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VOL. 128, ISS. 8
100 days as
CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER George Hill gathers student input on priorities for campus inclusion PAGE 2 OPINION
SPORTS
LIFE
Talking Trump
Columnists Paul Snider and Jacob Pierce discuss how Trump is negatively shaping the 2016 election
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Your ASBest PAGEstories 6
ASB site leaders share their favorite things about participating in the spring break trips
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Who else is on the bubble?
The ’Dores are well-positioned after beating Kentucky, but what other teams are we competing with?
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news
CAMPUS UPDATE Wilskills will lecture on “Backcountry Cooking” in Garland 101 on Thursday, March 3 to teach students recipes and cooking techniques for outdoor adventures.
George Hill reflects on progress during first three months First Chief Diversity Officer talks pronouns, Greek Life and more By ANNA BUTRICO and ZOE SHANCER Web editor and News editor --------------------
March 7 marks Chief Diversity Officer George C. Hill’s first 100 days in office. Since he was appointed to the position last November, he has focused his energy on listening to the student body. “The first 100 days I’ve focused on initiatives that relate to students,” Hill said. “I think it was important to do that initially, because it was very clear that there are some concerns that students have that need to be addressed and are being addressed.” In the last two months, Hill has held three listening sessions — one for Peabody, one for the engineering school and one that was campus-wide — to hear the concerns of students in regard to diversity and inclusion. “They’ve actually gone very well [and have] provided a way that students know who I am, what the priorities of the office are, but even more important, they build up a trust that this is someone who is going to be very interactive with us, listen to us and take some of our concerns and priorities to meetings with administrators,” Hill said. Hill also created a Student Advisory Board, composed of undergraduate and graduate leaders of various organizations, whose purpose it is to advise Hill and discuss changes that can occur on campus in the short term. Caley Caito, the president of VUCept and a member of the Student Advisory Board, admires the learning approach that Hill takes during these meetings. “We talk about safe spaces and brave spaces on this campus, and what’s great about the way that he facilitates these [Student Advisory Board] meetings is that he very consciously and verbally takes a step back and says, ‘This is a time for you to tell me how to do my job.’ I really admire him as a leader, but more importantly, as a learner,” Caito said.
DIVERSITY ISSUES IDENTIFIED BY STUDENTS Hill has heard several recurring issues during listening sessions and meetings of the Student Advisory Board, the Multicultural Leadership Council, Vanderbilt Student Government and the Greek Officer Roundup.
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ALLIE GROSS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
PHOTO COURTESY OF DELTA LAMBDA PHI
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Hill has been speaking to students about how to make campus more inclusive of races, sexual identities and experiences. One of the issues that has been articulated several times has been that students do not often participate in events and conversations with those who are different from them. Students self-select which events and programs that they decide to engage with. “By that, students mean that all those who are interested in one topic tend to go one way, and those who don’t support or aren’t aware [of an event] do not come,” Hill said. “You might be preaching to the choir more than you like. So how do you get people from different points of views, or people who are not aware of different issues that affect
ZOE SHANCER — NEWS EDITOR KARA SHERRER — LIFE EDITOR QUEEN STEVENSON — OPINION EDITOR BEN WEINRIB — SPORTS EDITOR
different groups, how do we get them in the same room? Or the same space?” As an example, Hill mentioned an event he attended that discussed the future of the “Confederate” engraving on Memorial Hall. Most of the students in attendance had one point of view, according to Hill, but one student came with another stance, knowing his point of view was not going to be appreciated. While some students were upset with the dissenter’s opinion, Hill felt this was an invaluable experience for all in attendance. “If we can’t hear a different point of view from this
JOSH HAMBURGER — MANAGING EDITOR BOSLEY JARRETT — DESIGN DIRECTOR ANNA BUTRICO — WEB EDITOR ZIYI LIU — PHOTO DIRECTOR KATHY YUAN — CHIEF COPY EDITOR COLLIN ZIMMERMAN — CHIEF WEB DEVELOPER MATT LIEBERSON — FEATURES EDITOR PRIYANKA ARIBINDI — AUDIENCE STRATEGIST KATHY YUAN —ASST. PHOTO DIRECTOR
SHARON SI — ASST. DESIGN DIRECTOR JACK SENTELL — ASST. LIFE EDITOR SARAH FRIEDMAN — ASST. NEWS EDITOR PRIYANKA KADARI — ASST. OPINION EDITOR ROBBIE WEINSTEIN — ASST. SPORTS EDITOR DESIGNERS
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So how do you get people from different points of views, or people who are not aware of different issues that affect different groups, how do we get them in the same room?
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gentleman, then what kind of university do we have?” Hill said. “And he was intentionally there to share that point of view, which was very, very good.” Hill wants to replicate situations like this, where students hear the views of those who think differently than they do. Diversity issues related to Greek life also came up in Hill’s discussions. At the Greek Officer Roundup, Hill noticed that much of the group attending looked the same. “I looked from one end to the other, and it seemed to be a homogenous group,” Hill said. “I said there doesn’t seem to be a lot of differences here ... We have to do something about that.” Since this discussion, four different Greek organizations have invited Hill to come to their chapter meetings to discuss diversity in Greek life. “The exact same point about the role that Greeks can play in fostering stronger inclusion was made at the Multicultural Leadership Council, where a young man who was not Greek said that he was really hoping in 20 years that the institution was more diverse, particularly from the Greek perspective,” Hill said. Former IFC President Kevin Groll, who is a member of the Student Advisory Board, echoed this sentiment. “As the demographic of Vanderbilt changes, the demographic of who’s in Greek life is also going to have to change,” Groll said. “If people constantly pull from the same pot, and that pot is getting smaller because Vanderbilt’s students are getting more diverse, you have to change and adapt as an organization. And it’s not just fraternities or sororities, it’s all the organizations [on campus] too.” Another issue that came up among students, particularly Hidden Dores, was a need for training faculty about microaggressions, or unintentional everyday insults and dismissals inflicted upon a group. While microaggressions are often discussed from the student side, Hill said students want to see the same conversation among faculty. Hill has also spent time learning from the LGBTQI community. Hill met with a transgender student and spoke about the issues the student faced in terms of housing and before coming to college. Hill said he realized that college is an especially important time for trans students, as they
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016 view the more open environment as a place to reform their identity. “Often individuals who are trans, once they are able to be in a ‘freer’ environment, they begin to see support, analyze who they are … We [also] had a long conversation about pronouns, which was a very good one. I recognize the importance of pronouns and how they can affect how one feels,” Hill said. He added that understanding these issues will help him address the needs of the community as he goes forward. Groll, a member of the Student Advisory Board, stressed that Hill constantly requests student feedback to ensure he is taking the correct approach to solving these problems. “(Hill) definitely wants to make sure he understands the problems he is tackling, rather than making the assumption that he knows everything and that he‘s going to solve them himself. He’s taking a very good balance of an approach of the students’ perspectives and also his experience. He’s very experienced in his field, and from his own life. He can bring that in and try to solve the problem,” Groll said.
