My Commons Life

News & features about the Vanderbilt Commons from the students who live here

Archives for March 2019

Elect Her’s Coming to Vandy

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“Elect Her” will be coming to Vanderbilt on Sunday, March 31, thanks to a recently passed resolution by Peabody College Senator Katherine Petosa and Vanderbilt Student Government.

Elect Her is a free, one-day workshop with a mission to dismantle the barriers that make it difficult for women to run for elected office by training them how to run for student government. The goal is to create a place on college campuses for women to develop their leadership skills and prepare to run for elected office – a big step towards closing the gender gap in politics.

First-year Senator Hannah Bruns said, “It is so important that our organizations on campus reflect the student population. Often times women can feel like they don’t have the tools to run a campaign, so we hope that Elect Her will help women on campus run successful campaigns to increase female representation in different organizations.”

At the workshop, run by Senator Katrina Robinson of the Tennessee State Senate, participants will have the opportunity to:

  • Discuss: the importance of women running for office
  • Examine: the issues they care about
  • Map: out their support networks
  • Craft: and deliver elevator speeches
  • Learn: about campaign strategy
  • Meet: women role models who have run for public office in their community
  • Network: with students who currently serve on our campus student government

Though Elect Her is an organization that focuses on women’s leadership, it fosters an environment that is inclusive of people across identities, including gender expression and identity, sex, sexuality, race, ethnicity, national origin, first language, ability, age, religion, party, socioeconomic status, and more.

You can sign up here

Date: Sunday, March 31, 2019
Time: 1-4:30 p.m.
Location: Commons MPR
personal development GME

Top 5 Ron Swanson Quotes that Capture the Life of a Vandy First-Year

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At the beginning of the school year, I wrote an MCL Top 5 article entitled, “Top 5 Michael Scott Quotes that Capture the Life of a Vandy First-Year.” I now present you with the sequel; this time, in the style of Parks and Recreation‘s best boss, Ron Swanson.

1.”Not interested. Good day.”

Vandy freshmen walking past the club tables set up in Commons to get to the food faster.

2. “If there were more food and fewer people, this would be a perfect party.”

Frat parties would be so much more fun if they catered Chick-fil-A.

3. “There has never been a sadness that can’t be cured by breakfast food.”

If you don’t think that Commons has the best breakfast food on campus, you are lying to yourself.

4. “I like to not get involved in these matters, or any matters of any nature.”

The response to any question asked before noon.

5. “I regret nothing. The end.”

Vandy freshmen on Monday morning after spending the entire weekend sleeping, partying, and staying up until 4 a.m.

CommonsCast Episode 25-March 27, 2019

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On this episode Dean Melchor-Barz begins reflecting on everything learned during our first-year experience, Zoe delivers the Commons Calendar of events, and she has a great interview with Traci Ray, Director of Residential Education, Office of the Dean of Students

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Walker Makes A Mixtape?!?! (aka We Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame)

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By: Nashville Wanderers

With the weather warming up and spring right around the corner (my inner Minnesotan is so confused right now), Walker and I decided to head downtown for this week’s blog. As country music fans, and more importantly, Peter Cooper fans (the museum’s senior director as well as our very own History of Country Music professor) we’ve been meaning to hit up the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum for a while. The museum is located directly across from Bridgestone Arena and is surrounded by other awesome Nashville hotspots. It’s around a 45-minute walk or a 14-minute scooter ride but let me tell you: it’s so worth the trip. This has hands down been one of my favorite experiences in downtown Nashville and I hope that everyone takes a chance to check it out!

Now for an important tip before I begin. Lucky for us Vandy students, we have free access to the entire museum (shoutout to my man, Peter Cooper), but there’s a specific way to get it. When you get up to the front desk, tell the staff that you’re a Vanderbilt student (bring your Commodore Card for proof) and say that you’re looking for their “Passport to Nashville” deal with the university. If you don’t mention the name of the program directly, they aren’t supposed to give you a free ticket, so don’t forget this!

For our trip, Walker had scored us two tickets to see a live interview with Emmylou Harris and her Hot Band in the CMA theater inside the museum (which was led by Peter Cooper, because who else at this point?), and it was fantastic. The CMA theater doesn’t have events very often, but I would highly recommend attending when they do.

