What Does The Mascot Of The Stanford Tree Mean?

Stanford University’s unconventional mascot, the Stanford Tree, has become a significant part of college branding and college football. The Tree, a member of the Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band (LSJUMB), is representative of El Palo Alto, the Redwood tree. The Tree, complete with blue eyes, scarlet fish lips, and tentacle-like leaf appendages, looks like a constipated squid struggling with. Although Manhole did not make the cut, the Tree was warmly accepted by fans and became the band’s permanent mascot and unofficial mascot of the school.

The Stanford Tree defies tradition and stands as a symbol of the university’s distinctive spirit and heritage. It originated in 1975 when the Stanford Marching Band performed halftime shows featuring different mascots deemed relevant to the school. The Tree represents El Palo Alto, the redwood tree that stands in Palo Alto, which is considered the city’s logo and is shown on the school’s official seal.

Ruby Coulson ’27 was named the 46th Stanford Tree, Stanford’s unofficial mascot. Coulson is the first Tree to cheer Stanford on as part of the Atlantic Coast team. The Tree defies tradition and stands as a symbol of the university’s distinctive spirit and heritage.

What does the tree stand for in Stanford?

The block S with tree is a highly recognized logo of Stanford University, based on the rendition of El Palo Alto, the tree seen on the Stanford seal. The symbol was updated in 2014. The preferred presentation for the Stanford block S with tree is Cardinal red and Palo Alto green. One color may be used when the two-color version is not possible or appropriate. However, the two-color presentation should not be used as a social media profile icon, in accordance with Stanford’s Social Media Guidelines. University-approved colors must be used for logos and matched for all digital projects, print, and promotional items.

Why is a tree the Stanford mascot?

The Tree, a member of the Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band, is a symbol of El Palo Alto, the tree that appears on both the university’s official seal and the municipal seal of Palo Alto. From 1930 to 1972, Stanford’s sports teams were known as the Indians, with Prince Lightfoot as the official mascot. In 1972, Native American students and staff members lobbied University President Richard Lyman to abolish the “Indian” name and mascot, leading to the team unofficially reverting to the color “Cardinal”.

From 1972 to 1981, Stanford’s official nickname was the Cardinal, but debates arose among students and administrators about the mascot and team name. A 1972 student referendum supported restoring the Indian name, while a 1975 referendum against it. The Robber Barons won, but the university’s administration refused to implement the vote. In 1978, 225 varsity athletes petitioned for the mascot to be the griffin, but the campaign failed. In 1981, President Donald Kennedy declared that all Stanford athletic teams would be represented exclusively by the color cardinal.

What species is the Stanford Tree?

Senator Stanford’s preference for preserving healthy oak trees on his Palo Alto farm led to the planting of thousands of native California oaks from the 1880s to the present day. Today, the campus tree canopy is dominated by coast live oak, with valley, blue, and black oaks also found on central campus, the Academic Preserve, and Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve. However, there has been a loss of diversity from the original tree and shrub plantings, particularly for conifers.

Over the past 25 years, there has been a loss of eucalypt species, from over 125 in the early 1970s to 51 today. Stanford has had one of the most diverse collections of eucalypts in California, and some mature specimens of rare and unique trees. The restoration of the Arizona Garden and ongoing care by garden coordinator Christy Smith highlight the potential for a broader restoration of the remaining, intact Arboretum region.

What is the cardinal mascot?

The Louisville Cardinal is a university sporting figure who appears at home football games and community events. He is part of the “Spirit Groups” and the cheerleading team. In 2004, he was awarded the National Cheerleaders Association’s Most Collegiate Mascot award. The Cardinal is nicknamed “Louie” in honor of the school and city, or “C. B”. The costume, first constructed in 1953 by Frances Goldsmith, was worn by Townsel Adams at an athletics event. The Cardinal Bird is also part of the school’s cheerleading team.

Why did Stanford University change their mascot?

The “Indian” mascot for Stanford’s athletic teams was introduced in 1930 and continued until 1970, with its most common manifestation being a caricature of a small Indian with a big nose. In 1970, a group of Native American students objected to the live performances of Timm Williams or Prince Lightfoot, believing them to be a mockery of Indian religious practices. In 1971, the Native American students met with University President Lyman to discuss the end of the mascot performances, establishing SAIO as a newly-formed organization in the Stanford community.

