Stanford Hosts its Second Annual Roundtable

On October 13, the Stanford community gathered in a packed Maples Pavilion for the culminating event of Homecoming Weekend: the second annual Stanford Roundtable, titled “Courting Disaster: The Fight for Oil, Water and a Healthy Planet.”

Editor’s Note: Educating Ourselves

We’re likely all familiar with Mark Twain’s advice to never let your schooling get in the way of your education. At Stanford, there can be no doubt that we’re at one of the best, perhaps the best, of the universities on the planet. The education we get here is unsurpassed.

The Impossible Victory

On the morning of Sunday October 7th, the front page of the Sports section of the Los Angeles Times read “Unfathomable” above a picture of Stanford Free Safety Bo McNally holding USC Quarterback John David Booty’s 4th interception in his hand and embracing his teammates - signaling the demise of Troy in their own stadium. The unthinkable had just occurred- Stanford had beaten USC.

World News in Brief

ormer Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto’s return from exile on Oct. 18 was rocked by an assassination attempt that left over a hundred people, including dozens of her security personnel, dead. She blamed “dignitaries of the former regime of General Zia” for the twin-bombing, while Islamic militants with ties to the Taliban and al Qaeda had earlier threatened her. Hollywood is gearing up for a feature film suggesting Bhutto plotted the attack against herself because she wants an excuse to go after terrorists.

Smoke Signals

Several recent events provide continued, reassuring evidence that Stanford and its students care about and study the world’s difficulties and seek out simprovements, solutions and opportunities thoughtfully, without getting too bogged down in overly emotive arguments.

Republicans Again on Defense for Congress in 2008

Democrats hold a razor-thin majority in the United States Senate, with only forty-nine Democratic senators and two independents that caucus with the Democrats. Similarly, they won 233—around 54%—of the seats in the House in 2006; a mere swing of sixteen would cost them the majority

Natalie Portman Pushes Microfinance

Israeli-American actress Natalie Portman, famous for her role in V for Vendetta and the Star Wars trilogy, urged a packed audience on Tuesday October 2 to support microfinance efforts in impoverished countries.

Cartoon: Ahmadinejad at Columbia

Review cartoonist George Capps commentates on the recent visit of Ahmadinejad to Columbia.

Pakistan Moving Slowly Towards Democracy

Pakistan is a country of many firsts in the Muslim world. It is the first Muslim nation with a nuclear weapon. It is also the first Muslim nation with a female prime minister. Soon, it may be the first Muslim nation to peacefully transition from military dictatorship to semi-democracy. Recent political shifts in Pakistan’s presidential selection process reflect an optimistic trend toward greater stability and democracy for the US-backed government in a precarious position.

Armenia: Between Iraq and a Hard Place

As coalition and Iraqi forces struggle to fight insurgents and terrorists in Iraq, the Democratic-controlled Congress has decided now would be a good time to infuriate one of our most important allies in the region, Turkey.