Matthew has the details on events happening on campus this week, including a Business Minor info session, house events, and how to find a Vanderbilt tutor to help you with those upcoming midterm exams.
Archives for September 2021
MCL Top 5: Ways YOU Can Affect Change in Campus Dining
If you were to ask me what my largest qualm with Vanderbilt Campus Dining was, I would not say the lines or the constant closures or even the lack of choices. While I believe all of these are areas the administration needs to address, there is something I am even more disappointed to have witnessed:
Vanderbilt Campus Dining made us – the student body – feel ignored.
We can feel demoralized when the booming calls to improve our dining experience seemingly continue to go unheard. In spite of this feeling, we do have power. Still, it can be difficult and nerve racking to take a stand, so listed below are the MCL Top 5 Tips on how you can bring about change in Vanderbilt Campus Dining.
1. Identify Where Your Message is Going
Knowing whom you want to receive your message is vital to success. In most cases, you typically want you message to reach those who have the ability to make changes. It can be easy to see Campus Dining as a singular entity, but it is a organization of people with all different types of jobs. The dining staff we interact with every day is a very different group than those who are actually making the decisions. Complaining to those who are subject to Vanderbilt Campus Dining’s administrative decisions, like students and much of the dining staff, will have little effect. You have to direct your message to the administration itself.
2. Know What You Want
This seems like such a simple idea, but many of us forget to consider the end goal. Almost all of us want Vanderbilt’s dining experience to be better, but “making something better” is not a substantive policy change. Do you want shorter lines? More choices? Longer hours? Whatever it is that you want changed, be clear about it. If you are worried about a number of issues, state each one explicitly. Furthermore, offer suggestions when possible. Even if a solution to one of the dining problems seems obvious to you, tell them anyways. There is always a chance they have yet to think of that fix.
3. Assume Campus Dining is Acting Rationally
For my fellow social science majors out there, you have probably heard this one before. Vanderbilt Campus Dining is not operating with evil intent; they simply have an approach moving forward that many of us find detrimental. Always remember that there is a reason they are making these changes. We may think it is a poor reason, but it is a reason nonetheless. If you cannot figure out the rationale (or even if you believe you have figured it out), the best way to begin a conversation with them is to ask “why”. I know it may seem a little odd, but in most cases you get one of two types of responses:
- You get a reasonable response that makes sense. If what they say is reasonable, feel free to ask follow up questions and offer suggestions, but I would avoid being overly combative. It is also okay to let an issue go and move on to something else. Some fight are not worth having, and there are plenty of other issues that need addressing.
- You get a poorly developed response. This is the time explain you position. If you notice a flaw in their response, cordially bring it to light. In most scenarios, I would pose it in the form of another question, but it is up to your judgement call. However you choose to respond, proceed respectfully.
4. Acknowledge When They do Something Good
Not everything Campus Dining has done in the past few months has been bad. We can sometimes get into a mindset of constant combat and rebuttal, but sometimes one of the most effective strategies to affect change is through positive reinforcement. It is often easier for an organization to do more of something that they are already doing than to develop a whole new system. A compliment is also more likely to be stand out in the barrage of critiques Campus Dining is receiving.
5. Publicize Your Opinion
This is the key to any successful movement. No matter how upset we are, nothing will change if we fail to share our thoughts. Every email written, every post made, every petition signed brings us a step closer to the version of Campus Dining we want to see. The best part of this strategy is that everyone can participate to their own comfort level. It does not matter if you create a petition or just sign it, every little bit helps.
Final Thoughts
After writing this piece, I hope not to leave anyone with the wrong impression. I am proud to be a Vanderbilt student. It is exactly because of this pride I want to see this school become the best it can. Over the summer, Vanderbilt University required the Class of 2025 to read the book When Breath Becomes Air, in which it is stated “You can’t ever reach perfection, but you can believe in an asymptote toward which you are ceaselessly striving.” Although I have not been on campus for a full month yet, it is clear Vanderbilt is pushing us to hold ourselves to this standard. We should ask the same of them.
CommonsCast Episode 80-September 15, 2021
On this edition of the CommonsCast podcast Dean Melissa Gresalfi talks about community and how students can make connections through student organizations on campus. Tait has all the details on events coming up on campus in this week’s calendar, and Richard sits down for an interesting interview with Macharia “Mash” Kanyatte, a freshman from Nairobi, Kenya majoring in Electrical Engineering at Vanderbilt.
