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"content": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/stanford-university\">Stanford University\u003c/a> senior Billy Ramirez returned to campus this fall to find that the university’s housing and dining department used artificial intelligence to replace him with a Black woman on a public banner. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Stanford Residential and Dining Enterprises, which oversees the university’s housing operations, dining services and campus conferences, hung the promotional banner in a student housing center, according to \u003ca href=\"https://stanforddaily.com/2026/09/23/university-confirms-ai-edited-photo/\">\u003cem>The Stanford Daily\u003c/em>\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The outlet also reported that the original photo, taken in Stern Dining during a 2024 Lunar New Year celebration, was previously used unaltered. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1320\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/230719-STANFORD-GETTY-DM-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"An ornate sandstone-colored building with a series of arches sitting on a brick plaza.\" class=\"wp-image-11956028\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/230719-STANFORD-GETTY-DM-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/230719-STANFORD-GETTY-DM-KQED-800x528.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/230719-STANFORD-GETTY-DM-KQED-1020x673.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/230719-STANFORD-GETTY-DM-KQED-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/230719-STANFORD-GETTY-DM-KQED-1536x1014.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/230719-STANFORD-GETTY-DM-KQED-1920x1267.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The arches of the Main Quadrangle buildings on the campus of Stanford University in Palo Alto on Oct. 2, 2021. (David Madison/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In addition to replacing Ramirez, Stanford R&DE made significant changes to the other two students’ faces. The edits and use of AI caused a stir on the campus social media app, Fizz, according to the Daily, consequently drawing \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/22/us/stanford-photo-swap-black-hispanic-student.html\">national attention\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Seeing my identity changed and being left out of the picture made me feel, in a way, silenced and erased from a representation that was supposed to include me,” Ramirez told the \u003ca href=\"https://stanfordreview.org/stanford-r-de-uses-ai-to-race-swap-students-for-advertising/\">\u003cem>Stanford Review\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, an independent paper founded by venture capitalist and university alum Peter Thiel. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ramirez’s class was the last cohort admitted to a U.S. college before the Supreme Court gutted \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2023/06/29/1181138066/affirmative-action-supreme-court-decision\">affirmative action\u003c/a> in 2023. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-complex-ramifications-of-students-for-fair-admissions-v-harvard/\">Brookings Institute\u003c/a> found that these changes had a sizable impact on the racial profile of college populations across the country.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At Stanford, \u003ca href=\"https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2025/01/final-enrollment-data-for-class-of-2028-reported-in-common-data-set\">enrollment\u003c/a> for Black or African American students fell from 8.9% to 4.5% and enrollment for Hispanic or Latino students fell from 16.7% to 14.6%. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At the same time, Asian student enrollment increased from 28.8% to 33%, and White student enrollment increased from 21.9% to 24.1%. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Universities have a long history of artificially diversifying models in their marketing. In 2019, \u003ca href=\"https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/call-action-marketing-and-communications-higher-education/marketing-authenticity-higher\">\u003cem>Inside Higher Ed\u003c/em>\u003c/a> reported on a series of incidents, including one at York College of Pennsylvania, where the school used Photoshop to replace two white students “with an African American student and (seemingly) Muslim student.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Stanford AI researcher Maty Bohacek said he found the situation “highly problematic” and explained how AI image editing introduces new problems to an old story. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12067141\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hoover Tower at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Humans would most likely go into Photoshop and start working on specific areas of the image,” Bohacek, who focuses on media integrity, said. “But AI models these days, most of them anyway, can’t do that.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bohacek said that most publicly available AI models cannot work directly with individual pixels, the way a human would in photoshop. Instead, they take the entire image, convert it into a mathematical form, make edits, then convert it back into an image. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>During this process, other parts of the photo can also be altered, like the two students to the left of Ramirez, he said, and biases can be introduced. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“These models are heavily post-trained to produce imagery or text that humans tend to prefer or tend to rate as more aesthetically pleasing,” Bohacek said. “That to me is problematic because we changed people’s likeness,” noting that both students were made to look thinner. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In an anonymous Substack titled \u003ca href=\"https://theothertwo.substack.com/p/letter-to-the-stanford-community\">“The Other Two,”\u003c/a> the authors introduced themselves as the students pictured alongside Ramirez. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They wrote that they filed a report to the university’s Title VI office for discrimination and said they demanded that Stanford take down the banners with the photo.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12062227\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-2-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-2-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-2-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The arched walkways of Stanford’s Main Quad in Stanford Oct. 29, 2025. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The fact that the picture generated one of our peers into a Black woman to showcase “diversity,” despite enrolling the lowest Black student population in the past recent years, has shown that universities have not shown enough institutional support for their Black community and see them as a tool for their marketing,” the authors wrote.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“To see Southeast Asian facial features be changed to adhere to the East Asian beauty standards shows that Stanford sees the Asia diaspora as a monolith,” they continued.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In an email to KQED, Stanford spokesperson Charlene Gage said that the university “reviewed the matter and confirmed that AI was used to alter the image in violation of the university policy.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gage said that Stanford removed the banners with the image in question and “are working to provide additional training for all staff and ensure proper review.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Ramirez’s class was the last cohort admitted to a U.S. college before the Supreme Court gutted \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2023/06/29/1181138066/affirmative-action-supreme-court-decision\">affirmative action\u003c/a> in 2023. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At Stanford, \u003ca href=\"https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2025/01/final-enrollment-data-for-class-of-2028-reported-in-common-data-set\">enrollment\u003c/a> for Black or African American students fell from 8.9% to 4.5% and enrollment for Hispanic or Latino students fell from 16.7% to 14.6%. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Universities have a long history of artificially diversifying models in their marketing. In 2019, \u003ca href=\"https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/call-action-marketing-and-communications-higher-education/marketing-authenticity-higher\">\u003cem>Inside Higher Ed\u003c/em>\u003c/a> reported on a series of incidents, including one at York College of Pennsylvania, where the school used Photoshop to replace two white students “with an African American student and (seemingly) Muslim student.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“These models are heavily post-trained to produce imagery or text that humans tend to prefer or tend to rate as more aesthetically pleasing,” Bohacek said. “That to me is problematic because we changed people’s likeness,” noting that both students were made to look thinner. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In an anonymous Substack titled \u003ca href=\"https://theothertwo.substack.com/p/letter-to-the-stanford-community\">“The Other Two,”\u003c/a> the authors introduced themselves as the students pictured alongside Ramirez. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The fact that the picture generated one of our peers into a Black woman to showcase “diversity,” despite enrolling the lowest Black student population in the past recent years, has shown that universities have not shown enough institutional support for their Black community and see them as a tool for their marketing,” the authors wrote.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“To see Southeast Asian facial features be changed to adhere to the East Asian beauty standards shows that Stanford sees the Asia diaspora as a monolith,” they continued.\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Amid criticism from students and national coverage of the incident, Stanford has removed all banners with the image and pledged to conduct a proper review.",
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"title": "Stanford AI Usage, ‘Face Swaps’ on Campus Banner Spark National Backlash | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/stanford-university\">Stanford University\u003c/a> senior Billy Ramirez returned to campus this fall to find that the university’s housing and dining department used artificial intelligence to replace him with a Black woman on a public banner. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Stanford Residential and Dining Enterprises, which oversees the university’s housing operations, dining services and campus conferences, hung the promotional banner in a student housing center, according to \u003ca href=\"https://stanforddaily.com/2026/09/23/university-confirms-ai-edited-photo/\">\u003cem>The Stanford Daily\u003c/em>\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The outlet also reported that the original photo, taken in Stern Dining during a 2024 Lunar New Year celebration, was previously used unaltered. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1320\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/230719-STANFORD-GETTY-DM-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"An ornate sandstone-colored building with a series of arches sitting on a brick plaza.\" class=\"wp-image-11956028\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/230719-STANFORD-GETTY-DM-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/230719-STANFORD-GETTY-DM-KQED-800x528.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/230719-STANFORD-GETTY-DM-KQED-1020x673.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/230719-STANFORD-GETTY-DM-KQED-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/230719-STANFORD-GETTY-DM-KQED-1536x1014.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/230719-STANFORD-GETTY-DM-KQED-1920x1267.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The arches of the Main Quadrangle buildings on the campus of Stanford University in Palo Alto on Oct. 2, 2021. (David Madison/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In addition to replacing Ramirez, Stanford R&DE made significant changes to the other two students’ faces. The edits and use of AI caused a stir on the campus social media app, Fizz, according to the Daily, consequently drawing \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/22/us/stanford-photo-swap-black-hispanic-student.html\">national attention\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Seeing my identity changed and being left out of the picture made me feel, in a way, silenced and erased from a representation that was supposed to include me,” Ramirez told the \u003ca href=\"https://stanfordreview.org/stanford-r-de-uses-ai-to-race-swap-students-for-advertising/\">\u003cem>Stanford Review\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, an independent paper founded by venture capitalist and university alum Peter Thiel. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ramirez’s class was the last cohort admitted to a U.S. college before the Supreme Court gutted \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2023/06/29/1181138066/affirmative-action-supreme-court-decision\">affirmative action\u003c/a> in 2023. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-complex-ramifications-of-students-for-fair-admissions-v-harvard/\">Brookings Institute\u003c/a> found that these changes had a sizable impact on the racial profile of college populations across the country.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At Stanford, \u003ca href=\"https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2025/01/final-enrollment-data-for-class-of-2028-reported-in-common-data-set\">enrollment\u003c/a> for Black or African American students fell from 8.9% to 4.5% and enrollment for Hispanic or Latino students fell from 16.7% to 14.6%. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At the same time, Asian student enrollment increased from 28.8% to 33%, and White student enrollment increased from 21.9% to 24.1%. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Universities have a long history of artificially diversifying models in their marketing. In 2019, \u003ca href=\"https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/call-action-marketing-and-communications-higher-education/marketing-authenticity-higher\">\u003cem>Inside Higher Ed\u003c/em>\u003c/a> reported on a series of incidents, including one at York College of Pennsylvania, where the school used Photoshop to replace two white students “with an African American student and (seemingly) Muslim student.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Stanford AI researcher Maty Bohacek said he found the situation “highly problematic” and explained how AI image editing introduces new problems to an old story. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12067141\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hoover Tower at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Humans would most likely go into Photoshop and start working on specific areas of the image,” Bohacek, who focuses on media integrity, said. “But AI models these days, most of them anyway, can’t do that.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bohacek said that most publicly available AI models cannot work directly with individual pixels, the way a human would in photoshop. Instead, they take the entire image, convert it into a mathematical form, make edits, then convert it back into an image. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>During this process, other parts of the photo can also be altered, like the two students to the left of Ramirez, he said, and biases can be introduced. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“These models are heavily post-trained to produce imagery or text that humans tend to prefer or tend to rate as more aesthetically pleasing,” Bohacek said. “That to me is problematic because we changed people’s likeness,” noting that both students were made to look thinner. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In an anonymous Substack titled \u003ca href=\"https://theothertwo.substack.com/p/letter-to-the-stanford-community\">“The Other Two,”\u003c/a> the authors introduced themselves as the students pictured alongside Ramirez. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They wrote that they filed a report to the university’s Title VI office for discrimination and said they demanded that Stanford take down the banners with the photo.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12062227\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-2-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-2-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-2-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The arched walkways of Stanford’s Main Quad in Stanford Oct. 29, 2025. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The fact that the picture generated one of our peers into a Black woman to showcase “diversity,” despite enrolling the lowest Black student population in the past recent years, has shown that universities have not shown enough institutional support for their Black community and see them as a tool for their marketing,” the authors wrote.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“To see Southeast Asian facial features be changed to adhere to the East Asian beauty standards shows that Stanford sees the Asia diaspora as a monolith,” they continued.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In an email to KQED, Stanford spokesperson Charlene Gage said that the university “reviewed the matter and confirmed that AI was used to alter the image in violation of the university policy.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gage said that Stanford removed the banners with the image in question and “are working to provide additional training for all staff and ensure proper review.”\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "california-ag-drops-case-against-stanford-university-pro-palestinian-protesters",
"title": "California AG Drops Case Against Stanford University Pro-Palestinian Protesters",
"publishDate": 1790014400,
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"headTitle": "California AG Drops Case Against Stanford University Pro-Palestinian Protesters | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>The criminal case against\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073534/stanford-pro-palestinian-protesters-case-ends-in-mistrial\"> pro-Palestinian protesters\u003c/a> arrested for breaking into and vandalizing the Stanford University president’s office in 2024 will be dismissed following a mistrial earlier this year. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>State prosecutors said Monday they reached a deal with eight defendants. The decision comes after defense attorneys in May successfully \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082713/santa-clara-county-da-barred-from-retrying-pro-palestinan-stanford-protesters\">argued for the recusal\u003c/a> of Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen due to a conflict of interest.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Today’s a good day,” defense attorney Tony Brass said outside the courtroom. “Today is a day [the protesters] earned and deserve.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Defense attorneys said the California attorney general’s office agreed to dismiss the charges in exchange for a restitution payment of $51,000 and commitment to 100 hours of community service by each of the protesters. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/240425-STANFORDGAZAPROTEST-011-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12007722\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/240425-STANFORDGAZAPROTEST-011-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/240425-STANFORDGAZAPROTEST-011-BL-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/240425-STANFORDGAZAPROTEST-011-BL-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/240425-STANFORDGAZAPROTEST-011-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/240425-STANFORDGAZAPROTEST-011-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/240425-STANFORDGAZAPROTEST-011-BL-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pro-Palestinian demonstrators march through the Stanford University campus in Stanford, California, on April 25, 2024, calling for the university to divest from Israel. The rally took place during Stanford’s Admit Weekend, a time for incoming students to tour the university. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Several of the protesters have already finished the service commitment and are expected to have their cases dismissed in October. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The deal comes more than six months after a mistrial in the case, with jurors unable to reach a consensus about whether the five individuals should be found guilty of felony conspiracy to trespass and felony vandalism.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In June 2024, a group of Stanford students and alumni broke into the university president’s office and barricaded themselves inside, saying they aimed to pressure Stanford leaders to “address their role in enabling and profiting from the ongoing genocide in Gaza.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The action led to 13 arrests and the dismantling of a pro-Palestinian encampment on the campus, amid a larger wave of campus demonstrations across the U.S. intended to pressure schools to divest from companies supporting Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Twelve protesters were initially charged in connection with the incident, but six agreed to enter mental health diversion programs or said they planned to take a court-ordered deal that included pleading guilty to lesser misdemeanor charges.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One other protester served as a witness for prosecutors in the grand jury indictment and enrolled in a youth deferred entry of judgment program. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Monday’s deal ends a two-year saga for the five protesters who chose to go to trial: Hunter Taylor-Black, Maya Burke, Germán González, Taylor McCann and Amy Zhai. It will also affect the three who said they \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12064351/stanford-protesters-negotiating-plea-deals-as-trial-begins\">intended to plead guilty\u003c/a> to misdemeanors last fall. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’m super relieved that I’ll be able to go to school and finish up my education without this hanging over my head,” said González, who is the only protester still currently enrolled at Stanford.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Brass said he felt that the end resolution was fair, but overdue.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Look at the journey we had to take to get here,” he said. “Look at the risks they took to get here … all of the doxing and losing their housing, losing medical insurance, losing a quarter of school.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240125-SFSUStrike-08-BL_qut.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11988163\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240125-SFSUStrike-08-BL_qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240125-SFSUStrike-08-BL_qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240125-SFSUStrike-08-BL_qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240125-SFSUStrike-08-BL_qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240125-SFSUStrike-08-BL_qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sang Hea Kil, San José State University professor and co-chair of the California Faculty Association’s Palestine, Arab and Muslim Caucus, cheers during a rally at SFSU in San Francisco on Jan. 25, 2024, urging a no vote on the tentative deal that ended the California State University faculty strike. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Professor Sang Hea Kil, who was \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11988162/sjsu-professor-who-was-suspended-over-pro-palestinian-protests-speaks-out\">fired from San José State University\u003c/a> in connection with pro-Palestinian protests in 2024 before \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12088425/san-jose-state-professor-fired-over-campus-gaza-protests-to-win-back-job-2\">being reinstated in June\u003c/a>, said the case has also harmed the wider student protest movement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They’ve opened the can of worms of going after students with felonies for wanting to protest an unjust genocide,” she said. That “really sends a chilling effect … It will create barriers for students to want to organize and protest because they face such high costs now.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Stanford officials wrote in a statement after the incident that students who were arrested would be suspended, and any seniors would be barred from that spring’s graduation. The university said in a statement Monday that it has a policy of noninterference with criminal proceedings.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The decision on how to resolve the case rested with the California Attorney General’s Office, based on the evidence gathered,” spokesperson Luisa Rapport said via email. “We respect the integrity of our justice system.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>During the protesters’ trial, which ran for three weeks in January, defense attorneys focused on their clients’ intentions: acting out of concern for what they view as an ongoing genocide in Gaza after months of protests and requests to discuss campus divestment.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Weeks of protests went with no reaction, with no progress, and with no dialog,” Brass said Monday. “They deserved better than that. What this was, was a way to amplify their voice.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The jury deadlocked, with 8 of 12 favoring conviction on the conspiracy charge and 9 of 12 favoring conviction for the vandalism charge. At the time, Rosen said he planned to retry the case.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-6-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12062229\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-6-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-6-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-6-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A view of Hoover Tower on the Stanford University campus in Stanford on Oct. 29, 2025. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This case is about a group of people who destroyed someone else’s property and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. That is against the law,” he said in February.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a rare move, though, his office was barred from retrying the case in May over a conflict of interest after he promoted the case on a campaign fundraising website highlighting his efforts in “fighting antisemitism.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Kelley Paul ordered Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office to take over the case.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Defense attorney Avi Singh said Monday’s deal was a result of the state’s “due diligence and a holistic review of the case.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They “took the matter to an appropriate outcome and frankly where it should have been the whole time,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Brass called the decision a victory for free speech.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Stanford will celebrate this 20 years from now,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/shossaini\">\u003cem>Sara Hossaini\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Today’s a good day,” defense attorney Tony Brass said outside the courtroom. “Today is a day [the protesters] earned and deserve.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Defense attorneys said the California attorney general’s office agreed to dismiss the charges in exchange for a restitution payment of $51,000 and commitment to 100 hours of community service by each of the protesters. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In June 2024, a group of Stanford students and alumni broke into the university president’s office and barricaded themselves inside, saying they aimed to pressure Stanford leaders to “address their role in enabling and profiting from the ongoing genocide in Gaza.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The action led to 13 arrests and the dismantling of a pro-Palestinian encampment on the campus, amid a larger wave of campus demonstrations across the U.S. intended to pressure schools to divest from companies supporting Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Monday’s deal ends a two-year saga for the five protesters who chose to go to trial: Hunter Taylor-Black, Maya Burke, Germán González, Taylor McCann and Amy Zhai. It will also affect the three who said they \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12064351/stanford-protesters-negotiating-plea-deals-as-trial-begins\">intended to plead guilty\u003c/a> to misdemeanors last fall. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I’m super relieved that I’ll be able to go to school and finish up my education without this hanging over my head,” said González, who is the only protester still currently enrolled at Stanford.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Look at the journey we had to take to get here,” he said. “Look at the risks they took to get here … all of the doxing and losing their housing, losing medical insurance, losing a quarter of school.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240125-SFSUStrike-08-BL_qut.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11988163\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240125-SFSUStrike-08-BL_qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240125-SFSUStrike-08-BL_qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240125-SFSUStrike-08-BL_qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240125-SFSUStrike-08-BL_qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240125-SFSUStrike-08-BL_qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sang Hea Kil, San José State University professor and co-chair of the California Faculty Association’s Palestine, Arab and Muslim Caucus, cheers during a rally at SFSU in San Francisco on Jan. 25, 2024, urging a no vote on the tentative deal that ended the California State University faculty strike.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Professor Sang Hea Kil, who was \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11988162/sjsu-professor-who-was-suspended-over-pro-palestinian-protests-speaks-out\">fired from San José State University\u003c/a> in connection with pro-Palestinian protests in 2024 before \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12088425/san-jose-state-professor-fired-over-campus-gaza-protests-to-win-back-job-2\">being reinstated in June\u003c/a>, said the case has also harmed the wider student protest movement. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“They’ve opened the can of worms of going after students with felonies for wanting to protest an unjust genocide,” she said. That “really sends a chilling effect … It will create barriers for students to want to organize and protest because they face such high costs now.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“They’ve opened the can of worms of going after students with felonies for wanting to protest an unjust genocide,” she said. That “really sends a chilling effect … It will create barriers for students to want to organize and protest because they face such high costs now.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Stanford officials wrote in a statement after the incident that students who were arrested would be suspended, and any seniors would be barred from that spring’s graduation. The university said in a statement Monday that it has a policy of noninterference with criminal proceedings.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Stanford officials wrote in a statement after the incident that students who were arrested would be suspended, and any seniors would be barred from that spring’s graduation. The university said in a statement Monday that it has a policy of noninterference with criminal proceedings.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The decision on how to resolve the case rested with the California Attorney General’s Office, based on the evidence gathered,” spokesperson Luisa Rapport said via email. “We respect the integrity of our justice system.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“The decision on how to resolve the case rested with the California Attorney General’s Office, based on the evidence gathered,” spokesperson Luisa Rapport said via email. “We respect the integrity of our justice system.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>During the protesters’ trial, which ran for three weeks in January, defense attorneys focused on their clients’ intentions: acting out of concern for what they view as an ongoing genocide in Gaza after months of protests and requests to discuss campus divestment.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>During the protesters’ trial, which ran for three weeks in January, defense attorneys focused on their clients’ intentions: acting out of concern for what they view as an ongoing genocide in Gaza after months of protests and requests to discuss campus divestment.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Weeks of protests went with no reaction, with no progress, and with no dialog,” Brass said Monday. “They deserved better than that. What this was, was a way to amplify their voice.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Weeks of protests went with no reaction, with no progress, and with no dialog,” Brass said Monday. “They deserved better than that. What this was, was a way to amplify their voice.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The jury deadlocked, with 8 of 12 favoring conviction on the conspiracy charge and 9 of 12 favoring conviction for the vandalism charge. At the time, Rosen said he planned to retry the case.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-6-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12062229\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A view of Hoover Tower on the Stanford University campus in Stanford on Oct. 29, 2025.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This case is about a group of people who destroyed someone else’s property and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. That is against the law,” he said in February.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In a rare move, though, his office was barred from retrying the case in May over a conflict of interest after he promoted the case on a campaign fundraising website highlighting his efforts in “fighting antisemitism.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Kelley Paul ordered Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office to take over the case.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Defense attorney Avi Singh said Monday’s deal was a result of the state’s “due diligence and a holistic review of the case.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Brass called the decision a victory for free speech.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/shossaini\">\u003cem>Sara Hossaini\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "A Santa Clara County judge referred the case to state prosecutors after the county’s district attorney was barred over a conflict of interest. ",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>The criminal case against\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073534/stanford-pro-palestinian-protesters-case-ends-in-mistrial\"> pro-Palestinian protesters\u003c/a> arrested for breaking into and vandalizing the Stanford University president’s office in 2024 will be dismissed following a mistrial earlier this year. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>State prosecutors said Monday they reached a deal with eight defendants. The decision comes after defense attorneys in May successfully \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082713/santa-clara-county-da-barred-from-retrying-pro-palestinan-stanford-protesters\">argued for the recusal\u003c/a> of Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen due to a conflict of interest.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Today’s a good day,” defense attorney Tony Brass said outside the courtroom. “Today is a day [the protesters] earned and deserve.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Defense attorneys said the California attorney general’s office agreed to dismiss the charges in exchange for a restitution payment of $51,000 and commitment to 100 hours of community service by each of the protesters. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/240425-STANFORDGAZAPROTEST-011-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12007722\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/240425-STANFORDGAZAPROTEST-011-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/240425-STANFORDGAZAPROTEST-011-BL-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/240425-STANFORDGAZAPROTEST-011-BL-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/240425-STANFORDGAZAPROTEST-011-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/240425-STANFORDGAZAPROTEST-011-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/240425-STANFORDGAZAPROTEST-011-BL-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pro-Palestinian demonstrators march through the Stanford University campus in Stanford, California, on April 25, 2024, calling for the university to divest from Israel. The rally took place during Stanford’s Admit Weekend, a time for incoming students to tour the university. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Several of the protesters have already finished the service commitment and are expected to have their cases dismissed in October. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The deal comes more than six months after a mistrial in the case, with jurors unable to reach a consensus about whether the five individuals should be found guilty of felony conspiracy to trespass and felony vandalism.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In June 2024, a group of Stanford students and alumni broke into the university president’s office and barricaded themselves inside, saying they aimed to pressure Stanford leaders to “address their role in enabling and profiting from the ongoing genocide in Gaza.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The action led to 13 arrests and the dismantling of a pro-Palestinian encampment on the campus, amid a larger wave of campus demonstrations across the U.S. intended to pressure schools to divest from companies supporting Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Twelve protesters were initially charged in connection with the incident, but six agreed to enter mental health diversion programs or said they planned to take a court-ordered deal that included pleading guilty to lesser misdemeanor charges.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One other protester served as a witness for prosecutors in the grand jury indictment and enrolled in a youth deferred entry of judgment program. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Monday’s deal ends a two-year saga for the five protesters who chose to go to trial: Hunter Taylor-Black, Maya Burke, Germán González, Taylor McCann and Amy Zhai. It will also affect the three who said they \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12064351/stanford-protesters-negotiating-plea-deals-as-trial-begins\">intended to plead guilty\u003c/a> to misdemeanors last fall. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’m super relieved that I’ll be able to go to school and finish up my education without this hanging over my head,” said González, who is the only protester still currently enrolled at Stanford.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Brass said he felt that the end resolution was fair, but overdue.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Look at the journey we had to take to get here,” he said. “Look at the risks they took to get here … all of the doxing and losing their housing, losing medical insurance, losing a quarter of school.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240125-SFSUStrike-08-BL_qut.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11988163\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240125-SFSUStrike-08-BL_qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240125-SFSUStrike-08-BL_qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240125-SFSUStrike-08-BL_qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240125-SFSUStrike-08-BL_qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240125-SFSUStrike-08-BL_qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sang Hea Kil, San José State University professor and co-chair of the California Faculty Association’s Palestine, Arab and Muslim Caucus, cheers during a rally at SFSU in San Francisco on Jan. 25, 2024, urging a no vote on the tentative deal that ended the California State University faculty strike. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Professor Sang Hea Kil, who was \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11988162/sjsu-professor-who-was-suspended-over-pro-palestinian-protests-speaks-out\">fired from San José State University\u003c/a> in connection with pro-Palestinian protests in 2024 before \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12088425/san-jose-state-professor-fired-over-campus-gaza-protests-to-win-back-job-2\">being reinstated in June\u003c/a>, said the case has also harmed the wider student protest movement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They’ve opened the can of worms of going after students with felonies for wanting to protest an unjust genocide,” she said. That “really sends a chilling effect … It will create barriers for students to want to organize and protest because they face such high costs now.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Stanford officials wrote in a statement after the incident that students who were arrested would be suspended, and any seniors would be barred from that spring’s graduation. The university said in a statement Monday that it has a policy of noninterference with criminal proceedings.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The decision on how to resolve the case rested with the California Attorney General’s Office, based on the evidence gathered,” spokesperson Luisa Rapport said via email. “We respect the integrity of our justice system.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>During the protesters’ trial, which ran for three weeks in January, defense attorneys focused on their clients’ intentions: acting out of concern for what they view as an ongoing genocide in Gaza after months of protests and requests to discuss campus divestment.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Weeks of protests went with no reaction, with no progress, and with no dialog,” Brass said Monday. “They deserved better than that. What this was, was a way to amplify their voice.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The jury deadlocked, with 8 of 12 favoring conviction on the conspiracy charge and 9 of 12 favoring conviction for the vandalism charge. At the time, Rosen said he planned to retry the case.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-6-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12062229\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-6-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-6-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-6-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A view of Hoover Tower on the Stanford University campus in Stanford on Oct. 29, 2025. (Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This case is about a group of people who destroyed someone else’s property and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. That is against the law,” he said in February.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a rare move, though, his office was barred from retrying the case in May over a conflict of interest after he promoted the case on a campaign fundraising website highlighting his efforts in “fighting antisemitism.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Kelley Paul ordered Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office to take over the case.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Defense attorney Avi Singh said Monday’s deal was a result of the state’s “due diligence and a holistic review of the case.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They “took the matter to an appropriate outcome and frankly where it should have been the whole time,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Brass called the decision a victory for free speech.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Stanford will celebrate this 20 years from now,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/shossaini\">\u003cem>Sara Hossaini\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"headTitle": "Trump Cannot Deport Students for Criticizing Israel, Judge Rules | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>Citing the importance of the First Amendment, a federal judge in \u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California \u003c/a>says the U.S. government is unconstitutionally silencing critics of Israel’s war in Gaza and others as part of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/trump-administration\">Trump administration’s\u003c/a> quest to deport noncitizens who it says disrupted college campuses while expressing their views.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Judge Noël Wise, in a ruling Friday, delivered a victory for The Stanford Daily, the student newspaper at Stanford University, which has said some international students were afraid to speak out because of the deportation threat.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Freedom of speech is illusory if we are only ‘free’ to express complementary views about the government and its leaders,” the judge wrote.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00572_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12067140\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00572_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00572_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00572_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cecil H Green Library at Stanford University in Palo Alto on December 10, 2025. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The decision largely piggybacks on findings from nearly a year ago by a U.S. district judge in Boston, who ruled that the Trump administration violated the Constitution when it targeted people who are not citizens for deportation solely for supporting Palestinians and criticizing Israel.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Wise wrote that the freedoms of speech and the press are “foundational to America’s enduring democracy.” The judge cited free-speech and vagueness flaws that violate the First Amendment and Fifth Amendment as she struck down portions of the provisions that the federal government follows regarding deportations.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Wise cited retaliation in March 2025 by U.S. immigration authorities against people who engaged in speech supporting the Palestinians and against \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/gaza-palestinian-israel-thousand-days-war-ceasefire-f81c32c32a96cd7dd7952ef9b70b06b3\">Israel’s actions\u003c/a> — which a growing number of experts, including those commissioned by a U.N. body, have said \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-genocide-accusations-e6996472084cba5618e430d143f4b8d4\">amount to genocide\u003c/a>. The judge also cited retaliation against people who were\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12055641/after-kirks-death-trump-targets-critics-in-expanding-free-speech-fight\"> critical of Charlie Kirk\u003c/a> after the Turning Point USA co-founder was \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-conservative-activist-shot-546165a8151104e0938a5e085be1e8bd\">assassinated last September\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Tomorrow, or perhaps even today, targets may include anyone in the United States who exercises their freedom of speech to simply express opinions the government does not like,” the judge in San Jose said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This downward spiral is antithetical to our Constitution that recognizes our right to speak freely,” she added. “Here you can simultaneously hate the content of a person’s speech and love the country that cherishes the freedom to allow it. Zealous protection of our Constitutional right to free speech is a provocative demonstration of our country’s powerful lack of fear.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Justice Department did not respond Saturday to a message seeking comment on the decision.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>George Porteous, the editor-in-chief of The Stanford Daily, responded to the ruling by saying on X: “The reporters in our newsroom shouldn’t have to fear that writing a story will result in their deportation. Today’s victory means they won’t have to.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Conor Fitzpatrick, an attorney with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which brought the lawsuit, praised the ruling.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“In America, free speech doesn’t just belong to the people who say things the government agrees with,” Fitzpatrick said in a release.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/L1005168_qut-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11986286\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/L1005168_qut-1.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/L1005168_qut-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/L1005168_qut-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/L1005168_qut-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/L1005168_qut-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The UC Berkeley pro-Palestine encampment outside of Sproul hall in Berkeley, Calif. on May 11, 2024. UC Berkeley students were among those on college campuses across the country who criticized Israel’s actions in its war in Gaza. (Aryk Copley for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In her decision, Wise said it was clear that the government’s tactics has had an effect on college campuses.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The government has offered a chilling message regarding protected speech — speak out against Israel or in support of Palestinians and we will revoke your visa and deport you. Behave. Noncitizen students heard the warning and heeded. And, as the idiom goes, the silence is deafening,” the judge wrote.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At The Stanford Daily, lawfully present noncitizens at the paper have quit, withheld articles, refused assignments, requested articles be taken down, and asked for anonymity due to fear of adverse immigration consequences, Wise noted.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She said noncitizens have the same First Amendment rights as citizens and yet were left to guess what the U.S. foreign policy was at any given moment and on any given subject.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This is an incomprehensible standard,” she said. “While the Court understands that the government has been granted considerable discretion on foreign policy and immigration matters, that discretion must nevertheless still ensure that ordinary people can understand what the law permits and prohibits.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Wise added: “Our Constitutional right to freedom of speech guarantees people the right to express — through their words, actions, or assembly — opinions that may be repugnant, views that run counter to prevailing political norms, or beliefs that otherwise challenge the country’s domestic or foreign policy, military engagement, or war.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This downward spiral is antithetical to our Constitution that recognizes our right to speak freely,” she added. “Here you can simultaneously hate the content of a person’s speech and love the country that cherishes the freedom to allow it. Zealous protection of our Constitutional right to free speech is a provocative demonstration of our country’s powerful lack of fear.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>George Porteous, the editor-in-chief of The Stanford Daily, responded to the ruling by saying on X: “The reporters in our newsroom shouldn’t have to fear that writing a story will result in their deportation. Today’s victory means they won’t have to.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“In America, free speech doesn’t just belong to the people who say things the government agrees with,” Fitzpatrick said in a release.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At The Stanford Daily, lawfully present noncitizens at the paper have quit, withheld articles, refused assignments, requested articles be taken down, and asked for anonymity due to fear of adverse immigration consequences, Wise noted.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Wise added: “Our Constitutional right to freedom of speech guarantees people the right to express — through their words, actions, or assembly — opinions that may be repugnant, views that run counter to prevailing political norms, or beliefs that otherwise challenge the country’s domestic or foreign policy, military engagement, or war.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The ruling was a victory for the student newspaper at Stanford University, which maintained that the threat of deportation had led some noncitizens to no longer work there or express their views.",
