July 21, 2000

Robert M. Bass, Chairman
Stanford University Board of Trustees
c/o Keystone, Inc.
201 Main Street
Fort Forth, TX 76102
Dear Chairman Bass and Stanford Trustees:

I write as an alumnus ('36) with deep love for the University, as a resident who has lived near the Stanford foothills for more than eighty years, and as someone who has dedicated a good portion of my career as a public servant to protecting the natural beauty of California's open spaces.

I can remember the days when Stanford truly was "the farm." The term is now only a token reference to a cherished past, visible only in the rolling green hills at the edges of campus. As the University charts a course for the future of the campus, I hope that close attention and thought will be given to ensuring that such plans will be sustainable - for the University itself, its neighbors, and its local environment - for at least another century.

It is my understanding that Stanford plans to enlarge its physical plant by one-third over the next decade, in addition to the millions of square feet added in the last. Despite the need for protection of open spaces in an increasingly congested area, such a plan must guarantee the long-term protection of Stanford lands. They are an integral part of the treasures Stanford has to offer.

Planning for sustainability will undoubtedly be challenging, but true leadership requires making predictions about future needs and commitments to future generations.

I join other alumni in requesting that you direct the University Planning Office to take steps to protect the foothills as open space for the sake of the Stanford community and its ecosystems.

Thank you for considering these comments and for all your efforts in caring for our beloved Stanford.

Ever,

Senator Alan Cranstion
Class of 1936