• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

My Commons Life

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

  • Home
  • About Us
  • MCL News Minute
  • Podcasts
  • MCL Top Five
  • Features
  • Video Features
  • Why MCL?

Archives for January 2023

Top 5: Things I Wish I Knew Before Vanderbilt Formal Recruitment

January 24, 2023 by Abbey Woods

Listen, we all want to find our forever families in Greek Life. This Top 5 list will help give you more insight on the (intimidating) process!

#5: No, it’s not like ‘Bama Rush

I know all the tiktoks will make it seem otherwise, but Vandy’s rush is nowhere near as intimidating as larger SEC schools like Ole Miss or ‘Bama. There’s no judgements on your appearance or how much money you spent over recruitment. Vanderbilt doesn’t use words like “pledges” or “rush” anymore. Instead, you’ll be a potential new member attending formal recruitment. Greek Life is to find a family, not to exclude others!

#4: You don’t need to buy a whole new wardrobe

This would have saved me so much time, energy, and stress to know! So recruitment is only two weekends long, and you’ll be wearing jeans half the time. Days one and two are spent wearing jeans, sneakers, and a Vandy t-shirt. Days three and four are get a little more formal, with sundresses and sweater dresses. By the time bid day rolls around, you’ll be back in jeans! However, formal recruitment is in the winter, so remember to layer and grab your coat.

#3: You will inevitably be dropped from some houses… and that’s okay!

Unfortunately, the process includes you having to drop houses, and houses having to drop you. On day one (display round), you will start out with going to nine houses. Day two (philanthropy round) you can have a MAXIMUM of seven houses. However, don’t worry if you have less than seven. I wish I was told that the average number of houses people receive on day two is 4 to 5. On day three (sisterhood round) you will be able to see a MAXIMUM of five houses, but don’t be worried if you have 3 to 4. Finally, on your last day, preference round, you can only see two houses. When houses drop you, because they have to, try to think about the houses that invited you back, rather than the ones that didn’t. Remember, the houses the invited you back chose your name out of their list of hundreds of girls to learn more about YOU!

#2: Come into recruitment with an open mind

All throughout recruitment we were told that if we were looking for a community of sisterhood, the panhellenic committee could guarantee we’d find it. But if we were looking for membership in a specific house, they could not guarantee we would find that. There will be houses that your friends will like that you won’t vibe with, and vise versa. That is completely normal, so please don’t base your preference off of your friend’s decision. And if you’re the only one in your friend group that is rushing, that’s even better. You won’t be biased towards anyone else’s pick!

#1: You’re finding the house that fits you, not trying to make yourself fit a certain house.

Look, there’s a reason Vanderbilt has nine different sorority houses. If every single house was the same, there would only be one house on campus. So if you feel yourself trying to change or act a certain way in one house, then that house isn’t for you. No hard feelings. It’s all about where you truly see yourself. During my recruitment I was told that sorority houses are kind of like shoes: there are some that are cute, but they may not fit you. You’re looking for the right fit! So, trust the process.

Hopefully this guide eases any nerves you may have about joining Greek Life. If all else fails, just be yourself! Good luck! –Abbey

#VanderbiltRush #VanderbiltGreekLife #Vandy #Vanderbilt #Rush

Filed Under: Features

MCL Quiz: Honestly answer these questions and we’ll tell you what song will describe your Spring 2023 semester!

January 24, 2023 by Daniela Aguilar

Filed Under: Features

MCL News Minute-January 25, 2023

January 24, 2023 by Esme Adotey

Esme details some fun events coming up on campus this week, including a social event sponsored by Vandy Writes, VenUe trivia night, and a fun karaoke event.  

Filed Under: MCL News Minute, Video

MCL Top 5: Hidden Study Spots

January 24, 2023 by CommonsAdmin

Studying with friends can be fun…but during times where all you need is to isolate and cram your 8 chapters of material the day before the exam, I have the perfect spot for you! We have all experienced the full Stevenson and Central libraries during midterm and final exam season. Through this guide, you’ll be able to find a place with at most 2-5 people accompanied by silence.

