Professor Jacobs is currently a lecturer at the Department of History at Vanderbilt University. He is a historian of politics, thought, and culture in the twentieth-century United States. His work examines the tangled histories and multiple meanings of liberalism and conservatism in the modern American political imagination. Professor Jacobs’s American Studies classes provide Vanderbilt students a golden opportunity to broaden knowledge on a diverse scale with regard to American culture, history and politics.
Archives for April 2018
Top 5 Ways to Productively Procrastinate on Finals
5)Catch up with a visions group member on the 21st bridge.
“Hey it’s Banana Bonnie!” you exclaim while crossing the 21st bridge to the library, You might be late to meet your calc study buddy, but hey, college is about maintaining old connections right? At least ask them something about the frisbee team they mentioned briefly a semester ago so that you still have something fruitful to discuss.
4)Apply for the exec board for orgs of which you were sort of a member.
You may have only been a member who tried when they could, but you may as well give it a go. Sometimes we find motivation for an organization when we A)have a job to do ad B)are forced to reflect on the experience more, rendering the application process a great way to appreciate an org.
3)Look up plane ticket prices to places you ~might~ go over the summer.
What if you took the first week in July off from working at a relative’s firm and plant yourself in the middle of Germany? You might not have any money nor language experience in German, but wouldn’t it be an adventure? The cost is the only thing keeping you down.
2)Breath in the gorgeous, pollen-laiden air.
Our throats may be scratchy for it but by golly you want to breath in the rich and warm air of the days we’re having. Enjoy the weather you expected of Nashville by basking in the sun, ofoing to centennial for a pokemon raid, or playing with a dog you find on the sidewalk. A moment of gratitude can put you into a great mental space.
1)Take a 4 hour nap to restore and rejuvenate the soul.
At some point you might crash, and you should let yourself do this. It’s been a heckin’ long semester which has worn on you for almost the last 4 months straight. Sleep has tremendous benefits to mental health, physical health and memory function in the brain, so you probably will be better for it than if you haphazardly stared at your work, ready to collapse.
How well do you know Joe Biden
[viralQuiz id=13]
Top Five-Bucket List for the Semester’s End
1.Bask in the warmth and glory of Vandy Spring.
You have, in fact, made it to this point in your college career at Vanderbilt. Take a minute to celebrate that by packing a lunch with your friends, grabbing a blanket, cards and a guitar, and heading to Wyatt or the Lower Quad for the afternoon. The two times I’ve done this put me in a state of insane peace of mind and appreciation (two things we don’t get a lot at Vanderbilt).
2.Drop yourself into the map and explore.
Nashville is a cultural hub for more than just country music! Take an afternoon to put yourself somewhere you’ve barely been (12 South, Five Points, and Bicentennial park are a few places to start), then find your new favorite thrift store or soda shop. Not every college student gets to explore a brand new student friendly city like we do.
3.Cross it off your bucket list.
You’ve probably put off a college activity for a few months now. Whether it be swing dancing, finally checking out Greek row, or taking an artsy photo shoot, schedule time for that experience. As Shia Labeouf once said, “Don’t let your dreams be dreams!”
4.Do something distinctly “Vandy”.
Still haven’t tried a rand cookie or brookie yet? Deterred by the incredible line at Bowls and intimidated by Chili’s? Never been to Ranhas? Before you leave it this year, go out of your normal routine and check out the memes for themselves. While your here, you may as well get the true Vanderbilt experience.
5.Give genuine thanks.
How often do you tell someone how much you truly appreciate them, and not just in the short term? Take a moment to let someone, be it a friend, professor, parent or significant other, know how they helped you through the wildly messy, stressful late nights and long days at Vanderbilt. We’ve all gotten help along the way; the least we can do is give a little gratitude.
Humans of The Commons: Eyerusalem (Rue) Zicker
Rue is an Ethiopian first-year who lives with her adopted family in Lawrence, Kansas when she’s not having fun and spending her time in Gillette. She enjoys meeting other people and hearing their stories because she believes everyone has a story to tell. Stay tuned as she talks about her favorite class, your favorite food and what a perfect day on campus is like for her!
