vanderbilthustler WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2015
Bouncers, police and students talk LIFE LIFE
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VOL. 127, ISS. 24
FAKE IDs PAGE 2
AX new way to get your coffee fix
X Senior Sam Reilly creates an app called Fika that connects coffee lovers and makers worldwide
PAGE PAGE1211
Soccer extends shutout streak Commodores are on the verge of their first SEC Tournament berth since 2010 under new coach Darren Ambrose PAGE 12
OPINION
Problematic partying First-year guest columnist Lucy Davies-Kumadiro reflects on social issues present in the frat scene
SPORTS
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Demonbreun Street, home to bars like Tin Roof, Dan’s, and South, has a reputation as a popular spot for underage college students.
FAKE IDS, REAL RISKS
A look into the midtown bar scene by Amanda Nwaba, News reporter “One time, the bouncer at Tin just takes my friend’s ID and bends and snaps it and is just like, ‘leave,’” an anonymous student said. That’s the moment when one Vanderbilt student said she realized the bars around campus were becoming more strict. Many underage Vanderbilt students use fake IDs to gain entrance to 21+ bars on Demonbreun, a street with a reputation as a hot-spot for underage college students, and lately students say they’ve faced the dreaded “I can’t accept this ID” from bouncers more often than they have in years past. “Now everywhere is super hard,” one student said. “In my opinion, I’ve never really had a problem with Dan’s, but there have been issues, so I’m very hesitant to use it.”
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Fake IDs are somewhat common among college students, and the risk of being caught is usually ignored by students when taking up an opportunity for a night at a bar or restaurant.
WHY DO STUDENTS GET FAKE IDS?
“Well, I wanted alcohol. Simple as that,” a male student stated. “There’s definitely risks, but I use it because I enjoy drinking and I’m willing to overlook the risks.” Of 10 sophomores approached in Branscomb, 7 students possessed a form of fake identification and had close friends who did as well. A few recalled having trouble getting into a bar, but none of them had ever had their IDs confiscated.
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“Even if you get caught, you usually just get it back,” one student said. Students usually turn to the Internet when searching for fake IDs. “You know — it’s weird. You hear from a friend of a friend. Some people go online. There’s tons of websites. I got mine from a friend who knew a guy, and word just got around,” one student explained. Students claimed that people get fakes from all over, but that certain states are more commonly used than others. “I’ve heard Ohio, Pennsylvania and I think Rhode Island are good ones,” one student said. “I know South Carolina and Illinois for some reason are really
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Everyone’s doing it. Which I get is bad, but you can’t arrest the whole campus.
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popular. As long as you get a major state, it’s easier to get away with it,” another added. A major issue that both Metro Nashville Police Department and Vanderbilt University Police Department (VUPD) officers stressed, however, is that people either are unaware of or simply ignore the serious consequences that could result from the use of fake IDs. All of the sophomores approached stated that they were aware of the consequences of possession and usage of false identification. “You just have to pick and choose when you want to go,” one student said. “Yeah, there’s risks,” another student added. “But no one’s really gotten arrested for them. As long as you use it safely, like just for bars.” Other students choose not to get fake IDs for various reasons. A junior male cited the cost of the ID, the effort of ordering one and the risk of getting caught as reasons he has not gotten a fake ID. “I’ve thought about getting one and I’m not passionately against it,” the junior male said. “It was just never really worth it to me.” In terms of getting caught, the student said that there are risks for the person who orders the IDs as well as the person whose address the IDs are sent to. “I’m also very not big; when I first came here freshman year, I kind of figured I had no business being 21 years old,” the student joked. The junior male also said that he has been able to have fun with his friends without a fake ID, so he doesn’t feel much pressure to get one.
A “CRACKDOWN”?
“Even the easiest places are being really strict now,” one student complained. Another student echoed this sentiment: “People have gotten denied more and more, so a lot of my friends and I haven’t been going to bars anymore.” Another sophomore disagreed. “It seems like it was more of a word of mouth thing than an actual threat,” she said. The bouncers on Demonbreun said that students with fake IDs aren’t allowed into their establishments. “They don’t get in,” said multiple bouncers on Demonbreun. “I can just look at someone and tell,” one said. Students, however, tell a different story, with multiple students admitting to successfully using fakes at these same bars. “All the time,” a male student stated. “Everyone’s doing it,” said another. “Which I get is bad, but you can’t arrest the whole college campus.” Bouncers on Demonbreun denied that there has been any sort of crackdown on fake IDs this semester. “There’s no sting,” a bouncer on Demonbreun said. Despite denial by bouncers at bars on Demonbreun, a warning was sent from VUPD to Mary Helen Solomon, the interim director of the Office of Student Accountability, earlier this school year. “There will be increased monitoring of midtown bars by Metro Nashville Police Department officials in order to address issues related to the use of false identification,” warned VUPD. Solomon also explained that the number of cases regarding fake IDs has neither increased nor decreased significantly in recent years. Although there is no statistically significant increase in stu-
dents getting caught with fake IDs, there is limited information on doormen taking IDs away, so neither VUPD nor Metro PD could give insight on whether doormen were becoming stricter. Detective Andrew Injaychock of Metro PD did say that if there is a crackdown on fake IDs, it would likely be the result of pressure being put on the bars from the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission. If members of the commission become aware of bars admitting people who are underage, the bar will be warned that it could be at risk of having its liquor license revoked. “That would result in calling the police more to enforce fake IDs,” Injaychock said. Some bouncers from bars on Demonbreun said that they usually turn away roughly 10-15 people with fake IDs in a night. “They’ll try and they can’t get in, so they go to where they can get in,” one bouncer explained. One bouncer shared a story regarding a screening technique a fellow bouncer at a different bar used. “A few weeks ago when my friend was working the door, they wouldn’t let anyone in from Connecticut because so many kids tried to get in with IDs from there,” the bouncer said. He then recalled a time when a girl called the police in an attempt to prove that her ID was real. “The police officer was standing right there and asked her what number she just called and she got arrested for making a false 911 call,” the bouncer said. A bartender at Tin Roof said that on the weekends, the bar scans every ID that comes through the door. During the week, however, he said it is at the discretion of security. “So if a person looks young we just try to scan it to make sure it’s a real ID,” he said. The DMV scanners would give bars access to actual state records of IDs and would use those to prove the authenticity of forms of identification. “As technology advances to get a fake ID, technology also advances to detect a fake ID,” Injaychock said, regarding DMV scanners. “They’re trying to keep up with each other.” When asked about police officers being seen on Demonbreun, multiple bouncers said they hadn’t noticed that either. “I’d say it’s a normal first semester,” another bouncer stated.