Issues raised by students:
1.
Lack of dissenting opinions
2.
Diversity in Greek life
3.
Microaggressions among faculty
4.
Understanding LGBTQI issues
OTHER INITIATIVES THIS SEMESTER On the faculty side, Hill created a faculty survey on diversity to better understand the needs of faculty in terms of diversity and inclusion. He also established the Joseph A. Johnson Jr. Distinguished Leadership Professor Award to be given at the spring faculty assembly for faculty leadership in equity, diversity and inclusion. For students, Hill started an email newsletter about diversity and inclusion-related activities, priorities and projects that are student-oriented. “We’ve looked to see how the newsletter can be a vehicle to increase the communication between the initiatives here and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and the student body as a whole,” Hill said. Additionally, Hill and his team have organized a workshop session on March 17 about the MCAT and medical school applications, targeted at underrepresented minority students.
MOVING FORWARD As the semester progresses, Hill will provide recommendations to the Chancellor’s Committee on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion to help them formulate long-term goals to improve campus conditions. “Those recommendations will lay the foundations for what we can do next,” Hill said. “And they’re taking that to heart. But we’re not waiting for them.” In order to increase the transparency of his office and his mission, Hill, along with members of the Student Advisory Board, is drafting a mission statement to guide their efforts. He tasked the board to make edits to his proposed mission statement for their next meeting. Akaninyene Ruffin, the president of the Multicultural Leadership Council and member of the Student Advisory Board, said that this mission statement will be paired with the report released by the Chancellor’s Diversity committee in July. “For now, we plan on going over the diversity mission statement and tweaking it, and making sure it is as inclusive as it can be,” Ruffin said. “I don’t think that Vice Chancellor Hill wants to move too far ahead of that report. Once the report comes out, the students can kind of interrogate and analyze what changes are being made there, and what kinds of gaps are missing and things that can be improved upon.” In the meantime, Hill believes we need collaboration and coordination among the different groups on campus who are discussing diversity and inclusion. “I think it’s important to critically engage all the partners of the institution on the structural changes that are necessary in order to accomplish the chancellor’s mission,” Hill said. “If we don’t change some of those structural entities that are preventing more inclusion, then it will be very dif-
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Students say they do not often participate in events and conversations with those who have different points of view.
Students at the Greek Roundup noticed that everyone in attendance looked very similar.
Several students see a need for training of faculty in terms of microaggressions, or insults and dismissals inflicted on a group.
A student who is transgender explained to Hill the importance of pronouns for gender identity.
ficult to make progress.” Hill wants to focus on initiatives that will help the university, in the short and long term, have a more diverse faculty. “It is probably one of the biggest structural changes that can affect students,” Hill said. “Once you have people who are different and who bring something else to the table … It’s probably one of the key things we have to do.” Hill also hopes to further emphasize diversity in the student admissions process. “I’ve spent a great deal of time trying to interact with those who are involved in the admissions process to learn how the decisions are made, what are the important factors, and who comes to the institution,” Hill said. “There’s a structural change there that can be made. I’ll have an opportunity to raise that suggestion shortly.” Hill compared structural changes to a car that is running reasonably well but could run better, make less noise and drive faster to keep up with the speed limit, instead of dragging. “If you paint the car, that will have absolutely nothing to do with the car going at the proper speed,” Hill said. “If you change the tires, it could have something to do with it. You have to look down at that engine.” According to Hill, he aims to do a lot more than paint the car. “We are changing the tires,” Hill said. “The Chancellor is talking about how to get that engine to run smoother, and purr so that, you know, it’s doing its job right.”
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Student Aerospace Lab readies for rocket launch A team of undergraduate and graduate students prepare for the final leg of NASA’s Student Launch competition By CHRIS WESTFALL News reporter --------------------
While students are enjoying Rites of Spring on April 16, the students of the Vanderbilt Aerospace Design Laboratory (VADL) will be attempting to shoot a rocket a mile high into the sky. As a part of the NASA Student Launch contest, VADL will join 37 other teams from across the United States in Huntsville, Alabama, with the goal to engineer a rocket that will fly to an altitude of 5,280 feet. Following three consecutive first place finishes in NASA’s Student Launch — an eight-month competition to design and build a rocket and then launch it — VADL
is not resting on its laurels this year with its new project. The team, advised by Professor Amrutur V. Anilkumar in the Department of Engineering, is pushing ahead with a monopropellant rocket design that uses hydrogen peroxide thrusters — something rarely seen on the college rocketry circuit. “[Our rocket’s payload] is a fuel-tank full of hydrogen peroxide that delivers fuel to a small catalytic bed of iridium that sits in the back of our rocket, and produces an immense amount of thrust,” explained current president and senior Andrew Voss. Before the April launch, however, teams must complete a series of design reviews that are submitted to NASA and assessed by a panel of scientists, engineers, technicians and educators via video teleconference. These reviews closely mirror NASA project protocols, giving college students valuable insight into the aerospace engineering industry. According to Voss, VADL has served as a launchpad to aerospace engineering careers for its members. A number of VADL alumni have gone on to work at SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, Boeing and NASA. “Employers would much rather see a high level of involvement in a hands-on project like this than getting an ‘A’ in Heat Transfer (CHBE 3300),” Voss said. The average time commitment for team
members can vary depending on the stage of planning. During the week leading up to design reviews, it is not uncommon for the group to devote 80 hours to the project. As all 38 teams are required by NASA to use a solid propellant rocket motor, teams display their creativity in payload design. Payload is the carrying capacity of a launch vehicle, usually measured in terms of weight. With last year’s payload project, VADL chose to build an Autonomous Ground Support Equipment robot that inserted a small scientific payload into the rocket, which was designed to simulate a Mars sample recovery mission. A marked departure from the previous year’s design, this year’s endeavor involves working with hydrogen peroxide. “Hydrogen peroxide is a very dangerous liquid to be working with,” Voss aid. “It can be very harmful to the skin and the eyes, and so we’ve had to develop extensive safety procedures in accordance with NASA to work with it.” As VADL is well aware of contributions from past competitions, NASA rewards innovation. The complexity of a payload is one of the most important considerations in the designing phase — often the deciding factor over whether VADL decides to move forward with a project or not. Having already completed two of the design reviews with NASA experts, VADL is
currently working to meet a March 14 deadline for their Flight Readiness Review. The team will then have to complete a Launch Readiness Review just days prior to the actual launch and a Post-Launch Assessment Review two weeks later. The winner of the NASA Student Launch is the team with the highest composite score from the various design reviews, launch day performance and student outreach efforts. “A lot of schools [undertake] boring, lowlevel projects that have been seen before, and do not get NASA excited,” Voss said. “We take on really challenging projects that push students.”