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"title": "Trump Cannot Deport Students for Criticizing Israel, Judge Rules | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>Citing the importance of the First Amendment, a federal judge in \u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California \u003c/a>says the U.S. government is unconstitutionally silencing critics of Israel’s war in Gaza and others as part of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/trump-administration\">Trump administration’s\u003c/a> quest to deport noncitizens who it says disrupted college campuses while expressing their views.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Judge Noël Wise, in a ruling Friday, delivered a victory for The Stanford Daily, the student newspaper at Stanford University, which has said some international students were afraid to speak out because of the deportation threat.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Freedom of speech is illusory if we are only ‘free’ to express complementary views about the government and its leaders,” the judge wrote.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00572_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12067140\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00572_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00572_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00572_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cecil H Green Library at Stanford University in Palo Alto on December 10, 2025. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The decision largely piggybacks on findings from nearly a year ago by a U.S. district judge in Boston, who ruled that the Trump administration violated the Constitution when it targeted people who are not citizens for deportation solely for supporting Palestinians and criticizing Israel.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Wise wrote that the freedoms of speech and the press are “foundational to America’s enduring democracy.” The judge cited free-speech and vagueness flaws that violate the First Amendment and Fifth Amendment as she struck down portions of the provisions that the federal government follows regarding deportations.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Wise cited retaliation in March 2025 by U.S. immigration authorities against people who engaged in speech supporting the Palestinians and against \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/gaza-palestinian-israel-thousand-days-war-ceasefire-f81c32c32a96cd7dd7952ef9b70b06b3\">Israel’s actions\u003c/a> — which a growing number of experts, including those commissioned by a U.N. body, have said \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-genocide-accusations-e6996472084cba5618e430d143f4b8d4\">amount to genocide\u003c/a>. The judge also cited retaliation against people who were\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12055641/after-kirks-death-trump-targets-critics-in-expanding-free-speech-fight\"> critical of Charlie Kirk\u003c/a> after the Turning Point USA co-founder was \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-conservative-activist-shot-546165a8151104e0938a5e085be1e8bd\">assassinated last September\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Tomorrow, or perhaps even today, targets may include anyone in the United States who exercises their freedom of speech to simply express opinions the government does not like,” the judge in San Jose said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This downward spiral is antithetical to our Constitution that recognizes our right to speak freely,” she added. “Here you can simultaneously hate the content of a person’s speech and love the country that cherishes the freedom to allow it. Zealous protection of our Constitutional right to free speech is a provocative demonstration of our country’s powerful lack of fear.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Justice Department did not respond Saturday to a message seeking comment on the decision.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>George Porteous, the editor-in-chief of The Stanford Daily, responded to the ruling by saying on X: “The reporters in our newsroom shouldn’t have to fear that writing a story will result in their deportation. Today’s victory means they won’t have to.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Conor Fitzpatrick, an attorney with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which brought the lawsuit, praised the ruling.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“In America, free speech doesn’t just belong to the people who say things the government agrees with,” Fitzpatrick said in a release.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/L1005168_qut-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11986286\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/L1005168_qut-1.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/L1005168_qut-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/L1005168_qut-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/L1005168_qut-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/L1005168_qut-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The UC Berkeley pro-Palestine encampment outside of Sproul hall in Berkeley, Calif. on May 11, 2024. UC Berkeley students were among those on college campuses across the country who criticized Israel’s actions in its war in Gaza. (Aryk Copley for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In her decision, Wise said it was clear that the government’s tactics has had an effect on college campuses.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The government has offered a chilling message regarding protected speech — speak out against Israel or in support of Palestinians and we will revoke your visa and deport you. Behave. Noncitizen students heard the warning and heeded. And, as the idiom goes, the silence is deafening,” the judge wrote.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At The Stanford Daily, lawfully present noncitizens at the paper have quit, withheld articles, refused assignments, requested articles be taken down, and asked for anonymity due to fear of adverse immigration consequences, Wise noted.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She said noncitizens have the same First Amendment rights as citizens and yet were left to guess what the U.S. foreign policy was at any given moment and on any given subject.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This is an incomprehensible standard,” she said. “While the Court understands that the government has been granted considerable discretion on foreign policy and immigration matters, that discretion must nevertheless still ensure that ordinary people can understand what the law permits and prohibits.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Wise added: “Our Constitutional right to freedom of speech guarantees people the right to express — through their words, actions, or assembly — opinions that may be repugnant, views that run counter to prevailing political norms, or beliefs that otherwise challenge the country’s domestic or foreign policy, military engagement, or war.”\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "2-afghan-girls-graduated-high-school-together-now-1-studies-in-the-bay-area-the-other-indoors",
"title": "2 Afghan Girls Graduated High School Together. Now, 1 Studies in the Bay Area, the Other Indoors",
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"content": "\u003cp>Saturday, Aug. 15, marks five years since the Taliban retook control of Kabul and returned to power in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/afghanistan\">Afghanistan\u003c/a>. For Mursal, 24, that meant her college studies needed to be moved online and most of her life, amid the repressive regime’s rules restricting women in public spaces, moved indoors. But even more heartbreaking was not getting to say goodbye to her closest friends and family who managed to flee.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One of those friends was Husna.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Aug. 24, 2021, U.S. government officials called Husna’s father, who worked with the U.S. embassy, with a plan to evacuate them if they drove to a designated meet-up spot in two hours.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1079\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/ap21235373894167-edit_custom-e2cdf587be4a6ade2cb01de06f4a7d35c7b7f202-scaled-e1630530046511.jpg\" alt=\"line of evacuees at night wait to board a plane, backlight by far off light\" class=\"wp-image-11887274\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A U.S. Air Force air crew prepares to load evacuees aboard a C-17 aircraft at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 31. Several public school students from Sacramento remain in Afghanistan since the U.S. evacuation ended. (Senior Airman Taylor Crul/U.S. Air Force via AP)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Husna’s father and mother, who witnessed the Taliban’s first time in power 20 years earlier, knew what the fundamentalist group’s takeover meant for the education of their children. They recognized this was their chance to leave and still give their children opportunities. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It was a time when we didn’t know what to expect. No clue how long it would take, no clue if this would be the last goodbye,” Husna said in an in-person interview on Stanford University’s campus.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED is omitting both Mursal’s and Husna’s surnames because the women fear that speaking publicly could have dangerous repercussions for them and their family members in Afghanistan.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Husna flew out of Hamid Karzai International Airport just one day before a devastating terror attack \u003ca href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/kabul-suicide-bombing-service-members/2021/08/26/8bfe63ac-069e-11ec-ba15-9c4f59a60478_story.html\">killed\u003c/a> 13 U.S. Marines and 169 Afghans, and seven days before the last U.S. evacuation from Afghanistan. Husna and her immediate family members were some of the 124,000 people the U.S. \u003ca href=\"https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3144426/one-year-later-historic-afghan-airlift-inspires-pride-and-reflection-across-the/\">airlifted\u003c/a> out of Afghanistan.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Husna traveled from Kabul to Qatar to Frankfurt to Washington, D.C. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Then, she spent 44 days in a Texas refugee camp where her family underwent medical checkups and arrival interviews. Finally, they resettled in San Diego in October.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, Mursal was spending her days mostly sequestered in her family’s home as the daily realities of the Taliban’s takeover set in. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The ramifications of that day five years ago set the girls on two distinct paths. As Mursal enters her senior year at the American University of Afghanistan online, Husna is a pre-med student at Stanford entering her final year of undergraduate studies.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nearly five years after the Taliban takeover, Mursal’s life has fundamentally transformed, just as it did for the 25 million women across Afghanistan.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/12/GettyImages-1234913233-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11900417\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/12/GettyImages-1234913233-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/12/GettyImages-1234913233-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/12/GettyImages-1234913233-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/12/GettyImages-1234913233-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/12/GettyImages-1234913233-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/12/GettyImages-1234913233-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/12/GettyImages-1234913233-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Afghans, hoping to leave Afghanistan, queue at the main entrance gate of Kabul airport in Kabul on Aug. 28, 2021, following the Taliban’s stunning military takeover of Afghanistan. (Wakil Kohsar/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In August 2024, the Taliban \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/article/2024/aug/26/taliban-bar-on-afghan-women-speaking-in-public-un-afghanistan\">issued\u003c/a> the Law on the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, all-encompassing legislation codifying Afghan life, including criminalizing women’s voices in public and \u003ca href=\"https://giwps.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Mahram-Womens-Mobility-in-Islam.pdf\">implementing\u003c/a> a stricter \u003cem>mahram\u003c/em> requirement that women be accompanied by either their spouse or a male relative outside their homes. These terms are \u003ca href=\"https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/2025-08/2025%20Issue%20Update%20Afghanistan%20Morality%20Law_0.pdf\">enforced\u003c/a> by “vice and virtue authorities.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>These laws now shape Mursal’s daily life. Her family doesn’t permit her to leave the house alone due to concerns about her safety. And while life in Kabul was always full of risk, with an ongoing battle for control between the U.S. and the Taliban, Mursal’s enthusiasm for life was still noticeably higher before the Taliban took over.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Even before this government in Afghanistan, there were a lot of explosions. Your life would be dangerous. Whenever we would go out, we were prepared to face death every day,” Mursal said in an interview from Kabul via Zoom. “Everyone was so happy, [because] despite everything, we wanted to live good lives.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The prospect of an unrestricted good life, however, declined for women after the Taliban takeover, which banned girls from attending school past sixth grade. Mursal takes an active risk by enrolling in university, but said that the Taliban does not monitor Internet usage, which allows her and other women to continue their schooling. Instead, the Taliban has \u003ca href=\"https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/afghanistans-cellphone-internet-services-down-monitoring-shows-2025-09-30/\">resorted\u003c/a> to multiple Internet shutdowns when concerned about morality.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the immediate aftermath of Aug. 15, Mursal was left reeling as acquaintances and freedoms disappeared.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“When these people, when they leave you, it leaves a huge mark on you,” she said. “It is hard to let go of everything at once — the future, education, plans, relatives. Everything was gone in the blink of an eye.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1320\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2228950108.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095391\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2228950108.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2228950108-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2228950108-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This photograph, taken on Dec. 8, 2021, shows a general view of the house where the bodies of two Afghan men, late Fida Mohammad Amir and Shafiullah Hotak, landed on the roof after falling from a U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft during the August 2021 panic-stricken evacuation to flee Taliban-led Afghanistan, in the Khair Khana neighborhood of Kabul. (Wakil Kohsar/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The U.S. withdrew its troops from Afghanistan by the end of August 2021. The year following the U.S. withdrawal was dark for Mursal. She consistently monitored new, more draconian Taliban rulings on the news, all while being unable to leave her home. She took a yearlong leave of absence from school, adjusting to her new, mostly indoor life.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She didn’t allow herself to remain depressed for long, though. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“After that, I said, this is life. I need to continue,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Each morning, she wakes and prays the post-dawn Islamic \u003cem>Fajr \u003c/em>prayer. Since women are banned from gyms now, Mursal works out using Internet videos. Next, she has breakfast with her family, and then moves on to language study. Since 2021, Mursal has become fluent in Arabic and is now learning Chinese. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the afternoons, Mursal reads, has lunch and attends required classes online. Next, she completes her homework assignments, and later chats with her family over chai and snacks. Then, she returns to studying and reading books. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mursal ends the night with a family dinner where they share stories of their days. That is where Mursal hears most about the outside world. At times, Mursal finds the transition from her previous life tough to endure.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“At one point, I thought I could not continue because it is online and you can’t leave your room. It becomes unbearable,” she said. “I spend the entire day trapped in four walls, doing assignments and everything. So it was hard. You have to build this resilience.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For Husna, integrating into the U.S. put a heavy burden on her as the English-speaker of her family. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I was basically the spokesperson, translator and interpreter of my family,” Husna, who learned English in high school, said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While settling her family in San Diego, Husna became a star student at her community college. Winning a prestigious scholarship to transfer, Husna entered Stanford’s class of 2027 with the hopes of becoming a doctor, and eventually returning to Afghanistan and opening a clinic to train doctors and provide medical services for women. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Over time, Husna has lost touch with Mursal and many loved ones in Afghanistan — both she and others got busier, and their lack of reliable Internet, as well as the day-to-night time difference, made communication more difficult. Some of Husna’s last sources of information from the ground in Afghanistan were diminished.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/AfghanRefugeeGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12065612\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/AfghanRefugeeGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/AfghanRefugeeGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/AfghanRefugeeGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In this photograph taken on Sept. 2, 2025, an Afghan refugee is pictured during an interview with AFP at her residence in Islamabad. Before their scheduled February flight, President Donald Trump indefinitely suspended refugee admissions, stranding around 15,000 Afghans already prepared to fly out from Islamabad. (Farooq Naeem/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Still, Husna feels connected. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Over time, we also realized, you don’t have to be in touch every single day to love someone,” Husna said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While Husna will attend her graduation ceremony next year with her friends and family, Mursal will attend hers online and indoors, with a small family celebration to follow.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in June, Mursal’s job prospects are likely to be slim. Still, she plans to start and run a business, entrusting her father to be its face on the streets of Kabul, while she remains the organizer behind the scenes. She is now sorting out the type of business to operate.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Despite the difficult situation, there are ways to live a good life — despite being a woman, an Afghan woman.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Amina Wase is a master’s candidate in the graduate journalism program at Stanford University.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Saturday, Aug. 15, marks five years since the Taliban retook control of Kabul and returned to power in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/afghanistan\">Afghanistan\u003c/a>. For Mursal, 24, that meant her college studies needed to be moved online and most of her life, amid the repressive regime’s rules restricting women in public spaces, moved indoors. But even more heartbreaking was not getting to say goodbye to her closest friends and family who managed to flee.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On Aug. 24, 2021, U.S. government officials called Husna’s father, who worked with the U.S. embassy, with a plan to evacuate them if they drove to a designated meet-up spot in two hours.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/ap21235373894167-edit_custom-e2cdf587be4a6ade2cb01de06f4a7d35c7b7f202-scaled-e1630530046511.jpg\" alt=\"line of evacuees at night wait to board a plane, backlight by far off light\" class=\"wp-image-11887274\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A U.S. Air Force air crew prepares to load evacuees aboard a C-17 aircraft at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 31. Several public school students from Sacramento remain in Afghanistan since the U.S. evacuation ended.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/ap21235373894167-edit_custom-e2cdf587be4a6ade2cb01de06f4a7d35c7b7f202-scaled-e1630530046511.jpg\" alt=\"line of evacuees at night wait to board a plane, backlight by far off light\" class=\"wp-image-11887274\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A U.S. Air Force air crew prepares to load evacuees aboard a C-17 aircraft at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 31. Several public school students from Sacramento remain in Afghanistan since the U.S. evacuation ended.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Husna’s father and mother, who witnessed the Taliban’s first time in power 20 years earlier, knew what the fundamentalist group’s takeover meant for the education of their children. They recognized this was their chance to leave and still give their children opportunities. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Husna’s father and mother, who witnessed the Taliban’s first time in power 20 years earlier, knew what the fundamentalist group’s takeover meant for the education of their children. They recognized this was their chance to leave and still give their children opportunities. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It was a time when we didn’t know what to expect. No clue how long it would take, no clue if this would be the last goodbye,” Husna said in an in-person interview on Stanford University’s campus.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It was a time when we didn’t know what to expect. No clue how long it would take, no clue if this would be the last goodbye,” Husna said in an in-person interview on Stanford University’s campus.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>KQED is omitting both Mursal’s and Husna’s surnames because the women fear that speaking publicly could have dangerous repercussions for them and their family members in Afghanistan.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Husna flew out of Hamid Karzai International Airport just one day before a devastating terror attack \u003ca href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/kabul-suicide-bombing-service-members/2021/08/26/8bfe63ac-069e-11ec-ba15-9c4f59a60478_story.html\">killed\u003c/a> 13 U.S. Marines and 169 Afghans, and seven days before the last U.S. evacuation from Afghanistan. Husna and her immediate family members were some of the 124,000 people the U.S. \u003ca href=\"https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3144426/one-year-later-historic-afghan-airlift-inspires-pride-and-reflection-across-the/\">airlifted\u003c/a> out of Afghanistan.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Husna flew out of Hamid Karzai International Airport just one day before a devastating terror attack \u003ca href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/kabul-suicide-bombing-service-members/2021/08/26/8bfe63ac-069e-11ec-ba15-9c4f59a60478_story.html\">killed\u003c/a> 13 U.S. Marines and 169 Afghans, and seven days before the last U.S. evacuation from Afghanistan. Husna and her immediate family members were some of the 124,000 people the U.S. \u003ca href=\"https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3144426/one-year-later-historic-afghan-airlift-inspires-pride-and-reflection-across-the/\">airlifted\u003c/a> out of Afghanistan.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Husna traveled from Kabul to Qatar to Frankfurt to Washington, D.C. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Husna traveled from Kabul to Qatar to Frankfurt to Washington, D.C. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Then, she spent 44 days in a Texas refugee camp where her family underwent medical checkups and arrival interviews. Finally, they resettled in San Diego in October.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Then, she spent 44 days in a Texas refugee camp where her family underwent medical checkups and arrival interviews. Finally, they resettled in San Diego in October.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, Mursal was spending her days mostly sequestered in her family’s home as the daily realities of the Taliban’s takeover set in. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The ramifications of that day five years ago set the girls on two distinct paths. As Mursal enters her senior year at the American University of Afghanistan online, Husna is a pre-med student at Stanford entering her final year of undergraduate studies.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The ramifications of that day five years ago set the girls on two distinct paths. As Mursal enters her senior year at the American University of Afghanistan online, Husna is a pre-med student at Stanford entering her final year of undergraduate studies.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Nearly five years after the Taliban takeover, Mursal’s life has fundamentally transformed, just as it did for the 25 million women across Afghanistan.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Nearly five years after the Taliban takeover, Mursal’s life has fundamentally transformed, just as it did for the 25 million women across Afghanistan.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/12/GettyImages-1234913233-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11900417\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/12/GettyImages-1234913233-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/12/GettyImages-1234913233-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/12/GettyImages-1234913233-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/12/GettyImages-1234913233-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/12/GettyImages-1234913233-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/12/GettyImages-1234913233-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/12/GettyImages-1234913233-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Afghans, hoping to leave Afghanistan, queue at the main entrance gate of Kabul airport in Kabul on Aug. 28, 2021, following the Taliban’s stunning military takeover of Afghanistan.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In August 2024, the Taliban \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/article/2024/aug/26/taliban-bar-on-afghan-women-speaking-in-public-un-afghanistan\">issued\u003c/a> the Law on the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, all-encompassing legislation codifying Afghan life, including criminalizing women’s voices in public and \u003ca href=\"https://giwps.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Mahram-Womens-Mobility-in-Islam.pdf\">implementing\u003c/a> a stricter \u003cem>mahram\u003c/em> requirement that women be accompanied by either their spouse or a male relative outside their homes. These terms are \u003ca href=\"https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/2025-08/2025%20Issue%20Update%20Afghanistan%20Morality%20Law_0.pdf\">enforced\u003c/a> by “vice and virtue authorities.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>These laws now shape Mursal’s daily life. Her family doesn’t permit her to leave the house alone due to concerns about her safety. And while life in Kabul was always full of risk, with an ongoing battle for control between the U.S. and the Taliban, Mursal’s enthusiasm for life was still noticeably higher before the Taliban took over.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>These laws now shape Mursal’s daily life. Her family doesn’t permit her to leave the house alone due to concerns about her safety. And while life in Kabul was always full of risk, with an ongoing battle for control between the U.S. and the Taliban, Mursal’s enthusiasm for life was still noticeably higher before the Taliban took over.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Even before this government in Afghanistan, there were a lot of explosions. Your life would be dangerous. Whenever we would go out, we were prepared to face death every day,” Mursal said in an interview from Kabul via Zoom. “Everyone was so happy, [because] despite everything, we wanted to live good lives.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Even before this government in Afghanistan, there were a lot of explosions. Your life would be dangerous. Whenever we would go out, we were prepared to face death every day,” Mursal said in an interview from Kabul via Zoom. “Everyone was so happy, [because] despite everything, we wanted to live good lives.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The prospect of an unrestricted good life, however, declined for women after the Taliban takeover, which banned girls from attending school past sixth grade. Mursal takes an active risk by enrolling in university, but said that the Taliban does not monitor Internet usage, which allows her and other women to continue their schooling. Instead, the Taliban has \u003ca href=\"https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/afghanistans-cellphone-internet-services-down-monitoring-shows-2025-09-30/\">resorted\u003c/a> to multiple Internet shutdowns when concerned about morality.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The prospect of an unrestricted good life, however, declined for women after the Taliban takeover, which banned girls from attending school past sixth grade. Mursal takes an active risk by enrolling in university, but said that the Taliban does not monitor Internet usage, which allows her and other women to continue their schooling. Instead, the Taliban has \u003ca href=\"https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/afghanistans-cellphone-internet-services-down-monitoring-shows-2025-09-30/\">resorted\u003c/a> to multiple Internet shutdowns when concerned about morality.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In the immediate aftermath of Aug. 15, Mursal was left reeling as acquaintances and freedoms disappeared.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“When these people, when they leave you, it leaves a huge mark on you,” she said. “It is hard to let go of everything at once — the future, education, plans, relatives. Everything was gone in the blink of an eye.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“When these people, when they leave you, it leaves a huge mark on you,” she said. “It is hard to let go of everything at once — the future, education, plans, relatives. Everything was gone in the blink of an eye.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2228950108.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095391\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2228950108.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2228950108-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2228950108-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This photograph, taken on Dec. 8, 2021, shows a general view of the house where the bodies of two Afghan men, late Fida Mohammad Amir and Shafiullah Hotak, landed on the roof after falling from a U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft during the August 2021 panic-stricken evacuation to flee Taliban-led Afghanistan, in the Khair Khana neighborhood of Kabul.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2228950108.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095391\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This photograph, taken on Dec. 8, 2021, shows a general view of the house where the bodies of two Afghan men, late Fida Mohammad Amir and Shafiullah Hotak, landed on the roof after falling from a U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft during the August 2021 panic-stricken evacuation to flee Taliban-led Afghanistan, in the Khair Khana neighborhood of Kabul.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The U.S. withdrew its troops from Afghanistan by the end of August 2021. The year following the U.S. withdrawal was dark for Mursal. She consistently monitored new, more draconian Taliban rulings on the news, all while being unable to leave her home. She took a yearlong leave of absence from school, adjusting to her new, mostly indoor life.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The U.S. withdrew its troops from Afghanistan by the end of August 2021. The year following the U.S. withdrawal was dark for Mursal. She consistently monitored new, more draconian Taliban rulings on the news, all while being unable to leave her home. She took a yearlong leave of absence from school, adjusting to her new, mostly indoor life.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“After that, I said, this is life. I need to continue,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Each morning, she wakes and prays the post-dawn Islamic \u003cem>Fajr \u003c/em>prayer. Since women are banned from gyms now, Mursal works out using Internet videos. Next, she has breakfast with her family, and then moves on to language study. Since 2021, Mursal has become fluent in Arabic and is now learning Chinese. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In the afternoons, Mursal reads, has lunch and attends required classes online. Next, she completes her homework assignments, and later chats with her family over chai and snacks. Then, she returns to studying and reading books. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Mursal ends the night with a family dinner where they share stories of their days. That is where Mursal hears most about the outside world. At times, Mursal finds the transition from her previous life tough to endure.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“At one point, I thought I could not continue because it is online and you can’t leave your room. It becomes unbearable,” she said. “I spend the entire day trapped in four walls, doing assignments and everything. So it was hard. You have to build this resilience.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I was basically the spokesperson, translator and interpreter of my family,” Husna, who learned English in high school, said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While settling her family in San Diego, Husna became a star student at her community college. Winning a prestigious scholarship to transfer, Husna entered Stanford’s class of 2027 with the hopes of becoming a doctor, and eventually returning to Afghanistan and opening a clinic to train doctors and provide medical services for women. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Over time, Husna has lost touch with Mursal and many loved ones in Afghanistan — both she and others got busier, and their lack of reliable Internet, as well as the day-to-night time difference, made communication more difficult. Some of Husna’s last sources of information from the ground in Afghanistan were diminished.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/AfghanRefugeeGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12065612\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/AfghanRefugeeGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/AfghanRefugeeGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/AfghanRefugeeGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In this photograph taken on Sept. 2, 2025, an Afghan refugee is pictured during an interview with AFP at her residence in Islamabad. Before their scheduled February flight, President Donald Trump indefinitely suspended refugee admissions, stranding around 15,000 Afghans already prepared to fly out from Islamabad. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While Husna will attend her graduation ceremony next year with her friends and family, Mursal will attend hers online and indoors, with a small family celebration to follow.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in June, Mursal’s job prospects are likely to be slim. Still, she plans to start and run a business, entrusting her father to be its face on the streets of Kabul, while she remains the organizer behind the scenes. She is now sorting out the type of business to operate.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Amina Wase is a master’s candidate in the graduate journalism program at Stanford University.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"title": "2 Afghan Girls Graduated High School Together. Now, 1 Studies in the Bay Area, the Other Indoors | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Saturday, Aug. 15, marks five years since the Taliban retook control of Kabul and returned to power in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/afghanistan\">Afghanistan\u003c/a>. For Mursal, 24, that meant her college studies needed to be moved online and most of her life, amid the repressive regime’s rules restricting women in public spaces, moved indoors. But even more heartbreaking was not getting to say goodbye to her closest friends and family who managed to flee.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One of those friends was Husna.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Aug. 24, 2021, U.S. government officials called Husna’s father, who worked with the U.S. embassy, with a plan to evacuate them if they drove to a designated meet-up spot in two hours.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1079\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/ap21235373894167-edit_custom-e2cdf587be4a6ade2cb01de06f4a7d35c7b7f202-scaled-e1630530046511.jpg\" alt=\"line of evacuees at night wait to board a plane, backlight by far off light\" class=\"wp-image-11887274\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A U.S. Air Force air crew prepares to load evacuees aboard a C-17 aircraft at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 31. Several public school students from Sacramento remain in Afghanistan since the U.S. evacuation ended. (Senior Airman Taylor Crul/U.S. Air Force via AP)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Husna’s father and mother, who witnessed the Taliban’s first time in power 20 years earlier, knew what the fundamentalist group’s takeover meant for the education of their children. They recognized this was their chance to leave and still give their children opportunities. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It was a time when we didn’t know what to expect. No clue how long it would take, no clue if this would be the last goodbye,” Husna said in an in-person interview on Stanford University’s campus.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED is omitting both Mursal’s and Husna’s surnames because the women fear that speaking publicly could have dangerous repercussions for them and their family members in Afghanistan.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Husna flew out of Hamid Karzai International Airport just one day before a devastating terror attack \u003ca href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/kabul-suicide-bombing-service-members/2021/08/26/8bfe63ac-069e-11ec-ba15-9c4f59a60478_story.html\">killed\u003c/a> 13 U.S. Marines and 169 Afghans, and seven days before the last U.S. evacuation from Afghanistan. Husna and her immediate family members were some of the 124,000 people the U.S. \u003ca href=\"https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3144426/one-year-later-historic-afghan-airlift-inspires-pride-and-reflection-across-the/\">airlifted\u003c/a> out of Afghanistan.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Husna traveled from Kabul to Qatar to Frankfurt to Washington, D.C. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Then, she spent 44 days in a Texas refugee camp where her family underwent medical checkups and arrival interviews. Finally, they resettled in San Diego in October.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, Mursal was spending her days mostly sequestered in her family’s home as the daily realities of the Taliban’s takeover set in. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The ramifications of that day five years ago set the girls on two distinct paths. As Mursal enters her senior year at the American University of Afghanistan online, Husna is a pre-med student at Stanford entering her final year of undergraduate studies.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nearly five years after the Taliban takeover, Mursal’s life has fundamentally transformed, just as it did for the 25 million women across Afghanistan.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/12/GettyImages-1234913233-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11900417\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/12/GettyImages-1234913233-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/12/GettyImages-1234913233-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/12/GettyImages-1234913233-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/12/GettyImages-1234913233-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/12/GettyImages-1234913233-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/12/GettyImages-1234913233-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/12/GettyImages-1234913233-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Afghans, hoping to leave Afghanistan, queue at the main entrance gate of Kabul airport in Kabul on Aug. 28, 2021, following the Taliban’s stunning military takeover of Afghanistan. (Wakil Kohsar/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In August 2024, the Taliban \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/article/2024/aug/26/taliban-bar-on-afghan-women-speaking-in-public-un-afghanistan\">issued\u003c/a> the Law on the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, all-encompassing legislation codifying Afghan life, including criminalizing women’s voices in public and \u003ca href=\"https://giwps.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Mahram-Womens-Mobility-in-Islam.pdf\">implementing\u003c/a> a stricter \u003cem>mahram\u003c/em> requirement that women be accompanied by either their spouse or a male relative outside their homes. These terms are \u003ca href=\"https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/2025-08/2025%20Issue%20Update%20Afghanistan%20Morality%20Law_0.pdf\">enforced\u003c/a> by “vice and virtue authorities.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>These laws now shape Mursal’s daily life. Her family doesn’t permit her to leave the house alone due to concerns about her safety. And while life in Kabul was always full of risk, with an ongoing battle for control between the U.S. and the Taliban, Mursal’s enthusiasm for life was still noticeably higher before the Taliban took over.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Even before this government in Afghanistan, there were a lot of explosions. Your life would be dangerous. Whenever we would go out, we were prepared to face death every day,” Mursal said in an interview from Kabul via Zoom. “Everyone was so happy, [because] despite everything, we wanted to live good lives.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The prospect of an unrestricted good life, however, declined for women after the Taliban takeover, which banned girls from attending school past sixth grade. Mursal takes an active risk by enrolling in university, but said that the Taliban does not monitor Internet usage, which allows her and other women to continue their schooling. Instead, the Taliban has \u003ca href=\"https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/afghanistans-cellphone-internet-services-down-monitoring-shows-2025-09-30/\">resorted\u003c/a> to multiple Internet shutdowns when concerned about morality.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the immediate aftermath of Aug. 15, Mursal was left reeling as acquaintances and freedoms disappeared.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“When these people, when they leave you, it leaves a huge mark on you,” she said. “It is hard to let go of everything at once — the future, education, plans, relatives. Everything was gone in the blink of an eye.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1320\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2228950108.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095391\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2228950108.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2228950108-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-2228950108-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This photograph, taken on Dec. 8, 2021, shows a general view of the house where the bodies of two Afghan men, late Fida Mohammad Amir and Shafiullah Hotak, landed on the roof after falling from a U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft during the August 2021 panic-stricken evacuation to flee Taliban-led Afghanistan, in the Khair Khana neighborhood of Kabul. (Wakil Kohsar/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The U.S. withdrew its troops from Afghanistan by the end of August 2021. The year following the U.S. withdrawal was dark for Mursal. She consistently monitored new, more draconian Taliban rulings on the news, all while being unable to leave her home. She took a yearlong leave of absence from school, adjusting to her new, mostly indoor life.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She didn’t allow herself to remain depressed for long, though. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“After that, I said, this is life. I need to continue,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Each morning, she wakes and prays the post-dawn Islamic \u003cem>Fajr \u003c/em>prayer. Since women are banned from gyms now, Mursal works out using Internet videos. Next, she has breakfast with her family, and then moves on to language study. Since 2021, Mursal has become fluent in Arabic and is now learning Chinese. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the afternoons, Mursal reads, has lunch and attends required classes online. Next, she completes her homework assignments, and later chats with her family over chai and snacks. Then, she returns to studying and reading books. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mursal ends the night with a family dinner where they share stories of their days. That is where Mursal hears most about the outside world. At times, Mursal finds the transition from her previous life tough to endure.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“At one point, I thought I could not continue because it is online and you can’t leave your room. It becomes unbearable,” she said. “I spend the entire day trapped in four walls, doing assignments and everything. So it was hard. You have to build this resilience.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For Husna, integrating into the U.S. put a heavy burden on her as the English-speaker of her family. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I was basically the spokesperson, translator and interpreter of my family,” Husna, who learned English in high school, said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While settling her family in San Diego, Husna became a star student at her community college. Winning a prestigious scholarship to transfer, Husna entered Stanford’s class of 2027 with the hopes of becoming a doctor, and eventually returning to Afghanistan and opening a clinic to train doctors and provide medical services for women. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Over time, Husna has lost touch with Mursal and many loved ones in Afghanistan — both she and others got busier, and their lack of reliable Internet, as well as the day-to-night time difference, made communication more difficult. Some of Husna’s last sources of information from the ground in Afghanistan were diminished.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/AfghanRefugeeGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12065612\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/AfghanRefugeeGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/AfghanRefugeeGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/AfghanRefugeeGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In this photograph taken on Sept. 2, 2025, an Afghan refugee is pictured during an interview with AFP at her residence in Islamabad. Before their scheduled February flight, President Donald Trump indefinitely suspended refugee admissions, stranding around 15,000 Afghans already prepared to fly out from Islamabad. (Farooq Naeem/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Still, Husna feels connected. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Over time, we also realized, you don’t have to be in touch every single day to love someone,” Husna said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While Husna will attend her graduation ceremony next year with her friends and family, Mursal will attend hers online and indoors, with a small family celebration to follow.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in June, Mursal’s job prospects are likely to be slim. Still, she plans to start and run a business, entrusting her father to be its face on the streets of Kabul, while she remains the organizer behind the scenes. She is now sorting out the type of business to operate.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Despite the difficult situation, there are ways to live a good life — despite being a woman, an Afghan woman.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Amina Wase is a master’s candidate in the graduate journalism program at Stanford University.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "stanford-cuts-ties-with-flock-safety-shifts-to-new-surveillance-vendor",