CONSEQUENCES OF USING FAKES
Regarding police involvement, bouncers stated that they usually don’t call the police themselves and that the worst scenario usually involves the confiscation of the fake ID. This does, however, vary by establishment and by the bouncers themselves. “Kids only get arrested because they act really, really stupid,” one bouncer stated. “99 percent of the time they’re just turned away,” another said. Contact between bars and the police department depends on if the bar is more proactive in deciding whether or not to confiscate the ID and whether or not to involve the police. VUPD and Metro PD do have contact with certain establishments in case of emergency. “It starts at the patrol officer level, and they take it from there,” Injaychock said. Most bouncers shared the attitude that they just don’t go to the police. One stated that the police would only get involved if the person in possession of the fake calls them, which he said has happened before. Detection itself depends on the bar staff and the training required. One bouncer said that many other bouncers he knows have not had any formal training, but stated that it was easy to spot a fake, and more importantly, someone underage. “Obviously it’s a crime to use or possess fake ID cards, and be-
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Kids only get arrested because they act really, really stupid.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2015
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ing a proactive police department and having the best interest of our students in mind, we want to get out that it is a crime, and that there are consequences and potential criminal charges that occur when fake IDs are utilized,” stressed Rick Burr, Major of the University Campus Precinct at VUPD. Protocol for being caught with a fake ID varies based on the situation, but could have very serious consequences. Usually these issues are dealt with by Metro PD or by the establishments themselves. Russell Thomas, a criminal lawyer based in Nashville, said that criminal consequences of having fake IDs can vary by incident. “It would be a class E felony for criminal simulation if they have anything that’s manufactured to look like a state-issued license,” Thomas said. “If you’ve got an older brother’s real ID, you’ll usually see somebody charged with criminal impersonation, which is a misdemeanor. You might see someone charged with identity theft, but that would require that the person has used a real person’s information without their permission.” Regarding whether or not the provider of the authentic ID would get in trouble, Thomas said that it didn’t happen often. “It’s uncommon. I’ve practiced criminal law for 10 years and I’ve never seen anybody charged with that,” Thomas said. The police explained that using a real ID or a fake ID whose information can be traced back to a real person is a more serious offense than simply using a fake ID, because either of those situations could be considered identity theft. Some think that fake IDs are only considered fraudulent if a false name is used (or if another person’s real ID is used), but Injaychock made the point that this is not the case. “If you have a driver’s license number and it came back to an actual person, that would be considered identity theft,” Injaychock explained.
MOVING FORWARD
Burr said that VUPD is focusing heavily on educating students more than anything. VUPD is currently working on different ways to educate students about using fake IDs and about alcohol consumption. “It would be a shame for young, promising students to jeopardize their futures and get criminal records as a result of using a false ID,” he said.
FAKE ID LAWS IN TENNESSEE
Using a fake ID with your name: Class E felony Using a fake ID with another person’s name: Misdemeanor for criminal impersonation, if that person knows you’re using it OR Felony for identity theft if the person did not give permission to use the ID Information from local attorney Russell Thomas
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Meet Vanderbilt’s four-legged police unit Vanderbilt University Police Department’s team of dogs works to detect explosives at many on-campus events such as football, basketball and baseball games By LINDSAY WILLIAMS News reporter --------------------
Officer Gauge at Vanderbilt University Police Department (VUPD) has a long resume: He has worked for heads of state, Supreme Court justices, ambassadors, the Tennessee Titans and at countless events at Vanderbilt. He also happens to be a Labrador retriever. Gauge and his counterpart Officer Harvey, a German Shepherd, along with their handlers Sergeants Jason Bates and Ray Stanard, respectively, make up the K-9 unit of the VUPD. The unit has been around since 2007, but Harvey is newer to the team, serving since May 2014. The dogs are single‐purpose, meaning they are only trained and certified to serve as explosive detection dogs. They work every football, basketball and baseball game, as well as other on‐campus events deemed necessary by the Chief of Police, such as the 2008 presidential debate at Belmont University. In addition, they sometimes assist the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department if they have events that require extra explosive detection. At each event, the two teams are deployed for around 15 to 30 minutes, often multiple times per event. Their sense of smell allows them to safely investigate possible dangers including packages, vehicles and lockers for energetic materials. “The reason why our department has the teams is that in around 2006, the highway patrol used to provide our explo-
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For me, it was just the excitement of working with a dog, the challenge and just the fun.
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sive sweeps at football games,” Bates said. “And it got to be we were kind of being put on the back burner because other things were taking their priority, and sometimes we weren’t getting great service, so the chief at the time said, ‘Well, let’s do our own team.’” The dogs are trained by their handlers on a “reward for work” system. They are selected to work as explosive detection dogs based on whether or not they display skills and traits for a good hunting dog. Generally, they are paired with officers based on size, with smaller or less energetic dogs being paired with officers of smaller stature. “For working dogs in particular, sporting gun dogs, the shepherds, the Belgian malinois, and the labs generally have those traits that make for good police dogs,” Bates said. “That being said, in each one of those breeds of dogs you’re looking for a very specific characteristic trait. You can have thousands of German Shepherds but only find two that meet all of those requirements.” Gauge and Harvey do not just work with Bates and Sta-
nard — they live with them. Both dogs are housed with their handlers, with an outdoor enclosed run in their backyards that are approximately 120 square feet. “When we’re off (of work), with a working dog we try to keep the dog kenneled as much as possible because it keeps their drive to work up,” Bates said. “If they’re out on our off days running around or swimming in ponds they won’t want to go to work. But that’s not to say they don’t get play time off; they do, they have to have exercise. And if it’s too cold or too hot they come into the house.” While housing and working with working dogs like Gauge and Harvey comes with significant extra responsibilities, both handlers enjoy the experience of working with their furry colleagues. “For me, it was just the excitement of working with a dog, the challenge and just the fun,” Stanard said. “It’s fun working with the dog.” Despite the fact that VUPD has had a K-9 team since 2007, very few people in the Vanderbilt community are aware that this resource exists, according to Bates. “The positive to the community not knowing is that that tells me that we’re doing our job very effectively because when we go into a football game or a vice president visit or a presidential debate we worked at Belmont, if they don’t see us we’re doing our job because we can make sure the venue’s safe without disrupting operations,” Bates said.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY
opinion ‘White trash,’ that ‘Black frat’ and ‘Girls Only’
“It isn’t just comments on Yik Yak celebrating sexual misconduct, either. What I see on Yik Yak one day is what I see on the news the next, and what I see on the news is violence and heartbreak.”
KAIT SPEAR, SENIOR
Examining the problematic elements of frat party culture Frat parties themselves are clearly not the source of these problems. Problematic elements of partying culture merely reflect the deeprooted racism, sexism and socioeconomic inequality present in our society. LUCY DAVIESKUMADIRO
is a first-year in the College of Arts and Science. She can be reached at lucy.t.davieskumadiro@ vanderbilt.edu.
