From: Lauren

Dear film/video and photo community at Stanford,

I just wanted to send out a note on behalf of University Communications regarding shooting photos and video in the Main Quad.

It has recently been reiterated to many of us communications staff that the Main Quad has special restrictions for shooting photos and video. 

The short version is that the Quad (inner and outer) or Memorial Court is off-limits to photos and video. 

Stanford University does not want its image being used by others for any profit, either virtual or real. For example, if you are a semi-professional or professional photographer or videographer, you are not allowed to use the Main Quad as a backdrop to any photo or video product that you are selling or using to represent you as a photographer or company. 

The same goes for Stanford units/organizations. If you are hired by a Stanford organization to shoot photos/video, please know that Stanford organizations are not allowed to shoot in the Quad without permission.

The bottom line is there is no shooting in the Quad or Memorial Court without permission, no matter what the purposes or who the sponsor or who you are. It just isn’t allowed.

There have been several incidents recently that have revealed how far the university is willing to go to protect its image, in particularly related to the Quad, thus I am sending out this message as a reminder.

My best advice to you is to avoid shooting in the Main Quad at all costs, and find other campus locations to get that “Stanford” feeling. Exceptions must be approved by central University Communications.

For more information, please see:

http://www.stanford.edu/dept/ucomm/policies/requests.html

Best,
Lauren

From: Mark

Yes, please help me help Stanford administration to stop the vicious assault by student photographers on the Main Quad!

Not only do they take pictures, but they also post them on Flickr for ‘self-promotion’! This irrecoverably damages the image of Stanford university and its community; which mistakenly leads people to believe that it is an open society where students have a chance to explore their artistic vision for a nominal $40,000 a year tuition contribution.

Please help those who need your help the most – Stanford University image!

Of course, as an Alumni I am not even allowed to show my face on campus – because of the risk of ‘photography’. But as active students I think you should fight for Stanford!

Mark

From: Rachel

A friend and I were just talking about this.  So if you carry a tripod then you can’t shoot?  Or do you have to get off a tour bus to be able to photograph the inner quad?  Or you can only have a point ‘n shoot camera?  So now there are camera police in the quad?  Very, very bizarre.

Rachel

p.s.  Mark, as an alumn, just make a sizable donation and you should be fine.  :)

From: Tricia

Hi Lauren,

What about hundreds, if not thousands of tourists, who take pictures of the
Main Quad all year around? Is there going to be security making sure that
they don’t do that? If outside people can take pictures, why isn’t it
allowed for people, who are affiliated with Stanford? It just doesn’t make
sense. Plus, it is such a landmark. I understand that there are some high
level administrative offices there. But this restriction still doesn’t seem
reasonable.

Tricia

From: Lauren

Hi Rachel et al,
I hear you and sympathize!

This is a very strange, and stringent policy, and I was just as surprised as you, and thus felt the need to share the information.

If you have a point and shoot and are taking pictures of you and your friends, then I just don’t see how they can stop you, but if you are carrying a big camera and a tripod and using that photo to represent yourself as a photographer, and your photographic work, then that’s a problem.

If you are a university organization, you should not use the Quad as a backdrop to represent you on your website or any other publication without permission from University Communications.

See the link I sent out for more info.

And no, I don’t know how much they will enforce, but several people have lost their jobs at Stanford due to incidents in the last couple months related to this policy.

Basically, avoid the Quad, or get permission from University Communications for your shoot.

Sorry to bear the bad news, but I thought this was important enough to share with you all.
Best,
Lauren
______________________________________________________________________________

From: Mark

Tours of campus will stop! There will be friendly checkpoints throughout campus to make sure that no tourist will get to the Main Quad! We cannot afford to be lenient on this one. “Here I stand; I can do no other. God help me. Amen!”

Mark

______________________________________________________________________________

From: Albert

Hi Rachel,

What if you are carrying a “big camera and a tripod” and just taking photos of you and your friends? Instead of a point and shoot… will you get told off for that as well? In fact many tourists/visitors use mean-looking DSLRs as well…

Best regards,
Albert
______________________________________________________________________________

From: Kim

Hi Lauren, are you serious?  People have lost jobs recently because of this policy?  Wow!  I am stunned.