5. Hank Library

Now, the ability to take advantage of this study spot is narrow as it is only available for freshman. Hurry while you can still scan into the freshmen dorms! Among all dorms on Commons, Hank has the largest library collection consisting of more than a measly 15 books (sorry North). In addition to the adorable mini-library collection, there are a few sofas, tables, and chairs that you can pick or move around in while you’re desperately cramming for tomorrow’s exam!

4. Peabody Library Bottom Floor

Another great option for freshmen to take advantage of during their first year on Commons! Although Central and Stevenson Library are famous study study, the most underrated library to study is definitely Peabody Library. While I may not be a huge fun of the upstairs study rooms either, I have to ask you all try to the very last floor of this library. Here, you are not only offered round table desks, but also conference rooms with white boards! What a steal.

3. Digital Center for Humanities

The perfect combination of new, old, and technology! This is the building for digital center for humanities where they explore the intersection of technology and humanities research. Alongside from admiring the beautiful architecture, you will find a small, humble library with a few study chairs here and there. Right next to the University School of Nashville, you will find small children running around the playground and reminisce about your childhood, too!

2. Wyatt Library

Through these doors, you will find the modern section of the Wyatt Center where there is a small library with colorful, comfortable bean bags and a few round tables. The highlight of this place is that because the Wyatt Center is almost impossible to navigate, this hasn’t become a popular spot for most students. While I may be biased as a double major in Peabody, I have to say this study spot makes me feel most at home.

1. HOD Building Top Floor

If you’re looking for a really discrete location where you get through a few sketchy-seeming places to find this study spot, then this one’s for you. All you have to do is to walk over to 6 Magnolia Circle, take the elevator to the highest level, and get a right turn after you get off! When I tell you barely any people study here except like 1-2 people, I genuinely mean it. It can almost get a little scary. However, if you need no distractions and time away from people, then make sure to give this study spot a try!

Filed Under: MCL Top Five

CommonsCast Episode 120-January 25, 2023

January 24, 2023 by Eigen Escario

On this edition of the podcast Eigen has the Q’s and Dean Gresalfi provides the A’s in our Q&A with the Dean segment, Linda has the details on upcoming events around campus in the Commons Calendar, and then Eigen sits down with Rachel Johnson, a first year student from Smyrna, Tennessee, majoring in Biochemistry who lives in Sutherland House.

Filed Under: Podcasts

MCL Feature: My Love Letter to Stevenson Library

January 17, 2023 by Santana Spearman

Hi, my name is Santana, and I am a Stevenson Library enthusiast. Here is a piece showing my love for my most adored study spot on campus.

Dear Stevenson Library,

Throughout my first semester at Vanderbilt, you are the building I’ve become the most attached to. You should know that I have tried other libraries and study spots, but for some reason, I’m always drawn back to you. I’m not sure if its the overwhelming sense of productivity you make me feel, your peaceful silence that propels me into a perfect focus, or your highly academic environment that makes my cognitive function go crazy… whatever it is, you are irresistible. I can’t picture my Vanderbilt experience without you. I need you. There’s this intense and emotional connection I feel between the two of us, which is why I’m able to spend hours studying in your presence. While some might be unsettled by your “bit too serious” nature, I am instantly submerged in a studious and scholastic state of mind once I walk through your doors. You manage to complement my study aesthetic perfectly: your glass windows bath my study materials in the warm sunlight, making my homework seem inviting instead of annoying. Your light brown tables create the perfect color contrast with my bright blue Hydroflask and mint green iPad case. As you can see, I am obsessed with every bit of you.

love, Santana

Filed Under: Features

MCL Top 5: Restaurants I’ve Been to in Nashville

January 17, 2023 by Alice Huh

What joy is a college student to (legally) find in life except eating good food? Kidding. But in all seriousness, I quite enjoy going out to find yummy things to eat, and I’m sure you do too! (At least, I’d assume so since you’re reading this feature.) To celebrate this commonality, I’ve compiled a list of my top 5 favorite restaurants in town so that you can also enjoy some great meals!

