🎓 Culture clash at Stanford

Good morning. This is Shades of the Day, the daily newsletter that summarizes and organizes the different shades of perspective in news and culture so that you can see the big picture quickly.

Here at Shades we believe that seeing multiple points of view is the best way to stay informed. The easiest (and most fun!) way to do that is with the Shades mobile app, where this newsletter’s content is pulled from.

It’s Monday, April 1 — here’s what you’ll find in today’s newsletter:

• The tension on Stanford’s campus over the Israel-Hamas conflict

• The premiere of Oppenheimer in Japan

• 4 quick hits of news from the last 24 hours

- Jeff (co-founder of Shades)

🎓 Culture clash at Stanford

Stanford's campus is ablaze with conflict over the Israel-Hamas war, sparking debates on free speech vs. safety.

🎓 A Stanford student in The Atlantic says student activism over the Israel-Hamas conflict has tipped into extremism, leading to an environment of division and fear on Stanford’s campus.

🎓 Hot Air sounded the alarm: Stanford has descended into an “antisemitic hellhole”. The university needs to do something.

🎓 But The Intercept thinks the concerns are overblown: Campus “safety” claims stifle free speech on Israel-Palestine issues, and the Atlantic article was “staggeringly imbalanced”.

🎓 NY Mag cautioned against dismissing the extremists, though: Campus radicalism could have a big influence over Democratic policy.

🎬 Oppenheimer in Japan

The “Oppenheimer” film lands in Japan, sparking a complex blend of critique and praise over its portrayal of nuclear legacy.

🎬 “Oppenheimer”, a film on the origin of the atomic bomb, premiered in Japan in 2024. NBC says the sensitive subject stirred mixed reactions.

🎬 The Guardian said some atomic bomb survivors didn't like the film: They say it downplayed the horror of atomic weapons.

🎬 But The WSJ notes that “Oppenheimer” earned acclaim in Japan, too: It won over Japanese audiences with its fresh perspective.

🎬 A Nagasaki survivor in Japan Times also recommended “Oppenheimer”: It has potential to educate people about nuclear weapons.

🎬 The Atomic Bulletin's take: Nukes still pose a threat to the world. Hopefully, “Oppenheimer”'s Japan release motivates people to reassess the role nukes play in the world.

Quick hits

🏀 NC State advances to Final Four after playing on a court with incorrect three-point line distances.

🌪️ A powerful storm system threatens parts of the US with tornadoes, large hail, and potential flooding.

🏀 LeBron James hints that his time in the NBA is winding down after a stellar performance against the Nets.

🔓 AT&T confirms a massive data breach exposing Social Security numbers and passcodes of millions.

Thanks for reading. If you have any feedback about our newsletter and what changes you’d like to see, please share it here — or you can email me at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you!