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IMPACTing
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2015
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VOL. 127, ISS. 7
the dialogue
LIFE
Speakers Committee hopes to broaden campus conversations on inequality with 2015 speakers: Rudy Giuliani, Stephen A. Smith, Anna Deavere Smith and Eugene Robinson SEE PAGE 2
VUT presents ‘Beaux’ Strategem’
Vanderbilt University Theatre brings a romantic twist to the traditional romantic comedy
PAGE 8 SPORTS
OPINION
A love letter to Vanderbilt service workers Joshua Everett writes a love letter to those who make students’ lives comfortable PHOTOS COURTESY OF MCTCAMPUS
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Baseball: 3 up, 3 down
The Commodores took two of three games against the Santa Clara Broncos. We take a look at three positives and three negatives
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campus
QUOTE OF THE DAY “The idea of perception stuck with us, because at the end of the day, that’s really what is driving all of these issues on campus.”
JOHN STEPHENS, SPEAKERS COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR
IMPACT 2015
How You See It: Perceptions of (In)equality Rudy Giuliani
In a year of intensified conversations about inclusivity on campus, annual symposium will address varied perceptions of inequality
Stephen A. Smith
By TYLER BISHOP Editor-in-chief --------------------
PHOTO COURTESY OF MCT CAMPUS
Rudy Giuliani served as the mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001. He is credited with reducing the city’s crime and boosting its economy during his two terms. Giuliani was also mayor during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and was widely praised for his leadership. Giuliani was a top contender for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination. You might recognize him from: The 2008 Presidential Election
Eugene Robinson
PHOTO COURTESY OF MCT CAMPUS
Eugene Robinson is a journalist who works as a columnist and associate editor for The Washington Post. Robinson won the Pulitzer Prize in 2009 for his commentary on the 2008 presidential election. A member of the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame, Robinson has also worked as a South America correspondent in Argentina and a London bureau chief, and has written a book, Disintegration, about the effects of the disintegration of the black community. You might recognize him from: NBC’s Meet the Press
vanderbilthustler STAFF
TYLER BISHOP EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Stephen A. Smith plans to broadcast live from Nashville on ESPN March 17. The television personality — who is known for speaking frankly on social issues like race relations on air — will be in town to speak at IMPACT 2015, along with former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Eugene Robinson and playwright Anna Deavere Smith. Vanderbilt Programming Board’s Speakers Committee, the event’s organizers, hope that the four speakers will continue IMPACT’s history of engaging audiences in the most relevant discourse of the time. However, instead of honing in on a particular controversial political issue like many themes from previous years, the committee chose to take a slightly different route by leaving the topic more open to participants’ interpretation. After discussions about this year’s tumultuous campus dialogue regarding inclusivity, the committee arrived at “How You See It: Perceptions of (In)equality” as the 2015 theme. “We wanted this to be more subtle, more psychological almost, and really hit at the things students are experiencing every day,” said John Stephens, one of two co-chairs of the Speakers Committee. “We wanted something that can apply to everybody as they examine their relationships and their lives — and where they come from.” What is IMPACT? The IMPACT Symposium began at Vanderbilt in 1964 and has developed into one of the oldest university events of its type and caliber. Speakers ranging from
KELLY HALOM — CO-NEWS EDITOR ALLIE GROSS — CO-NEWS EDITOR PRIYANKA ARIBINDI — LIFE EDITOR MOLLY CORN — OPINION EDITOR ALLISON MAST — SPORTS EDITOR SAARA ASIKAINEN — MANAGING EDITOR KARA SHERRER — WEB EDITOR SOPHIE TO — CHIEF COPY EDITOR
RODRIGO VARELA / ESPN IMAGES
Stephen A. Smith is a talk show host, television personality and former sports journalist. In addition to hosting The Stephen A. Smith and Ryan Ruocco Show on ESPN Radio New York 98.7 FM, Smith appears regularly as a sports commentator on ESPN First Take and a columnist on ESPNNY.com. You might recognize him from: ESPN First Take
Anna Deavere Smith
PHOTO COURTESY OF MCT CAMPUS
Anna Deavere Smith is a playwright and actress whose onewoman plays explore themes about race, gender and other social issues in America. Smith has received Obie and Drama Desk awards, nominations for Tony and Pulitzer Prize awards and won the prestigious 2013 Dorothy and Lillian Gish prize. Smith has had television roles on The West Wing and Nurse Jackie. She currently teaches acting at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. You might recognize her from: NBC’s The West Wing
BOSLEY JARRETT — PHOTO DIRECTOR JENNA WENGLER — ART DIRECTOR PHIL DANTA — CHIEF WEB DEVELOPER MADDIE HUGHES — FEATURES EDITOR ANGELICA LASALA — SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR BEN WEINRIB — ASST. SPORTS EDITOR KAREN CHAN — ASST. ART DIRECTOR QUEEN STEVENSON — ASST. OPINION EDITOR ZIYI LIU— ASST. PHOTO DIRECTOR KATHY YUAN — ASST. PHOTO DIRECTOR
DESIGNERS
COPY EDITORS
ZACH BERKOWITZ ZOE SHANCER KATHY ZHOU HAN DEWAN AADITI NAIK CHRISTOPH SPROUL SHARON SI BRIANNA GALGANO
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THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER u WWW.VANDERBILTHUSTLER.COM Robert Kennedy (1968) to Ehud Barak (2013) have made their way to the Vanderbilt campus to engage the community on important topics. In one of the more contentious years, 1967, Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered the keynote alongside U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond, famous for his pro-segregation views. The event spurred protests and riots in Nashville as the city and the Vanderbilt campus grappled with desegregation. Points of debate at previous symposia have also touched on issues like women and gender roles, the place of the United States in global affairs and topics in higher education.
