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.
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MCL Top 5: A Week in Review (Yik Yak Edition)
You’ve heard of it and have most likely been peer-pressured to download one of the hottest apps for college students on campus right now—Yik Yak, a social media platform with a feed that features anonymous posts “yakked” from people in your local area. While many of the popular ones are a bit too weird and scandalous to be included in this article, we’ve filtered through the Yaks of the week to recap what’s been going on in the Vanderbubble:
1. The dreaded 🧪 gen chem exam 🧪 was the talk of Commons as all the pre-med students struggled in solidarity trying to study for Thursday night. We know you’ve seen the messages written in chalk between the walk from the bridge and Stevenson… it would’ve been more helpful to graffiti equations or whatever, but I guess it’s the thought that counts??
2. Sore topic. Enough said. Did we really want Bama, guys?? 🥲
3. It’s almost time for sweater and pumpkin spice latte weather! The walks to class in the mornings for the past few days have been perfect, but the afternoons always throw a wrench in the fashionista’s ambitious outfit plans for the entire day—see the girlies who are already wearing knit sweaters 🥵 Supposedly, it’s going to get chillier this week with lows in the high 40s and highs in the low-mid 70s though!
4. I had to balance out the HOD hate with some STEM slander 🙈 I’m sure you’ve already heard about the overexaggerated caricatures and assumptions people have about certain majors on campus… take them with a boulder-sized grain of salt if you must partake in the clownery of these two popular majors!
5. A lot of Yaks didn’t make it on here for obvious reasons, but here’s a wholesome and relatable one for all of us to reflect on 💛
Movie Review: A Quick Take on “Nope” (Spoiler Free)
After hearing my friends make millions of “Nope” references, I finally decided to give the movie a watch at the local Belcourt Theater. I went into the viewing with basically no prior knowledge on the contents of the movie. All I knew was that there were going to be aliens and monkeys. Looking back on it, going into the movie with a blank slate was an amazing decision–one that kept me on my toes throughout the whole film.
If you haven’t watched “Nope” yet, hopefully I can convince you to do so. “Nope” is the perfect mixture of sci-fi, horror, and modern-day Western. As someone who doesn’t typically watch any of these genres, I would say that “Nope” was a great introduction to them. With breathtaking cinematography, “Nope” tells the story of a pair of siblings who are left running a horse farm after the strange death of their father.
With plenty of cultural easter eggs, “Nope” touches on important topics such as the exploitation within the the film industry, racism, and society’s obsession with spectacles. One thing I really liked was the heavy use of symbolism as a medium to discuss these topics.
However, I can’t sit here and act like I wasn’t confused 99.9% of the time. The only reason I’m somewhat able to appreciate the greatness of “Nope” is because of the talk I had with my friends and the dozens of analysis articles I rushed to read post-viewing. Perhaps, a second (or maybe even third) watch would be a good idea.
One thing that I couldn’t help but think every few minutes was, “How does one come up with a plot like this?” The intricacies and fine detail that went into piecing everything together could only be thought of by a genius. And that genius is Jordan Peele. A newbie to Jordan Peele movies, I was left wanting more. If there’s anything I took away from the viewing, it’s that I need to watch “Get Out” and “Us” ASAP!
To sum it all up, this movie is for anyone who appreciates social commentary that take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. I hope you find it just as interesting as I did. Until next time!
CommonsCast Episode 92-January 26, 2022
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 Worst Parts of the Fall Semester
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.
MCL Top 5: Tips for Winning this Semester
The end of the semester is fast approaching. Buckle up! Do not crash and burn because of procrastination and lack of planning. No, you made it too far to throw the white flag. What you need is a short, comprehensive guide to aid you to the finish line. These few tips will keep your eyes on the road to victory here at Vanderbilt and even help you develop a strategy for finishing the semester as a champion.
1. Prioritize Self-Care
With finals already among us, it can be easy to overwhelm ourselves with hours of studying and reading over notes. While a social detox is an easy quick-fix, make sure you take care of yourself too. Maybe it has been a few weeks since you hit the gym; you can start good habits today. Or you miss being part of the community; treat yourself to a sports game with friends or investigate what organizations are doing for the final days of the semester. Also, don’t shy away from eating all day. We all need food, and a sufficient amount of it, to fuel our bodies throughout the day.
2. Talk to Your Professors
If you have not yet scheduled office hours with your instructor or barely made small talk all this time, now is your final chance to connect with them. Taking their course means having access to them, and connections will help guide your career path and secure a job when you graduate. Especially if you are unsatisfied with your course grade, you will be surprised how helpful and understanding instructors can be. Even better, professors are (likely) not going anywhere! Do not miss this great opportunity!
3. Time Crunch like a Champ
Maybe you have a Google calendar with some of your to-dos already, or you’ve managed to get by all semester without reminding yourself what there is to do. Despite where you fit, you should consider maximizing your use of time. Doing this does not entail stressing yourself out with all-nighters. Maximizing time means completing work, maintaining good habits, and having fun! Along with improving self-care, good time management profoundly reduces stress and enables you to live life prepared for what’s to come. (And if your time management is above and beyond, you might even decide to sacrifice some study time for social hour and will still be fine!)