COURTESY OF ANDREW VOSS
Hustler is collecting readerSEEKING The submitted essays about SURVIVOR personal experiences with STORIES sexual violence The Vanderbilt Hustler is publishing a series of reader-submitted essays about sexual assault. We are looking for stories from people in the Vanderbilt community sharing their personal experiences with sexual assault. This means anything from challenges, recovery, trauma, reporting, or even supporting a loved one after an incident of assault. Essays can be submitted either anonymously or not, and reviewed essays will, should they be chosen for publication, be disseminated in print and/or online. Although anonymity can be granted, it is critical that we can verify the identity of authors and consult with them in the editing process. More information on this process is available at vanderbilthustler.com. Our goal is not to point fingers or accuse certain groups or students of wrongdoing. Rather, we hope to shed light on the fact that sexual assault is a very prevalent issue, even at our beloved home, Vanderbilt. We hope to give a voice to victims and survivors, and to help make an issue that is often portrayed with abstract statistics into something tangible and real — by sharing the actual experiences of our peers on campus. We hope to show that there is no singular, template “rape story.” Our stories are as diverse as we are, and they all deserve respect. And most of all, we’d like to reflect on the fact that the impact of violence is much, much more than the incident itself.
Email submissions or any questions to Opinion Editor Queen Stevenson at queen.o.stevenson@gmail.com
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QUOTE OF THE DAY
opinion
“Join orgs you’re passionate about, not just ones that look good on a resume.”
JULES WILSON, SENIOR
If Trump wins, don’t flee the country The president isn’t the only facet of our American identity
is a senior in the College of Arts and Science. He can be reached at paul.@ vanderbilt.edu.
vanderbilthustler EDITORIAL BOARD ALLIE GROSS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF editor@vanderbilthustler.com
ZOE SHANCER
KARA SHERRER
NEWS EDITOR news@vanderbilthustler.com
LIFE EDITOR life@vanderbilthustler.com
QUEEN STEVENSON
BEN WEINRIB
OPINION EDITOR opinion@vanderbilthustler. com
SPORTS EDITOR sports@vanderbilthustler.com
may seem like a stretch, but it isn’t. When Portia was running her campaign for prime minister, the middle class laughed off her antics, mocked her poor debate performances and generally saw it as a joke. And when she kept polling well and her party won the majority in the parliamentary election, we couldn’t believe it.
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PAUL SNIDER
Bad hair, strong words and arrogance enough for the rest of us. You may think you’ve never seen a candidate like Donald J. Trump before, but I definitely have. And last week she lost her bid for re-election to the highest office on the island of Jamaica. As a Jamaican looking back at the 2012 election of Portia Simpson-Miller, the first female prime minister of Jamaica, I see a lot of parallels to what has developed in America. The way she campaigned, and the way the Jamaican middle class reacted, is eerily similar to what has developed with Mr. Trump. What stands out most is the common fear the electorate has about the possibility of this impossible leader being elected. People commonly proclaim that “if _____ wins, I’m moving to Canada” and “if _____ wins, our country will burn to the ground.” Though I know this is an exaggeration, I think our fears illustrate a deeper problem. We should not worry about our country’s identity and its leadership to the point of feeling as if our own identity is at risk as well. Before I go any further, allow me to attempt to prevent any misunderstandings of what I mean. In referring to the possibility of a President Trump and how we might respond, I am not assuming that this will happen; I genuinely hope that Trump will not be elected and I think he should be opposed at all costs. Furthermore, I am not dismissing the threat Trump places on minorities, immigrants and refugees in this country. His leadership would cause immediate problems for these groups. However, I also believe that as individuals, we are stronger than any one symbol or leader of our nation, and we should not forget that. The office of president is a powerful position, but it is not the only one making decisions in this country, and it is not the only one with a loud voice. We can each make our voices loud in order to check Trump and stop him. However, in order to understand — and combat — Trump, we have to acknowledge how he has gained traction and with whom he has gained it. Comparing the first female prime minister of Jamaica and the real estate mogul–turned presidential candidate
If our identity can be broken by a bully like Trump, it was too weak in the first place.
