My Commons Life

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

Opinion

MCL Top 5 Things to do Instead of Studying for Finals

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The end is near but there is still a lot to do. Papers’ due dates a hurling towards us and finals are less than two weeks away. It is going to be a long few weeks, and all of us could use a break from studying every once in a while. So whether you are procrastinating or taking a “well-deserved break,” here are the MCL Top 5 Things to do Instead of Studying for your finals.

1. Party at Rites of Spring

This Friday and Saturday April 22 and 23, the biggest event of the year will be held on Alumni Lawn. Artists like 2 Chainz, Miguel, Waka Flocka Flame, and more will be preforming right here on campus. This is an event you better be sure not to miss.

2. Attend the Commons Ball

Here’s another event this weekend that is worth stopping by. This year’ Botanical Ball will be held on Commons Lawn on Sunday April 24 from 7-10 PM. Make sure to check it out.

3. Go Somewhere You’ve Never Gone Before

Most of us only have a few weeks left on campus before we head home for the summer. If you need a break from studying, do some exploring. Whether it is on campus or around Nashville, there are still plenty of new and interesting places to find.

4. Watch the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

No, this isn’t an actual spelling bee; it’s a musical being preformed by Vanderbilt Off Broadway this weekend. If you still feel like you want more to do during the weekend before the final week of classes, this would be a great thing to go see.

5. Use Up Your Meal Money

It’s now or never folks. Whatever meal money you have left, spend it up because whatever you don’t use before the end of the year will be gone. Not to mention, there is nothing like a good meal to refresh you for several more hours of studying.

Grievances of a Homeless Sophomore

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Life on campus following Spring Break has been hectic. I’ve been swamped with papers and tests, classes need to be picked for the fall, and many organizations are trying to cram in one or two more big events before the school year ends. So while I am in the midst of figuring out how I am going to make it through the final few weeks of this year, I also have to figure out where I am going to live next year.

The answer to this seems easy: I will be living on campus (whether I like it or not). I knew there would be a residential requirement when I chose this school, but I was also told there were lots of options following my first year. Most of you have probably figured out by now that claim was misleading (at best). 

For almost a month, OHARE has been running the main housing assignment process for suites, apartments, and dorms which means that much of the Class of 2025 has been receiving weekly bad news since Spring break ended. While there were a few lucky ones who got 3-person apartments, no rising Sophomores got a 4 person suite, 2 person apartment, or a single room, yet we were told that we should go through those processes anyways. 

But why? Rising Seniors and Juniors get first pick in each of the processes anyways, so why not let all them pick at once like they do with classes? We won’t get the best rooms regardless of how many small steps the process is broken into; at least this structure could save us a month of torment, of belief we have a chance to get the room we want, of hope we’ll get a real choice in where we live next year. If we won’t actually have a great selection of rooms available for our choosing, at least respect us enough to show us an accurate picture of what is up for grabs.

This week, the process finally comes to an end as the last category of rooms will be picked: the dreaded doubles. We all tried to avoid getting stuck here, but now we’re scouring the floor plans trying – with irrational optimism – to find that one double-in-the-rough that may be left over in the upperclassmen’s table scraps. We all know this probably won’t end much better than previous attempts, but at least this will be over soon.

See y’all in Branscomb next year!

Sincerely,

A Homeless Sophomore

MCL Top 5 Things to do Before the End of the Year

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It may be hard to believe, but we only have one month left in our Freshman Year. Whether it feels like the clock is ticking down too quickly or not quickly enough, one thing is for certain: the end is near. So with the year coming to a close, here are the MCL Top 5 things you should do before the school year comes to an end.

5. Go to a House Event

When your house has an event every week, it can be easy to take it for granted; however, house events are an experience unique to residential colleges. While some of you many have managed to get into a res college next year, these next few weeks may be our last chances to go to a house event for a while. Especially with some houses doing big end-of-the-year events, this is the perfect time to take a break and enjoy some food in the company of your housemates.

4. Plan Your Classes Longterm

This one may not sound as fun as the others on this list, but it is a MUST DO before the school year comes to a close. This year, class registration was a whirlwind. Between getting used to life in college and being the last to pick our classes, just getting enough classes to reach the 12 credit hour minimum was a feat worth celebrating. Many of us did not even know what our majors would be: of course scheduling was going to be a struggle. But now, much of that has changed. Most of us have settled into our (tentative) majors, and we are no longer at the bottom of the totem pole in class selection. This is the perfect time to figure out not only which classes you will take in the fall, but also future semesters. This may seem daunting, but if you are in the major that is truly right for you, looking at your future classes will make you look forward to the future, not dread it.

3. Take a Walk

I have said it before and I will say it again: we live on a beautiful campus. Now that the weather is getting really nice, it is a perfect time to get outside and appreciate your surroundings. When most of us leave in May, we will not get to see these grounds again until August. Enjoy campus while you are still here.

2. Use Your Meal Money

Use it or lose it. Meal Money resets at the end of the year, so make sure to use it all up. Try something new, or go to Jeni’s for the 100th time: it does not matter. Whatever it is that you like to eat, treat yourself. Just make sure to enjoy your time and get some good meals.