4. Study Smart
Some people can study for hours straight with superb productivity. But for most people, this way of studying does not work very well. (Keep in mind that our attention span is in the seconds too!) Research has proven that studying in increments is the most successful strategy. This way of studying does not mean you can work on calculus for one minute then scroll through Instagram for five. You will still need to commit a considerable amount of time to navigate through your work pile. A plus to this method (called Pomodoro, by the way) is that you can alternate subjects to reduce stress. Ideally, you can focus on an intensive course for an hour and then switch to something less demanding for thirty minutes. From personal experience, I almost enjoy studying now because of how manageable it is!
5. Experience Vanderbilt (Literally!)
It’s easy to forget the profusion of resources available to us commodores. Need help in STEM? Tutoring spots are waiting for you. Want to plan your professional portfolio for your dream career? The career center will happily guide you to the necessary steps. Above all, the students sitting next to you in class, and the ones roaming the halls, have a galore of student organizations and action groups to match your interests and keep you well-socialized. And if you haven’t snapped a LinkedIn-ready headshot with our splendid campus as the background, the time to act is now! All that said, do not blind yourself to what Vanderbilt can offer you.
Conclusion
These five tips will not magically do wonders, but they can lead to success, winning in both academia and life. Furthermore, nothing works unless you do. Even if you do not faithfully follow these suggestions, commit to doing things that will aid your future self. Good luck with the finals, and enjoy the break!
TOP 5 Things To Do Before Your CHEM Exam Tomorrow!
So tomorrow is the CHEM 1601 Exam.
The final “test” of the semester before the final.
It’s hard to feel ready for these exams – so instead of asking if you’re ready, I want to ask, “Are you okay?”
It’s okay if you’re not. (shoot! me too! – I’m writing this article for y’all but this is self-help for me as well :3)
No matter how you feel, I’m glad you’re here reading this article – because I want to help you. I did extensive research on Google Scholar to write this article. I’ve got tips, some of my own notes, and I’ve got some caring advice.
I’ll keep it short because I know you (and I) need to get back to studying, but by the end of this article, you should have a plan to feel more prepared and confident about this exam.
1. Positively Affirm Yourself
You’re reading this article, I can tell you care about your work and are trying your best. Even if you know you are nowhere near prepared to take this exam, you can say a couple of positive words even if they’re not true yet. Even feigned confidence is confidence, and studies show that confidence alone can improve your test scores (This article, this one, and even this one too)
Here are some of my affirmations that I’ll be saying today and tomorrow. (One of the articles I linked suggests adding hand and body motions to really make it stick)
- C’s get degrees! (And B’s, C’s, D’s, and even a couple F’s)
- I’m manifesting a passing grade (get creative, conjure that grade like witchcraft, evoke a 70+)
- chemistry is fun! totally like solving a puzzle! yay women in STEM!
- It’s 2025 and I’m sitting in a lawn chair graduating with my *insert major* degree.
- Oh Yes. I certainly, unquestionably, and undeniably Can. (feel free to add more adjectives or expressive curses to make it more real for you)
- I can and I will do this. I am capable. I am channeling nervous energy as a positive force
- Literally, just smile – stare at the screen and smile, I read somewhere that just the act of smiling can improve your mood. (Bonus points if you pretend to laugh at the article right now)
2. Study Smart (TAKE. THE. PRACTICE. EXAM. NOW)
I’ll say it now and I’ll say it again for the people in the back. Don’t cram, just don’t do it. I am not telling you to stop studying, but please, be smart about it. Here are some ACTUAL tips on how to study.
- Set up your active recall: You should NOT just read your notes. The textbook is nice but JUST reading it is not okay. You need to be able to conjure the facts quickly so here are 5 methods:
- Make Notecards
- Chew flavored gum while you use your notecards or study. Chew the same flavor again during the test.
- The practice test is a good cue to show how well you recall. Don’t wait to take it until you feel confident, take it now and know EXACTLY what you need to work on, instead of what you think you need to work on.
- If you learn something new, set it up to make it stick. Make a mnemonic device, sing a song, or write it 3 times.
- Do the last Chem101 without Googling the Answers
- Space Out Your Studying into Blocks – Studies show that the effects of studying decrease the longer you are studying the same thing. To combat this:
- Study for different classes in between Chem studying (It’s called interleaving!) (take 2 hours chem, 1 hour a humanities course paper)
- Memories are built while you sleep. Study before a nap or sleep, and study it again when you wake up, you will see the difference.
- Know what you need to study
- Make a sheet for all the equations you need to know and the things to memorize. (I’ll attach my equation sheet, but you should make your own.)
- (7 Common Strong Acids, Common Strong Bases, Solubility Rules, OXIDATION RULES, Gas Evolutions, Various Thermochemistry Equations.) PLEASE!