Most of us get so caught up in the excitement of frat parties that we forget to challenge the problematic elements of “partying culture” that threaten our community values. As an international student from England, where Greek Life is not part of the university experience, frat parties were a completely new idea for me. For the most part, the times I’ve had on Greek Row so far have been great — full of dressing up, dancing and meeting new people. However, I’ve been saddened by how the party scene here at Vanderbilt also clearly reflects some of society’s most insidious divisions, ones that we largely fail to challenge. Recently, “White Trash” was the theme offered at a predominantly white fraternity party. A racial slur that trivializes poverty being used as a party theme at an elite institution known for being a bastion of privilege, in a city where 1 in 8 adults cannot read and almost one-fifth of households are below the poverty line, should have been quashed as soon as it was suggested. That this theme was actually used was troubling enough, but the fact that nobody seemed to question it was even worse. Greek organizations are known for their service as well. It seems somewhat hypocritical to see students who are privileged to serve poorer areas of our wider Nashville community mock experiences of poverty. The intentions of most people who attended that party were facetious, but we have a responsibility to each other to be better than that. We are better than that. Before coming to Vanderbilt, I had never been anywhere where the decision about where to party could be made along color lines. While “everyone is welcome everywhere,” none of my white friends ever want to come to the parties held at the “black frat.” I am always one of the only students of color at the other frat parties. It is clear students do not feel they are welcome everywhere, and this dis-
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comfort clearly evidences the wider failure of our diversity and inclusion efforts on this campus. We also fail to question the gender bias in terms of who is allowed entrance to frat parties. “Girls only” is a phrase you hear frequently on Greek Row and long lines consisting solely of guys are not uncommon. Lots of people joke that this is an example of “female privilege,” and I myself have taken advantage of it in this sense. But, it’s not difficult to see what these practices reveal about the perceived role of girls at these parties. Fraternities are ultimately targeting a male audience — entertaining current members and recruiting new ones. Using girls as attractions could be seen as totally harmless: girls attract guys to the party, and girls gain access to a fun party — everyone wins, right? However, the gendered relationship that begins at the door is one with an unequal power dynamic. If girls don’t want to hook up, it is implied that they are letting down their side of the bargain, an implication that their entrance to the party comes with strings attached. Hopefully most people do not view the situation in such terms; most of the time, there are no problems and everyone has fun. But the occasions when this has gone wrong are enough to present a real concern. If we want to do more to protect our female students from sexual assault, this culture of a “contractual doorway” must desist. Frat parties themselves are clearly not the source of these problems. Problematic elements of partying culture merely reflect the deep-rooted racism, sexism and socioeconomic inequality present in our society. But, that shouldn’t make it acceptable. When we see these issues so clearly presented within our own community, it is always our responsibility to voice our concerns and attempt to make a difference.
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Social justice and activism don’t have a curfew Fulfillment trumps fatigue when working to dismantle harmful social structures
KAIT SPEAR is a senior in the College of Arts and Science. She can be reached at kaitlin.p.spear@ vanderbilt.edu.
I woke up at 5:00 a.m. to study for a midterm. I woke up at 5:00 a.m. instead of starting sooner because the day before was the day I spent working on VSG’s Sexual Assault Prevention Committee. The day before that was when I did all of my homework for the week, and the day before that, I spent in class, in meetings and at work. I woke up at 5:00 a.m., knowing that I would have a midterm at 8:10 a.m., a class at 9:35 a.m., a class at 11:00 a.m. and another midterm at 2:35 p.m. Then I would have to collect myself and prepare for the 21st Annual Drag Show. The doors would open at 7:00 p.m. and I hoped to be finished by 11:00 p.m. I suspect many of you are familiar with long days, even if you don’t have to set up a drag show. My days are always planned like this, with early mornings where my academic load is heavy and backto-back meetings when it is light. I’m responsible for programs of some kind every week, if not every other day. Yet I am not tired. Or at least I wasn’t tired until my 9:35 a.m. professor confessed that although she was trying to grade our papers in a timely manner, she was being delayed by other work — namely working with the VUPD to navigate online shooting threats made against Vanderbilt in response to reports from conservative blogs of our Healthy Masculinities Week. I feel tired hearing that because it’s a reiteration of the toxic culture that makes social justice work necessary. I feel tired because our professor is a welleducated adult who works hard and teaches us in addition to directing the Women’s Center. I feel tired because my long days haven’t saved the world; they haven’t even saved me. There are still people on this campus who feel entitled to an orgasm, given to them by a partner, particularly when that partner is a woman. In fact, they feel so owed pleasure by women that they think they are justified in violating the bodily autonomy of others because of “blue balls” — which, as a side note, is not a medical condition and is not harmful. But because our culture teaches men that it is unjust for women to revoke consent, we have to provide programming about consent. So I wake up at 5:00 a.m. to manage my school work in the morning and lead consent programs in the evening. It isn’t just comments on Yik Yak celebrating sexual misconduct, either. What I see on Yik Yak one day is what I see on the news the next, and what I see on the news is violence and heartbreak. The Isla Vista shooter proudly claimed his violence was retribution for women’s disinterest in him — righteous compensation for the “friend zone.” When I first watched his manifesto, I cried alone in a parking lot, wondering when I would become collateral damage of a contract I never knew I broke, a contract I never signed. The man who shot two women at a screening of the comedy “Trainwreck” made it apparent that he “was opposed to women having a say in anything.” He went to a successful comedy written by a woman, starring a woman and featuring a storyline about women who make their own sexual choices, including the choice to have casual sex. He went to that movie and shot two women, who had done nothing but enjoy the film. I still haven’t seen it. The Oregon shooter also felt owed something by women. He was public about his feelings of entitlement to attention from women and his rage about not receiving it. Kiesha Jenkins was beaten and then shot by a gang
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But until the work of a revolution is no longer on the backs of a few, I will always have days where I’m tired. Tired of wondering when I might be killed, when a friend might be beaten, when a stranger might be told that her consent doesn’t matter.
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of men in Philadelphia, becoming the (at least) 20th trans woman to be murdered this year. We’re unsure of numbers because not every trans woman is out, but we keep a body count going. It’s clear that trans women, particularly trans women of color, are murdered at an abnormal rate, and mostly at the hands of men. 1 in 5 women are sexually assaulted on college campuses, a survey recently confirmed. Social activists do what they can to address these issues. Some of us get up at 5:00 a.m. And now we’re faced with contempt, hatred and death, because we dared to tell men that they didn’t have to be violent. We dared to offer a space where they could tell each other that they weren’t any less because they cry. We allowed them a space to admit that men can be victims of assault, a space to say that they are whole without going to the gym or fucking women. We offered them a space to explore why gendered violence hurts everyone. We gave them a space to breathe and the response we got was “you deserve to die.” I will never stop waking up at 5:00 a.m. to make room for activism in my life. I will always find freedom and fulfillment when I speak to either a room of 500 or 5. But until the work of a revolution is no longer on the backs of a few, I will always have days where I’m tired. Tired of wondering when I might be killed, when a friend might be beaten, when a stranger might be told that her consent doesn’t matter. The steps we take as a community will always mean more than my long days. So when you have the opportunity to explore a subject, to attend an event, to speak out against an injustice on Yik Yak, take it. Take the opportunity, no matter how small, because it all adds up to more 5:00 a.m.’s than any one person will ever have, and I’m tired of being scared.
