Commons will not only welcome new students from the class of 2022 in the fall, but also three new faculty heads of house. Joining the Commons community will be nursing Professor Natasha McClure in North House, earth and environmental sciences Professor Daniel Morgan in Memorial House, as well as law and chemistry Professor Sean Seymore in East House.

Each brings a unique perspective to their new residential community. Professor McClure is a pediatric primary care nurse practitioner and studies how academic clinical partnerships can both help patients with chronic conditions and improve nursing education. Professor Morgan is an associate dean of the College of Arts and Science, oversees the College Scholars Honors and Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholars Programs, and focuses his research on glacial history and geology. Professor Seymore studies the intersection of science and law and the influence of scientific advances on patent law and public policy.

Professor Seymore shared some thoughts on his new role as a faculty head of house with MCL.

Q: What are you most looking forward to?

A: Serving as a faculty head of house will provide me with a unique opportunity to mentor, build a living-learning community, and make an enduring impact on the first-year experience.

 

Q: What impact do you hope to have?

A: I totally embrace the idea of a truly residential university experience.  I look forward to building a community that values an integrated approach to intellectual and professional growth by building stronger connections between the classroom experience and everyday life.

 

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A:  I like engaging conversations, walking/jogging, and good coffee.  I like the idea of making something out of nothing, which probably explains my interest in chemistry and in cooking.  Perhaps my favorite activity is fellowship over a good meal.

 

As any Commons resident knows, faculty heads of house can make an immense impact on our community, bringing inspiration and spirit to first-year students as we embark on our college journey. A sincere thank you to Professors Gregory Melchor-Barz, Kevin Leander, and Daniel Gervais, who will be ending their time as faculty heads of house after this year, as well as a hearty welcome to the new professors lending their service to students and truly completing the Commons experience.

 

A few weeks ago, I sat in amazement for 2 hours as I watched the magical film that is Black Panther. Yes, the $1 billion-grossing hit has been out for weeks, but, as a poor college freshman, I had to wait and finesse my upperclassmen friends for a free ride to the theater.

During the film I was floored by the beautiful costumes, breathtaking special effects, and exemplary acting. I’ve seen nearly every Marvel film ever released and they typically excel in production. Captain America, The Avengers and Wonder Woman all made millions of dollars in gross earnings. What makes Black Panther stand apart is the way that it addresses issues of representation, identity and the meaning of being black in a world that is seemingly anti-black. A country that has racism built into its very backing.

Growing up, the only fantasy film that I saw with positive black characters was The Wiz. Lena Horne as the Glinda the Good Witch was one of the select view . The only superheroes and princesses that I could aspire to be like were 10 shades lighter than my dark complexion. The lack of positive black representation in the media as well as in my own childhood led me to believe that the only people capable of being remarkable were white. In turn, my self esteem and self worth as a black child was very low and those sentiments lasted well into my middle school years.

Black Panther allows millions of young black children to see people who look like them being the heroes and having the power to save the fictional Wakanda. My social media news feeds have been full of pictures of black children dressed up as T’Challa or smiling brightly next to a cardboard cutout of the movie. More representation means that more black children will feel accepted and comfortable with who they are.

In addition to having positive portrayals of black heroes, Black Panther comments on identity and dichotomy between Africans and African American. From the beginning we see how plentiful and progressive Wakanda is and how that lifestyle is juxtaposed with the African Americans of Oakland and other areas that lack the resources of Wakanda. Many Wakandans saw the people who were taken from them as outsiders and left them to fend for themselves. This is reflective of the identity issues of various African Americans who feel disconnected from their African roots but yearn to be connected. In addition to issues of identity are the problems that Africans who were stolen from their home countries had to endure. The antagonist of the film, Erik Killmonger, repeatedly states how the people who are not in Wakanda have suffered and are oppressed. The reality of black people being oppressed throughout the world rings true.

Overall, Black Panther reached into my artistic soul and touched it. It rattled me to my core with its surplus of beautiful, resilient actors and actresses as well as its ability to celebrate African culture. Most importantly, it addresses problems such as racism and identity that no other superhero movie or Marvel movie has ever had. It’s important social commentary makes it one of the greatest black anthem movies of all time. Black Panther is real to me because it allows us to understand our world in a new way.

Hello you lovely people,

As many of you know, this semester has been a whirlwind in the best way possible. Contained in today’s feature are some restaurants I could not let you slip through this semester without trying, along with clothing and activities that make me understand why I love Nashville and Vanderbilt so much. I hope it helps you love this city, our school, and some of the people here just a little bit more.

Yours in Style,

Sophie C

EAT

Virago

The Best Sushi in Nashville, need I say more? This restaurant is notable for its fresh sushi and lively atmosphere. Go here to celebrate or before a night out in the city! I recommend going with friends and ordering many different rolls and apps to sample all the things on the menu, as each item is a standout on its own. The Brussels sprouts and Ahi sashimi are- dare I say it- life-changing.