1. Do that one last thing

We all have that one thing we have been telling ourselves we should do. This one will be different for each of us. It could mean finally going to a baseball game or the meeting of a certain club. It could be a personal goal that you keep putting off. It does not have to be something big. For me, it was lying outside in a hammock. For a few months now, I have owned a hammock, and I kept telling myself I would put it up and lie in it one day. Last week I finally did it, and it felt amazing. Whatever your “hammock” is, go for it.

MCL Top 5 Picks I Regret in My March Madness Bracket

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March Madness: it’s the magical season when we all realize we are master sports analysts, declare to the world our infallible tournament predictions, . . . and then proceed to scream at the TV for three weeks straight. Like many of you, I crafted an amazing bracket. Although no one has ever come close to making a perfect bracket, it has to happen sometime, right? I knew this year would be the one, and the first perfect bracket would – of course – be mine. That was until Michigan upset Colorado State during the first game on the first day of the first round. So to all my fellow amateur analysts out there, I share with you my Top Five largest regrets in my March Madness Bracket. If you managed to avoid these errors, congratulations, and if not, take solace in the fact that you’re not alone.

5. Overestimating Auburn

I thought taking Auburn to the Elite Eight would be a good idea given the season they had. It seems they may have peaked a little too early. After an 18 point loss to Miami on Sunday, I wish I had knocked the Tigers out of my bracket a little sooner.

4. Taking South Dakota State to My Sweet Sixteen

I know. I should have known better than selecting a 13 seed to advance that far. Miracle runs for bottom-ranked teams are possible (look at St. Peter’s for example), but predicting exactly when and where they will occur requires greater precision than my strategy of semi-informed guessing can provide. The worst part is that I doubt the Jackrabbits’ defeat will do anything to stop me from making this same mistake next year.

3. Underestimating Houston and Purdue

I definitely missed the mark on these two. I had UAB knocking out Houston in the first round and Texas knocking out Purdue in the second. After watching the tournament unfold, I think both of these teams have a lot of fight left in them and a solid chance of advancing further. Houston is coming off a commanding win against Illinois and faces an Arizona team that struggled to fend off TCU. Purdue is in even better shape as they are now the top seed in the East and face 15 seed St. Peters in the Sweet Sixteen.

2. Taking Loyola to My Elite Eight

Can you blame me for this one? It’s usually fairly safe to assume that Loyola will make a run in the tournament. Even though it wasn’t technically an upset, I was shocked when Loyola got knocked out during the first round (and by a double digit loss nonetheless). Even with my (misplaced) confidence in this team, Elite Eight still seems like it may have been a bit too far.

1. Taking Kentucky to the Championship Game

We all knew this one would be here. St. Peter’s upset against Kentucky busted far more brackets than just mine, but that loss on the first day still hurts. The worst part is, when I picked my bracket, I actually considered the fact that St. Peter’s might upset Kentucky, but then said to myself “That’s ridiculous. Kentucky will be fine.” To be clear, I’m not mad I picked Kentucky to win that game (those upsets are too rare to try to predict); I’m disappointed that in spite of my concerns, I still took Kentucky to be the runner up of the whole tournament.

Call For Unity

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Is it too much to ask for peace?

For unity and understanding amongst people that are different from each other?

But all I see are ties breaking.

Why are you guys doing this instead?

To mess with my already dwindling mental health?

To put other people down deliberately?

To prop yourself up in comparison to them,

But only temporarily?

But at what costs, may I ask?

Conflict is necessary sometimes, I get it…

For the good of the group, for the health of the group.

We are all individuals with different needs and ideas.

We should learn from each other, not insult and invalidate each other.

If it takes a level-headed debate to come to a compromise, so be it.

Why do we have to undergo so much turmoil:

The emotional labor of justifying your own existence,

Attempting to combat negative stereotypes unfairly placed on your cultural group,

And feeling as if no one outside of your cultural group stands in solidarity with you.

What a feeling that many experience and many will never experience at all.

MCL Top 5 Reasons I Don’t Need to Work on my Essay Right Now

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As we enter the fourth week of the semester, there is an obvious change in the air. A new season is coming, and don’t mean spring (a rodent in Pennsylvania declared we’ll have to wait a bit longer for that). I’m talking about essay season. That’s right: now that the shopping period has ended and we’re stuck in the classes we’ve picked, it’s time to learn what our actual workload will be for the next few months. But as I (like many of you) get an essay assigned in every class over the course of just one week, I find it helpful to remember that life is about more than just schoolwork. That is why I present to you the MCL Top 5 reasons I don’t need to work on my essay right now.

1. It’s not due tomorrow

Due dates can make a huge difference. It would be ridiculous to waste my time today if I could work on it tomorrow. Who cares if it’s 10 pages long and I haven’t technically “started” yet. If my professor actually wanted me to work on it tonight, why would he have made it due on Friday?

2. It’s so nice out today

These really nice days are few and far between. I would hate to miss the opportunity to get some fresh air and sunlight. What if it’s cold or rainy tomorrow, and I can’t go outside? That’s just not a risk I’m willing to take. Who knows: maybe going outside will make me better focused and more productive when I come back in to write my essay.