"title": "Stanford Cuts Ties With Flock Safety, Shifts to New Surveillance Vendor",
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"headTitle": "Stanford Cuts Ties With Flock Safety, Shifts to New Surveillance Vendor | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>Stanford University’s license plate cameras have been covered up and switched off since late July, when the university quietly ended its contract with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/flock-safety\">Flock Safety\u003c/a> and signed with a different vendor.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The replacement, a system called Genetec Cloudrunner, is scheduled to be installed by early September, along with new solar hardware, said Luisa Rapport, a Stanford spokesperson. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The change was influenced by the desire to balance the privacy of our community with access by Stanford’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) to an important tool that supports the safety of our campus,” Rapport said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12076122\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Flock Safety license plate recognition camera is seen near the intersection of Marine Street and Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder on March 5, 2026. (Matthew Jonas/MediaNews Group/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Patrick Dunkley, Stanford’s vice provost for institutional equity, access and community, said in the \u003ca href=\"https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2026/08/new-license-plate-camera-company?mkt_tok=NjYwLVRKQy05ODQAAAGja9aYyq4G3yMJgV-8RVQrooM0DvbjAjxjwVHKSVzF9JN-EbTLdaSrjr0bHQtEK4Cmtxp5c672VZp20DdRyqNRzzgFFy9k23QupnBt6vo\">university’s announcement\u003c/a> that unlike Flock, the new system “is designed for use within a single institution.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12090103/get-the-flock-out-the-heated-debate-over-license-plate-readers\">Flock’s cameras\u003c/a> photograph every passing vehicle and build what the company calls a vehicle fingerprint, logging the plate along with the make, model and details like bumper stickers or dents. Those records feed a shared national database that other agencies on Flock’s network can search. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stanford said its own data never traveled that way, but Rapport acknowledged the capability existed.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Flock is built as a shared network, she said, “even if that’s not how we chose to use it,” while the new system does not have third-party access built into its architecture.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Flock disputed that framing. A company spokesperson said customers control their own sharing settings, that those relationships are opt-in, and that an agency can change or revoke them at any time. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The spokesperson said Flock has since added California-specific safeguards, disabling its National Lookup feature for California agencies, blocking out-of-state discoverability and preventing new out-of-state or federal sharing arrangements. California agencies cannot use the platform to share data outside the state or with federal authorities, the company said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Flock declined to say when Stanford’s service ended or whether the university paid anything to get out of the contract, saying it does not discuss specifics of customer accounts.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Under Genetec, still images from cameras installed at campus entrances will sit in a cloud server for under an hour before moving to a server Stanford controls, where the university said it will keep them for 30 days.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rapport said cameras were not installed on university property beyond the main campus.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://police.stanford.edu/pdf/Flock%20Annual%20Report%202024-25.pdf\">university report\u003c/a> covering September 2024 through August 2025 logged 1,742 individual searches in the Flock system across 129 investigations by 20 employees, used in property crime, violent crime, and stalking cases, as well as welfare checks and missing person searches. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12067141\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hoover Tower at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The report notes no formal complaints and states that no data was given to anyone outside the university. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>DPS Chief Laura Wilson has called the cameras an important investigative tool, and the university credits them with helping arrest two serial thieves on campus.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Flock said it respects Stanford’s decision to evaluate the technology against its own policies and community priorities, but framed the loss as a setback. “When a tool that is actively helping solve violent crimes is removed, public safety moves backward,” the spokesperson said, adding that cases take longer to solve and victims wait longer for justice.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The switch lands in the middle of a regional reckoning. Santa Cruz became the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069705/santa-cruz-the-first-in-california-to-terminate-its-contract-with-flock-safety\">first California city\u003c/a> to cancel its Flock contract in January, after officials confirmed out-of-state agencies had reached its data. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12072077/as-california-cities-grow-wary-of-flock-safety-cameras-mountain-views-shuts-its-off\">Mountain View shut\u003c/a> its cameras off in February following a similar discovery. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12074467/santa-clara-county-leaders-cut-out-flock-safety-in-new-surveillance-policy\">Santa Clara County supervisors\u003c/a> amended their surveillance policy to effectively bar Flock as a vendor in Cupertino, Saratoga and Los Altos Hills. Asked whether that county action forced Stanford’s hand, Rapport said the policy does not apply to the campus.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Flock said the departures are outpaced by new business. So far this year, the company said, new city partnerships have exceeded nonrenewals by roughly seven to one.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A man with a fluorescent yellow coat holds a black machine.\" class=\"wp-image-11984097\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Flock Safety worker holds up a new automated license plate reader that was being installed in East San José on April 23, 2024. (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San José, however, decided to keep its 474 Flock cameras in March but \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12075999/san-jose-is-the-latest-bay-area-city-to-restrict-flock-license-plate-cameras\">cut default data retention \u003c/a>from a year to 30 days and barred cameras near reproductive health clinics and places of worship. The city is currently facing a lawsuit from advocates \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12080233/san-jose-residents-sue-city-saying-flock-safety-cameras-allow-mass-surveillance\">who want to end the contract outright\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nearby Palo Alto’s contract with Flock runs through December 2029, and its 30 cameras are still operating.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Meghan Horrigan-Taylor, a city spokesperson, said the city is negotiating with Flock over contract language meant to tighten the company’s obligation to secure data, and the department remains open to other vendors. The City Council will take up an independent audit of the program on Aug. 24.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Palo Alto has received no federal request for license plate data this year, she said, and shares data only through agency agreements, including one with Stanford’s police.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A\u003ca href=\"https://sanmateo.courts.ca.gov/system/files/grand-jury/auto-license-plate-readers-report.pdf\"> San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury report\u003c/a> released Aug. 3 found that at least 12 of the county’s 18 police agencies were sharing license plate data with private university security forces, naming Stanford and the University of the Pacific. The jury said none had established that a private university’s security department meets the legal definition of a public agency, the only kind of entity state law permits them to share with, and recommended they obtain a written legal determination or end the sharing.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Stanford University’s license plate cameras have been covered up and switched off since late July, when the university quietly ended its contract with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/flock-safety\">Flock Safety\u003c/a> and signed with a different vendor.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12076122\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Flock Safety license plate recognition camera is seen near the intersection of Marine Street and Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder on March 5, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Patrick Dunkley, Stanford’s vice provost for institutional equity, access and community, said in the \u003ca href=\"https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2026/08/new-license-plate-camera-company?mkt_tok=NjYwLVRKQy05ODQAAAGja9aYyq4G3yMJgV-8RVQrooM0DvbjAjxjwVHKSVzF9JN-EbTLdaSrjr0bHQtEK4Cmtxp5c672VZp20DdRyqNRzzgFFy9k23QupnBt6vo\">university’s announcement\u003c/a> that unlike Flock, the new system “is designed for use within a single institution.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12090103/get-the-flock-out-the-heated-debate-over-license-plate-readers\">Flock’s cameras\u003c/a> photograph every passing vehicle and build what the company calls a vehicle fingerprint, logging the plate along with the make, model and details like bumper stickers or dents. Those records feed a shared national database that other agencies on Flock’s network can search. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Stanford said its own data never traveled that way, but Rapport acknowledged the capability existed.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Flock is built as a shared network, she said, “even if that’s not how we chose to use it,” while the new system does not have third-party access built into its architecture.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Flock disputed that framing. A company spokesperson said customers control their own sharing settings, that those relationships are opt-in, and that an agency can change or revoke them at any time. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Flock disputed that framing. A company spokesperson said customers control their own sharing settings, that those relationships are opt-in, and that an agency can change or revoke them at any time. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The spokesperson said Flock has since added California-specific safeguards, disabling its National Lookup feature for California agencies, blocking out-of-state discoverability and preventing new out-of-state or federal sharing arrangements. California agencies cannot use the platform to share data outside the state or with federal authorities, the company said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The spokesperson said Flock has since added California-specific safeguards, disabling its National Lookup feature for California agencies, blocking out-of-state discoverability and preventing new out-of-state or federal sharing arrangements. California agencies cannot use the platform to share data outside the state or with federal authorities, the company said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Flock declined to say when Stanford’s service ended or whether the university paid anything to get out of the contract, saying it does not discuss specifics of customer accounts.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Flock declined to say when Stanford’s service ended or whether the university paid anything to get out of the contract, saying it does not discuss specifics of customer accounts.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Under Genetec, still images from cameras installed at campus entrances will sit in a cloud server for under an hour before moving to a server Stanford controls, where the university said it will keep them for 30 days.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Under Genetec, still images from cameras installed at campus entrances will sit in a cloud server for under an hour before moving to a server Stanford controls, where the university said it will keep them for 30 days.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Rapport said cameras were not installed on university property beyond the main campus.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://police.stanford.edu/pdf/Flock%20Annual%20Report%202024-25.pdf\">university report\u003c/a> covering September 2024 through August 2025 logged 1,742 individual searches in the Flock system across 129 investigations by 20 employees, used in property crime, violent crime, and stalking cases, as well as welfare checks and missing person searches. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://police.stanford.edu/pdf/Flock%20Annual%20Report%202024-25.pdf\">university report\u003c/a> covering September 2024 through August 2025 logged 1,742 individual searches in the Flock system across 129 investigations by 20 employees, used in property crime, violent crime, and stalking cases, as well as welfare checks and missing person searches. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12067141\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hoover Tower at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12067141\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hoover Tower at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The report notes no formal complaints and states that no data was given to anyone outside the university. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>DPS Chief Laura Wilson has called the cameras an important investigative tool, and the university credits them with helping arrest two serial thieves on campus.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>DPS Chief Laura Wilson has called the cameras an important investigative tool, and the university credits them with helping arrest two serial thieves on campus.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Flock said it respects Stanford’s decision to evaluate the technology against its own policies and community priorities, but framed the loss as a setback. “When a tool that is actively helping solve violent crimes is removed, public safety moves backward,” the spokesperson said, adding that cases take longer to solve and victims wait longer for justice.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Flock said it respects Stanford’s decision to evaluate the technology against its own policies and community priorities, but framed the loss as a setback. “When a tool that is actively helping solve violent crimes is removed, public safety moves backward,” the spokesperson said, adding that cases take longer to solve and victims wait longer for justice.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The switch lands in the middle of a regional reckoning. Santa Cruz became the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069705/santa-cruz-the-first-in-california-to-terminate-its-contract-with-flock-safety\">first California city\u003c/a> to cancel its Flock contract in January, after officials confirmed out-of-state agencies had reached its data. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The switch lands in the middle of a regional reckoning. Santa Cruz became the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069705/santa-cruz-the-first-in-california-to-terminate-its-contract-with-flock-safety\">first California city\u003c/a> to cancel its Flock contract in January, after officials confirmed out-of-state agencies had reached its data. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12072077/as-california-cities-grow-wary-of-flock-safety-cameras-mountain-views-shuts-its-off\">Mountain View shut\u003c/a> its cameras off in February following a similar discovery. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12074467/santa-clara-county-leaders-cut-out-flock-safety-in-new-surveillance-policy\">Santa Clara County supervisors\u003c/a> amended their surveillance policy to effectively bar Flock as a vendor in Cupertino, Saratoga and Los Altos Hills. Asked whether that county action forced Stanford’s hand, Rapport said the policy does not apply to the campus.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12072077/as-california-cities-grow-wary-of-flock-safety-cameras-mountain-views-shuts-its-off\">Mountain View shut\u003c/a> its cameras off in February following a similar discovery. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12074467/santa-clara-county-leaders-cut-out-flock-safety-in-new-surveillance-policy\">Santa Clara County supervisors\u003c/a> amended their surveillance policy to effectively bar Flock as a vendor in Cupertino, Saratoga and Los Altos Hills. Asked whether that county action forced Stanford’s hand, Rapport said the policy does not apply to the campus.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Flock said the departures are outpaced by new business. So far this year, the company said, new city partnerships have exceeded nonrenewals by roughly seven to one.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Flock said the departures are outpaced by new business. So far this year, the company said, new city partnerships have exceeded nonrenewals by roughly seven to one.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A man with a fluorescent yellow coat holds a black machine.\" class=\"wp-image-11984097\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Flock Safety worker holds up a new automated license plate reader that was being installed in East San José on April 23, 2024.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A man with a fluorescent yellow coat holds a black machine.\" class=\"wp-image-11984097\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Flock Safety worker holds up a new automated license plate reader that was being installed in East San José on April 23, 2024.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>San José, however, decided to keep its 474 Flock cameras in March but \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12075999/san-jose-is-the-latest-bay-area-city-to-restrict-flock-license-plate-cameras\">cut default data retention \u003c/a>from a year to 30 days and barred cameras near reproductive health clinics and places of worship. The city is currently facing a lawsuit from advocates \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12080233/san-jose-residents-sue-city-saying-flock-safety-cameras-allow-mass-surveillance\">who want to end the contract outright\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>San José, however, decided to keep its 474 Flock cameras in March but \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12075999/san-jose-is-the-latest-bay-area-city-to-restrict-flock-license-plate-cameras\">cut default data retention \u003c/a>from a year to 30 days and barred cameras near reproductive health clinics and places of worship. The city is currently facing a lawsuit from advocates \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12080233/san-jose-residents-sue-city-saying-flock-safety-cameras-allow-mass-surveillance\">who want to end the contract outright\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Nearby Palo Alto’s contract with Flock runs through December 2029, and its 30 cameras are still operating.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Nearby Palo Alto’s contract with Flock runs through December 2029, and its 30 cameras are still operating.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Meghan Horrigan-Taylor, a city spokesperson, said the city is negotiating with Flock over contract language meant to tighten the company’s obligation to secure data, and the department remains open to other vendors. The City Council will take up an independent audit of the program on Aug. 24.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Meghan Horrigan-Taylor, a city spokesperson, said the city is negotiating with Flock over contract language meant to tighten the company’s obligation to secure data, and the department remains open to other vendors. The City Council will take up an independent audit of the program on Aug. 24.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Palo Alto has received no federal request for license plate data this year, she said, and shares data only through agency agreements, including one with Stanford’s police.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Palo Alto has received no federal request for license plate data this year, she said, and shares data only through agency agreements, including one with Stanford’s police.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A\u003ca href=\"https://sanmateo.courts.ca.gov/system/files/grand-jury/auto-license-plate-readers-report.pdf\"> San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury report\u003c/a> released Aug. 3 found that at least 12 of the county’s 18 police agencies were sharing license plate data with private university security forces, naming Stanford and the University of the Pacific. The jury said none had established that a private university’s security department meets the legal definition of a public agency, the only kind of entity state law permits them to share with, and recommended they obtain a written legal determination or end the sharing.\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Stanford University’s license plate cameras have been covered up and switched off since late July, when the university quietly ended its contract with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/flock-safety\">Flock Safety\u003c/a> and signed with a different vendor.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The replacement, a system called Genetec Cloudrunner, is scheduled to be installed by early September, along with new solar hardware, said Luisa Rapport, a Stanford spokesperson. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The change was influenced by the desire to balance the privacy of our community with access by Stanford’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) to an important tool that supports the safety of our campus,” Rapport said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12076122\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Flock Safety license plate recognition camera is seen near the intersection of Marine Street and Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder on March 5, 2026. (Matthew Jonas/MediaNews Group/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Patrick Dunkley, Stanford’s vice provost for institutional equity, access and community, said in the \u003ca href=\"https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2026/08/new-license-plate-camera-company?mkt_tok=NjYwLVRKQy05ODQAAAGja9aYyq4G3yMJgV-8RVQrooM0DvbjAjxjwVHKSVzF9JN-EbTLdaSrjr0bHQtEK4Cmtxp5c672VZp20DdRyqNRzzgFFy9k23QupnBt6vo\">university’s announcement\u003c/a> that unlike Flock, the new system “is designed for use within a single institution.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12090103/get-the-flock-out-the-heated-debate-over-license-plate-readers\">Flock’s cameras\u003c/a> photograph every passing vehicle and build what the company calls a vehicle fingerprint, logging the plate along with the make, model and details like bumper stickers or dents. Those records feed a shared national database that other agencies on Flock’s network can search. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stanford said its own data never traveled that way, but Rapport acknowledged the capability existed.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Flock is built as a shared network, she said, “even if that’s not how we chose to use it,” while the new system does not have third-party access built into its architecture.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Flock disputed that framing. A company spokesperson said customers control their own sharing settings, that those relationships are opt-in, and that an agency can change or revoke them at any time. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The spokesperson said Flock has since added California-specific safeguards, disabling its National Lookup feature for California agencies, blocking out-of-state discoverability and preventing new out-of-state or federal sharing arrangements. California agencies cannot use the platform to share data outside the state or with federal authorities, the company said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Flock declined to say when Stanford’s service ended or whether the university paid anything to get out of the contract, saying it does not discuss specifics of customer accounts.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Under Genetec, still images from cameras installed at campus entrances will sit in a cloud server for under an hour before moving to a server Stanford controls, where the university said it will keep them for 30 days.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rapport said cameras were not installed on university property beyond the main campus.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://police.stanford.edu/pdf/Flock%20Annual%20Report%202024-25.pdf\">university report\u003c/a> covering September 2024 through August 2025 logged 1,742 individual searches in the Flock system across 129 investigations by 20 employees, used in property crime, violent crime, and stalking cases, as well as welfare checks and missing person searches. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12067141\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hoover Tower at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The report notes no formal complaints and states that no data was given to anyone outside the university. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>DPS Chief Laura Wilson has called the cameras an important investigative tool, and the university credits them with helping arrest two serial thieves on campus.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Flock said it respects Stanford’s decision to evaluate the technology against its own policies and community priorities, but framed the loss as a setback. “When a tool that is actively helping solve violent crimes is removed, public safety moves backward,” the spokesperson said, adding that cases take longer to solve and victims wait longer for justice.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The switch lands in the middle of a regional reckoning. Santa Cruz became the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069705/santa-cruz-the-first-in-california-to-terminate-its-contract-with-flock-safety\">first California city\u003c/a> to cancel its Flock contract in January, after officials confirmed out-of-state agencies had reached its data. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12072077/as-california-cities-grow-wary-of-flock-safety-cameras-mountain-views-shuts-its-off\">Mountain View shut\u003c/a> its cameras off in February following a similar discovery. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12074467/santa-clara-county-leaders-cut-out-flock-safety-in-new-surveillance-policy\">Santa Clara County supervisors\u003c/a> amended their surveillance policy to effectively bar Flock as a vendor in Cupertino, Saratoga and Los Altos Hills. Asked whether that county action forced Stanford’s hand, Rapport said the policy does not apply to the campus.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Flock said the departures are outpaced by new business. So far this year, the company said, new city partnerships have exceeded nonrenewals by roughly seven to one.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A man with a fluorescent yellow coat holds a black machine.\" class=\"wp-image-11984097\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/SAN-JOSE-LICENSE-PLATE-READERS-11-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Flock Safety worker holds up a new automated license plate reader that was being installed in East San José on April 23, 2024. (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San José, however, decided to keep its 474 Flock cameras in March but \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12075999/san-jose-is-the-latest-bay-area-city-to-restrict-flock-license-plate-cameras\">cut default data retention \u003c/a>from a year to 30 days and barred cameras near reproductive health clinics and places of worship. The city is currently facing a lawsuit from advocates \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12080233/san-jose-residents-sue-city-saying-flock-safety-cameras-allow-mass-surveillance\">who want to end the contract outright\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nearby Palo Alto’s contract with Flock runs through December 2029, and its 30 cameras are still operating.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Meghan Horrigan-Taylor, a city spokesperson, said the city is negotiating with Flock over contract language meant to tighten the company’s obligation to secure data, and the department remains open to other vendors. The City Council will take up an independent audit of the program on Aug. 24.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Palo Alto has received no federal request for license plate data this year, she said, and shares data only through agency agreements, including one with Stanford’s police.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A\u003ca href=\"https://sanmateo.courts.ca.gov/system/files/grand-jury/auto-license-plate-readers-report.pdf\"> San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury report\u003c/a> released Aug. 3 found that at least 12 of the county’s 18 police agencies were sharing license plate data with private university security forces, naming Stanford and the University of the Pacific. The jury said none had established that a private university’s security department meets the legal definition of a public agency, the only kind of entity state law permits them to share with, and recommended they obtain a written legal determination or end the sharing.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "how-two-exiled-russian-journalists-took-refuge-in-the-bay-area",
"title": "How 2 Exiled Russian Journalists Took Refuge in the Bay Area",
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"headTitle": "How 2 Exiled Russian Journalists Took Refuge in the Bay Area | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>Roman Badanin was at home in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area\">Bay Area\u003c/a> seven months ago when he heard a knock on his door. To the independent Russian journalist’s surprise, two FBI agents had come to see him in the middle of the day.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He was not in any trouble locally, the agents said. They had come to inform him that he was likely a person of interest for a foreign intelligence service.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin could imagine what country they were talking about, the agents said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Although an FBI visit was a “new experience” for Badanin, the Russian state’s intrusion into his life was not.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Since 2018, he has served as editor-in-chief and founder of Proekt, an independent media outlet known for publishing bold investigations into Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian state. Those stories, he said, have often led the Kremlin and powerful elites to intimidate and weaponize the law against staff members.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-Russian-journalists-STANFORD-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091595\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-Russian-journalists-STANFORD-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-Russian-journalists-STANFORD-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-Russian-journalists-STANFORD-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Journalist Mikhail Rubin completed a fellowship at Stanford University after fleeing Russia. (Courtesy of George Porteous)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In 2021, Russian authorities raided Badanin and his colleagues’ apartments in Moscow. Only a few weeks later, the state designated Proekt’s journalists “foreign agents” under a law that Putin has used to punish dissent. To save themselves from imprisonment or worse, many made the difficult decision to leave their country.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Almost five years later, Badanin and his deputy editor, Mikhail Rubin, were able to recount the raids from the relative safety of Northern California. The John S. Knight (JSK) journalism fellowship at Stanford University created an opportunity for them to move here with their young families and continue investigative reporting.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the FBI visit came as a reminder of the Russian state’s watchful eye — even on the other side of the world — and the dangers of returning home.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Today, Proekt’s full-time staff of 17 people is scattered across the world.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Their situation is typical for independent journalists from Russia, which consistently \u003ca href=\"https://rsf.org/en/2026-rsf-index-press-freedom-25-year-low\">ranks\u003c/a> near the bottom of global press freedom rankings. According to Reporters Without Borders, nearly 50 journalists are currently jailed inside the country, while almost 70 exiles have been \u003ca href=\"https://rsf.org/en/exiled-convicted-surveilled-how-russia-has-prosecuted-nearly-70-journalists-beyond-its-borders\">prosecuted\u003c/a> in absentia. Dozens of reporters have been \u003ca href=\"https://cpj.org/reports/2006/11/russia-murders/\">murdered\u003c/a> or killed in suspicious \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2018/04/21/604497554/why-do-russian-journalists-keep-falling\">falls\u003c/a> from windows or balconies over the past few decades.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin, 49, and Rubin, 38, described their predicament with a mix of humor and malaise, acknowledging the high price they’ve paid for their work.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Most [exiled journalists] are depressed, totally unhappy,” Rubin said. “It’s stupid to be covering your country from Europe, from the States, from wherever. It’s definitely way better than being in prison, but this is it.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Kremlin blocks their website inside Russia, as well as internet platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook and YouTube, which Proekt has relied on to engage audiences. With little access to on-the-ground reporting, gathering information about Russia has never been more difficult.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Whatever work used to take us one week, now takes a month,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yet producing independent journalism for Russian audiences still motivates Badanin and Rubin.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Alongside a daily news sub-outlet named Agentstvo or “Agency” — a play on the “foreign agent” designation — Proekt’s investigative work has continued. The team increasingly relies on leaks and data while taking precautions to protect sources.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In November 2025, they \u003ca href=\"https://www.proekt.media/guide/otsy-i-dedy/\">published\u003c/a> a sweeping investigation of nepotism and extreme wealth among Russia’s elite, tracking over 1,000 government officials.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I still love this job,” Badanin said. “If I can enter Russia safely and not be arrested, I would do a lot of good things as a journalist being inside.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But trying to raise his children there is another story. “I’m not ready to bet all I have on this trip,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A winding path to journalism\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin never expected to become a journalist as a young man. He saw it as an unserious path compared to the rigor of history, his chosen field at Moscow State University, where he studied medieval Spain.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But when he entered Russia’s turbulent economy during the 1990s, his only way of making a living was working at the news website Gazeta.ru.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I realized I [could] talk to real people about their real problems in real time,” he said. “I fell in love with journalism.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For his part, Rubin took an early interest in politics, despite his father’s wishes for him to become a scientist. When his father brought up physics on long walks together, Rubin remembers feeling “terribly bored.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’m stupid in these things,” he said. “Understood nothing. But the moment he started talking to me about politics, about history — I think I was 7 or 8 — I was so interested in what he was telling me.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Later, as an undergraduate at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow, Rubin chose to study journalism, which he jokingly calls “the worst decision in my life.” Beginning in the aughts, he reported extensively on the Kremlin for Russian outlets like Izvestia and RBC.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a shift from the relative openness that followed the Soviet collapse, the early 2000s brought signs of weakening press freedom in Russia.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin lost his job at Gazeta.ru in 2011 when the Kremlin expressed disappointment in the outlet’s coverage of parliamentary elections. Putin returned to the presidency the following year, intensifying Russia’s authoritarian turn.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As domestic political freedoms steadily vanished and Russia’s foreign policy became increasingly aggressive, Badanin moved from outlet to outlet.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As editor-in-chief of RBC, Russia’s largest media holding, Badanin faced the Kremlin’s wrath for covering the annexation of Crimea. He and his colleagues were fired after publishing an investigation into the massive wealth of Putin’s daughter.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin’s final role before he first came to Stanford was as editor-in-chief of TV Rain, a young, independent television channel. But he sensed the outlet would soon be punished, shuttered or bought out by the Kremlin.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I perfectly understood that my time in Russia, basically, is limited,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He knew his RBC colleague Elizaveta Osetinskaya had once been a JSK Fellow at Stanford. The program seemed like an ideal opportunity to learn about tech and media, while finding a new path if his worst fears were realized.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When he arrived on campus in 2017, he remembers being struck by Silicon Valley’s diversity and dynamism. At the same time, he began to recognize the struggle for press freedom as a global one, including the decline of local journalism in the United States.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We have a saying in Russian, ‘to wear pink sunglasses,’ which means to see everything better than it is,” he said. “That was my feeling when I came to the U.S. … One day, I realized that not everything is as cool as I imagined it before.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As the yearlong fellowship came to an end, he learned he was the subject of a criminal investigation in Russia over alleged defamation, which carries a punishment of prison time. A man close to Putin had filed the charges in what Badanin believed was retaliation for an investigation he published.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00183_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12067139\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00183_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00183_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00183_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A view of Memorial Court through arches at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The fellowship permitted Badanin to extend his stay at Stanford, given the risks he faced at home. He spent that time working remotely with colleagues in Russia.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Still, he was eager to return to Moscow. When the defamation charges expired, he did just that, founding Proekt in 2018.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The next few years were some of the most productive for Badanin and Rubin, who first met while both worked at Gazeta.ru in the early 2010s. They dedicated themselves to writing taboo stories that few other outlets would touch, covering corruption, killings and crimes by state-related actors.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But as the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 drew near, Russia’s crackdown on journalists and internet freedom escalated.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The decision to flee \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The summer of 2021 brought an end to Proekt’s work inside the country.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin was asleep when the raid on his Moscow apartment began at 6 a.m. on June 29. About 10 men — Russian law enforcement and Federal Security Service (FSB) agents — arrived with orders.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It was clear that they wanted to intimidate us, to threaten us, to give us a feeling that we need to, at best, flee Russia, or to stop doing what we were doing,” Badanin said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-RussianJournalistsExile-07-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091714\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-RussianJournalistsExile-07-BL_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-RussianJournalistsExile-07-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-RussianJournalistsExile-07-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Roman Badanin at Stanford University in Stanford on July 17, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As the men burst into the home Badanin shared with his wife, their 5-month-old daughter began to cry.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It was not uncommon for Russian security services to conduct these kinds of searches in the early morning — the tradition had been inherited from Stalinism. Showing up early ensured that agents would find their targets asleep and likely disorient them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin was shocked and furious. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“What are you doing in my house at this early time?” he said, confronting the men. Only later did he realize his luck not to be killed, poisoned or imprisoned for life. “At that exact moment, my fate was decided,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The men began to confiscate electronics and CDs from the apartment. One agent, speaking to his superior over the phone, received approval to seize an expired Bank of America credit card.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They went on to interrogate Badanin, focusing in part on his ties to the United States.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That same morning, in another part of Moscow, Rubin received a text from Maria Zholobova, another member of Proekt. Police were pounding on her door, she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He hurried in a taxi to Zholobova’s home. From messages with a lawyer and his colleagues, the orchestrated nature of the raids was becoming clear. Badanin was not responding. “I should have understood that I would be next,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A car filled with police was waiting for Rubin when he arrived at Zholobova’s building. Several burst out of the vehicle, shouting, “Stop, buster, don’t move.” None wore uniforms.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They looked like criminals,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For the rest of the day, Rubin \u003ca href=\"https://cpj.org/2021/06/russian-police-interrogate-3-journalists-with-investigative-outlet-proekt-raid-apartments/\">endured\u003c/a> mind-numbing interrogations, searches and bureaucratic absurdities, going hours without hearing a concrete charge against him. Authorities took his laptop.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Their final move before leaving was to place Rubin’s passport down on the table in front of him. “It was a very clear signal,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ten days after the interrogations, Badanin flew with his family to Morocco for a pre-planned vacation. Rubin took charge of Proekt’s staff in Moscow. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1311\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/RussiaGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091716\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/RussiaGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/RussiaGetty-160x105.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/RussiaGetty-1536x1007.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People walk along the Floating Bridge over the Moskva River against the backdrop of the Moscow Kremlin tower and St. Basil’s Cathedral on June 29, 2026, in Moscow, Russia. (Contributor/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One evening, news broke that the Russian Federation had classified Proekt as an “undesirable organization” and Badanin and Rubin as “foreign agents.” Rubin’s colleagues urged him to leave the country. One journalist associated with the Kremlin who Rubin knew personally warned him he could be arrested. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think that was a provocation, but who knows,” Rubin said. The next morning, he boarded a flight to the United States with a small bag and a ticket purchased by his brother, who lived in America.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin did not learn of the designations until he reached a small village in the Saharan desert and regained WiFi access. Returning to Russia now posed the immediate risk of imprisonment. While his wife and sons returned to Moscow to pick up his baby daughter, he flew to New York City using an American visa, bringing only a backpack. He and Rubin reunited there, making plans to continue Proekt’s work.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Then came a lucky offer: JSK invited Badanin to return to Stanford as a senior fellow.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It was not a difficult offer to accept. “I needed a place just to settle,” he said. Five years later, he has held several roles at Stanford and remains in Northern California with his family.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rubin’s path to the Bay Area was less direct.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He lived with a friend in Los Angeles before moving to Tbilisi, Georgia, for a year, where Rubin met his wife, who was on vacation from Russia.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rubin returned to the U.S. with her by his side, beginning a fellowship in Washington, D.C. After Rubin applied for and won the JSK fellowship in 2024, the couple made a cross-country road trip. Nine months later, their son was born at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Adjusting to life in the Bay Area\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Bay Area brought a different pace of life for Badanin and Rubin. Although raising children and the complexity of their work left little free time, both men came to enjoy California’s natural beauty and national parks.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’m in love with sequoias and redwoods,” Rubin said. “I love when things are big.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The state’s forgiving climate is another perk compared with frigid Moscow. “I always hated running before I came here, but with this climate, you don’t have an excuse,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Just as Badanin discovered in 2017, a two-year JSK fellowship gave Rubin time to improve his education, a lifelong goal. His classes ranged from history to politics, theatrical improv and public speaking at the business school.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When Badanin and Rubin came to the Bay Area, they joined a wider community of politically like-minded Russian emigrants who have settled here in recent years. Many connect over Telegram channels to share immigration advice and organize social events.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The Bay Area is not the first destination, because it’s quite far and not easy to get access to the U.S.A.,” said Emil Kamalov, a postdoctoral fellow and political scientist at Stanford \u003ca href=\"https://outrush.io/eng\">researching\u003c/a> political emigration out of Russia. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Based on his survey data, however, around 40% of those who have left Russia since 2022 are connected to the IT sector, with the Bay Area as a “very obvious destination for this.” Tighter internet restrictions and Western sanctions following the full-scale invasion have \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/13/technology/russia-tech-workers.html\">driven\u003c/a> a “brain drain” of Russian tech companies and workers out of the country.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Other emigrants were drawn by academic opportunities at Stanford and the University of California, including Kamalov himself. “That’s a brain drain,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Stanford’s Russian-speaking community is composed of “amazing people,” Rubin said. “Language does matter.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin, however, draws a distinction between himself and Russians who moved to the Bay Area for high-paying jobs in tech. “It’s very difficult to find a common ground with many of them, because the vast majority of them came here voluntarily,” he said. “I came here involuntarily…I had to do that. I’m not a software engineer.