I made my comments tongue-in-cheek because it seems so absurd, but people losing jobs over that is pretty serious business.  

I never represent myself as a photographer.  :)  I’m just having fun with my camera.  And I’m not that good.  I carry a big camera and sometimes schlep along a tripod but I’m shooting for purely personal pleasure.  So if I do that and post my photos on Flickr then I’m in trouble with Stanford?  

What they say here is probably deliberately vague (the part about “non-commercial shooting, specifically):

Stanford’s permission is required to videotape, film or photograph on Stanford-owned lands. The university will consider reasonable requests for news-related, non-commercial shooting, but reserves the right to deny permission for any reason. 

From: Beth

Hey everyone,
This policy is aimed towards commercial photographers: ie, with a goal of selling your photographs, or perhaps using these photographs to sell you as a photographer. I think this policy is for if the University notices pictures that are obviously of Stanford being sold or used in portfolios (ie, they seem as if they are endorsing you/affiiated with you). As long as you aren’t taking pictures with the goal of profiting off them, I think it should be alright. Flickr should be fine.

In the case of “noncommercial” shooting, they’re talking professionals who are trying to do news reports, charity events, etc.

Am I wrong?
If you guys are really concerned, here’s the contact info given on the site.
Beth

From: Mark

While commercial photography is well understood concept, ‘sell you as a photographer’ is not.

Lets say I post a picture on flickr and then I refer people to my flickr, is this ‘self promotion as a photographer’? What if my income does not generally depend on photography, but I do a paid assignment once in a while, can I have Stanford in my flickr account? What if my income, when comes form photography, NEVER comes from landscape and architectural photography? What if a friend later asked me to take a picture of his house for purposes of sale (no money exchange); does that put me in the red? Policy as formulated is meaningless and it is not clear what it is aimed at. What exactly is the revenue lost by Stanford as the result of non-commercial student photography?

More importantly, policy is not enforceable – how can a given staff member judge at the moment of picture taking what is the intended use? He/she cannot and hence this policy turns into fear of big cameras and tripods, from people who do not get off the bus.

Moreover in my mind this attitude towards student activities is incompatible with what I would judge to be a goal of an educational institution. Unfortunately it is the recent trend at Stanford. It is equally impossible to reserve a facility in most buildings on campus, unless one is wiling to pay a sizable fee for it usage – $200 (in case of Clark Center). And this is for an even sponsored by Stanford faculty.

I think Stanford would save more money by laying off useless staff members responsible for enforcing this policy. If someone lost their job as the result of photography at Stanford I would really like to know his/her name – I have a great business preposition!

Mark
______________________________________________________________________________

From: Phil

I suggest that we should plan a couple of photo outings in the next week and each time we submit individually a lengthy written request… something ridiculous like: I want to take a picture with my iphone on the quad and post it on facebook. Maybe they specify their rules a little bit.

Kind of a denial-of-service attack.
______________________________________________________________________________

From: Mark

I think it is the best to test it directly – hold shoot at the quad and delete your pictures event. Where all the participants would delete there pictures after reviewing them at home. It appears that we would clearly not be in violation of anything.

But during the shooting go all out, get some lighting equipment, tripods, full size reflectors. I would love to coordinate the event. And while shooting, lets stop every tourist and ask them to not take the pictures, unless they have the necessary paperwork.

Mark
______________________________________________________________________________

From: Nick

i’m new to this list, so i don’t know how much weight my input carries, but i think all this is pretty silly. i think the best strategy is to not make a big deal out of it. i’ve shot in the quad with my slr and tripod many times this past quarter, and i’ve never been accosted, and judging by the general surprise that this rule even exists, no one else has either. i’d be willing to bet that nothing changes if we just go about our photography as usual, unless one of us sells a photo of memchu for the cover of a magazine.
______________________________________________________________________________

Hi Nick,
I think we’re just making jokes at this point.  I know I was totally joking with my posts yesterday, because (as you said) the whole thing is pretty silly.  We’re just having some fun with it.  :)

Rachel
______________________________________________________________________________

From: Mark

Unfortunately I know of people who were prevented from doing non-commercial photography in the quad. I agree that enforcement was ad hoc, but this reminders are annoying because that means that someone on the “evil side” of this debate takes this restriction seriously.

