My Commons Life

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

Archives for August 2021

Bonus Meal Money: A First Year Perspective

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  • Ashton Helveston
  • Maya Anderson
  • Jonathan Wilson

After a rocky start to the new school year, Vanderbilt Campus Dining announced a fifty dollar Meal Money credit for students that would reset daily August 24th through 29th. While this may have been nothing more than a policy decision for Campus Dining, one could not help but notice a change in the atmosphere among the student body. This change was especially significant for first-year students who were still adjusting to campus life.

At a time when their schedules were packed with mandatory orientation events and new classes, the Class of 2025 received some freedom and flexibility from the bonus Meal Money. While most first-years would typically eat a majority of their meals at Munchie Marts, the Commons Center, and Rand, this policy opened up opportunities for these new students to try restaurants around the city they just moved to. In their first week on campus, first-years were granted a risk-free opportunity to try everything from Taco Mama’s to the Grilled Cheeserie.

The additional funds worked to shorten waits in the dining halls as well. Prospective Biology major Ashton Helveston noted, “I actually went to Rand for breakfast one day when we still had the fifty dollars and I got through the line super quick and got to my class with no worries or stress.”

Many students worked to optimize this opportunity. Helveston was one of these students: “I made sure I spent every penny every single day.” However, not everyone felt the same way.

Jonathan Wilson, a first-year Mechanical Engineering major, pointed out that the daily expiration of the Meal Money “provided this incentive to spend all $50.” In spite of this, Wilson only spent all fifty dollars once in the six day period, stating, “I don’t really need all that extra food anyways.”

Some students went even further, noting it caused them some minor stress. “I felt more of a pressure to spend [the money],” shared Maya Anderson, a first-year studying Neuroscience and Asain Studies. Anderson further explained her feelings, saying she felt that she was “letting all this money go to waste.” Her feeling towards this did change as the week progressed: “Towards the end, I realized it’s not like I have to use it.”

Even though some students may have felt obliged to use this money, those feelings were only a small portion of this story. Some would argue that the money and what it was spent on were overshadowed by something far more important: community.

Anderson also shared about how the bonus Meal Money served as a basis for establishing connections on campus: “[My friends and I] ordered a bunch of food. We ended up sitting with our RA and my roommates and we played card games.” She accredits the bonus Meal Money as the cause for this fun evening with her friends on her floor.

While not perfect, these six days of fifty dollars of bonus meal money offered unique opportunities for the Class of 2025 to adjust to campus life by providing them with a sense of security in their ability to get food, encouraging them to try different cuisines around Nashville, and allowing them to form memories with their new classmates.

CommonsCast Episode 78-September 1, 2021

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On this episode of the podcast Dean Gresalfi has some excellent advice on how to find your community in her Dean’s Minute.  Then Tait delivers the Commons Calendar of upcoming events you need to know about, and Richard has an excellent one-on-one interview with Dean Gresalfi in our Humans of the Commons segment.  

MCL Top 5: Tactics to Combat Homesickness

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hold on tightly

Because this is a new start. 

Because these next four years are going to be different. Life-changing. 

Yet, we can’t forget about everything else that has led up to this point. Of course we won’t. Inevitably, we’ll all eventually feel just an eensy-teensy bit homesick. But you need not fear, for there are ways to combat your homesickness. 

5. Go for a run

You don’t have to know where you’re going, but sometimes a run is all you’ll need. As you tire yourself a bit, your mind will drift away. The most important thing is to do something to take your mind off of home.

4. Relax!

Homesickness for some people may stem from stress, whether it’s from expectations you feel like you have to meet, or adjusting to college life. Taking a power nap, or readjusting your schedule for a little extra sleep can definitely help. Don’t be afraid to acknowledge that college is a new and different experience, because, well, it is. Even when classes have started, remember that it is important to take care of yourself. Take a hot shower, drink some hot water, make yourself a cup of tea, slow down, and recognize that you are doing great. 

3. Explore Nashville and take photos

There’s so much to explore in Nashville, ranging from vibey music or delicious food (check out our feature on the newest additions to Taste of Nashville). It might be hard to call this place home right now, but remember that this place is where you’ll be for the next 4 years. And for those next 4 years, you’ll be filling yourself with memories of Nashville. As you’re on your way, remember to take photos and maybe, just maybe, you’ll be able to call this place home one day with confidence. 

2. Have your parents send you a care package

Sometimes, things don’t just feel like home without certain things. Ask your parents to send you a care package of snacks, self-care products and maybe topped off with a hand-written letter. And yes, it is okay to occasionally indulge in a love for materialistic things. For an extra fun time, have them send it at a random time without letting you know. Then, the package will be a nice surprise and it might come just when you need it most. 

1. Call home

There really isn’t much that can top talking to your parents again. With all the technology we have these days, calling your parents is only a few taps away. It’s nice to know that someone is always behind you ready to support you if needed. Be proud that you are here at Vanderbilt, because your parents are. 

Matthew’s Honorable Mention

When everything seems to not be going right, it might sometimes be hard to believe that things will get better. To remind myself that everything will be fine, I tell myself “Matthew Lu is fine!” If I yell to myself “Matthew Lu is fine!” enough, I believe that everything might turn out to be okay. Maybe this is just me, but getting that extra energy and worry out reminds me that things will be fine, and if they aren’t, I can make things better. 

