Why Neighborhood T was robbed of ‘Truffula’ 

Regardless of profitable its college students’ votes for Neighborhood T in the course of 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 fashionable tree title, “Hyperion,” has entered official use as an alternative. 

“I really feel like Stanford may purchase the copyright,” stated 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 have been inspired to submit “outlandish or wacky” options, in response to neighborhood newsletters. A number of ideation classes featured minimal — generally nonexistent — attendance, and solely 30% of undergraduates voted on the record 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,” stated Cordelia Li ’26 of the neighborhood formally often known as Neighborhood T. “However, I don’t know, I feel Hyperion can also be a fairly 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 Schooling (ResEd). As per the ResEd web site, the tree “embodies the ideas of energy, fortitude and resilience,” that are “hallmarks of a robust neighborhood group.”

In line with Stanford Report, the substitute of the momentary 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 throughout the neighborhood system. 

“Earlier than, whenever you simply referred to as it Neighborhood T, it was a bit of bland,” Li stated. “However giving it a cool title based mostly off of a tree could 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 feel it’s a humorous title, however I don’t assume it’s sensible,” stated Olive resident Lynn Collardin ’26 of the fictional runner-up for her neighborhood. “Most individuals most likely don’t know learn how to pronounce it, and finally I feel it could get a bit of bit irritating to attempt to speak about your neighborhood and should say, ‘Oh, I dwell in neighborhood Yggdrasil.’”

In line with Harris, the College will confer with the neighborhoods by each the brand new and previous names till the top 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 an inventory of the runner-ups for every neighborhood’s election. The total record 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