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Throughout Trump’s rise, I’ve heard the exact same questions and seen the same confusion as to who could ever support him and view him as a good leader. Part of this is a sampling error on our part. As college students, and Vanderbilt students in particular, we are isolated from the broader popula-
The Vanderbilt Hustler Opinion page aims to stimulate discussion in the Vanderbilt community. In that spirit, columnists, guest columnists and authors of letters to the editor are expected to provide logical argument to back their views. Unreasonable arguments, arguments in bad faith or arguments in vain between columnists have no place in The Hustler and will not be published. The Hustler welcomes reader viewpoints and offers three methods of expression: letters to the editor, guest columns and feedback on vanderbilthustler.com. The views expressed in lead editorials reflect the majority of opinion among The Hustler’s editorial board and may be supposed to represent the opinion of The Vanderbilt Hustler at the time of publication. They are not necessarily representative of any individual member. Letters must be submitted either in person by the author to The Hustler office or via email to opinion@vanderbilthustler.com. Letters via email should come from a Vanderbilt email address where the identity of the sender is clear. With rare exception, all letters must be received by 2 p.m. on the Sunday prior to publication. The editor
tion of Americans. We may be connected to people from our hometowns, or know the abrasive views of our older relatives on Facebook, but by and large we only encounter the ideas of other millennials and the academics who are tasked with educating us. This is part of why we’re so shocked at the amount of supporters Trump has found across the nation: We barely know any in our own spheres of life, so we question how they could exist at all. Looking at the hard truth of the polls means confronting the fact that a large portion of the voting public thinks very differently than we do. Trump is powerful because of the individuals behind him, but he is not the only representation of America. Each one of us is a representation, and we can continue to challenge him at every turn. If Trump becomes president, what will happen to us? What will happen to our country? What will happen to our reputation around the world when we hire a clown to lead us? Trump will threaten the rights and liberties of minorities and immigrants, no doubt. He has made it blatantly clear that he wishes to halt Muslim immigration and target different ethnic groups in America. However, I also trust that so many other people and officials in government and elsewhere will be fighting for what’s right. I trust that Trump cannot control this entire nation. If our identity can be broken by a bully like Trump, it was too weak in the first place. If our hope for the future of our world is only dependent on the character and performance of the president, then we are bound to be severely disappointed sooner or later. If our hope is only anchored in the success and positive image of our nation (and that applies to any nation) then we are far weaker than we thought. If our country truly prides itself as a welcoming nation of immigrants, refugees and ethnic minorities, then we will be able to fight Trump and his policies. We will make it clear that we don’t agree with his vision for America and that we will not tolerate it. We can write and rally and speak at every turn, rejecting him every step of the way. Trump does not constitute our American identity; our actions from this point onwards do.
reserves the right to edit and condense submissions for length as well as clarity. Lengthy letters that focus on an issue affecting students may be considered for a guest column at the editor’s discretion. All submissions become the property of The Hustler and must conform to the legal standards of Vanderbilt Student Communications, of which The Hustler is a division. The Vanderbilt Hustler (ISSN 0042-2517), the official student newspaper of Vanderbilt University, is published every Wednesday during the academic year except during exam periods and vacations. The paper is not printed during summer break. The Vanderbilt Hustler allocates one issue of the newspaper to each student and is available at various points on campus for free. Additional copies are $.50 each. The Vanderbilt Hustler is a division of Vanderbilt Student Communications, Inc. Copyright © 2014 Vanderbilt Student Communications.
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Don’t joke about Donald Trump B
JACOB PIERCE is a first-year in the College of Arts and Science. He can be reached at jacob.m.pierce@ vanderbilt.edu.
illionaire Donald Trump is the frontrunner for the Republican nomination for President of the United States. As Americans continue to grapple with this fact, many still continue to laugh off Trump’s candidacy as a joke. This is worrisome. There is nothing funny about Trump. As Vanderbilt students, there is a general distaste for Trump, and his views frequently seem far too outlandish to be possible. However, we have to realize there is a significant majority outside of Vanderbilt that supports him. He is the frontrunner of the Republican party, and we have to seriously challenge his outside base of support. When Trump first announced his candidacy last summer, I did not think he’d achieve the level of dominance that he currently has. In his presidential announcement, Trump claimed that Mexican immigrants are “rapists” and bring drugs, crime, and violence with them when they come to America, whether legally or illegally. He’s called for a ban against all Muslims entering the United States. He’s suggested that President Obama isn’t an American citizen. He’s even expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, even though he, among other things, “kills journalists.” Sure, these comments might be entertaining to some, but seeing these comments as purely entertainment detracts from how terrifying these comments actually are. What sometimes seems to be lost on people following Trump’s campaign is that he is dangerously close to becoming president of the United States. The Republican party needs to confront Donald Trump’s rise and have a conversation regarding who is to blame. The American president is arguably the most powerful person in the world, and with that power, not to sound cliché, comes incredible responsibility.
Trump is a racist, a sexist and a bigot with a very bad temperament. These alone should disqualify him from being president of the United States. The American president has to deal with crises both at home and abroad, and given Trump’s temperament, it worries me what he might do if he feels disrespected by leaders of foreign countries. Presidents need to remain calm under pressure; Trump’s anger and hate have proved him incapable of doing this. Americans poke fun at other countries who rally behind demagogues, yet they seem incredulous that something similar is happening at home. In recent months, Americans have been rattled by violence and terrorism, from the attacks in Paris to the killings in San Bernardino. The economy has seen improvements over the last eight years, but those improvements have not been shared equally throughout society, so the economic anxiety many Americans are facing is understandable. In these trying times, it is very easy to give into some of our worst impulses: hate and fear. In these trying times, it is important to find the better angels of our nature. We as a country need to be more open, welcoming, tolerant and empathetic to the plight of others. During his final State of the Union address, President Obama pushed back against Trump’s narrative with his own vision of America: “Clear-eyed. Big-hearted. Undaunted by challenge. Optimistic that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final say.” It’s incumbent on all of us to remember these basic truths. America has a history of slavery, segregation, internment camps and sexism, amongst other things, that runs counter to this narrative, but as history moves forward, America has become a more, not less inclusive society. If Trump manages to become president of the United
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It’s time to stop laughing and start uniting
Americans poke fun at other countries who rally behind demagogues, yet they seem incredulous that something similar is happening at home.
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States, a representative of the ugly side of America will be the leader of the free world. I stopped laughing about Trump a long time go. I hope many Americans stop laughing too, before it’s too late. It’s time for Americans to realize this and unite to stop Donald Trump. Vanderbilt students must use the power of the ballot box to stop Trump. Whether it’s by volunteering for a campaign, donating money, or voting absentee. If Trump becomes President of the United States, it will be him who has the last laugh.