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‘No means no’ — no discussion, that is opinion Vanderbilt, ignoring rape culture doesn’t make it disappear Earlier in the month, some friends and I participated in the Survivor Solidarity Walk. Hosted by the Vanderbilt Feminists, the walk was a twist on the infamous SlutWalk. SlutWalks have been used since 2011 around the country to draw attention to how society uses the way a woman dresses to justify sexual violence or calling her a “slut.” Participants in these marches often wear little clothMADISON LINDEMAN ing to demonstrate that their outfits do not equal is a first-year in the their consent. Here at Vanderbilt, participants in College of Arts and the Survivor Solidarity Walk focused on clothing, Science. She can be makeup, race, gender, sexuality, behaviors and reached at madison.g. lindeman@vanderbilt. more ideas that current culture uses to rationalize edu. sexual assault. I am a huge proponent of stopping sexual assault and teaching awareness of the issues and stigma surrounding survivors. I saw the Survivor Solidarity Walk as a great way to do both. We dressed however we wanted, carried signs about the meaning of consent and chanted slogans like “no means no.” A group of more than 100 people marched in solidarity from Central Library and through Rand to the Women’s Center. As I started to march with a huge crowd of both men and women, I expected passion from my fellow marchers and support from the people watching us.
What I was not expecting were the numerous blank stares the group received and the people awkwardly avoiding eye contact or trying not to acknowledge the huge crowd chanting and walking past them. As we walked across campus, some people would look up from their work, see us, and quickly glance back down. Many people would clap and cheer and stand with us in our cause, but many also simply chose to watch with a skeptical and uneasy expression, or to not acknowledge our presence at all. The observers’ uneasiness reflects some of the attitudes people at Vanderbilt have toward sexual violence. Vanderbilt students know sexual assault is a problem; they know it happens on campus, with almost one in five college women being the victims of sexual assault. We have Green Dot, Project Safe and the Blue Light system. These are safeguards to protect people, so with those in place, people should supposedly be protected. People want to believe that their job is over. If we do not see sexual assault, unfortunately we tend to pretend that it must not be happening — that the problem is solved. But actually being confronted with that problem? Seeing a hundred passionate students carrying signs about rape culture and shouting
for change? Realizing the reality of sexual assault — realizing how many attitudes need to change to acknowledge the problem — is shocking. Here, students become uncomfortable and wary. We have a hard time recognizing that our society, and thereby our school, needs to change. We want to ignore these issues as they occur on campus and refuse to think about our views about the reasons behind sexual violence and its survivors. But, we can change. We can acknowledge that we have preconceived ideas about slut-shaming, a fear of talking about sexual assault, a lack of true understanding of such a multidimensional issue. We can go outside our comfort zone and confront those who promote rape culture. We can talk about how nothing — not race, gender, clothing or sexuality — justifies sexual violence. Regardless of how Vanderbilt acts to stop sexual violence, true transformation cannot occur unless we confront our own biases toward the issue, step outside our comfort zones and start to critically discuss sexual assault. The Survivor Solidarity Walk produced dialogue that impacts the entire Vanderbilt community. What is important now is not ignoring the issues that protestors raised, but rather embracing them and actually changing this institution.
Politicizing tragedy
We shouldn’t employ mass shootings to further political agendas Last Friday, mere days after news of the tragedy at Umpqua Community College in Oregon, I woke up to see my Facebook news feed exploding. There had been another shooting, this time in my hometown at Northern Arizona University. All of my friends were either praying for our town or asking for prayers themselves. It was a traumatic experience for so many people, especially because we all felt such a close personal connection to the JR RIDLEY school and the students. is a senior in the College Then the facts started to emerge. One person of Arts and Science. was dead and three were injured after an altercaHe can be reached at tion right off campus. The shooter was subdued john.r.ridley@vanderbilt. by a few heroic students who charged him and edu. tackled him to the ground, holding him there until police arrived. And the next day, NAU police officer Chris Anderson came out and said, “This is very different than the Oregon situation. It appears this was not a targeting of campus.” In spite of Anderson’s statements, there was still an outcry to “end campus shootings” and “pass more gun laws.” Only a handful of my friends recognized the inherent difference between this event and the shooting in Oregon, and the fact that equating this to what happened in Oregon is a slap in the face to those victims. The fact of the matter is that we had two nearly
identical situations to this occur at Vanderbilt just last year. Last February, in the span of a week, we received notice of homicides at Wesley Place and at Cookout. Both times, the deaths resulted from some kind of altercation, rather than someone intent on causing death and pain to as many as possible. I applaud our student body for their measured and calm response to these incidents. No one panicked, no one inflated either of these incidents to be more than just tragic, isolated incidents. None insisted that this was part of a growing trend of mass shootings that needed to be addressed, or that they felt any less safe on campus. The same cannot be said for Northern Arizona University, unfortunately. The fact of the matter is that we use school shootings as an impetus to talk about gun laws, and we shouldn’t. A Congressional Research Survey report from 2013 estimated that 78 mass murders have occurred over the last three decades, totaling 547 people killed. To put that in perspective, there were 1,000 people shot in Chicago in the first half of 2015 alone. And to provide even more context, the FBI tracked 14,196 murders in 2013, of which almost 70 percent involved a gun. Thus, school shootings and mass murders represent a
fraction of overall gun violence in our country. Mass murders, and specifically school shootings, provide a timely justification for talking about gun violence. These are terrible, horrific incidents, and I cannot even begin to imagine the pain and suffering that the victims and their families experience. However, we need to stop using these events to justify new gun legislation. School shootings are what psychologists call an “availability heuristic,” the most readily available memory related to a certain topic. They simply distract people from the true issues underlying gun violence and inhibit our ability to arrive at a solution. Contrary to what many have claimed, there is no “common sense” solution to gun violence. This is a complicated issue with a variety of compounding factors. If someone wants to have a rational, thoughtful discussion about gun violence, I will gladly accept that offer. I have a set of arguments to support my position, and I’m aware of various arguments to support opposing positions. But if we do have that discussion, let’s focus that discussion on the actual issue at hand, and not the tragic incidents that monopolize news coverage.
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GO DO
THIS
2015 Kickstarter Film Festival
Belcourt Theatre, Thursday, Oct. 15, 7 and 9:15 p.m. This Thursday, 32 theaters around the country (including the Belcourt) will screen several of the best films funded through Kickstarter so far. Different films will be shown at program A and program B, so choose your slot wisely, or attend both. The show is free to attend, but you should RSVP through the Belcourt’s website to reserve a seat ahead of time.
Fall Break in
Tennessee
Your guide to making the most of four days of freedom in Music City By LEXI SMITH Life reporter --------------------
On Wednesday, campus will begin to clear out as some students drive to the beach or fly home to their families. However, many will stay on campus since the four day long break severely limits travel options. But just because you’re staying on campus over fall break doesn’t mean you can’t create your own stay-vacation full of fun and relaxation. We’ve rounded up seven different ways you can get off campus and plan the perfect Nashville adventure itinerary.