topics. Giuliani is often credited with reducing crime in New York with his enactment of controversial stop-and-frisk policies. He was also the city’s mayor during the attacks on 9/11, which led to a sharp increase in anti-Muslim sentiment nationally. But according to Santapuram, Giuliani is a leader that has maintained much understanding and respect among the Muslim community. “He is someone who respects the religion, but at the same time is a realist,” Santapuram said. “I’m interested to see, now that he’s not running (for president), what his reflections might be.”
This year in (in)equality Vanderbilt has been no stranger to contentious debate during the 2014-2015 school year. A number of students have been active in the post-Ferguson “Black Lives Matter” movement. Multiple demonstrations, discussions, vigils and other events were organized by Vanderbilt Students in Solidarity (VSS) in the wake of a Ferguson grand jury’s decision not to indict a police officer in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown. The movement was only intensified by other incidents, including the chokehold death of Eric Garner in Staten Island, New York. Issues closer to home have been present in campus debate as well. For instance, Hidden Dores was founded in the spring of 2014 with the hope of bringing to light the negative impact of microaggressions and other tacit issues in Vanderbilt culture. Dozens of op-eds and letters have been published in The Hustler on topics pertaining to lingering inequities and problems with race relations at Vanderbilt. The Hustler has even received scrutiny from some pockets of the community for its commitment to publish opinions from students on all sides of every issue. Most recently, an op-ed published in The Tennessean on Jan. 15 by Carol Swain, professor of law and political science, incited an immediate reaction among many students who felt that her op-ed was hate speech and made many Muslim students feel unsafe on campus. A Jan. 17 demonstration on Library Lawn attracted hundreds of students. According to Stephens, the Speakers Committee will brief each speaker on campus events and dialogue so that they can contextualize their addresses. However, getting the speakers to engage on any particular issue will depend on students asking specific questions when given the opportunity. “Q&As are the important times to voice what needs to be voiced from the audience’s perspective,” Stephens said. Pranav Santapuram, the other Speakers Committee cochair, and Stephens hope that Giuliani in particular will be able to provide a unique perspective on a range of relevant
The selection process The Speakers Committee realized early that not every issue pertaining to inequality, given the broad nature of the topic, could be captured in a single three-day event. “We also wanted to bring in women’s and gender issues, but we can’t bite off more than we can chew,” Stephens said. The process began with conversations in October among committee members that led to a list of names for consideration. According to Stephens, there were two ways they could have gone about it: chasing one prominent speaker and forming the theme around her or him, or working from a predetermined theme. The committee went with the latter. The committee’s initial discussions actually centered on issues pertaining to cyber-security and technology given its presence in international dialogue. But as the year progressed, Stephens said the conversations among committee members were dominated by issues of inequality, but not necessarily just regarding civil rights. The committee wanted to include often overlooked issues like inequality of opportunity, treatment and perception. “The idea of perception stuck with us, because at the end of the day, that’s really what is driving all of these issues on campus. If it is people reacting to Carol Swain’s perspective, that’s what it was. If people are reacting from different perspectives to the tragedy in Ferguson, that’s exactly what the protests saw,” Stephens said. With this in mind, the Speakers Committee began the process of reaching out to speakers’ bureaus and agents to begin negotiations on availability and pricing. Sometimes bookings are prevented by issues like scheduling conflicts, contractual disagreements or financial constraints. This year, for instance, Spike Lee and Nashville Police Chief Steve Anderson, whose letter regarding the civility of Nashville protests received national attention, were considered, but did not work out. But for Giuliani, Stephen A. Smith, Anna Deavere Smith and Robinson, the dates and contracts were cleared. The Speakers Committee hopes that the lineup balances the attention-grabbing excitement with the ability to engage issues on a genuinely meaningful level. “We wanted to use Stephen A. Smith to bring in audiences that are receptive to the message but might not be so enthusiastic about IMPACT in the first place,” Stephens said. “Speakers Committee is doing its best work when we can excite people and then also surprise them with what is being discussed.” Stephens pointed to Bill Nye as an example of a speaker who brought many people through the doors, therefore exposing them to something they may not have been exposed to otherwise. The specifics of what each speaker will address are still being developed. However, Anna Deavere Smith often incorporates dramatic elements into her speaking performances, tracing the lives of individuals and their interactions. She will speak Monday, March 16 in Sarratt Cinema, which Stephens said Speakers Committee hopes provides more of an intimate setting. “We hope the audience there will be able to engage with her directly,” he said. Stephen A. Smith and Eugene Robinson will appear together in a moderated Q&A-style discussion in Langford Auditorium on Tuesday, March 17. “The thing that both of these people have in common is that they’re both prominent figures in the media,” Stephens said. “We’re hoping that they’ll have views on what it’s been
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Q&As are the important times to voice what needs to be voiced from the audience’s perspective.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2015
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Speakers Committee is doing its best work when we can excite people and then also surprise them with what is being discussed.
