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dorms

Top Five Best Things I Bought for My Dorm

October 28, 2024 by Elena Parisi

5. Toolbox

My dad was right when he said it would be useful to have a toolbox in my room. The most useful thing is the scissors, which I use so often that I now keep them out on my desk instead of inside the box. Most of the other stuff was useful during move-in, such as when my roommate’s dad was trying to build a shelf from Target. My dad also let me keep his rubber mallet, which makes me the most popular girl in my hall (not actually) because I lent it to so many people in the first few weeks so they could loft their beds.

4. Storage Ottoman

As a vertically challenged person, I am unable to get onto my partially lofted bed just by jumping (I have short friends who do this and it terrifies me). I decided to buy an ottoman to use as a step stool to get into my bed. Not only is it the perfect height, it also has many other functions. I can open the lid to store random things, such as the toolbox, and it serves as an extra seat when my friends are in my room. And when I want more space in the room I can just push it behind my bed. It fits the color scheme of my room too.

3. Laundry Drying Rack

Many of my clothes can’t go into the dryers because they are cotton, and these school dyers are scarily powerful. They keep burning my shirts if I accidentally put them in. I bought a collapsible drying rack, which is the perfect size for tucking in the back of my dorm room and drying my clothes. It also fits nicely under my bed when not in use. Would recommend.

2. Photo Fairy Lights

Fairy lights in the dorm room? Basic. But fairy lights with photos hanging from them? Marginally less basic. I will say setting this up was quite the hassle. First I had to get all the photos printed. Then I had to go through the struggle of figuring out what I would use to hang them up that wouldn’t damage the walls. I settled on mini command hooks, which I probably am not even supposed to have, but oh well. Then I spent over an hour sticking the hooks on the wall and stinging the lights over them. The kit comes with mini clothespins that I used to hang the photos. Now my friends and family get to stare down at me while I sleep! And guess how many times I’ve turned on the fairy lights? (Three times, including to take this photo).

1. Expandable Shoe Rack

I think I brought too many shoes. I have not worn 50% of these since I got here. And of the 50% I have put on, there’s only two pairs that I actually wear every day to class. I did not really need three pairs of dress shoes, or two pairs of the exact same sneaker. And while it is nice to have separate slides and shower shoes, the flip flops were overkill. That being said, the shoe rack is absolutely necessary for organizing all these shoes. It allows me to have double-decker shoe storage. I fear that without the rack, there would be shoes lying in a jumble all over the closet floor and probably sneaking out into the rest of the room. And it folds to half its size for transport.

Honorable Mentions

  • The mini pride flag that falls behind my desk every five seconds
  • The throw pillow I stole from my sister after telling her that it was just for the car ride to Nashville and my parents would bring it back to her in three days (love you sis)
  • The neon purple power strip that is slightly too short to reach the microwave and had to be duct-taped to the floor so I don’t trip on it

Filed Under: MCL Top Five Tagged With: class of 2028, commons, dorms, Top 5

Top Five Worst Things I Bought for My Dorm

October 21, 2024 by Elena Parisi

5. Tension Rods

I knew previous to move-in that my closet would be doorless (let’s go Memorial), so I bought tension rods with the intention of hanging curtains from them to cover my clothing. However, I didn’t buy the curtains in advance because I didn’t know the dimensions of my closet. When I moved in, I had my dad put up the tension rod (I’m too short to do it myself), and I told myself I would buy the curtains later and hang them up. It has been over two months since then, and it still has not happened. The tension rod sits at the top of my closet, completely curtainless, where I fear it will remain until move-out when my dad takes it down.

4. Bed Desk

I bought this so I could do schoolwork from my bed, knowing fully well that I never do schoolwork in my bed. I strictly stick to using my desk for school work and using my bed for watching Netflix and rotting on Instragram Reels for two hours when I should be writing my anthro essay. I tried using it in bed once and it’s so large and awkward that it’s not worth the trouble. I was straight-up wasting money when I bought this. 

