Stanford Report, May 3, 2006

Cardinal Chronicle

BY MICHAEL PEÑA

All those caterpillars bungee jumping onto your head are preludes to the oak moth and tussock moth—the larvae of the latter have dark fur with tufts of white on top. That they are rappelling from tree limbs means they will soon curl up into cocoons and then emerge in winged form and lay eggs, according to HERB FONG, manager of Grounds Services. Instead of spraying pesticides, Fong has counted on predatory birds and bugs to help control their numbers over the years. Once egg laying begins, Fong said groundskeepers will take brooms and power washers to buildings, picnic tables and tree trunks. What else keeps Stanford's head gardener busy? Find out when Fong talks about his 30-plus years on the Farm at the next installment of "What Matters to Me and Why" at noon Wednesday, May 10, in the side chapel of Memorial Church.

The Freshman Dean's Office will mail out copies this summer of The Kite Runner, Mountains Beyond Mountains and How to Breathe Underwater for the Three Books discussion featuring the authors during New Student Orientation (Sept. 19-24). JULIE LYTHCOTT-HAIMS, dean of freshmen and transfer students, said her office, along with Residential Education and Undergraduate Advising, bought enough copies of each book for all the incoming students, resident fellows and assistants, and freshman advisers. English Professor TOBIAS WOLFF, also an award-winning writer, helped select the books and will moderate the talk with authors KHALED HOSSEINI, TRACY KIDDER and JULIE ORRINGER. History Professor STEVEN ZIPPERSTEIN first conceived of the Three Books program in the summer of 2004.

The student singing group Raagapella gave listeners a taste of traditional South Asian harmony at the Big Lunch of Color, hosted by the Asian Staff Forum (ASF) on Tuesday in Tresidder Union. A Korean drumming ensemble also performed, and President JOHN HENNESSY gave a brief speech to usher in Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month. But for the full flavor of yesterday's fare, a cookbook with 66 recipes submitted by ASF members is available for $12—or $20 for those with two Mother's Day gifts to buy. Checks should be made out to Stanford University and sent via ID Mail to ASF member DIANA YEN at mail code 6200. ASF will donate net proceeds to the student-run Pacific Free Clinic in East San Jose.