The decision to feature one of our alumni on the cover of the magazine is embedded with risk. Regardless of his or her accomplishments, the subject of a cover story draws unusual attention and, with that attention, questions about the appropriateness of the choice. Why him or her? Why now? What about all those other people who have never been on the cover?
These questions are all the more pointed when the person we choose is famous. We strive to avoid the clichés associated with alumni magazines, including trotting out a predictable roster of the university’s best-known alumni. There are many reasons for avoiding this trap, beginning with the potential alienation of readers—this is a magazine for all alumni, not merely an elite subset. A scan through past issues reveals just how unusual it is for us to put any individual person on the cover, famous or otherwise. The last time an alumnus appeared by himself or herself on our cover was in 2014.
Choosing a politician for the cover is especially fraught. Inevitably, some readers will complain that privileging an elected official in such a way unfairly favors one political party or ideological tribe. It is a valid concern and one that we take seriously. Over the years, in the rare instances in which political figures did appear on our cover, it was because we felt their stories were unusual enough or important enough to warrant an exception. That is the case with Dianne Feinstein.
During a long and productive career in politics, Feinstein, ’55, has occupied a lane seldom trafficked in this era of polarization—the center. That is not to say she doesn’t hold strong views. But her positions on issues have not followed a partisan script. For example, she has advocated for stronger gun regulation, but she also has been a stout supporter of legislation empowering law enforcement and protecting national security. A Democrat, she has voted with her party much of the time, but has not been timid about rejecting a left-leaning orthodoxy. In a recent speech at San Francisco’s Commonwealth Club, she said she hoped Donald Trump could become “a good president,” setting off a firestorm of criticism from folks within her own party. Her statement seemed perfectly in character, given her track record—never mind politics; what is best for the country? That attitude puts her in an ever-shrinking category of public servants and at odds with the fiery extremes that have come to dominate political discourse.
Moreover, Feinstein has an extraordinary personal story. Beginning with her days at Stanford, where she was an admired student leader, she encountered one obstacle after another, and demonstrated unusual strength and resilience—never more so than when she buoyed San Francisco after the murders of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk in 1978. Her influence is large—she belongs in a small coterie of leaders whose accomplishments over the past half-century have helped redefine women’s roles.
So, there she is on the cover. I hope you will let us know what you think—after reading the story, of course.
Determining what goes on the cover is one of the differences between publishing a print publication and delivering content digitally, where there is no “cover” to speak of. We love the print version of the magazine—and we know lots of readers do, too. At the same time, many thousands of alumni prefer to read our stories online. We aim to meet the needs of all alumni, regardless of their reader preferences, and are making some changes to enable that goal.
In 2018, the print magazine—published bimonthly since the 1990s—will go from six issues a year to five. It’s a strategic decision to allow a much more ambitious digital publishing effort aimed at those alumni who want the convenience and immediacy of an online experience. The DNA of the magazine will remain the same: deep reporting, world-class writing, exceptional design and powerful storytelling. And there will be more of it: a regular stream of content that goes well beyond the confines that the print magazine could accommodate.
We will let you know when our new website is ready, some time in the new year. And we hope you will become a fan of both versions of Stanford—the one on your coffee table and the one on your smartphone.
Kevin Cool is the executive editor of Stanford. Email Kevin