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like personally in the professional world, but also in the topics they cover because, in sports and politics, race comes up all the time.” Rudy Giuliani will speak in Langford on Wednesday, March 18. “Eventually a lot of the problems we have will need to be addressed in legislation and policy, but with those no legislation is perfect and will have consequences,” Stephens said. “I think Giuliani can bring nuance and realistic perspectives to what we’re dealing with.” The primary goal at the end of the day for the Speakers Committee is to challenge the perspectives of students. “Looking into all the discussions we have, we definitely try to keep the student body at our forefront.” Santapuram said. “I hope they’ll walk away from it maybe disagreeing with (some of) what was said. We’re here to keep the conversation going after IMPACT.”
TICKETS Tickets will be available Feb. 18 and are free for Vanderbilt students with a university ID (limit one per student), free for Vanderbilt faculty and staff with a university ID (limit two per person), and $10 for the general public for each event. Tickets are available at the Sarratt Student Center box office and at all Ticketmaster outlets.
APPLY FOR 2015-2016 SPEAKERS COMMITTEE Applications for VPB’s 2015-2016 Speakers Committee will be live until Feb. 20 and can be found on AnchorLink.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2015
CAMPUS
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Posse scholars bring ‘NYC flavor’ to campus 25 years after its inception at Vanderbilt, the Posse Foundation continues to play a valuable role at Vanderbilt and across the nation By ANNA BURTICO News reporter --------------------
When a promising student from New York City told educator Deborah Bial that he would have “never dropped out of college if I had my posse with me,” the Posse Foundation was born. “That’s where the origin of the (Posse) name came from — the foundation was started 25 years ago, and that was the ‘in-term,’” said Bryan Stromer, a current sophomore in Posse. Understanding that scholars might benefit from supportive teams at competitive universities, Bial began a scholarship foundation to bring promising urban scholars and leaders to top-tier universities. Vanderbilt was Posse’s first partner institution, supporting five New York City students in 1989. Since then, the program has expanded and offers on average 10 Vanderbilt scholarships to New York City students every year. There are now
nine cities around the nation that have Posse programs that send scholars to more than 50 universities. “It was honestly this very small idea that exploded, that people believed in. People in New York believed in it, people at Vanderbilt believed in it. Enough people believed and really, really put their heart and soul into it, that now, 25 years later, there are so many cities and so many universities involved. I can’t believe I’m a part of it,” said Sarah D’Amico, a junior Posse member. Applicants must go through a competitive process to be awarded the scholarship. “It’s a very selective scholarship program. Thousands of kids across the United States apply for the program every year, and you are basically applying for 10 spots for the school of your choice. There’s a huge screening process,” said Jamal Marcelin, a sophomore member of Posse. Applicants have to undergo three rounds of interviews that last from two to three hours each. Students are observed in group settings and are questioned about leadership positions and skills. “Posse is really trying to bring that New York flavor to campus, meaning that we’re coming to Vanderbilt to be leaders on campus, change-makers, game-changers etc. Even though Vanderbilt is incredibly diverse and there are so many perspectives, there isn’t always that New York City public high school perspective, you know, riding the subways, being on the bus. And what Posse does is really brings us together as a cohort,” Stromer said. Posse aims to create bonds and friendships among members, hoping that unlike Deborah Biel’s former student,
all members will support one another through graduation. Christine Lim, a first-year student, explains how Posse focuses on easing the transition to Vanderbilt. “It’s a support system that follows you before college — when you receive the call that notified you that you are a Posse scholar — since that moment on, you are supported by a whole network of mentors, people all around NYC, all around the Posse-partnered states,” Lim said. “They support you all along the way, until graduation, and even after graduation, there is a whole Posse work network where Posse alumni come back with other Posse alumni/Posse members through the workforce.” Posse prides itself in bringing diversity to campus, whether it be in race, background, thought or experience. By awarding the scholarship to prospective leaders, the organization hopes to increase meaningful discussions on campus. This is exemplified through the annual PossePlus Retreat. Posse members spend a weekend at a campsite discussing the theme of the weekend and are encouraged to invite at least two people from the outside-Posse community to join them. This year’s theme was Crime and Punishment. “We asked questions like, ‘Is our justice system fair?’ It was really having these deep and really bold conversations that you might not normally have in other places on campus. What Posse does is create an environment, create a space where people can really speak their truth,” Stromer said. The Posse Foundation doesn’t contain their “posse” to just New York and takes this retreat as an opportunity to expand friendship networks and campus perspectives. First-year Posse member Mary Casey said that the retreat allowed her
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to meet many new people she might not have met otherwise. “Hear(ing) other people’s stories about the topic really opened up your perspective and your mind to what else is out there — how we can bring this issue of ‘Crime and Punishment’ back to campus with discussions about sexual assault and self-segregation,” said Mary Casey, a first-year in Posse. The PossePlus Retreat is the organization’s way of explaining to the Vanderbilt campus what Posse is.
