.edu.
4 N Friday, February 17, 2012
OPINIONS
E DITORIAL
The Stanford Daily
Envisioning a block quarter

riential learning, in the form of field trips, simulations and handson projects, would be a core part of the curricula. The Board believes that by giving students space to breathe and time to focus, the overall quality of undergraduate education at Stanford would improve. This is a profound vision for institutional change at Stanford, but there are several challenges that must be resolved before the onpaper idea of a block quarter can be translated into practice. The primary drawback is access what happens, for example, if a student falls ill for a prolonged period of time? A block quarter is certainly less forgiving than a traditional quarter structure. The Board believes that the culture of a block quarter, which promotes close interaction between students and faculty, could help resolve this problem by allowing for greater understanding and communication in the event of illness. Stanford could also take lessons from Colorado College, which uses a block system exclusively, in devising equitable and fair policies for illness, injury, and absence. Another possible drawback is that not all courses could be adapted to a block quarter system students in certain fields, for example, might not be as wellserved by the model. A further challenge is galvanizing the faculty and administrative support necessary to pilot a block quarter option. Logistically, several hurdles must be overcome, primarily with respect to scheduling the block quarter. Should the option be available to everyone, or just upperclassmen? Would investing in a block quarter option be detrimental to the traditional quarter structure? With that in mind, while maintaining the status quo is more expedient, the incredible possibilities of a block quarter close student-faculty interaction, stronger peer networks, experiential learning and intense focus are too exciting to leave unexplored. The Board envisions a future in which the block quarter option is a key part of undergraduate education, and encourages students, faculty and administrators to come together to make the block quarter a reality.
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 Andrea Hinton 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 Billy Gallagher, Molly Vorwerck & Zach Zimmerman Staff Development
The Stanford Daily
Incorporated 1973 Tonights Desk Editors Kristian Davis Bailey News Editor George Chen Sports Editor Ian Garcia-Doty Photo Editor Charlotte Wayne Copy Editor
ne of the most exciting ideas proposed in the recent Study of Undergraduate Education at Stanford University (SUES) Report was the concept of a block quarter. As outlined in the report, a block quarter would give students the option to take three three-week classes in a quarter instead of the conventional 10-week quarter. This structure draws upon the success of Sophomore College and other in-depth September Studies programs in an attempt to allow for focused learning on a single subject. The block quarter would not usurp the current quarter system, but would instead be an option for students during one or more quarters of their Stanford careers. The block quarter offers several advantages. The complaint, I really like the class, I just wish I had more time to focus on it, is all too commonly heard at Stanford. The block quarter would allow for total focus on one subject, and would also facilitate closer peer networks among students taking the same course. A block quarter would also spread the wealth of opportunities available through September Studies to the remainder of the school year. Because so many programs occur in September among them Sophomore College, Arts Intensive, Stanford Pre-Orientation Trips (SPOT) and residential staff training some students must make difficult decisions about which opportunity to pursue. A block quarter could help mitigate this problem. Several intellectually exciting possibilities could emerge from a block quarter. One is the potential for interdepartmental partnership. A quarter devoted to Latin American liberation theology, for example, could be taught by professors from the history, political science and religious studies departments, each offering his or her own unique perspective for three weeks. Students would have the chance to work more closely with professors, exploring different departments and gaining faculty mentors in the process. A block quarter would also allow for more opportunities for offcampus learning, including more opportunities for local partnerships and studying abroad. Expe-
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.
MARKS MY WORDS
Facial profiling
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.
hats the first thing you think of when someone takes a photo of you? There is no right answer, although there may be several borderline weird answers. Do you think of somebody fashioning a scrapbook with it, complete with artfully pressed flowers, wrinkled paper and, eventually, the smell of years of accumulated dust? Maybe. But if youre a typical young adult in the 21st century, your first thought might be more relevant to the short term:Will this picture be worthy of a status as my new Facebook profile picture? Sometimes people take pictures with this profpic status foremost in their minds. The cry of I really want a new profile picture! is not uncommon at parties, in front of famous landmarks and when huddled over a MacBook while using the four-screen, rainbow setting on Photo Booth. You want to show everyone that you have friends, that you go places and that you have a Mac. It makes sense. But sometimes you want to show people that youre pretty damn good looking. This leads many of us to choose profile pictures that show us at our most attractive. And hey, given that hundreds of our friends have to look at that photo every day, who wants to look anything less than their best? In the search for the perfect picture, we want to look perfect. It might be the lighting, makeup or your friends million-pixel Canon camera, but some pictures just make you look better. Still, the perfect picture of you isnt necessarily the perfect profile picture. At the risk of sounding like a terrible person, I think of these as the misleadingly attractive profile pictures. One of your friends took a picture of you, and
you painstakingly edited it enhanced the warm colors, cropped out an unsightly limb, and maybe even used an airbrush on some facial blemish. It certainly makes sense that you want the most attractive version of yourself to be your profile picture, but this can have its own set of repercussions. For one thing, it throws off those people who are stalking you but havent met you yet. I remember the summer of 2007, as the Stanford Class of 2011 received its dormitory assignments for the upcoming year. I was placed in Branner Hall, the then-largest freshman dorm on campus. By August, a Facebook group for its future residents had emerged, and I frantically spent countless hours looking over every single profile in order to pick out my potential new best friends and love interests. Soon enough I was confessing my newest pre-college fear to my high school friends: Everyone in my freshman dorm was too attractive. I would walk into a dorm of gorgeous, tanned Californians (and some other people too), all running around the hallway in designer swimwear, playing shirtless Ultimate Frisbee on the Branner lawn and doing other things that I thought were normal outside of Illinois. And then came move-in day. The shock repeated itself every time I met someone who I momentarily failed to recognize but eventually connected to a matching name on Facebook. In retrospect, it was a very obvious epiphany: More often than not, people just dont look as good in real life as they do in their carefully selected profile pictures. On one hand, youre keeping others expectations very high. Maybe Ive never met you and Ive
Miriam Marks
only seen your senior prom picture online, in which you spent hundreds of dollars to look as good as possible. When I see you in week five of winter quarter, chugging a large coffee while huddled in a cubicle at Green Library, youre bound to look far worse. And you risk looking that much worse to someone who doesnt know you very well who will do a double take when they realize that the person in the library is that hottie on Facebook. And yet, maybe your Facebook picture is a reminder to your friends that, when they do see you looking exhausted and caffeinated, they should remember your true potential for beauty. Theyll shower your picture with comments and likes about how beautiful you are, and its all just genuine admiration for your appearance. Appreciation by your friends is, arguably, the point of Facebook; if you dont plan your profile picture based upon the assumption that strangers will be stalking you, it may be for the better. This is a phenomenon that translates to any and all headshots, profiles and even ID pictures. We want to look as good as possible, and we want to know we look good. The fact remains that those of our friends, colleagues and family members who see us on a daily basis know that we typically look a certain level of average. And guess what? They still like us.They like us even though we dont always look as ideal as our Facebook pictures would suggest. Do you think Miriam looks like her headshot? You can tell her at melloram@stanford.edu
EXISTENTIAL FORTUNE COOKIES
Fashion or fatality?
he philosophers Ive most admired were veterans of war, and they reflected upon their service in their philosophy. One reason I joined the Marine Corps was to gain a more concrete understanding of existentialist thought. An important aspect of existentialism is the idea of authenticity, or presenting yourself as you really are. Being a veteran of the Iraq war, I have worn dog tags for a long time, because I was required to wear them during service. Because of this, I am not quite sure how I feel about nonmilitary civilians wearing dog tags on campus. If they were military personnel, I would know exactly what to say to them: Put the dog tags back in your shirt and stop being inappropriate. I have never seen a service member of the Armed Forces wear their dog tags outside of their shirt and not get in trouble for it. Even then, the only time Ive ever seen service members have them out is when someone was joking around. Hollywood, I suppose, has created the image that they should be worn for the world to see. But for the rest of us who arent in Hollywood, is it appropriate? Dog tags were first used by the
Sebastain Gould
United States during the Civil War by soldiers concerned about what would happen to their bodies in the event that they were killed in battle. This tradition continued into the First World War, when the United States made the wearing of dog tags mandatory. Dog tags were created for and exist to identify the bodies of the dead. I assume that because civilians are wearing the dog tags outside of their shirts, they are wearing them to look cool, and not to identify their bodies in case of death. I do not have a particular vendetta against fashion; I just wonder if it is appropriate attire. Take, for instance, the backpacks and clothes that members of sports teams get when they win a particular championship, or the rings given to Super Bowl champions. They signify something accomplished, actions completed. It seems as though allowing anyone to walk around Stanford with memorabilia that
says I won instead of I watched would get quite confusing. At this point, you may object because many people wear sports jerseys. I will not deny that, but I think it is different because a jersey does not signify a personal accomplishment. It shows that you are a fan of some particular individual or sports team. To my knowledge, no one wears dog tag duplicates of their favorite war hero or veteran. What is at stake here is authenticity. Are you being authentic when you associate with something to which you do not belong so as to bolster your own image? I would guess the answer to that is no. When I see someone in a sports jersey, I think that person is sports fan.
When I see someone in sweatpants and a sweatshirt that says Stanford, I think he or she is an athlete. Likewise, when I see a person wearing dog tags, I think that person is in the military. Invariably, when I ask the individual wearing the dog tags if they are in the military, they always reply with a resounding No, why would you think that? At this point I become resentful; there are very few veterans on campus, so my expectations are let down when I see someone associating themselves with the military even without realizing it. Of course, maybe this isnt a problem of authenticity and it is just a misunderstanding; maybe, because of my military discipline, I think that things should be a cer-
tain way because I have been trained to do so. Maybe dog tags are, in fact, more important to the fashion world than I would like to believe. That said, it just seems as though something that is meant to identify the dead should be respected; after all, if human life isnt sacred, then what is? At the end of the day, impersonating an athlete by wearing lookalike clothing seems disingenuous. Wearing dog tags to look cool even though they exist to identify dead bodies? Now that just seems sacrilegious. Sebastain is a philosophy major and creative writing minor. Send him a philosophical, creative email about authenticity or any other topic at sjgould@stanford.edu.
The Stanford Daily

