Articles by Mark Allen Cu
Summer Workshop Exhibition: The combined future of technology and journalism
This summer, our newsroom invited another cohort of over a dozen of high school students to learn more about the complex world at the intersection of technology and journalism. Over eight weeks, our workshopees learn a variety of theory and skills-based foundations that are necessary to work in both computational and media-related work. These content areas included web development, data reporting, and tensions within the evolving field of communication.
High School Workshop Exhibition 2025: Visions from our producers
Each summer and winter, The Daily newsroom invites talented, passionate, and community-oriented secondary school students to hone their writing, reporting, and multimedia skills alongside our staffers. The following selections highlight the multimedia work of our most recent cohort and the stories we told through the workshops. Irene Lee’s final project follows Hugs for Ghana, a student organization established in 2007.
High School Workshop Exhibition 2025: Profiles & perspectives from our writers
Each summer and winter, The Daily newsroom invites talented, passionate and community-oriented secondary school students to hone their writing and reporting alongside our staffers. The following selections highlight our most recent cohort’s journalistic work and the stories we told through the workshops. The people we interviewed Aneline Cristiana Maria Gulie & Kaylee Gong profiled Stanford’s five 2025 Marshall Scholars.
The Stanford Daily
Editor in Chief Kaushikee Nayudu Executive Editors Emma Talley, Jessica Zhu Magazine Editors Linda Liu, Greta Reich Photo & Graphics Cayden Gu Greta Reich Oriana Riley Da-Hee Kim Anthony Martinez Rosales
Cu | Stanford should rename Wilbur Hall
Last year, I was a resident of Wilbur Hall under Otero, the four-class public service & civic engagement themed dorm. Throughout my time at Otero, we were constantly reminded of our privilege as Stanford students and the various ways that our institution has contributed to oppression and inequality both locally and worldwide.
Cu | Stanford, where’s the rest of Asia?
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments.
Cu | Stanford, where’s the rest of Asia?
Rohan Chowdury ‘26 originally planned on fulfilling his language requirement with classes on Bengali, a language spoken by almost 300 million people worldwide. Upon finding the absence of his family’s mother tongue in Stanford’s course catalog, he was excited to hear that students had the ability to request language programs through a Google Form.
Letter from the Data Editors: Welcome to Stanford
To all of our ProFros, The Daily welcomes you to Leland Stanford Junior University, one of the world’s most selective higher education institutions. Whether you’ve lived near campus your entire life or will be arriving in the United States for the first time, you are about to embark on a completely new chapter of your life. This institution will become your second home as you spend the next few years growing into your identity and expanding your intellectual horizons.
How to get off Stanford’s waitlist
“‘Wait it out,’” Taber Cannon ’27 recalled their college counselor saying. “‘Wait it out, you’ll see.’” At the time, in mid-May 2023, Cannon — who is a video staffer at The Daily — was on the waitlist for seven schools, including their top choices of Harvard, Duke and Stanford. They had committed to Colby College on May 1, National College Decision Day, but said he was “basically on edge the entire time.” Gradually, the week of May 10, phone calls and emails started to roll in.
Annual sexual assault and harassment reports decrease by 18.2%, six employees terminated
Content warning: This article contains references to sexual violence. Sexual assault and harassment reports decreased by 18.2% over the past academic year and six employees were terminated, according to the 2022-23 Title IX/Sexual Harassment Annual Report published last Thursday.
Cal smashes Stanford in Smash Bros. Crew Battle
Smash at Berkeley defeated Stanford Smash Bros. at the second annual crew battle Saturday, leaving the Cardinal 0-2. Along with in-person spectators, hundreds of viewers watched the rival battle on Twitch. President of Stanford Smash Bros. Leo Baek ’25 said that the two teams created the annual tradition to mimic other sports events like Big Game. Just like Big Game, the event has alternated locations, with this year’s battle taking place on The Farm.
Cu | Stanford must rename the Asia-Pacific Research Center
In 1968, President of Milton Meyer & Company Walter H. Shorenstein bought the San Francisco International Hotel with the intention of evicting its residents and replacing the building with a multi-level parking garage.
Inside Stanford's semi-pro Super Smash Bros team
Saturdays are for smash — Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, to be exact. Stationed at the intramural sports office in Taube Tennis Center, a community of undergraduate and graduate students gather to play the platform fighting game every weekend. “Being Stanford students, we’re often so busy with classes, assignments, papers and exams. Whenever I need a pick-up for a change of pace, I know I can always rely on my friends at Stanford Smash,” said Stanford Smash Bros. Officer Chris Basco ’24.