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Posse prides itself in bringing diversity to campus, whether it be in race, background, thought or experience.
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“I think one of the common misconceptions about Posse is that people think that Posse kids are all here because of some financial need or some kind of deficit, or something like that. But it’s really not like that. Posse is need-blind and has been around for 25 years and has been getting these urban leaders that they think can be making changes on campuses,” said Valencia Clement, a Posse junior. The newest class of Posse Scholars was selected this December, through early admission. In August of this coming year, 10 new Posse Scholars will come to campus to continue the legacy that Posse has built over the last 25 years.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHRISTINE LIM
From left to right: first-year Posse scholars Tawanna McPherson, Nicholas Lazarra, Kenya Wright, Ciarra Leocadio, Carluto Toussaint, Mary Casey, Roberto Colon, Christine Lim, Sydney Smart, Daniel Clark, and Niles Ellis at the Vanderbilt Posse 25th Anniversary Gala in New York City.
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opinion
QUOTE OF THE DAY “If Vanderbilt truly values ‘equality, compassion, and excellence in all endeavors,’ as its mission states, those values should inform how they treat people who work at the lowest end of the pay scale within the institution.”
JOSHUA EVERETT
Dear Vandy service workers, A love letter to the those who make students’ lives comfortable
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his is for the people who clean our toilets. For those who have no choice but to brave the Rand lunch rush because they’re serving is a senior in the College it. For those who make sure the grounds stay neat of Arts and Science. He can be reached at and the trashes stay emptied. For those who have joshua.everett@vander- to mop up every drunken mess we make. For those bilt.edu. whom many of us only acknowledge when we notice something wrong. For those who are under the economic repression of being a service worker at Vanderbilt. Despite the myriad circumstances that might lead you to think otherwise, you are loved and appreciated. It would be easy to see why you might find this hard to believe. Through its actions, Vanderbilt’s administration has shown how little it values your contributions. After workers organized a successful living wage campaign in 2007, Vanderbilt staggered and scattered the shift times of custodial workers to make it more difficult for them to organize among themselves in the future. Now almost eight years later, many of those same custodial workers who have been here for decades have had their jobs outsourced to Aramark after Vanderbilt chose to privatize the third shift of custodial work. Neither custodial workers nor dining workers make a living wage, and despite the fact that many dining workers are laid off during the summer months, they are not allowed by Vanderbilt to collect unemployment. It seems that Vanderbilt has more concern for its bottom line than for the well-being of its most critical workforce. Without you, the people who do service work, Vanderbilt would falter. Not only do you keep the university functioning on a daily basis, but you also provide much needed counsel to students when we need it most. You make sure all of our service needs as a community are met and provide a soul force that can’t be measured in dollars and cents. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance.” If Vanderbilt truly believes this, we should not be debating if you all deserve a living wage. We should ensure that you don’t have to pay more than $300 parking. We should
JOSHUA EVERETT
vanderbilthustler EDITORIAL BOARD TYLER BISHOP, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF editor@vanderbilthustler.com
KELLY HALOM
PRIYANKA ARIBINDI
NEWS EDITOR news@vanderbilthustler.com
LIFE EDITOR life@vanderbilthustler.com
MOLLY CORN
ALLISON MAST
OPINION EDITOR opinion@vanderbilthustler. com
SPORTS EDITOR sports@vanderbilthustler.com
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The measure of a university is the wellbeing of its most vulnerable populations.
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provide some kind of compensation for workers who are laid off during summer months. We must refuse to outsource our community only to cut costs, especially to a corporation as disreputable as Aramark. If Vanderbilt truly values “equality, compassion, and excellence in all endeavors,” as its mission states, those values should inform how they treat people who work at the lowest end of the pay scale within the institution. The measure of a university is not how many fancy buildings it has. It’s not the salary of the Chancellor (reportedly $2 million annually). It’s not the size of the endowment ($4 billion). It’s not the amount of research funding pulled in by professors. It’s not even the retention or graduation rate. The measure of a university is the well-being of its most vulnerable populations. In this category, Vanderbilt is far from elite. This institution has a great wealth of material resources but suffers from a poverty of moral rectitude. Despite all this, your lives are valuable and your work is irreplaceable. The resistance you have shown to Vanderbilt’s attempts to stifle your power as a labor force does not come from a place of ungratefulness or entitlement. On the contrary, it’s driven by a righteous indignation against injustice. Your insistence on being treated fairly no matter the pay grade is a continuation of the legacy of resistance that
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
connects you all with folks like rank-and-file civil rights leaders Fanny Lou Hamer, Angela Davis, Ella Baker, Bobby Seale, A. Philip Randolph and countless others. With this historical tradition in mind, the struggle for a living wage is not merely a choice, but a moral imperative. Resisting Aramark is not a matter of shaking down one corporation. It is the duty of anyone within or outside of the university setting who claims to value fairness and equity. As the great freedom fighter Assata Shakur once said, “It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains.” Vanderbilt service workers: Keep fighting, keep winning, keep living. We’re here with you and we love you.
