My Commons Life

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

Archives for January 2022

MCL Quiz: Which Housing Option is Right for You?

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It’s the beginning of Spring Semester, and the deadlines for housing applications are growing ever closer.

If you’re anything like me, you have NO idea what you’re going to do for housing next year. With so many options, choosing housing can be an extremely overwhelming process.

Instead of having to scour the entire OHARE (Office of Housing and Residential Experience) website to learn the ins and outs of every single residence hall, living learning community, and housing option, I’ve done the work for you.

Take this quiz to find out which housing option is the best fit for you, your wants, and your needs!

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MCL Top 5: Campus Changes

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With Commodores Care finally behind us, campus life is on the road to normalcy—or at least the covid normal we are used to by now. As several opportunities open back up, a few changes may have flown under your nose. This Top 5 list has you covered with some of the more substantial shifts that may turn your spring semester from mundane to anything but plain!

5. The Libraries are Back!

Perhaps you forgot the delight of studying hard at Stevenson or Central. The re-opening should be commonplace for most who were aware of what the end of Commodore Care entailed, but in case you thought it was too good to be true, your favorite studying spots are ready to be your home again. No more do you have to suffice with your 13th trip to Buttrick, daring to find an empty classroom to conform to your solitude. Yes, the security guard that always asks for your ID missed you too.

4. Hit the Gym, Jack!

During Commodore Care, the Rec we know and love was appointment-only, limiting our time at the gym to one hour a day (and that’s if you managed to land a spot before it was full). Now, the Rec is back to business like usual, although several places will still take some time to open back up (such as the pool). And if you do not want to take that 20-minute stroll from Commons, the Commons Gym is also available for you to get in those reps!

3. Be a Fan with Mr. C

I know, I know, it has been ages since sporting events were open to students. Cheering fans and that loud, annoying-yet-almost-majestic buzzer sound are all distant memory. But finally, you can attend that basketball game or upcoming baseball match to cheer on fellow Commodores. Have your ID and vaccination card on standby, and you can see that beautiful smile of Mr. C again.

2. Masks? Glad you asked!

Technically, this isn’t much of a campus change, but come on! To accompany you on your mask journey are three new K-95s to add to your collection (that’s if Mr. C didn’t forget about you, though). Now you are more than prepared to transition back to in-person activities. Greek life is starting to open back up, the dining halls have chairs back on the ground, and your favorite clubs may no longer be on zoom (I see you, MCL)! If you want to do anything really, always keep a mask handy.

1. Dining Upgrade

If you wake up early enough, Vanderbilt offers life-changing breakfast options. From Commons to Rand, you will not be disappointed by the delicate yogurt, fluffy pancakes, and tater tots with that crispy crunch. While on main-campus, you can now head over to Kissam for breakfast, including brunch on the weekends! And if you are a fan of Açaí, granola is now an added topping option. Back over at Commons, you can now enjoy flatbreads for dinner, and most dining locations offer your favorite sparkling water, Bubly, along with various soda options by Stubborn! The list goes on, but one unforgettable mention is boba at Highland, available only during weekdays at limited hours. Oh, one more thing, dinner is extended by 30 minutes, lasting up to 8 pm!

MCL News Minute-January 26, 2022

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Produced over Zoom during the Commodores Care period, Elizabeth anchors our first MCL News Minute of the semester.  She has the details on what’s happening on campus this week, including a Vanderbilt Off Broadway show and a VUCept application info session.  

CommonsCast Episode 92-January 26, 2022

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This edition of the CommonsCast was produced remotely during the Commodores Care period, and features Dean Gresalfi welcoming everyone back from the break with words of encouragement for the upcoming semester.  Cheryl details events happening this week in the Commons Calendar, and Richard has a great socially distanced Zoom interview with Alex Oh, a first year student from Columbia, Maryland who is studying Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

MCL Top 5 Things You Need to Know About Residential Colleges

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Nicholas S. Zeppos College, one of five upperclassmen Residential Colleges, pictured above

Although we have only completed one week of the Spring Semester, it is already time to start thinking about housing for next year. One of the most popular options for upperclassman housing is living in one the the Residential Colleges. As you begin to consider where you want to live next year, here are the MCL Top 5 things you should know about the Residential Colleges.