Yes, if anything this reminder encourages me and others to go out and photograph on the quad. So in that sense this is great!

Mark
______________________________________________________________________________

From: Frank

I’m more of a ‘lurker’ on this list (with an interest in photography but few opportunities to get out there and shoot).
I’m interested in knowing more about the people who lost their jobs because, on the surface, this doesn’t seem right. Does anyone have more information that’s able to be shared? Lauren?
 Peace,
Frank

hi all,

Adam had a playdate with another first-grader this afternoon. I came
to check on them in the Lounge, and they were playing with a large
purple dildo. Two six-year-olds.

This is not acceptable. Don’t leave anything like this in the Lounge
again.

Tina

I have an extra piece leftover from dinner. I can’t bring myself to eat
it, but I can’t bring myself to throw it away.

Sam

———-
From: Lisa
Date: Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 10:34 PM
To: Sam
Cc: dormchat-0809 < dormchat-0809@lists.stanford.edu >

are you serious?

_______________________________________________
dormchat-0809 mailing
list dormchat-0809@lists.stanford.edu

https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/dormchat-0809

———-
From: Roger
Date: Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 10:51 PM
To: Lisa
Cc: dormchat-0809 < dormchat-0809@lists.stanford.edu >

“are you serious? ” seriously

_______________________________________________
dormchat-0809 mailing
list dormchat-0809@lists.stanford.edu

https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/dormchat-0809

_______________________________________________
dormchat-0809 mailing
list dormchat-0809@lists.stanford.edu

https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/dormchat-0809

———-
From: Luke
Date: Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 10:52 PM
To: Roger
Cc: dormchat-0809 < dormchat-0809@lists.stanford.edu >

“”are you serious? ” seriously” seriously?
>
> ————————————————————————

———-
From: Izzy
Date: Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 10:52 PM
To: Luke

serious idiots? !

– Izzy
———-
From: George
Date: Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 11:10 PM
To: Luke
Cc: Roger , dormchat-0809 <
dormchat-0809@lists.stanford.edu >

“”"are you serious? ” seriously” seriously?”" seriously?

———-
From: Vince
Date: Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 11:12 PM
To: George
Cc: dormchat-0809 < dormchat-0809@lists.stanford.edu >, Luke

“”"”are you serious? ” seriously” seriously?”" seriously? ” seriously?

_______________________________________________

———-
From: Lisa
Date: Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 11:15 PM
To: Vince
Cc: dormchat-0809 < dormchat-0809@lists.stanford.edu >

opps- that was actually meant just for Sam- but i forgot that my
default on gmail was reply- but honestly- a piece of broccoli

“”"”are you serious? ” seriously” seriously?”" seriously? ” seriously?
to the infinity

_______________________________________________

–

_______________________________________________
dormchat-0809 mailing
list dormchat-0809@lists.stanford.edu

https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/dormchat-0809

———-
From: David
Date: Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 11:21 PM
To: dormchat-0809 < dormchat-0809@lists.stanford.edu >

wow, you guys. why so serious?

yeah, i had to say it.
_______________________________________________

———-
From: Frank
Date: Tue, Mar 10, 2009 at 12:14 AM
To: Sam
Cc: dormchat-0809 < dormchat-0809@lists.stanford.edu >

I want the piece of broccoli.

———-
From: Olivia
Date: Tue, Mar 10, 2009 at 12:15 AM
To: Frank
Cc: dormchat-0809 < dormchat-0809@lists.stanford.edu >

get in line dude

———-
From: Edgar
Date: Tue, Mar 10, 2009 at 12:15 AM
To: Frank
Cc: dormchat-0809 < dormchat-0809@lists.stanford.edu >

Frank, do you seriously want the broccoli?? are you seriously serious?

———-
From: Rich
Date: Tue, Mar 10, 2009 at 12:27 AM
To: Edgar
Cc: dormchat-0809 < dormchat-0809@lists.stanford.edu >

i want to kill all of you.