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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The new ‘Kisslammed’
Ballot system for Warren and Moore leaves something to be desired PAXTON GAMMIE is a first-year in the College of Arts and Science. She can be reached at paxton.a.gammie@ vanderbilt.edu.
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ast month, students who plan on living on campus next year (that is, every student besides the approximately 400 rising seniors who are eligible to live off campus) were required to register for housing for next year. Being a current first-year, I began looking around the housing website after I registered in order to look at my options for next year in the “Spring 2015 Guide to Housing.” As a side note, the guide to housing doubles as a means for advertising for seemingly random outside businesses as well as on-campus organizations. For example, on the second page, which is where I was expecting to find some sort of table of contents, there were two advertisements, one for Vineyard Vines and the other for Goodwill, positioned on top of each other. Later on, there is an advertisement for tattoo removal. The whole thing is just kind of hilarious, but that is beside the point. Beyond the mass of advertising, there was actual information about housing, which is where things became more interesting. It was pretty fascinating reading about all the residence halls I never even knew existed. Although the housing guide was helpful in discovering things about Vandy I had no idea existed, I was still a bit unsure about where I wanted to live. Kissam, or the “Warren and Moore Colleges,” as the housing guide strictly called it, caught my eye, especially because it is a living and learning community, just like
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Essentially, those who currently live in Kissam get priority above any other student, which is not the case for any other living arrangement.
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Commons. I decided to go to a housing meeting on Commons to learn the major differences between Kissam and Branscomb, which was my other main option. I obviously knew Kissam and Branscomb are inherently different, due to both their locations and general atmosphere, but I had also heard Kissam was a really nice place to live, so I wanted to learn more about it. The housing meeting essentially crushed my dreams of ever living in Kissam, which was admittedly disheartening and confusing. Because I want to live in a four-person suite next year, Branscomb is really my only option. The meeting did not actually discuss Branscomb or the living situations
there, but the housing representative explained that sophomores cannot have four-person suites in any of the other living situations. Although no one ever regards Branscomb as a necessarily “nice” place to live, it seems fun and has a nice location, and for that I accept it. What I can’t understand or accept is the way that Kissam’s lottery system works. Basically, if a student doesn’t live in Kissam sophomore year, he or she has almost no chance of living there his or her junior or senior year because of the unique balloting system used. Essentially, those who currently live in Kissam get priority above any other student, which is not the case for any other living arrangement. It seems odd that one of the only upperclassman living and learning communities is pretty much impossible to live in unless a person commits to live there their sophomore year. It is unfair that if a rising sophomore wants to live in anything but a single or double, he or she can never live in Kissam, because sophomores have practically zero chance of getting a suite there due to the lottery points system. And while it makes sense to give seniors the most points in the lottery, it does not make sense to make Kissam out of reach to those who don’t live there sophomore year. Kissam should follow the same point system and lottery as all other residence halls on campus in order to make it available and fair to all students.
News and lies
What happens when a respected journalist loses our trust?
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n 2009, the now-suspended Brian Williams was awarded the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism. Cronkite himself expressed how much of a fan he was of Williams, who brought credit to the television news profession as anchor and managing editor of the “NBC Nightly News.” Fast-forward to last week MARALEI BUNN where we now know that Williams lied about his personal experience with a number of stories, is a senior in the including the Iraq War and Hurricane Katrina. College of Arts and In the same week, Jon Stewart, the “most trusted Science and the man in America,” announced his eventual exit station manager of VandyRadio. She from “The Daily Show,” a millennial favorite he can be reached at had been anchoring since 1999. maralei.h.bunn@ “The Daily Show” was a new type of news: vanderbilt.edu. “infotainment,” where a non-network show provided news content in a satirical, comedic fashion. It is still the most-watched news source among 18- to 39-year-olds. Although a program like the “NBC Nightly News” is considered to be serious and more legitimate, a comedian, not a true journalist, is considered to be the “most trusted.” In a world where it is predictable that “Fair and Balanced” Fox News is going to have a conservative spin, MSNBC is predictably liberal and the 24-hour news cycle is just a constant flow of “bad news,” at the end of the day people just want to laugh. We are tired of “legitimate” news sources, so we turn to comedy to both entertain
and inform. Sometimes we as Americans underestimate the amount of trust we put into the news media. In this fast-paced world, they are our eyes and ears to the outside. I check my weather app each morning, trusting that it’ll give me an accurate prediction (or close to accurate; this is Nashville after all); when CNN breaks that there’s been another beheading by ISIS, I trust that they’ll tell me when it happened, who it was and what the U.S. response will be. When The Vanderbilt Hustler reports on a statement Chancellor Zeppos made on the rape case, I expect accuracy, too. My concern with journalistic accuracy has nothing to do with bias in the media, because everyone with a basic understanding of anything knows that there is bias in the media. However, when I turn on Fox News or MSNBC, I should be assured that the essential information of a news story will be the same across the board. But, when someone who is supposed to be credible says he saw bodies floating in the flooded French Quarter when there was no flooding there, we have a problem. It leaves one wondering if Williams dressed up the details of other stories he has covered. Instead of being informed, we are looking at the world through an obscured lens. I don’t have the answer for how we can hold
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We are tired of ‘legitimate’ news sources, so we turn to comedy to both entertain and inform.
