Stanford Needs Pirates Again
A recent Stanford Review meeting sparked a debate with the line:
Stanford shouldn’t be the Navy; it should be the Pirates.This phrase captures the university’s defining tension between order and openness.
The Navy represents order, procedure, and safety, while the Pirates symbolize openness, disruption, and courage. The Pirates have suffered a significant loss with the draining of the lake, which led to a decline in their activities.
- The loss of their home, the lake, has drained the Pirates’ vital energies.
- Piracy has precipitously declined, with a significant blow during Covid.
- The Navy's increasing dominance has stripped the Band’s independence and shuttered Greek life and theme houses.
Author's summary: Stanford struggles with order and openness.