CELEBRATE FALL ON A FARM
If you are able to secure a car for the day, venture 30 minutes from campus to either Honeysuckle Hill Farm or Fiddle Dee Farms for some fall fun. Each farm features a day full of pumpkin picking, hayrides, ziplines, corn mazes and pumpkin shooters. If you are feeling more adventurous, Honeysuckle Hill Farm challenges its visitors to complete the corn maze in the dark and head over to Scream Creek Haunted Woods or Zombie Apocalypse Paintball for some spooky nighttime fun. If you don’t own a car (or can’t convince a friend to give you a ride), check out the campus Zipcar program, as an Uber or cab would be rather expensive.
ESCAPE THE GAME AS WELL AS HOMEWORK
The Escape Game Nashville is a new, entertaining activity that is meant to challenge its players. You and your team have an hour to work together to escape from a locked room. In order to get through the locked door you will need to find clues, crack codes and solve puzzles. The Escape Game offers multiple themed experiences, including Gold Rush, Prison Break, The Heist, Classified and Nashville. The themes vary by location, so check the website to book
the right time and place (either 162 3rd Ave. North or 510 East Iris Drive). Tickets cost $28 plus tax per person, and the company recommends that you show up at least 15 minutes prior to your scheduled start time.
ATTEND A MUSIC FESTIVAL ACROSS THE STREET
On Saturday, Oct. 17 from noon to 11 p.m., Centennial Park will be hosting the first annual SoundHarvest Music Festival on the Parthenon Lawn. The artist lineup includes The Flaming Lips, Allen Stone, Benjamin Booker, The Last Internationale, The Weeks, Goodbye June and Scotty Bratcher. The festival will showcase contemporary and alternative rock and pop genres in addition to local foods and artwork. Centennial Park is only a short walking distance from Vanderbilt, making this festival a great option if you lack your own transportation (looking at you, first-years). Tickets are $45 in advance and $55 at the gate, and the outdoor event is rain or shine.
EAT YOUR WAY THROUGH NASHVILLE
It’s no secret that Music City is full of great restaurants, but if you’d like to experience Nashville’s delicious cuisine a little more deliberately, try taking a food tour over fall break. Not only do you get to enjoy walking through the city, each tour offers tastings of good foods at a minimum of six award-winning restaurants. Three of the top food tours in the city are Local Tastes of Nashville, Nashville Food Adventures and Walk Eat Nashville. If you don’t like the idea of combining food with exercise, then check out the annual Street Food Awards instead, which will be held at Greer Stadium from noon to 4 p.m on Saturday, Oct. 17. Participating food trucks are Grilled Cheeserie, Electric Sliders, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Julia’s Bakery, Bacon Nation, Bradley’s Curbside Creamery and many more. Awards will be given for multiple categories, including Best Taco, Best Dessert, Best Deep Fried and Best Drink.
GET YOUR FOOTBALL FIX
Even though our ‘Dores will be playing at South Carolina this weekend, you can still get your fix of tailgates and Southern football by cheering for the Tennessee Titans as they take on the Miami Dolphins this Sunday, Oct. 18. Kickoff is at 12 p.m. at the Nissan Stadium (formerly known as LP Field). Tickets start at $35 on TicketMaster. ESPN staff writer Paul Kuharsky has the Titans predicted to win 23-21, so it should be an exciting, close game, unlike some of their previous matchups so far this season.
CRUISE THE CUMBERLAND RIVER
Think you have to leave Tennessee for a relaxing cruise on the water? Think again. Captain Jesse Caskey takes out his pontoon boat for sunset tours, nature tours and fall color cruises daily. He and his wife interact with passengers and share not only Tennessee history, but also interesting nature facts. Departing from Cherokee Steak House and Marina in Lebanon, TN, the cruise guarantees beautiful nature vistas and possible views of celebrity homes. Check out their website for more information about cruise tours and times. Tickets are $20 and you can pay cash at boarding.
ATTEND ‘THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS’
The Fellowship of the Performing Arts stops at TPAC this week to perform the “The Screwtape Letters.” Terry Teachout, a Wall Street Journal contributor, describes the play as a “wickedly funny and whip smart theatrical” adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ novel about the tension between God and Satan. The touring production team will treat Nashville to two performances on Thursday and Friday night at 7:30 p.m. The remaining tickets start at $45 and are very limited for both nights, so you should buy them now if you’d like to go (especially if you want seats together).
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‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’ live on at TPAC The Nashville Repertory Theatre’s performance of the award-winning play will please avid theatergoers By LEAH SPANN Life reporter --------------------
Casual theatergoers, beware: The Nashville Repertory Theatre’s performance of “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead” is a marathon, not a sprint. But for an attentive audience, the metatheatrical piece is three hours of humor and darkness, full of dialogue that is constantly aware of its own weight, and performed by a cast that has eagerly immersed themselves in the nuances of Tom Stoppard’s Tony-winning play. For those unfamiliar with “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern,” the play follows the actions of the two eponymous minor characters from Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” as they wait on their cues to enter the action. The characters cycle through moments of punctuated silence, musings on probability and existential questions, and distinct concerns about who they even are — and whether that even matters. (If this plot sounds strangely familiar to upperclassmen, that’s probably because Vanderbilt University Theatre performed a version of the play during fall 2013.) “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern” is a performance that hinges on layers of complexity: At the surface, the comedy of two minor characters-turned-protagonists, who know neither where they are nor what they ought to be doing,
is sure to draw some laughs. The dialogue lends itself easily to both humor and gravity, but the Repertory Theatre’s production also relies on a great deal of physical comedy. The futility of the titular characters’ actions becomes increasingly pronounced as they wander across the stage, running into the set (and occasionally one another) as they respond to the entrances of the main characters from “Hamlet.” The physical comedy is not always so blatant, however, and even the characters’ costumes signal their lack of significance. Throughout the show, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern brandish swords that never truly become useful, removing the weapons from scabbards and replacing them in motions that emphasize their pointlessness. Actors Patrick Waller and Matt Garner play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, respectively. At the center of the confusion, their two characters are initially united in their comradery by a form of competitive playfulness, emphasized by their banter and constant questioning of one another. Early in the play, their inability to parse out which one is Rosencrantz and which is Guildenstern draws uproarious laughter from the audience. Yet by the end of the play, this same inability has become a sobering reminder of their inevitable fate. As the play progresses, the characters’ closeness seems to fade, and the humor gives
PHOTO COURTESY OF SHANE BURKEEN
Patrick Waller (left) and Matt Garner (right) play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, respectively. way to the tragedy of their purposelessness. In the end, they are each alone, transforming the play from a sad reflection on purpose to a tragedy almost on par with the original source. The Nashville Repertory Theatre will be performing “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern” through Oct. 31. Tickets can be purchased online
through nashvillerep.org or through the TPAC Box Office by phone at (615) 782-4040. Students can also reserve tickets in advance for $22 or get rush tickets 90 minutes before showtime for $12.50, both by showing a student ID at the box office.
