(Photo: JULIA INGRAM/The Stanford Daily)
on April 14, 2021
At first glance, Kamau MuseMorris ’24 has all the qualities of a typical Undergraduate Senate candidate: a personable demeanor, a campaign Instagram account featuring his platform in bold-print infographics and a desire to “foster a sense of community among students.”
However, unlike frosh Senate candidates in previous years, he has never set foot on Stanford’s campus.
MuseMorris is one of several frosh running for Undergraduate Senate, vying to represent a student body they have mainly met through Zoom calls and computer screens. After the University canceled plans for frosh to return to campus in the fall and winter, this election process has been yet another example of how the pandemic has defined and confined their Stanford experience thus far.
Photos: Courtesy of Mario Nicolas, Ayanna Minnihan and Katie Smith; Illustration: Nicole Ike / The Stanford Daily
This article is part of a series reflecting on the anniversary of Stanford’s shutdown due to COVID-19. Click here to read the rest of the stories.
Bright sunlight peaks through your window as you fumble for your phone, eyes still wired shut in defiance of your 8 a.m. alarm. 30 minutes until your first class. Time for coffee, a quick hello to friends in your dorm and a bike ride across a palm tree speckled campus. You’re excited for the upcoming football game and make a mental note to text your friends to make plans. Maybe this weekend you’ll reserve a ZipCar to go to that concert in San Francisco.
The 19th meeting of the 22nd Undergraduate Senate. (Screenshot: MALAYSIA ATWATER/The Stanford Daily)
on February 22, 2021
Undergraduate senators spoke out against a referendum proposed by frosh that would allow them to serve as Associated Students of Stanford University (ASSU) senators at their Monday evening meeting.
The working referendum calls for a constitutional amendment to allow a second election period during fall quarter to accommodate frosh, enabling them to run for and serve on the Undergraduate Senate.
Senate chair Micheal Brown ’22 said that while all students deserve representation in the Undergraduate Senate, logistical issues render this plan nearly impossible. He added that there are other ways to facilitate frosh representation outside of reworking the election system and rewriting the constitution, such as providing more representative power to class presidents and members of the Frosh Council.
The 18th meeting of the 22nd Undergraduate Senate. (Screenshot: JACKIE HENLEY/The Stanford Daily)
on February 17, 2021
After the release of an Associated Students of Stanford University (ASSU) executive memo that drew criticism from some upperclassmen, Senators and attendees argued both in favor of and against the measure at Tuesday evening’s Undergraduate Senate meeting.
The ASSU executives’ memo, which was released on Feb. 12, recommended against bringing juniors and seniors to campus for spring quarter due to recent reports of noncompliance with Stanford’s campus compact.
At the meeting, Stanford Review editor-in-chief Maxwell Meyer ’22 expressed concerns that the memo had not represented the Stanford student body in its recommendation. Earlier on Tuesday, the editorial board of The Review