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journalists accountable for their statements, but those of the educated class need to be aware of the news cycle and its potential for lies. We as Vanderbilt students should know how to think critically about what we are reading, as journalists on both sides of the aisle tend to embellish. At the same time, (future) news reporters must always keep in mind that their responsibility is to always be truthful. Since 1999, Stewart has met that responsibility, but now he is going to pass that mantle to someone else by the end of this year. Whoever replaces Stewart will need to uphold the most important journalistic value: trustworthiness. Without a trustworthy source, we lose our ability to see and think about the world as it is.
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life
GO DO ANYF (Asian New Year Festival)
THIS Saturday, Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m. Langford Auditorium
ANYF is an annual showcase at Vanderbilt that features performances highlighting 11 different Asian cultures. This year’s show is themed “Avatar: The Quest for Appa,” and in addition to the performances, dinner featuring Asian cuisine catered by various Nashville restaurants will be available before the show. Tickets are on sale at the Sarratt Box Office and on the wall for $10, and $15 for dinner and the show.
PHOTOS BY ZIYI LI / THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER
Vanderbilt University Theatre’s production “The Beaux’ Stratagem” opened Feb. 13 to a full house in Neely Auditorium.
VUT brings Romanticism to Valentine’s weekend ‘The Beaux’ Stratagem’ brings an adventurous twist to the traditional rom-com By Shreya Shanker, Life reporter
Sly disguises, sword fights and smooth moves — these are the essential components that make up VUT’s latest production, “The Beaux’ Stratagem.” This action-packed twist on the traditional romantic comedy opened Valentine’s Day weekend to large crowds, but as the month of love continues, audiences will have the opportunity to catch the show as it’s staged again in Neely Auditorium this coming weekend. The play itself is an 18th-century comedy featuring two broke gentleman posing as lords, on the search for wealthy women to marry so that they can restore their lost fortunes. In the first town they visit, they run into an assortment of interesting characters, from the esteemed healer Lady Bountiful to the scheming landlord Boniface, and as they try to avoid being outed as poor Londoners, they’re met with a highwayman’s tricky plot and romance in the unlikeliest of places. Between whom, you may ask? Well, you’ll have to see for yourselves, but the show kept audiences easily entertained as that storyline developed. “The Beaux’ Stratagem” had the audience laughing continuously from the first few lines, and all the credit for that goes to the marvelous cast, whose stellar sense of comedic timing made the formal, Restoration-era
script accessible to college students and Nashville locals. The few moments of interaction with the people in the stands — including asides where the characters came out into the audience as they delivered monologues to specific audience members — kept us thoroughly involved with the plot. When the cast finally takes their bows at the end of the nearly 2.5-hour production, it’s easy to find yourself wanting to experience the show from the start all over again. The costume design transported us back to the 1700s, with the women in period-style bustles and bonnets, while the seemingly simple set concealed a variety of hidden doors that allowed for the audience to experience the most delightful eavesdroppings and misunderstandings as they took place over the course of the plot. Whether you’re a fan of romance or not, it would be a mistake to miss out on this play. Even though the runtime for the performance clocks in at around two and a half hours, once it’s over, you’ll find yourself wishing for more. VUT’s “The Beaux’ Stratagem” will be staged at Neely Auditorium at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 19-21.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2015
Loving Biscuit Love
LIFE
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The newest in Nashville brunch options introduces us to our new favorite breakfast pastry — the bonut By EMMA WITHERINGTON Life reporter --------------------
If there’s one thing that Nashville does well, it’s brunch, and The Hustler may have found your new favorite spot. From the popular Biscuit Love truck comes Biscuit Love — a brick and mortar location of the longtime Nashville favorite, opened in late January. Hidden just off of 11th Avenue South in the heart of the Gulch, Biscuit Love offers a winning Southern comfort menu coupled with an inviting atmosphere. The restaurant features high ceilings and large glass windows that light up the open interior, with a giant Nashville sign hanging over tables lining the walls. The restaurant operates similarly to Fido — after ordering from a counter, the service to your table is swift, but doesn’t compromise on the quality and presentation of the food. In addition to full-service brunch, the restaurant offers a pastry grab-and-go counter, perfect for busy students who want a quick taste of Biscuit Love’s specialty menu item: “bonuts.” Paired well with one of Biscuit Love’s decorated lattes, bonuts are a tasty twist on two classic pastries, combining a biscuit with a doughnut for fluffy perfection in doughnut-hole size for easy sharing among friends. The fried biscuit dough,
dusted with sugar, is filled with a silky lemon mascarpone, adding savory tartness to every bite. And if that isn’t enough, they’re topped with a fresh blueberry compote, complementing the dish with fruity sweetness. Additional items on the full menu include steak and eggs, vegetarian grits, hash browns, and fried chicken with gravy, among several other Southern brunch staples and more common lunch options, but the bonuts are a “can’t-miss” hallmark of the experience. What’s more is that Biscuit Love prides itself on sourcing all of its food from local farms and suppliers, ensuring all produce and ingredients are top quality and ethically produced. Be it for the brunch or just the bonuts, Biscuit Love is certainly worth checking out to escape the midterm blues, but this spot isn’t for the nightowls — with hours from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., the joint is open for breakfast, lunch and weekend
PHOTOS COURTESY OF EMMA WITHERINGTON
brunch, so plan ahead. Even if it’s just for a short visit, the Southern charm of Biscuit Love’s menu and ambiance will surely bring you back for more.