———-
From: Luke
Date: Tue, Mar 10, 2009 at 12:30 AM
To: Steven
Cc: dormchat-0809 < dormchat-0809@lists.stanford.edu >

no, you

Steven wrote:
> Why on earth do I have 12 emails in my inbox about broccoli? Stop
> spamming the list over a piece of broccoli!
>
>
>
>

———-
From: Olivia
Date: Tue, Mar 10, 2009 at 11:28 PM
To: Luke

does anyone have a knife and a mask?

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frosoco-chat-0910@lists.stanford.edu

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———-
From: Walt
Date: Mon, May 17, 2010 at 9:05 PM
To: Kenny
Cc: frosoco-chat-0910@lists.stanford.edu

I’m sorry to hear that Kenny, but I can also say that there have been times where individuals have placed my white laundry somewhere else and because of it I had to rewash the load. So let’s not take it too personally. It’s pretty late in the year to say it, but everyone should just be mindful of other’s belongings and treat those belongings as if they were one’s own clothes. In the future, perhaps one should just email the chat-list kindly asking that laundry be removed, contact the individual in person, or wait a few minutes for their return (I’ve come to the laundry room 5 minutes after the washer stopped only to find my clothing all ready being moved.) Let’s not give others unnecessary stress in these last weeks of a most awesome freshman year. In a few weeks, moving out day. , I’m sure we’ll all be in a mad dash to finish our laundry, so let’s think ahead so that this doesn’t happen again. Thanks for your time.

FSC <3

Walt
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———-
From: Cindy
Date: Mon, May 17, 2010 at 10:15 PM
To: Walt
Cc: frosoco-chat-0910@lists.stanford.edu

I think the best thing to do is just take the washed clothes from the washer, and put them in the dryer (NOT on the table or machine where there will be spilled detergent and/or other clothes), but DON’T turn the dryer on.

If you want to remove clothes from the dryer though, then I guess the best solution is to mail the list, like Walt said.

~ Cindy

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frosoco-chat-0910@lists.stanford.edu

https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/frosoco-chat-0910

———-
From: Kendra
Date: Mon, May 17, 2010 at 10:59 PM
To: Cindy
Cc: frosoco-chat-0910@lists.stanford.edu

Only problem is, competition for the laundry machines get’s heated sometimes and paranoia about machine stealing sets in. So unless a person plans to lug their laptop down along with their laundry (which is difficult for some, and could result in terrible laptop accidents) or has the money to purchase a smart phone with internet capabilities, he/she is stuck running back to his/her room to complain, running the risk that somebody will take the machine that he/she waited patiently for.

The solution is to be extra careful about coming to get your laundry on time, especially when it looks like a lot of people are going to be using the machines immediately after you.

_______________________________________________
frosoco-chat-0910 mailing list
frosoco-chat-0910@lists.stanford.edu

https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/frosoco-chat-0910

———-
From: Lily
Date: Mon, May 17, 2010 at 11:10 PM
To: frosoco-chat-0910

I agree somewhat with Kendra, but why are you carrying your laptop on top of your clothes?  Haha.

My solution:
When you put your laundry into either of the machines, set an alarm on your phone to indicate when you have two or three minutes left on the cycle (washing or drying).  We all know that washers generally run for 38 minutes and we run our dryers for about 45.  So, set an alarm, come down when there are two minutes left or so, and immediately remove your clothes when you are done.  You will save other people the trouble of waiting for you to remove clothing for 10 minutes to four hours, and (here’s why I do it) you will almost always get to continue using the machine if you need it because you are ready immediately after the load finishes.

I admit that I am guilty of the upcoming offense on a few occasions.  If you cannot be at the dorm (foreseen circumstances) for when your laundry load finishes, don’t wash it.  Wait until you have the time to dedicate to the activity.  Your clothes won’t be put on top of a machine where they will get dusty or dirty, they won’t be shrunk, and you won’t incense other residents.

Unless…you absolutely need to get laundry done (I have had days with one pair of boxers left), then do your laundry as soon as you can, and send an e-mail if you won’t be there when it finishes.  But keep in mind that not everybody checks their e-mail every twenty minutes.