What is your major?
I’m currently undecided, but I’m leaning towards Medicine, Health and Society with an emphasis on Global Health. I might be on the pre-PA or pre-Nursing track. I’ve always gravitated towards the medical profession, but I’ve done some reevaluating and don’t think medical school is for me. I want to stay in the medical profession because when I was younger when I liked taking care of my siblings when they were sick. I also worked as a CNA at a nursing home my senior year!
What’s your favorite class that you’ve taken?
One of my favorite classes thus far is my Intro to African American Diaspora Studies. It was incredible and it made me consider minoring in AADS (African American and Diaspora Studies). As someone in the diaspora, I really enjoyed learning different perspectives and how they might impact what I do in the future.
What’s your favorite food on campus, off campus and back home?
On campus, I love the orange chicken at Commons. Off campus, I love Mellow Mushroom, especially their Great White Pizza. From back home, when I cook I usually cook traditional Ethiopian foods. One of my favorite things to cook is just traditional sauce with pasta or eggs!
What does your perfect day on campus look like?
Ideally I would have all my work done the night before. I would sleep in until 10:30 AM, have an omelette for breakfast, hang out with my friends, sit on the lawn and read a book or two, go to the rec and go out that night!
What is your hidden talent?
I can turn my tongue to make a three-leaf clover! But besides that, I also love braiding hair so if you’re ever looking for someone to braid hair for free or occasionally charge a few bucks (because we’re all poor college kids), hit me up!
Handshakes with Greatness – Grace’s “#Bitofaweek”
Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of the hit musical Hamilton, coined a hashtag to use when he does something insanely cool (which is arguably most of the time). He’ll say it’s been a “#bitofaday.” I’ve commandeered his phrase and dubbed my past few days a #bitofaweek.
I’m fairly certain the most famous person I’d ever met was the mayor of my small Midwestern town… until last week. As an American history and government nut, I always look forward to guest speakers with ties to politics. My most recent encounters did not disappoint. I had the chance to meet Vice President Al Gore, Dr. Chelsea Clinton, Mr. Chris Matthews, and Senator Lamar Alexander – four giants of the political world – in the span of three days.
Vice President Gore
I’m lucky enough to be enrolled in the political science course “Presidential Leadership” this semester. Taught by Professor John Geer alongside Professor Jon Meacham, a renowned presidential historian, each class is a #bitofaday in itself. The course also features an array of guest lecturers, from journalists to politicians to a certain university chancellor.
This particular whirlwind of greatness descended Monday when Vice President Gore visited class. He engaged in a discussion with our professors and then took questions from a lecture hall quite literally overflowing with students. He spoke about the qualities of effective leadership, overcoming challenges, the impact of the internet on politics, and the importance of standing up for the rule of law regardless of political consequences.
He praised the students involved in the recent March For Our Lives and was introduced to Abby Brafman, the Vanderbilt first-year and Stoneman Douglas alumna who started Nashville’s March. The Vice President took the time to shake hands with students as they left, even snapping selfies with a few.
Chelsea Clinton
Scrolling through Twitter on Monday morning, I came upon a post from Chelsea Clinton that began with “Hey Nashville!” I read on to discover the First Daughter, activist, and author was doing a book signing that night at Parnassus Books near Green Hills Mall – just down the road from campus. In the spirit of meeting my heroes, I recruited my friend Alice and to come with me on an impromptu adventure to meet her.
Chelsea Clinton has written two children’s books called She Persisted and She Persisted: Around the World recounting the stories of courageous women and girls throughout history. Navigating a sea of middle-aged moms and little kids, Alice and I waited to give our books to their author before she shook our hands, asked us our names, and returned the stories with her name affixed to the opening page.