We’re moving on to craft our own futures, but for our pasts we can

let go lightly

The Newest Additions to the Taste of Nashville

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Let’s face it: as good as Rand bowls are, we’re going to need a break from dining hall food at some point throughout college. Thank goodness for Meal Money, which can be used to purchase food from multiple restaurants around Nashville through the Taste of Nashville Program. This school year, Vanderbilt has added a couple of new additions to the program:

Flatiron

1929 Broadway

Nashville, TN 37203

If you’re looking for a twist on American cuisine, this is the place to go! Their best-selling Nashville Hot Oysters hits a home run for those looking for an alternative to Nashville Hot Chicken. Just outside Vanderbilt’s campus, Flatiron is only a short walk for students to get homey meals with Meal Money. 

Central BBQ

408 11th Ave N

Nashville, TN 37203

What’s Tennessee without barbecue?!? Central BBQ provides quick service for a hearty, filling meal with home-cooked sides and entrees like pork barbecue and mac and cheese. It’s a further walk from campus, but this Southern-style restaurant will definitely hit the spot after a long day.

Grain & Berry Cafe 

1806 20th Ave S

Nashville, TN 37212

Avocado toasts and açai bowls have taken over social media, and they’ve made their way to Nashville! Grain & Berry Cafe is perfect for anyone hungry for something simple, refreshing, and healthier than your average fast-food restaurant. Locals recommend the “Relax, Eat, Repeat” Superfood Bowl to cool off during humid days in Nashville.

Which Lawn Am I On?

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Vanderbilt’s campus has so many lawns it can be hard to keep track. With many events taking place on these various patches of green, it is important to know where you are. Since all of these lawns are mostly grass, they can all start to blend together pretty quickly. With that in mind, here are some landmarks to help you identify which lawn you are on.

Peabody Lawn/Esplanade

This lawn is massive, but there’s only one thing to look for: Peabody College. The domed building, one of the most beautiful on campus, sits atop this long stretch of grass. With something this unique and prominent, you’ll never be lost on Peabody Esplanade.

Commons Lawn

Between Peabody Esplanade and the Commons Center sits Commons lawn. When standing on this lawn, try to spot these statues. If you can see these people dancing (left) or this anchor (right), you will know you are in the right place.

Lower Quad

If you stand on the front porch of the Commons Center (left), you’ll find yourself gazing upon the Lower Quad. This multi-tiered lawn is surrounded by Hank, Stambaugh, and Memorial Houses. Also bordering the lawn is the Dean of the Ingram Commons Residence (center). Finally, make sure to look for the statue of Martha Rivers Ingram (right), namesake of the Ingram Commons, in the center of this lawn.

Upper Quad

On the other side of Stambaugh, sits the Upper Quad. While it may be much smaller than Lower Quad, one thing about this lawn is striking: its symmetry. There may not be any statues, but the way the paths lead from the front of each house to form perfect right angles in the center of the lawn serves as a landmark on its own. Along with Stambaugh, Upper Quad is enclosed by Murray, Sutherland, and Crawford Houses.

East Lawn

Like the Upper Quad, East Lawn lacks identifying statues, but the charm of the historic Gillette, Memorial, and East Halls distinguishes this patch of grass. An easy way to figure out if you are standing on East Lawn is to look for this grand staircase to Gillette.

West Lawn

Across Peabody Esplanade from East Lawn is the aptly named West Lawn. Resting between the final two Commons Houses, North and West Halls, West Lawn is the last spot on Peabody Campus that will be covered in this series. The best way to see if you are standing on West is to look for this solitary lamppost in the center of the lawn.

Bridge Between Main Campus and Peabody (Honorable Mention)

While this may not be a lawn, this bridge is one of the most important walkways on Campus. The bridge, which passes behind the medical research building, can be difficult to find at first. If you are coming from main campus back to Peabody, look for this marble statue (center) and follow the sidewalk around the Medical Research Building.

Library Lawn

This is the lawn you will pass through to get from the bridge to the Sarratt Student Center/Rand. Filled with paths heading in every different direction (center), it can be easy to get confused. To orient yourself, use these two statues: Harold Stirling Vanderbilt (left) in front of Buttrick Hall and these blocks (right) which are on the path to Sarratt/Rand.

Alumni Lawn

The final location in this series is Alumni Lawn. This famous lawn home to many ceremonies on campus is located behind the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The best way to tell see if you are standing on Alumni is to look for the massive flagpole standing atop the lawn.

Brave New Commodore

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Throughout the academic year, we will be documenting the lives of first year students as we tackle campus life, academic focuses, intramural sports, and extracurricular fields. In our first weeks on campus, finding students of similar backgrounds, creeds, identities, and passions can prove not only exhilarating, but exhausting. In the span of sixty seconds, tour the globe as we travel across two dozen students’ hometowns to make you feel a bit more at home at Vanderbilt University.

CommonsCast Episode 77-August 25, 2021

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Welcome class of 2025! On this edition of the official podcast of The Commons Dean Melissa Gresalfi welcomes all first-year students and invites them to participate in upcoming special class activities on campus.  Matthew delivers the Commons Calendar of events coming up in the week ahead, and Maria interviews fellow first-year student Omar in our Humans of the Commons segment.