3. A Swiffer AND a vacuum

There was really no reason to bring both. I have not touched the Swiffer even once. It sits in the corner of my closet. Since the vacuum works on both the hardwood floor and the carpet, I just use that. I guess I overestimated how much motivation I would have to clean. Honestly, if you don’t have a carpet in your room like I do, you could get by just fine with an old-fashioned broom and dustpan. Although it’s honestly shocking how many grown 18-year-olds don’t know how to sweep. And I’ve seen y’all try.

2. Clamp-on Nightstand

Yes, I had to take a screenshot of this from Amazon because I no longer have it with me.

I dragged this thing all the way here from the great state of Maryland, and it was here for all of two seconds before my parents promptly drove it back home with them. I thought I would be perfect for resting my phone and water bottle next to me while I slept. Turns out it doesn’t even fit on the dorm beds. Now it’s probably rotting in my parent’s basement. My bed is next to a window and I just use the windowsill as a nightstand, which works perfectly fine. Except when I jumpscare my roommate by tossing my phone from my bed onto the windowsill at 2 am (sorry girl).

1. Enough office supplies to power a small college

I have not used a single paperclip, post-it, or binder clip since I got here. I didn’t use them in high school either, so I don’t know why I thought they would be necessary now. The only useful office supply is my stapler, because apparently in college you not only need to pay a fortune in tuition, but you also need to supply your own staples. Because tell me why my bio professor hands us 30 loose sheets of paper during lab and expects us to not lose any of them.

Filed Under: MCL Top Five Tagged With: class of 2028, commons, dorms, Top 5

Lost in Commons? Look for These Landmarks!

August 16, 2024 by Ella Abarquez

If you suffer from N.S.D.S. (No Sense of Direction Syndrome) like me, then navigating the Commons has likely been a struggle.

The Commons’ distinctive (not really) red brick and cream framing quickly crash into one cacophony of warm-toned carpentry. It’s easy to find yourself wandering in circles, searching for a bright color other than the green grass beneath you and the blue sky above.1

To help incoming freshman (like me) get a better grasp of their new home, I’ve designated distinctive structures to use as landmarks when navigating the Commons grounds.

And I’ve thrown in a couple of one-liners so horrible that hopefully they’ll stick in your head and you’ll remember where you are!

Landmark #1: the Martha River Ingrams statue – Lower Quad

(left) Not only is Martha R. Ingrams a cornerstone of the Nashville performing arts community, her likeness will also serve as a helpful reminder of where you are in the Commons.

Martha R. Ingrams is the ultimate compass for the Lower Quad—home of Hank Ingram, Stambaugh, and Memorial Houses. The statue depicts Ingrams sitting down with her back to the Commons Center, where the Commons Dining Hall, Munchie Mart, gym, and event center reside. Another thing to remember, Lower Quad is the Quad closest to the Commons Center!

Behind Martha, find a plethora!
Low=Co(mmons
)

Stambaugh House – straight ahead of Mrs. Martha

(above) A front view of Stambaugh. These damn package tents.

Madam Ingrams smiles directly at our first featured freshman dorm, Stambaugh House!
Stambaugh has a nice front patio, with a cool balcony overlooking the Lower Quad. With a straight-on shot of the Commons Center, being a member of the “Stamily” means you’ll always been in the loop. At the very least you’ll have a front row seat to the flocks of freshmen hunting for food.

Ingrams smiles straight at Stambaugh.

Hank Ingram House – to the left of Mrs. Martha

(above) A Martha R. Ingrams view of Hank Ingram House.

If stone-faced Madam Ingrams’ gaze wandered to the left, she’d set sights on the hulking Hank Ingram House. Lovingly referred to as the Hank Hotel, Hank is the biggest freshman dorm on the Commons, boasting nearly 300 freshmen within.

But Hank isn’t inherently the best dorm just because its big, no matter how many Hank Ingram citizens claim it to be. (Although they do have a ping pong table in the basement…) One of my fellow MCL Media Intensive members gave me a room tour of his corner dorm in Hank, and it was the smallest I’ve seen so far.