streets around University in our neighborhoods are going to be impacted, Abrica said. Its going to make them more unsafe, theres going to be more congestion and overall its going to impact the health and safety of our local residents. Improvements for bicycle transportation were also not addressed to the extent the East Palo Alto community would have liked, Abrica added. Since Facebook is urging its employees to commute by bike, Abrica said he feels that this type of transportation needs to be made safer and smoother. In favor of collaboration In January, East Palo Alto considered suing Facebook over the expansion, but the city has decided not to take this approach. Abrica said that a lawsuit would only be an option if Menlo Park did not address the issues view, Creighton stated that Facebook not only benefits schools in Menlo Park, but also schools in East Palo Alto. The philosophy of Facebook is very different from other companies more open and more interactive, she added, mentioning that Facebook encourages its employees to go into schools and tutor students in different subjects. Creighton also mentioned that Facebook is greener than the previous corporation on the same land entitlement. The city councilmembers each expressed their own concerns during the council meeting. Councilmember Andrew Cohen mentioned affordable housing as a priority. Housing is an important issue for several reasons one of which is that East Palo Alto is concerned that Facebook coming to town is going to displace a lot of people, Cohen said. Apparently there is already some relocation of people from Bell Haven to East Palo Alto, he said later in an interview with The Daily. We should be working as partners to get what new housing we can, not trying to stop this project or any other project that already has received a welcome in the area, Cohen added. We all seem to agree that Facebook is a welcome addition to our local business community. The idea is to work collaboratively to come up with the best plan to increase our housing stock. Councilmember Kelly Fergusson described Facebooks expansion as an opportunity to pull all the threads together. Fergusson said she is particularly interested in levy shoreline restoration work, as well as transit station planning. We have a long list, Fergusson said, referring to the list of potential areas that could be improved with the opportunities Facebook intends to open for Menlo Park. But this is a catalyst for all of this to be brought together. Were seeking a fair agreement. Its not just about Menlo Park, but also East Palo Alto. Its a great opportunity, Councilmember Richard Cline said, referring to the expansion of Facebook. But its not going to save everyones life. Its time to put a reality hat on theres a lot of pressure on Facebook. We cant give everyone free housing, but there are programs that Facebook can create, ways that Facebook can benefit the community, and we should enter into negotiations like that. A Facebook spokesperson wrote in an email to The Daily that the company is hopeful that the city finds the benefit of having Facebook in Menlo Park far outweighs the impact of our move. We care about being a good neighbor to East Palo Alto residents and are meeting with city representatives Friday, Keith said. We are excited about having Facebook in Menlo Park and look forward to a long lasting relationship. The negotiation team plans to return with a draft term sheet on April 17. Contact Catherine Zaw at czaw13 @stanford.edu. submitted by East Palo Alto. Our concerns are not against Facebook, Abrica said. Facebook being there is actually going to have a large positive impact. The city submitted its concerns to Menlo Park in writing. Over the next couple of months, Menlo Park will consider the issues before publishing a final impact report and deciding to what extent Facebook should be held financially responsible for countering negative effects of its expansion. Facebook officials said the company is looking forward to building a good rapport with East Palo Alto. We are going to favor a collaborative approach, said a Facebook spokesperson to The Daily. Ultimately, we would like East Palo Alto to see the enormous benefits to having a good, responsible neighbor like Facebook. We are in close communication with officials in East Palo Alto, and as a result, we believe were in the process of building strong and lasting relationships there. City council brainstorms At Tuesdays city council meeting, some members of the public spoke on behalf of Facebook while others expressed concerns about the expansion. Potential traffic solutions discussed include the use of shuttles by local residents. Housing prices in East Palo Alto could also be affected by the expansion, Abrica said. More Facebook employees, who typically have a higher income level than the average East Palo Alto resident, would move into the area, driving up housing prices, especially for the renting population. East Palo Alto has appointed a city council subcommittee to meet with a Menlo Park group by next week in order to negotiate and discuss East Palo Altos needs. Councilmembers Carlos Romero and David Woods both serve on the subcommittee. California law State law requires that during the environmental review process, the city issuing the report must release a draft as Menlo Park did in the middle of December. Members of the public were free to submit written concerns until Jan. 30. After that point, the state mandates that staff from Menlo Park must respond to all the presented concerns in writing. Menlo Park does not have to agree with East Palo Alto or admit to any other faults in their report, but the city is required to address the issues that have arisen. East Palo Alto officials hope that when these concerns are analyzed, Menlo Park representatives will note areas where they feel Facebook should be held financially responsible for projects such as the widening of bike lanes that have been proposed to counter the effects of the companys expansion. Other project ideas include a pedestrian bridge over Highway 101 that would be a safer commute option compared to dealing with increased traffic on University Avenue. Stanford and Facebook Considering Stanfords proximity to both East Palo Alto and Menlo Park, questions remain about what effect the expansion may have on the University. With the expansion, Facebook has moved out of its location at the Stanford Research Park. Further repercussions for the campus are unlikely. There is no impact to Stanford except for the loss of an exciting and growing company and employer, but that impact has already taken place, and we are busy working to lease out their former space, said Stanford Research Parks Director of Asset Management Tiffany Griego. Contact Sarah Moore at smoore6 @stanford.edu.
EPA

more than 7,000 new Facebook employees would run through East Palo Alto, most of citys concerns regard transportation including automobile, bicycle and pedestrian traffic. Health issues due to toxic emissions are also under consideration. According to Abrica, traffic along University Avenue, the main thoroughfare for approaching the Facebook headquarters from the south, will be one of the most impacted areas. Menlo Parks impact report places more emphasis on Willow Road, which runs parallel to University Avenue along the border between East Palo Alto and Menlo Park. Our concern is that the side
MENLO

As a trade-off for increasing in size and for the social and environmental impact of the expansion, Facebook said it would compensate Menlo Park. The city of Menlo Park held a council meeting earlier this week on Tuesday, Feb. 14, where officials discussed parameters the city would like to negotiate with Facebook as part of the development agreement. According to a handout from the citys Community Development Department, such items included, providing a source of on-going revenue for as long as the land use entitlement to exceed 3,600 employees is in place, providing one-time items in the form of public improvements or studies that would benefit the surrounding area, providing a mechanism for funding programs and services that meet ongoing community needs, pursuing a commitment to fund housing opportunities in the city and surrounding region and pursuing a trip cap penalty amount that is severe enough to ensure compliance with the project description. Menlo Park released a draft Environmental Impact Report for public review in Dec. 2011 to address the effect of Facebooks expansion on Menlo Parks surrounding natural ecosystems. According to the staff report given during the Feb. 14 meeting, the citys consultants, have begun the process of responding to comments and preparing the Final Environmental Report, which is anticipated to be released in mid- to late April 2012. Both councilmembers and Menlo Park residents mentioned that some immediate environmental benefits Facebook could provide include providing funding for bike improvements on Bay Road, University Avenue and Willow Road, as well as opening shuttles for the public to travel to local train stations. According to an email from Menlo Park Mayor Kirsten Keith, the city also hopes to request from Facebook a fee inlieu of revenue from sales tax, the establishment of a community foundation and trip cap priorities. The discussion is all open and transparent, Keith continued. Many community members in attendance expressed support for Facebook, mentioning that Facebook has already been an extremely positive presence. According to these members, who included students and representatives from businesses and organizations, Facebook has been active in the community, is considerate of the environment and has been an asset to the citys economic marketability. Facebook is that good neighbor, said Maggie Creighton, the creator of the Exploratory Experiences Program, during the council meeting. The Exploratory Experiences Program is a local mentoring program for Palo Alto and Menlo Park students. Later during a separate inter-
SPORTS
By ANDERS MIKKELSEN
STAFF WRITER
The Stanford Daily
CLOSE CALL
ond half, but Stanford began to pull away behind the strong play of sophomore guard Aaron Bright. With the teams deadlocked at 45, Bright assisted a three by sophomore forward John Gage to give the Cardinal a lead it would not relinquish for the rest of the game. He then added two additional three-pointers and assisted an Anthony Brown jumper to put the Cardinal up 56-47. In his second game coming off the bench, Bright had one of his best games of the season. The sophomore scored 20 points and added seven assists and two steals. The Beavers refused to go away, however, and cut the lead to three before Randle took over again. The freshman hit two threes to halt any momentum the Beavers gained, despite being consistently swarmed by the Oregon State defense. Randle had a third straight exceptional game, with 24 points and 5 assists. His point total was a career-high, breaking his record of 20, which was set against Oregon State. The freshman is averaging 18.7 points over his last three contests, while shooting 55.6 percent from the field and an unbelievable 76.4 percent from three-point range. He hit six of seven threes against the Beavers, despite being contested on almost all of them. Im very happy we won and glad the shots went down, Randle said afterward. Honestly, all that matters is that we won the game. Oregon State still kept themselves in the game, however, with a combination of tough defense and incredible play on the offensive end. Threes by Nelson and 6-foot-10 junior center Angus Brandt cut the Stanford lead to just three with 15 seconds left. Two subse-
Joseph Beyda
CARDINAL EDGES OUT BEAVERS AT HOME