In 1972, 55 Native American students and staff presented a petition to the University Ombudsperson, who presented it to President Lyman. The petition urged the permanent discontinuation of the Indian symbol and the University to fulfill its promise to improve Native American education. The Indian group maintained that the mascot was stereotypical, offensive, and a mockery of Indian cultures. The petition suggested that removing the Indian as Stanford’s symbol would demonstrate a “readily progressive concern for the American Indians of the United States”.

Ombudsperson Lois Amsterdam added her understanding of the issue, stating that Stanford’s continued use of the Indian symbol in the 1970s brought up a painful lack of sensitivity and awareness on the part of the University. Sensitivity and awareness are difficult to achieve when childish misrepresentations in games, history books, and motion pictures make up a large part of the experience.

Do Stanford students call themselves trees?

Stanford University’s unofficial mascot, El Palo Alto, has become a symbol of the university’s dedication to its students, alumni, and the community. The tree’s fame began in 1769 when Spanish explorer Don Gaspar de Portolà discovered a towering redwood tree on the California coast, which they named “El Palo Alto”. The Bay Area was initially described as “mostly bare” with low shrubs, but today, El Palo Alto is hidden in the city and overshadowed by younger, taller trees planted by 19th-century icons who embraced forestation to beautify Bay Area communities and provide a lasting gift to future generations.

Eucalyptus trees, renowned for their fast growth, unparalleled height, resilience, and stunning beauty, were chosen by various figures, including Joaquin Miller, Adolph Sutro, Frank Havens, and Leland and Jane Stanford. Miller planted eucalyptus on his Oakland hills property, Sutro planted them throughout San Francisco, Havens planted them throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties, and Stanford founders planted eucalyptus trees worldwide to beautify the campus.

The towering heights and distinctive shapes of the eucalyptus trees have become integral to the identity of Stanford University, just as the millions of eucalyptus planted throughout the Bay Area and much of the State have become iconically Californian.

How did the Stanford Cardinal get its name?

Stanford’s official color was chosen by its first students in 1891, with white becoming a secondary color in the 1940s. The team was metonymically referred to as the “Cardinal” after their first Big Game win over California in 1892. The university’s athletic teams continued to be referred to as the “Cardinal” or “Cardinals” even after the adoption of the “Indians” name. In 1930, the athletic department adopted the mascot “Indian” following a unanimous vote by the Executive Committee for the Associated Students. However, in 1972, the Indian symbol and name were dropped by Stanford president Richard Lyman after objections from Native American students and a vote by the student senate.

Is Stanford considered an Ivy?

Stanford, despite not being part of the Ivy League, is the most elite West Coast university. Its founders modeled the school after its East Coast predecessors, Cornell University. Cornell, founded 20 years before Stanford, was the youngest of the Ivy League colleges and was hailed as the “Cornell of the West” at its opening. The majority of faculty at Stanford, including its first two presidents, hail from the New York Ivy. Stanford is the most elite university on the West Coast.

Why did Elon Musk leave Stanford?

Elon Musk, a tech billionaire, believed the internet had more potential to impact the world than his physics research. He launched his first company, Zip2, and sold it for over $300 million four years later. Musk was an extraordinary kid, teaching himself to code at the age of 9 and publishing his first game at 12. He revolutionized electric vehicles with Tesla and made history with SpaceX. He also has a brain-chip startup called Neuralink, which he claims will give superhuman abilities to normal people and heal various illnesses. Although Musk is unique, his decision to quit school is not unique to tech billionaires like Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and Michael Dell.

Why is Stanford logo in German?

Stanford University’s motto, “Die Luft der Freiheit weht”, was first introduced by its first president, David Starr Jordan, who encountered the phrase in the writings of German humanist and revolutionary Ulrich von Hutten. Although the exact phrase does not appear in von Hutten’s original Latin writings, Jordan was struck by its suitability and suggested it be used on the university’s first seal. However, discussions on the motto’s adoption became heated during talks for the development of the first seal.

President Jordan’s suggestion to use his preferred motto on the seal met opposition from other members of the university, with George E. Crothers, the Secretary of the Board of Trustees, favoring the motto “Truth and Service”, which he believed best summarized the university’s goals.