Rising rates of binge drinking among students, survey shows
Stanford has released the results for the most recent “Alcohol and Drug Use Survey,” a survey distributed to all undergraduate students about substance use and behaviors on campus. Compared to 2019’s results, students reported being more likely to engage in high-risk behaviors with substances as well as disagreement with current University policies on drug and alcohol.
What is Stanford’s most popular class in the spring?
The ten most-enrolled courses for the 2023 spring quarter consist mostly of science and engineering subjects, according to data scraped from Stanford’s Explore Courses website. Five of the ten are computer science (CS) courses.
ASSU council drops senator-elect's case
The ASSU Constitutional Council, a body of five undergraduate and graduate students, dismissed the case Elections Commissioner v. Chen on Monday evening. Ivy Chen ’26, who was elected to the 25th Undergraduate Senate (UGS), will be able to keep her position as an ASSU senator in the 2023-2024 academic year. The lawsuit pertained to Chen’s violations of campaign expenditure laws located in the Joint Bylaws of the ASSU.
ASSU Elections Commissioner sues senator-elect in “possibly landmark case”
The ASSU Constitutional Council voted unanimously to hear Elections Commissioner v. Chen in a meeting on Tuesday night. The hearing of the suit against the recently elected ASSU senator will be held on May 1 at 5 p.m. Ivy Chen ’26 was one of fifteen students elected to the 25th Undergraduate Senate (UGS). She received the highest number of votes of all candidates with a total of 1096, 326 more than the following candidate.
Postdocs say they're financially ineligible for University's housing
Last September, Stanford acquired the 759-unit Oak Creek Apartments in Palo Alto in an effort to expand housing options for the Stanford community, especially postdoctoral scholars. Now, the University is facing criticism from postdocs who claim that their University-paid salaries fall short of the salary thresholds required to live in the apartments.
From VR to mobile apps: hackathon participants dream big about the future of healthcare
About a hundred students from UC Berkeley and Stanford met at the Engineering Quad last weekend to design innovations for the future of healthcare for the fourth annual health{hacks}. Each participant had 48 hours to design a project aimed at addressing the most critical challenges facing public health and biodesign. health{hacks} debuted in 2020 as a virtual hackathon geared towards finding interdisciplinary solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic and has since become an organization under Stanford.
ASSU annual grants leave some clubs with funding woes
After being denied annual grant funding for the 2023-2024 academic year, Tiffany Liu ’23 and Emily Gurwitz ’24 posted a petition on their organization’s Instagram to gather the support of the student body – 15% of the student body, to be exact. However, Liu and Gurwitz are not alone.
Bay Area Youth Activists See Political Disparities Between Generations
By Mark Allen Cu Bay City News Outside of a Seafood City Supermarket in Milpitas, a crowd of young Filipino-Americans gathered last weekend to commemorate the 36th anniversary of the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) revolution, a march conducted to end the dictatorship of then-President Ferdinand Marcos.
System-Wide BART Delays Amid Fallen Trees and Rain
Bay Area Rapid Transit trains are running at slower speeds due to wet weather and winds on Tuesday afternoon, officials said. There is a system-wide delay of at least 20 minutes across all stations, BART said on Twitter in the late afternoon. It added that BART crews are responding to downed trees and other issues related to high winds and rain. Travelers can use BART's Trip Planner and check Real Time Departures on the website or on the BART app.
Bay Area Youth Activists See Political Disparities Between Generations
By Mark Allen Cu Bay City News Outside of a Seafood City Supermarket in Milpitas, a crowd of young Filipino-Americans gathered last weekend to commemorate the 36th anniversary of the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) revolution, a march conducted to end the dictatorship of then-President Ferdinand Marcos.
Filipino Americans facing 'different realities' as old and young clash on political activism
Outside of a Seafood City Supermarket in Milpitas, a crowd of young Filipino Americans gathered recently to commemorate the 36th anniversary of the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) revolution, a march conducted to end the dictatorship of then-President Ferdinand Marcos. The Feb. 26 commemoration was organized by the South Bay chapter of Malaya Movement, a national grassroots organization focused on fighting for human rights and democracy in the Philippines.
Filipino-American youth activists see some generational political disparities
Outside of a Seafood City Supermarket in Milpitas, a crowd of young Filipino-Americans gathered last weekend to commemorate the 36th anniversary of the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue revolution, a march conducted to end the dictatorship of then-President Ferdinand Marcos. The commemoration last Sunday was organized by the South Bay chapter of Malaya Movement, a national grassroots organization focused on fighting for human rights and democracy in the Philippines.
Bay Area Youth Activists See Political Disparities Between Generations
By Mark Allen Cu Bay City News Outside of a Seafood City Supermarket in Milpitas, a crowd of young Filipino-Americans gathered last weekend to commemorate the 36th anniversary of the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) revolution, a march conducted to end the dictatorship of then-President Ferdinand Marcos.