The Stanford mens basketball teams last meeting with Oregon State was filled with drama a four-overtime thriller in which the Cardinal barely prevailed. The Beavers stuck with Stanford again Thursday night, but a strong second half helped the Cardinal pull away and secure an 87-82 victory.
MENS BASKETBALL STANFORD 87 OREGON STATE 82 2/16, Maples Pavilion

The 87 point score was the Cardinals thirdhighest output of the season, only surpassed by its last matchup with Oregon State (15-11, 5-9 Pac-12) and season opener against Central Arkansas. The shooting woes that Stanford (18-8, 8-6) has faced of late seemingly vanished, as the Cardinal shot 52.9 percent from the field and 54.5 percent from behind the arc. The Cardinal stormed to an early lead behind the hot hand of freshman guard Chasson Randle, who hit two three-pointers in the first three minutes as the Cardinal took a 8-2 lead. The Beavers kept themselves in it, however, behind guard Roberto Nelson. The sophomore scored 15 of his 19 points in the last 12 minutes of the first half, giving Oregon State a 41-40 lead at the break. The teams remained close to start the sec-
Sophomore guard Aaron Bright (above) scored 20 points to help the Stanford mens basketball team defeat Oregon State 87-82 at Maples Pavilion and improve to 18-8 overall and 8-6 in Pac-12 play.
quent free throws by Brown managed to ice the game for the Cardinal, giving the sophomore 11 points for the night. Throughout the game, the Cardinal demonstrated the form that had it cruising to the top of the Pac-12 standings earlier this
Please see MBBALL, page 7
BEAVERS NO TROUBLE THIS TIME

By DEAN MCARDLE
STAFF WRITER
Last time the Stanford womens basketball team took on Oregon State they scratched out a 67-60 nail-biter at home. Stanford didnt let OSU hang around in Thursdays rematch though, scoring early and often en route to a 78-45 waxing of the Beavers in Corvallis.
WOMENS BASKETBALL STANFORD 78 OREGON STATE 45 2/16, Corvallis, Ore.

National Player of the Year candidate Nnemkadi Ogwumike led the Cardinal brigade with 27 points. The senior forward kept pace with Oregon State by herself in the first half, matching OSUs 16 total points with 16 of her own. Nneka was joined in double digits by her sister Chiney, who compiled 10 points. Junior forward Joslyn Tinkle commanded the glass, collecting 14 rebounds. With the win, the No. 3 Cardinal (23-1, 14-0 Pac-12) remained perfect in conference play and clinched at least a tie for the inaugural Pac-12 championship. It would be Stanfords 12th conference title in a row. Oregon State (17-8, 8-6) had its six-game winning streak snapped by the loss. The previous victories all came against conference foes, and had vaulted them into third place in the Pac-12. Alyssa Martin was the only Oregon State player in double figures with 11 points. The Beavers leading scorer, freshman Ali Gibson, was held to just four points in the contest. Points in the paint were key for Stanford. The Cardinal outscored the Beavers 36-24 in the lane as it won its 25th straight against OSU. The Cardinal also played stout defense, especially in the first half. The Beavers entered the game
MEHMET INONU/The Stanford Daily
Please see WBBALL, page 7
Junior forward Joslyn Tinkle (above) grabbed 14 rebounds in the Stanford womens basketball teams 7845 blowout of Oregon State in Corvallis, helping the Cardinal to grab at least a share of the Pac-12 title.
BASEBALL
Cardinal ready for road to Omaha

By JOSEPH BEYDA
DESK EDITOR
Eight months after making an early exit from its Super Regional in North Carolina, the Stanford baseball team will be back in action tonight, hosting No. 10 Vanderbilt in the first contest of a three-game series. The No. 2 Cardinal faces its highest expectations in a decade, with a trio of junior preseason All-Americans set to lead the Pac-12 favorite on another deep postseason run. Projected first overall MLB draft pick Mark Appel will start on Friday nights for the second straight year, while third baseman Stephen Piscotty and shortstop Kenny Diekroeger headline a lineup that returns
seven of eight position players. The man behind it all is Mark Marquess, and 25 years after the illustrious head coach took home the first of back-to-back national championships the only titles in Stanford baseball history Marquess is excited to get back on the top step of the Sunken Diamond dugout against a visiting opponent. Were tired of playing our own guys, he joked. If the pitching does well you go, Oh my god, we dont have any hitting. And if the hitting does well you go, Whats wrong with our pitching? I cant win as a coach. Luckily for Marquess, the Cardinal doesnt have all that much to be concerned about in either category. Despite the loss of starters Jordan Pries and
Danny Sandbrink, as well as closer Chris Reed, to the draft, Stanford boasts one of the most powerful one-two punches in college baseball. Appel and Saturday starter Brett Mooneyham, who missed all of last year with a finger injury, are a dynamic pitching duo. Originally slated as the Cardinals 2011 Friday starter after leading the team with 99 strikeouts as a sophomore, Mooneyham is ready to reestablish himself in the rotation. Any time you get something you love to do taken away from you and theres nothing you can do about it, its difficult, he said. Im pretty excited to get out there on the mound this Saturday and get that year-and-a-half hia-
t Stanford, were more than used to world-class athletes who are also world-class students. We take classes with them, we bike around with them and we stand with them in line at Tresidder. On the other hand, we all know that most professional athletes dont exactly fit into the same category, especially not NBA players. They leave school early or skip it altogether, and oftentimes an abundance of idiocy ensues: drug use, gun charges and sexual harassment allegations. Entering the fray is Jeremy Lin, an (until recently) unknown Harvard graduate who has taken the NBA by storm by scoring a record 136 points in his first five starts and adding 15 assists in his sixth one on Wednesday. And, of course, hes made the New York Knicks possibly the smartest team in the league alongside recent Stanford star Landry Fields. The only other team in the NBA with two players in the Ivy League/Stanford category is the Phoenix Suns, which boasts former Cardinal standouts Josh Childress and Robin Lopez. Together, Lin and Fields are easily the top student-athletes of their basketball graduating class, which says quite a lot. But even given the NBAs reputation for hosting some degree of hooliganism, it amazes me how surprised the sporting world is that Lin was a Harvard product. There might not be an overwhelming track record of NBA stars who come from the Ivy League, but when Duke and Georgetown are two of the sports perennial college powers, you have to acknowledge that a basketball player can be a world-class talent and do well in school, too. Whats more, the three other main American sports baseball, hockey and football all have more players from the Ivies or Stanford than the NBA does, though, of course, these sports teams are significantly larger. Cardinal greats actually make up a significant chunk of the elite schools MLB representation, with 11 former Stanford players in the big leagues to go along with six Ivy Leaguers. But believe it or not, its the two pro sports that we hold so near and dear to our hearts for their bonecrunching toughness football and hockey that have the most impressive contingents of academic athletes. The NFL has 21 Stanford players on active rosters and 10 former Ivy League athletes. If youre willing to bite the bullet and add Cal, with 37 more players, to the list, you have an entire teams worth of world-class cerebral talent playing at the highest level of pro football. That might not match Ohio State or Miami, who respectively had 70 and 65 players taken in the draft from 1999 to 2009, but the elite academic schools still have a notable group of players in the NFL. The same is true in hockey, even without the representation of Stanford and Cal, for obvious reasons. Believe it or not, the Ivy League contingent of 26 NHL players is actually a tougher bunch than the rest of the league, including scrappy enforcers such as the Sharks Douglas Murray and the Ducks George Parros from Cornell and Princeton, respectively. Parros and Kings winger Kevin Westgarth (a Princeton grad) both cracked the top 40 in penalty minutes last season, with Parros leading the league in fighting majors (27) and Westgarth in 10th place. Those two actually fought each other two nights in a row last April. Not exactly the kind of guys most people would expect to run into within those hallowed halls of ivy.But with Stanford remaining relevant in football and Harvard floating around the edge of rankings for much of the basketball season, I dont see why not. You better believe that we nerds are only going to keep rising to the top in the next few years. Andrew Luck and Aaron Rodgers will be dominating the NFL for the foreseeable future, Mark Appel is the early favorite to snag baseballs No. 1 pick this summer and, until further notice, the Linsanity is going to continue in Madison Square Garden. Smarts and athletic talent: looks like you can have it all. Joseph Beyda often starts hockey fights with Harvard grads who ask him for some insight into the market economy of the Southern Colonies. Send him your best nerd trash talk at jbeyda@stanford.edu.
Pro sports and smarts do mix
Please see BASEBALL, page 8
The Stanford Daily
BIG TEST AGAINST NATIONS BEST