The self-guided tour starts on the third level of the building where you will promptly meet a door that leads to a Taylor Swift exhibit. Among many things, it includes two of her costumes from her “Look What You Made Me Do” music video which was super exciting to see. Past her exhibit, however, is where you’ll find all of the original country music stars. Rows and rows of glass cases are filled with instruments and clothing owned by the most influential country music artists of all time. They’ve got glass cases for Jimmie Rodgers, Roy Acuff, Kitty Wells, Elvis Presley, DeFord Bailey, Charley Pride, and more. You name a country artist, and they’ve got a costume and guitar from them.

  • Don Gibson
  • Elvis Presley

As you can see in the photos below, Walker and I found that the second floor was definitely our favorite. Along with the museum’s advertised Outlaw Movement exhibit (shoutout to the billboard on Hillsboro that advertises it), interactive screens and games all over the place. The interactive sites include creating your own song title, writing a song (where we, of course, spelled aNcHoR dOwN), finding your future music-related job, designing an album cover with your face on it (scroll down to see Walker’s horrifying album cover), and recording your own demo in a definitely not soundproof “recording booth” karaoke station (two of the four song options are Taylor Swift songs? … there might be a trend here.)

  • ANCHOR DOWN
  • Inside the Karaoke Booth
  • Walker’s New Single
  • The Outside of the Interactive Station
  • Walker is Destined to be a Music Producer

Another part of the second floor was dedicated to artists starting from the 1990s to today. Toby Keith’s shirt that he wore in “I Love This Bar,” Carrie Underwood’s dress she wore during the finale of American Idol, and Taylor Swift’s dress from “Love Story,” are some of the many iconic memorabilia that are kept there.

  • Jason Aldean and Taylor Swift
  • Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, and Faith Hill

One of the more random things in the modern country exhibit was a giant guitar that you could climb inside, and of course, photos were immediately taken. I accidentally walked in front of a seven-year-old girl to get said photo and that is the moment that I realized I needed to chill out a bit — my photo still looked bomb though (thanks Walker). Next to the guitar is a beautiful view glass window view of downtown where I attempted to have Walker take a photo of me pointing to the Batman Building (only my favorite building in all of Nashville). Sadly, he’s still working on his photography skills, so I had to (poorly) edit the photo to do the building justice (please excuse my wonky hand).

  • After editing (aka I’m good at editing) 🙂
  • Pre-editing (aka Walker sucks at photography)

The best part about the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is that it never gets tiring. There are so many artists to appreciate, exhibits to view, and activities to try that you learn something new every time. Walker and I have already gone back since our first trip (cause free trips are the best trips) and it feels just as inspiring and fun walking through again. So if you’re looking for a good time, trying to learn anything about the music history of Nashville, or you just really want to be surrounded by Taylor Swift promotion, the Country Music Hall of Fame is the place for you.

And a quick note to my man Peter: you guys either really know how to market to the teen girl demographic, or you are using your chair as senior director to proclaim your love to Taylor. Either way, I love it.

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Hours: https://countrymusichalloffame.org/visit/hours#.XJmuflxKg2w

Peter Cooper’s History of Country Music Class:

1640 History of Country Music

The Girl Next Dore: Detour

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I am not a spontaneous person. This I know to be true about myself. I don’t know if I’ve ever said “let’s drop everything and go do something random.” I would never just decide one day that I wanted to skydive, or randomly make big decisions. I’ve even recently said that “I’m not a cross-the-street-without-a-light type of gal.” To put it in the simplest way possible, I am a planner.

Although I would consider being a planner a defining characteristic of who I am, there are some things I can’t plan for … and I’m realizing that is such a blessing sometimes.

Last Wednesday night, I got a text from one of my friends asking if I wanted to see a Ben Rector concert in Chattanooga the next night. Without hesitating, I replied “YES, I WOULD CRY.”

This honestly might have been the most spontaneous thing I’ve ever done. Less than 24 hours later, I was in a Jeep riding to Chattanooga on a Thursday night to see one of my favorite artists. Receiving that text, my mind didn’t hesitate for a second; my response was a visceral reaction. I needed to go, and I trusted myself – something I don’t think I do enough of sometimes.

Last week I wrote about life happening while you’re busy making other plans … well, Thursday was a perfect example of that. I dropped everything I had going on that night because I knew my heart needed a break. I knew I could benefit from a quick escape more than I could benefit from a few extra hours of sleep.

The concert was probably one of the best nights of my life, and I think that was, in part, because it was a detour from my normal self. Not just a detour from my typical Thursday night routine, but from my need for a plan.