Senior creates app connecting coffee lovers and makers Sam Reilly, CEO and cofounder, tells of Fika’s founding and future By Sarah Friedman, Life Reporter For senior Sam Reilly, coffee is like wine: something worth exploring, tasting and discussing. Reilly’s passion for this caffeinated beverage led him to became a cofounder and CEO of Brew Better, LLC, creator of a “social coffee journal” app called Fika. Fika users can “check in” at coffee shops, post photos of the shops and the coffees they drink, browse coffee shops and coffee nearby and even learn about the coffees’ origins and brewing information. The app takes its name from the Swedish term for “coffee break.” Fika is similar to (and was inspired by) apps such as On Tap for beer and Vino for wine. “I think Fika’s mission is two-fold,” Reilly said. “One is that we want to further connect the coffee community — it’s a very welcoming community — and we want to let coffee consumers and coffee brewers communicate on one platform. The second thing is the coffee journal and treating coffee more like wine and beer, as
SAM REILLY, COFOUNDER AND CEO - FIKA
something that’s worthy of connoisseurship.” Reilly came up with the idea of a virtual coffee journal during the summer of 2013. He said he was inspired by his growing pile of saved coffee labels, as well as his desire to learn about what types of coffee his friends and family were drinking across the country. However, the idea didn’t come to life until a year later, when Fika’s current chief technology officer Andrew Bachman (‘15), Reilly’s teammate on the Vanderbilt cross country team, volunteered to develop the Fika app. Reilly’s long-time friend Austin Evers, a senior at Wake Forest and founder of Appuous Inc. (an appcreating company), funded the project and became the app’s chief investor. With the help of his two brothers and a couple friends from home, Reilly officially launched Fika in Sept. 2015. So far, the app has around 750 downloads and 1000 check-ins. Reilly spends about 20 hours per week scheduling and conducting interviews with coffee shop owners. He also sets the agenda for Bachman’s work on the app, including their beta testing for the Android platform. In addition, he manages Fika’s various social media accounts including Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. “Pretty much all of my free time I’m working on this,” Reilly said. “It can affect every day. If
we’re not getting as many check-ins or downloads as I was hoping, I can’t focus.” One day, Reilly hopes to include information in Fika about the coffee farmers, because they have an underappreciated yet essential role in the coffee-making process. While Reilly doesn’t plan on working full-time for the app next year — the history and political
science double major plans on becoming a teacher — he will continue to work on it as a full-time coffee lover for life. “I have a lot of empathy for people who are starting their own company, trying to make a living off of it,” Reilly said. “It’s a roller coaster: some days you’re really high up on it, and another day we might fold.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF SAM REILLY
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sports
THE BIG STAT
Rank of Vanderbilt baseball’s recruiting class. This is the fourth time the team has had the top recruiting class (2005, 2011, 2012).
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SEC POWER RANKINGS: WEEK 6 Each week, I rank the teams in the SEC 1-14. This week, Leonard Fournette actually disappoints for once, Georgia running backs may be cursed, and we question Ole Miss’ non-conference schedule.
By BEN WEINRIB Sports editor --------------------
1. No. 8 Florida (6-0, 4-0 SEC) As upset as I am that Gators’ starting quarterback Will Grier will be suspended for the rest of the season for a positive PED test, this sets up Florida to win the East as a truly terrible team with an even stronger possibility. 2. No. 6 LSU (5-0, 3-0) Former Hustler sports editor Jackson Martin and I were talking before LSU-South Carolina, and, of course, Leonard Fournette came up. Jackson asked how many yards Fournette could get in the first quarter that would surprise me. After saying 100 originally, I moved my number back to 150, and Jackson ended up at 175. Fournette amassed 17 first quarter yards. Maybe he is human, after all. 3. No. 10 Alabama (5-1, 2-1) Steve Sarkisian’s firing at Southern Cal immediately brought up rumors that they would pursue Nick Saban as a potential coach. Is Saban actually going to leave Alabama? Probably not. But will it be fun to talk about and potentially end up with Saban getting another new deal? Almost certainly. 4. No. 9 Texas A&M (5-0, 2-0) The Aggies leapfrogged Alabama in the polls despite not playing because the Crimson Tide *only* beat Arkansas at home by 13. Potentially fair, but the rankings really don’t matter since they’re playing on Saturday. Maybe the pollsters just want to stir up controversy. 5. No. 13 Ole Miss (5-1, 2-1) Laquon Treadwell passed Trent Sherfield for second in the SEC in receiving yards and first in receptions during Vanderbilt’s bye week while Ole Miss blew out lowly New Mexico State. This brings up a very important question: Why on Earth is Ole Miss playing New Mexico State? Was every other small state school in a 1,200 mile radius busy? 6. Mississippi State (4-2, 1-2) Mississippi State moves up in the power rankings by nature of not playing and Georgia losing. Man, college football is kind of boring when there are only six games with SEC teams.
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Defense guiding soccer to SEC success
Soccer’s shutout streak hits 375 minutes By MAX HERZ Sports reporter --------------------
Vanderbilt Soccer has hit its stride in the season’s second half. Under first year Coach Darren Ambrose, the Commodores have picked up points in four straight SEC games, holding opponents without a goal for 375 consecutive minutes dating back to a September 27 draw with Tennessee. Following a scoreless tie with No. 20 Kentucky on Friday and a 1-0 win over Arkansas on Sunday, Vanderbilt goalkeeper Christiana Ogunsami was named the SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week. Ogunsami has been in goal for the entire shutout streak, and the sophomore’s rise throughout conference play has mirrored the team’s ascent. “Since I got here we’ve been hard on Christiana since she’s got such an athletic frame and great hands,” Coach Ambrose said. “She lacks some focus at times when silly mistakes have cost her but, when that kid focuses in and stays mentally engaged in the game, she’s very capable. It’s rewarding to see her play the way she’s played.” Ogunsami has been at her sharpest over the past three weeks, dating back to a notable coaching decision on September 20th. For the first time as a collegiate player, she started a game on the bench in the team’s final non-conference match against Evansville. Ogunsami entered the game at
halftime of the 2-1 win, and has savored every moment in goal since. “We just felt it was time to remind Christiana that you just can’t take for granted, because you put that uniform on every day, that you’re going to get to start this weekend,” Ambrose said. “That’s why the change was made. It wasn’t one thing, it was multiple things over time.” On the bench, Ogunsami was antsy. She was vocal with her teammates on the field. At halftime, Coach Ambrose told her to warm up and bring that vocal mentality with her onto the pitch. After just 45 minutes sitting out of a non-conference game, Vanderbilt’s keeper had learned her lesson. Upon taking the job in January, Ambrose noted that the team’s best players had been allowed to take their foot off the gas in years past, many of whom were underperforming but still playing big minutes. The case of Ogunsami shows Ambrose’s immediate positive influence on the program. When describing the lengthy shutout streak, Ogunsami cited one of Ambrose’s main talking points. “Our focus is on key moments,” she said. “Honing in on those key moments, everybody doing their job, that’s how we’re going to be successful.” Winning key moments is a mantra Ambrose brought with him from Penn, where he led the Quakers to 15 consecutive winning seasons. His defensive philosophies have been the backbone of the
Commodores’ success this season and the impetus for 375 minutes of scoreless soccer. From his arrival, the team bought in to his defense-first principles, and that buy-in has morphed into results. “It’s a simple concept,” Ambrose said. “When you do not have the ball in the game of soccer, you’re a defender … What it’s confirming for [the team] now is that, when we do this, we have the ability to stay in games and win games. As silly as it sounds, if the other team doesn’t score, you can’t lose.” The Commodores have lost just twice in seven SEC matches this season, both times against top 15 opponents. In ninth place in the conference with a 2-2-3 record, the team has already matched its conference win total from last season with four games to go and is in position to reach the SEC Tournament for the first time since 2010. “I’m really proud of them,” Ambrose said. “It takes time for things to start to materialize, and we’re not there yet. We’re not there, but are there moments now? Yeah. And the goal is, over time, those moments start to add up to 90 minutes in individual performance and in team mentality.” With four matches remaining, an SEC Tournament berth within sight, and a 375 minute shutout streak alive and well, the Commodores have come into their own as a force to reckon with in the Southeastern Conference with Darren Ambrose leaving his mark on a stingy Vanderbilt defense.