So is all the hype around Hank merely propaganda? Although I’ve only seen inside three out of the ten freshmen dorms, and I’m certainly no judge, I can tell you, yes. The Hank hype is propaganda. Lies. All a facade.2

Look to the left of Martha, and you’ll high five Hank!

Memorial House – to the right of Mrs. Martha

Last (but maybe least) in the Lower Quad, to the right side of our lady Martha R. Ingrams, lies Memorial House. Memorial is the smallest freshman dorm on campus, with only 80 students nestled inside. I think it’s a little mean, almost seemingly intentional, to set the smallest dorm right next to the biggest one on campus, but Memorial citizens are quite loyal despite.

More fun features of Memorial: I noticed that there’s a little railing on top of the front of the building that the other dorms don’t have, or at least none that I have seen. Also, Memorial has their house crest above one of their side entrances. Pretty neat.

(from left to right) The aforementioned Memorial roof railing and Memorial House crest.

Memorial meanders to the right of Martha!


Landmark #2: Wyatt Center – “N.E.W.” & Gillette Houses

(above) Wyatt Center in all of its Education and Development glory!

This picturesque half dome (although temporarily shrouded by a package pickup tent) is home to the Peabody College of Education and Human Development. Wyatt Center is very pretty to look at, and hopefully all that looking will help you see Wyatt as a landmark for navigating the N.E.W. (North, East, West) and Gillette Houses!

Wyatt has a NEW Shave!

Get it? Shave? Gillette?

North House – straight ahead and a little to the left of Wyatt Center

(above) A head-on shot of North House.

Living in North means that you have the longest trek to the Commons Center. Or, alternatively, the closest walk to Main Campus. Living in North also means you might have a private bathroom, or a single all to yourself. Very exclusive company in here.

Life at North is all a matter of perspective. Though from my perspective, North is different than its peers in that its location relative to Wyatt Center is not accurately explained by its name. Technically North is located northwest of Wyatt Center, so maybe… Northwest House?

East House – to the right of Wyatt Center

East and West House are the closest friends of Wyatt Center. You’ll always find them holding hands. Clingy much? You can find East House clutching the right hand of Wyatt 24/7, all-year round.

(left) The East House bug!

East House also has this cool, semi-unsettling, turtle-man-bug sculpture on its front lawn. Dear East residents, does this thing have a name? If not, you should give it one. Quasimodo, perhaps? Or simply, the Creature?

West House – to the left of Wyatt Center

(above) West House and its connecting walkway to Wyatt Center.

West House is similarly attached at the hip to Wyatt Center. You’ll find West House grasping Wyatt’s left hand at all times. It’s a trauma bond thing, I think.

Gillette House – straight ahead and a little to the right of Wyatt Center

(above) Gillette from its side. Look at those stairs! And the rooms underneath them!

Gillette gets a little bit of a bad rap, but these claims are seemingly unfounded, other than the Great Flood of 2021.3 If you live in Gillette, they’ll never let you forget.

Gillette House can be easily distinguished by the runway of stairs leading into the main entrance. Although, it seems a bit hard to “G’Live, G’Laugh, G’Love” in a House that makes you take the stairs every day just to get in. Imagine making the trek from Main Campus, looking forward to diving into bed, and then Boom. Stairs. To each their own!


Landmark #3: …Upper? Quad? (sorry)

(left to right) Sutherland and Crawford. Do you see how I’m confused?

This is where I have bad news. I myself am an Upper Quad resident and I failed to find a distinctive enough figure to direct freshmen around, other than the big, fat package tent that will be taken away soon.

Crawford and Murray face each other and are aesthetically similar, bar some minor window features.4 Stambaugh5 and Sutherland, the same dilemma. Materially indistinguishable; an unending loop of brick and cement. But remember, it’s what’s on the inside that counts. And on the inside, Upper Quad freshmen are superlative in every sense.

So to my fellow Upper Quad freshmen in Crawford (WOOOOOO), Sutherland, and Murray, I extend my deepest apologies. Just know, we are the best Quad. Perhaps even the best House (if you live in Crawford), and we are certainly the coolest, most nonchalant and demure, freshmen in the Vanderbilt Class of 2028.