Standing in the middle of the crowd last Thursday, I didn’t care who was watching me, or what I had to do when I got back to campus. My mind was clear and my heart was happy. I knew I was exactly where I needed to be. (Ben Rector showing up right behind me in the audience was just an added reassurance of that …)

I will almost definitely return to my typical procedural nature, but I now recognize the good that a little dose of spontaneity can do every once in a while.

So, take a detour sometimes … to Chattanooga, maybe … but take a detour from the characteristics of yourself that sometimes overwhelm you. It’s worth it.

Anchor down,

Brooke

Dorm Organization Tips

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Staying organized does not have to be a household chore and can actually make your life easier. Here are some tips for having a more organized living space.

  1. Get rid of excess items. A lot of people bring more clothes than what they actually wear at college. This becomes a problem as many of us do not have a large closet nor large drawer space to put our items in. And in turn, this results in overstuffed closets and drawers and eventually to having clothes lying around our dorm rooms. Not only is this displeasing to face on a daily basis, it can also be an annoyance . All of this can be avoided if you only bring what you NEED for college. If you have an overflowing closet, bring clothes you don’t wear home during breaks. Keep note of what you wear and what you don’t wear, so next year (or break) you know what to leave home and/or what to donate.
  2. Store items more efficiently. Instead of throwing your clothes into your drawer after you finish doing laundry, fold them. Not only does this look pleasing, it can actually create more space. Also, if you have bulkier items that you will not need/use soon, place them in an empty suitcase or backpack that is already taking space in your room.
  3. Use small plastic/cardboard containers. If you have a lot of small items in your desk, it may be best to use small tupperware containers (or small upcycled cardboard boxes) to organize and hold them.
  4. Purchase a standing book file. Using a standing book file or large plastic crate can help keep your textbooks and workbooks in one stable place without them always having to be in your backpack or scattered around your desk. You could also keep your textbooks stacked in one area on your desk as a “free” alternative.
  5. Store loose cords. If you have Ethernet cords, cable cords, etc., tie them with twist ties and place them all into a plastic bag. Place the bag in a drawer, on a shelf, or in your suitcase. Since you are less likely to reach for these cords, you do not need to keep them out in the open.
  6. Invest in an accordion file. At some point in time, we all we need to keep important files with us. A file folder is essential in making sure your papers are kept protected and at hand. A file folder can also be beneficial in certain classes to store worksheets, papers, and homework.

The Girl Next Dore: Life Happens

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Five weeks from tomorrow, I will (attempt to) pack all of my dorm into a few small boxes and suitcases, get on a plane, and fly home for the summer.

I realized when we got back from Spring Break that we had almost no time left in our Freshman year. Somehow, move-in day feels simultaneously like nine months ago and just yesterday, but the reality is that our Freshman year is coming to a close.

My final post on MyCommonsLife will wrap up my year, thank some people, etc – but not yet. Today I just want to say that in all this time that I was busy worrying about school, or being critical of the things I didn’t like about Vandy, etc, I guess that I hadn’t realized how much I’ve come to love it here.

One of my all-time favorite movies is the cheerleading movie, Fired Up!, with Eric Christian Olsen. This movie is actually trash but it’s also so funny and for some reason middle school me watched it constantly. At the end of the movie, the head cheerleader says, “Life’s what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” I have no idea who said this quote in real life (Google says John Lennon or Allen Saunders, but who really knows), but no matter who actually spoke these words, they’ve stuck with me for a long time. Until now, though, I don’t think I realized how accurate they were.

I spent most of first term being worried about my future and how I could achieve my goals, etc etc. I missed my high school and honestly I couldn’t seem to find a purpose for being here. I went home on Christmas break and my former music teacher said, “do what it takes to check off your Nashville bucket list – maybe in four months you’ll have so much fun that you’ll realize you’re here for a reason, or maybe you’ll want to go home.”

Well, I took that advice wholeheartedly. And, almost without knowing it, I checked off a bunch of things I came to Vanderbilt wanting to do. I joined a a sorority, I was in a musical, I started stage managing again, I started my own blog, and more. By doing all of these things, even if they felt like “checking boxes” at the time, I’ve found so many ways to love Vandy.

I was taking pictures on the steps of Wyatt the other day, and I started smiling so hard. I looked at those pictures later and I realized that I couldn’t remember the last time I genuinely smiled like that. I have found happiness here in ways I couldn’t have ever imagined six months ago.

In all this time that I was busy making other plans, life happened.

With five weeks left, go make life happen.

Anchor Down,

Brooke