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3 MATCHUPS TO WATCH: SOUTH CAROLINA
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SEC POWER RANKINGS: WEEK 6 7. Georgia (4-2, 2-2) Oh, Nick Chubb. Poor, poor Nick Chubb. Georgia has just had the worst luck the past two years with great running backs. First Todd Gurley and now Chubb. I hate when sports makes me want to cry. 8. Kentucky (4-1, 2-1) Kentucky is last in the SEC in rushing yards with just 675 yards in five games. There’s no joke here, I just wanted to point that out.
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PERRY ORTH VS. TRENT SHERFIELD VS. AL HARRIS JR. VANDERBILT SECONDARY
Despite inconsistent week-to-week performance, Trent Sherfield has emerged Sports reporter this season as a legitimate No. 1 receiver, -------------------as well as quarterback Johnny McCrary’s RALPH WEBB VS. USC RUN DEFENSE favorite target. His speed is a constant Having faced a couple tough SEC dethreat, as evidenced by his multiple recepfenses already this season, Webb has been tions of over 40 yards this season. While Vanderbilt’s most consistent offensive Sherfield works both out wide and in the weapon but has yet to have a breakout slot, he will be matched up with South game, as opposing defenses have been Carolina cornerback Al Harris Jr. for much able to stack the box against him. Still, of the day. Harris was an All-SEC Freshman last year and has taken on a much he has managed 87 yards per game at 4.0 yards a carry through the first five games. larger role in a secondary that has held opposing quarterbacks to 220 yards per With the Gamecocks allowing 207 yards per game on the ground this year, includ- game while forcing 6 turnovers through ing 400 just last week against LSU, look for the first half of this season. If Sherfield can beat Harris deep a few times, it should rethe Commodores to feed Webb early and ally open up the Commodores offense. often on Saturday.
By TORBEN GINSBURG
The Gamecocks offense has been a mess so far this year and that starts with their uncertain situation at quarterback. While Orth is the official starter this week, multiple quarterbacks have seen time this year, due to both injury and performance, and a rough start could lead to Spurrier making another switch. Orth has seen the most snaps this year, but has completed just 49 percent of his passes for 483 yards, despite having played in all six games. The Gamecocks shouldn’t be able to run the ball too well against an excellent Vanderbilt run defense and will have to turn to the air to win this game. Look for the Commodores’ secondary to make a couple big plays in this game against the inexperienced quarterback.
AROUND THE NCAA: THREE GAMES TO WATCH By JOSH HANSAN
VS NO. 8 FLORIDA VS. NO. 6 LSU In a week of intriguing matchups, this is the game of the week. Florida comes in undefeated after two years of mediocrity. LSU, meanwhile, hasn’t really been tested late in a game this year. That’s not even mentioning Leonard Fournette, who is averaging more than 200 yards per game. Critics have questioned his ability to perform against a sound defensive front, and this game will be his first real opportunity to prove to the country that the 2015 Heisman Trophy is already his. And if this game couldn’t get any more intriguing, Florida’s quarterback Will Grier was suspended for PED use early Tuesday morning and will miss the rest of the season.
Sports reporter --------------------
VS
VS NO. 12 MICHIGAN VS. NO. 7 MICHIGAN STATE
NO. 10 ALABAMA VS. NO. 9 TEXAS A&M This week last year, Texas A&M rolled into Tuscaloosa looking to upset Alabama. They stumbled out four quarters later with a crushing 59-0 defeat. Look for the tables to turn this year, as this is the first time undefeated Texas A&M has ever been ranked higher than Alabama at the time of their meeting.
Jim Harbaugh might be college football’s version of the Messiah. Facing what many thought would be another rebuilding year for Michigan Football, Harbaugh took a squad that won just five games last year to a team sitting at No. 12 in the AP Poll. Meanwhile, Michigan State has been weakened with injuries, and bad teams (such as 1-5 Purdue) keep taking them late into games. Oh, also, Michigan hasn’t allowed a point since Sept. 19.
9. Tennessee (3-3, 1-2) Personally, I found it far more fun to rank the SEC teams here when Tennessee looked like a bad football team. Now we have to reluctantly place them back in the top 10 because they beat a ranked Georgia team and look like they may make back-to-back bowls for the first time since 2009-10. 10. Missouri (4-2, 1-2) Missouri only scored 3 points in a loss to Florida, which is the least they’ve scored in a home game since they were shut out by Georgia last year. You know, remember when the Bulldogs beat them 34-0 on the road without their best player but didn’t win the SEC East? Good times. 11. Arkansas (2-4, 1-2) I can’t imagine what Arkansas’ best case scenario was going into Tuscaloosa last week, but losing 13-27 and going into the fourth quarter down 7-10 has to be up there. However, since Tennessee beat Georgia, they move down in the power rankings. 12. Auburn (3-2, 0-2) Auburn is about to learn what rock bottom is if they lose to Kentucky on Thursday night. Auburn shouldn’t be losing to Kentucky in any sports but basketball, and that includes baseball, soccer and gymnastics. 13. Vanderbilt (2-3, 0-2) South Carolina allowed Greyson Lambert (who looked completely average against Vanderbilt) to go 24-for-25 passing. I’m not convinced every SEC quarterback could complete that many passes in 11-on-0 drills, what with the chance of a ball slipping, underthrowing a pass or someone dropping a ball. Watching Johnny McCrary against them Saturday should be fun. 14. South Carolina (2-4, 0-2) There’s no other way to look at the Gamecocks-Commodores matchup than a battle to avoid last place. Should be one for the history books. #BeatTheCocks
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2015
2DRILL MINUTE
This weekend in Commodore sports By MAX HERZ Sports reporter --------------------
FOOTBALL (2-3, 0-2 SEC) at South Carolina Saturday, Oct. 17 at 3 p.m. Columbia, S.C. TV: SEC Network Fresh off a bye week, Vanderbilt football returns to action on the road in its most winnable conference game of the year against the Gamecocks. South Carolina is the only SEC team with at least three conference losses, sitting at 0-4 in SEC play following defeats to Kentucky, Georgia, Missouri and LSU. Due to massive flooding throughout the state, South Carolina’s home game with LSU this past weekend, a 45-24 loss, was moved to Baton Rouge. All systems are go for the Gamecocks to return home for this weekend’s game in time for the school’s homecoming weekend, although the coaching staff is in turmoil with 11-year head coach Steve Spurrier suddenly retiring on Monday. Over the last week, Vanderbilt Athletics organized a flood-relief drive benefiting the University of South Carolina, driving both of the football program’s 14-wheeler equipment trucks filled with donated water bottles and power generators to Columbia. The Commodores look to avenge a 48-34 home loss to the Gamecocks last season, in which Darrius Sims scored two kickoff return touchdowns.