Apply for the smaller organizations
The most publicized positions are not always the most important ones
JULES WILSON is a senior in the College of Arts and Science. She can be reached at julie.s.wilson@ vanderbilt.edu.
Involvement in campus activities is touted as the key to enjoying your Vanderbilt experience, but this model fails when you get rejected from almost everything you apply to. When you look around Rand, everyone’s laptops and water bottles are plastered with stickers of the groups they’re involved with. We’re so busy glorifying being busy that we can’t see the Apple logo on our computers anymore. It seems like everyone’s got the “perfect” Vanderbilt student thing down — balancing 18 credits with five leadership positions, while still managing to go out on the weekends. However, instead of vying for the leadership positions in the big organizations, we should focus on finding smaller, more focused positions, even if they are not as well-publicized. What upsets me about the “We regret to inform you” email from an exec board is that I’m failing to live up to that prescribed image of a high-profile leader. GPA requirements held me back from potential big-time commitments, and I found it to be a reasonable request for students to handle their academics before extracurricular activities. When it came to ‘Dore for a Day, VPB Music Board, ASB Site Leader, AWBoard, LEAPS and Vandy Review staff, it took me three years too long to figure out that it wasn’t personal. So, what is the problem? The issue isn’t qualification. Vanderbilt students are
over-qualified to operate in any leadership position; we got into this school for a reason. Passion isn’t the issue either. I promised to each respective org that I would make them my number one priority because it wasn’t as if I had much else going on in the student involvement department. The issue turned out to be that our wonderful but tiny Vanderbilt bubble has become far more competitive than we can handle. We all feel the need to succeed and be the best at what we’re doing. We are a perfectionism-driven student body. Students pile up memberships and positions onto their resume like it’s toppings on a sundae. As Opinion Editor Queen Stevenson argues, people become over-committed and can’t carry out all of the responsibilities they’ve taken on. The same group of students ends up leading all the big student orgs, leaving no room for anyone new to step in, or for anyone to breathe for that matter. All of the people I’m struggling to compete with are actually students who can’t even compete with themselves. There is a dangerous cycle here at Vanderbilt, one that is leading to all sorts of abuse — mostly to ourselves. We are only ranked the number one happiest school in the country because we push ourselves to be outwardly happy when we’re struggling on the inside. The worst part of it all is how we’re keeping our pain silent in an effort to maintain
the perfect persona. If you’re unable to keep up with the big fish in the small pond and okay with admitting it, look out for the smaller, budding groups looking to challenge the system. There are plenty of student orgs that hold open general body meetings that would love to bring you in. They’re overflowing with great ideas but desperate for membership, losing all the interest to mega-competitive and over-advertised orgs like Tour Guides. Half the time at Vandy, if you don’t know the right people, you’ll never get to rise through the ranks. Smaller student orgs don’t operate under this mentality, and they welcome you to take on more responsibility within the group. There is this wonderful intimate feeling that allows for greater connections with fellow students and for your ideas to actually be heard. Don’t be afraid to join a group that doesn’t require an application. Join orgs you’re passionate about, not just ones that look good on a resume. In the end, a smaller org means more opportunities to get involved with a project you actually care about. The real world will be stressful enough, so why are we torturing ourselves in the last few years we have left?
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life
GO DO
THIS
Spiffy Squirrel Comedy Show
The East Room; Sundays at 6:30 p.m.
Every week, local comedian Chad Reidan hosts the Spiffy Squirrel Comedy Show. The alternative comedy show features several comedians — many of whom are local Nashville stand-ups. Earlier comics perform shorter, 5-10 minute sets before the night concludes with a longer set by a headliner. The East Room is located at 2412 Gallatin Ave in East Nashville.
What’s your favorite part of ASB? We asked some of this year’s site leaders to share their best memories By Dallas Shatel and Gianna Strand, Life reporters KATIE GOETZ CURTIS WEGENER Site: “Georgia on my Mind” (Atlanta, GA) Years on ASB: 3 Years as Site Leader: 2
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Something I wish people knew: Site leaders are aware that ASB could easily slip into the “voluntourism” trap. We recognize that so much of our service ultimately benefits the perspective of our participants rather than the position of the communities we serve. It is just a reality of the short-term service trip. That is why site leaders make such an intentional effort to facilitate meaningful and forward-thinking discussions with our participants. Yes, groups get very close and have an ASBlast on site, but that is all just really good byproducts. Our goal is always first to develop active citizens.
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ALAK MEHTA Site: “All You Need is Love” (Beaufort, SC) Years on ASB: 4 Years as Site Leader: 3
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People view ASB just as a service organization or just a way to do service somewhere when they apply with the “I might as well” mindset. I have gained far more than an opportunity to do service. One of the coolest things is that it exposes you to both communities and people you wouldn’t otherwise know. My freshman year we lived in a ranger lodge in rural southwestern Virginia, and there we learned flatfoot dancing, the geography of the area and learning from the rangers who were people I would have never encountered otherwise.
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JENNA RAVASIO
Site: “Suddenly I See” (Pittsburgh, PA) Years on ASB: 2 Years as Site Leader: 1
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On my first ASB, there was this time when we were all in our pajamas, lounging around after our day of service. We started playing catchphrase, and I started laughing so hard at something Nick Catalan said that I couldn’t stop laughing. Eventually, I started crying, because I realized that I had never been that happy in my entire life, and I never wanted that feeling to go away. ASB helped me learn a lot about myself, and I hope that through being a site leader, I can help create an environment where my participants can grow and learn [too].
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Site: “Count On Me” (Denver, CO) Years on ASB: 2 Years as Site Leader: 1
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My favorite thing about ASB that most people wouldn’t know about is warm and fuzzies. Warm and fuzzies are little notes that you write to the people on your trip throughout the week. They can be about anything, from a funny memory you had with them that day to a trait that you see in them and really appreciate. Writing these kind notes of affirmation is a great way to reflect on your experiences on site and think more deeply about your relationships with others. It’s so rewarding when everyone receives their warm and fuzzies at the end of the week, and they’re a very meaningful memento of the trip.
