Overheard at Stanford is a biweekly column written by Linden Hansen ’28. Hansen takes notable quotes she hears around campus and develops them further — whether they be insightful, astonishing or humorous! No matter what, they are guaranteed to represent the pulse of the student body.
“I’m also just a big landmark guy you know.”
— Outside the math corner of Main Quad.
This guy got me thinking … What are those campus landmarks we know and love? Read these interviews with care … These are peoples’ happy places.
Interviews have been minimally edited for clarity.
Amiya Stroumza, ’28
“My favorite place on campus is probably — well, that’s a good question. There’s so many places to choose from. I’m just gonna go with the Bender Room ’cause it reminds me of the living room that I aspire to have. It’s so cozy, and I like to expose myself to things that are grander than myself. But now I go to the Lane Reading Room. I would do — I would write my RBA [Research Based Argument] and do CS, which are two things that don’t require a desk, and I would do that all in a couch chair. But now I’m taking math … which requires a table. Hence Lane.”
Kai Uemera, ’28
“Law school terrace. I really like the nature, like the green plants surrounding there, and it’s a great study space. We went on a night walk and stumbled upon it.”
Preston Seay, ’28
“It’s got to be Lake Lag. ‘Cause when it actually has water in it, it looks really cool. I think that’s how it should be.”
Daria Hajimiri, ’28
“Oh my gosh, this is such a good question. I think — I know it’s cliché, but I think Main Quad is genuinely one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. And I think, there are so many little hidden libraries on campus that are just incredible. I think Main Quad, like, the architecture, the colors, the arches. It’s so beautiful, and like, I just — I could spend all the day here. Yeah, that’s my spiel. Purr.”
Chisa Ogaki, ’28
“My favorite place is Crome, um, Crungeon. Anywhere in this dorm. This lovely dorm. The best dorm. This is where all the Crotherians are. So … the best place to be.”
Tess Buckley, ’28
“My favorite place on campus is lowkey Meyer Green. It’s gotta be Meyer Green. Or no, it’s the roof of McMurtry Library. Because I like the view, and it makes me really happy to think that I’m in a building with so many art books because they’re phenomenal and lovely and inspiring. I go there every Tuesday for one of my art history seminars, and then I’ll usually find myself there another time during the week just to study or to sit up on the roof. But it’s kind of far, so I don’t go a ton. Yeah. Go to the McMurtry terrace if you haven’t been. It is so, so beautiful, and I think a real gem on campus. Great sun.”
Jeremy Friedman, ’28
“My favorite place on campus is Main Quad right in front of the church, at night time in particular. You can see all the light reflecting off the gold mural, and I feel like it’s the most beautiful place on campus.”
Carly Green, ’28
“Oh, my gosh. Oh my gosh. Definitely somewhere with, like, food. The bookstore café. The Stanford bookstore café is a staple. Um, because it’s quiet but not too quiet and it feels, like, a little underground. And the matcha’s fire. I go — I try not to go more than once a week, but I feel like I do end up there more than once a week. I would highly recommend that people check it out, but not too many, because then there would just be too many people there. So, really think about if you wanna go or not, and then go, because it’s a really special place. So don’t go if you’re not gonna really appreciate it. Thank you.”
To be frank, listening to my friends talk about their most cherished spots on campus made me realize I, too, am a “big landmark guy”. I think my personal favorite spot on campus would have to be my bed … I have blue sheets and its linen and I write all these columns propped up in it with at least three pillows. It’s pretty much a princess setup and my room is the palace. I’m just missing someone to hand-feed me grapes — then, it would be extra perfect.