Instagram is a popular social media platform that allows users to share photos and videos with their followers. It has become a powerful tool for businesses and individuals to promote themselves and connect with others. However, with the rise of influencers and unrealistic beauty standards, Instagram has also been criticized for its negative impact on mental health and self-esteem. One phenomenon that has gained traction on Instagram is the concept of "magic nit." Magic nit refers to the idea that everything on Instagram is perfectly curated and flawless. It is the illusion that people's lives are perfect and without any flaws, as portrayed by their carefully selected photos and videos.

Stanford Tree gets the axe, suspended until January

Students brought a banner on-field during the Stanford/ASU game protesting “Stanford Hates Fun.” The phrase has been a common slogan for students protesting Stanford's recent crackdown on longstanding parts of campus social life. (Photo: THOMAS YIM/The Stanford Daily)

Jordan Zietz ’24 has been hurt many times throughout his life. He’s broken both of his ankles, both knees, both wrists, his back and burned out his left retina.

But for Zietz, the 44th Tree of the Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band (LSJUMB), it was an “emotionally devastating” blow when he was informed Sunday afternoon that he was suspended by the Band from his role for carrying a “Stanford Hates Fun” banner at the Oct. 22 football game.

The official Twitter account for the Stanford Tree, @DaStanfordTree, confirmed Zietz’s suspension Sunday. Though the initial tweet attributed the decision to Stanford, a later tweet from the account clarified that Band student leadership made the decision.

In a statement to The Daily, students on the Band Executive Committee wrote they decided to suspend Zietz “because of his use of the platform for personal benefit without going through or inquiring about appropriate processes, therefore violating the norms and expectations of the position. This decision was completely unrelated to the content of his message and to the ‘war on fun.’”

A Stanford athletic department spokesperson confirmed the band’s account of the responsibility for the suspension in a statement to ESPN: “The students comprising the executive committee of the LSJUMB have suspended the Tree mascot due to a violation of the band’s policies and processes,” the spokesperson wrote.

Zietz will be permitted to return to serving as the Tree in January 2023. In the meantime, the 43rd Tree, Grayson Armour ’22, will return as the mascot. Zietz told The Daily that he was “taken aback” by the suspension and that the decision “is going to be heartbreaking for a lot of people.”

The decision has further sparked conversations surrounding the recent shift in the Band’s culture and the University’s approach to “fun” on campus. The “War on Fun” that Zietz referenced in his banner, which he carried alongside the Arizona State mascot at the homecoming weekend football game, refers to the sentiment among some students that the University has moved to restrict student social life.

The Tree is the official mascot of the Band and is recognized unofficially as the University’s mascot. It was unofficially instated after protests in 1972 led the University to remove the previous Indian mascot and efforts to officially establish a new one failed. Since 1975, the Tree has appeared with the Stanford Band at football games.

Armour told The Daily that his decision to serve as interim Tree is to maintain the history of the Tree being explicitly selected by the previous Tree.

“When Jordan got suspended, the band leadership came to me and said, like, the Executive Committee has taken on the responsibility of finding a temporary Tree in the meantime, and I stopped them right there and I was like, ‘No, I’m coming back,’” said Armour.

This is not the first time the tree has been suspended: The 28th Tree was suspended in February 2006 for public drinking during a game and the 29th in March 2006 for dancing in an undesignated area. In December 2016, the entire Band was notably banned for several months for alcohol violations. However, according to Zietz, his suspension is the first for non-legal reasons.

The Band has also undergone changes in recent years. In the fall of 2020, the Band transitioned from a Voluntary Student Organization (VSO) to being under the Department of Athletics (DAPER). At the same time, its Constitution, which allowed student self-expression such as kneeling during the national anthem and taping “Abolish ICE” on the back of their jackets, was dissolved, according to Band social chair and recruiter Noah Bartelt ’23, who described there being a significant “culture shift” since he joined the Band in 2019.

Bartelt said the changes to the Band’s structure have concentrated decision-making power toward Band director Russell Gavin and a five-member executive committee of students.

Armour agreed that the Band dynamics are “extremely different” now and that it’s not clear that the Tree has to receive approval to express their opinion at events.

Zietz said he had asked Gavin for clarification on the limits of expression but was not given a clear answer.