MCL Top 5: Apps You Should Have By Now As a VU Student
If you haven’t already pulled out your App Stores or your Google Plays by now, hurry it up, chop chop, get to steppin’, because every app on this list is essential. Why play yourself? Make your life easier right now with 5 easy downloads.
1. DoubleMap
If you’ve ever been a bit afraid walking back from main campus to commons when it’s dark, or are just plain tired after a long day – you NEED the app DoubleMap. DoubleMap is the app that tracks VandyRides arrival times and locations (aka VandyVans or Vandy Campus Busses). There are 2 main routes, the Gold Route and the Black Route that make circles around campus from 6 pm – 1 am. The stops include but are not limited to: Rand/Sarratt, Hank Ingram, The Rec Center, Zeppos, Blair School of Music, and the School of Nursing (which is right beside the main campus library!)
There is no need to make an account, just open the menu, go to “Select Routes” and tap “Show All”. (Note – the busses or their routes will not show up on the map until after 6 pm) Happy Riding!
(Reminder: Masks are required the entire duration of the bus ride!)
2. Google Calendar
By now you have probably seen people using this app, but I’m going to make the case for why you should too! 1. You can connect it to your Brightspace, and 2. It makes saving events from AnchorLink super easy.
If you connect Google Calendar to your Brightspace, you can see your class schedule, get notified before class starts or assignments are due, and check when office hours are. Here are the steps to add Brightspace to your Google Calendar. (It is much easier to do this on a computer!)
- Go to the “Calendar” tab in your navigation bar
- Click on “Settings”
- Under “Calendar Feeds,” check the box for “Enable Calendar Feeds” and click save
- You should now have a tab named “Subscribe” beside the “Settings” tab, click that (if the “Subscribe” button doesn’t appear, refresh the page)
- Copy the URL found in the “Subscriptions” Tab, make sure to include “All Calendars and Tasks from the Dropdown Window.
- Open Google Calendar – Under “Other Calendars,” Click the “+” to add new calendar and click “from URL”
- Paste the Brightspace URL into the box, and select “Add Calendar”
- Your Brightspace and Google Calendar are now linked! If everything doesn’t show up make sure you refresh the page and check the box under “Other Calendars” that should be called “All Courses – Vanderbilt University”
3. Venmo (Or Alternatives like Cashapp and Zelle)
When people are out doing a Target run asking if you want something, if you shared an Uber, if someone purchased anything on your behalf – it is so much simpler to pay them back using a mobile app, – and it takes 10 seconds. (Just take the time to at least set it up).
I find that most people that I talk to have Venmo, so start with that. But it’s always good to have options like Cashapp. It’s personally not my thing, but you can even quickly trade stocks and bitcoin in these apps. Read more about the safety of these apps here:
Cashapp – https://cash.app/help/us/en-us/3127-keeping-your-cash-app-secure
Venmo – https://venmo.com/about/security/
If you don’t feel safe putting bank information into another app even after reading those safety policies, try Zelle. A lot of bank apps such as First Bank, Bank of America, and literally hundreds more have Zelle embedded right into their bank apps that you likely already have.
Uber (Or its Alernative, Lyft)
Have you explored downtown yet? The Gulch maybe? Needed to buy specific products or get your hair done off-campus. Well, Uber, the ride-sharing app is a great way to do that. Not only can you use it to get places, but you can also use the app to ride scooters (VU Scooter Policy – https://www.vanderbilt.edu/movevu/scooter-and-bike-share-faq/), order food delivery, and most importantly, split the uber-bill in-app when you ride together. To read more about Uber’s safety, you can check out this website – https://www.uber.com/us/en/ride/safety/.
Lyft also works the same way minus food and scooters, however, prices can sometimes vary, so it is good practice to check both apps. Create an account and get exploring!
5. Headspace
Are you stressed (Why did I ask, you go to Vanderbilt, there’s a very high chance you are!) Well, if you feel like you need to take a break to breathe, the app Headspace can help! It has meditation, daily inspirational videos, sleep background noise, peaceful stress release workouts, and more.
Here’s the kicker though, IT’S FREE. Vanderbilt has a partnership with Headspace, and all VU students have access to more of the premium content. Read more about it here: https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2020/08/21/student-care-network-launches-headspace-for-2020-21-academic-year/ and Sign Up here: https://work.headspace.com/vanderbilt/member-enroll
Note: The number of accounts may be limited.