Despite controversy, no protests materialize for Matt Walsh’s visit
Right-wing political commentator Matt Walsh spoke at an event co-organized by the Stanford College Republicans (SCR) and Young America’s Foundation (YAF) at Dinkelspiel Auditorium on Wednesday night, urging the audience to reject “insane and poisonous gender ideology.” The event came the day after Walsh joined Mississippi governor Tate Reeves on Tuesday in signing a bill that restricts youth transition-related health care.
Acceptance rate drops to 3.68%, majority women and non-white students
Stanford’s undergraduate Class of 2026 acceptance rate dropped to a historic low of 3.68%, according to the University’s 2022-2023 Common Data Set. Notably, about a fifth of the frosh population is composed of domestic students (students residing in the United States) who identify as non-Hispanic white, a portion that has continued to decrease over the last few years. At an all-time high, women make up approximately 54% of all first-years.
Course enrollment rankings: STEM dominates the most popular winter quarter courses
The ten most-enrolled courses for the 2023 winter quarter consist mostly of science and engineering subjects, according to data from Stanford’s Explore Courses website. Six of the ten are computer science courses. “COLLEGE 102: Citizenship in the 21st Century” is the course with the highest enrollment this quarter.
San Jose State Sen. Dave Cortese Introduces Bill to Create Guaranteed Income for Homeless High School Seniors
“We are seeing a sharp polarization of politics and when people build on fear … we are seeing a rise in violence across the nation,” says Councilmember Carroll Fife By Ken Epstein A press conference this week on the steps of Oakland City Hall called for community solidarity against the increased dangers posed by threats of violence and harassment of women of color — particularly Black women who are elected leaders or leading members of justice advocacy organizations.
Stanford raises undergraduate tuition by 7%
Stanford’s Board of Trustees has approved a 7% increase in undergraduate tuition for the 2023-24 academic year — rising the cost of attendance to $82,406. Financial aid will increase as well, fully covering tuition and room and board for students coming from families with annual incomes below $100,000 with “typical assets.” The current threshold for full financial aid is an annual income less than $75,000.
Homeless high school seniors would receive guaranteed basic income under proposed bill
A state senator from San Jose has introduced legislation that would create a guaranteed income for homeless high school seniors. Senate Bill 333, authored by Sen. Dave Cortese, D-San Jose, would establish Success, Opportunity and Academic Resilience (SOAR), a guaranteed income pilot program that would offer a fund to all 12th grade unhoused students who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence.
Turning “hurt into change”: CA Attorney General Rob Bonta talks gun violence
No. 1 Stanford women’s water polo (6-0, 0-0 MPSF) dominated their opponents at the Stanford Invitational over the weekend, held at the Avery Aquatic Center. Storming through their trio of matches with a 3-0 overall record, the Cardinal beat out No. 10 Arizona State (5-3, 0-0 MPSF), No. 6 Michigan (6-5, 0-0 CWPA) and No 4. Cal (7-2, 0-0 MPSF) to take first in the tournament.
CA Attorney General Rob Bonta talks gun violence
California Attorney General Rob Bonta spoke at Stanford Law School (SLS) on Thursday, discussing climate legislation, tackling gun violence and pathways to public service. “Pick one, two, maybe three signature areas and forget about the rest,” Bonta said to the audience of Stanford undergraduates, law students and community members on focusing on important issues when entering public service.
Bill would promote diversity on city councils by letting them adjust pay to cost of living
A state senator from Napa has introduced legislation that would allow increases in city council pay caps, bringing salaries more in line with the cost of living. Senate Bill 329, authored by Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, was created in an effort to boost participation and diversity in California’s city councils by allowing councils to adjust their maximum pay to reflect inflation as measured by the California Consumer Price Index.
Is there more construction than usual at Stanford?
Stanford has initiated at least 2,334 construction projects since 2000, with 28 of these projects currently in progress, according to data from the University’s Land, Buildings and Real Estate (LBRE) division gathered on Feb. 8. Here’s what the data tells us about construction at Stanford. The LBRE website lists information for more than two thousand projects. The information includes project name, number, start and end dates and representative.
Proposed Bill Would Allow Increases In City Council Salaries
By Mark Allen Cu Bay City News Foundation A state senator from Napa introduced legislation Tuesday that would allow increases in city council pay caps, bringing salaries more in line with the cost of living. Senate Bill 329, authored by Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, was created in an effort to boost participation and diversity in California's city councils by allowing councils to adjust their maximum pay to reflect inflation as measured by the California Consumer Price Index.