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Proekt’s work to engage ordinary Russians remains their focus, despite an uncertain future. While Badanin now holds a green card, Rubin’s fellowship with JSK ended this summer. For now, he and his wife have embarked on a move to the East Coast.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In April, Russia \u003ca href=\"https://stanforddaily.com/2026/04/15/russia-undesirable-label/\">labeled\u003c/a> Stanford University with the same “undesirable” designation as Proekt. Perhaps Badanin and Rubin really had found a new home.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>George Porteous is editor-in-chief of The Stanford Daily.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He was not in any trouble locally, the agents said. They had come to inform him that he was likely a person of interest for a foreign intelligence service.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Badanin could imagine what country they were talking about, the agents said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Although an FBI visit was a “new experience” for Badanin, the Russian state’s intrusion into his life was not.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Since 2018, he has served as editor-in-chief and founder of Proekt, an independent media outlet known for publishing bold investigations into Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian state. Those stories, he said, have often led the Kremlin and powerful elites to intimidate and weaponize the law against staff members.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-Russian-journalists-STANFORD-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091595\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-Russian-journalists-STANFORD-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-Russian-journalists-STANFORD-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-Russian-journalists-STANFORD-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Journalist Mikhail Rubin completed a fellowship at Stanford University after fleeing Russia.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-Russian-journalists-STANFORD-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091595\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Journalist Mikhail Rubin completed a fellowship at Stanford University after fleeing Russia.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In 2021, Russian authorities raided Badanin and his colleagues’ apartments in Moscow. Only a few weeks later, the state designated Proekt’s journalists “foreign agents” under a law that Putin has used to punish dissent. To save themselves from imprisonment or worse, many made the difficult decision to leave their country.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Almost five years later, Badanin and his deputy editor, Mikhail Rubin, were able to recount the raids from the relative safety of Northern California. The John S. Knight (JSK) journalism fellowship at Stanford University created an opportunity for them to move here with their young families and continue investigative reporting.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Almost five years later, Badanin and his deputy editor, Mikhail Rubin, were able to recount the raids from the relative safety of Northern California. The John S. Knight (JSK) journalism fellowship at Stanford University created an opportunity for them to move here with their young families and continue investigative reporting.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But the FBI visit came as a reminder of the Russian state’s watchful eye — even on the other side of the world — and the dangers of returning home.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Today, Proekt’s full-time staff of 17 people is scattered across the world.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Their situation is typical for independent journalists from Russia, which consistently \u003ca href=\"https://rsf.org/en/2026-rsf-index-press-freedom-25-year-low\">ranks\u003c/a> near the bottom of global press freedom rankings. According to Reporters Without Borders, nearly 50 journalists are currently jailed inside the country, while almost 70 exiles have been \u003ca href=\"https://rsf.org/en/exiled-convicted-surveilled-how-russia-has-prosecuted-nearly-70-journalists-beyond-its-borders\">prosecuted\u003c/a> in absentia. Dozens of reporters have been \u003ca href=\"https://cpj.org/reports/2006/11/russia-murders/\">murdered\u003c/a> or killed in suspicious \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2018/04/21/604497554/why-do-russian-journalists-keep-falling\">falls\u003c/a> from windows or balconies over the past few decades.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Their situation is typical for independent journalists from Russia, which consistently \u003ca href=\"https://rsf.org/en/2026-rsf-index-press-freedom-25-year-low\">ranks\u003c/a> near the bottom of global press freedom rankings. According to Reporters Without Borders, nearly 50 journalists are currently jailed inside the country, while almost 70 exiles have been \u003ca href=\"https://rsf.org/en/exiled-convicted-surveilled-how-russia-has-prosecuted-nearly-70-journalists-beyond-its-borders\">prosecuted\u003c/a> in absentia. Dozens of reporters have been \u003ca href=\"https://cpj.org/reports/2006/11/russia-murders/\">murdered\u003c/a> or killed in suspicious \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2018/04/21/604497554/why-do-russian-journalists-keep-falling\">falls\u003c/a> from windows or balconies over the past few decades.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Badanin, 49, and Rubin, 38, described their predicament with a mix of humor and malaise, acknowledging the high price they’ve paid for their work.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Most [exiled journalists] are depressed, totally unhappy,” Rubin said. “It’s stupid to be covering your country from Europe, from the States, from wherever. It’s definitely way better than being in prison, but this is it.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Most [exiled journalists] are depressed, totally unhappy,” Rubin said. “It’s stupid to be covering your country from Europe, from the States, from wherever. It’s definitely way better than being in prison, but this is it.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Kremlin blocks their website inside Russia, as well as internet platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook and YouTube, which Proekt has relied on to engage audiences. With little access to on-the-ground reporting, gathering information about Russia has never been more difficult.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The Kremlin blocks their website inside Russia, as well as internet platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook and YouTube, which Proekt has relied on to engage audiences. With little access to on-the-ground reporting, gathering information about Russia has never been more difficult.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Whatever work used to take us one week, now takes a month,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Yet producing independent journalism for Russian audiences still motivates Badanin and Rubin.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Alongside a daily news sub-outlet named Agentstvo or “Agency” — a play on the “foreign agent” designation — Proekt’s investigative work has continued. The team increasingly relies on leaks and data while taking precautions to protect sources.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Alongside a daily news sub-outlet named Agentstvo or “Agency” — a play on the “foreign agent” designation — Proekt’s investigative work has continued. The team increasingly relies on leaks and data while taking precautions to protect sources.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In November 2025, they \u003ca href=\"https://www.proekt.media/guide/otsy-i-dedy/\">published\u003c/a> a sweeping investigation of nepotism and extreme wealth among Russia’s elite, tracking over 1,000 government officials.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In November 2025, they \u003ca href=\"https://www.proekt.media/guide/otsy-i-dedy/\">published\u003c/a> a sweeping investigation of nepotism and extreme wealth among Russia’s elite, tracking over 1,000 government officials.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I still love this job,” Badanin said. “If I can enter Russia safely and not be arrested, I would do a lot of good things as a journalist being inside.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But trying to raise his children there is another story. “I’m not ready to bet all I have on this trip,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"text": "A winding path to journalism",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Badanin never expected to become a journalist as a young man. He saw it as an unserious path compared to the rigor of history, his chosen field at Moscow State University, where he studied medieval Spain.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But when he entered Russia’s turbulent economy during the 1990s, his only way of making a living was working at the news website Gazeta.ru.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I realized I [could] talk to real people about their real problems in real time,” he said. “I fell in love with journalism.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For his part, Rubin took an early interest in politics, despite his father’s wishes for him to become a scientist. When his father brought up physics on long walks together, Rubin remembers feeling “terribly bored.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I’m stupid in these things,” he said. “Understood nothing. But the moment he started talking to me about politics, about history — I think I was 7 or 8 — I was so interested in what he was telling me.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I’m stupid in these things,” he said. “Understood nothing. But the moment he started talking to me about politics, about history — I think I was 7 or 8 — I was so interested in what he was telling me.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Later, as an undergraduate at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow, Rubin chose to study journalism, which he jokingly calls “the worst decision in my life.” Beginning in the aughts, he reported extensively on the Kremlin for Russian outlets like Izvestia and RBC.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Later, as an undergraduate at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow, Rubin chose to study journalism, which he jokingly calls “the worst decision in my life.” Beginning in the aughts, he reported extensively on the Kremlin for Russian outlets like Izvestia and RBC.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In a shift from the relative openness that followed the Soviet collapse, the early 2000s brought signs of weakening press freedom in Russia.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Badanin lost his job at Gazeta.ru in 2011 when the Kremlin expressed disappointment in the outlet’s coverage of parliamentary elections. Putin returned to the presidency the following year, intensifying Russia’s authoritarian turn.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As domestic political freedoms steadily vanished and Russia’s foreign policy became increasingly aggressive, Badanin moved from outlet to outlet.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As editor-in-chief of RBC, Russia’s largest media holding, Badanin faced the Kremlin’s wrath for covering the annexation of Crimea. He and his colleagues were fired after publishing an investigation into the massive wealth of Putin’s daughter.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Badanin’s final role before he first came to Stanford was as editor-in-chief of TV Rain, a young, independent television channel. But he sensed the outlet would soon be punished, shuttered or bought out by the Kremlin.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He knew his RBC colleague Elizaveta Osetinskaya had once been a JSK Fellow at Stanford. The program seemed like an ideal opportunity to learn about tech and media, while finding a new path if his worst fears were realized.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>When he arrived on campus in 2017, he remembers being struck by Silicon Valley’s diversity and dynamism. At the same time, he began to recognize the struggle for press freedom as a global one, including the decline of local journalism in the United States.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We have a saying in Russian, ‘to wear pink sunglasses,’ which means to see everything better than it is,” he said. “That was my feeling when I came to the U.S. … One day, I realized that not everything is as cool as I imagined it before.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We have a saying in Russian, ‘to wear pink sunglasses,’ which means to see everything better than it is,” he said. “That was my feeling when I came to the U.S. … One day, I realized that not everything is as cool as I imagined it before.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As the yearlong fellowship came to an end, he learned he was the subject of a criminal investigation in Russia over alleged defamation, which carries a punishment of prison time. A man close to Putin had filed the charges in what Badanin believed was retaliation for an investigation he published.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00183_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12067139\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00183_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00183_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00183_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A view of Memorial Court through arches at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00183_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12067139\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A view of Memorial Court through arches at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The fellowship permitted Badanin to extend his stay at Stanford, given the risks he faced at home. He spent that time working remotely with colleagues in Russia.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Still, he was eager to return to Moscow. When the defamation charges expired, he did just that, founding Proekt in 2018.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Still, he was eager to return to Moscow. When the defamation charges expired, he did just that, founding Proekt in 2018.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The next few years were some of the most productive for Badanin and Rubin, who first met while both worked at Gazeta.ru in the early 2010s. They dedicated themselves to writing taboo stories that few other outlets would touch, covering corruption, killings and crimes by state-related actors.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The next few years were some of the most productive for Badanin and Rubin, who first met while both worked at Gazeta.ru in the early 2010s. They dedicated themselves to writing taboo stories that few other outlets would touch, covering corruption, killings and crimes by state-related actors.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But as the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 drew near, Russia’s crackdown on journalists and internet freedom escalated.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But as the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 drew near, Russia’s crackdown on journalists and internet freedom escalated.\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "The decision to flee ",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The decision to flee \u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The decision to flee \u003c/h2>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The summer of 2021 brought an end to Proekt’s work inside the country.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The summer of 2021 brought an end to Proekt’s work inside the country.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Badanin was asleep when the raid on his Moscow apartment began at 6 a.m. on June 29. About 10 men — Russian law enforcement and Federal Security Service (FSB) agents — arrived with orders.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Badanin was asleep when the raid on his Moscow apartment began at 6 a.m. on June 29. About 10 men — Russian law enforcement and Federal Security Service (FSB) agents — arrived with orders.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It was clear that they wanted to intimidate us, to threaten us, to give us a feeling that we need to, at best, flee Russia, or to stop doing what we were doing,” Badanin said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It was clear that they wanted to intimidate us, to threaten us, to give us a feeling that we need to, at best, flee Russia, or to stop doing what we were doing,” Badanin said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-RussianJournalistsExile-07-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091714\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-RussianJournalistsExile-07-BL_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-RussianJournalistsExile-07-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-RussianJournalistsExile-07-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Roman Badanin at Stanford University in Stanford on July 17, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-RussianJournalistsExile-07-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091714\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Roman Badanin at Stanford University in Stanford on July 17, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As the men burst into the home Badanin shared with his wife, their 5-month-old daughter began to cry.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>As the men burst into the home Badanin shared with his wife, their 5-month-old daughter began to cry.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It was not uncommon for Russian security services to conduct these kinds of searches in the early morning — the tradition had been inherited from Stalinism. Showing up early ensured that agents would find their targets asleep and likely disorient them.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>It was not uncommon for Russian security services to conduct these kinds of searches in the early morning — the tradition had been inherited from Stalinism. Showing up early ensured that agents would find their targets asleep and likely disorient them.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Badanin was shocked and furious. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“What are you doing in my house at this early time?” he said, confronting the men. Only later did he realize his luck not to be killed, poisoned or imprisoned for life. “At that exact moment, my fate was decided,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“What are you doing in my house at this early time?” he said, confronting the men. Only later did he realize his luck not to be killed, poisoned or imprisoned for life. “At that exact moment, my fate was decided,” he said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The men began to confiscate electronics and CDs from the apartment. One agent, speaking to his superior over the phone, received approval to seize an expired Bank of America credit card.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The men began to confiscate electronics and CDs from the apartment. One agent, speaking to his superior over the phone, received approval to seize an expired Bank of America credit card.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>They went on to interrogate Badanin, focusing in part on his ties to the United States.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>They went on to interrogate Badanin, focusing in part on his ties to the United States.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That same morning, in another part of Moscow, Rubin received a text from Maria Zholobova, another member of Proekt. Police were pounding on her door, she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>That same morning, in another part of Moscow, Rubin received a text from Maria Zholobova, another member of Proekt. Police were pounding on her door, she said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He hurried in a taxi to Zholobova’s home. From messages with a lawyer and his colleagues, the orchestrated nature of the raids was becoming clear. Badanin was not responding. “I should have understood that I would be next,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>He hurried in a taxi to Zholobova’s home. From messages with a lawyer and his colleagues, the orchestrated nature of the raids was becoming clear. Badanin was not responding. “I should have understood that I would be next,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A car filled with police was waiting for Rubin when he arrived at Zholobova’s building. Several burst out of the vehicle, shouting, “Stop, buster, don’t move.” None wore uniforms.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>A car filled with police was waiting for Rubin when he arrived at Zholobova’s building. Several burst out of the vehicle, shouting, “Stop, buster, don’t move.” None wore uniforms.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“They looked like criminals,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“They looked like criminals,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For the rest of the day, Rubin \u003ca href=\"https://cpj.org/2021/06/russian-police-interrogate-3-journalists-with-investigative-outlet-proekt-raid-apartments/\">endured\u003c/a> mind-numbing interrogations, searches and bureaucratic absurdities, going hours without hearing a concrete charge against him. Authorities took his laptop.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For the rest of the day, Rubin \u003ca href=\"https://cpj.org/2021/06/russian-police-interrogate-3-journalists-with-investigative-outlet-proekt-raid-apartments/\">endured\u003c/a> mind-numbing interrogations, searches and bureaucratic absurdities, going hours without hearing a concrete charge against him. Authorities took his laptop.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Their final move before leaving was to place Rubin’s passport down on the table in front of him. “It was a very clear signal,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Their final move before leaving was to place Rubin’s passport down on the table in front of him. “It was a very clear signal,” he said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Ten days after the interrogations, Badanin flew with his family to Morocco for a pre-planned vacation. Rubin took charge of Proekt’s staff in Moscow. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Ten days after the interrogations, Badanin flew with his family to Morocco for a pre-planned vacation. Rubin took charge of Proekt’s staff in Moscow. \u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/RussiaGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/RussiaGetty-160x105.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/RussiaGetty-1536x1007.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/RussiaGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091716\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/RussiaGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/RussiaGetty-160x105.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/RussiaGetty-1536x1007.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People walk along the Floating Bridge over the Moskva River against the backdrop of the Moscow Kremlin tower and St. Basil’s Cathedral on June 29, 2026, in Moscow, Russia. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/RussiaGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091716\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People walk along the Floating Bridge over the Moskva River against the backdrop of the Moscow Kremlin tower and St. Basil’s Cathedral on June 29, 2026, in Moscow, Russia. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>One evening, news broke that the Russian Federation had classified Proekt as an “undesirable organization” and Badanin and Rubin as “foreign agents.” Rubin’s colleagues urged him to leave the country. One journalist associated with the Kremlin who Rubin knew personally warned him he could be arrested. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>One evening, news broke that the Russian Federation had classified Proekt as an “undesirable organization” and Badanin and Rubin as “foreign agents.” Rubin’s colleagues urged him to leave the country. One journalist associated with the Kremlin who Rubin knew personally warned him he could be arrested. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I think that was a provocation, but who knows,” Rubin said. The next morning, he boarded a flight to the United States with a small bag and a ticket purchased by his brother, who lived in America.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I think that was a provocation, but who knows,” Rubin said. The next morning, he boarded a flight to the United States with a small bag and a ticket purchased by his brother, who lived in America.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Badanin did not learn of the designations until he reached a small village in the Saharan desert and regained WiFi access. Returning to Russia now posed the immediate risk of imprisonment. While his wife and sons returned to Moscow to pick up his baby daughter, he flew to New York City using an American visa, bringing only a backpack. He and Rubin reunited there, making plans to continue Proekt’s work.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Badanin did not learn of the designations until he reached a small village in the Saharan desert and regained WiFi access. Returning to Russia now posed the immediate risk of imprisonment. While his wife and sons returned to Moscow to pick up his baby daughter, he flew to New York City using an American visa, bringing only a backpack. He and Rubin reunited there, making plans to continue Proekt’s work.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Then came a lucky offer: JSK invited Badanin to return to Stanford as a senior fellow.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It was not a difficult offer to accept. “I needed a place just to settle,” he said. Five years later, he has held several roles at Stanford and remains in Northern California with his family.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>It was not a difficult offer to accept. “I needed a place just to settle,” he said. Five years later, he has held several roles at Stanford and remains in Northern California with his family.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Rubin’s path to the Bay Area was less direct.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He lived with a friend in Los Angeles before moving to Tbilisi, Georgia, for a year, where Rubin met his wife, who was on vacation from Russia.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Rubin returned to the U.S. with her by his side, beginning a fellowship in Washington, D.C. After Rubin applied for and won the JSK fellowship in 2024, the couple made a cross-country road trip. Nine months later, their son was born at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Rubin returned to the U.S. with her by his side, beginning a fellowship in Washington, D.C. After Rubin applied for and won the JSK fellowship in 2024, the couple made a cross-country road trip. Nine months later, their son was born at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Bay Area brought a different pace of life for Badanin and Rubin. Although raising children and the complexity of their work left little free time, both men came to enjoy California’s natural beauty and national parks.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I’m in love with sequoias and redwoods,” Rubin said. “I love when things are big.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The state’s forgiving climate is another perk compared with frigid Moscow. “I always hated running before I came here, but with this climate, you don’t have an excuse,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The state’s forgiving climate is another perk compared with frigid Moscow. “I always hated running before I came here, but with this climate, you don’t have an excuse,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Just as Badanin discovered in 2017, a two-year JSK fellowship gave Rubin time to improve his education, a lifelong goal. His classes ranged from history to politics, theatrical improv and public speaking at the business school.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>When Badanin and Rubin came to the Bay Area, they joined a wider community of politically like-minded Russian emigrants who have settled here in recent years. Many connect over Telegram channels to share immigration advice and organize social events.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>When Badanin and Rubin came to the Bay Area, they joined a wider community of politically like-minded Russian emigrants who have settled here in recent years. Many connect over Telegram channels to share immigration advice and organize social events.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The Bay Area is not the first destination, because it’s quite far and not easy to get access to the U.S.A.,” said Emil Kamalov, a postdoctoral fellow and political scientist at Stanford \u003ca href=\"https://outrush.io/eng\">researching\u003c/a> political emigration out of Russia. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Based on his survey data, however, around 40% of those who have left Russia since 2022 are connected to the IT sector, with the Bay Area as a “very obvious destination for this.” Tighter internet restrictions and Western sanctions following the full-scale invasion have \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/13/technology/russia-tech-workers.html\">driven\u003c/a> a “brain drain” of Russian tech companies and workers out of the country.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Based on his survey data, however, around 40% of those who have left Russia since 2022 are connected to the IT sector, with the Bay Area as a “very obvious destination for this.” Tighter internet restrictions and Western sanctions following the full-scale invasion have \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/13/technology/russia-tech-workers.html\">driven\u003c/a> a “brain drain” of Russian tech companies and workers out of the country.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Other emigrants were drawn by academic opportunities at Stanford and the University of California, including Kamalov himself. “That’s a brain drain,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Stanford’s Russian-speaking community is composed of “amazing people,” Rubin said. “Language does matter.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Badanin, however, draws a distinction between himself and Russians who moved to the Bay Area for high-paying jobs in tech. “It’s very difficult to find a common ground with many of them, because the vast majority of them came here voluntarily,” he said. “I came here involuntarily…I had to do that. I’m not a software engineer.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Badanin, however, draws a distinction between himself and Russians who moved to the Bay Area for high-paying jobs in tech. “It’s very difficult to find a common ground with many of them, because the vast majority of them came here voluntarily,” he said. “I came here involuntarily…I had to do that. I’m not a software engineer.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Proekt’s work to engage ordinary Russians remains their focus, despite an uncertain future. While Badanin now holds a green card, Rubin’s fellowship with JSK ended this summer. For now, he and his wife have embarked on a move to the East Coast.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Proekt’s work to engage ordinary Russians remains their focus, despite an uncertain future. While Badanin now holds a green card, Rubin’s fellowship with JSK ended this summer. For now, he and his wife have embarked on a move to the East Coast.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In April, Russia \u003ca href=\"https://stanforddaily.com/2026/04/15/russia-undesirable-label/\">labeled\u003c/a> Stanford University with the same “undesirable” designation as Proekt. Perhaps Badanin and Rubin really had found a new home.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In April, Russia \u003ca href=\"https://stanforddaily.com/2026/04/15/russia-undesirable-label/\">labeled\u003c/a> Stanford University with the same “undesirable” designation as Proekt. Perhaps Badanin and Rubin really had found a new home.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>George Porteous is editor-in-chief of The Stanford Daily.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "A fellowship at Stanford University allowed them to continue their investigative reporting.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Roman Badanin was at home in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area\">Bay Area\u003c/a> seven months ago when he heard a knock on his door. To the independent Russian journalist’s surprise, two FBI agents had come to see him in the middle of the day.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He was not in any trouble locally, the agents said. They had come to inform him that he was likely a person of interest for a foreign intelligence service.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin could imagine what country they were talking about, the agents said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Although an FBI visit was a “new experience” for Badanin, the Russian state’s intrusion into his life was not.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Since 2018, he has served as editor-in-chief and founder of Proekt, an independent media outlet known for publishing bold investigations into Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian state. Those stories, he said, have often led the Kremlin and powerful elites to intimidate and weaponize the law against staff members.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-Russian-journalists-STANFORD-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091595\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-Russian-journalists-STANFORD-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-Russian-journalists-STANFORD-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-Russian-journalists-STANFORD-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Journalist Mikhail Rubin completed a fellowship at Stanford University after fleeing Russia. (Courtesy of George Porteous)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In 2021, Russian authorities raided Badanin and his colleagues’ apartments in Moscow. Only a few weeks later, the state designated Proekt’s journalists “foreign agents” under a law that Putin has used to punish dissent. To save themselves from imprisonment or worse, many made the difficult decision to leave their country.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Almost five years later, Badanin and his deputy editor, Mikhail Rubin, were able to recount the raids from the relative safety of Northern California. The John S. Knight (JSK) journalism fellowship at Stanford University created an opportunity for them to move here with their young families and continue investigative reporting.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the FBI visit came as a reminder of the Russian state’s watchful eye — even on the other side of the world — and the dangers of returning home.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Today, Proekt’s full-time staff of 17 people is scattered across the world.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Their situation is typical for independent journalists from Russia, which consistently \u003ca href=\"https://rsf.org/en/2026-rsf-index-press-freedom-25-year-low\">ranks\u003c/a> near the bottom of global press freedom rankings. According to Reporters Without Borders, nearly 50 journalists are currently jailed inside the country, while almost 70 exiles have been \u003ca href=\"https://rsf.org/en/exiled-convicted-surveilled-how-russia-has-prosecuted-nearly-70-journalists-beyond-its-borders\">prosecuted\u003c/a> in absentia. Dozens of reporters have been \u003ca href=\"https://cpj.org/reports/2006/11/russia-murders/\">murdered\u003c/a> or killed in suspicious \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2018/04/21/604497554/why-do-russian-journalists-keep-falling\">falls\u003c/a> from windows or balconies over the past few decades.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin, 49, and Rubin, 38, described their predicament with a mix of humor and malaise, acknowledging the high price they’ve paid for their work.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Most [exiled journalists] are depressed, totally unhappy,” Rubin said. “It’s stupid to be covering your country from Europe, from the States, from wherever. It’s definitely way better than being in prison, but this is it.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Kremlin blocks their website inside Russia, as well as internet platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook and YouTube, which Proekt has relied on to engage audiences. With little access to on-the-ground reporting, gathering information about Russia has never been more difficult.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Whatever work used to take us one week, now takes a month,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yet producing independent journalism for Russian audiences still motivates Badanin and Rubin.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Alongside a daily news sub-outlet named Agentstvo or “Agency” — a play on the “foreign agent” designation — Proekt’s investigative work has continued. The team increasingly relies on leaks and data while taking precautions to protect sources.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In November 2025, they \u003ca href=\"https://www.proekt.media/guide/otsy-i-dedy/\">published\u003c/a> a sweeping investigation of nepotism and extreme wealth among Russia’s elite, tracking over 1,000 government officials.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I still love this job,” Badanin said. “If I can enter Russia safely and not be arrested, I would do a lot of good things as a journalist being inside.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But trying to raise his children there is another story. “I’m not ready to bet all I have on this trip,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A winding path to journalism\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin never expected to become a journalist as a young man. He saw it as an unserious path compared to the rigor of history, his chosen field at Moscow State University, where he studied medieval Spain.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But when he entered Russia’s turbulent economy during the 1990s, his only way of making a living was working at the news website Gazeta.ru.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I realized I [could] talk to real people about their real problems in real time,” he said. “I fell in love with journalism.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For his part, Rubin took an early interest in politics, despite his father’s wishes for him to become a scientist. When his father brought up physics on long walks together, Rubin remembers feeling “terribly bored.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’m stupid in these things,” he said. “Understood nothing. But the moment he started talking to me about politics, about history — I think I was 7 or 8 — I was so interested in what he was telling me.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Later, as an undergraduate at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow, Rubin chose to study journalism, which he jokingly calls “the worst decision in my life.” Beginning in the aughts, he reported extensively on the Kremlin for Russian outlets like Izvestia and RBC.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a shift from the relative openness that followed the Soviet collapse, the early 2000s brought signs of weakening press freedom in Russia.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin lost his job at Gazeta.ru in 2011 when the Kremlin expressed disappointment in the outlet’s coverage of parliamentary elections. Putin returned to the presidency the following year, intensifying Russia’s authoritarian turn.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As domestic political freedoms steadily vanished and Russia’s foreign policy became increasingly aggressive, Badanin moved from outlet to outlet.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As editor-in-chief of RBC, Russia’s largest media holding, Badanin faced the Kremlin’s wrath for covering the annexation of Crimea. He and his colleagues were fired after publishing an investigation into the massive wealth of Putin’s daughter.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin’s final role before he first came to Stanford was as editor-in-chief of TV Rain, a young, independent television channel. But he sensed the outlet would soon be punished, shuttered or bought out by the Kremlin.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I perfectly understood that my time in Russia, basically, is limited,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He knew his RBC colleague Elizaveta Osetinskaya had once been a JSK Fellow at Stanford. The program seemed like an ideal opportunity to learn about tech and media, while finding a new path if his worst fears were realized.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When he arrived on campus in 2017, he remembers being struck by Silicon Valley’s diversity and dynamism. At the same time, he began to recognize the struggle for press freedom as a global one, including the decline of local journalism in the United States.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We have a saying in Russian, ‘to wear pink sunglasses,’ which means to see everything better than it is,” he said. “That was my feeling when I came to the U.S. … One day, I realized that not everything is as cool as I imagined it before.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As the yearlong fellowship came to an end, he learned he was the subject of a criminal investigation in Russia over alleged defamation, which carries a punishment of prison time. A man close to Putin had filed the charges in what Badanin believed was retaliation for an investigation he published.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00183_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12067139\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00183_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00183_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00183_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A view of Memorial Court through arches at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The fellowship permitted Badanin to extend his stay at Stanford, given the risks he faced at home. He spent that time working remotely with colleagues in Russia.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Still, he was eager to return to Moscow. When the defamation charges expired, he did just that, founding Proekt in 2018.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The next few years were some of the most productive for Badanin and Rubin, who first met while both worked at Gazeta.ru in the early 2010s. They dedicated themselves to writing taboo stories that few other outlets would touch, covering corruption, killings and crimes by state-related actors.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But as the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 drew near, Russia’s crackdown on journalists and internet freedom escalated.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The decision to flee \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The summer of 2021 brought an end to Proekt’s work inside the country.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin was asleep when the raid on his Moscow apartment began at 6 a.m. on June 29. About 10 men — Russian law enforcement and Federal Security Service (FSB) agents — arrived with orders.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It was clear that they wanted to intimidate us, to threaten us, to give us a feeling that we need to, at best, flee Russia, or to stop doing what we were doing,” Badanin said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-RussianJournalistsExile-07-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091714\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-RussianJournalistsExile-07-BL_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-RussianJournalistsExile-07-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-RussianJournalistsExile-07-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Roman Badanin at Stanford University in Stanford on July 17, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As the men burst into the home Badanin shared with his wife, their 5-month-old daughter began to cry.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It was not uncommon for Russian security services to conduct these kinds of searches in the early morning — the tradition had been inherited from Stalinism. Showing up early ensured that agents would find their targets asleep and likely disorient them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin was shocked and furious. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“What are you doing in my house at this early time?” he said, confronting the men. Only later did he realize his luck not to be killed, poisoned or imprisoned for life. “At that exact moment, my fate was decided,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The men began to confiscate electronics and CDs from the apartment. One agent, speaking to his superior over the phone, received approval to seize an expired Bank of America credit card.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They went on to interrogate Badanin, focusing in part on his ties to the United States.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That same morning, in another part of Moscow, Rubin received a text from Maria Zholobova, another member of Proekt. Police were pounding on her door, she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He hurried in a taxi to Zholobova’s home. From messages with a lawyer and his colleagues, the orchestrated nature of the raids was becoming clear. Badanin was not responding. “I should have understood that I would be next,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A car filled with police was waiting for Rubin when he arrived at Zholobova’s building. Several burst out of the vehicle, shouting, “Stop, buster, don’t move.” None wore uniforms.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They looked like criminals,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For the rest of the day, Rubin \u003ca href=\"https://cpj.org/2021/06/russian-police-interrogate-3-journalists-with-investigative-outlet-proekt-raid-apartments/\">endured\u003c/a> mind-numbing interrogations, searches and bureaucratic absurdities, going hours without hearing a concrete charge against him. Authorities took his laptop.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Their final move before leaving was to place Rubin’s passport down on the table in front of him. “It was a very clear signal,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ten days after the interrogations, Badanin flew with his family to Morocco for a pre-planned vacation. Rubin took charge of Proekt’s staff in Moscow. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1311\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/RussiaGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091716\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/RussiaGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/RussiaGetty-160x105.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/RussiaGetty-1536x1007.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People walk along the Floating Bridge over the Moskva River against the backdrop of the Moscow Kremlin tower and St. Basil’s Cathedral on June 29, 2026, in Moscow, Russia. (Contributor/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One evening, news broke that the Russian Federation had classified Proekt as an “undesirable organization” and Badanin and Rubin as “foreign agents.” Rubin’s colleagues urged him to leave the country. One journalist associated with the Kremlin who Rubin knew personally warned him he could be arrested. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think that was a provocation, but who knows,” Rubin said. The next morning, he boarded a flight to the United States with a small bag and a ticket purchased by his brother, who lived in America.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin did not learn of the designations until he reached a small village in the Saharan desert and regained WiFi access. Returning to Russia now posed the immediate risk of imprisonment. While his wife and sons returned to Moscow to pick up his baby daughter, he flew to New York City using an American visa, bringing only a backpack. He and Rubin reunited there, making plans to continue Proekt’s work.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Then came a lucky offer: JSK invited Badanin to return to Stanford as a senior fellow.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It was not a difficult offer to accept. “I needed a place just to settle,” he said. Five years later, he has held several roles at Stanford and remains in Northern California with his family.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rubin’s path to the Bay Area was less direct.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He lived with a friend in Los Angeles before moving to Tbilisi, Georgia, for a year, where Rubin met his wife, who was on vacation from Russia.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rubin returned to the U.S. with her by his side, beginning a fellowship in Washington, D.C. After Rubin applied for and won the JSK fellowship in 2024, the couple made a cross-country road trip. Nine months later, their son was born at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Adjusting to life in the Bay Area\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Bay Area brought a different pace of life for Badanin and Rubin. Although raising children and the complexity of their work left little free time, both men came to enjoy California’s natural beauty and national parks.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’m in love with sequoias and redwoods,” Rubin said. “I love when things are big.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The state’s forgiving climate is another perk compared with frigid Moscow. “I always hated running before I came here, but with this climate, you don’t have an excuse,” Rubin said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Just as Badanin discovered in 2017, a two-year JSK fellowship gave Rubin time to improve his education, a lifelong goal. His classes ranged from history to politics, theatrical improv and public speaking at the business school.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When Badanin and Rubin came to the Bay Area, they joined a wider community of politically like-minded Russian emigrants who have settled here in recent years. Many connect over Telegram channels to share immigration advice and organize social events.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The Bay Area is not the first destination, because it’s quite far and not easy to get access to the U.S.A.,” said Emil Kamalov, a postdoctoral fellow and political scientist at Stanford \u003ca href=\"https://outrush.io/eng\">researching\u003c/a> political emigration out of Russia. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Based on his survey data, however, around 40% of those who have left Russia since 2022 are connected to the IT sector, with the Bay Area as a “very obvious destination for this.” Tighter internet restrictions and Western sanctions following the full-scale invasion have \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/13/technology/russia-tech-workers.html\">driven\u003c/a> a “brain drain” of Russian tech companies and workers out of the country.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Other emigrants were drawn by academic opportunities at Stanford and the University of California, including Kamalov himself. “That’s a brain drain,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Stanford’s Russian-speaking community is composed of “amazing people,” Rubin said. “Language does matter.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Badanin, however, draws a distinction between himself and Russians who moved to the Bay Area for high-paying jobs in tech. “It’s very difficult to find a common ground with many of them, because the vast majority of them came here voluntarily,” he said. “I came here involuntarily…I had to do that. I’m not a software engineer.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Proekt’s work to engage ordinary Russians remains their focus, despite an uncertain future. While Badanin now holds a green card, Rubin’s fellowship with JSK ended this summer. For now, he and his wife have embarked on a move to the East Coast.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In April, Russia \u003ca href=\"https://stanforddaily.com/2026/04/15/russia-undesirable-label/\">labeled\u003c/a> Stanford University with the same “undesirable” designation as Proekt. Perhaps Badanin and Rubin really had found a new home.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>George Porteous is editor-in-chief of The Stanford Daily.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "US Men’s Team Returns to Bay Area World Cup Stage, 32 Years After Historic Stanford Match",