“This was something that I thought I could express but they cited that, ‘Although self expression is great, self expression goes hand in hand with self-awareness,’” Zietz said. “I feel sort of taken advantage of. It’s a pretty ugly feeling and a little yucky.”

When asked by The Daily to clarify what “self-awareness” means, Gavin did not directly answer.

“While I did not contribute directly to this decision, it is clear that the band student leaders who were involved engaged in thoughtful and considerate processes in arriving at this outcome,” Gavin wrote in an email to The Daily.

Bartelt said that other Band members told him that they think the suspension is a “really, really hardcore punishment.” While initially some members were mildly concerned that Zietz’s Oct. 22 display had interrupted the planned field show, Bartelt said none of the staff had any desire for Zietz to be punished.

“I think it’s more than a little extreme. I think it’s pretty ridiculous, to be honest with you,” Bartelt said. “As a result of these structural changes to [the] Band, people now are much more nervous to express their opinions publicly. People are much more conflict-averse. I think people fear retaliation in their leadership positions and things like that.”

Some students unaffiliated with the Band also expressed their disappointment with the decision. On social media, some students have coalesced their concerns for Zietz’s suspension into the hashtag #FreeTheTree and in discussions to plan protests. Students on Fizz, an anonymous student-oriented social media platform, have circulated calls for students to dress as trees at Saturday’s football game in protest of the suspension. A petition calling for the Tree to be reinstated collected 379 signatures as of Monday night.

“I love the Tree. I love the Stanford Band. I think the Tree and the Band epitomizes everything about Stanford — you know, kind of wacky, relentless spirit of this group of students that’s here to study, to work hard, but also to have fun and to let loose,” Cameron Krouch ’25 said. “It’s great to see somebody finally using the platform that they have with the University to voice the discontent that all the students have.”

Some students also expressed their concern that the suspension of the de facto school mascot “sends the message that criticism of Stanford won’t be tolerated” and hints at future censorship on other issues.

“If students are going to be afraid that they can’t express [their opinions] on relatively non-consequential issues, how can we expect students to genuinely voice the problems that they have with the University without fearing repercussions?” Krouch said.

Zietz, who says he originally auditioned for the role of the Tree because he saw it as a “fantastic form of self-expression,” is now unclear what rights he has as the band mascot, and as a student.

“As somebody who’s a huge advocate of free speech, it’s honestly a little scary,” Zietz said. “Tree means so much. Tree means being able to be the University’s number-one fan and a component of that is calling for change when it’s necessary.”

Zietz said the suspension shifted his outlook on Stanford.

“When I first got into Stanford, I thought it was the most magical place on Earth,” Zietz said. “Now, especially following my suspension for self-expression, I guess my dreams weren’t as real as I expected them to be.”

A previous version of this story misspelled Zietz and Bartelt. The Daily regrets this error.

Caroline Chen '26 is a University desk editor. She is from Chapel Hill, N.C. and enjoys vegetable farms and long walks. Contact cqchen 'at' stanforddaily.com. Yana Kim is a writer for The Daily. Contact them at news ‘at’ stanforddaily.com.

Stanford student suspended from serving as Tree mascot

The individual who serves as the Stanford Tree mascot has been suspended after unfurling a banner that read "Stanford hates fun" during the Cardinal's football game against Arizona State on Oct. 22.

It was first announced by the Stanford Tree's Twitter account on Sunday evening.

A Stanford athletic department spokesperson confirmed the suspension, stating, "The students comprising the executive committee of the LSJUMB have suspended the Tree mascot due to a violation of the band's policies and processes."

An individual who previously served as the Tree will take over mascot duties during the suspension.

It's unclear how long the suspension will last. Messages to those affiliated with the Tree and the marching band were not immediately returned.

The banner was showcased during halftime of the football game with help from the Arizona State Sun Devils mascot and, according to the Stanford Daily -- Stanford's school newspaper -- came in response to the perception among students that the university is suppressing "social opportunities" on campus.

The Stanford Tree and the marching band both have histories of suspensions. In 2016, the band was suspended for reasons that included hazing, sexual harassment and alcohol abuse. In 2006, two students who served as the Tree mascot were suspended: one after getting ejected for dancing in an undesignated area during a NCAA women's basketball tournament game; the other after her blood alcohol level measured 0.157 during a men's basketball game against Cal.