Note: I did my best to make sure that all of these restaurants would be accessible to most people. Some of the places are a bit far, but they’re all either bus-able or walkable locations. Additionally, in case you’re concerned that you might’ve searched the wrong place, I’ve linked the Google Maps URLs to the headings. No need to worry about any transportation expenses or location mix-ups!

Now without further ado, here are the top five restaurants I’ve been to around Nashville!

5. Black Dynasty Secret Ramen House

They were not lying about it being a secret ramen house. I actually ran into another group of people who were looking for the place in the middle of my search. Turns out the big secret is that it’s located inside the Bearded Iris brewery—now that you know, you hopefully won’t suffer in the cold as I did! Once I finally got inside, though, I had a pretty good experience. I got the miso tonkatsu ramen, which you can see pictured above. The broth was flavorful, albeit a bit salty for my taste (nothing a cup of hot water can’t fix), and the noodles had a pleasantly chewy texture to them. As for the miso caramel banana pudding, it reminded me a bit of crème brûlée! No funky miso flavor. On top of all that, the interior is really interesting, and has a nice ambience. My only gripe with the restaurant is that everything is definitely on the pricier side, but it’s a great place to visit occasionally when you’re craving a good bowl of ramen. (Advice for easing the burden on your wallet: 20% gratuity is automatically included when you order, so don’t feel pressured to tip again!)

4. Meet Noodles

Can you tell I really like noodles? Well, I do. I promise the rest of this list won’t just be noodle restaurants, though. Meet Noodles was my go-to comfort restaurant last semester, meaning I probably spent half of my meal money there. The combination of a sub-10 minute walking distance + warm Asian food is dangerous(ly enticing). They offer a great selection of Chinese noodle dishes, and I’ve never once been disappointed by anything I’ve ordered. For the indecisive folks out there, my usual order is the Shanxi sliced noodles (pictured above). I won’t go into detail about the dishes since I’ve realized that food descriptions are not my strong suit, but I’ll say this much: it’s good stuff!

3. Sitar Indian Cuisine

Something tells me that a lot of people already know about this restaurant (and the previous one for that matter), but here it is anyways! Due to my overwhelming love for rice and shrimp, I’ll admit that I haven’t tried as many things from Sitar as I have at some other places on this list. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve eaten, though! I unfortunately can’t comment on the dine-in experience, as I’ve always gotten my food to-go (sat down at a table just to get the photo lol); however, I can at least attest to the fact that they have some pretty speedy service. Overall, I’ve had a great experience, and I’ll definitely be back once I start craving shrimp biryani again.

2. OSH Restaurant & Grill

No, the duplicate photos are not a glitch. It was just the best way I could think to make sure that the image wouldn’t show up huge on everybody’s screens (so please bear with me).

I don’t think I’d ever been to an Uzbek restaurant before OSH, but boy did it set the bar high. To start off, the dinnerware is so pretty. Perhaps I’m just used to food being served on plain plates, but the matching plates, cups, and teapots felt fun and fancy to me. As for the food, all the dishes I tried over the course of my two visits were so good that writing about it is making my mouth water. I particularly enjoyed the lagman (oops that’s another noodle dish) and lamb kebab. The latter especially surprised me with how tender it was. But seriously, wow. I’m going to stop typing now so that I can think of other things that won’t make me unbearably hungry.

1. The Boba Bar

Last but not least is The Boba Bar! For everybody thinking, Wait, but that’s not a restaurant!, I’d have to agree. That being said, I really love the place (the I’ve-been-three-times-in-this-past-week-and-the-staff-remember-my-face-and-I-dream-of-their-boba-when-I-go-back-home-for-break kind of love), so I don’t care! The decor, the music, the drinks—it’s all just *chef’s kiss*. I’ve made it about a quarter of the way through the menu so far, and my favorite definitely has to be the brown sugar boba. Honorable mentions go to the peach yakult and the korean strawberry milk. Everything I’ve had has been really good, so I’m very excited to try more of their drinks.