By DASH DAVIDSON
STAFF WRITER
The Stanford mens tennis team switches its focus this weekend to tournament play at the annual National Team Indoor Championships in Charlottesville, Va. Stanford is coming off a hard loss against Fresno State, in which the Cardinal could not close out the win at home at the Taube Family Tennis Center. It has been a challenging month in general for Stanford (6-3), which suffered its worst loss in recent years by getting blown out 7-0 against USC two weeks ago. The squad then followed that performance up with a 6-1 drubbing at the hands of UCLA. And with the most recent loss against Fresno State, the Cardinal dropped to an uncharacteristic 2-3 so far in the month. The stakes change this weekend at the National Team Indoor Championships. Stanford qualified for the prestigious event by defeating Saint Marys and Santa Clara at the end of January to advance to the third round of the championship and secure its trip to Charlottesville. Sixteen of the top teams in the country will be in Charlottesville this weekend to participate in one of the most important tournaments before Mays NCAA Championships. The entire top five teams of the current college tennis rankings will be in Virginia: No. 1 USC, No. 2 Virginia, No. 3 Ohio State, No. 4 Georgia and No. 5 Florida. Stanford is the ninth seed in the 16-team tournament and will start off by facing a tough opponent in No. 7 Baylor. If Stanford wins its first match it will face No. 2 Virginia, a rematch of Stanfords final match last season where the Cardinal suffered a heartbreaking Sweet Sixteen loss in the NCAA tournament. If the rematch is to happen, it will surely be an emotional one for the Cardinal players, who were so close to upsetting the nations No. 1 team last year. All eyes this week will be on Stanfords senior captain Bradley Klahn, who may or may not be returning from injury. Klahn made his season debut on Tuesday against Fresno State, playing in the doubles matches with his traditional partner Ryan Thacher. Klahn and Thacher won their doubles match handily, but Klahn sat out the singles matches and was a spectator for his teams tough loss. Perhaps this weekend head coach John Whitlinger will elect to reunite his team and let Klahn reclaim his old spot at the top of the Cardinal rotation. After Stanford pulled out a tough win against BYU last week and prepared to face Fresno State on Tuesday, senior Walker Kehrer said, Winning matches when you are not at your best is always key and I think we did that Friday. What I also think was important about this win is that our best tennis is definitely yet to come. What is important is that we keep working towards our best tennis, and hopefully that will come in May. Kehrer has the right attitude if the Cardinal is going to overcome these early season struggles and have a shot at accomplishing their perennial preseason goal of winning the Pac-12 and NCAA Championships. A major litmus test will occur this weekend against the best teams in the country. Stanford will hit the courts at 3:30 p.m. PST against Baylor on Friday in Charlottesville, Va. Contact Dash Davidson at dashd@stanford.edu
NICK SALAZAR/The Stanford Daily
Freshman John Morrissey (above) and the Stanford mens tennis squad hope to bounce back from a loss to Fresno State on Tuesday in this weekends ITA Indoor National Team Championships, where the field includes the nations top five teams.
CLASSIFIEDS
GET NOTICED BY THOUSANDS.
MBBALL
Continued from page 6

year. Stanford again dominated the boards, with 33 rebounds to Oregon States 24. The offensive rebound differential was just as striking, with a 10-4 Cardinal advantage. The quality win wasnt perfect, however, as the Cardinal struggled taking care of the ball,
(650) 721-5803
www.stanforddaily. com/classifieds
Egg Donor We are looking for an Egg Donor for a hopeful recipient. We offer generous compensation and all travel expenses paid. Please contact the Center for Egg Options at (847)656-8733 or www.egg411.com for further information.
WRITING ASSISTANCE
College Essays/Dissertations Erase Writing Anxiety!! English PhD with 20 years teaching and tutoring experience. I can provide feedback, support, and editorial assistance with college application essays, college English essays, dissertations, masters theses, cvs, and cover letters. Located in downtown Palo Alto. Email olsonlucia@gmail.com
committing 18 turnovers. While the program definitely has a bright future with all its young talent, the inexperience of the squad was evident at times. The team made up for it with tremendous play on the offensive end and its typical strong defense. Currently two and a half games back from conference leaders California and Washington, Stanford hopes to continue its strong play on Saturday against Oregon. The Ducks sit right above the Cardinal in the standings, and
a victory over Oregon is crucial in Stanfords quest to finish the regular season in the top four of the conference. The top four teams in the Pac-12 earn a first-round bye in the Pac-12 Tournament, meaning the Cardinal would be one step closer to earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Stanford and Oregon tip off Sunday at Maples Pavilion at 4:30 p.m. Contact Anders Mikkelsen at amikk@stanford.edu.
DONORS WANTED
$$ SPERM DONORS WANTED $$ Earn up to $1,200/month. Give the gift of family through California Cryobanks donor program. Apply online: SPERMBANK.com Stanford Grad Seeking Stanford
WBBALL

second in the conference in fieldgoal percentage, sporting an impressive 41 percent against Pac-12 opponents. However, Stanfords high-energy defense held OSU to just six of 25 (24 percent) shooting in the first half, and two of 16 (12.5 percent) shooting from behind the arc in the game. Both teams offenses were sluggish to start the game, and five minutes into the half the score was just 4-0 Stanford. However, the Cardinal picked up the pace and
CROSSWORD
started finding the bottom of the net at a torrid pace. After trading baskets, a threepointer from freshman sharpshooter Bonnie Samuelson sparked a 13-2 Cardinal run that put the team up 23-7. Senior Lindy La Rocque, who had nine points against the Beavers, capped the run with her own three-ball on an assist from Samuelson, who also had nine points. Stanford stretched its lead throughout the rest of the first half and went into the locker room with a 20-point advantage, 36-16. Nneka Ogwumike continued to dominate in the second half, scoring 11 of Stanfords first 13 points in the period. Oregon State
hung with the Cardinal through the first eight minutes though, not allowing the lead to grow any larger. Samuelson again ignited Stanford with a deep three, and the Cardinal outscored the Beavers 17-6 over the next six minutes to secure the win. The Cardinal travel down the road to Eugene to grapple with University of Oregon on Saturday. The Ducks are 6-8 in conference play and coming off an 83-71 loss to Cal. Stanford and Oregon tip off in Eugene, Ore. on Saturday at 1 p.m. Contact Dean McArdle at dmcardle@stanford.edu.
POLICE BLOTTER
By ALICE PHILLIPS
DESK EDITOR
I Someone
This report covers a selection of incidents from Feb. 9 through Feb. 13 as recorded in the Stanford Department of Public Safety bulletin.
stole molding from the rear bumper of a vehicle parked at 295 Galvez Street between 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 9 and 5:15 p.m. on Feb. 10. cable-locked bike was stolen from a rack outside of 212 Pine Hill Court between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. driving unlicensed near the intersection of Mayfield Avenue and Campus Drive at 11:20 p.m.
car was parked near the intersection of Stanford Avenue and Junipero Serra Road.
IA
IA
THURSDAY, FEB. 9
IA
cable-locked bike was stolen from a rack outside of Maples Pavilion between 3 p.m. on Feb. 9 and 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 12. San Jose Main Jail and booked for domestic violence battery. The battery occurred in Angell Court between 3 p.m. and 3:10 p.m. for shoplifting from the Stanford Bookstore at 3:15 p.m. violence battery after he was involved in an altercation with his girlfriend and stole her keys. The incident occurred near the intersection of Campus Drive and Palm Drive at 5:30 p.m.
cable-locked bike was stolen from a bike rack outside of the Center for Turbulence Research between 11 a.m. on Feb. 8 and 10 a.m. on Feb. 9. cable-locked bike was stolen from a bike rack near the intersection of Lasuen Mall and Escondido Mall between 1 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. warrant out of the Santa Clara Police Department at 6:05 p.m. near the intersection of Welch Road and Oak Road.
I Someone was transported to the
I A male was cited and released for
IA
SATURDAY, FEB. 11
I Somebody broke into the Biology
I A juvenile was cited and released
I A man was cited and released on a
Greenhouse yard and stole a cart holding a metal inert gas welder between 6:40 a.m. and 7:15 a.m.
I A male was booked for domestic
I A male was cited and released for
SUNDAY, FEB. 12
FRIDAY, FEB. 10
IA
being a minor in possession of alcohol in the 600 block of Lomita Drive at 12:10 a.m. unknown suspect broke the window of a locked vehicle and stole a purse containing an iPhone, credit cards and cash between 6:45 a.m. and 7:50 a.m. The
female was transported to the San Jose Main Jail and booked for being publicly intoxicated on Mayfield Avenue at 1:55 a.m.
I An
MONDAY, FEB. 13
I A bike that was U-locked to itself
was stolen from outside of Meyer Library between 11 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.