Final Words and Honorable Mentions
If you made it this far, you should have all these apps on your phone right now! Although they didn’t make the top 5, here are some honorable mentions you may already have: 1. the VandySafe App (great for checking dining hall menus), 2. The Vanderbilt App (great for checking events), and 3. GroupMe (no description needed – if you don’t have this what are you even doing!)
Stay Updated on the MCL Instagram!
Throughout the month of September, we’ll be posting updates, mini features, and interactive stories! Make sure to keep up with My Commons Life by following us on Instagram @mycommonslife to find content for first years, by first years.
MCL Top 5: Alternatives to the Rand Lunch Line
Let’s face it: waiting in the long lines for lunch at Rand can be a pain. Many students also have classes before and after lunch, so the time they have to eat is far more restricted than the other meals of the day. The Rand Dining Hall is one of the most popular places on campus for lunch, but it is far from the only one. Here are the Top 5 Alternative Lunch Spots, so you can spend your lunch break enjoying your food instead of waiting for it.
1. Kissam Munchie Mart
This Munchie Mart located in Kissam is a great place to stop for lunch, especially for those with classes in Wilson and Furman Halls. Open all day from 7:30 AM until midnight on weekdays, the Kissam Munchie Mart allows for much greater flexibility than the traditional dining halls that only open for certain meals. Moreover, unlike some Munchie Marts, Kissam’s offers a large dining space with plenty of tables to meet up with friends.
2. E. Bronson Ingram
For those who attempt to eat at Rand, but find upon arrival that the line is too long, EBI is a perfect alternative. Located near Alumni Lawn, getting here is only a brief walk from Rand. Beyond convenient location, EBI has a few distinct advantages. Unlike most of the other options on this list, Bronson offers a hot, freshly-prepared lunch; however, the lines tend to be shorter here than at Rand. This is also one of the few places on campus that offers an all-you-can-eat style buffet. Just keep in mind that EBI is open for lunch from 11:00 AM through 2:30 PM, so it might not be the best option for those who deviate significantly from a traditional meal schedule.
3. Rand Grab & Go
While the line for a Randwich may stretch out the door, there’s rarely a wait at the Grab & Go stationed near by. Located to the right after walking through the main entrance, the Rand Grab & Go is much faster than waiting for food in the main Rand cafeteria. It is also much better suited for those with nontraditional eating schedules as it is open nonstop on weekdays from 7:30 AM through 7:00 PM (except for Fridays when it closes at 4:00 PM).
4. Suzie’s Central Library – Food For Thought Café
Many first-year students are not even aware of this small café at connected to Central Library; however, it can be a great place to grab lunch or a midday pick-me-up. Open 8:00 AM to 7:00PM weekdays (except Fridays when it closes at 3PM), Suzie’s Food for Though Café offers a soothing contrast to the commotion of Rand. Its location attached to Central Library also makes this a prime lunch stop for those looking to do some studying before or after lunch.
5. Save Food from Commons the Night Before
This one takes a little bit of planning but can be a lifesaver. Some class schedules do not lend themselves well to stopping at any Dining Hall or Munchie Mart for lunch. Thanks to the way the meal plan is set up, an extra meal can be purchased the night before, thrown in the fridge (which most students already have in their dorms), and saved for the following day’s lunch. This option offers the most flexibility in meals as all the options from the Commons Cafeteria and Munchie Mart are available. Saving food from the night before is also the most accommodating to those with difficult schedules as they can eat those meals whenever they want.
Which MCL Staff Member Should You Be Friends With
Get to know your MCL Staff a little more!
Need a friend? Take this quiz to figure out which staff member you would be best friends with! All our Instagrams are in the quiz results, so feel free to reach out to us and let’s be friends! 🙂
[viralQuiz id=30]
MCL News Minute-September 8, 2021
Omar has the details you need to know about upcoming events on campus this week, including an info session about study abroad programs, the library ice cream social, and Diverse Dores Day.
CommonsCast Episode 79-September 8, 2021
On this episode Dean Gresalfi discusses memory and offers strategies for how to use memory to learn effectively. Tait delivers the weekly Commons Calendar of events, and Richard sits down for a terrific interview with Vanderbilt senior & VUCeptor Maggie McVeigh.