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"content": "\u003cp>Much has changed since the last time the U.S. Men’s National Team played a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/world-cup\">World Cup\u003c/a> match in the Bay Area — on July 4, 1994, at Stanford Stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Professional soccer didn’t yet have a strong foothold here. Ticket prices have soared. Fanbases have grown. Stadiums have sprung up across the country.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But those who attended, played in the game, or helped bring the event to life, say the California-hosted World Cup matches at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles, and the U.S. team’s Round of 16 game against soccer powerhouse Brazil at Stanford University drew sellout crowds and helped \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087770/how-the-bay-area-helped-shape-u-s-soccer-ahead-of-the-2026-world-cup\">drive interest in the sport\u003c/a> for generations to come.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It was fantastic to see the turnout for all of these games and to see how much support we got from our home fans,” Cobi Jones, who played for the men’s team at the time, said in an interview.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the current squad advances and gears up for a knockout game at the\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086949/levis-stadium-is-no-more-san-francisco-bay-area-stadium-hosts-world-cup\"> temporarily renamed Levi’s Stadium\u003c/a> on July 1, Jones said the reaction from fans all those years ago showed the sport was “building” in the U.S., and laid the groundwork for the event’s popularity today.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I would say that ‘94 team was the foundation for everything going forward,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087233\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087233\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_013-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_013-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_013-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_013-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ray Purpur looks through photographs and memorabilia from the 1994 FIFA World Cup in his office at Stanford University on June 11, 2026. Stanford Stadium hosted World Cup matches during the tournament. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Long before the games could be played at Stanford Stadium, an aging facility built in 1921, it had to be prepared to host professional soccer matches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The job was a big undertaking, and for Ray Purpur, who was hired in January 1994 as a deputy director of athletics overseeing facilities, it was a feat he won’t forget.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m glad I didn’t realize everything that had to go into it, or I may not have made it,” Purpur said with a chuckle during an interview in his office. “Stanford Stadium was almost a perfect candidate on paper. There was a lot of seats, there was a whole lot of parking, the field was an incredible field.”[aside postID=arts_13990640 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/20260528-WORLDCUPBARS-JY-02-KQED.jpg']But some things needed upgrades, like old wooden seating that needed to be removed and replaced with more comfortable metal-clad seats. The press box also needed a major overhaul to accommodate an influx of media, and much like today’s game, FIFA had specifications for the playing field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And they, kind of late in the game, decided that the crown [the rise in the center of the field] was too much, so we went in, and we scalped the crown off of it and flattened the field just slightly,” Purpur said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once the games were underway, he said the massive crowds were something he had never witnessed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I hadn’t been to a game that big before. There were very few photos of Stanford football being sold out like that,” he said. “And every seat was full.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Michael Mastrocola, a San José native and soccer fan, joined the USA94 organizing committee in the Bay Area, which helped to get Stanford selected as a host site.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said the pieces for a dramatic, entertaining game between the U.S. and Brazil were already in place, as the Brazilian team’s World Cup base camp was in Los Gatos.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12088814\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12088814\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-661359852-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-661359852-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-661359852-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-661359852-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A general view of Stanford Stadium during the Brazil-USA World Cup game at Stanford in Palo Alto on July 4, 1994. \u003ccite>(Peter Robinson/PA Images via Getty Ima)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Diehard supporters of the team \u003ca href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/los-gatos-looks-toward-renewal-of-world-cup-madness/\">flooded \u003c/a>the small South Bay town.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When Brazil came to Los Gatos, it was insane. Everything was yellow and green. They were samba [dancing] all through the streets of Los Gatos, and they really lit the city up,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Independence Day, the gameplay and the Stanford venue didn’t disappoint.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Everywhere you went, it was red, white and blue mixed in with the sea of the Sambas, of course,” he said, referring to U.S. and Brazil supporters, filling 84,000 seats. “It was electric.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When they introduced the players, you could just see the glow on people’s faces,” he said. “I remember walking out looking at the turf and the turf was like a carpet. You know, it was perfectly green and bright and manicured.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>International professional soccer was still “a baby brother to football and basketball and Super Bowls,” Mastrocola said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It wasn’t lost on the U.S. players that a strong showing against a three-time World Cup champion like Brazil could boost their credibility on an international stage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12088819\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12088819\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-233338-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1299\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-233338-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-233338-KQED-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-233338-KQED-1536x998.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Happy Brazilian fans celebrate during Brazil’s 2-0 victory over Russian in World Cup game at Stanford in Palo Alto on June 20, 1994. \u003ccite>(Steve Dunn/ALLSPORT via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We were weathering the storm,” Jones said, recalling the matchup and some of Brazil’s best players. “Because they had such talent in the Romários, the Bebetos, the Dungas all over the field.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ultimately, Brazil won the game, scoring a goal late in the match. But Mastrocola said the U.S. team proved themselves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They had good coaching. They had great excitement and enthusiasm,” he said. “They wanted to make the USA proud, and they did.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the rise in soccer professionalization and interest domestically has also tracked with the increasing price of admission for major tournaments like the World Cup.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Admission to the group stage games for the current World Cup generally costs fans a minimum of several hundred dollars per ticket, and tickets to the later stages and final matches are akin to buying seats at the Super Bowl.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tickets for the U.S. game on July 1 are currently reselling on the FIFA official marketplace for a minimum of several thousand dollars, and listing as high as more than $20,000.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12088815\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12088815\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-1129411309-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1325\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-1129411309-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-1129411309-KQED-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-1129411309-KQED-1536x1018.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cobi Jones of USA chases down the ball in the Brazil-USA World Cup game at Stanford in Palo Alto on July 4, 1994. \u003ccite>(Mark Leech/Offside/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It really is ring-fenced around those who can afford these kinds of very high prices,” said Matthew Atencio, a professor of kinesiology and co-director of the Center for Sport and Social Justice at California State University East Bay. “So many of your kids in the Bay Area who love the game or might be interested or curious about the matches that are being hosted are not able to go to those, and I’m disappointed in that aspect.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Atencio drove down from Washington state to see Brazil take on Cameroon at Stanford in 1994. Tickets were less than $100, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For young fans like Atencio and his friends, who played soccer at the time, those in-person experiences with the game were inspirational and influential.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That was a real catalyst to us still wanting to be part of the game. And it drove us to keep playing, it drove us to keep coaching,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He’d go on to play on teams and in leagues around the world. He noted players now have many more avenues to play domestically, whether in college, academies, or semi-professionally in various leagues that were not around in the ‘90s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mastrocola, who sold ticket and hospitality packages around the World Cup in 1994, said he’s happy soccer has taken off, but sad to see prices shooting up so high.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087234\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087234\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_015-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_015-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_015-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_015-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ray Purpur, Stanford’s deputy athletics director, sits with photographs and memorabilia from the 1994 FIFA World Cup in his office at Stanford University on June 11, 2026. Purpur helped oversee preparations when Stanford Stadium hosted matches during the tournament. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The World Cup has become quite corporate,” he said. “You can tell by the price of tickets, it’s not for the fan, it doesn’t seem like it’s for the fans anymore.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Atencio said he’s encouraged to see how community-based organizations have stepped up with grassroots soccer programs to help sustain the sport for youth and in lower-income communities, such as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086356/an-oakland-soccer-program-helps-immigrant-youth-find-belonging\">Soccer Without Borders\u003c/a>, Street Soccer USA and 3v3 soccer tournaments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I feel like they’re really on the line of how this sport can be for the masses, for the people, and especially for people who simply can’t afford to be part of a pay-to-play system,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/kmizuguchi\">\u003cem>Keith Mizuguchi\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> and \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/agonzalez\">\u003cem>Alex Gonzalez\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Much has changed since the last time the U.S. Men’s National Team played a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/world-cup\">World Cup\u003c/a> match in the Bay Area — on July 4, 1994, at Stanford Stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Professional soccer didn’t yet have a strong foothold here. Ticket prices have soared. Fanbases have grown. Stadiums have sprung up across the country.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But those who attended, played in the game, or helped bring the event to life, say the California-hosted World Cup matches at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles, and the U.S. team’s Round of 16 game against soccer powerhouse Brazil at Stanford University drew sellout crowds and helped \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087770/how-the-bay-area-helped-shape-u-s-soccer-ahead-of-the-2026-world-cup\">drive interest in the sport\u003c/a> for generations to come.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It was fantastic to see the turnout for all of these games and to see how much support we got from our home fans,” Cobi Jones, who played for the men’s team at the time, said in an interview.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the current squad advances and gears up for a knockout game at the\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086949/levis-stadium-is-no-more-san-francisco-bay-area-stadium-hosts-world-cup\"> temporarily renamed Levi’s Stadium\u003c/a> on July 1, Jones said the reaction from fans all those years ago showed the sport was “building” in the U.S., and laid the groundwork for the event’s popularity today.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I would say that ‘94 team was the foundation for everything going forward,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087233\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087233\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_013-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_013-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_013-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_013-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ray Purpur looks through photographs and memorabilia from the 1994 FIFA World Cup in his office at Stanford University on June 11, 2026. Stanford Stadium hosted World Cup matches during the tournament. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Long before the games could be played at Stanford Stadium, an aging facility built in 1921, it had to be prepared to host professional soccer matches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The job was a big undertaking, and for Ray Purpur, who was hired in January 1994 as a deputy director of athletics overseeing facilities, it was a feat he won’t forget.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m glad I didn’t realize everything that had to go into it, or I may not have made it,” Purpur said with a chuckle during an interview in his office. “Stanford Stadium was almost a perfect candidate on paper. There was a lot of seats, there was a whole lot of parking, the field was an incredible field.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>But some things needed upgrades, like old wooden seating that needed to be removed and replaced with more comfortable metal-clad seats. The press box also needed a major overhaul to accommodate an influx of media, and much like today’s game, FIFA had specifications for the playing field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And they, kind of late in the game, decided that the crown [the rise in the center of the field] was too much, so we went in, and we scalped the crown off of it and flattened the field just slightly,” Purpur said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once the games were underway, he said the massive crowds were something he had never witnessed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I hadn’t been to a game that big before. There were very few photos of Stanford football being sold out like that,” he said. “And every seat was full.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Michael Mastrocola, a San José native and soccer fan, joined the USA94 organizing committee in the Bay Area, which helped to get Stanford selected as a host site.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said the pieces for a dramatic, entertaining game between the U.S. and Brazil were already in place, as the Brazilian team’s World Cup base camp was in Los Gatos.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12088814\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12088814\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-661359852-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-661359852-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-661359852-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-661359852-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A general view of Stanford Stadium during the Brazil-USA World Cup game at Stanford in Palo Alto on July 4, 1994. \u003ccite>(Peter Robinson/PA Images via Getty Ima)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Diehard supporters of the team \u003ca href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/los-gatos-looks-toward-renewal-of-world-cup-madness/\">flooded \u003c/a>the small South Bay town.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When Brazil came to Los Gatos, it was insane. Everything was yellow and green. They were samba [dancing] all through the streets of Los Gatos, and they really lit the city up,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Independence Day, the gameplay and the Stanford venue didn’t disappoint.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Everywhere you went, it was red, white and blue mixed in with the sea of the Sambas, of course,” he said, referring to U.S. and Brazil supporters, filling 84,000 seats. “It was electric.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When they introduced the players, you could just see the glow on people’s faces,” he said. “I remember walking out looking at the turf and the turf was like a carpet. You know, it was perfectly green and bright and manicured.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>International professional soccer was still “a baby brother to football and basketball and Super Bowls,” Mastrocola said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It wasn’t lost on the U.S. players that a strong showing against a three-time World Cup champion like Brazil could boost their credibility on an international stage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12088819\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12088819\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-233338-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1299\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-233338-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-233338-KQED-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-233338-KQED-1536x998.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Happy Brazilian fans celebrate during Brazil’s 2-0 victory over Russian in World Cup game at Stanford in Palo Alto on June 20, 1994. \u003ccite>(Steve Dunn/ALLSPORT via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We were weathering the storm,” Jones said, recalling the matchup and some of Brazil’s best players. “Because they had such talent in the Romários, the Bebetos, the Dungas all over the field.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ultimately, Brazil won the game, scoring a goal late in the match. But Mastrocola said the U.S. team proved themselves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They had good coaching. They had great excitement and enthusiasm,” he said. “They wanted to make the USA proud, and they did.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the rise in soccer professionalization and interest domestically has also tracked with the increasing price of admission for major tournaments like the World Cup.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Admission to the group stage games for the current World Cup generally costs fans a minimum of several hundred dollars per ticket, and tickets to the later stages and final matches are akin to buying seats at the Super Bowl.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tickets for the U.S. game on July 1 are currently reselling on the FIFA official marketplace for a minimum of several thousand dollars, and listing as high as more than $20,000.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12088815\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12088815\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-1129411309-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1325\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-1129411309-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-1129411309-KQED-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GETTYIMAGES-1129411309-KQED-1536x1018.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cobi Jones of USA chases down the ball in the Brazil-USA World Cup game at Stanford in Palo Alto on July 4, 1994. \u003ccite>(Mark Leech/Offside/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It really is ring-fenced around those who can afford these kinds of very high prices,” said Matthew Atencio, a professor of kinesiology and co-director of the Center for Sport and Social Justice at California State University East Bay. “So many of your kids in the Bay Area who love the game or might be interested or curious about the matches that are being hosted are not able to go to those, and I’m disappointed in that aspect.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Atencio drove down from Washington state to see Brazil take on Cameroon at Stanford in 1994. Tickets were less than $100, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For young fans like Atencio and his friends, who played soccer at the time, those in-person experiences with the game were inspirational and influential.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That was a real catalyst to us still wanting to be part of the game. And it drove us to keep playing, it drove us to keep coaching,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He’d go on to play on teams and in leagues around the world. He noted players now have many more avenues to play domestically, whether in college, academies, or semi-professionally in various leagues that were not around in the ‘90s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mastrocola, who sold ticket and hospitality packages around the World Cup in 1994, said he’s happy soccer has taken off, but sad to see prices shooting up so high.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087234\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087234\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_015-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_015-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_015-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061126World-Cup_-Stanford-1994_GH_015-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ray Purpur, Stanford’s deputy athletics director, sits with photographs and memorabilia from the 1994 FIFA World Cup in his office at Stanford University on June 11, 2026. Purpur helped oversee preparations when Stanford Stadium hosted matches during the tournament. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The World Cup has become quite corporate,” he said. “You can tell by the price of tickets, it’s not for the fan, it doesn’t seem like it’s for the fans anymore.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Atencio said he’s encouraged to see how community-based organizations have stepped up with grassroots soccer programs to help sustain the sport for youth and in lower-income communities, such as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086356/an-oakland-soccer-program-helps-immigrant-youth-find-belonging\">Soccer Without Borders\u003c/a>, Street Soccer USA and 3v3 soccer tournaments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I feel like they’re really on the line of how this sport can be for the masses, for the people, and especially for people who simply can’t afford to be part of a pay-to-play system,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/kmizuguchi\">\u003cem>Keith Mizuguchi\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> and \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/agonzalez\">\u003cem>Alex Gonzalez\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "bts-stanford-stadium-arirang-tickets-2026-bag-policy-setlist-parking-guide",
"title": "Seeing BTS at the Stanford Stadium This Weekend? From Bag Policy to Parking, What to Know",
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"headTitle": "Seeing BTS at the Stanford Stadium This Weekend? From Bag Policy to Parking, What to Know | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082588/bts-stanford-may-2026-stadium-army-kpop-things-to-do-bay-area-peninsula\">BTS is returning to the Bay Area\u003c/a> for the first time as a group in eight years for their \u003cem>Arirang \u003c/em>World Tour — and they’re stopping at the Stanford Stadium on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s been such a buildup,” said KQED’s resident BTS expert, the \u003cem>California Report Magazine’s\u003c/em> producer \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/sracho\">Suzie Racho\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em> “They’re really making a concerted effort to get to as many fans as possible.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The anticipation is high as fans like Racho — also known as BTS ARMY — have been eagerly waiting for the group’s return since the hiatus in 2022, where members spent time fulfilling their mandatory service in the Korean military and pursuing their solo projects.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And for a group that is performing elsewhere at some of \u003ca href=\"https://ibighit.com/en/bts/tour/\">the biggest stadiums in the world\u003c/a>, some may be a little surprised that BTS’s Bay Area shows are at Stanford Stadium, the university’s football stadium near Palo Alto. But Racho said she’s hopeful she is a chance that the venue may actually help fans “experience it a little bit more immersively.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This will be the second-ever touring concert engagement hosted at Stanford, one year after Coldplay played two sold-out shows here. And when it comes to the imminent BTS concerts, “there’s a pride of place — that this is happening here,” said Stanford Live director Iris Nemani.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082662\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082662\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1329\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189-1536x1031.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A fan of Korean boy band BTS poses for a photo in front of a poster at Tokyo Dome before the start of the first BTS World Tour “Arirang” in Tokyo on April 17, 2026. \u003ccite>(Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We’re not going to become a stadium venue that’s going to do 100 concerts a year,” Nemani said, “but when we have very special artists like BTS … the university has decided to say yes.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So if you have tickets to one of the three Stanford shows on May 16, 17 or 19, we’ve compiled this guide on everything you need to know about seeing BTS next week, from parking to bag policy to public transportation and more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you’re looking for themed things to do in the Bay Area before the BTS shows, take a look at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082588/bts-stanford-may-2026-stadium-army-kpop-things-to-do-bay-area-peninsula\">our recommendations for K-Pop inspired stories, events and parties happening this weekend.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#CanIstillgetticketsforBTSsStanfordshows\">Can I still get tickets for BTS’s Stanford shows?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#WhatisthebagpolicyforStanfordStadium\">What is the bag policy for Stanford Stadium?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What time are the BTS shows at Stanford?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The BTS shows are scheduled to \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/bts-world-tour-arirang-in-stanford-stanford-california-05-19-2026/event/1C006435858268EC?_gl=1*5woms*_ga*MTM5NDI3OTU5NC4xNzc4MDg2NzAw*_ga_C1T806G4DF*czE3NzgxMjM3NTEkbzQkZzAkdDE3NzgxMjM3NTEkajYwJGwwJGgw\">start at 7 p.m.\u003c/a> for all three nights.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gates will \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bt\">open at 4:30 p.m.\u003c/a>\u003cu>,\u003c/u> with public entrances at Stanford Stadium’s Gates 2, 4, 5, 10 and 12. If you leave the venue, you cannot reenter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083385\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1435px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083385\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSMap.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1435\" height=\"857\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSMap.jpg 1435w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSMap-160x96.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1435px) 100vw, 1435px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A map of Stanford Stadium. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Stanford Stadium)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While some BTS concerts have started late in other cities, it is worth noting that Stanford has a \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/coldplay\">strict sound curfew at 10 p.m.\u003c/a> All in all, it might be reasonable to expect these shows to start on time.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"WhatisthebagpolicyforStanfordStadium\">\u003c/a>What is the bag policy for the BTS shows at Stanford?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Bags that are \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/stanford-athletics-fan-policies\">allowed at Stanford Stadium\u003c/a> include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bags that do not exceed 12″x6″x12″\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Small clutch bags or purses no larger than 4.5” x 6.5” x 2” (with or without a handle or strap), in addition to a clear bag\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Non-clear “\u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts#bags\">medically necessary” bags\u003c/a>, including diaper bags — although these will be subjected to additional screening\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Backpacks are not permitted, including those \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts#bags\">sold at the Official BTS Merchandise stands.\u003c/a> There \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts#bags\">are three bag checks\u003c/a> located near Gate 10, inside the main entrance of Sunken Diamond and the main entrance of Cobb Track and Angell Field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Items that are allowed at Stanford Stadium include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>BTS Official Light sticks with batteries\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Blankets\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sealed or empty soft plastic bottles smaller than 20 oz\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Plush toys\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Small, portable phone chargers, handheld fans and neck fans\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Keychains\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Liquid sunscreen\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Non-professional still cameras \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts\">(disposable, Polaroid, lenses less than 6” in length)\u003c/a> for personal use\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Signs smaller than 11”x15” (but be nice to your fellow fans and try not to wave your sign throughout the entire concert – you’ll block their view)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Seat cushions \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/coldplay\">smaller than 18″\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts#bags\">Items that are \u003cem>not\u003c/em> allowed\u003c/a> at Stanford Stadium include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Balls, frisbees, whole fruit (seriously) or “other potential projectiles,” according to Stanford\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Bicycles, skates, scooters, or skateboards\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Hard plastic, glass, ceramic or metal bottles\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Chairs (unless ADA compliant)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Horns or artificial noisemakers\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Laser lights, strobes and flashlights\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Open umbrellas\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Poles, selfie-sticks, GoPros, monopods and tripods\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Flags\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Strollers (unless ADA compliant)\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What if it rains during the BTS concert in this outdoor stadium?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Stanford’s Nemani confirmed the BTS show will go on in this outdoor stadium, rain or shine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Be sure to keep \u003ca href=\"https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=37.417&lon=-122.1477\">an eye out for the weather in the coming days\u003c/a>. If you are not local to the area, keep in mind that the Bay Area can get deceptively cold at night.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Should I have cash on hand at the BTS concert?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Stanford Stadium is a cashless venue, so you need a debit card, credit card or mobile wallet like Apple Pay.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How do I know I have a good seat at Stanford Stadium?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You can check out \u003ca href=\"https://preview.3ddigitalvenue.com/stanford-stadium-football\">a 3-D rendering\u003c/a> of Stanford Stadium on the university’s website. But the \u003cem>Arirang \u003c/em>tour is performed in the round, on a 360-degree stage, making it even easier for fans to actually see the BTS members.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What will the setlist be for BTS’s Stanford shows?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you don’t mind spoilers, \u003cem>Billboard\u003c/em> has \u003ca href=\"https://www.billboard.com/lists/bts-setlist-every-song-arirang-tour-tampa/?link_source=ta_thread_link&taid=69ede39154073e0001f57435&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=threads.net\">the tour’s setlist from Tampa, Florida\u003c/a>, which includes some of their big hits like “Fake Love” and “Butter.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What should I know about parking at Stanford for the BTS show?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Keitch Juricich, from the Stanford Athletics Operations and Events team, said the University has been working with the city on traffic flows and parking — and that more staffing will be available on BTS concert nights, “to make sure that we are moving people as quickly as we possibly can.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can buy \u003ca href=\"https://tickets.gostanford.com/p/parking-for-bts-arirang-in-stanford\">parking passes, including ADA parking passes\u003c/a>, on the Stanford website. According to Stanford\u003cu>,\u003c/u> these \u003ca href=\"https://tickets.gostanford.com/p/parking-for-bts-arirang-in-stanford\">passes must be purchased\u003c/a> by 12 a.m. on the day of the event. You will need to create an account on the Stanford website, and you can buy up to four passes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Parking lots will be open at 1:30 p.m. on show days.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082781\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082781\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-1030324342.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1276\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-1030324342.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-1030324342-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-1030324342-1536x990.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans await the BTS concert as part of the “Love Yourself” North American Tour at Staples Center on Sept. 9, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. \u003ccite>(Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If these passes are sold out, you can try your luck with \u003ca href=\"https://spothero.com/\">third-party parking websites like SpotHero\u003c/a> for other non-Stanford parking options farther away. You may find residents of nearby Stanford neighborhoods are selling parking spots for the night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are from out of town and have rented a car, be sure to read KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11959799/how-to-avoid-a-car-break-in-bay-area\">guide on the unfortunately common problem of break-ins\u003c/a> in the Bay Area and keep your vehicle safe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that Stanford is a pretty spread-out campus, and it could be worth wearing comfortable shoes for any walking you need to do.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Will there be road closures on the day of the BTS concerts?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you are driving, be aware that there will be some reroutes happening on the day of the concert.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts#closures\">Stanford Stadium\u003c/a>, there will be street closures on:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Arboretum/Palm intersection between Palm Drive & Galvez Street, closed on show days from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Lasuen Street between Campus Drive & Arboretum Road, closed on show days from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Lasuen Street between Campus Drive & Roth Way, closed all day on show days\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Galvez Street between Campus Drive and Jane Stanford Way, closed on show days from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Where are the Uber and Lyft pickup/dropoff spots for BTS’s Stanford shows?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On BTS concert night, the Wilbur Lot (660 Escondido Road) will be \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts\">the spot for pickup and dropoff\u003c/a>, which is around a 20-minute walk from the Stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before and after the show, there will be ADA golf transportation for guests available.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What’s the best way to take public transit to the BTS show?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>To avoid some of the hassles of parking and rideshare costs, public transportation can be a great option for getting to these concerts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For some of these transportation options, you can use \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12052690/bart-fares-2025-credit-card-clipper-tap-and-ride-contactless\">a Clipper Card, a card or Apple/Google Pay to tap on and off these services\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Be sure to check when the last train leaves for the night. While the concert is likely to end at 10 p.m. sharp, there is a chance that the crowds might make it hard to exit the stadium.[aside postID=news_12082588 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/BTS-Bay-Area-Illustration_2.jpg']Stanford has \u003ca href=\"https://transportation.stanford.edu/getting-stanford/public-transit\">a pretty comprehensive guide\u003c/a> on public transportation in the area, but here are the highlights:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Caltrain\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The closest Caltrain station to the campus is \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/stanford\">the Palo Alto stop\u003c/a>. You can plan your route by using \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/?active_tab=trip_planner_tab\">Caltrain’s Trip Planner\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re working with Caltrain to really encourage alternative transportation modes,” Nemani said, adding that fans can expect themed Caltrain cars and Stanford merch giveaways.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Caltrain station is less than a mile away from Stanford Stadium, but you could catch the \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"http://transportation.stanford.edu/marguerite/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">free Marguerite Shuttle\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to help you get closer. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">A spokesperson for Caltrain said in an email to KQED that \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/event/bts-concert\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">on the weekend concerts\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, the last northbound train leaving the Palo Alto Station will be at 11:58 p.m. The last southbound train of the night will leave at 12:56 a.m.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">For the Tuesday concert, the final northbound train of the night will leave the Palo Alto Station at 11:57 p.m. The last southbound train will leave at 12:54 p.m.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A heads-up: While there is a Stanford stop on the Caltrain, it will \u003cem>not\u003c/em> be in use during the BTS concerts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For younger fans 18 and under, Caltrain rides are under $1 for one day and $2 for a Day pass.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>BART\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>BART provides service through the Peninsula and the East Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can use \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/planner\">BART’s Trip Planner\u003c/a> for an exact route, but in general, \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/coldplay\">to get to Stanford\u003c/a>, you would need to transfer to the Caltrain at the Millbrae, Fremont and Union City stops.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082782\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082782\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2267034351.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1288\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2267034351.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2267034351-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2267034351-1536x999.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Drones illuminate the night sky with BTS logo during a drone light show at a riverside park in Seoul on March 20, 2026, ahead of the comeback concert of K-pop boy band BTS. \u003ccite>(Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>SamTrans\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>SamTrans connects to the Palo Alto train station to all of San Mateo County. You can \u003ca href=\"https://www.samtrans.com/\">plan your trip on the SamTrans’ website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>VTA\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The VTA, which serves Santa Clara, goes along El Camino Real. The VTA Trip Planner is \u003ca href=\"https://www.vta.org/\">available on the agency’s website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to VTA’s \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/VTA/status/2052102342778974493\">social media\u003c/a> accounts, Bus Routes 22 and 522 are the best ways to get to Stanford Stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Biking\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There will be first-come, first-served bike parking on Nelson Road across from Gate 4 and Sam MacDonald Road across from Gate 3. Your bikes will be looked after by \u003ca href=\"http://bikesiliconvalley.org/?DB_OEM_ID=30600\">the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What should I know about accessibility for the BTS shows?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts#ada\">Stanford Stadium\u003c/a>, if a fan needs accessible seating, they should contact Ticketmaster to switch their ticket to an ADA seat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>ADA seating is available in:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Row Y of all 100-level sections and Row V of 200-level sections in seats 201-207, 219-227, and 239-240\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Select portions of Sections 208, 218, 228, and 238\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>ADA platforms in Sections B, F, and P on the floor\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083382\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083382\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSADA-scaled-e1778624702494.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1198\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stanford’s accessibility policy. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Stanford Stadium)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Fans with floor access should enter through Gate 1B. There will be a golf cart available. However, there are no escort services.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To get ASL access, fans should reach out to \u003ca href=\"mailto:athleticstickets@stanford.edu\">athleticstickets@stanford.edu\u003c/a> a week before the day of the concert.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Can I tailgate at the \u003cem>Arirang\u003c/em> World Tour?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes, fans can tailgate around their vehicles “during the day, during the hours that the campus is open for the concerts,” Nemani said. Tailgate setups should not be blocking any pathways.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some fans have been known to \u003ca href=\"https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/music/articles/bts-fans-camp-overnight-raymond-153039408.html\">camp out overnight\u003c/a> to get a head start on merch lines. However, Nemani said “there is no overnight camping” on the Stanford campus: “None at all.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What do I need to know about merch at the \u003cem>Arirang\u003c/em> World Tour?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There will be BTS merch trailers at the Stanford shows, where Nemani said the venue will be using \u003ca href=\"https://www.justwalkout.com/\">Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” technology\u003c/a>, which allows customers to pay at entry and walk out with merch without formally checking out their purchases. “Hopefully that will move people through quickly,” Nemani said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There will be \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts#merch\">an early merch day\u003c/a> at the Stanford Hammer Throw on Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Friday only: If you are being dropped off at the sale, go to Maples Pavilion (655 Campus Drive). If you are driving, there will be parking at the IM South lot, which will open at 9 a.m. Parking costs $10, and cash will not be accepted.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083381\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083381\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSEarlyMerch.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1628\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSEarlyMerch.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSEarlyMerch-160x130.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSEarlyMerch-1536x1250.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Where early merch can be found near Stanford Stadium. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Stanford Stadium)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>There will also be BTS merch sales on the days of the show, when trailers will open at 9 a.m. There will also be merch sales within the stadium itself. Early parking will be available at 8 a.m. for merch opening at lots like the IM South Lot and Roth Garage — although bear in mind these spots will \u003ca href=\"http://www.gostanford.com/btsparking\">require a parking pass\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As people leave the BTS shows, “we will keep the main merch tent open for about an hour afterwards,” Nemani said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, she also emphasized that these trailers will not be pickup areas for \u003ca href=\"https://shop.weverse.io/en/home\">merch bought through Weverse Shop\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"CanIstillgetticketsforBTSsStanfordshows\">\u003c/a>Can I still get tickets for the \u003cem>Arirang\u003c/em> World Tour?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>According to Ticketmaster, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/bts-world-tour-arirang-in-stanford-stanford-california-05-16-2026/event/1C006429C95EA2B8?_gl=1*5woms*_ga*MTM5NDI3OTU5NC4xNzc4MDg2NzAw*_ga_C1T806G4DF*czE3NzgxMjM3NTEkbzQkZzAkdDE3NzgxMjM3NTEkajYwJGwwJGgw\">all\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/bts-world-tour-arirang-in-stanford-stanford-california-05-17-2026/event/1C006429C9DDA300?_gl=1*5woms*_ga*MTM5NDI3OTU5NC4xNzc4MDg2NzAw*_ga_C1T806G4DF*czE3NzgxMjM3NTEkbzQkZzAkdDE3NzgxMjM3NTEkajYwJGwwJGgw\">three\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/bts-world-tour-arirang-in-stanford-stanford-california-05-19-2026/event/1C006435858268EC?_gl=1*5woms*_ga*MTM5NDI3OTU5NC4xNzc4MDg2NzAw*_ga_C1T806G4DF*czE3NzgxMjM3NTEkbzQkZzAkdDE3NzgxMjM3NTEkajYwJGwwJGgw\">nights\u003c/a> of the \u003cem>Arirang \u003c/em>World Tour remain sold out. Box office, near Gate 2, opens at 2 p.m., but will not be able to help with BTS tickets on \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts\">non-show days\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You \u003ca href=\"https://www.rollingstone.com/product-recommendations/tickets/how-to-buy-bts-world-tour-tickets-online-prices-sites-deals-1235505013/\">could try\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.stubhub.com/bts-tickets/performer/1503185?=&PCID=PSUSADWHOME730428403FF837&MetroRegionID=&psc=&ps=&ps_p=0&ps_c=23758590705&ps_ag=194340684174&ps_tg=kwd-16956083&ps_ad=805812870716&ps_adp=&ps_fi=&ps_li=&ps_lp=9061275&ps_n=g&ps_d=c&ps_ex=&pscpag=&gcid=C12289X486&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid-search&utm_sub_medium=prospecting&utm_term=nb&utm_campaign=23758590705%3Adefault&utm_content=default&keyword=194340684174_kwd-16956083_c&creative=805812870716&utm_kxconfid=s2rshsbmv&kwt=nb&mt=b&kw=bts&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23758590705&gbraid=0AAAAAD3ylY2A5_YLx9b6hHJpzUpuEvi9b&gclid=CjwKCAjwzevPBhBaEiwAplAxvpb-AUnpIzFOFYV6vxLatRhqnv-Yygjp8Zs8EYnQ30KNkf5NBFuCRRoC9K8QAvD_BwE&ct=\">resale vendors like StubHub\u003c/a>, where \u003ca href=\"https://www.stubhub.com/bts-stanford-tickets-5-16-2026/event/160262168/?backUrl=%2Fbts-tickets%2Fperformer%2F1503185<=37.427467&lg=-122.1702445&quantity=2\">tickets can range\u003c/a> from $250 to more than $900.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But remember, it’s worth being cautious about online resales, \u003cem>especially\u003c/em> with social media ticket trades. And some fans have \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/stubhub/comments/1sef583/bts_tickets_canceled/\">posted online\u003c/a> that their resale tickets for the earlier shows, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketnews.com/2026/04/bts-fans-cry-foul-after-ticketmaster-cancells-tickets-claining-glitch/\">like Tampa\u003c/a>, were being canceled.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Vendors like StubHub may be able to help you \u003ca href=\"https://www.syracuse.com/live-entertainment/2026/03/is-stubhub-legit-for-bts-tickets-what-to-know-before-buying-resale.html\">refund your tickets \u003c/a>if a situation like this arises.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "BTS is back together and coming to the Bay Area this weekend. If you've got tickets, here's what to know about attending one of these three concerts at Stanford Stadium.",