The Stanford Daily
BASEBALL|High expectations after No. 2 preseason ranking

tus out of the way. Filling in for Mooneyham last year was Appel, who went 6-7 but posted a stellar 3.02 ERA in 17 starts. Everything you read about [Appel] is true: Hes a great player, hes got a great fastball and hes a great competitor, but hes also a great person and a great teammate, Diekroeger said. Were lucky to have him . . . being able to face a guy like that in these intersquads makes the entire team better. After his breakout sophomore season, Appel has had to deal with the attention of being considered one of top college prospects in baseball. He cites Andrew Luck as a role model in handling the national hype. But Diekroeger and Piscotty have also received their fair share of hype, as they are also projected to go in the first few rounds of the MLB draft. I think its been great that we have other guys that are projected high in the draft, because we all keep each other really down to earth and focused on the season, Appel said. We dont let our minds drift on the draft, because we cant control that. Marquess will be looking to decide on a closer in the coming weeks, but he isnt concerned that the spot hasnt been solidified before opening day. Reed an eventual first-round pick by the Dodgers began as the squads Saturday starter last year before giving up seven runs in 4.2 innings in his first outing against Rice. Reed was converted to a closer, and went on to post 52 strikeouts and allow only 39 hits to go along with his nine saves. That became the difference in our season, Marquess said. Stanfords hitting wasnt all too shabby either, and with all seven of the squads top sluggers returning to the lineup, opponents are going to have a hard time keeping the Cardinal off the board. Standouts include Piscotty, who led the team with a .364 average last season, and 2011 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year Brian Ragira. Even though their lineup is made up entirely of sophomores and juniors, the Cardinal has good chemistry after playing together all of last season. Its hard to really explain, but just being part of that lineup, theres just something about it; we just have a confidence to it, Diekroeger said. Its a swagger you cant measure. Its a great feeling. The squad lost a leader in catcher Zach Jones, a four-year starter who spent his last three years behind the plate, and the fight to fill his spot is a still a four-horse race. Favorites include redshirt junior Christian Griffiths and freshman Wayne Taylor, a Texas player of the year in high school. Marquess indicated he was open to rotating at the catcher spot for a good chunk of the season. If the Cardinal can pick up where it left off it has a good shot of winning the Pac-12 and hosting a NCAA Regional, a focal point after its postseason run was cut short last year. We realized how hard it is to go on the road in Regionals, and then go on the road in Super Regionals and still make it to Omaha, Appel said. [Associate Head Coach Dean] Stotz is our statistics guy, and I forgot what he said but its less than five percent that something like that would happen. Finishing first in the conference is going to be no easy task, with No. 5 Arizona and three other ranked Pac-12 foes standing in Stanfords way. But first comes a stretch of tough nonconference series at home, including three-game sets against No. 10 Vanderbilt, No. 13 Texas and No. 6 Rice before the Pac-12 opener against USC on March 24. Were No. 2 now, but we wont be ranked No. 2 in four weeks because somebodys going to be undefeated, Marquess said. Id love to be wrong, but were not going to be undefeated after four weeks with the teams that were playing, which is good because it shows us that we need to improve and put guys in the right spots. And with the daunting task of living up to top-five expectations ahead, Marquess knows exactly who hes looking to. When you have your most successful season its your older guys, he said. Is Piscotty going to have his best year? Is Kenny Diekroeger going to have is best year? Is Jake Stewart going to have his best year? And more importantly, is Mark Appel going to have his best year, and is Brett Mooneyham going to have the best year of his career? Then were good. Contact Joseph Beyda at jbeyda @stanford.edu.
Junior third baseman Stephen Piscotty (above), last seasons team leader in batting average, will lead the Stanford baseball team as it opens its season against No. 10 Vanderbilt tonight at Sunken Diamond.
vol. 241 i. 3 fri. 02.17.12
WHITNEY HOUSTON
the best of
inside:
TOP 5 WHITNEY HOUSTON SONGS

With the sudden, tragic death of Whitney Houston this past week, here at Intermission we would like to celebrate her career by highlighting her five best songs. A cornerstone of 80s and early 90s pop, Whitneys incredible voice carried everything from lighthearted pop songs to powerful ballads. Here are some of our favorites.
SWL 2
Intermission loves Jacob Clifton, the recap master
TELEVISION 5
Our television expert takes a closer look at Misfits
MUSIC 3
Jeremih drops by Stanford to perform at Black Love
VIDEO GAMES 6
Our Mind Games guru breaks down Mass Effect 3
1 2
I Will Always Love You

Although this classic ballad was originally sung by Dolly Parton, it will forever be remembered as Whitneys signature tune. Made famous when it was featured in the soundtrack of The Bodyguard, one of Whitneys best movies, the song features an unforgettable chorus that shows off Whitneys pristine vocals. Now a favorite of drunk people and karaoke singers alike two groups that frequently overlap this song is a testament to the fact that we will always love Whitney.
FOOD 4
Holes-in-the-wall prove to be the best bets around Stanford
THEATRE 7
Higher fails to deliver a successful show
MOVIES 4
Check out our review for The Secret World of Arrietty
ADVICE 8
Roxy takes a study break to find her TAs...outside of class
I Wanna Dance with Somebody

This 80s pop track shot to the top of the charts when it debuted on Whitneys second studio album, Whitney. Featuring a classic 80s pop sound, its addictive and naturally very danceable. The accompanying video is even better, featuring Whitney dancing her heart out in neon clothes and eyeliner. Definitely use this for inspiration for your next 80s theme party!
3 4 5
2
So Emotional
Another hit from Whitney, So Emotional has the same upbeat tempo as I Wanna Dance with Somebody, but a little more romantic angst. Whitney shows off her vocal range with a powerful chorus thats bound to get lodged in your head.
CLIFTON
start seeing the show through his eyes. Cliftons trademark is his impressive, acerbic satire of Gossip Girl, some of the cleverest Ive seen in recent years: brilliant and laugh-out-loud funny. The satire hit its zenith last season at about the halfway point when the show was also at its best. A classic example is his recap of an exchange between best friends Chuck and the gorgeous but hopelessly stupid Nate. Chuck confronts Nate about having stolen his girlfriend. Chucks line on the show: I guess the Archibald charm wasnt as rusty as you thought. Unlike the knife in my back! Cliftons brilliant satirical addition was inventing Nates response: Ten-four. Now explain that thing before. Am I the knife? Why is the knife not rusty? Where did the knife come from? Is the knife my charm? Are we friends now? Clifton also has an uncanny knack for | continued on page 5 |
STUFF WE LOVE
The Greatest Love of All

Many regard this song as Whitneys signature ballad. Its vocally challenging, but she pulls off the highs and lows with ease, making it a powerful and uplifting song. Its also a nice break from pop songs that focus on romantic troubles, instead highlighting self-worth and family loyalty.
The Star Spangled Banner