3. Treat Yo-self
If you cram so hard that you are miserable the day of the test – something is up. You shouldn’t hate your life to feel prepared. Take exactly 1 hour. (Yeah, don’t just collapse into Netflix for hours, that might not make you feel better) for the time you will set aside to do something that makes you happy.
Here are 6 examples:
- Go to a loud common room. Rant to others who are also in chem. Theraputic.
- Get a Cookie with your Chem Buddies and Savor every bite.
- Watch 1 episode of your favorite show, or your comfort show (avoid cliffhangers)
- Sit down and curl up with a cup of tea and MyCommons.Life Articles (or a book i guess, when’s the last time you read a book for fun?)
- Speedrun the Wednesday Night Commons Signature Events (West Fest, Sutherland Socials, Snorthgasborg, StamSweets, Hankerings, Murray Munchies, and Crawford’s thing are all Wednesday Night)
- Call your parents, your siblings, or your friends from back home (make sure they know you have a time limit!)
4. Attend to Your Basic Needs – Don’t Put So Much Pressure on Yourself
I’m gonna keep this one short, but I knew I had to say it. I know you’ve heard it before. Sleeping and eating well will lead to better exam results. Your time is much better spent sleeping to improve your whole mood than memorizing 1 tiny fact worth 1 point. You need food to function, please make it healthy.
5. Make a Plan
Finally, don’t just read this article. Guarantee you will put it into action. Go into your NOTES app right now, and make a detailed to-do list. When I’m feeling particularly lost, I like to even add time to my to-do list. You have 24 hours in a day, ask, “How long will memorization take me (2 hours?)”, “How can I fit it in around my sleep (7 hours?)” Set timers to make sure you do it in the time you set out, don’t waste these precious minutes! Run through the course of your day in your head or physically and set yourself up to do them. Put out your clothes now, decide your Suzie’s order, Pick your route to class, and how early you will arrive. Here’s an example of what my Tuesday looked like if you want a template!
That’s all the advice I have for now! You got this (Just Saying, I’d go up and re-read the study smarter section if I were you though)! I wish you the best of luck, and remember, even if it doesn’t go well – chem class is canceled on Friday and we have Thanksgiving break. Bye Now!
Commons Conversations-Episode 2
Listen in as Stephan and Maria discuss the topic of “Halloween at College”. What do college students do, what parties do students attend, how do they dress? Real talk about social life during COVID and some costume ideas they’ve heard about.
Top 5 Things I Learned in My First Month at Vanderbilt
- Sleep is important
Like most high school students who piled up on APs and extracurricular activities, I found myself altering my circadian rhythm to make three-to-four hours of sleep enough for my seven-hour school days. I had predicted that college would be no different, in that my body would continue to thrive past 2 A.M. on weekdays.
I was wrong.
The amount of walking and socializing, combined with doing day-to-day chores, studying, finishing homework, and–oftentimes–reteaching yourself, takes a lot out of you. Getting those full eight hours of sleep allows you to be proactive during the day, so you’re able to stay focused!
- Saying no is okay
You’re going to want to do everything–have dinner with friends, go to a football game, have a movie night, attend a club meeting, or even take a walk around campus. FOMO is very real, especially in the beginning, when it feels as though you’re going to miss something that may be fundamental to your college experience. I’ve learned that it’s okay to be a side character in some stories–to study for a chem exam instead of going out to Broadway on a Saturday night. It’s okay to miss hanging out if you need a moment to chill.
I think–for me–it feels as though we’ve overly-romanticized the idea that we should live every day like our last. Perhaps every person is different, but I think that staying in bed all day is okay sometimes. As long as you’re taking care of yourself.
- Homesickness is real
For the past five years, I lived in the middle of nowhere in southern Georgia. Our city’s main attraction was the big Walmart down the street from my house and the always-full Chick-fil-A. We only had one high school, and here, the minority population could be counted with my fingers. The community is kind, but I always looked forward to finally moving away for college.
I don’t miss living there, but I do miss the people. I miss my family and the friends I’ve known for years. I miss the familiarity and my parents’ cooking. I miss having a rice cooker that made perfectly-cooked rice. The rice at the dining halls only reminds me more.
- Every day is a workout
Living in the middle of nowhere meant that having a car is not optional. This is to say that I was not prepared for the eighteen-thousand steps a day. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was unable to take a tour of Vandy; I chose to attend because of the academics, community, and opportunities. Little did I know that I would also be given the “opportunity” to exercise every day. Vandy is filled with slight hills and steep stairs, but honestly, I’m not one to complain. I always told myself I would be more active in college, and walking to class gives me a good start to my day. Again, every person is different, but the sudden growth of steps on my health app has really given me the determination to beat my previous week’s step count.
A downside: I probably need to buy more comfortable sneakers.
- Rain gear is necessary
The weather in Nashville is so bipolar. One day it rains, the next day, the sun is beating down your body until you feel heavy with sweat. If this past month (and honestly, week) has taught me anything, it is that it is so important to invest in good rain gear, particularly a rain jacket, rain boots, and a good-quality umbrella. This is particularly crucial because of the distance between Commons and Main Campus. It really is brutal out here.
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.