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"title": "Seeing BTS at the Stanford Stadium This Weekend? From Bag Policy to Parking, What to Know | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082588/bts-stanford-may-2026-stadium-army-kpop-things-to-do-bay-area-peninsula\">BTS is returning to the Bay Area\u003c/a> for the first time as a group in eight years for their \u003cem>Arirang \u003c/em>World Tour — and they’re stopping at the Stanford Stadium on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s been such a buildup,” said KQED’s resident BTS expert, the \u003cem>California Report Magazine’s\u003c/em> producer \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/sracho\">Suzie Racho\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em> “They’re really making a concerted effort to get to as many fans as possible.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The anticipation is high as fans like Racho — also known as BTS ARMY — have been eagerly waiting for the group’s return since the hiatus in 2022, where members spent time fulfilling their mandatory service in the Korean military and pursuing their solo projects.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And for a group that is performing elsewhere at some of \u003ca href=\"https://ibighit.com/en/bts/tour/\">the biggest stadiums in the world\u003c/a>, some may be a little surprised that BTS’s Bay Area shows are at Stanford Stadium, the university’s football stadium near Palo Alto. But Racho said she’s hopeful she is a chance that the venue may actually help fans “experience it a little bit more immersively.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This will be the second-ever touring concert engagement hosted at Stanford, one year after Coldplay played two sold-out shows here. And when it comes to the imminent BTS concerts, “there’s a pride of place — that this is happening here,” said Stanford Live director Iris Nemani.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082662\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082662\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1329\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189-1536x1031.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A fan of Korean boy band BTS poses for a photo in front of a poster at Tokyo Dome before the start of the first BTS World Tour “Arirang” in Tokyo on April 17, 2026. \u003ccite>(Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We’re not going to become a stadium venue that’s going to do 100 concerts a year,” Nemani said, “but when we have very special artists like BTS … the university has decided to say yes.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So if you have tickets to one of the three Stanford shows on May 16, 17 or 19, we’ve compiled this guide on everything you need to know about seeing BTS next week, from parking to bag policy to public transportation and more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you’re looking for themed things to do in the Bay Area before the BTS shows, take a look at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082588/bts-stanford-may-2026-stadium-army-kpop-things-to-do-bay-area-peninsula\">our recommendations for K-Pop inspired stories, events and parties happening this weekend.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#CanIstillgetticketsforBTSsStanfordshows\">Can I still get tickets for BTS’s Stanford shows?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#WhatisthebagpolicyforStanfordStadium\">What is the bag policy for Stanford Stadium?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What time are the BTS shows at Stanford?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The BTS shows are scheduled to \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/bts-world-tour-arirang-in-stanford-stanford-california-05-19-2026/event/1C006435858268EC?_gl=1*5woms*_ga*MTM5NDI3OTU5NC4xNzc4MDg2NzAw*_ga_C1T806G4DF*czE3NzgxMjM3NTEkbzQkZzAkdDE3NzgxMjM3NTEkajYwJGwwJGgw\">start at 7 p.m.\u003c/a> for all three nights.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gates will \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bt\">open at 4:30 p.m.\u003c/a>\u003cu>,\u003c/u> with public entrances at Stanford Stadium’s Gates 2, 4, 5, 10 and 12. If you leave the venue, you cannot reenter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083385\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1435px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083385\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSMap.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1435\" height=\"857\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSMap.jpg 1435w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSMap-160x96.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1435px) 100vw, 1435px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A map of Stanford Stadium. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Stanford Stadium)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While some BTS concerts have started late in other cities, it is worth noting that Stanford has a \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/coldplay\">strict sound curfew at 10 p.m.\u003c/a> All in all, it might be reasonable to expect these shows to start on time.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"WhatisthebagpolicyforStanfordStadium\">\u003c/a>What is the bag policy for the BTS shows at Stanford?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Bags that are \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/stanford-athletics-fan-policies\">allowed at Stanford Stadium\u003c/a> include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bags that do not exceed 12″x6″x12″\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Small clutch bags or purses no larger than 4.5” x 6.5” x 2” (with or without a handle or strap), in addition to a clear bag\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Non-clear “\u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts#bags\">medically necessary” bags\u003c/a>, including diaper bags — although these will be subjected to additional screening\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Backpacks are not permitted, including those \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts#bags\">sold at the Official BTS Merchandise stands.\u003c/a> There \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts#bags\">are three bag checks\u003c/a> located near Gate 10, inside the main entrance of Sunken Diamond and the main entrance of Cobb Track and Angell Field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Items that are allowed at Stanford Stadium include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>BTS Official Light sticks with batteries\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Blankets\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sealed or empty soft plastic bottles smaller than 20 oz\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Plush toys\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Small, portable phone chargers, handheld fans and neck fans\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Keychains\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Liquid sunscreen\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Non-professional still cameras \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts\">(disposable, Polaroid, lenses less than 6” in length)\u003c/a> for personal use\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Signs smaller than 11”x15” (but be nice to your fellow fans and try not to wave your sign throughout the entire concert – you’ll block their view)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Seat cushions \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/coldplay\">smaller than 18″\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts#bags\">Items that are \u003cem>not\u003c/em> allowed\u003c/a> at Stanford Stadium include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Balls, frisbees, whole fruit (seriously) or “other potential projectiles,” according to Stanford\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Bicycles, skates, scooters, or skateboards\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Hard plastic, glass, ceramic or metal bottles\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Chairs (unless ADA compliant)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Horns or artificial noisemakers\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Laser lights, strobes and flashlights\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Open umbrellas\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Poles, selfie-sticks, GoPros, monopods and tripods\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Flags\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Strollers (unless ADA compliant)\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What if it rains during the BTS concert in this outdoor stadium?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Stanford’s Nemani confirmed the BTS show will go on in this outdoor stadium, rain or shine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Be sure to keep \u003ca href=\"https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=37.417&lon=-122.1477\">an eye out for the weather in the coming days\u003c/a>. If you are not local to the area, keep in mind that the Bay Area can get deceptively cold at night.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Should I have cash on hand at the BTS concert?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Stanford Stadium is a cashless venue, so you need a debit card, credit card or mobile wallet like Apple Pay.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How do I know I have a good seat at Stanford Stadium?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You can check out \u003ca href=\"https://preview.3ddigitalvenue.com/stanford-stadium-football\">a 3-D rendering\u003c/a> of Stanford Stadium on the university’s website. But the \u003cem>Arirang \u003c/em>tour is performed in the round, on a 360-degree stage, making it even easier for fans to actually see the BTS members.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What will the setlist be for BTS’s Stanford shows?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you don’t mind spoilers, \u003cem>Billboard\u003c/em> has \u003ca href=\"https://www.billboard.com/lists/bts-setlist-every-song-arirang-tour-tampa/?link_source=ta_thread_link&taid=69ede39154073e0001f57435&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=threads.net\">the tour’s setlist from Tampa, Florida\u003c/a>, which includes some of their big hits like “Fake Love” and “Butter.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What should I know about parking at Stanford for the BTS show?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Keitch Juricich, from the Stanford Athletics Operations and Events team, said the University has been working with the city on traffic flows and parking — and that more staffing will be available on BTS concert nights, “to make sure that we are moving people as quickly as we possibly can.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can buy \u003ca href=\"https://tickets.gostanford.com/p/parking-for-bts-arirang-in-stanford\">parking passes, including ADA parking passes\u003c/a>, on the Stanford website. According to Stanford\u003cu>,\u003c/u> these \u003ca href=\"https://tickets.gostanford.com/p/parking-for-bts-arirang-in-stanford\">passes must be purchased\u003c/a> by 12 a.m. on the day of the event. You will need to create an account on the Stanford website, and you can buy up to four passes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Parking lots will be open at 1:30 p.m. on show days.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082781\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082781\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-1030324342.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1276\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-1030324342.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-1030324342-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-1030324342-1536x990.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans await the BTS concert as part of the “Love Yourself” North American Tour at Staples Center on Sept. 9, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. \u003ccite>(Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If these passes are sold out, you can try your luck with \u003ca href=\"https://spothero.com/\">third-party parking websites like SpotHero\u003c/a> for other non-Stanford parking options farther away. You may find residents of nearby Stanford neighborhoods are selling parking spots for the night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are from out of town and have rented a car, be sure to read KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11959799/how-to-avoid-a-car-break-in-bay-area\">guide on the unfortunately common problem of break-ins\u003c/a> in the Bay Area and keep your vehicle safe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that Stanford is a pretty spread-out campus, and it could be worth wearing comfortable shoes for any walking you need to do.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Will there be road closures on the day of the BTS concerts?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you are driving, be aware that there will be some reroutes happening on the day of the concert.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts#closures\">Stanford Stadium\u003c/a>, there will be street closures on:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Arboretum/Palm intersection between Palm Drive & Galvez Street, closed on show days from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Lasuen Street between Campus Drive & Arboretum Road, closed on show days from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Lasuen Street between Campus Drive & Roth Way, closed all day on show days\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Galvez Street between Campus Drive and Jane Stanford Way, closed on show days from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Where are the Uber and Lyft pickup/dropoff spots for BTS’s Stanford shows?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On BTS concert night, the Wilbur Lot (660 Escondido Road) will be \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts\">the spot for pickup and dropoff\u003c/a>, which is around a 20-minute walk from the Stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before and after the show, there will be ADA golf transportation for guests available.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What’s the best way to take public transit to the BTS show?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>To avoid some of the hassles of parking and rideshare costs, public transportation can be a great option for getting to these concerts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For some of these transportation options, you can use \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12052690/bart-fares-2025-credit-card-clipper-tap-and-ride-contactless\">a Clipper Card, a card or Apple/Google Pay to tap on and off these services\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Be sure to check when the last train leaves for the night. While the concert is likely to end at 10 p.m. sharp, there is a chance that the crowds might make it hard to exit the stadium.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Stanford has \u003ca href=\"https://transportation.stanford.edu/getting-stanford/public-transit\">a pretty comprehensive guide\u003c/a> on public transportation in the area, but here are the highlights:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Caltrain\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The closest Caltrain station to the campus is \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/stanford\">the Palo Alto stop\u003c/a>. You can plan your route by using \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/?active_tab=trip_planner_tab\">Caltrain’s Trip Planner\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re working with Caltrain to really encourage alternative transportation modes,” Nemani said, adding that fans can expect themed Caltrain cars and Stanford merch giveaways.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Caltrain station is less than a mile away from Stanford Stadium, but you could catch the \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"http://transportation.stanford.edu/marguerite/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">free Marguerite Shuttle\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to help you get closer. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">A spokesperson for Caltrain said in an email to KQED that \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/event/bts-concert\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">on the weekend concerts\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, the last northbound train leaving the Palo Alto Station will be at 11:58 p.m. The last southbound train of the night will leave at 12:56 a.m.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">For the Tuesday concert, the final northbound train of the night will leave the Palo Alto Station at 11:57 p.m. The last southbound train will leave at 12:54 p.m.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A heads-up: While there is a Stanford stop on the Caltrain, it will \u003cem>not\u003c/em> be in use during the BTS concerts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For younger fans 18 and under, Caltrain rides are under $1 for one day and $2 for a Day pass.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>BART\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>BART provides service through the Peninsula and the East Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can use \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/planner\">BART’s Trip Planner\u003c/a> for an exact route, but in general, \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/coldplay\">to get to Stanford\u003c/a>, you would need to transfer to the Caltrain at the Millbrae, Fremont and Union City stops.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082782\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082782\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2267034351.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1288\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2267034351.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2267034351-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2267034351-1536x999.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Drones illuminate the night sky with BTS logo during a drone light show at a riverside park in Seoul on March 20, 2026, ahead of the comeback concert of K-pop boy band BTS. \u003ccite>(Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>SamTrans\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>SamTrans connects to the Palo Alto train station to all of San Mateo County. You can \u003ca href=\"https://www.samtrans.com/\">plan your trip on the SamTrans’ website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>VTA\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The VTA, which serves Santa Clara, goes along El Camino Real. The VTA Trip Planner is \u003ca href=\"https://www.vta.org/\">available on the agency’s website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to VTA’s \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/VTA/status/2052102342778974493\">social media\u003c/a> accounts, Bus Routes 22 and 522 are the best ways to get to Stanford Stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Biking\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There will be first-come, first-served bike parking on Nelson Road across from Gate 4 and Sam MacDonald Road across from Gate 3. Your bikes will be looked after by \u003ca href=\"http://bikesiliconvalley.org/?DB_OEM_ID=30600\">the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What should I know about accessibility for the BTS shows?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts#ada\">Stanford Stadium\u003c/a>, if a fan needs accessible seating, they should contact Ticketmaster to switch their ticket to an ADA seat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>ADA seating is available in:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Row Y of all 100-level sections and Row V of 200-level sections in seats 201-207, 219-227, and 239-240\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Select portions of Sections 208, 218, 228, and 238\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>ADA platforms in Sections B, F, and P on the floor\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083382\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083382\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSADA-scaled-e1778624702494.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1198\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stanford’s accessibility policy. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Stanford Stadium)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Fans with floor access should enter through Gate 1B. There will be a golf cart available. However, there are no escort services.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To get ASL access, fans should reach out to \u003ca href=\"mailto:athleticstickets@stanford.edu\">athleticstickets@stanford.edu\u003c/a> a week before the day of the concert.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Can I tailgate at the \u003cem>Arirang\u003c/em> World Tour?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes, fans can tailgate around their vehicles “during the day, during the hours that the campus is open for the concerts,” Nemani said. Tailgate setups should not be blocking any pathways.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some fans have been known to \u003ca href=\"https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/music/articles/bts-fans-camp-overnight-raymond-153039408.html\">camp out overnight\u003c/a> to get a head start on merch lines. However, Nemani said “there is no overnight camping” on the Stanford campus: “None at all.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What do I need to know about merch at the \u003cem>Arirang\u003c/em> World Tour?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There will be BTS merch trailers at the Stanford shows, where Nemani said the venue will be using \u003ca href=\"https://www.justwalkout.com/\">Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” technology\u003c/a>, which allows customers to pay at entry and walk out with merch without formally checking out their purchases. “Hopefully that will move people through quickly,” Nemani said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There will be \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts#merch\">an early merch day\u003c/a> at the Stanford Hammer Throw on Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Friday only: If you are being dropped off at the sale, go to Maples Pavilion (655 Campus Drive). If you are driving, there will be parking at the IM South lot, which will open at 9 a.m. Parking costs $10, and cash will not be accepted.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083381\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083381\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSEarlyMerch.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1628\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSEarlyMerch.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSEarlyMerch-160x130.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/StanfordBTSEarlyMerch-1536x1250.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Where early merch can be found near Stanford Stadium. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Stanford Stadium)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>There will also be BTS merch sales on the days of the show, when trailers will open at 9 a.m. There will also be merch sales within the stadium itself. Early parking will be available at 8 a.m. for merch opening at lots like the IM South Lot and Roth Garage — although bear in mind these spots will \u003ca href=\"http://www.gostanford.com/btsparking\">require a parking pass\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As people leave the BTS shows, “we will keep the main merch tent open for about an hour afterwards,” Nemani said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, she also emphasized that these trailers will not be pickup areas for \u003ca href=\"https://shop.weverse.io/en/home\">merch bought through Weverse Shop\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"CanIstillgetticketsforBTSsStanfordshows\">\u003c/a>Can I still get tickets for the \u003cem>Arirang\u003c/em> World Tour?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>According to Ticketmaster, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/bts-world-tour-arirang-in-stanford-stanford-california-05-16-2026/event/1C006429C95EA2B8?_gl=1*5woms*_ga*MTM5NDI3OTU5NC4xNzc4MDg2NzAw*_ga_C1T806G4DF*czE3NzgxMjM3NTEkbzQkZzAkdDE3NzgxMjM3NTEkajYwJGwwJGgw\">all\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/bts-world-tour-arirang-in-stanford-stanford-california-05-17-2026/event/1C006429C9DDA300?_gl=1*5woms*_ga*MTM5NDI3OTU5NC4xNzc4MDg2NzAw*_ga_C1T806G4DF*czE3NzgxMjM3NTEkbzQkZzAkdDE3NzgxMjM3NTEkajYwJGwwJGgw\">three\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/bts-world-tour-arirang-in-stanford-stanford-california-05-19-2026/event/1C006435858268EC?_gl=1*5woms*_ga*MTM5NDI3OTU5NC4xNzc4MDg2NzAw*_ga_C1T806G4DF*czE3NzgxMjM3NTEkbzQkZzAkdDE3NzgxMjM3NTEkajYwJGwwJGgw\">nights\u003c/a> of the \u003cem>Arirang \u003c/em>World Tour remain sold out. Box office, near Gate 2, opens at 2 p.m., but will not be able to help with BTS tickets on \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/bts\">non-show days\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You \u003ca href=\"https://www.rollingstone.com/product-recommendations/tickets/how-to-buy-bts-world-tour-tickets-online-prices-sites-deals-1235505013/\">could try\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.stubhub.com/bts-tickets/performer/1503185?=&PCID=PSUSADWHOME730428403FF837&MetroRegionID=&psc=&ps=&ps_p=0&ps_c=23758590705&ps_ag=194340684174&ps_tg=kwd-16956083&ps_ad=805812870716&ps_adp=&ps_fi=&ps_li=&ps_lp=9061275&ps_n=g&ps_d=c&ps_ex=&pscpag=&gcid=C12289X486&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid-search&utm_sub_medium=prospecting&utm_term=nb&utm_campaign=23758590705%3Adefault&utm_content=default&keyword=194340684174_kwd-16956083_c&creative=805812870716&utm_kxconfid=s2rshsbmv&kwt=nb&mt=b&kw=bts&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23758590705&gbraid=0AAAAAD3ylY2A5_YLx9b6hHJpzUpuEvi9b&gclid=CjwKCAjwzevPBhBaEiwAplAxvpb-AUnpIzFOFYV6vxLatRhqnv-Yygjp8Zs8EYnQ30KNkf5NBFuCRRoC9K8QAvD_BwE&ct=\">resale vendors like StubHub\u003c/a>, where \u003ca href=\"https://www.stubhub.com/bts-stanford-tickets-5-16-2026/event/160262168/?backUrl=%2Fbts-tickets%2Fperformer%2F1503185<=37.427467&lg=-122.1702445&quantity=2\">tickets can range\u003c/a> from $250 to more than $900.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But remember, it’s worth being cautious about online resales, \u003cem>especially\u003c/em> with social media ticket trades. And some fans have \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/stubhub/comments/1sef583/bts_tickets_canceled/\">posted online\u003c/a> that their resale tickets for the earlier shows, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketnews.com/2026/04/bts-fans-cry-foul-after-ticketmaster-cancells-tickets-claining-glitch/\">like Tampa\u003c/a>, were being canceled.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Vendors like StubHub may be able to help you \u003ca href=\"https://www.syracuse.com/live-entertainment/2026/03/is-stubhub-legit-for-bts-tickets-what-to-know-before-buying-resale.html\">refund your tickets \u003c/a>if a situation like this arises.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "BTS Is Coming to Stanford. How to Have a Very K-Pop Day in the Bay Area to Celebrate",
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"headTitle": "BTS Is Coming to Stanford. How to Have a Very K-Pop Day in the Bay Area to Celebrate | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>After several years, K-Pop juggernaut BTS is returning to the stage for their \u003cem>Arirang \u003c/em>world tour — and they’re stopping at the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13985347/bts-tickets-presale-info-stanford-tour\">Stanford Stadium\u003c/a> next week on May 16, 17 and 19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>BTS announced \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2022/06/14/1104980432/bts-announces-break\">a break in 2022\u003c/a> for the band to pursue their solo projects as well as to fulfill their mandatory service in the Korean military.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now the seven members (RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook) have \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/03/20/nx-s1-5753931/bts-arirang-comeback-k-pop\">reunited \u003c/a>on the album \u003cem>Arirang, \u003c/em>which came out in March, and for which their new tour is named.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Needless to say,\u003ca href=\"https://www.usbtsarmy.com/\"> BTS ARMY\u003c/a> is \u003cem>thrilled\u003c/em>. And since the Bay Area – and \u003ca href=\"https://edition.pagesuite.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=617f82c1-03ff-45cb-8da4-2589808f8816\">the West Coast in general\u003c/a> – is home to a huge community of passionate K-Pop fans, there will be plenty of events leading up to the concert weekend to celebrate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To mark BTS’s first touring show on our home turf \u003ca href=\"https://abc7news.com/post/bts-heads-to-gma-after-oakland-concert/4285071/\">since 2018\u003c/a>, we’ve compiled ways fans can celebrate BTS and K-Pop in general in the Bay Area that weekend, including cup sleeve events, opportunities for freebie trading, parties and themed desserts – whether you got a ticket to the shows or not.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Just be sure to snag spots at ticketed events, because they may sell out quickly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082662\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082662\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1329\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189-1536x1031.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A fan of Korean boy band BTS poses for a photo in front of a poster at Tokyo Dome before the start of the first BTS World Tour ‘Arirang’ in Tokyo on April 17, 2026. \u003ccite>(Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>And if you’re BTS ARMY visiting the Bay \u003cem>just \u003c/em>for the concert, welcome!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Our region has a comparatively robust public transportation system, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/guide\">BART\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/\">Caltrain\u003c/a>, that can help you get to some of these spots, and you can use \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12052690/bart-fares-2025-credit-card-clipper-tap-and-ride-contactless\">a Clipper Card, a card or Apple/Google Pay\u003c/a> to tap on and off these services.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We’ll also be publishing a guide to visiting Stanford Stadium itself for you in a few days, so check back.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>BTS events on Friday, May 15\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Before the BTS concert weekend starts, you can still have a \u003cem>very \u003c/em>full day of concert prep.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the East Bay, you can start the day at \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/kpn_oakland/\">K-Pop Nation\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003cstrong>, \u003c/strong>a retail store dedicated solely to K-Pop music and merch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then, you can grab a bite to eat at \u003ca href=\"https://www.pctofu.com/\">Pyeong Chang Tofu House\u003c/a>. Gangnam Jajang also has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13984330/best-dishes-sf-bay-area-2025\">highly recommended Korean comfort food\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082664\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12082664 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2268072068.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1320\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2268072068.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2268072068-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2268072068-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">V, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Jimin and J-Hope of BTS speak onstage during Spotify x BTS: SWIMSIDE at Pier 17 on March 23, 2026, in New York City. \u003ccite>(Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Spotify)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday in Hayward\u003cstrong>, \u003c/strong>Max’s Cakes will have \u003ca href=\"https://kpoptracker.net/us/events/hayward/bts-in-the-bay-popup-event/\">an array of BTS themed desserts,\u003c/a> as well as first-come, first-served freebies made by fans, like a BTS World Tour \u003cem>Arirang \u003c/em>tote.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rather stay closer to San Francisco? Take a look at beloved merch store \u003ca href=\"https://www.yelp.com/biz/kpop-nara-sf-san-francisco\">KPop Nara\u003c/a> in the Sunset District, or Stonestown Galleria’s own \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOFg0vmjhPx/\">Moonlly Fashion\u003c/a>, with photocards, lightsticks and music for sale. Near Stonestown is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13961328/bay-pocha-late-night-korean-pub-bossam-army-stew-sf\">Bay Pocha\u003c/a>, a Korean pub.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>SFMOMA \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13982078/rm-bts-curates-sfmoma-exhibit-2026\">will be collaborating with RM\u003c/a> on an exhibit later this year. And while the art show isn’t yet on display, you could do some \u003ca href=\"https://medium.com/publiclibrarysg/the-art-of-namjooning-books-bts-and-a-guide-to-slow-living-and-reading-c35d81ad6f82\">Namjooning \u003c/a>by visiting the museum to prepare (and you might even be able to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11943906/how-to-find-free-museum-tickets-in-the-bay-area\">do so for free\u003c/a>) or checking out the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12081122/bay-area-book-lovers-we-have-highly-literary-date-or-friend-hang-ideas-for-your-weekend?utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_campaign=%7Bcampaign%7D&utm_content=807361520818&utm_campaign_id=23712169357&utm_ad_id=%7Badid%7D&utm_term=bay%20area%20bookstores&content_pillar=Free_Low_Cost_Things_to_Do&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23712169357&gbraid=0AAAAACreV8g3qckzOMaslbCjmsBLZSAP0&gclid=CjwKCAjwzevPBhBaEiwAplAxvhoKP7_n9-G2MSeHmoszE1Uuo8hlC7_d-pnuPj9HcGpspiK_hVuLQhoCY7cQAvD_BwE\">many best bookish spots\u003c/a> in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Or you could also grab a group of friends to recreate \u003ca href=\"https://www.usbtsarmy.com/bts-army-in-usa/bay-area\">BTS’s own iconic photo opportunity in front of the Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/a>.[aside postID=news_12080384 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-48_qed-1020x716.jpg']At night, you can head over to the Mission District, where The Korner Store Bites is hosting a \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DXIjZLIivVK/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">pre-concert party\u003c/a> featuring BTS music, an anju buffet, raffle prizes and themed drinks. There is \u003cem>also \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.tixr.com/groups/purenightclub/events/bts-tribute-rave-tour-185098\">a BTS-themed rave\u003c/a> at Pure Nightclub in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re looking for a more private way to party, \u003ca href=\"https://www.k-box-karaoke.com/\">K-Box in the city’s Japantown\u003c/a> is a reliably good karaoke spot with rooms for rent. Other private karaoke room spots in the city include \u003ca href=\"https://pandorakaraoke.com/\">Pandora Karaoke\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/auracinemasf/\">Aura Cinema\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.karaokesf.com/k-time-karaoke\">K-Time\u003c/a>, and \u003ca href=\"https://taishosf.com/\">Taisho\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And this author would be remiss to not mention her favorite Korean barbecue spot in the city, \u003ca href=\"https://brothersrestaurantsf.com/\">Brothers in the Richmond district\u003c/a>. For late-night chicken, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13981034/toyose-korean-chicken-garage-late-night-san-francisco\">Toyose\u003c/a> is an excellent option as well.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For K-Pop fans in the South Bay, there is \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kpop-army-preshow-social-tickets-1983324591242?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\">a pre-concert social\u003c/a> at the Hyatt in Mountain View from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. You can follow that event up with an \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DVg9WkhD-pi/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">Armyang BTS Army Dance Party\u003c/a> at The Hub RWC in Redwood City.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(But remember, if you’re attending one of the coming shows: Save your strength.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>BTS events on Saturday, May 16\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On concert days, it’s probably best to stick to the South Bay and Peninsula area to make sure you get to the Stanford Stadium on time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED has a thorough list of some of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/bayareabites/109872/bay-area-bites-guide-to-5-cant-miss-south-bay-korean-barbecue-restaurants\">best Korean restaurants\u003c/a> in the South Bay, including Gooyi Gooyi and Jang Su Jang in Santa Clara.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m, Ryokucha Cafe in Palo Alto will have \u003ca href=\"https://kpoptracker.net/us/events/palo-alto/bts-arirang-themed-cupsleeve-event/\">a cupsleeve event\u003c/a> with a themed BTS menu, giveaways and fan merch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11782708\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11782708\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS39801_StandfordEdit006-qut.jpg\" alt=\"Stanford's campus spans 8,180 acres in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties and is one of the largest in the country\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1265\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS39801_StandfordEdit006-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS39801_StandfordEdit006-qut-160x105.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS39801_StandfordEdit006-qut-800x527.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS39801_StandfordEdit006-qut-1020x672.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS39801_StandfordEdit006-qut-1200x791.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stanford’s campus spans 8,180 acres in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties and is one of the largest in the country. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>You can also head to Sunnyvale for \u003ca href=\"https://www.citylinesunnyvale.com/get-ready-for-bangtan-sunnyvale-1\">its huge BTS ARMY meetup\u003c/a>, featuring 90+ local vendors and dance performances. The event is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But even if the vibes are immaculate, be sure to head to Stanford early for the concert, which starts at 7 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The exact time gates open for the concert has not been published on the Stanford Stadium website yet. (For Coldplay’s tour engagement at this venue last year, \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/coldplay\">gates opened at 5 p.m.\u003c/a> for a 5:25 p.m. showtime.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>BTS events on Sunday, May 17\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Start the day at Ryokucha Cafe in Palo Alto, which will have \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DXp_ZGrjP5I/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">a BTS-themed vendor market and desserts\u003c/a> from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Elsewhere in the city, Mr. Sun Tea is also celebrating with \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DXW2w0Ngjgo/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">boba and freebie bundles\u003c/a>, from 12 to 3:30 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A little farther away is \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/kloudkpop.sj\">Kloud K-Pop\u003c/a> in San José, which is hosting a pre-game event featuring photocard decorating and a lightstick giveaway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>After \u003c/em>the concert, for those who want the party to keep going, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.tixr.com/groups/purenightclub/events/bts-tribute-rave-tour-185099\">BTS Rave Tour\u003c/a> is throwing a Night 2 event at Pure Nightclub in San Francisco, starting at 10 p.m. But if you’re going to the concert, be realistic that with travel from Stanford to San Francisco after the show, you’ll probably be arriving at the club closer to midnight.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>BTS events on Tuesday, May 19\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Fewer fan events are happening on the Tuesday show, but it is also a pretty good opportunity to check out the many stores dedicated to Korean pop culture in the area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are closer to the East Bay, visit \u003ca href=\"https://www.12kstshop.com/\">12KST Shop\u003c/a> in Concord or \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/confetti_kpop?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D\">Confetti K-Pop\u003c/a> in San Leandro. If you are closer to the South Bay, take a look at \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/kloudkpop.sj\">Kloud K-Pop\u003c/a> in San Jose.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11754389\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11754389\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/06/GettyImages-77152290-e1560402492305.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An aerial view of downtown San Jose. \u003ccite>(Helene Labriet-Gross/AFP/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In Santa Clara, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13988444/best-korean-barbecue-santa-clara-charcoal-grill-korean-spring-late-night\">Korean Spring BBQ\u003c/a> is one of the last places in the Bay Area where the meat is still grilled over wood charcoal, according to KQED’s Luke Tsai. Or head over to the city’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13973430/best-korean-spicy-raw-crabs-ondam-santa-clara-late-night\">Ondam restaurant\u003c/a> for spicy raw marinated crabs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Again, be sure to leave with plenty of time to get to Stanford’s campus – especially on a weekday, where you will be competing with commuters and the workday rush.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>More BTS and K-Pop events happening this week\u003c/h2>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Through Tuesday, May 19: \u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://kpoptracker.net/us/events/dublin/bts-bay-area-takeover/\">BTS Take Over\u003c/a> at Boba & More Dublin\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thursday, May 7:\u003c/strong> \u003ca href=\"https://tockify.com/kpopinyourarea/detail/232/1778198400000\">K-Pop Takeover at Downtown First Thursday\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, May 8\u003c/strong>: \u003ca href=\"https://tockify.com/kpopinyourarea/detail/227/1778292000000\">K-Pop Fireworks Night at Oracle Park\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, May 9:\u003c/strong> \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-make-freebies-for-bts-arirang-stanford-registration-1988058417243\">Making freebies with other fans\u003c/a> at Sunset Commons in San Francisco.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, May 9:\u003c/strong> \u003ca href=\"https://partiful.com/e/a2Kr5XxnX1PpEs0im1fC\">Bangtan Beach Bonfya\u003c/a> at Ocean Beach in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, May 9 and May 10: \u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DXbH8ihDEj9/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">Pre-concert event\u003c/a> at Konditorei Cafe in Portola Valley\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, May 9 and May 10: \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bts-20-last-minute-pre-concert-prep-event-tickets-1988814015257?aff=erelexpmlt\">Last-minute pre-concert prep event\u003c/a>\u003c/strong> at DIY Decoden Art Studio in Cupertino\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, May 9\u003c/strong>: \u003ca href=\"https://paloalto.bibliocommons.com/events/69cd8ae6b48451fc3c0cba28\">A BTS Celebration\u003c/a> with a concert screening and dance class at the Mitchell Park Community Center\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, May 9:\u003c/strong> \u003ca href=\"https://kpoptracker.net/us/events/san_jose/bts-world-tour-2026-preconcert-cupsleeve-event/\">Pre-Concert Cupsleeve Event\u003c/a> at A Sack of Potatoes in San Jose\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, May 9: \u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/82allnight/p/DX0Y6EOFIuG/\">K-Pop Karaoke takeover\u003c/a> on Larkin Street in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, May 10:\u003c/strong> \u003ca href=\"https://kpoptracker.net/us/events/rohnert-park/bangtan-is-back-cupsleeve-event/\">Cupsleeve Event\u003c/a> at ThirsTea in Rohnert Park\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s Suzie Racho and Luke Tsai contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Ahead of BTS’ first Bay Area concert in 8 years, here are the K-Pop-themed parties, events, stores and restaurants to visit – whether you’re a local or BTS ARMY visiting us from afar.\r\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>After several years, K-Pop juggernaut BTS is returning to the stage for their \u003cem>Arirang \u003c/em>world tour — and they’re stopping at the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13985347/bts-tickets-presale-info-stanford-tour\">Stanford Stadium\u003c/a> next week on May 16, 17 and 19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>BTS announced \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2022/06/14/1104980432/bts-announces-break\">a break in 2022\u003c/a> for the band to pursue their solo projects as well as to fulfill their mandatory service in the Korean military.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now the seven members (RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook) have \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/03/20/nx-s1-5753931/bts-arirang-comeback-k-pop\">reunited \u003c/a>on the album \u003cem>Arirang, \u003c/em>which came out in March, and for which their new tour is named.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Needless to say,\u003ca href=\"https://www.usbtsarmy.com/\"> BTS ARMY\u003c/a> is \u003cem>thrilled\u003c/em>. And since the Bay Area – and \u003ca href=\"https://edition.pagesuite.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=617f82c1-03ff-45cb-8da4-2589808f8816\">the West Coast in general\u003c/a> – is home to a huge community of passionate K-Pop fans, there will be plenty of events leading up to the concert weekend to celebrate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To mark BTS’s first touring show on our home turf \u003ca href=\"https://abc7news.com/post/bts-heads-to-gma-after-oakland-concert/4285071/\">since 2018\u003c/a>, we’ve compiled ways fans can celebrate BTS and K-Pop in general in the Bay Area that weekend, including cup sleeve events, opportunities for freebie trading, parties and themed desserts – whether you got a ticket to the shows or not.