Leave it to Whitney Houston to take a difficult-to-sing anthem and turn it into a chart-topping hit. She reinvented the classic during the 1991 Super Bowl with flourishes and runs that forever changed how soloists sing the national anthem. Unfortunately, no one can do it quite as well as Whitney; we will always be in awe of her unique interpretation.
n Monday and Tuesday mornings, you can reliably find me on Television Without Pity, frequently clicking refresh in anticipation of Jacob Cliftons latest Gossip Girl or The Good Wife recap. Im not alone. The recap is a relatively new genre of writing, popularized by the website Television Without Pity, in which the writer gives a detailed description of a television episode whilst editorializing, sometimes satirizing and providing critical commentary. The master of the recap is indubitably Jacob Clifton. When he was recapping American Idol, he had a whole slew of followers who watched the show for the sole purpose of being able to read and fully appreciate his recaps. The same is now true for Gossip Girl, though at least this show does have some of its own merits. Cliftons recaps render anything remotely stupid or preposterous instantly awesome once you
intermission
BLACK
I
ts a wonder that students living in Toyon Hall ever get any work done. Performance groups of all types looking for a small venue with good acoustics gravitate to the all-sophomore dorms main lounge to host their events. The most recent group to throw their hat in the fray is the Black Student Union, whose event, Lets Stay Together: Black Love 2012, packed that main lounge to capacity on Tuesday night. Though a select few couples were seated at front-row tables through a pre-event raffle, the vast majority of students who attended stood at stand-up cocktail tables littered with candy. Sparkling cider poured by the organizers took the place of champagne, and the ambient lighting created an inviting mood. After about fifteen minutes, the Courtesy Nick Abram
events organizers, Maya Humes 14 and Bana Hatzey 14, took the stage to start the show. They introduced Kevin Avery, a San Francisco-based stand up comedian sponsored by the Stanford Chapparal who served as MC of the show. After a few opening remarks, he kicked off the first half of the show, which consisted of performances by Stanford students. The first of these was a touching solo performance of a piano ballad
L O V E
MUSIC
Courtesy Nick Abram
BRINGS LIFE TO VALENTINES

one point, the audience even broke into spontaneous snapping and clapping during a particularly rousing chorus. Rounding out this half of the show was a short set by a cappella group Everyday People, who opted to forgo their traditional all-vocal setup to feature a piano in addition to the vocal harmonies. The atmosphere of the first half of the event was most like a coffeehouse, albeit one more focused on performance than conversation. Another factor that separated the event from a traditional caf performance were Averys various comedic interludes between acts. Though he began the night with few words, by midway through the Stanford student performances, he was doing extended bits and riffing off of audience members. His first routine consisted of a backand-forth with several of the seated couples in which he riffed on various aspects of their relationships. Later, he invited a girl in a long-distance relationship onstage to tell her story in a hilarious, extended bit that ended with a sweet proclamation of long-distance love. Then, after the student acts were finished, he launched into a twenty-minute set with similar themes. By the time Avery said his thank-yous and went offstage, the crowd had grown restless. They had, after all, come primarily to see Jeremih. After his DJ and hype man warmed up the crowd with some common club songs, the singer came out onstage and delivered exactly what those fans wanted. Perhaps the most interesting revelation of the night, though, was that Jeremih actually can, in fact, sing. His set ended, predictably, with Birthday Sex and Down on Me, though his DJ remained, along with a sizable crowd, ready to dance for the rest of their Tuesday night. In the end, though Jeremihs set offered an undoubtedly different perspective on love than the Stanford students did, the night as a whole stood as a testament to black culture, love and the intersection between the two. louis LAGALANTE
contact louis: lagalant@stanford.edu
about appreciating our time with loved ones, written by the student in the wake of her fathers death. This first act set the tone for the student performances. From a duet between Lady Renaissance (Mia Shaw 12) and Tyler Brooks 14 reminiscent of a collaboration between Drake and Nicki Minaj in sound if not theatricality to a lovely poem called Adoration offering an unabashedly sentimental portrait of its theme, the Stanford students offered reflections on the nature of love and its triumph. At
friday february 17 2012
FOOD
perfect world would be full of delicious hole-in-the-wall restaurants, each tucked away on some unassuming side street, waiting to be discovered. In a place as pristine (and often pretentious) as Palo Alto, finding such an establishment often seems impossible many places that, at first glance, appear to meet the qualifications are priced in a way that immediately disqualifies them. Lotus Thai Bistro, a small, understated eatery on California Ave., is the exception to the rule. Lotus Thai is everything you could ever want in a hole-in-thewall. Upon entering the bistro, diners are greeted from behind the counter by the restaurants chefs, who are busy concocting creative and aweinspiring curries. The servers are consistently welcoming and will gladly accommodate special requests. As a starter, I am always tempted to order the fresh rolls. While fresh rolls often linger on menus as the healthy (read: boring) alternative to their fried counterparts, Lotus Thais fresh rolls are as delicious as they are nutritious. Filled with
MOVIES
an array of fresh and colorful ingredients, it is as if each bite surprises you with a new and exciting flavor. The rolls are packed with tofu, mango, cilantro and assorted crunchy vegetables and are topped with seaweed salad. The sweet and savory combination is intriguing and pairs excellently with the accompanying creamy, wasabi-topped peanut sauce. My fellow diner enjoyed the chicken satay skewers, which were served with a delightful sweet coconut peanut sauce. Another Courtesy MCT
the vital stats The Secret World of Arrietty
SC
Courtesy Camden Minervino winner is the refreshing som tum (green papaya) salad. My favorite entre by far is the pumpkin curry, a beautifully carved squash filled with an assortment of vegetables, chicken or meat, according to the diners own tastes. The curry sauce, which pairs well with brown rice, is fiery and addictive, begging diners to have just one more bite. At the end of the meal, a dish of complimentary ice cream almost always makes an appearance (and a welcome appearance at that). In a college town that often fails to bring students options that are cheap yet tasty, Lotus Thai Bistro serves as a reminder that although this may not be a perfect world, there are still a few hidden gems waiting to be found. rachel ZARROW
contact rachel: rjzarrow@stanford.edu
Courtesy Camden Minervino
he Secret World of Arrietty, the long-awaited adaptation of Mary Nortons popular childrens story The Borrowers from Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away, Ponyo), finally received its North American release. Directed by newcomer Hiromasa Yonebayashi from a screenplay by legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki, the film is a beautifully hand-drawn and touchingly crafted coming-of-age story. The 14-year-old Arrietty (Bridgit Mendler) lives with her parents Pod and Homily (voiced by real-life couple Will Arnett and Amy Poehler) beneath the floorboards of an old country house. As members of the miniature Borrower race, they subsist on items gleaned from their larger human counterparts. But despite living right under the humans noses, the Borrowers manage to maintain a low profile; that is, until Shawn (David Henrie), a sickly young man, comes to rest up at the house before he must receive a life-threatening operation. Shawn spots Arrietty one night while she is out on a borrowing mission, simultaneously breaking the cardinal rule of her kind and sparking a mutual curiosity between the two. Against her parents will, Arrietty and Shawn
intermission
O 10
G A L E Animation
form an unlikely friendship founded upon a shared sense of uncertainty toward the future; she because her family may be among the last remaining Borrowers and he because of his poor health. When the vindictive housekeeper Hara (Carol Burnett) finds evidence of the Borrowers secret existence, it is up to Shawn and Arrietty to save her family. As is always the case with Studio Ghibli films, attention to detail is paramount. Each painstakingly hand-illustrated frame is like its own exquisite painting, creating a refreshing contrast with the majority of contemporary, digitized animation. From the Borrowers miniscule home to the country houses luscious garden, the sheer artistry is consistently breathtaking. The dialogue seems to falter at times, although whether this is merely a function of the translation into English or an inherent problem with the script is unclear. And although the relationships between characters, particularly Shawn and Arrietty, are fully fleshed out, certain elements of the story seemed forced such as Haras sudden shift toward villainy. The conclusion verges on overly sentimental territory, but since this is a trend within Ghibli films, perhaps some things are merely lost in translation or across cultural boundaries. Despite the fact that Miyazaki wrote the screenplay, The Secret World of Arrietty is | continued on page 8 |
OF
N A
1 T
TELEVISION
REMOTE
UPS and DOWNS