Sen. Cortese Introduces Bill To Create Guaranteed Income For Homeless High School Seniors
By Mark Allen Cu Bay City News Foundation A state senator from San Jose introduced legislation Tuesday that would create a guaranteed income for homeless high school seniors. Senate Bill 333, authored by Sen. Dave Cortese, D-San Jose, would establish the Success, Opportunity, & Academic Resilience (SOAR), a guaranteed income pilot program that would offer a fund to all 12th grade unhoused students who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.
Alameda County DA Reopens Investigations as Part of New Public Accountability Unit
The Alameda County District Attorney's Office announced Tuesday the reopening of investigations into several police shootings and in-custody deaths as part of the creation of a new Public Accountability Unit (PAU). The PAU will be tasked with holding law enforcement and public officials accountable for misconduct, prosecutors said.
Da's Office Reopens Investigations As Part Of New Public Accountability Unit
By Mark Allen Cu Bay City News Foundation The Alameda County District Attorney's Office announced Tuesday the reopening of investigations into several police shootings and in-custody deaths as part of the creation of a new Public Accountability Unit (PAU). The PAU will be tasked with holding law enforcement and public officials accountable for misconduct, prosecutors said.
Stanford contests claim that it possesses considerable Native American remains
When investigative journalism nonprofit ProPublica published “The Repatriation Project,” a comprehensive effort to track the museums and universities that still have Native American remains, the reporting made waves for its finding that numerous prestigious institutions still have the remains of thousands of people.
Scores of Stanford students used ChatGPT on final exams, survey suggests
San Jose school districts should encourage more parents to attend board meetings and become involved in the work they do, community advocates said. School board members are responsible for hundreds of thousands of students across Santa Clara County school districts. They’re in charge of allocating millions in funding, from federal stimulus monies to bond measure dollars. They also make decisions on school safety, mental health and curriculum.
Scores of Stanford students used ChatGPT on final exams
Stanford students and professors alike are grappling with the rise of ChatGPT, a chatbot powered by artificial intelligence, and the technology’s implications for education. Some professors have already overhauled their courses in anticipation of how students might use the chatbot to complete assignments and exams. And according to an informal poll conducted by The Daily, a large number of students have already used ChatGPT on their final exams.
Scores of Stanford students used ChatGPT on final exams
Now The surprising finding might solve longstanding mysteries about climate and geological phenomena. Earth’s inner core has recently stopped spinning, and may now be reversing the direction of its rotation, according to a surprising new study that probed the deepest reaches of our planet with seismic …
Growing pains: Stanford panelists discuss challenges as tech takes root in rural America
At a forum hosted by Stanford University, a speaker panel discussed the gap between Silicon Valley and rural America and sought to bring more awareness of rural issues to students in the Bay Area. Thursday’s panel, which comprised experts on rural politics and business, highlighted how Bay Area students can avoid impeding on rural development and why it matters to all Americans, including those in urban areas.
San Francisco Secures Over $5 Million Settlement With Instacart
By Mark Allen Cu Bay City News Foundation San Francisco has secured a settlement of more than $5 million with the grocery delivery company Instacart over its health care and paid sick leave policies, benefiting over 5,000 workers. City Attorney David Chiu and San Francisco Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE) director Patrick Mulligan announced Thursday that the city secured the $5.25 million settlement after an investigation into the company's compliance with San Francisco labor laws.
Santa Rosa Grocery Store Roof Catches Fire
By Mark Allen Cu Bay City News Foundation Santa Rosa firefighters battled a fire Thursday afternoon at a grocery store. The fire call came in at 12:24 p.m. at Whole Foods Market, 390 Coddingtown Center, for a fire located on the roof of the store. Employees evacuated the supermarket, which was open at the time of the fire. Fire department units checked the inside of the market and found no signs of smoke or fire.
Monterey County forecasts storm damage to surpass $8M, approves emergency resolution
The Monterey County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a resolution of emergency addressing the recent atmospheric river storms in the region. During the meeting, Supervisor Luis Alejo thanked all county public workers and first responders for their assistance throughout the several storms and for their continued efforts in the storms ahead.
Stanford ‘Harmful Language’ list removed after backlash
Stanford’s Elimination of Harmful Language Initiative (EHLI) website was taken down Wednesday after what the University described as “intense recent feedback” that the list was “counter to inclusivity,” according to a public statement from Chief Information Officer Steve Gallagher.
Half Moon Bay nonprofit collecting donations and supplies for families displaced by storms
Families in Half Moon Bay displaced by the recent storms are in need of assistance and one organization is stepping up to help. Ayudando Latinos A Sonar, a Latino-centered nonprofit located in Half Moon Bay, has sent its crisis team to help families affected by storm damage and flooding. The name of the group translates to Helping Latinos Dream. The group has been preparing several bags of cleaning supplies, food and personal protective equipment, among other efforts.
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