Keep Our Clothes Clean and Residents Happy,
Lily

———-
From: Adam
Date: Mon, May 17, 2010 at 11:20 PM
To: Lily
Cc: frosoco-chat-0910 , FroSoCo Politics

This is a heated topic, but I think the answer is simple and straight forward.

If you arrive at the laundry room as a load is finishing, then you check to see if the owner of the clothes is around. If they are, open the machine and throw the owner’s clothes at them. If the owner is not around, check to see if there’s another machine open. If there is, move the clothes from the machine you want to use into the empty one.  If there is not another machine open, check to see if there is a dryer open. If there is a dryer open, be nice–move the clothes into the dryer. Be sure to punish the owner for not being on time, though. This means dropping an odd number of socks into the puddle in front of the dryer and taking exactly one article of clothing and dropping it in the gap between the counter and the wall near the washing machines.  Then place exactly five articles of clothing on the counter near the gap so they realize an article of their clothing is irretrievable (sorry about that sock Nghia).

BUT–if a dryer is not open–what do you do?  You can either stop a dryer in progress and throw all of those clothes into a washing machine (you can interrupt a load to put the dry clothes in, if you want) or you can open the dryer and take out the clothes and throw them on the floor (be sure to get some of them wet in the puddle in front of the dryer).  There’s also the rare situation in which the clothes have been sitting unattended for over 10 minutes. In this extreme case of negligence, it should be pretty clear that the owner does not care at all about his or her clothes, so look through them. If you see something nice, you should steal it. If not, then the clothes must be in horrible taste and you should destroy them to save the owner the embarrassment of wearing them–unless you know who owns the clothes and don’t like that person–in such a situation, let them keep the clothes and look ridiculous.

Hopefully this was helpful. Let me know if you have any questions. Also, since this issue is sooooo important and controversial, I’ve moved it over to the politics list.

Ad”Seriously guys, it’s laundry”am

———-
From: Adam A
Date: Mon, May 17, 2010 at 11:21 PM
To: Lily
Cc: FroSoCo Politics , frosoco-chat-0910

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frosoco-politics-0910@lists.stanford.edu

https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/frosoco-politics-0910

———-
From: Chrissy
Date: Mon, May 17, 2010 at 11:46 PM
To: Adam
Cc: Lily, FroSoCo Politics , frosoco-chat-0910

A simple, alternative solution.

Use http://www.laundryalert.com
Stanford’s passcode is stan9568

To check whether the machines are running/done/whatever – if you forget to set an alarm.

y

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–
Chrissy

———-

From: Bernard
Date: Tue, May 18, 2010 at 12:22 PM
To: Chrissy
Cc: Adam , FroSoCo Politics , frosoco-chat-0910

There’s been a link on the FroSoCo website (since the beginning of the year) that is a deep link into the laundry alert system. (i.e. clicking on the link takes you all the way to the Stanford page. All you have to do is scroll down to find Schiff/Adams. No password entry required.)

-Bernard

———-
From: Walt
Date: Tue, May 18, 2010 at 3:03 PM
To: Bernard >
Cc: FroSoCo Politics , frosoco-chat-0910

Laundry Alert is nice, but I do think it’s a little bit unreasonable for one to expect others to return as soon as the machine has stopped. I think more than ten minutes is unreasonable, but one shouldn’t return in the span of 5 minutes and find their clothing all ready being moved. More patience and more consideration of others from all involved is the more prudent resolution.

Just a thought
Walt

-Bernard

_______________________________________________

frosoco-politics-0910@lists.stanford.edu

https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/frosoco-politics-0910

–
Walt

“Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace.” ~Dalai Lama

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———-
From: Brendan
Date: Tue, May 18, 2010 at 3:54 PM
To: Walt
Cc: FroSoCo Politics , frosoco-chat-0910

Who does there laundry these days?!

Brendan “I still mail it all back to da mom”

_______________________________________________ frosoco-politics-0910

———-
From: Joey
Date: Tue, May 18, 2010 at 5:38 PM
To: frosoco-politics-0910@lists.stanford.edu

Hmmmm…

I put my clothes in the laundry machine three days ago and I still haven’t gone to pick ‘em up. I wonder how they’re doing…..

Regards

Joey

Sent from my iPhone
-Bernard

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

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_______________________________________________

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