MISFITS VS. HEROES
ous storm while doing community service, as well as the surprisingly unfortunate luck they have after the storm. But the comparisons are more than skin-deep; looking at Misfits structure over the years reveals a lot of other parallels between the two shows. Lets start from the top: The first season of Misfits was a tightly-constructed, wellwritten character drama. The superpowers served the plot, not vice versa; they were tools to draw out each characters strengths and insecurities and to drive them forward. At the beginning of the show, the characters were bad people; at the end of the first season . . . well, lets be honest, they were still bad people, but they had grown in measurable and believable ways. Then came the second season, and with it, the downward spiral that ended up defining every season of Heroes after the first. The plots became incoherent; random recurring characters appeared from nowhere serving no real purpose; and I dont even want to talk about the nonsensical Christmas episode. To its credit, there was an excellent subplot about the mysterious Superhoodie that delved into the characters of Simon and Alisha, but even that become its own kind of problem as the forgone conclusion was dragged out all the way through season 3. The new season, which just recently finished airing on Hulu, is somewhere in the middle of those two. It lacks the strong definition that the first season had, but its definitely a move in the right direction. Id even riences through the lens of Cliftons own personal experiences. His fascination with the shows themes of surveillance and public identity have led him to write some of the best commentary on what it is to be Serena, to have your beauty as your primary characteristic. This season, he started recapping CBSs The Good Wife, a show that nobody in their right mind would call a guilty pleasure, and he still manages to provide hilarious satire and very thoughtful analysis of the shows characters, themes, and direction. To read Cliftons writing is to engage in a thought-provoking dialogue about television. Its proof positive that, as Woody Allen
f you imagined Heroes, but British and edgy, then youd end up with Misfits, a show thats been made popular in America thanks to Hulu bringing it across the pond last year. Its about a group of young criminals who gain superpowers in a mysteri-
Courtesy E4 argue that switching out Nathan, the manic character who had a tendency to overshadow everyone else in the first two seasons, for Rudy (whose really just a Nathan-lite to be honest) was actually a good idea for the show since it gave us another character whose growth we can hope for. But the original misfits are dropping like flies, and its going to get old fast seeing them replaced by almost identical characters. When a show swaps out their entire cast, its a bold move. But phasing them out one by one makes Misfits feel more like a show thats fizzling out yet another case | continued on page 8 | wrote in Sleeper, Everything bad [i.e. television] is good for you. Even if youre convinced that you could never watch Gossip Girl in earnest, if you watch just one episode of season four supplemented with Cliftons commentary, you could easily be convinced to watch it simply for the rewarding recaps.
Courtesy E4 CONTINUED FROM CLIFTON PAGE 2 seamlessly inserting pop culture references into his writing to add an extra level to the analysis and description. When describing a case of mistaken identity last season one of the characters, Colin, was mistaken for his cousin, Ben Clifton wrote, Some people know that Colin is dating Serena, some people dont, but theyre not dating and Juliet is involved with Colin in a way that makes even less sense than before, and Ben is Glory and/or Colin, and I . . . give up. Its easily missed, but Buffy fans will recognize the reference from another case of mistaken identities, which was the subject of an entire hilarious episode, when Spike had to constantly remind the others that Ben is Glory. And here on Gossip Girl, there was even a character named Ben. Its just perfect. While Clifton is unmatched in his ability to cleverly call out stupidity, he is equally able to recognize when a show does something right. He always rightly praises the crackling dialogue and fantastic on-screen chemistry between unlikely friends (and now lovers?) Dan and Blair. And his critical commentary is both incisive and insightful. In season three, he wrote an extended miniessay about the complications of Jennys decision to lose her virginity, which delved into the complexities of the characters expe-
alexandra HEENEY
contact alexandra: aheeney@stanford.edu
VIDEO GAMES
GETTING META WITH
ts not often that I mark a games release date on my Google calendar. Besides the fact that I tend to remember them off-hand, they look a little silly next to all of my oh-so-important classes and appointments. But with Mass Effect 3, I cant help it. Theres a little red bubble on March 6 that simply reads THE BEGINNING OF THE END. After playing the demo that came out earlier this week, Im still more excited for Mass Effect 3 than any game this year. But that anticipation is tempered by an unexpected realization. Before I get into that, I should back up a bit. When I say Im obsessed with Mass Effect 3, Im not just buying into the hype. Even if I put on blinders to the games massive marketing campaign, Id still have to wake myself up from the occasional daydream where Im
ind ames
MASS EFFECT 3
Courtesy EA tingles running down my spine when I booted it up. Forty-five minutes later, I had finally gotten my first taste of the beginning of the end. With the demo over, I put the controller down and gathered my thoughts. My first reaction wasnt what I wouldve predicted. Immediately, I wanted to play the demo again, but not just because it was an entertaining appetizer for the full game. I wanted to see how it looked on my PC, and then on my PS3. I wondered how the new dodge and melee mechanics would feel with a keyboard or a DualShock, and I even played through the whole thing again with voice controls on Kinect. I checked which platforms I had old, saved Mass Effect files on, and I refreshed myself on methods for transferring saves between platforms. I even called up one of my best friends to see which platform hed be playing the game on after all, I wouldnt want to miss out on co-op with him. By the end of the day, I had played the demo five times. Why all the fuss? With my eyes glazed over and an energy bar in hand, I wondered the same thing. Id been waiting for this moment for such a long time, and even though I couldnt stop playing, I wasnt really enjoying it. The answer, Ive realized, isnt that the demo didnt meet my expectations. In fact, Im almost blindly assuming the final game will be excellent. But that belies a more subtle conflict, one Ive never had before and that illuminates something about the way I play games. The game isnt what worries me; its the way I experience it. After five years of waiting, Im so caught up with the idea of a perfect ending to this trilogy my trilogy that Im deathly afraid of playing through it in anything less than ideal conditions. It has to look as good as possible; I have to be playing with the controller most suited to the game| continued on page 8 |
chatting with my crew in the mess hall of the SSV Normandy. Thats because Mass Effect lends a powerful sense of personal ownership to each players story and, like no franchise before it, stretches that saga out from year to year and game to game. Like millions of other players, Ive seen decisions from back in 2007, when the first game released, come back to haunt and reward me. Ive lost good friends, made worse enemies and, of course, had romantic encounters with sexy aliens. And even if other players have walked a similar path through the first two games, Mass Effect still makes my story feel like its all mine. After all that, I need to finish my story. Period. (If you cant relate, imagine that its early 1983, youre a massive sci-fi nerd and youre waiting for Return of the Jedi to hit theaters. Then imagine that you actually had some
control over how the final movie played out. Its an agonizing wait, isnt it?) Good thing, then, that BioWare & Electronic Arts threw me a bone last Tuesday. When the Mass Effect 3 demo went live, it was understandably something of an event for me. I immediately fired up my 360, downloaded the demo and shook out the
Courtesy EA
intermission
WHATWERE LISTENINGTO
A list of songs Intermission staffers are jamming to this week. DOWN ON ME JEREMIH FEAT. 50 CENT
THEATRE
script, the stage and the blocking. Augesen is caught in a play that can never live up to her own talent. For a play that relies so much on setting on contrasting the cut-throat hustle and bustle of New York life with the meditative atmosphere of the land where the memorial is to be built in Israel its a bold but bad choice to leave the stage so devoid of setting. There is almost no furniture no more than a bed or a table and chairs and no backdrops of any kind: just the cold modern architecture of the blank set. Perhaps the attempt was to hint that Israel and America are not so different, but instead it left the play floating aimlessly. The stage also seems too big for the space, especially when its empty. When we see Concetta Tomei as Valerie, the chairwoman of the competition, gesticulating madly across the stage, it looks like stilted over-acting. In a bigger or better-filled space, it might have seemed authentic, or at least less obtrusive. Higher tries too hard to be clever. Many lines are intended as epigrams, delivered with the self-assurance that it will receive a laugh, that you can find yourself accidentally slipping into one; you feel gross afterward, when you realize it wasnt actually funny. Sometimes the jokes are stale, like poking at the bleakness of Israel. Some make no sense: chocking up a characters opacity to being Canadian. Some just dont work. Worse, Higher fails in its attempt at philosophical depth: interrogating the purpose of memorials. The memorial in question is for a bus of Jews that was bombed in Israel; as a Greek, is Augesen inauthentic for trespassing on their tragedy, memorializing their pain that is not her own? These questions do not unfold naturally; they feel as though they were inserted with little effort, almost as an afterthought to give the play depth. Ren Augesen may be an entrancing star, but shes not enough to save this play from mediocrity. alexandra HEENEY
contact alexandra: aheeney@stanford.edu
I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY (WHO LOVES ME) WHITNEY HOUSTON
Courtesy Kevin Berne
C
WE ARE YOUNG FEAT. JANELLE MONAE FUN.
ONE OF THE BOYS KATY PERRY
SECRET MAROON 5
arey Perloffs new play, Higher, is at its best when its leading lady, Elena Constantine (Ren Augesen) is the focus of attention. Elena is a successful architect dealing realistically with the vicissitudes of being a successful career woman. She is middle-aged, childless, unmarried and in a relationship with another successful but egotistical architect, Michael (Andrew Polk). This, of course, makes Elena insecure, constantly seeking his approval without being able to admit it. They find themselves in competition for the same job to build a memorial, unaware that they are each others opposition. Its gender politics at its best, even though Michael is such a scumbag and thus a somewhat unfair example of a man. Perloff has also crafted some great scenes, emotionally, between father and son Michael and Isaac (Ben Kahre). They have the kind of tension that can only be built up through a lifetime of disappointments, when Michael chose his work and his ego over his family and Isaac. Isaac isnt meek or weak; hes an independent, grown man. Kahre beautifully bares the scars that Isaac carries from this relationship, which tend to surface through sarcasm. When Isaac and Elena are together onstage, both having been hurt by the same man, their shared damage makes them dyna-
lacks flourish
Courtesy Kevin Berne
mite together. As Elena, Ren Augesen is a revelation. Like British actress Kristin Scott Thomas, her movements and her stillness always seem perfectly natural, despite the almost complete lack of a set to ground her. She delivers all of her lines, even the very bad ones, with the conviction that makes us believe what she says unquestioningly. Unfortunately, there are too many clumsy, unnatural elements to the
ADVICE
CONTINUED FROM ARRIETTY PAGE 4 much more in line with the studios most recent works, continuing the trend of straightforward childrens movies. Although the animators earlier projects, such as Totoro and Princess Mononoke, also tend to be categorized as childrens films, they possessed darker undertones that lent a certain complexity, which allowed for older and younger viewers to interpret different meanings. Perhaps this shift is indicative of Miyazakis perpetual promise to retire, but in the event that he finally does, we can rest assured that Studio Ghibli is in good hands with new talent like Yonebayashi to take the helm. misa SHIKUMA
contact misa: mshikuma@stanford.edu
CONTINUED FROM MASS EFFECT 3 PAGE 6 play; I need to import a character that made all the best decisions and kept all of his (or her) crewmates alive and loyal. God forbid my first play-through is anything less, or I wont be getting the most out of this game Ive waited so long for. You cant make a first impression a second time, after all. Its a bit ironic, perhaps, that Im realizing all of this three weeks ahead of the games release. Like many self-insights, my very awareness of it is pushing me away from the attitude that generated it in the first place; Im just going to sit down, play through the damn game and see what happens. But at the end of the day, thats probably the best way to experience any game, isnt it? nate ADAMS
contact nate: nbadams@stanford.edu
TIME FOR A
STUDY
BREAK
oxy would like to apologize for her absence last week with midterms in full swing, sometimes even Roxy runs out of stamina (only outside of the bedroom, of course). She knows many of you face the same problem by mid-quarter: how to balance work and play. Well, Roxys found a way to get the best of both worlds TAs. Since youre going to be spending all of your time at office hours and review sessions in the next few weeks, Roxy thinks you at least deserve a little extra credit. There may be plenty of grade inflation at Stanford, but if youre looking to get anything else inflated in the classroom, Roxy advises you study up. TAs at Stanford are a diverse group: undergrads, grad students, the ones who are so nerdy you wonder if theyve ever been outside a library or lecture hall, the ones who are only kind of nerdy . . . Undergrad TAs are an easier target, if only because youre more likely to run into them at parties (if you run into your grad TA at a frat party, Roxy suggests you set your sights on someone else stat). But, as you might expect, Roxy prefers it hard . . . so she goes after grad students. After class or at office hours, Roxy likes to drop subtle (or not so subtle) hints. This assignment is so long and hard . . . or I could really use some one-on-one office
hours or even I like your curves . . . on the midterms, I mean. Roxy advises that you remember that grad students are a different breed (unless theyre coterms, in which case they probably wish they were still undergrads. Offer them the promise of an undergrad-like experience, and Roxy promises youll get an experience of your own). For other grad students, bear in mind that they havent had fun in at least two years. Its probably for the best that you dont overwhelm them or youll never end up under them. As with other old people, things will probably have to move slower than youre used to. Roxy wishes you the best on midterms and your, ahem, extracurricular pursuits. Good luck this is one time you wont be graded on a curve. now any TAs with underattended office hours? Roxy always comes. Invite her at Intermission@Stanforddaily.com
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance: RealD3D: 11:00am, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 4:10pm, 7:00pm, 8:00pm, 9:50pm Digital Cinema: 12:00pm, 5:00pm, 10:40pm The Secret World of Arrietty: 11:00am, 1:20pm, 3:50pm, 6:40pm, 9:10pm Thin Ice: 11:40am, 2:10pm, 4:35pm, 7:20pm, 9:55pm This Means War: 11:10am, 12:10pm, 1:35pm, 2:35pm, 4:00pm, 5:00pm, 7:00pm, 8:00pm, 9:55pm, 10:40pm Journey 2: The Mysterious Island: RealD3D: 11:00am, 1:30pm, 4:20pm, 7:10pm, 9:40pm Digital Cinema: 6:10pm Safe House: 11:10am, 12:10pm, 1:50pm, 2:50pm, 4:30pm, 6:10pm, 7:40pm, 9:30pm, 10:30pm
Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace 3D: RealD3D: 12:00pm, 2:20pm, 3:20pm, 7:00pm, 9:00pm, 10:20pm Digital Cinema: 11:00am The Vow: 11:20am, 12:20pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm, 4:50pm, 6:20pm, 7:50pm, 9:25pm, 10:30pm Chronicle: 12:15pm, 2:25pm, 4:40pm, 7:30pm, 10:10pm The Woman in Black: 11:20am, 2:00pm, 4:40pm, 7:30pm, 10:20pm The Iron Lady: 11:50am, 6:30pm Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: 3:00pm, 9:15pm Hugo: RealD3D: 11:30pm, 6:10pm Digital Cinema: 2:40pm, 9:20pm
CONTINUED FROM MISFITS PAGE 5 where the Heroes comparison holds strong. Despite its flaws, though, Misfits is a much stronger show throughout than Heroes ever was. Its more grounded; even though it has flights of fancy (like that Christmas episode, or the third season episode where history is altered so the Nazis won WWII), they never last as long as Heroes did. Alisha put it best in the third finale; the misfits arent superheroes. All weve ever done is try to defend ourselves from every [person] whos tried to kill us. Weve done our best, and if youve got a problem with that, then fuck you! aaron BRODER
contact aaron: abroder@stanford.edu
Fri and Sat 2/17 2/18
Sun thru Thurs 2/19 2/23
Pina in 3-D (Three Dimensional)- 1:50, 4:30, 7:15, 9:50 The Artist- 2:00, 4:20, 7:25, 9:45
Pina in 3-D (Three Dimensional)- 1:50, 4:30, 7:15 The Artist- 2:00, 4:20, 7:25
BONE TO PICK?
well then, email us! intermission@stanforddaily.com
02.17.12
MANAGING EDITOR
Andrea Hinton
DESK EDITOR
Sasha Arijanto
COPY EDITOR
Willa Brock
COVER
intermission
Serenity Nguyen