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Randy Tarkington’s picks: Nashville’s best eats As the senior director of Vanderbilt’s Residential Education, Randy Tarkington spends lots of time managing the housing situations on campus, but he is known for his love of restaurants, coffee shops and activities that lie outside the Vandy Bubble. The Hustler sat down with Tarkington to hear about his “go-to” spots within Music City By Anna Butrico, Life reporter HOT-SPOT RESTAURANTS
FAST CASUAL
When it comes to Nashville’s best, Tarkington starts with food. “You have to check out the restaurant scene now in Nashville because it is becoming such a destination for really great chefs (and) interesting ideas,” he said.
When it comes to eating around Nashville, Tarkington’s recommendations don’t stop at the trendiest spots in town. When it comes to casual fan favorites, he has many a suggestion that will satisfy your taste buds, wallets and, depending on when you go, your time constraints too.
Marche: The sister restaurant to the popular farm-to-table Margot Cafe, Marche is known for its fresh brunch and signature seasonal tartines, and according to Tarkington is worth the wait in line. The menu changes daily and though they don’t take reservations, if you’re willing to wait, the cozy, communal table restaurant never disappoints. Etch: “I’m also a big fan of Etch,” Tarkington said. “Deb Paquette is the chef, who has had a long-time history in Nashville.” One of Nashville’s highest-rated restaurants, Etch is known for its unique flavors. Its roasted cauliflower appetizer is renowned and you can’t miss the entrees — for both their taste and their inventive presentation. Rolf and Daughters: Germantown is a short drive from campus, but it is a hot spot for restaurant locations as well. Tarkington praised Rolf and Daughters as a “trendy, cool place to go eat.” This neighborhood eatery puts a twist on traditional Italian and offers new takes on nearly every variety of pasta.
Mas Tacos Por Favor: Among Nashville’s many Mexican options is Mas Tacos Por Favor, which serves a fried, avocado taco that Tarkington says will “really rock your world.” The fast-casual eatery, which originally started as a local food truck, has attracted customers from throughout town since it established its first brick and mortar location, and is known as a no-frills favorite. The Pharmacy and Burger Up: When it comes to burgers and student budgets, Tarkington has two suggestions that will meet the needs of both with The Pharmacy and Burger Up. In a town with countless classic burger joints, these two stand out to Tarkington for their flavors and their reasonable prices. Located in East Nashville and 12 South respectively, the two are known for offering up some of the best food in town while serving the most burger for your buck, and are great spots to enjoy good food with friends or family.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
NASHVILLE CLASSICS Aside from the trendy joints and the casual spots, Tarkington has one more category of can’t-miss Nashville eats, saying these are things that are “uniquely Nashville — that all students should check out at some point and time.” Loveless Cafe: According to Tarkington, most people have been to Loveless Cafe, but that doesn’t keep it from the top of his list. “You need a car, but it’s down-home cooking, known for their biscuits most importantly,” he said. Monell’s: “In that same vein, especially with a group of friends ... go somewhere like Monell’s, which is served family-style,” Tarkington said. “You just sit at the table ... and the (homestyle) food just starts coming.” Arnold’s Country Kitchen: Arnold’s on Eighth Avenue is also a classic Southern restaurant, with a great “Meat and Three” menu. This style serves up a selection of meats, as well as three vegetables, and according to Tarkington, it’s one of the best homestyle spots in town.
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THE BIG STAT Third baseman Penn Murfee’s on-base percentage in his first collegiate appearance on Saturday.