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Just be sure to snag spots at ticketed events, because they may sell out quickly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082662\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082662\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1329\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2271173189-1536x1031.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A fan of Korean boy band BTS poses for a photo in front of a poster at Tokyo Dome before the start of the first BTS World Tour ‘Arirang’ in Tokyo on April 17, 2026. \u003ccite>(Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>And if you’re BTS ARMY visiting the Bay \u003cem>just \u003c/em>for the concert, welcome!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Our region has a comparatively robust public transportation system, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/guide\">BART\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/\">Caltrain\u003c/a>, that can help you get to some of these spots, and you can use \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12052690/bart-fares-2025-credit-card-clipper-tap-and-ride-contactless\">a Clipper Card, a card or Apple/Google Pay\u003c/a> to tap on and off these services.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We’ll also be publishing a guide to visiting Stanford Stadium itself for you in a few days, so check back.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>BTS events on Friday, May 15\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Before the BTS concert weekend starts, you can still have a \u003cem>very \u003c/em>full day of concert prep.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the East Bay, you can start the day at \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/kpn_oakland/\">K-Pop Nation\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003cstrong>, \u003c/strong>a retail store dedicated solely to K-Pop music and merch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then, you can grab a bite to eat at \u003ca href=\"https://www.pctofu.com/\">Pyeong Chang Tofu House\u003c/a>. Gangnam Jajang also has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13984330/best-dishes-sf-bay-area-2025\">highly recommended Korean comfort food\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082664\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12082664 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2268072068.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1320\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2268072068.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2268072068-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2268072068-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">V, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Jimin and J-Hope of BTS speak onstage during Spotify x BTS: SWIMSIDE at Pier 17 on March 23, 2026, in New York City. \u003ccite>(Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Spotify)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday in Hayward\u003cstrong>, \u003c/strong>Max’s Cakes will have \u003ca href=\"https://kpoptracker.net/us/events/hayward/bts-in-the-bay-popup-event/\">an array of BTS themed desserts,\u003c/a> as well as first-come, first-served freebies made by fans, like a BTS World Tour \u003cem>Arirang \u003c/em>tote.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rather stay closer to San Francisco? Take a look at beloved merch store \u003ca href=\"https://www.yelp.com/biz/kpop-nara-sf-san-francisco\">KPop Nara\u003c/a> in the Sunset District, or Stonestown Galleria’s own \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOFg0vmjhPx/\">Moonlly Fashion\u003c/a>, with photocards, lightsticks and music for sale. Near Stonestown is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13961328/bay-pocha-late-night-korean-pub-bossam-army-stew-sf\">Bay Pocha\u003c/a>, a Korean pub.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>SFMOMA \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13982078/rm-bts-curates-sfmoma-exhibit-2026\">will be collaborating with RM\u003c/a> on an exhibit later this year. And while the art show isn’t yet on display, you could do some \u003ca href=\"https://medium.com/publiclibrarysg/the-art-of-namjooning-books-bts-and-a-guide-to-slow-living-and-reading-c35d81ad6f82\">Namjooning \u003c/a>by visiting the museum to prepare (and you might even be able to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11943906/how-to-find-free-museum-tickets-in-the-bay-area\">do so for free\u003c/a>) or checking out the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12081122/bay-area-book-lovers-we-have-highly-literary-date-or-friend-hang-ideas-for-your-weekend?utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_campaign=%7Bcampaign%7D&utm_content=807361520818&utm_campaign_id=23712169357&utm_ad_id=%7Badid%7D&utm_term=bay%20area%20bookstores&content_pillar=Free_Low_Cost_Things_to_Do&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23712169357&gbraid=0AAAAACreV8g3qckzOMaslbCjmsBLZSAP0&gclid=CjwKCAjwzevPBhBaEiwAplAxvhoKP7_n9-G2MSeHmoszE1Uuo8hlC7_d-pnuPj9HcGpspiK_hVuLQhoCY7cQAvD_BwE\">many best bookish spots\u003c/a> in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Or you could also grab a group of friends to recreate \u003ca href=\"https://www.usbtsarmy.com/bts-army-in-usa/bay-area\">BTS’s own iconic photo opportunity in front of the Golden Gate Bridge\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>At night, you can head over to the Mission District, where The Korner Store Bites is hosting a \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DXIjZLIivVK/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">pre-concert party\u003c/a> featuring BTS music, an anju buffet, raffle prizes and themed drinks. There is \u003cem>also \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.tixr.com/groups/purenightclub/events/bts-tribute-rave-tour-185098\">a BTS-themed rave\u003c/a> at Pure Nightclub in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re looking for a more private way to party, \u003ca href=\"https://www.k-box-karaoke.com/\">K-Box in the city’s Japantown\u003c/a> is a reliably good karaoke spot with rooms for rent. Other private karaoke room spots in the city include \u003ca href=\"https://pandorakaraoke.com/\">Pandora Karaoke\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/auracinemasf/\">Aura Cinema\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.karaokesf.com/k-time-karaoke\">K-Time\u003c/a>, and \u003ca href=\"https://taishosf.com/\">Taisho\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And this author would be remiss to not mention her favorite Korean barbecue spot in the city, \u003ca href=\"https://brothersrestaurantsf.com/\">Brothers in the Richmond district\u003c/a>. For late-night chicken, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13981034/toyose-korean-chicken-garage-late-night-san-francisco\">Toyose\u003c/a> is an excellent option as well.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For K-Pop fans in the South Bay, there is \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kpop-army-preshow-social-tickets-1983324591242?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\">a pre-concert social\u003c/a> at the Hyatt in Mountain View from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. You can follow that event up with an \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DVg9WkhD-pi/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">Armyang BTS Army Dance Party\u003c/a> at The Hub RWC in Redwood City.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(But remember, if you’re attending one of the coming shows: Save your strength.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>BTS events on Saturday, May 16\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On concert days, it’s probably best to stick to the South Bay and Peninsula area to make sure you get to the Stanford Stadium on time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED has a thorough list of some of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/bayareabites/109872/bay-area-bites-guide-to-5-cant-miss-south-bay-korean-barbecue-restaurants\">best Korean restaurants\u003c/a> in the South Bay, including Gooyi Gooyi and Jang Su Jang in Santa Clara.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m, Ryokucha Cafe in Palo Alto will have \u003ca href=\"https://kpoptracker.net/us/events/palo-alto/bts-arirang-themed-cupsleeve-event/\">a cupsleeve event\u003c/a> with a themed BTS menu, giveaways and fan merch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11782708\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11782708\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS39801_StandfordEdit006-qut.jpg\" alt=\"Stanford's campus spans 8,180 acres in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties and is one of the largest in the country\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1265\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS39801_StandfordEdit006-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS39801_StandfordEdit006-qut-160x105.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS39801_StandfordEdit006-qut-800x527.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS39801_StandfordEdit006-qut-1020x672.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/RS39801_StandfordEdit006-qut-1200x791.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stanford’s campus spans 8,180 acres in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties and is one of the largest in the country. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>You can also head to Sunnyvale for \u003ca href=\"https://www.citylinesunnyvale.com/get-ready-for-bangtan-sunnyvale-1\">its huge BTS ARMY meetup\u003c/a>, featuring 90+ local vendors and dance performances. The event is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But even if the vibes are immaculate, be sure to head to Stanford early for the concert, which starts at 7 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The exact time gates open for the concert has not been published on the Stanford Stadium website yet. (For Coldplay’s tour engagement at this venue last year, \u003ca href=\"https://gostanford.com/coldplay\">gates opened at 5 p.m.\u003c/a> for a 5:25 p.m. showtime.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>BTS events on Sunday, May 17\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Start the day at Ryokucha Cafe in Palo Alto, which will have \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DXp_ZGrjP5I/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">a BTS-themed vendor market and desserts\u003c/a> from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Elsewhere in the city, Mr. Sun Tea is also celebrating with \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DXW2w0Ngjgo/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">boba and freebie bundles\u003c/a>, from 12 to 3:30 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A little farther away is \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/kloudkpop.sj\">Kloud K-Pop\u003c/a> in San José, which is hosting a pre-game event featuring photocard decorating and a lightstick giveaway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>After \u003c/em>the concert, for those who want the party to keep going, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.tixr.com/groups/purenightclub/events/bts-tribute-rave-tour-185099\">BTS Rave Tour\u003c/a> is throwing a Night 2 event at Pure Nightclub in San Francisco, starting at 10 p.m. But if you’re going to the concert, be realistic that with travel from Stanford to San Francisco after the show, you’ll probably be arriving at the club closer to midnight.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>BTS events on Tuesday, May 19\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Fewer fan events are happening on the Tuesday show, but it is also a pretty good opportunity to check out the many stores dedicated to Korean pop culture in the area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are closer to the East Bay, visit \u003ca href=\"https://www.12kstshop.com/\">12KST Shop\u003c/a> in Concord or \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/confetti_kpop?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D\">Confetti K-Pop\u003c/a> in San Leandro. If you are closer to the South Bay, take a look at \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/kloudkpop.sj\">Kloud K-Pop\u003c/a> in San Jose.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11754389\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11754389\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/06/GettyImages-77152290-e1560402492305.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An aerial view of downtown San Jose. \u003ccite>(Helene Labriet-Gross/AFP/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In Santa Clara, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13988444/best-korean-barbecue-santa-clara-charcoal-grill-korean-spring-late-night\">Korean Spring BBQ\u003c/a> is one of the last places in the Bay Area where the meat is still grilled over wood charcoal, according to KQED’s Luke Tsai. Or head over to the city’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13973430/best-korean-spicy-raw-crabs-ondam-santa-clara-late-night\">Ondam restaurant\u003c/a> for spicy raw marinated crabs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Again, be sure to leave with plenty of time to get to Stanford’s campus – especially on a weekday, where you will be competing with commuters and the workday rush.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>More BTS and K-Pop events happening this week\u003c/h2>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Through Tuesday, May 19: \u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://kpoptracker.net/us/events/dublin/bts-bay-area-takeover/\">BTS Take Over\u003c/a> at Boba & More Dublin\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thursday, May 7:\u003c/strong> \u003ca href=\"https://tockify.com/kpopinyourarea/detail/232/1778198400000\">K-Pop Takeover at Downtown First Thursday\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, May 8\u003c/strong>: \u003ca href=\"https://tockify.com/kpopinyourarea/detail/227/1778292000000\">K-Pop Fireworks Night at Oracle Park\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, May 9:\u003c/strong> \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-make-freebies-for-bts-arirang-stanford-registration-1988058417243\">Making freebies with other fans\u003c/a> at Sunset Commons in San Francisco.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, May 9:\u003c/strong> \u003ca href=\"https://partiful.com/e/a2Kr5XxnX1PpEs0im1fC\">Bangtan Beach Bonfya\u003c/a> at Ocean Beach in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, May 9 and May 10: \u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DXbH8ihDEj9/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">Pre-concert event\u003c/a> at Konditorei Cafe in Portola Valley\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, May 9 and May 10: \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bts-20-last-minute-pre-concert-prep-event-tickets-1988814015257?aff=erelexpmlt\">Last-minute pre-concert prep event\u003c/a>\u003c/strong> at DIY Decoden Art Studio in Cupertino\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, May 9\u003c/strong>: \u003ca href=\"https://paloalto.bibliocommons.com/events/69cd8ae6b48451fc3c0cba28\">A BTS Celebration\u003c/a> with a concert screening and dance class at the Mitchell Park Community Center\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, May 9:\u003c/strong> \u003ca href=\"https://kpoptracker.net/us/events/san_jose/bts-world-tour-2026-preconcert-cupsleeve-event/\">Pre-Concert Cupsleeve Event\u003c/a> at A Sack of Potatoes in San Jose\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, May 9: \u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/82allnight/p/DX0Y6EOFIuG/\">K-Pop Karaoke takeover\u003c/a> on Larkin Street in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, May 10:\u003c/strong> \u003ca href=\"https://kpoptracker.net/us/events/rohnert-park/bangtan-is-back-cupsleeve-event/\">Cupsleeve Event\u003c/a> at ThirsTea in Rohnert Park\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s Suzie Racho and Luke Tsai contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "stanford-pro-palestinian-protesters-case-ends-in-mistrial",
"title": "Stanford Pro-Palestinian Protesters Case Ends in Mistrial",
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"headTitle": "Stanford Pro-Palestinian Protesters Case Ends in Mistrial | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>A judge has declared a mistrial in the case of five pro-Palestinian protesters arrested for breaking into and vandalizing the Stanford University president’s office. The news on Friday came after more than a week of jury deliberation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Hanley Chew said the jury was “hopelessly deadlocked” on both charges, felony conspiracy to trespass and felony vandalism.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The jury favored conviction by a count of 8-4 for the conspiracy charge and 9-3 for the vandalism charge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jurors affirmed to Chew on Friday that more time to deliberate on the counts would not make a difference in the outcome, after which he declared the mistrial.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A mistrial ends the case against the five current and former Stanford students, but Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen has the right to retry the case, which he said Friday he would do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12065944\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12065944\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251203-VALLEYFAIRCHARGE-JG-3_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251203-VALLEYFAIRCHARGE-JG-3_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251203-VALLEYFAIRCHARGE-JG-3_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251203-VALLEYFAIRCHARGE-JG-3_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen (center) addresses the media outside the county’s Juvenile Center in San José on Dec. 3, 2025. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“This case is about a group of people who destroyed someone else’s property and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. That is against the law, and that is why we will retry the case,” Rosen said in an emailed statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Deputy Public Defender Avi Singh, one of the defense attorneys in the case, said he is grateful for the jury’s time and attention, even if a verdict wasn’t reached.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our position is that the proof was insufficient. We had a jury really wrestle with the arguments that were presented, and we are appreciative of everyday people who sacrificed so much in order to make due process real,” Singh said Friday afternoon.[aside postID=news_12066592 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251209-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-9_qed.jpg']The trial \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069585/felony-trial-begins-for-stanford-pro-palestinian-protesters\">began on Jan. 9\u003c/a>, and closing arguments wrapped on Jan. 30. Jury deliberations began on Feb. 2. During deliberation, jurors sent notes to Chew to let him know they were having trouble reaching consensus on the first count, asking for guidance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chew encouraged them to continue deliberating and reach a verdict if they could. The jury also took a day off during the first week. The case stems from the actions by a group of what were originally 12 protesters, who were arrested on June 5, 2024, after they barricaded themselves inside the president’s office at Stanford in the early morning hours.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The group refused to come out in their effort to get Stanford leaders to “address their role in enabling and profiting from the ongoing genocide in Gaza,” the group said on social media at the time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Their action came amid a series of larger campus demonstrations aimed at pressuring the school to divest from companies that support Israel’s military bombardment in Gaza. The group was charged with the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12035346/santa-clara-da-charges-12-pro-palestinian-protesters-took-over-stanford-university-presidents-office\">two felonies in April 2025\u003c/a>, when Rosen said the group crossed a “clear and bright line” in their political protest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12035380\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12035380\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/StanfordGaza1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/StanfordGaza1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/StanfordGaza1-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/StanfordGaza1-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/StanfordGaza1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/StanfordGaza1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/StanfordGaza1-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen presented a do-it-yourself guide, saying it closely matches what the students brought with them and how they broke in, suggesting they did some research beforehand. \u003ccite>(Gilare Zada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Dissent is American, vandalism is criminal,” Rosen said at the time. His office later secured a grand jury indictment against the group for the two felonies, superseding the initial charges.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Five defendants chose to go to trial: Hunter Taylor-Black, Maya Burke, Germán González, Taylor McCann and Amy Zhai.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Six of the other protesters who were initially charged in the case entered into mental health diversion programs or said late last year they planned to take a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12064351/stanford-protesters-negotiating-plea-deals-as-trial-begins\">court-offered deal\u003c/a> that would include pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges, with a pathway to potential dismissal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One other protester, Jack Richardson, served as a witness for prosecutors in the grand jury indictment and is now enrolled in a youth deferred entry of judgment program, which also offers a path to dismissal, under court-supervised requirements.[aside postID=news_12073176 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260211-OAKLAND-FEDERAL-COURTHOUSE-MD-01-KQED.jpg']Defense attorneys focused their case on the motivations of the protesters, who they said were acting out of a humanitarian concern during what they view as an ongoing genocide, and fear that doing nothing would lead to more suffering in Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Anthony Brass, one of the attorneys, said the actions came only after Stanford leaders ignored months of demands for discussion about divestment from companies supporting Israel’s military.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The school put the students in an “impossible situation,” he said during opening statements.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Prosecutor Rob Baker told the jury that the case was simple, and said protesters planned and prepared for their action, including bringing equipment and tools to block doors and cover cameras. He said they caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Baker, in his closing arguments, told the jury that their verdict “does not mean that you are supporting genocide” or that they don’t support Palestinians, and he said he believed the defendants were good people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Singh said Friday he hopes the DA’s office takes another look at the motivations of the protesters in its decision to retry the case.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12069662\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12069662\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-1_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-1_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-1_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-1_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A group of supporters gathered for a rally outside the Hall of Justice in San José on Nov. 17, 2025, after a court hearing for a group of pro-Palestinian protesters indicted for breaking into the Stanford University president’s office. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“There was no question or dispute that these people were motivated by a deep commitment to human rights. And the district attorney’s office should consider that as they weigh whether the interests of justice support bringing a new case,” Singh said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/21/us/campus-protests-arrests.html\">thousands\u003c/a> of protesters were arrested at college campuses across the country for protest-related activity over the Gaza war in 2024, few of the cases saw felony charges filed, and many of the lesser charges were eventually dropped.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Attorneys for the defendants and their supporters accused the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office of seeking overly harsh punishment to chill political protests and speech related to the plight of Palestinians, which the DA’s office refuted.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The case also saw heated \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12066592/arguments-over-genocide-dominate-stanford-protester-trial-hearing\">pretrial motions\u003c/a> over whether and how often the word “genocide” could be used during the trial.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A hearing to set a date for a new trial is scheduled for Feb. 25.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>A judge has declared a mistrial in the case of five pro-Palestinian protesters arrested for breaking into and vandalizing the Stanford University president’s office. The news on Friday came after more than a week of jury deliberation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Hanley Chew said the jury was “hopelessly deadlocked” on both charges, felony conspiracy to trespass and felony vandalism.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The jury favored conviction by a count of 8-4 for the conspiracy charge and 9-3 for the vandalism charge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jurors affirmed to Chew on Friday that more time to deliberate on the counts would not make a difference in the outcome, after which he declared the mistrial.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A mistrial ends the case against the five current and former Stanford students, but Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen has the right to retry the case, which he said Friday he would do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12065944\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12065944\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251203-VALLEYFAIRCHARGE-JG-3_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251203-VALLEYFAIRCHARGE-JG-3_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251203-VALLEYFAIRCHARGE-JG-3_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251203-VALLEYFAIRCHARGE-JG-3_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen (center) addresses the media outside the county’s Juvenile Center in San José on Dec. 3, 2025. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“This case is about a group of people who destroyed someone else’s property and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. That is against the law, and that is why we will retry the case,” Rosen said in an emailed statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Deputy Public Defender Avi Singh, one of the defense attorneys in the case, said he is grateful for the jury’s time and attention, even if a verdict wasn’t reached.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our position is that the proof was insufficient. We had a jury really wrestle with the arguments that were presented, and we are appreciative of everyday people who sacrificed so much in order to make due process real,” Singh said Friday afternoon.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The trial \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069585/felony-trial-begins-for-stanford-pro-palestinian-protesters\">began on Jan. 9\u003c/a>, and closing arguments wrapped on Jan. 30. Jury deliberations began on Feb. 2. During deliberation, jurors sent notes to Chew to let him know they were having trouble reaching consensus on the first count, asking for guidance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chew encouraged them to continue deliberating and reach a verdict if they could. The jury also took a day off during the first week. The case stems from the actions by a group of what were originally 12 protesters, who were arrested on June 5, 2024, after they barricaded themselves inside the president’s office at Stanford in the early morning hours.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The group refused to come out in their effort to get Stanford leaders to “address their role in enabling and profiting from the ongoing genocide in Gaza,” the group said on social media at the time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Their action came amid a series of larger campus demonstrations aimed at pressuring the school to divest from companies that support Israel’s military bombardment in Gaza. The group was charged with the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12035346/santa-clara-da-charges-12-pro-palestinian-protesters-took-over-stanford-university-presidents-office\">two felonies in April 2025\u003c/a>, when Rosen said the group crossed a “clear and bright line” in their political protest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12035380\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12035380\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/StanfordGaza1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/StanfordGaza1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/StanfordGaza1-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/StanfordGaza1-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/StanfordGaza1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/StanfordGaza1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/StanfordGaza1-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen presented a do-it-yourself guide, saying it closely matches what the students brought with them and how they broke in, suggesting they did some research beforehand. \u003ccite>(Gilare Zada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Dissent is American, vandalism is criminal,” Rosen said at the time. His office later secured a grand jury indictment against the group for the two felonies, superseding the initial charges.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Five defendants chose to go to trial: Hunter Taylor-Black, Maya Burke, Germán González, Taylor McCann and Amy Zhai.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Six of the other protesters who were initially charged in the case entered into mental health diversion programs or said late last year they planned to take a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12064351/stanford-protesters-negotiating-plea-deals-as-trial-begins\">court-offered deal\u003c/a> that would include pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges, with a pathway to potential dismissal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One other protester, Jack Richardson, served as a witness for prosecutors in the grand jury indictment and is now enrolled in a youth deferred entry of judgment program, which also offers a path to dismissal, under court-supervised requirements.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Defense attorneys focused their case on the motivations of the protesters, who they said were acting out of a humanitarian concern during what they view as an ongoing genocide, and fear that doing nothing would lead to more suffering in Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Anthony Brass, one of the attorneys, said the actions came only after Stanford leaders ignored months of demands for discussion about divestment from companies supporting Israel’s military.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The school put the students in an “impossible situation,” he said during opening statements.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Prosecutor Rob Baker told the jury that the case was simple, and said protesters planned and prepared for their action, including bringing equipment and tools to block doors and cover cameras. He said they caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Baker, in his closing arguments, told the jury that their verdict “does not mean that you are supporting genocide” or that they don’t support Palestinians, and he said he believed the defendants were good people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Singh said Friday he hopes the DA’s office takes another look at the motivations of the protesters in its decision to retry the case.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12069662\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12069662\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-1_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-1_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-1_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-1_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A group of supporters gathered for a rally outside the Hall of Justice in San José on Nov. 17, 2025, after a court hearing for a group of pro-Palestinian protesters indicted for breaking into the Stanford University president’s office. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“There was no question or dispute that these people were motivated by a deep commitment to human rights. And the district attorney’s office should consider that as they weigh whether the interests of justice support bringing a new case,” Singh said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/21/us/campus-protests-arrests.html\">thousands\u003c/a> of protesters were arrested at college campuses across the country for protest-related activity over the Gaza war in 2024, few of the cases saw felony charges filed, and many of the lesser charges were eventually dropped.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Attorneys for the defendants and their supporters accused the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office of seeking overly harsh punishment to chill political protests and speech related to the plight of Palestinians, which the DA’s office refuted.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The case also saw heated \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12066592/arguments-over-genocide-dominate-stanford-protester-trial-hearing\">pretrial motions\u003c/a> over whether and how often the word “genocide” could be used during the trial.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A hearing to set a date for a new trial is scheduled for Feb. 25.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>Aradshar Chaddar spent his life chasing big dreams — from debate halls and stages in Lahore to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/stanford-university\">Stanford University\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This spring, at 21, the Stanford sophomore was killed in a bike collision on campus, a death that stunned friends and family across two continents and cut short a life defined by ambition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His death — the first bike fatality on Stanford’s campus in nearly six years — rattled those who knew him as more than an accomplished student. To loved ones, Chaddar was someone who lifted up the people around him, carried the hopes of his family in Pakistan, and made others believe in the magnitude of their own dreams.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is the gravest blow,” his father, Sessions Judge Zafaryab Chaddar, said to KQED from Pakistan. “I would have gone to a grave before Aradshar, but life is very cruel.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He was so smart, he was so beautiful.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chaddar’s determination showed early. At 7, he was one of the top students in his school’s debate competitions. The topics for first graders were simple, but his peers could tell he was something special. Born in the United States and raised in Pakistan, he quickly stood out among his classmates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12067143\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12067143\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00717_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00717_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00717_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00717_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The intersection of Arboretum Road and Palm Drive, where 21-year-old Stanford sophomore Aradshar Chaddar was hit and killed in a bike collision this past summer at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“He was way ahead of everyone else around him,” said Ismail Iftikhar, his classmate and friend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At 13, Chaddar, known as Arad or Chad to friends and family, began going to Model United Nations conferences, where he came alive during long, winding speeches about world affairs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You could tell that beneath the words, there were larger dreams and visions of a world that’s better,” said Mustafa Khan, who attended the same high school as Chaddar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At 18, he shot up to 6-foot-3 — a college student with glasses, neat dark hair, a wide smile and a glimmer in his eyes as he would rope his friend Léon Garcia to help him run the Stanford Democrats or into a last-minute trek to San Francisco’s Chinatown.[aside postID=news_12047968 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250630-HUMANITARIANPAROLEDEEPDIVE-13-BL-KQED.jpg']“He would go out of his way to talk to people on the street whom he ran into, who he thought he could learn something interesting from,” Garcia said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At 21, Chaddar ran into his high school history teacher, Shaan Tahir, in Lahore, Pakistan. His teacher asked him: “Arad. Ambitious as ever?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Sir. Is there any other way?” Chaddar said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What are you aiming for?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“President of the USA,” he confidently responded.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tahir laughed, then remembered who he was talking to.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I don’t doubt it,” he said to his former student.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Months later, at a memorial service at the high school, Tahir recalled the memory as he sat among a crowd wracked with grief.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I knew that he meant it … He is possibly the most ambitious person that I’ve ever met in my life,” Tahir told KQED. “Extremely determined to be someone in life and be something in life.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chaddar’s story is “about dreaming,” Khan said. “Not just for yourself, but dreaming for other people. Recognizing other people’s dreams and making them feel like they’re capable of achieving them because they are.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Chasing big dreams\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Iftikhar was 7 when he met Chaddar, and the first impression was not positive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I thought he was full of himself,” Iftikhar said, laughing. “I thought he was incredibly selfish.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But even then, he could tell Chaddar was ambitious and smart. They were among the top students at their school in Lahore, a city of over 14 million people and Pakistan’s academic center. Their friendly rivalry persisted until eighth grade, when Chaddar asked Iftikhar to join his Model United Nations team.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Iftikhar agreed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12067034\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"max-width: 1500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12067034\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251212-Stanford-Student-Death-02-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1500\" height=\"2000\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251212-Stanford-Student-Death-02-KQED.jpg 1500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251212-Stanford-Student-Death-02-KQED-160x213.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251212-Stanford-Student-Death-02-KQED-1152x1536.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chaddar once described himself as “an avid mountaineer.” In a 2023 Instagram post, he said he hoped to “summit all the eight thousander peaks.” \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Ismail Iftikhar)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I realized that selfish is the last word I would use for him,” Iftikhar said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It was the type of friendship only two high achievers could have, one that endlessly pushed each other. They were prefects together and ran the Model UN club together. They poured over films together, diving into dialogue, politics and themes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I couldn’t name a single thing he hadn’t seen,” he said. “There was basically nothing I could beat him in.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chaddar’s favorite directors were Ingmar Bergman and Akira Kurosawa. He devoured books. While it’s common for Americans to be fans of the 2015 biographical musical \u003cem>Hamilton\u003c/em>, it’s less common for a kid from Pakistan — and Iftikhar said that Chaddar knew the dialogue by heart. He commanded English and Urdu with ease. He had a course load that confounded teachers. He brought home awards and distinctions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Vulnerability was hard for Chaddar, who felt deeply for the people around him, as if there was no separation between someone’s sorrow and his own. Their happiness was his.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sometimes the emotions got to him. In high school, Iftikhar and Chaddar’s team lost a Model UN competition. Chaddar was “a really bad loser, because he wasn’t used to losing,” Iftikhar said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At home, after the rest of the team left, Iftikhar found Chaddar lying down on the couch. He was clearly distressed, almost on the verge of tears. Iftikhar walked over and hugged him. Chaddar cried.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Later on, he told me that that was like his favorite memory of us,” Iftikhar, now 21 and living in Southern California, said. “It just holds a special place in my heart.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It felt natural that they would be the only two of their class to go to California for college — Iftikhar to Claremont McKenna College near Los Angeles, Chaddar to Stanford in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A life cut short\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Chaddar arrived at Stanford in fall 2023 on a scholarship, planning to study political science and international relations. He tried to convince Garcia, a fellow freshman, to drop physics and pursue the same path.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He was a big evangelist for the humanities,” Garcia said. “He believed that it was his job to lift up the people around him.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If Chaddar’s goal was to be president, spending time with him felt like being on the campaign trail. To Garcia, he was a “Don Quixote-style character.” When he wasn’t studying, Chaddar was pushing Garcia to leave the Stanford bubble and venture into San Francisco, where Chaddar knew people and places as if he lived in the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12067144\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12067144\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00786_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00786_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00786_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00786_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A vigil for 21-year-old Stanford sophomore Aradshar Chaddar, who was hit and killed in a bike collision this past summer, sits under a tree at Terman Fountain at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“He kind of lived life in his own world, almost, and he brought everybody around him into that world,” Garcia said. “He was like one of the last true romantics.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He would spontaneously pop up at the San Francisco apartment of Khan, who graduated from Stanford.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“His energy is quite infectious as well. Always having this cheeky grin on his face,” Khan said. “It was hard not to fall in love with.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It was hard to imagine someone so full of life being gone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On May 31, Chaddar was riding an electric bike on the Stanford University campus when, around 3 a.m., he was struck by a car. He was taken to a hospital, where he died at 3:25 a.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He had been crossing the intersection of Palm Drive and Arboretum Road in the dark, with limited visibility, when an Uber driver entered the intersection and hit him on his left side.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When a collision on campus results in an injury, CHP responds for an investigation and a report, said Bill Larson, public information officer for Stanford’s Department of Public Safety.[aside postID=news_12067175 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/250418-SFPDFile-46-BL_qed.jpg']Stanford data shows that from December 2018 to November 2025, there were 120 bike collisions on campus that resulted in a CHP investigation. Around 60% of those collisions were between a bike and a vehicle that resulted in an injury.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When expanding the dataset beyond collisions resulting in a CHP investigation, there have been almost 240 bike accidents on campus reported from September 2018 to October 2025. According to the Stanford Daily, some \u003ca href=\"https://stanforddaily.com/2020/02/11/mapping-bike-accidents-on-campus/\">spots on campus\u003c/a> have a kind of notoriety for being dangerous for cyclists. For example, the roundabout near the school’s Clock Tower is called the “Circle of Death.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A lot of the roads at Stanford are not very well lit,” Khan said. “I am so afraid every time I drive through.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Iftikhar said around the time of the collision, speculation arose about what happened. It made sense that people were searching for more answers, he said, trying to understand the sudden death of someone so loved. But he wasn’t sure there was more to know.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Iftikhar learned about Chaddar at 7:20 a.m. on June 2, 2025, after getting a message from Chaddar’s mother. Iftikhar was working on the Claremont McKenna College campus that summer and was the closest of his friends to the Bay Area. He booked a flight the same day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chaddar’s aunt from North Carolina also arrived. What followed was a succession of office visits. They went to the medical examiner’s office. They couldn’t see the body right away because the investigation was still ongoing. So they went to a funeral home and talked to the coroner. They signed documents and packed his dorm room. They attended a hastily organized vigil on campus, joining more than 200 students, staff and faculty as stories were shared and music played. Even more watched online.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A courier company predicted it would take at least weeks to bring Chaddar home to Pakistan, citing logistics. Iftikhar worked with Chaddar’s aunt to expedite the process — filling out documents, contacting the U.S. State Department and the Pakistani embassy. In early June, Chaddar was able to be transported back to Pakistan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I just was very restless,” he said. “I don’t know. I just ended up doing things, and that’s my way of dealing with things.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The boys went to California together. Now they were going home together.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A life remembered\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While he went to school in Lahore, Chaddar’s family was from Mano Chak, a village three hours away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chaddar was buried there, near his younger sister, who died a few years earlier. At the service, Iftikhar said he saw “more people than I’ve ever seen” in the village — all gathered for him. Friends from Stanford, including his girlfriend, also flew from California to see him.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He is survived by his father, mother and his 12-year-old sister.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12067141\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12067141\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hoover Tower at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“He was such a friendly baby,” his mother, gynecologist Sadia Chaddar, said. He had a sweet disposition and happily chirped, “Yes, I can do it, Mama!” whenever she needed his help.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She laughed when remembering how the kids called him Mr. President.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I used to argue with him,” she said. “Ardi, there are many other options. Why do you want to be the President of the USA?’ But she supported him, no matter what. Whatever he wanted to do, she would be there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I can’t get my baby out of my mind,” his mother said. “I just sleep with his thoughts in my mind. I wake up with his thoughts in my mind.”[aside postID=arts_13893843 hero='https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/guillaume-de-germain-Z_br8TOcCpE-unsplash-1020x681.jpg']She thinks of him when she looks at her daughter, Farazeen. She is just like her big brother – sharp, thoughtful, ambitious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He’s basically my motivation whenever I’m studying,” Farazeen said. “He was a role model for me growing up.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chaddar’s room – and library full of books he devoured – is preserved just the way it was when he would visit home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His father pores over his son’s writing, his debates, his speeches, his pictures, the tributes to him. His pride and love radiate as he talks about his eldest child; his grief immense.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It is not my personal loss. People claim that it is a national loss,” his father said. “Pakistan has lost a brilliant man.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a \u003ca href=\"https://theazb.com/does-the-american-dream-still-hold-true/#google_vignette\">June column\u003c/a> for an English-language online publication focused on Pakistan, Chaddar wrote that his middle-class background gave him opportunities not afforded to others in his village. When he was home, he said it was common to hear advice like, “There is nothing for you here,” and “Get out of here as soon as possible.