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KENNY FRYE Site: “Like a Prayer” (Huntsville, Alabama) Years on ASB: 2 Years as Site Leader: 1
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I know a lot of people know that people who go on ASB together tend to get really close, but one of my favorite parts was the continuation of service after that. It changed me in the fact that, sure I saw it as a service trip and service is great and all that, but it really made me readjust my thinking and question, ‘Why do I do service?’ It made it a more integral part of my life and made me question, ‘Is there an endgoal? Why am I doing service?’ So it kind of spurred me to be an active citizen, per se, and take more than just a passive role in volunteering and actually educate myself. ASB was that fuel to jumpstart me into becoming more than a little bit involved in service.
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LAUREN MCMILLEN Site: “Walking on Sunshine” (Nicaragua) Years on ASB: 4 Years as Site Leader: 3
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You can come from any part of Vandy and go on an ASB trip and feel welcomed and included, I think that’s really special. I think more people should know about that, especially international students, or any religious background, anybody can go on ASB. If they are open and flexible and open-minded and give it a full chance, then I think anyone can feel included and I think that’s really important on Vanderbilt’s campus.
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Check out “10 Questions” with Connor Henderson and Alissa Rashid, the ASB co-chairs, coming out this Thursday at vanderbilthustler.com.
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Otaku Ramen brings Tokyo to Tennessee Putting an upscale spin on a college staple By Max Bernstein, Life reporter
The word “ramen” conjures up images of cheap packages of dried instant noodles microwaved in college dorms. However, the 25-cent Styrofoam cup variety is hardly authentic, and one of the recent additions to Nashville’s culinary scene brings real gourmet ramen — meat-based broth, wheat noodles and a variety of toppings — to Music City: Otaku Ramen. Located just off of 12th and Division in the Gulch (very trendy, always under construction), Otaku occupies a small building bursting with energy and a cool, quasi-industrial Japanese aesthetic. Upon entering from the chilly, wet sidewalk, we were enveloped with warmth and delectable umami smells. Even on a Wednesday evening, we had to wait fifteen minutes for our party of five to be seated, so be sure
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016 to plan for a wait. The hosts placed us at the bar adjacent to the open kitchen, face to face with the chefs. We had front row seats as they whipped up Tennessee takes on Japanese ramen shop classics. Simple and carefully constructed, Otaku’s menu contains just four appetizers and four varieties of ramen. The restaurant takes its craft seriously: The back of the menu informed us that ramen should be both prepared quickly and eaten quickly — so quickly that in some ramen shops in Japan, conversation is forbidden to hasten turnover. Though this is certainly not the case in lively, music-filled Otaku, the restaurant doesn’t allow carry-out orders of ramen and encourages patrons to eat quickly while the food is still hot. Despite this traditional emphasis on speed, we had to wait nearly 45 minutes after ordering before we got our ramen. The wait was made more painful by the fact that we were practically inches away from the kitchen, salivating as a sous-chef prepared duck buns and gyoza dumplings floated by within arm’s reach. Luckily, one member of our party had the foresight to order some gyoza dumplings, which helped somewhat to whet our appetites over the course of our long wait. The dumplings were hot and buttery and had a succulent, delicious pork filling.The accompanying ponzu dipping sauce was pleasingly tangy. Finally, the ramen was brought to our table. I had ordered the Paitan, which consisted of thicker, curly noodles in a chicken broth with roasted chicken, seasonal greens, scallion, egg and sesame seeds. The noodles, still cooking in the broth, were delightfully al dente, absorbing the rich, salty flavor of the broth. The roast chicken was moist and delectable yet with perfectly crispy bits. The seasonal green of choice was sautéed broccolini, satisfyingly crunchy and a nice contrast from the rest of the hearty, sodium-intense dish. In accordance with Otaku’s instructions, we ate quickly, so I only had a chance to try the broth of two of the other dishes. The Tennessee Tonkotsu and its pork bone broth was also a savory, salty delight, with deep, earthy notes. The Miso, Otaku’s only vegetarian entrée option, came with a shiitake based broth. Though all ramen broth is salty, the Miso was almost unbearably so.
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To sample this East Asian eatery yourself, head on over to 1104 Division Street any day but Monday. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. (with extended hours until midnight on Friday and Saturday). There’s free parking for an hour in a lot across the street or in the Icon garage directly above Otaku. Currently, the restaurant does not take reservations. For more info, visit otakuramen.com.
Month in Music: March
After a couple quieter, dormant months, the Nashville music scene blossoms back into impressive form this spring By Jack Sentell, Assistant life editor BLAKE SHELTON, MARCH 4-5 — BRIDGESTONE ARENA With country music growing in national popularity, it’s hard to remember that Nashville’s biggest stars aren’t often able to take the stage at home. Blake Shelton has risen to become one of the faces of that exploding scene, propelled by catchy songs, five Country Music Awards for “Male Vocalist of the Year” and a regular coaching spot on NBC’s “The Voice.” With quintessential pop-country songs and a silly, lighthearted stage presence, Shelton’s star will likely shine extra bright in the country music capital. Must Listen: “Sangria” FUTURE THIEVES, MARCH 7 — THE FAMILY WASH Future Thieves are yet another example of the new Nashville scene: band members from across the country all converge on Nashville, record a debut album in their home studio, and hone a driving, Americana-influenced, Southern rock sound. The group has gained local attention from Lighting 100 and American Songwriter, and is known for their leave-it-all-onthe-stage performance mentality. Future Thieves are largely a Nashville hidden gem, but since their sound is reminiscent of Kings of Leon and The Weeks, this probably won’t be the case for long. Must Listen: “Horizon Line”
RIHANNA, MARCH 18 — BRIDGESTONE ARENA Bridgestone is the home of Music City’s highest-profile shows, and they don’t get much bigger than Rihanna. The Barbadian singer has dominated pop music for the last decade. Last month, she gave her eighth album, ANTI-, a surprise release, and the record shot to number two on the Billboard 200 chart. In addition, the record’s lead single “Work” quickly climbed to (and stayed at) the top spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. Even now, Rihanna continues to dominate pop music, which makes a solid case for checking out how she’ll bring her new songs to the stage. Must Listen: “Work”
VANCE JOY, MARCH 18 — RYMAN AUDITORIUM Singer-songwriter Vance Joy is equal parts Jack Johnson and Ed Sheeran. The Melbourne artist’s folk-pop can seamlessly transition from easy beach listening to arena-worthy choruses. For this reason, Joy was already building a steady U.S. following even before Taylor Swift invited him on her 1989 World Tour as a supporting act. With his own The Fire and The Flood Tour, Joy is poised to quickly build on that notoriety, garnering a well-deserved headlining slot at some of the nation’s premiere venues. Must Listen: “Fire and the Flood” PARKER MILLSAP, MARCH 25 —THE BASEMENT EAST Part of what makes Nashville such an incredible home for music fans is the ability to see talent in its infancy. While Parker Millsap may still be young at only 22 years old, the weathered, gritty sound of his voice is indicative of classic blues-Americana. Millsap will hit both sides of the Nashville music scene this month, playing the esteemed, quintessential, “cool” Nashville bar The Basement East on March 25 and taking the stage at Grand Ole Opry on the 26th. Must Listen: “Old Time Religion”
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sports
THE BIG STAT
Cost in dollars per undergraduate student that Vanderbilt was fined for rushing the court after the win against Kentucky on Feb. 28
14.60
Understanding the upset The importance of the win over Kentucky
Students storm the court after the Commodores defeated the Wildcats for the first time since 2013, garnering a $100,000 fine from the SEC.