SOCCER (6-5-4, 2-2-3 SEC) No. 8 South Carolina Friday, Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. Columbia, S.C. TV: SEC Network+ Vanderbilt soccer will provide the preamble to Saturday’s football matchup, as the Dores and Gamecocks collide on both the pitch and the gridiron in Columbia this weekend. South Carolina leads the SEC standings with a record of 5-1-1 in conference play, including wins over fellow top teams No. 22 Texas A&M and Auburn. Vanderbilt enters the match with a 375 minute shutout streak, spanning three-and-a-half games dating back to a Sept. 27 tie versus Tennessee. The Commodores have picked up points in four straight games and now sit ninth in the conference with just four regular season matches remaining.
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Behind enemy lines SOUTH CAROLINA
The Vanderbilt Hustler sports editor Ben Weinrib and The Daily Gamecock sports editor Will Helms discuss the tragic flood in Columbia and their teams before Saturday’s matchup Ben Weinrib: How has campus been dealing with the flooding? What kind of turnout are you expecting on Saturday? Will Helms: First of all, from our campus to yours, we want to thank y’all from the bottom of our hearts for the waters Vanderbilt sent here. We could be without clean water on campus for several weeks, so the water bottles provided will go to good use. Campus actually escaped relatively unscathed compared to other parts of the city, but we are still under a water boil advisory. However, there was little actual damage to campus. I’d wager that if game attendance is low, it will be the result of an underwhelming season performance more than the inconvenience of a home game. BW: Steve Spurrier wasn’t expecting to coach much longer at 70 years old, but did his sudden retirement on Monday come as a surprise to you? WH: I think the fact that it was Monday was a bit of a surprise, but I’m not surprised it came midseason. Spurrier is a man who works in extremes, so when he felt it was time, it was time. There was no use in waiting until after the season. As he said, “When something is inevitable, you do it right then.” Both Athletic Director Ray Tanner and University of South Carolina President Harris Pastides tried to talk Spurrier out of his decision, but knew he was resolute. A few years ago he said he would coach until football stopped being fun and it became a job. I think that happened around Week 4 this year, and Spurrier was just ready to move on. BW: What on Earth is going on with South Carolina’s quarterback situation? Vanderbilt tried using four quarterbacks last year and that really backfired. WH: The Gamecocks entered this season expecting sophomore Connor Mitch to excel like he did in high school. Behind only Chris Leak in four major North Carolina high school passing categories, Mitch has the talent to compete, but has struggled through nagging injuries this season. Junior Perry Orth has potential, but the former walk-on often struggles with accuracy. The offense has been most effective under freshman dual-threat Lorenzo Nunez, but Nunez suffered a sprained shoulder against Missouri. While Nunez’s status for Saturday is still up in the air, the freshman will likely start if healthy.
Will Helms: Nashville went through historical flooding just five years ago, do you think that has had any impact on the way people have viewed the flooding here in Columbia? Ben Weinrib: I don’t think there’s any doubt that the flooding in Nashville contributed to Vanderbilt’s efforts. Athletic Director David Williams said as much, “This is a reminder of what we went through. We saw that it was in Columbia, right at the University of South Carolina, in our conference, and it hit home. We decided, ‘What can we do to help?’ It really does not take a lot of us to do something that is very helpful.” Even though no football players hail from South Carolina, it was clearly the right thing to do. WH: Through five games Vanderbilt is 25th in total defense, after ranking 70th in the same category a year ago, what have the Commodores done differently on that side of the ball this season? BW: The biggest difference is that Derek Mason has taken over as the defensive playcaller. After firing defensive coordinator David Kotulski, who had worked with Mason for 20 years, Mason decided that he was the best defensive coordinator available for the job. The difference is clear with a much stouter rush defense (21st in the country) and better communication. It also helps that a defense that was largely freshmen and sophomores last year is now made up of sophomores and juniors, even if last year’s leading tackler Nigel Bowden is still out with a concussion. WH: Vanderbilt was trending upward before James Franklin left for Penn State, have you seen enough for Derek Mason through a season and a half to believe that the Commodores could make a run in the coming years? BW: Franklin definitely left at the right time, just as Jordan Matthews was graduating and he was coming off a record-tying 24 wins in three seasons. Mason was left with a roster mostly full of freshman and sophomores, which makes winning a difficult task in the SEC. Mason has certainly had his struggles, chiefly playing four quarterbacks last season instead of showing confidence in one, but he’s made massive improvements. The defense looks far better this season now that he has taken over as playcaller, and they’ve held all but three of their five opponents to season-low scoring outputs. It wouldn’t be fair to dismiss Mason after two seasons considering how young of a team he inherited and how tough his schedule is. This team is clearly improved from last season, which is encouraging for when the key players are older.
BW: Please tell me Spurrier isn’t going away for good. He’s just the best. WH: If Spurrier does indeed retire, he will be the most attractive free agent on the market, as an analyst that is. He gives so many good quotes that every major network will want him. It wouldn’t surprise me if Golf Channel even makes him an offer.
WH: Give us a player who we haven’t heard much about that could be an X-Factor Saturday. BW: I’m not sure if Trent Sherfield still qualifies as a player people haven’t heard of since he is third in the SEC in receiving yards and receptions without playing last week and was just added to the Biletnikoff Award watch list. I think the big name to look out for is Zach Cunningham, who has flourished taking over for the injured Bowden as a middle linebacker. He leads the team with 35 tackles and is tied for the team lead with 4 tackles for a loss and 1 sack. Cunningham was one of five four-star recruits in Vanderbilt’s 2013 recruiting class that also includes Bowden and Johnny McCrary, so it has been nice to see him start to reach his potential.
BW: What’s your prediction? WH: Somehow, I think South Carolina pulls this one out. I think the Gamecocks realize this week that they have the talent at running back to dominate opposing defenses and ride Brandon Wilds, David Williams and Shon Carson to victory. South Carolina 24, Vanderbilt 13
WH: What’s your prediction? BW: This will be one of Vanderbilt’s best chances to win an SEC game this season, up there with home games against Missouri and Kentucky. I think with an error-free game from McCrary, the Commodores will be able to put up enough points to win a defensive struggle. Vanderbilt 17, South Carolina 13
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2015
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PHOTO COURTESY OF BOSLEY JARRETT
EDM artist Borgeous performed at Lights on the Lawn last Friday, Oct. 9. The benefit concert raised $40,000 for the Mary Parrish Center.