From the Nominator

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of STANFORD magazine, we developed a special issue featuring stories connected to the academic year of the magazine's birth. This issue features a clever custom masthead (STAN50RD), as well as a 1970s palette and custom typography. Stories showcase the Stanford of 1973-74, when fraternity brothers absconded with the Big Game (Axe) trophy, the nursing school closed, and Watergate prosecutor Archibald Cox spoke at commencement. We also looked at the world beyond, where one Stanford professor witnessed the coup in Chile, another assessed the mental state of kidnapped heiress Patty Hearst, and a third became the first Stanford astronaut in space. Then there were reverberations to explore, such as the passage of the Endangered Species Act that would one day turn campus biologists into pretzels as they tried to save the tiger salamander from itself. To develop the special issue, we reviewed about a dozen university publications and timelines, including the student newspaper, the faculty/staff newspaper, and the histories of Stanford's student community centers. We also conducted research on the worldwide happenings of 1973-74 and determined which ones tied back to Stanford in an interesting, surprising, or meaningful way. The results are the best of high/low storytelling: everything from Dante to Dolly Parton, axe murders to Axe thefts. "What a smart way to package the magazine anniversary," wrote one alumnus who is himself a magazine executive. "Maybe not many folks care enough about magazine history (sadly!), but to use it to dig up a time capsule of 1973 was inspired."

From the Judges

The cover immediately captivated the judges attention, and the content throughout was engaging. The energy of this special issue is fantastic. The vintage vibe is fun and well executed. Such an appealing and memorable piece!