Issue date: November 11, 1998
By BARBARA WOOD
Tyler MacNiven wants to go to Stanford University.
But so do a lot of other kids.
As student body president at Woodside High School with a 4.0-plus grade average, a member of the varsity tennis team and the jazz band, and with an impressive record of community and school involvement, 18-year-old Tyler probably should have a better chance than many of getting his own spot on The Farm.
Just to make sure, however, Tyler has launched a campaign to support his admission to the university of his choice. And since his campaign manager is his father, Jamis MacNiven, the infamous eccentric owner of Buck's restaurant in Woodside, the campaign promises to be an interesting one.
On Monday the MacNivens held a press conference to kick off the campaign, in front of the Bowman Alumi House on the Stanford campus. He's already had a slew of television and newspaper interviews.
Tyler says close to 70 students from Woodside High, and a few of their parents, have promised to help him with the campaign.
The plan is to have the Friends of Tyler parade on the Stanford campus with sandwich boards supporting their candidate and passing out leaflets all this week, culminating with a rally around a 30-foot-tall teepee in the parking lot outside the November 14 Stanford vs. Washington State football game.
Where'd he get the teepee? From home. "It's just something you find in the MacNiven household," Tyler says.
As a campaign prop Tyler has painted his old Cadillac Stanford red, put a replica of the Stanford Tree mascot on top, and plastered it with slogans and photos of himself.
And, just in case you're wondering, Tyler says his dad didn't put him up to this. This campaign was his own idea, although he admits if he hadn't come up with it, his father probably would have. "I got the idea before he did," he says.
So far Standford is the only place Tyler has applied for admission. And why does he want to go to a school just down the road from where he's lived all his life, above Woodside off Skyline Boulevard in the Portola Heights neighborhood?
"There are good universities, there are great universities, and then there's Stanford," he says, looking at least half serious. "And Chelsea." Besides, he'd still be close to home, and could drop in for "free food at Buck's."
Tyler says he isn't worried that his campaign might hurt his chances for getting into Stanford. "I think if I didn't do it, chances are pretty good I wouldn't make it in," he says. The competition's just too great.
Tyler actually has goals far beyond Stanford admission. He also plans to be president of the United States. A few months ago he wrote to President Clinton and invited him, the next time he's in town, to drop by and have breakfast at Buck's and maybe pose for a photo with Tyler. So far Bill hasn't responded.
It shouldn't be long before Tyler knows if his campaign worked. The students accepted in the "early decision" admission he's applied for should be notified by mid-December. Whether he gains admission to Stanford, Tyler and his dad have some big plans for this summer. "We plan on flying across California in paramotors," says Tyler. That would be a cross between a bicycle, parachute, and hang glider. So far, Tyler has been practicing on his own paraglider -- he's a licensed pilot -- and soon plans to begin teaching his father.
And what does his mom, Margaret, think of all this. "She just sighs," Tyler says.
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