First Daughter gets set to hit books at Stanford University

Area media organizations have vowed to respect Chelsea Clinton's privacy. Today is move-in day at Stanford University, and while many members of the Class of 2001 flew to the scenic campus from across the country, only one student was able to do so on Air Force One. Accompanied by the president and the First Lady -- as well as hundreds of news media and Secret Service agents -- Chelsea Clinton arrived in the San Francisco area Thursday. She will move into her Stanford dormitory today. But despite the fame of being the First Daughter, her parents have said they want her to have as normal a college experience as possible. As possible, that is, as she can have with a full-time security entourage. The privacy issue has become especially relevant because of the death of Princess Diana and her companion, Dodi Fayed, in Paris on August 31 while fleeing paparazzi reporters. Stanford officials have said they are adamant about keeping the media away from Chelsea, but refused to elaborate beyond a prepared statement that "to respect the privacy of our students, it is the university's policy not to discuss our students privately." And Stanford spokesperson Diane Manuel said "we're just not answering any questions about her," adding that "it's just university policy to try to protect her privacy." The student-run Stanford Daily has also said it will leave Chelsea alone. Daily Editor-in-Chief Carolyn Sleeth stressed that Chelsea will be treated like all other Stanford students. "We're not going to comment until she involves herself in a newsworthy event," she said. Sleeth added that Daily staff reporters are prohibited from stringing -- writing stories for other papers -- about Chelsea Clinton. She said, however, that Daily staff members who also freelance may cover Clinton for other newspapers provided they don't identify themselves as Daily reporters. Members of the local Palo Alto media -- who typically focus much of their attention on Stanford -- also said they will respect Chelsea's right to privacy. Paul Gullixson, editor of the Palo Alto Weekly, said he plans to cover Chelsea's arrival on campus with her parents. But after that, the Weekly will leave her alone unless she does something especially newsworthy, such as dancing in the Stanford Ballet. Gullixson explained that several other celebrities -- including Steve Young, Jerry Rice and Steve Jobs -- live within its circulation area and the Weekly "[intends] to have the same respect for Chelsea in letting her be a student" as it has for those celebrities. Additionally, Palo Alto Daily News spokesperson Dave Price said the newspaper "doesn't plan any coverage" of Chelsea, and will cover any of the president's visits to the area "because of who he is, not because of who she is." Closer to campus, Wharton freshman Nicole Davison -- who was Clinton's classmate at Washington D.C.'s Sidwell Friends High School -- predicted that her friend will be able to lead a relatively normal life at Stanford as long as people respect her privacy and treat her as a normal person. "My biggest hope is that people will think about the way they felt about starting college and realize that she has those same fears and anxieties, and realize that treating her different will only make it harder for her," Davison said.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.