By TORBEN GINSBERG Sports reporter --------------------
This past Saturday, the Vanderbilt men’s basketball team used a dominant second half to upset the No. 16 Kentucky Wildcats 74-62. Playing in front of a sellout crowd of 14,326 — the first sellout at Memorial Gym since 2014 — the Commodores were able to feed off the energy in the building and came away with one of the most important victories in recent program history. Kentucky has historically dominated the series between these two teams, holding a head-to-head record of 36-12 dating back to
1993. This includes an 18-game undefeated streak that spanned almost nine years. But Vanderbilt has had a knack for coming up with big wins over the Wildcats recently. In 2013, the Commodores defeated a disappointing Kentucky squad 64-48 to knock them out of the SEC Tournament in the quarterfinals. The year before, Vanderbilt defeated the Anthony Davis-led Wildcats in the SEC Tournament Championship. It was one of just two defeats that the future champions would suffer that season. This weekend’s win was arguably more important than either of those. The Commodores had been sitting on the outside looking in on the NCAA Tournament field. Last week, Joe Lunardi, ESPN’s NCAA Tourna-
ment expert, did not have Vanderbilt as one of the 68 teams to earn a spot. On Monday, he had updated those projections to have the Commodores slotted as a No. 10 seed in the West Region. This season has largely been a disappointment for a team that started the season ranked No. 16 in the nation and boasts two future first-round NBA draft picks. But the win over the Wildcats may end up being the Commodores’ saving grace. With one regular season game remaining, Vanderbilt is now in a position where they control their own destiny. The last game on the schedule for the Commodores is a crucial rematch against No. 20 Texas A&M on Saturday. Last time the
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teams met, Vanderbilt upset the Aggies, who were ranked No. 8 at the time, the highest ranked team they beat since No. 1 Kentucky in the 2012 SEC Tournament Championship. Winning this game would virtually guarantee a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Additionally, a strong showing in the SEC Tournament could have Vanderbilt looking at a much more favorable first-round matchup. The win over the Wildcats could be a sign that the Commodores are putting the pieces together and playing their best ball at the perfect time. If they can carry this momentum with them throughout the rest of the season, they might just make some noise in this year’s March Madness.
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Bursting the bubble
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As March begins, some teams’ dreams end By EVAN MERCER Sports reporter --------------------
The bubble of the NCAA tournament is a perilous place. One bad loss and pop, the hopes and dreams of going on a Cinderella run to the Championship are gone. A few weeks ago,the Vanderbilt Commodores found
themselves on the unsteady edge of the bubble, a collection of teams that toe the line between dancing and staying home. However, four straight wins over Georgia, Florida, a ranked Kentucky and Tennessee have pushed the Commodores safely into the bubble. Outside of a completely embarrassing game against No. 20 Texas A&M or short SEC Tournament run, Kevin Stallings’ squad has
realistically secured a coveted at-large bid into the NCAA tournament. The competition is far from over, though. A multitude of teams, including Vanderbilt, are still fighting for the few spots remaining. Using ESPN analyst Joe Lunardi’s Bracketology as reference, a case-by-case analysis of the remaining teams is presented.
MICHIGAN 20-10 (10-7 BIG 10)
TULSA 19-10 (11-6 AAC)
OREGON STATE 17-10 (8-8 PAC-12)
Arguably the most talented team on this list, the Wolverines have struggled to put themselves on the map. Wins over then-No. 3 Maryland and No. 23 Texas force the selection committee to look at Michigan, but double-digit losses to No. 20 Purdue, No. 10 Michigan State, No. 16 Iowa and No. 22 Indiana certainly mark flaws on their resume. Look for the Wolverines to sneak in and advance past the first weekend but fall to a high-tier team.
Senior James Woodard has led the Golden Hurricane into breathing distance of a tournament berth. Tulsa impressed early on with a surprising victory over then-No. 9 Wichita State but has played inconsistently since then. One week, this team can take down powerhouse SMU and the next, they can easily fall to an weak Oral Roberts. With their resume of quality wins over Connecticut, SMU and then-No. 22 Cincinnati, Tulsa hopes they have done enough to punch a ticket into the Big Dance.
Similar to LSU’s situation, Oregon State has been wasting away their best player’s talent. Senior Gary Payton II has undoubtedly been the star of the Beavers, but a tough PAC-12 schedule has left them with only 17 wins. Their remaining schedule of road games against USC and UCLA does not bode well for this team, but Payton has faced worse odds before, leading his team to consecutive victories against PAC-12 powerhouses Utah and Colorado.
OHIO STATE 19-11 (11-6 BIG 10)
GONZAGA 23-7 (15-3 WAC)
FLORIDA 17-13 (8-9 SEC)
The Buckeyes have been an enigma all season long. They started out with a disappointing initial stretch, going 2-4 with losses to UT-Arlington and Louisiana Tech. Fortunately, a convincing win against then-No. 4 Kentucky put them back on the radar before entering conference play. From there, the team has sludged through the remaining schedule, putting them fifth in the Big Ten and in position to grab a spot in the tournament. The Buckeyes will need another strong performance from junior Marc Loving to help defeat No. 2 Michigan State if they really want to impress the selection committee.