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite this, being from Mano Chak and Pakistan meant everything to Chaddar. He missed home fiercely, especially when coming to the United States, Iftikhar said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chaddar knew his ambition would always take him away from home and the family he loved. He struggled with that, writing his thoughts out in his journal and sharing them with Iftikhar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The village was a place that offered a lot of peace, a lot of security,” Iftikhar said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It is also where he drew his strength from. Chaddar wanted to be the best. Even more, his friend said, “He wanted to make his family proud.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Aradshar Chaddar, a 21-year-old Stanford student born in the U.S. and raised in Pakistan, died in a campus bike accident, leaving friends and family mourning his ambition and impact.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Aradshar Chaddar spent his life chasing big dreams — from debate halls and stages in Lahore to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/stanford-university\">Stanford University\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This spring, at 21, the Stanford sophomore was killed in a bike collision on campus, a death that stunned friends and family across two continents and cut short a life defined by ambition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His death — the first bike fatality on Stanford’s campus in nearly six years — rattled those who knew him as more than an accomplished student. To loved ones, Chaddar was someone who lifted up the people around him, carried the hopes of his family in Pakistan, and made others believe in the magnitude of their own dreams.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is the gravest blow,” his father, Sessions Judge Zafaryab Chaddar, said to KQED from Pakistan. “I would have gone to a grave before Aradshar, but life is very cruel.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He was so smart, he was so beautiful.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chaddar’s determination showed early. At 7, he was one of the top students in his school’s debate competitions. The topics for first graders were simple, but his peers could tell he was something special. Born in the United States and raised in Pakistan, he quickly stood out among his classmates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12067143\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12067143\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00717_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00717_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00717_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00717_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The intersection of Arboretum Road and Palm Drive, where 21-year-old Stanford sophomore Aradshar Chaddar was hit and killed in a bike collision this past summer at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“He was way ahead of everyone else around him,” said Ismail Iftikhar, his classmate and friend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At 13, Chaddar, known as Arad or Chad to friends and family, began going to Model United Nations conferences, where he came alive during long, winding speeches about world affairs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You could tell that beneath the words, there were larger dreams and visions of a world that’s better,” said Mustafa Khan, who attended the same high school as Chaddar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At 18, he shot up to 6-foot-3 — a college student with glasses, neat dark hair, a wide smile and a glimmer in his eyes as he would rope his friend Léon Garcia to help him run the Stanford Democrats or into a last-minute trek to San Francisco’s Chinatown.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“He would go out of his way to talk to people on the street whom he ran into, who he thought he could learn something interesting from,” Garcia said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At 21, Chaddar ran into his high school history teacher, Shaan Tahir, in Lahore, Pakistan. His teacher asked him: “Arad. Ambitious as ever?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Sir. Is there any other way?” Chaddar said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What are you aiming for?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“President of the USA,” he confidently responded.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tahir laughed, then remembered who he was talking to.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I don’t doubt it,” he said to his former student.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Months later, at a memorial service at the high school, Tahir recalled the memory as he sat among a crowd wracked with grief.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I knew that he meant it … He is possibly the most ambitious person that I’ve ever met in my life,” Tahir told KQED. “Extremely determined to be someone in life and be something in life.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chaddar’s story is “about dreaming,” Khan said. “Not just for yourself, but dreaming for other people. Recognizing other people’s dreams and making them feel like they’re capable of achieving them because they are.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Chasing big dreams\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Iftikhar was 7 when he met Chaddar, and the first impression was not positive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I thought he was full of himself,” Iftikhar said, laughing. “I thought he was incredibly selfish.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But even then, he could tell Chaddar was ambitious and smart. They were among the top students at their school in Lahore, a city of over 14 million people and Pakistan’s academic center. Their friendly rivalry persisted until eighth grade, when Chaddar asked Iftikhar to join his Model United Nations team.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Iftikhar agreed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12067034\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"max-width: 1500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12067034\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251212-Stanford-Student-Death-02-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1500\" height=\"2000\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251212-Stanford-Student-Death-02-KQED.jpg 1500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251212-Stanford-Student-Death-02-KQED-160x213.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251212-Stanford-Student-Death-02-KQED-1152x1536.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chaddar once described himself as “an avid mountaineer.” In a 2023 Instagram post, he said he hoped to “summit all the eight thousander peaks.” \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Ismail Iftikhar)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I realized that selfish is the last word I would use for him,” Iftikhar said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It was the type of friendship only two high achievers could have, one that endlessly pushed each other. They were prefects together and ran the Model UN club together. They poured over films together, diving into dialogue, politics and themes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I couldn’t name a single thing he hadn’t seen,” he said. “There was basically nothing I could beat him in.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chaddar’s favorite directors were Ingmar Bergman and Akira Kurosawa. He devoured books. While it’s common for Americans to be fans of the 2015 biographical musical \u003cem>Hamilton\u003c/em>, it’s less common for a kid from Pakistan — and Iftikhar said that Chaddar knew the dialogue by heart. He commanded English and Urdu with ease. He had a course load that confounded teachers. He brought home awards and distinctions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Vulnerability was hard for Chaddar, who felt deeply for the people around him, as if there was no separation between someone’s sorrow and his own. Their happiness was his.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sometimes the emotions got to him. In high school, Iftikhar and Chaddar’s team lost a Model UN competition. Chaddar was “a really bad loser, because he wasn’t used to losing,” Iftikhar said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At home, after the rest of the team left, Iftikhar found Chaddar lying down on the couch. He was clearly distressed, almost on the verge of tears. Iftikhar walked over and hugged him. Chaddar cried.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Later on, he told me that that was like his favorite memory of us,” Iftikhar, now 21 and living in Southern California, said. “It just holds a special place in my heart.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It felt natural that they would be the only two of their class to go to California for college — Iftikhar to Claremont McKenna College near Los Angeles, Chaddar to Stanford in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A life cut short\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Chaddar arrived at Stanford in fall 2023 on a scholarship, planning to study political science and international relations. He tried to convince Garcia, a fellow freshman, to drop physics and pursue the same path.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He was a big evangelist for the humanities,” Garcia said. “He believed that it was his job to lift up the people around him.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If Chaddar’s goal was to be president, spending time with him felt like being on the campaign trail. To Garcia, he was a “Don Quixote-style character.” When he wasn’t studying, Chaddar was pushing Garcia to leave the Stanford bubble and venture into San Francisco, where Chaddar knew people and places as if he lived in the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12067144\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12067144\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00786_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00786_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00786_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDSTUDENTDEATH00786_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A vigil for 21-year-old Stanford sophomore Aradshar Chaddar, who was hit and killed in a bike collision this past summer, sits under a tree at Terman Fountain at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“He kind of lived life in his own world, almost, and he brought everybody around him into that world,” Garcia said. “He was like one of the last true romantics.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He would spontaneously pop up at the San Francisco apartment of Khan, who graduated from Stanford.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“His energy is quite infectious as well. Always having this cheeky grin on his face,” Khan said. “It was hard not to fall in love with.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It was hard to imagine someone so full of life being gone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On May 31, Chaddar was riding an electric bike on the Stanford University campus when, around 3 a.m., he was struck by a car. He was taken to a hospital, where he died at 3:25 a.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He had been crossing the intersection of Palm Drive and Arboretum Road in the dark, with limited visibility, when an Uber driver entered the intersection and hit him on his left side.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When a collision on campus results in an injury, CHP responds for an investigation and a report, said Bill Larson, public information officer for Stanford’s Department of Public Safety.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Stanford data shows that from December 2018 to November 2025, there were 120 bike collisions on campus that resulted in a CHP investigation. Around 60% of those collisions were between a bike and a vehicle that resulted in an injury.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When expanding the dataset beyond collisions resulting in a CHP investigation, there have been almost 240 bike accidents on campus reported from September 2018 to October 2025. According to the Stanford Daily, some \u003ca href=\"https://stanforddaily.com/2020/02/11/mapping-bike-accidents-on-campus/\">spots on campus\u003c/a> have a kind of notoriety for being dangerous for cyclists. For example, the roundabout near the school’s Clock Tower is called the “Circle of Death.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A lot of the roads at Stanford are not very well lit,” Khan said. “I am so afraid every time I drive through.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Iftikhar said around the time of the collision, speculation arose about what happened. It made sense that people were searching for more answers, he said, trying to understand the sudden death of someone so loved. But he wasn’t sure there was more to know.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Iftikhar learned about Chaddar at 7:20 a.m. on June 2, 2025, after getting a message from Chaddar’s mother. Iftikhar was working on the Claremont McKenna College campus that summer and was the closest of his friends to the Bay Area. He booked a flight the same day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chaddar’s aunt from North Carolina also arrived. What followed was a succession of office visits. They went to the medical examiner’s office. They couldn’t see the body right away because the investigation was still ongoing. So they went to a funeral home and talked to the coroner. They signed documents and packed his dorm room. They attended a hastily organized vigil on campus, joining more than 200 students, staff and faculty as stories were shared and music played. Even more watched online.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A courier company predicted it would take at least weeks to bring Chaddar home to Pakistan, citing logistics. Iftikhar worked with Chaddar’s aunt to expedite the process — filling out documents, contacting the U.S. State Department and the Pakistani embassy. In early June, Chaddar was able to be transported back to Pakistan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I just was very restless,” he said. “I don’t know. I just ended up doing things, and that’s my way of dealing with things.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The boys went to California together. Now they were going home together.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A life remembered\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While he went to school in Lahore, Chaddar’s family was from Mano Chak, a village three hours away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chaddar was buried there, near his younger sister, who died a few years earlier. At the service, Iftikhar said he saw “more people than I’ve ever seen” in the village — all gathered for him. Friends from Stanford, including his girlfriend, also flew from California to see him.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He is survived by his father, mother and his 12-year-old sister.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12067141\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12067141\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251210-STANFORDFILE00607_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hoover Tower at Stanford University in Palo Alto on Dec. 10, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“He was such a friendly baby,” his mother, gynecologist Sadia Chaddar, said. He had a sweet disposition and happily chirped, “Yes, I can do it, Mama!” whenever she needed his help.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She laughed when remembering how the kids called him Mr. President.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I used to argue with him,” she said. “Ardi, there are many other options. Why do you want to be the President of the USA?’ But she supported him, no matter what. Whatever he wanted to do, she would be there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I can’t get my baby out of my mind,” his mother said. “I just sleep with his thoughts in my mind. I wake up with his thoughts in my mind.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>She thinks of him when she looks at her daughter, Farazeen. She is just like her big brother – sharp, thoughtful, ambitious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He’s basically my motivation whenever I’m studying,” Farazeen said. “He was a role model for me growing up.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chaddar’s room – and library full of books he devoured – is preserved just the way it was when he would visit home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His father pores over his son’s writing, his debates, his speeches, his pictures, the tributes to him. His pride and love radiate as he talks about his eldest child; his grief immense.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It is not my personal loss. People claim that it is a national loss,” his father said. “Pakistan has lost a brilliant man.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a \u003ca href=\"https://theazb.com/does-the-american-dream-still-hold-true/#google_vignette\">June column\u003c/a> for an English-language online publication focused on Pakistan, Chaddar wrote that his middle-class background gave him opportunities not afforded to others in his village. When he was home, he said it was common to hear advice like, “There is nothing for you here,” and “Get out of here as soon as possible.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite this, being from Mano Chak and Pakistan meant everything to Chaddar. He missed home fiercely, especially when coming to the United States, Iftikhar said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chaddar knew his ambition would always take him away from home and the family he loved. He struggled with that, writing his thoughts out in his journal and sharing them with Iftikhar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The village was a place that offered a lot of peace, a lot of security,” Iftikhar said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It is also where he drew his strength from. Chaddar wanted to be the best. Even more, his friend said, “He wanted to make his family proud.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "Arguments Over Genocide Dominate Stanford Protester Trial Hearing",
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"content": "\u003cp>A hearing in the case of pro-Palestinian protesters arrested for breaking into and vandalizing the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/stanford-university\">Stanford University\u003c/a> president’s office was marked Tuesday by heated discussions over the word genocide.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the court session focused on pretrial motions — which attorneys and the judge use to lay out the ground rules for a trial — a debate over whether the term genocide should be allowed during the proceedings elicited the most impassioned arguments from defense attorneys and a deputy district attorney alike.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At one point, defense attorneys and the county prosecutor verbally sparred over whether Israel’s actions in Gaza being characterized as a genocide is a settled fact.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Using the word genocide is the same as saying the sky is blue. It is what it is,” Leah Gillis, a defense attorney in the case, said in court.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Robert Baker, the prosecutor heading up the case for the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, said Gillis’ comment was offensive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That’s absolutely absurd. And I think there’s people who were murdered in World War II that would probably think that the word genocide is a lot different than just the word blue,” Baker said, raising his voice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The flashpoint between attorneys in court stemmed from discussions on Tuesday about one of the central fights in the case thus far: the motivations of the protesters during their action on June 5, 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12066600\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12066600\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251209-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-4_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251209-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-4_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251209-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-4_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251209-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-4_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Robert Baker listens during a Dec. 9, 2025, pretrial hearing in San José in the case of a group of pro-Palestinian protesters charged with vandalism and conspiracy for breaking into the Stanford University president’s office last year. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Gillis and other defense attorneys representing the five former and current Stanford students in the trial have emphasized in court filings and in court on Tuesday that their clients’ actions were motivated by what they believe is a genocide in Gaza, and their protest was aimed at saving Palestinian lives.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The prosecution has questioned the validity of those arguments and has tried to limit the scope of what the jury could be influenced by during the trial.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s very clear the whole point of this argument is to prevent the defense from blaming a country that is currently litigating that very point,” Baker said of Israel’s dispute over its actions being labeled as genocide. “It is currently the subject of litigation in the United Nations.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Hanley Chew ultimately agreed to allow the use of the word genocide, he asked defense attorneys to be “very judicious” about it, and warned that if he felt they overused it, he would change his mind.[aside postID=news_12064351 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/251117-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-7_qed.jpg']“I’m not going to exclude the use of the word genocide, but I don’t want the word genocide paraded throughout this trial. And if it is, I will exclude it,” Chew said. “As all of you have pointed out, the word genocide is very powerful and is very politically charged. And if I feel that the parties are exploiting that word with their own use … I will exclude its further use.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The courtroom at the Hall of Justice in San José was packed with several dozen people on Tuesday, nearly all of whom appeared to be supporting the protesters and donning keffiyehs, patterned black and white scarves that have become a visible signifier of Palestinian solidarity and resistance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The group of what was 12 protesters said on social media at the time they entered the university offices that they wanted Stanford leaders to “address their role in enabling and profiting from the ongoing genocide in Gaza.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The action came amid a series of larger campus demonstrations aimed at pressuring the school to divest from companies that support Israel’s military bombardment in Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Defense attorneys emphasized that international bodies and experts, such as the International Association of Genocide Scholars and an independent United Nations commission, have labeled Israel’s actions genocide.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Using a word like genocide is “setting the stage” for what was in the minds of their clients when they took their actions, Gillis said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12062229\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12062229\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-6-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-6-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-6-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-6-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A view of Hoover Tower on the Stanford University campus in Stanford on Oct. 29, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The prosecution asked the court to bar all use of the word genocide, arguing it is “inflammatory” and could prejudice the case, and also sought to exclude explanations of the motives of the protesters during testimony.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Baker said the motives of the protesters are irrelevant to a jury trying to decide whether they are guilty of felony vandalism and conspiracy charges.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If they were protesting the Gaza War, if they were protesting the 2020 election, if they were protesting President Biden, if they were protesting President Trump, it makes no difference,” Baker said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’re going to transform this trial into a political forum rather than a search for the truth and determinative facts,” Baker said. “I think there needs to be significant limitations to sanitize what is presented to a jury.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Judge Chew took a middle stance in his ruling.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12062228\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12062228\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-3-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-3-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-3-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Students walk and bike past the fountain outside Memorial Auditorium at Stanford University in Stanford on Oct. 29, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I’m not going to do a blanket prohibition on defendants speaking about their motivation. However, I will severely limit that ability to speak about motivation,” Chew said, noting he would ban any hearsay evidence.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chew also decided to exclude, for now, testimony from a professor of human rights whom Gillis argued the defense should be able to use during the trial as an expert witness, to help establish facts around “Palestine and the genocide and the motivations of these young people in their request to Stanford to divest.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At one point during the hearing, some people in the audience of the courtroom chuckled, sighed or let out brief comments in response to arguments from Baker, prompting Chew to later issue a warning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is the court, and you should act in accordance with the fact that you are in a courtroom. If there are any additional outbursts, I will clear this courtroom. You understand that?” Chew said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hunter Taylor-Black, one of the defendants, said the trial amounts to “political persecution.”[aside postID=news_12065375 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/240508-Berkeley-High-File-MD-03_qed.jpg']Taylor-Black said the case from prosecutors feels “meant to discourage future student activists from acting on the things they believe in in the ways that student activists have acted in the past.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While students at campuses across the country were arrested last spring for Gaza-related demonstrations, few of those arrests resulted in felony charges or trials, making the Stanford case unusual. And defense attorneys argued earlier this year that the District Attorney’s office was overcharging the case.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The five defendants chose to go to trial last month, after six other protesters who were charged in the case entered into mental health diversion programs, or indicated they would take a court-offered deal that would include pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges, with a pathway to potential dismissal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One other protester, Jack Richardson, served as a witness for prosecutors in a grand jury indictment and is now enrolled in a youth deferred entry of judgment program. Such programs allow young people to eventually have a charge dismissed if they do not commit crimes while free, and often include rehabilitative requirements like counseling and community service.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Germán González, also a defendant in the trial, said after the court hearing that it was disheartening to hear “genocide denialism” in the courtroom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Throughout this sort of fear and anxiety that I do feel in the courtroom, I am just reminding myself that it is a privilege,” González said. “Nothing that happens in a courtroom or what happened to me is as severe as what’s happening to the Palestinians, who are facing genocide right now.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More pretrial conferences are scheduled this week, including a hearing over whether or not the provost of Stanford, Jenny Martinez, will be called to testify as a witness.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jury selection in the trial is set to begin in early January.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>A hearing in the case of pro-Palestinian protesters arrested for breaking into and vandalizing the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/stanford-university\">Stanford University\u003c/a> president’s office was marked Tuesday by heated discussions over the word genocide.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the court session focused on pretrial motions — which attorneys and the judge use to lay out the ground rules for a trial — a debate over whether the term genocide should be allowed during the proceedings elicited the most impassioned arguments from defense attorneys and a deputy district attorney alike.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At one point, defense attorneys and the county prosecutor verbally sparred over whether Israel’s actions in Gaza being characterized as a genocide is a settled fact.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Using the word genocide is the same as saying the sky is blue. It is what it is,” Leah Gillis, a defense attorney in the case, said in court.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Robert Baker, the prosecutor heading up the case for the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, said Gillis’ comment was offensive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That’s absolutely absurd. And I think there’s people who were murdered in World War II that would probably think that the word genocide is a lot different than just the word blue,” Baker said, raising his voice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The flashpoint between attorneys in court stemmed from discussions on Tuesday about one of the central fights in the case thus far: the motivations of the protesters during their action on June 5, 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12066600\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12066600\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251209-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-4_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251209-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-4_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251209-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-4_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251209-STANFORDTRIAL-JG-4_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Robert Baker listens during a Dec. 9, 2025, pretrial hearing in San José in the case of a group of pro-Palestinian protesters charged with vandalism and conspiracy for breaking into the Stanford University president’s office last year. \u003ccite>(Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Gillis and other defense attorneys representing the five former and current Stanford students in the trial have emphasized in court filings and in court on Tuesday that their clients’ actions were motivated by what they believe is a genocide in Gaza, and their protest was aimed at saving Palestinian lives.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The prosecution has questioned the validity of those arguments and has tried to limit the scope of what the jury could be influenced by during the trial.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s very clear the whole point of this argument is to prevent the defense from blaming a country that is currently litigating that very point,” Baker said of Israel’s dispute over its actions being labeled as genocide. “It is currently the subject of litigation in the United Nations.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Hanley Chew ultimately agreed to allow the use of the word genocide, he asked defense attorneys to be “very judicious” about it, and warned that if he felt they overused it, he would change his mind.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“I’m not going to exclude the use of the word genocide, but I don’t want the word genocide paraded throughout this trial. And if it is, I will exclude it,” Chew said. “As all of you have pointed out, the word genocide is very powerful and is very politically charged. And if I feel that the parties are exploiting that word with their own use … I will exclude its further use.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The courtroom at the Hall of Justice in San José was packed with several dozen people on Tuesday, nearly all of whom appeared to be supporting the protesters and donning keffiyehs, patterned black and white scarves that have become a visible signifier of Palestinian solidarity and resistance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The group of what was 12 protesters said on social media at the time they entered the university offices that they wanted Stanford leaders to “address their role in enabling and profiting from the ongoing genocide in Gaza.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The action came amid a series of larger campus demonstrations aimed at pressuring the school to divest from companies that support Israel’s military bombardment in Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Defense attorneys emphasized that international bodies and experts, such as the International Association of Genocide Scholars and an independent United Nations commission, have labeled Israel’s actions genocide.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Using a word like genocide is “setting the stage” for what was in the minds of their clients when they took their actions, Gillis said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12062229\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12062229\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-6-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-6-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-6-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-6-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A view of Hoover Tower on the Stanford University campus in Stanford on Oct. 29, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The prosecution asked the court to bar all use of the word genocide, arguing it is “inflammatory” and could prejudice the case, and also sought to exclude explanations of the motives of the protesters during testimony.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Baker said the motives of the protesters are irrelevant to a jury trying to decide whether they are guilty of felony vandalism and conspiracy charges.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If they were protesting the Gaza War, if they were protesting the 2020 election, if they were protesting President Biden, if they were protesting President Trump, it makes no difference,” Baker said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’re going to transform this trial into a political forum rather than a search for the truth and determinative facts,” Baker said. “I think there needs to be significant limitations to sanitize what is presented to a jury.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Judge Chew took a middle stance in his ruling.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12062228\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12062228\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-3-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-3-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/20251029_STANFORDFILE-_GH-3-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Students walk and bike past the fountain outside Memorial Auditorium at Stanford University in Stanford on Oct. 29, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I’m not going to do a blanket prohibition on defendants speaking about their motivation. However, I will severely limit that ability to speak about motivation,” Chew said, noting he would ban any hearsay evidence.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chew also decided to exclude, for now, testimony from a professor of human rights whom Gillis argued the defense should be able to use during the trial as an expert witness, to help establish facts around “Palestine and the genocide and the motivations of these young people in their request to Stanford to divest.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At one point during the hearing, some people in the audience of the courtroom chuckled, sighed or let out brief comments in response to arguments from Baker, prompting Chew to later issue a warning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is the court, and you should act in accordance with the fact that you are in a courtroom. If there are any additional outbursts, I will clear this courtroom. You understand that?” Chew said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hunter Taylor-Black, one of the defendants, said the trial amounts to “political persecution.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Taylor-Black said the case from prosecutors feels “meant to discourage future student activists from acting on the things they believe in in the ways that student activists have acted in the past.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While students at campuses across the country were arrested last spring for Gaza-related demonstrations, few of those arrests resulted in felony charges or trials, making the Stanford case unusual. And defense attorneys argued earlier this year that the District Attorney’s office was overcharging the case.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The five defendants chose to go to trial last month, after six other protesters who were charged in the case entered into mental health diversion programs, or indicated they would take a court-offered deal that would include pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges, with a pathway to potential dismissal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One other protester, Jack Richardson, served as a witness for prosecutors in a grand jury indictment and is now enrolled in a youth deferred entry of judgment program. Such programs allow young people to eventually have a charge dismissed if they do not commit crimes while free, and often include rehabilitative requirements like counseling and community service.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Germán González, also a defendant in the trial, said after the court hearing that it was disheartening to hear “genocide denialism” in the courtroom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Throughout this sort of fear and anxiety that I do feel in the courtroom, I am just reminding myself that it is a privilege,” González said. “Nothing that happens in a courtroom or what happened to me is as severe as what’s happening to the Palestinians, who are facing genocide right now.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More pretrial conferences are scheduled this week, including a hearing over whether or not the provost of Stanford, Jenny Martinez, will be called to testify as a witness.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jury selection in the trial is set to begin in early January.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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},
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"info": "The day's top stories from BBC News compiled twice daily in the week, once at weekends.",
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},
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},
"californiareport": {
"id": "californiareport",
"title": "The California Report",
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"info": "KQED’s statewide radio news program providing daily coverage of issues, trends and public policy decisions.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-California-Report-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
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"officialWebsiteLink": "/californiareport",
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"source": "kqed",
"order": 8
},
"link": "/californiareport",
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},
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"title": "The California Report Magazine",
"tagline": "Your state, your stories",
"info": "Every week, The California Report Magazine takes you on a road trip for the ears: to visit the places and meet the people who make California unique. The in-depth storytelling podcast from the California Report.",
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"order": 10
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"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM3NjkwNjk1OTAz",
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"info": "A one-hour radio program to hear celebrated writers, artists and thinkers address contemporary ideas and values, often discussing the creative process. Please note: tapes or transcripts are not available",
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"airtime": "SUN 1pm-2pm, TUE 10pm, WED 1am",
"meta": {
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"source": "City Arts & Lectures"
},
"link": "https://www.cityarts.net",
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},
"closealltabs": {
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"order": 1
},
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"info": "\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em>, which listeners will hear in the first part of the hour, has fearless and much-needed conversations about race. Hosted by journalists of color, the show tackles the subject of race head-on, exploring how it impacts every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, sports and more.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em>, which will be in the second part of the hour, guides you through spaces and feelings no one prepares you for — from finances to mental health, from workplace microaggressions to imposter syndrome, from relationships to parenting. The show features experts with real world experience and shares their knowledge. Because everyone needs a little help being human.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510312/codeswitch\">\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/lifekit\">\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />",
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"id": "commonwealth-club",
"title": "Commonwealth Club of California Podcast",
"info": "The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum. As a non-partisan forum, The Club brings to the public airwaves diverse viewpoints on important topics. The Club's weekly radio broadcast - the oldest in the U.S., dating back to 1924 - is carried across the nation on public radio stations and is now podcasting. Our website archive features audio of our recent programs, as well as selected speeches from our long and distinguished history. This podcast feed is usually updated twice a week and is always un-edited.",
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"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Commonwealth-Club-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
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"source": "Commonwealth Club of California"
},
"link": "/radio/program/commonwealth-club",
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"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jb21tb253ZWFsdGhjbHViLm9yZy9hdWRpby9wb2RjYXN0L3dlZWtseS54bWw",
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"title": "Forum",
"tagline": "The conversation starts here",
"info": "KQED’s live call-in program discussing local, state, national and international issues, as well as in-depth interviews.",
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"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Forum-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
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"order": 9
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"freakonomics-radio": {
"id": "freakonomics-radio",
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"airtime": "SUN 1am-2am, SAT 3pm-4pm",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/freakonomics-radio",
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"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/Freakonomics-Radio-p272293/",
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},
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"id": "fresh-air",
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"info": "A live production of NPR and WBUR Boston, in collaboration with stations across the country, Here & Now reflects the fluid world of news as it's happening in the middle of the day, with timely, in-depth news, interviews and conversation. Hosted by Robin Young, Jeremy Hobson and Tonya Mosley.",
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"hidden-brain": {
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"info": "Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.",
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"meta": {
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"source": "NPR"
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"how-i-built-this": {
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"title": "How I Built This with Guy Raz",
"info": "Guy Raz dives into the stories behind some of the world's best known companies. How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built.",
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"airtime": "SUN 7:30pm-8pm",
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"link": "/radio/program/how-i-built-this",
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"hyphenacion": {
"id": "hyphenacion",
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"tagline": "Where conversation and cultura meet",
"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Hyphenacion_FinalAssets_PodcastTile.png",
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"order": 15
},
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},
"jerrybrown": {
"id": "jerrybrown",
"title": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"tagline": "Lessons from a lifetime in politics",
"info": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game – and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Political-Mind-of-Jerry-Brown-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
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"order": 18
},
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},
"latino-usa": {
"id": "latino-usa",
"title": "Latino USA",
"airtime": "MON 1am-2am, SUN 6pm-7pm",
"info": "Latino USA, the radio journal of news and culture, is the only national, English-language radio program produced from a Latino perspective.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/latinoUsa.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://latinousa.org/",
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},
"link": "/radio/program/latino-usa",
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=79681317&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
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"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510016/podcast.xml"
}
},
"marketplace": {
"id": "marketplace",
"title": "Marketplace",
"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 4pm-4:30pm, MON-WED 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Marketplace-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.marketplace.org/",
"meta": {
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"source": "American Public Media"
},
"link": "/radio/program/marketplace",
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"rss": "https://feeds.publicradio.org/public_feeds/marketplace-pm/rss/rss"
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},
"masters-of-scale": {
"id": "masters-of-scale",
"title": "Masters of Scale",
"info": "Masters of Scale is an original podcast in which LinkedIn co-founder and Greylock Partner Reid Hoffman sets out to describe and prove theories that explain how great entrepreneurs take their companies from zero to a gazillion in ingenious fashion.",
"airtime": "Every other Wednesday June 12 through October 16 at 8pm (repeats Thursdays at 2am)",
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"officialWebsiteLink": "https://mastersofscale.com/",
"meta": {
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"source": "WaitWhat"
},
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"rss": "https://rss.art19.com/masters-of-scale"
}
},
"mindshift": {
"id": "mindshift",
"title": "MindShift",
"tagline": "A podcast about the future of learning and how we raise our kids",
"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mindshift-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED MindShift: How We Will Learn",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/mindshift/",
"meta": {
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"source": "kqed",
"order": 12
},
"link": "/podcasts/mindshift",
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"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM1NzY0NjAwNDI5",
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"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/stories-teachers-share",
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}
},
"morning-edition": {
"id": "morning-edition",
"title": "Morning Edition",
"info": "\u003cem>Morning Edition\u003c/em> takes listeners around the country and the world with multi-faceted stories and commentaries every weekday. Hosts Steve Inskeep, David Greene and Rachel Martin bring you the latest breaking news and features to prepare you for the day.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 3am-9am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Morning-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/morning-edition/",
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"link": "/radio/program/morning-edition"
},
"onourwatch": {
"id": "onourwatch",
"title": "On Our Watch",
"tagline": "Deeply-reported investigative journalism",
"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/On-Our-Watch-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "On Our Watch from NPR and KQED",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
"meta": {
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"source": "kqed",
"order": 11
},
"link": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
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