Find utmost comfort in knowing that we are the closest Houses to Parking Lot 84, and even, Parking Lot 90.


  1. Can we paint each of the houses in a different color? Or give them a fun little flag? Are we allergic to colors other than gold and varying shades of monotone at Vandy? ↩︎
  2. Crawford is better. Duh. ↩︎
  3. Moral of the story, don’t set fires in a microwave. ↩︎
  4. At this point, why even differentiate the buildings by an extra window frame or two. Lean into the monotony. Or paint each building a color of the rainbow. Either way. ↩︎
  5. Why are you not part of the Upper Quad? You want to be different soooo badly. ↩︎

Filed Under: Humor Tagged With: commons, dorms, freshmen, freshmen dorms, housing

Personalizing Your Dorm: DIY Decor Ideas Using Reused Materials

August 16, 2024 by Karissa Sitepu

How we decorated a dorm with items from Turnip Green Creative Reuse, a pay-what-you-want store selling craft materials.

By Jasmine Parkes and Karissa Sitepu

How to Source DIY Dorm Materials

Turnip Green Creative Reuse

Turnip Green is a donation funded store that contains an assortment of recycled materials. The store contains everything you can imagine from pool noodles, frames, and shells; there is so much to go through.  The unique aspect of the store is that you decide the price for the materials you select—essentially making a donation.

Outside view of Turnip Green

As we wandered through the store, we picked out a few items that caught our eye: a map of North Carolina (Karissa’s home state), sea shells, a collection of old photographs, postcards, a magazine, and a knitting loom. The store promotes creative reuse of materials in a sustainable manner, and while there’s a small donation fee to support the store and its workers, it’s worth it for the various knick knacks and treasures that you may encounter.

Pictures from the store.

Items to Collect on Campus

Next to the Commons, you’ll find a free book exchange area where students can drop off books they no longer need and pick up new reads at no cost.

Additionally, there are various GroupMe groups, like Reuse Vandy, where students can sell unwanted items at affordable prices.

How to Create Simple Dorm Decorations

After visiting Turnip Green, we went to the dorm to put together the decorations to put by her desk. Here are the things we did with the materials we had:

  • Origami 
  • Floating crane circle 
  • Taped the postcards/images on the wall 
  • Cut out cool poems 

Here are some cool things that you could also make from similar materials:

  • Pin images on a bulletin board (some are available at Turnip Green) 
  • Add ribbons on top of pictures 
  • Cut out shapes (stars, butterflies, etc…) 
  • Make paper flowers

Materials we sourced from Turnip Green included:
– a vintage magazine
– yarn
– a knitting loom
– postcards and other photos
– a map of NC

Post-Decoration Images

How we decorated a desk with the materials we got.
I used an old scarf (which is easily thrift-able) to decorate my chair.

Floating Crane Circle Tutorial

  1. Wrap yarn horizontally around the base of the loom
  2. Wrap yarn vertically over the horizontally wrapped yarn
  3. Wrap the remaining uncovered loom horizontally with yarn 
  4. Fold paper cranes (we made 8). You can also make other figures like stars, butterflies, flowers, seashells, etc…
  5. Tie pieces of yarn on the loom pegs (you will hang the cranes off of these) 
  6. Tape cranes under the wing to the end of the pieces of yarn

Dorm Decor Pinterest Board: https://pin.it/495WpaL3K

Visit “Your Guide to Navigating Nashville” to see how we got to Turnip Green using the WeGo bus system. Thank you for reading!

Filed Under: A Beginner's Guide, Uncategorized Tagged With: craft, crafting, crafts, DIY, Dorm life, dorms, freshmen dorms, pintrest, recycle, reuse, thrift, thrift shopping, thrifting

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My Commons Life is not operated by Vanderbilt University. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of Vanderbilt University or its official representatives. Vanderbilt® and the Vanderbilt logos are registered trademarks of The Vanderbilt University. © 2024 Vanderbilt University