Chris Matthews
As a part of the IMPACT Symposium and Chancellor’s Lecture Series, Chris Matthews paid a visit to campus last week. Host of MSNBC’s Hardball, this famed political commentator served in the Peace Corps, worked for Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill, and published his most recent book entitled Bobby Kennedy: A Raging Spirit.
His discussion with Chancellor Zeppos and Professor Meacham ranged from historical reflection on the Kennedys to candid comments on politics today. He spoke of the need for more bipartisanship and moral leadership in Washington, telling stories from the Reagan era and crafting creative metaphors to describe present situations.
Free copies of his newest book were distributed and able to be signed after the lecture. I waited in line, befriended the visitors behind me, and eventually made my way to the front. I told Mr. Matthews I’m studying political science, to which he replied “I’ve always said that’s an oxymoron… Have you figured it out yet?” I took my book and left with a grin.
“I’m working on it.”
Senator Alexander
Following Vice President Gore, Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander visited our Presidential Leadership class last Wednesday. Having served as the Governor of Tennessee, Secretary of Education, and now Senator for fifteen years, he had a little bit of leadership experience to share!
The Senator was able to speak about different leadership styles needed in various jobs and situations, as well as how the dynamics of American government have changed over his many years of service. Again taking questions from both professors and the class, he discussed his positions on issues, memorable moments from his career, and the importance of youth engaging with politics.
Hearing his insights capped three days of meeting more famed, accomplished people than I had even thought possible. Evidently my fortune ran out, however, as a ticket to see Vice President Biden alluded me despite earnest efforts. So, here’s to overflow viewing areas… and the genuine thrill of meeting childhood heroes.
First Year, First Person Blog: My Last Month As A Freshman
Guess what? Here I am in the last month as a freshman at Vanderbilt University! How could summer be so close already?
If someone asked me how I have changed from the first day of college till now, I would not be able to tell. Being in college has made me emotional, anxious, and sometimes depressed, yet it has also given me much more. I have learned how to do things by myself, how to deal with stressful situations, and how to set up goals to achieve—all of these new experiences have transformed me from a naive high school graduate to a mature college freshman throughout my first year.
Throwing back to the first semester at Vanderbilt, as I was an international student from Vietnam, America overwhelmed me. Living half-of-the-globe far from your family was tough. I struggled a lot with how to balance academic life and social life, how to interact with friends and assimilate in a new environment, how to participate in different clubs that I am interested, and even how to get used to American food. Campus seems bigger on the first days than it is now. Weeks seem endless but weekends seem like vacations.
However, things are different now. Though my second semester is packed with 17.5 credit hours, I enjoy my life residing in Commons, chatting with professors during Office Hours, rushing to classes after attempting to use meal swipes in the dining hall, and waving hands to friends on campus. I enjoy observing Vandy trees changing leaves, exploring Nashville nightlife at weekends, and cramming for midterms the night before. All these little things make an experience I couldn’t trade. People often say that April is the month to rescue your GPA, but trust me, save these memories first. They are invaluable.
Now that I have learnt to master my time-management skill and get on track with the fast pace of college, midterms are no longer “scary” as it used to be. Sometimes, I will stay in Commons or the libraries with my dear “colleagues”-friends to study for the tests till midnight and wake up early the next morning for classes. Without a doubt, as I’m pushing myself to embrace my freshman year—to be open-minded and nonjudgmental, I am grateful to be admitted and being a freshman at Vanderbilt. This time next month, after moving out, I will definitely miss my friends, professors, Commons and my life in the United States. But I will come back to Vietnam, recharge my energy and prepare for an exciting sophomore year ahead.
Thus, shout out to all freshmen out there, you are only freshmen once! So please, enjoy the last month of your first year! We still have 3 years of life experiences awaiting!
Oh, but wait, finals await us first!
MCL News Minute: April 4, 2018
Grace has all the info you need this week wrapped up in one minute, including details about Vanderbilt Off Broadway’s latest show and the VUPoint Ballet Spring Showcase.