3. This class is just for AXLE credit

So what if I don’t do well in this class? I’m only taking it to fill an HCA credit anyways. I won’t need to know any of this for my career. I just need to get a passing grade, so I can move onto the subjects I actually care about.

4. I deserve a break

That’s right. I do deserve a break. I’ve been working really hard, and I should reward myself for it. It doesn’t matter that I just got off my last break. I’m a hardworking and amazing student. I have earned some downtime and maybe even a quick, three-hour nap. Yay me!

5. Will this essay really matter in 10 years?

Well . . . will it? I don’t think so. In a decade, I’m not going to be sitting around thinking about how I should have written that one essay a day earlier. Odds are that I won’t even remember this essay by next semester, let alone much later in life. If that’s the case then I shouldn’t stress out about this essay at all. I will write it when I choose to write it, and that’s okay.

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 Best Parts of the Fall Semester

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With almost a full semester completed here at Vanderbilt, it can be easy to forget the things that made our first few months so great. So let’s stop and take a look back at the Top 5 Best Parts of the Fall Semester.

5. Football Games

In spite of the fact that the Commodores went 2-10 this season, going to the football games was a highlight of the semester. Spending a Saturday cheering on my team with my friends was something I thoroughly enjoyed, and I look forward to doing it again for the winter and spring sports.

4. The Scenery

We live on a beautiful campus, and I hope to never stop appreciating it. Whether it was the lush greenery of the summer or the vibrant colors of the fall, I always felt in touch with nature. Even many of the beautiful buildings like the Wyatt Center, Kirkland Hall, and Furman Hall (known by many as “the castle”) further accentuate the visual appeal of campus.

3. $50 Meal Money

Although it may have been a brief six days, we all remember this time well. Receiving $50 per day to buy food was a great way to start off the semester. On top of that, many of us got to know the people who are now our closest friends over those meals which, I think, is even better than the food itself.

2. My Commons Life

This one might be a little specific to me, but I still wanted to put it on the list. It has been an amazing experience working with this amazing staff and writing for you every week. I truly hope the content we publish has been a enjoyable part of your semester, and I look forward to writing more pieces in the spring.

1. New Lives

Whether you just graduated high school or were coming off a gap year, whether you came from across the country or just outside of Nashville, whether you walked in knowing exactly what you wanted to do or you were undecided, we all arrived in August ready to start our new lives. This has been a semester of defining and redefining our identities, our paths, our stories. I love where my journey has taken me in the last four months, and I know that I am nowhere near my final destination. I hope the same is true for you.

MCL Top 5 Worst Parts of the Fall Semester

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These last few months have not always been easy. As we approach the last challenge of our first semester at Vanderbilt – finals week – let’s take a moment to remember all the things that made the transition to college life a bit more difficult. So here are the Top 5 Worst Parts of the Fall Semester: may we leave them in the past where they belong.

5. Campus Dining

You knew this was going to make the list. We were told Vanderbilt had some of the best dinging in the country, but our experience during the first semester did not live up to the hype. Between long lines and limited options, this is a part of my experience I would rather move on from.

4. The T-Shirt Line

I am going all the way back to our first weekend here for this one but, I think it is still worth noting. Waiting in line in the hot, humid air for over an hour on a weekend when we were all extremely busy was not the best use of time. The worst part was that after standing there for that long period of time, all we did was pull some ink across a shirt and watch it dry. Yes, we stood in the heat for hours just so we could literally watch paint dry. It is no wonder why this activity made it on this list.

3. The Squirrels

I do not care how cute you think the squirrels are, they are little monsters. At first I thought they were adorable and harmless, but I was wrong. They are aggressive and vicious and arrogant. Just the other day, one of them looked me dead in the eyes and started yelling at me from inside a recycling bin. They have no fear, and I am confident they are plotting something terrible.

2. Laundry Wars

No matter what side of this conflict you were on, you suffered. Whether someone removed your laundry from the dryer while it was still wet, or you had to wait a half hour to put your clothes in the wash because someone else had not taken them out yet, we all paid the price for a limited number of washers and dryers. Even those of us who washed our clothes at non-peak times still dealt with the weekly passive-aggressive laundry-related messages in the house group chats that defined Sunday afternoons. None of us came out clean on the other side of this one.

1. Allergies

Many of us grew up in a very different climate than that of Tennessee. Combine that with Nashville’s constant oscillation between 40 and 70 degree days and you have a perfect storm for a lot of bad allergies. Many of us spent much of the semester feeling under the weather which detracted from our school and social lives. If feeling a little bit sick is not enough, thanks to COVID there was always an extra moment of panic every time you sneezed with the thought crossing your mind: “Will I be locked in quarantine for two weeks?” It is sad enough when someone gets sick; they should not have to worry about their academic and social lives too.

So here’s to a healthier semester, a semester with more choices and less lines in our dining halls, and a semester without aggressive laundry messages and even more aggressive rodents. So let us celebrate the end of the Fall Semester and the beginning of something better. I look forward to seeing y’all in the new year.