It’s difficult to imagine this perennial West Coast powerhouse being cut from the final selection of teams. However, a serious underperformance with their loaded roster has put Gonzaga on the chopping block. Losses to No. 19 Arizona, UCLA, No. 25 Texas A&M and No. 16 SMU reflect poorly on this team and are in danger of missing their first tournament appearance in seventeen years. Strong performances from stars Kyle Wiltjer and Domantas Sabonis should have Gonzaga locked in a spot, but an early exit in the conference tournament could spell disaster for this talented team.
With senior Dorian Finney-Smith’s hot shooting, the Gators moved through the SEC schedule with ease, dropping only a few games to ranked opponents. However, a four-streak loss to South Carolina, Vanderbilt, LSU and Kentucky has them singing the blues. Now they sit outside the bubble instead of at the comfortable projected eight seed they held two weeks ago. A loss to Kentucky has likely pushed them outside of the bubble and a miracle run through the SEC tournament remains Florida’s last bit of salvation.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016 By EVAN MERCER Sports reporter --------------------
Once at the bottom of the SEC, the Vanderbilt Commodores made significant progress last season in all aspects of the game. Now, in the third season of this new era, Mason hopes to bring exciting football back to Vanderbilt Stadium, starting with the spring game on March 25. “The energy’s good,” Mason said. “These guys are flying around. We’re getting good reps, guys are practicing with tempo and pace, and execution seems to be up. I like the competitiveness on both sides of the ball.” Many questions remain about this squad, but to begin, Derek Mason and offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig have remained steadfast that there will be a quarterback competition. “It’s a very competitive group,” Ludwig said. “There’s a much better mastery of the system and I’m pleased that they’re making good decisions and protecting the football which is our number one priority. We have a long way to go but I’m pleased with the direction we’re going in.” Early enrollee quarterback Deuce Wallace is already on campus and practicing with the team. However, sophomore Kyle Shurmur’s experience and strong finish of four touchdowns against Tennessee last season give him the edge over the rest of the quarterbacks. Another glaring weakness last season was the lack of receiver talent. Outside of Trent Sherfield, the receivers struggled to make plays. The return
Spring forward
Mason prepares to take ‘Dores to next level BOSLEY JARRETT / THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER
33 down up
of C.J. Duncan from a lower-leg injury brings hope to revitalizing this lackluster offense. “C.J.’s a big time competitor,” Sherfield said. “He’s a very explosive guy. You get the ball to him in space, and he can make people miss. We’ve missed him, and I can see the improvement. He loves being out here, and he loves all the guys. When he makes plays, it’s really just unbelievable.” While Shurmur and his duo of receivers hope to spread the field against opposing secondaries, Mason also continues to emphasize Vanderbilt’s strength: the defensive unit. With Vanderbilt ranked 28th in the nation in total defense, Mason has swiftly turned the Commodore defense into one of the top units in the SEC. The return of linebackers Nigel Bowden and Zach Cunningham alongside the early enrollment of defensive backs Joejuan Williams and Zaire Jones should allow the Commodores to be able to lock down most opposing offenses. The big comeback story will focus on Bowden, though, who missed all but one game last year with a concussion. “What you see is he’s more explosive,” Mason said. “I see his ability to play sideline to sideline. A year ago, he was somewhat deficient in pass coverage at times, and what I’m seeing now is he’s being much better, much quicker, much faster to the spot, and I think that makes him an every-down player, and that’s what you’ve got to be to play in this conference.” The Commodores enter the spring game with high expectations. As long as Mason can continue the trend of improvement, a bowl game invitation is not outside the realm of possibilities.
Illinois-Chicago series
Bryan Reynolds and Jordan Sheffield star in the Commodores’ second weekend series against UIC as No. 2 Vanderbilt stays undefeated thanks to late-game heroics from a freshman by Max Herz, Sports reporter
3 up 1. Reynolds’ resurgence
Bryan Reynolds rebounded from a 1-for-9 opening series against San Diego to go 11-for-20 in five games this past week, including seven hits in 12 at-bats vs. UIC. Reynolds homered on Friday and Saturday, once from each side of the plate, and started Sunday’s game with a two-run double, setting the tone for an early 14-0 lead.
2. Sheffield stays hot
Jordan Sheffield started on Friday night for the second weekend in a row and turned in his best outing as a college pitcher en route to a 9-0 win. Sheffield pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing just five hits and a walk while striking out 11. In a small sample size of 12 innings, Sheffield has walked just three batters per nine innings, way down from his 2015 BB/9 of 6.45. His strikeouts haven’t dipped as his control has improved, with his K/9 at an impressive 13.5 through two starts.
3. The ‘pen is mightier than the sword, my lord’
Matt Ruppenthal delivered five scoreless innings out of the bullpen in Saturday’s 6-5, 14- inning win, striking out eight. Joey Abraham provided an encore performance out of the bullpen on Sunday, striking out eight in 4.2 innings in the 20-8 win. Both sophomore right-handers were used sparingly in 2015, but are valuable bullpen pieces this season, filling either the long relief or late inning roles.
3 down 1. Late letdown
After jumping out to a 14-0 lead over the first four innings, the Commodores let down their guard in the late innings and ended up beating UIC 20-8 in the series finale. The Flames got seven runs in the eighth to spoil the shutout and ruin the pretty scoreline before Vandy responded with six in the bottom of the frame.
2. What’s the score?
Saturday’s 14-inning marathon overlapped with the vast majority of the Vanderbilt/ Kentucky basketball game. Some of the Vanderbilt players ended up getting to the gym just in time to see the final seconds, but the Vandy Boys picked a bad day for extra innings.
3. Rain, rain go away
Tuesday’s midweek against Tennessee Tech was rained out.
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Courtside security was heightened near the end of the Vanderbilt victory over Tennessee basketball game on March 1 in Memorial Gym. This followed the SEC fining Vanderbilt $100,000 for students storming the court after beating Kentucky Saturday.