Daily 02.17.12

Caricato da

Informazioni sul documento

Titolo originale

Copyright

Formati disponibili

Condividi questo documento

Condividi o incorpora il documento

Opzioni di condivisione

Hai trovato utile questo documento?

Questo contenuto è inappropriato?

Copyright:

Formati disponibili

Daily 02.17.12

Caricato da

Copyright:

Formati disponibili

Mens basketball edges out Oregon State at Maples

The Stanford Daily

Volume 241 Issue 13

Facebook expansion stirs local debate

East Palo Alto not yet ready to unfriend Facebook

Please see MENLO, page 5

SERENITY NGUYEN/The Stanford Daily

Please see EPA, page 5

SPEAKERS & EVENTS

Khan Academy founder talks future of learning

Please see KHAN, page 2

NATASHA WEASER/The Stanford Daily

SPEAKERS & EVENTS

McChrystal examines leadership

ROGER CHEN/The Stanford Daily

University expands support for victims of assault

Please see McCHRYSTAL, page 2

Please see SARA, page 2

Index Opinions/4 Sports/6 Classifieds/7

2 N Friday, February 17, 2012 LOCAL

The Stanford Daily

Journalism experts assess Bay Citizen deal

Continued from front page

Continued from front page

The Stanford Daily

Friday, February 17, 2012 N 3

East to surpass West, says historian

IAN GARCIA-DOTY/The Stanford Daily

4 N Friday, February 17, 2012

The Stanford Daily

Envisioning a block quarter

The Stanford Daily

EXISTENTIAL FORTUNE COOKIES

The Stanford Daily

Friday, February 17, 2012 N 5

Continued from front page

Continued from front page

6 N Friday, February 17, 2012

The Stanford Daily

CARDINAL EDGES OUT BEAVERS AT HOME

MENS BASKETBALL STANFORD 87 OREGON STATE 82 2/16, Maples Pavilion

IAN GARCIA-DOTY/The Stanford Daily

Please see MBBALL, page 7

BEAVERS NO TROUBLE THIS TIME

WOMENS BASKETBALL STANFORD 78 OREGON STATE 45 2/16, Corvallis, Ore.

MEHMET INONU/The Stanford Daily

Please see WBBALL, page 7

Cardinal ready for road to Omaha

Pro sports and smarts do mix

Please see BASEBALL, page 8

The Stanford Daily

Friday, February 17, 2012 N 7

BIG TEST AGAINST NATIONS BEST

NICK SALAZAR/The Stanford Daily

Continued from page 6

Continued from page 6

I Someone was transported to the

I A male was cited and released for

I A juvenile was cited and released

I A man was cited and released on a

I A male was booked for domestic

I A male was cited and released for

8 N Friday, February 17, 2012