1. The Experience

One of the largest draws to the Residential Colleges is that they offer a unique experience. This includes hosting larger house events and having a faculty head of house. If this sounds familiar, it should. All ten Commons Houses are Residential Colleges (although they function a bit different than the others due to them being Freshmen-centric). Consider how much you have appreciated your Commons experience. If you loved your Commons’ house events and enjoyed getting to know your faculty head, spending another year in a Residential College may be the right fit for you.

2. The Colleges

There are five Residential Colleges for upperclassmen. Warren and Moore Colleges are located near Wilson and connect to Kissam. E. Bronson Ingram College (known to most as EBI) is located near Alumni Lawn. Nicholas S. Zeppos College is close to the bookstore. Finally, Rothschild College (which opens next year) will be near Greek Row. With all colleges located on main campus, most of you will not be far from classes. However, for Peabody students, this housing option may put you far away from your classes.

3. Rooms

All five Residential Colleges have single and double rooms as well as suites. Suites include individual rooms for each resident, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a common living space. All residential colleges offer 4-person suites; Warren and Moore also offer a 5 and 6-person option. Roommates in double rooms must be of the same gender; however, suitemates may be of different genders (if you so choose). The question of whom you would like to live with is another important thing to consider when thinking about housing for next year.

4. Extra Fee

While housing costs are usually consistent regardless of where you reside on campus, there is an exception when it comes to the Residential Colleges. This is because residents are required to pay a Residential College Experience Fee to help fund house event. The fee for next year is expected to be $396.90 per semester. Keep this in mind when you are deciding where you want to live.

5. Food

Unlike most other housing on campus, all five Residential Colleges are connected to some form of dining. EBI and Zeppos both have full dining halls on the ground floor. Warren and Moore are connected to Kissam, which includes the Kitchen at Kissam and a Munchie Mart. Rothschild will have both a full dining hall and a Munchie Mart. If having food nearby is important to you, a Residential College will provide you with that opportunity.

Final Thoughts

The housing process can feel stressful and confusing (I know because I am going through it myself). I hope this has provided a little insight into what life may look like if you opt to live in a Residential College next year. For more information, check out OHARE’s Residential College guide.

MCL Top 5 New Years Resolutions

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What’s popping y’all! Welcome back to another fun and fresh semester of our favorite place (totally not sarcastic)—Vanderbilt University! For some of us, last semester might have been a train wreck, and others, not so much. In any cases, we are (probably) still looking to improve! Though you might have some goals and solutions already, here are some other ideas you might want to consider!

Most importantly, don’t try to take on all of these resolutions though. Change isn’t a one-day process but made from consistent mindful habit-making (even if New Years resolutions are made to be broken).

Read more books

This does not mean actually reading your books in your classes (though it may be a good place to start!) Consider picking up books that challenge your thinking or work on self-improvement. Remember when we used to read leisurely? It truly has been a while for some of us.

If reading isn’t your thing, maybe you can look for audiobooks to listen to instead of music when you try to meet that resolution of going to the rec frequently. Maybe listening to that next chapter can be your motivation to go to the rec.

Budget tracking

That five dollar coffee really adds up? Your monthly subscriptions are a lot? There exist plenty of apps that help you track your spending and though many of these are necessities, do consider what apps you really do need. You may recognize that you are dependent on a lot, but you might also be surprised you have some subscriptions you may be able to cut down on.

For example, for my caffeine kick, I’ve been utilizing Panera and their coffee subscription club where you can get “unlimited” free hot coffee, iced coffee, and hot tea (aka every 2 hours) for a month. While Starbucks may be a staple of your life, that money can add up.

Create a schedule

Obviously, we have a schedule around our classes and such. If you haven’t already, putting everything into your Google calendar and such is definitely helpful. Other than classes, you can also add office hours so they are more ready to go instead of trying to refer back to syllabi and such.

However, this can extend into cleaning. Plan for a regular time to do your laundry instead of “when you really need to.” Make this a consistent time every week. Shower at similar times. Most importantly: work on that sleep schedule!

Become a parent (of plants)

Even if being here still seems like a dream, it is undeniable that we are growing as people. Why not adopt a cute succulent to mark your growth? A cute decoration and a friend that will always be there for you in the form a plant. Next time you go out, maybe you can keep your eyes peeled for a new friend and source of life in your room.

The funds? Maybe you were mindful about your budget and cancelled a subscription :p

Listen to happy music

Obviously, we have our sad days and we just need music to hit differently. But maybe, you can schedule some time once a week as you work to listen to happy positive music. Be productive, and feel good about all that you have accomplished.

Good luck on this semester! You are going to do so well 🙂