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Ethnic Theme Dorms 

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Image featuring a detail of the new mural at Stanford's El Centro Chicano depicts the legacy of Latin American and indigenous literature. (Photo: Courtesy of El Centro Chicano)

Our ethnic theme communities have a rich and long history of engaging students at the highest levels of intellectual discovery and advancing diversity, inclusion and belonging at Stanford through engaging students in a range of formal and informal settings. They are both “a beacon and a haven” for undergraduate and graduate students, staff, faculty, and alumni, providing a unique experience for students and the community, distinct from traditional, non-theme dorms, as well as from the other theme programs. Our ethnic theme programs both encourage their students to critically explore their identities and responsibilities to the community, and engage in broader outreach programs, advocacy and ongoing education.

Here are some features of these houses:

  • Open to all students from every neighborhood. 
  • Will be 100 percent by application. 
  • Will continue to be four-class housing.
  • You can live in a university theme house that is an ethnic theme dorm for two of your three upperclass years. You can live here a third year if you are a house staff member.  
  • If you live in this type of house your first year, the neighborhood the house is in will become your neighborhood home. You are still eligible to live in a different university theme house in your upperclass years.
  • While open to students in all neighborhoods, the house will be part of one neighborhood, will participate on that neighborhood’s community council, and will have access to and share resources with the neighborhood.
  • Governed by the Undergraduate Residence Governance Council
Exterior photo of Casa Zapata.

Casa Zapata

Casa Zapata is a four-class house focusing on the Chicanx and Latinx experience through educational and cultural programs. 

Exterior photograph of Muwekma-Tah-Ruk.

Muwekma-Tah-Ruk

Muwekma-Tah-Ruk was established in 1988 to celebrate the diversity of Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander peoples. 

Exterior photo of Okada House.

Okada

Okada House explores and celebrates the diversity of Asian American peoples, cultures, and languages in both historical and contemporary contexts.

Exterior photo of Ujamaa house.

Ujamaa

Ujamaa focuses on the histories, issues, and cultures of the Black Diaspora.