That’s all I’ve got for now, but if you’ve got any suggestions for more restaurants I can visit, email them to mycommonslife@gmail.com! I’d love to explore some new places (provided they aren’t too expensive). Happy eating everybody!

Filed Under: Features, MCL Top Five Tagged With: Alice Huh, Food, mcl, Nashville, restaurant review, Top 5, vanderbilt university

MCL News Minute-January 18, 2023

January 17, 2023 by Linda Xu

Linda has the details you need about events and happening on campus in the week ahead, including Master of Public Health info sessions and the upcoming Vandy Off Broadway productions of the musical “9 to 5”.  

Filed Under: MCL News Minute, Video

CommonsCast Episode 119-January 18, 2023

January 17, 2023 by Eigen Escario

Welcome to the first episode of the 2023 spring semester!  Anya sits down with Dean Gresalfi for our Q&A with the Dean segment, Daniela offers up the details on events coming up in the Commons Calendar, and Eigen brings in Abbey Woods for the Human of the Commons interview.  Abbey is a first-year student (and MCL producer) from St. Louis, Missouri now living in Gillette House, and she plans on majoring in Public Policy Studies.

Filed Under: Podcasts

My Top 5: Events to Look Forward to this Semester

January 17, 2023 by Esme Adotey

Welcome back! New year, new you, AND new events to look forward to (tehehe see what I did there). If you’re anything like me and want to set events in your calendar months in advance, this article is for you. I’m sure a lot of you were sad that you missed out on some amazing performances and events, so here are my top 5 spring semester events that I am looking forward to! 

  1. Harambee

ASU hosts the famous event known as Harambee! This even includes cultural dances, traditional fashion shows, and plays. With a wide variety of performances, best be sure that I am already thinking about where I am going to sit!

  1. Lunar New Year Festival (LNYF)

In celebration of the Lunar New Year, the Asian American Student Association presents our annual Lunar New Year Festival! This year’s LNYF will feature over 350 student performers and 20 different acts. I remember watching Tinkling at Spotlight and was mesmerized. Be there or be squared.

  1. Vivid Dance Battle

If you enjoyed the VIVID showcase last semester, just WAIT until this semester. This time around, there will be more groups and more songs. If you enjoy K-pop and even if you don’t it will be a fun night! (also I may or may not be involved in this one hehe) 

  1. Commons Ball 

Ah yes, a night to dress fancy. You know I’ve had a dress in my closet that has been collecting dust and now I have the perfect opportunity to use it. Also, don’t forget your masks and keep the night mysterious! It will be like our own Another Cinderella Story!

  1. BSA: The Black Affair

Another opportunity to dress to impress. All who like dressing up say, “I.”

If you would like to know about these events, stay tuned on MCL for more information, or head to anchor link for more details!

Filed Under: Features, MCL Top Five

Primary Sidebar

SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Archives

  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016

SUBSCRIBE TO WEEKLY EMAIL

MCL: Sign up to receive our weekly emails

Recent Posts

  • Top 5: Things I Wish I Knew Before Vanderbilt Formal Recruitment
  • MCL Quiz: Honestly answer these questions and we’ll tell you what song will describe your Spring 2023 semester!
  • MCL News Minute-January 25, 2023
  • MCL Top 5: Hidden Study Spots
  • CommonsCast Episode 120-January 25, 2023

Categories

  • Busting Dores
  • Commons Cupdate
  • Features
  • Humans of The Commons
  • Humor
  • MCL Blog
  • MCL News Minute
  • MCL Top Five
  • Opinion
  • Podcasts
  • Satire
  • The Girl Next Dore Blog
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • Video Features

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org