Why Neighborhood T was robbed of ‘Truffula’ 

Regardless of successful its college students’ votes for Neighborhood T through the naming course of, the title “Truffula” was blocked by copyright ties to the Suess property, in response to an electronic mail correspondence from Senior Director of Communications for Pupil Affairs Pat Lopes Harris. Neighborhood T’s second-most well-liked tree title, “Hyperion,” has entered official use as a substitute. 

“I really feel like Stanford might purchase the copyright,” mentioned Arjun Maheshwari ’25, a current switch to Neighborhood T of the disqualification of “Truffula.”

The title “Truffula” refers back to the fictitious, fluffy timber from The Lorax and was the byproduct of neighborhood “ideation” classes, throughout which college students had been inspired to submit “outlandish or wacky” recommendations, in response to neighborhood newsletters. A number of ideation classes featured minimal — generally nonexistent — attendance, and solely 30% of undergraduates voted on the listing of finalists for every neighborhood. 

“Truffula would have been cooler as a result of it additionally begins with a T, would have been matching and stuff,” mentioned Cordelia Li ’26 of the neighborhood formally often known as Neighborhood T. “However, I don’t know, I believe Hyperion can be a reasonably cool title.” 

The title “Hyperion” refers to a coastal species of redwood timber often known as the “world’s largest dwelling tree,” in response to Stanford Residential Training (ResEd). As per the ResEd web site, the tree “embodies the ideas of power, fortitude and resilience,” that are “hallmarks of a robust neighborhood group.”

Based on Stanford Report, the alternative of the non permanent letter names was meant to foster a better sense of identification for every group — a component of residential life college students say has been missing inside the neighborhood system. 

“Earlier than, while you simply referred to as it Neighborhood T, it was just a little bland,” Li mentioned. “However giving it a cool title primarily based off of a tree can be, I don’t know, cuter?”

Two fictional tree names ended up as finalists for the neighborhood-wide naming election. The opposite fictional suggestion, “Yggdrasil,” the “Tree of Life” from Norse mythology, was the runner-up for Neighborhood O, now often known as Olive. 

“I believe it’s a humorous title, however I don’t assume it’s sensible,” mentioned Olive resident Lynn Collardin ’26 of the fictional runner-up for her neighborhood. “Most individuals most likely don’t know methods to pronounce it, and ultimately I believe it will get just a little bit irritating to attempt to discuss your neighborhood and must say, ‘Oh, I reside in neighborhood Yggdrasil.’”

Based on Harris, the College will seek advice from the neighborhoods by each the brand new and previous names till the tip of the quarter, at which level digital and bodily markers will replicate solely the brand new names. Neighborhood Slack channels, newsletters and Stanford web sites already replicate the change, whereas most bodily indicators have but to catch up. 

Harris moreover offered a listing of the runner-ups for every neighborhood’s election. The complete listing of neighborhood title runner-ups is as follows:

Neighborhood S

• Ultimate title: Sequoia, Runner-up: Ginkgo

Neighborhood T

• Ultimate title: Hyperion, Runner-up: Hyperion

Neighborhood A

• Ultimate title: Aspen, Runner-up: Alpine

Neighborhood N

• Ultimate title: Ginkgo, Runner-up: Sequoia

Neighborhood F

• Ultimate title: Wisteria, Runner-up: Cherry Blossom

Neighborhood O

• Ultimate title: Olive, Runner-up: Yggdrasil

Neighborhood R

• Ultimate title: Redwood, Runner-up: Rosewood

Neighborhood D

• Ultimate title: Magnolia, Runner-up: Dogwood