Student 'Tree' Mascot Suspended Over 'Stanford Hates Fun' Sign

Stanford University has suspended the student entrusted with donning the quirky Tree costume as the school's unofficial mascot and the mascot of the Stanford Leland Junior University Marching Band for displaying a "Stanford Hates Fun" sign at a game Oct. 22.

Log in to view the full article

Stanford University has suspended the student entrusted with donning the quirky Tree costume as the school's unofficial mascot and the mascot of the Stanford Leland Junior University Marching Band for displaying a "Stanford Hates Fun" sign at a game Oct. 22.

As reported by ESPN, the suspension was first announced by the Stanford Tree's Twitter account Oct. 30, just over a week since the Arizona State game at Stanford Stadium where the sign made its appearance.

A Stanford athletic department spokesperson confirmed the suspension, stating, "The students comprising the executive committee of the LSJUMB have suspended the Tree mascot due to a violation of the band's policies and processes."

It's not clear how long the suspension will last, but the student who preceded the suspended individual in the Tree timeline will assume mascot duties in the interim.

The banner was unfurled during halftime of the Arizona State game with help from the Sun Devils mascot and came in response to the perception among students that the university is suppressing "social opportunities" on campus, reported ESPN, citing The Stanford Daily student newspaper.

As reported by ESPN's Kyle Bonagura, the Stanford Tree and the marching band both have histories of suspensions. In 2016, the band was suspended for reasons that included hazing, sexual harassment and alcohol abuse. In 2006, two students who served as the Tree mascot were suspended — one after getting ejected for dancing in an undesignated area during an NCAA women's basketball tournament game, and the other after her blood alcohol level measured 0.157 during a men's basketball game against the University of California.

It is the illusion that people's lives are perfect and without any flaws, as portrayed by their carefully selected photos and videos. In reality, magic nit is far from the truth. Behind every perfectly filtered photo lies a story, struggles, and imperfections that are not disclosed on the platform.

People often go to great lengths to create the perfect image, using filters, editing tools, and even photo manipulation to enhance their appearance and make their lives seem more glamorous. The problem with magic nit is that it can create unrealistic expectations and a feeling of inadequacy among users. Many people compare themselves to the seemingly perfect lives depicted on Instagram and feel like they are not good enough. This can lead to low self-esteem, anxiety, and even mental health issues. To combat the negative effects of magic nit, it is important to remember that Instagram is a highlight reel and not a true reflection of someone's life. It is crucial to take everything on the platform with a grain of salt and not let it dictate your self-worth. It is also helpful to follow accounts that promote body positivity, self-love, and authenticity to counteract the unrealistic standards perpetuated by magic nit. In conclusion, magic nit is a prevalent phenomenon on Instagram that creates an illusion of perfection. It can have detrimental effects on mental health and self-esteem. It is important to recognize the unrealistic nature of magic nit and to prioritize self-love and authenticity over comparisons and unrealistic standards..

Reviews for "The Secret Weapon for Instagram Success: Magic Nit"

1. Sarah - 2 stars

I was really disappointed with "Magic nit instagram". I thought it would be a fun and engaging platform for sharing photos and connecting with others, but I found it to be quite dull. The filters were limited and didn't give my photos the desired effect. Additionally, the app was quite slow and kept crashing. I ended up uninstalling it within a week because it just didn't meet my expectations.

2. Michael - 1 star

I cannot understand the hype around "Magic nit instagram". I found it to be a complete waste of time. The user interface was confusing and it took me forever just to figure out how to post a photo. Furthermore, there were too many annoying ads popping up every few minutes, making the whole experience extremely frustrating. I would not recommend this app to anyone who truly values their time and sanity.

3. Emily - 2 stars

I wanted to love "Magic nit instagram" but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The layout and design were visually pleasing, but the algorithm for displaying posts was terrible. I saw the same posts over and over again while missing out on updates from my favorite accounts. The lack of customization options for profiles was also disappointing. Overall, I found the app to lack originality and it failed to keep me engaged.

Supercharge Your Instagram Strategy with Magic Nit