Reorientation Guide

The history of Stanford University contains many parts. The purpose of this guide is to tell a part of the story and our history that isn’t often heard. As Stanford students, we are often told that we can change the world and make it a better place, if we try hard enough. Well, we can also make Stanford a better place. The history of student activism at this school is incredibly rich. As students, we have a degree of power and that power can be (and has been) used to lead to positive change, both on our campus and in the local community.

In the classroom, we are taught about the importance of critical thinking and the power of analytical tools. It is important to apply this critical thinking to our own environment, just as students before us have done. The Disorientation Guide (as it was previously called) was originally published in the 1990s up until 2005 (copies of some of the old guides can be found in El Centro Chicano). Formerly disseminated during NSO, the guide presented another side of Stanford that wasn’t typically discussed by the larger Stanford community. The Reorientation Guide is meant to serve a similar purpose; in this guide you will find concrete examples of change and activism driven by Stanford students. We hope you find these stories thought-provoking, interesting, and inspiring.

This guide is meant to tell a part of our history as students of this university. It is only a prelude to a much larger and more complex conversation and does not claim to cover all of the stories that need to be told within the Stanford community. It is, however, a start, with histories and resources, questions and currents of thought that can inspire and lead us toward change. In assessing the issues and struggles we are passionate about, it is important to see the larger systems of oppression that unite us and connect us to the world outside of the bubble. At the same time, we hope these stories portray the differences and diversity that exist in social justice work that we must acknowledge and respect.