Marsh House

Housed inside the Thompson Hotel in the Gulch, this is a total brunch destination. The beautiful Art Deco interior makes you either want to throw a 20s inspired party or attend one. This restaurant is notable for a few menu items including cinnamon buns, vegetable frittatas, and an extensive seafood bar. Grab your friends and head here quick!

Marché

Marché is an overlooked gem in the Nashville food scene, one of the city’s best kept secrets. Located in East Nashville, this quaint French inspired eatery is lively and passionate. The menu showcases classic breakfast staples along with restaurant show stoppers such as a strawberry tartine and sweet crepes. I cannot quite do this place justice by merely describing it. You must check it off your list asap!

 

WEAR

I have always been addicted to clothing, but spring always makes this condition a little worse. Here are some of the things I have been buying and wearing this new happy season. The colors are full, vibrant, and illuminating. Seek out clothes this spring that make you feel alive!

 

DO

VegFest

Vendors, speakers, and veggies galore were present at this year’s VegFest celebrating all things vegan and animal friendly. If you love kombucha, vegan ice cream, and plant based food vendors, you should plan on attending this event next year. #coolnotcruel

 

First Saturdays: Art Crawl

Every first Saturday of the month, local artist and galleries partner up to bring art exhibitions to the Nashville community. Displaying all kinds of works in many unique and diverse spaces, Nashvillians are given the special opportunity to wander and appreciate to their heart’s content. I so enjoyed the art when I went from gallery to gallery, but more than that I loved the experience of blending with fellow art lovers of this quirky city. And for all the fashion lovers out there, the viewers’ outfits were almost as beautiful as the art itself. Check the calendar, and try not to let this year pass without making it to a First Saturday Art Crawl.

  

   

Two theatre performances took the stage this weekend- one transporting audiences to England at the turn of the nineteenth century into the twentieth, another with a giant, human-eating plant. Vanderbilt University Theatre’s Mrs. Warren’s Profession and Vanderbilt Off-Broadway’s Little Shop of Horrors both debuted last week, featuring an array of first-year students heading up their casts and crews.

 

Mrs. Warren’s Profession

A mother and daughter come to terms with their divergent pasts in this 1893 drama by George Bernard Shaw. The play centers around Vivie Warren, an ambitious university graduate played by first-year student Mary Marguerite Hall, coming to terms with her mother’s promiscuous career. Fellow first-year Ian Guile played Frank Gardner, Vivie’s love interest, and first-year Barton Christmas played Reverend Gardner, Frank’s (and possibly Vivie’s) father. From the tangle of this complicated family dynamic emerges a social commentary on the role of women in society and their lack of meaningful employment opportunities in Victorian England.

“After intermission, the show really goes into some powerful statements about feminism and how women interact with men in a transactional sense,” Christmas said.

Walking into auditions on a wim, he wound up joining two other first-years in their VUT debuts, as well as three upperclassmen who lent their experience to the cast of the final show directed by longtime Vanderbilt Theatre professor Terryl Hallquist, who is retiring after this year.

“First semester I remember sitting, biting my nails and watching theatre happen on campus, thinking ‘I want to do it… it looks so cool!’” Christmas said.

Blending comedy, drama, and deep themes to ponder, the play began with a musical pre-show, where the performers sang a medley of songs while they donned their costumes. The sequence of the songs moved backward through different time periods, all pertaining to the ideas presented in the show.

“Hopefully audiences come away with the sense of having respect for yourself, as well as respect for the lives of other people,” Christmas said. “I hope people can laugh away the night, but also have that message stay with them.”

Little Shop of Horrors

Fame and success can have a deadly price, as the characters in Little Shop of Horrors learn. First-year David Ward played Seymour Krelborn, an awkward but innovative teen who comes up with the idea to display an exotic plant in his flower shop’s window to attract business. Seymour falls in love with fellow shop employee Audrey, played by first-year Adreanna Hernandez. At the beginning of the show, Audrey is dating Orin Scrivello, D.D.S., a crazed dentist with a passion for inflicting pain, played by first-year Foster Swartz. The run-down neighborhood of “Skid Row” is populated with residents like the one played by first-year Sabrina Kaplin, who also served as an understudy for the other female roles. Seymour’s business scheme works, but with a catch: his famous plant only eats human blood.

As the musical rockets through rock ‘n roll songs, heartwarming ballads, and sometimes gruesome plot twists, the audience is entertained by the absurdity of this attempt at success gone horribly wrong.

“It’s my favorite show, probably ever,” Swartz said. “It’s rock ‘n roll, but it’s also so poignant and so funny. Everything I would want in a musical, it provides.”

After coming back from spring break with lines and lyrics memorized, the cast, musical performers, and crew, which also included several first-years students lending their skills to the project, worked to create an environment where dark humor and young love combine to form an artistic and entertaining show.

“Through and through, theatre’s an escape,” Swartz said. “It’s a chance to go into this other side of the world that we all have inside of us, but is sometimes repressed… I hope the audience could escape from their daily lives for just a little bit, and enter into this world of rock ‘n roll and fun.”