Stanford Tree

The Stanford Tree is the unofficial mascot of Stanford University. Stanford's team name is "the Cardinal," referring to the vivid red color (not the common song bird as with several other schools, such as the University of Louisville), and the school has no official mascot.

The tale of the Tree

The Tree is a member of the Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band (LSJUMB) and appears at football games, basketball games, and other events where the Band performs. The "Tree" is representative of El Palo Alto, the tree that appears on the official seal of the University, and the logo of the city of Palo Alto.

Between 1930 and 1972, Stanford was known as the "Indians." From 1951 until 1972, "Prince Lightfoot" (Timm Williams, a member of the Yurok tribe) performed as the mascot with the LSJUMB. In 1972, Native American students and staff successfully lobbied University President Richard Lyman to abolish the Indian mascot. Stanford's teams reverted unofficially to the name "Cardinal", the color that had represented the school before 1930.

For the following nine years, Stanford's students and administrations debated what mascot and team name should replace the Indian. Popular suggestions included the Robber Barons, Huns, and Griffins. Finally, in 1981, University President Donald Kennedy declared that the team names would officially remain "the Cardinal".

In 1975 the Stanford Band performed a halftime show that suggested (in jest) several possible mascot candidates: the Steaming Manhole, the French Fry, and of course, the Tree. The Tree received so much positive attention that the Band decided to make it a permanent fixture.

For the first decade, the role of the Tree was generally performed by the Band managers' girlfriends; in the mid-1980's, however, the Band adopted a more formal selection process for its Trees. Today's Tree candidates must go through grueling and humiliating physical and mental challenges to show that he or she has sufficient chutzpah to be the Tree. During "Tree Week," candidates are known for performing crazy and apparently dangerous stunts; so much so that the University has felt the need to prohibit certain types of audition activities over the years.

The Tree costume is also a prominent target for rival University of California, Berkeley (Cal) pranksters. In 1998, fraternity brothers from Cal known as the "Phoenix Five" stole the costume and held it "hostage" for several days.

In February 1995, during an ESPN-televised timeout during a basketball game at Maples Pavillion, the Stanford Tree and Cal's Oski engaged in a fight in front of the Stanford student section. Oski's head was removed during the scuffle, nearly exposing the mascot's anonymity.

In February 2006, Erin Lashnits was suspended until the end of her term as the Tree after her Breathalyzer blood-alcohol level was measured at 0.157 (almost twice the legal driving limit in California) during a men's basketball game between Stanford and Cal. While Lashnits did not violate any laws, she had violated the Stanford band's zero tolerance policy on alcohol.

On March 20, 2006, Tommy Leep was ejected during the Stanford women's NCAA Tournament game against Florida State after dancing in an undesignated area. The Stanford Athletic Department then banned him from the rest of the NCAA tournament. In protest, members of the Stanford Band wore foliage pinned to their hats and uniforms when playing at the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight.

Individuals who served as the Tree

1980s

1989-1990: Gil Blank

1990s

1990-1991: Todd David
1991-1992: Pete Huyck
1992-1993: Greg Siegel
1993-1994: Charles Goodan
1994-1995: Ari Benjamin Mervis
1995-1996: Christopher Jeffrey Bonzon
1996-1997: Christopher Anselmo Cary
1997-1998: Matthew James Merrill
1998-1999: Christopher Matthew Henderson
1999-2000: Evan Fletcher Meagher

2000s

2000-2001: Alexandra Mary Newell
2001-2002: Charles Monroe Armstrong
2002-2003: Andrew Daniel Parker
2003-2004: William Robert Rothacker, Jr.
2004-2005: Daniel Isaac Salier-Hellendag
2005-2006: Erin Wright Lashnits
2006-2007: Thomas Elwood Leep

External links