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Vanderbilt baseball’s opening series Vanderbilt baseball won two out of three games in its season opening series against Santa Clara at Hawkins Field over the weekend. The Commodores won 4-0 on Friday, then split Saturday’s doubleheader, losing game one 7-6 before winning the nightcap 6-5. Here are three positives and three negatives to take from the weekend By Max Herz, Sports reporter
3 up Top Sheff wins his first duel 22 months after Tommy John Surgery ended his senior season of high school ball, Jordan Sheffield made his long-awaited college debut in game two of Saturday’s doubleheader. With the score tied in the seventh inning, Sheffield came out of the bullpen and stranded both of his inherited baserunners. He then finished the eighth, ninth and 10th innings without giving up a run, reaching 96 mph on his fastball in freezing temperatures. “I’m so proud of that kid,” said Dansby Swanson on Sheffield’s first college outing. “He’s come such a long way. He’s matured, he’s just grown so much and I can’t really say enough about him.” After a grueling rehabilitation process, Sheffield picked up the win in his Commodore debut as Vanderbilt won 6-5 in 10 innings.
Mmm mmm good Tyler Campbell made the most of his opportunity on the big stage at the 2014 College World Series as Xavier Turner served a suspension. With Turner still ineligible, the Portland, Oregon native is getting his first-ever shot at everyday-playing time as a junior. Playing second base and batting ninth, Campbell made his presence known in Vanderbilt’s Opening Day victory, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and a walk. No other Commodore had multiple hits in the win. “I like Tyler. I thought he handled himself well,” said Vanderbilt Coach Tim Corbin. “He handled the zone well; he didn’t chase out of the zone. I thought he had a good heartbeat for the game today offensively. He’s going to play good defense.” With five hits in 13 at-bats through three games, the second base position is certainly Campbell’s moving forward.
Trying new foods Vanderbilt won its first seven games last season and didn’t drop a single weekend contest in non-conference play. The 2014 Commodores didn’t play extra innings until their final regular season series and did not record a walk-off win until the Nashville Regional. In just one weekend, this year’s Commodores lost a game, played beyond nine innings and walked-off as winners, experiences which will benefit the team moving forward. “I think it was definitely a weekend of growth,” Swanson said. After losing its second game, VU headed to extras in the following contest, in which the same man who walked things off on June 1, 2014, did the trick again, this time in front of a much smaller audience. Ro Coleman knocked in Jeren Kendall in the 10th inning to achieve a doubleheader split and a series victory. Nine players made their college baseball debuts in the series, and the Commodores will certainly learn from the many firsts they experienced versus Santa Clara.
ZIYI LIU / THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER
Designated hitter Ro Coleman makes contact duirng Sunday’s second game against Santa Clara. Coleman knocked in the game-winning run in the 10th inning, giving the Commodores the series win.
3 down A bit too hot Three of Vanderbilt’s most promising pitchers struggled with their command to start the year. John Kilichowski, Hayden Stone and Tyler Ferguson combined to surrender nine runs while walking nine Bronco batters and throwing five wild pitches over 6.2 total innings. Kilichowski’s first collegiate start ended earlier than expected due to control issues. Despite the lefty’s early exit, Stone had the opportunity to hold a one-run Vanderbilt lead in the ninth. Two of Stone’s nasty sliders couldn’t be corralled by catcher Jason Delay, letting a pair of runs come in and costing Vanderbilt the game in a 7-6 loss. In the series finale, just 16 of Ferguson’s 46 pitches were strikes, prompting Corbin to go to the pen in the third inning. The junior walked five of the 12 batters he faced. All three will certainly have many chances to bounce back moving forward.
Butterfingers The third inning of Saturday’s second game was the peak of a nightmarish day for Vanderbilt’s typically strong defense. Three of the four Commodore infielders committed errors in a four at-bat period. With Vandy up 2-1, Zander Wiel dropped an easy throw at first to load the bases. On a chopper to third base, Penn Murfee gunned for the force-out at home, but his throw sailed wide of Delay and all four runners were safe. Following a clean double play by the infield, on which another Bronco scored to reclaim the lead, Swanson mishandled a sharp grounder to shortstop which could’ve ended the half inning. Another base runner scored on the play to give Santa Clara a 4-2 lead and cap off a three-run inning, which contained three Commodore errors and zero Bronco hits. “We didn’t play clean baseball,” Swanson said. “We’ve definitely got to get better in those areas, and we will. That’s one thing that we don’t take easy.”
Shaken and stirred
BOSLEY JARRETT / THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER
Closer Hayden Stone pitches during the second game of the series against Santa Clara on Saturday.
Unexpectedly, Bryan Reynolds begins the year as the club’s starting center fielder with Nolan Rogers roaming left field. Reynolds started all but one game of last season in left field, with John Norwood mostly in center. With Norwood gone to the professional ranks, it appeared that Rogers would take his spot after seeing time in center field last year. Instead, Rogers started all three games of the Santa Clara series in left with Reynolds in center. Rogers struggled at times reading the ball off the bat, and his complete misjudgment of a fly ball put freshman Joey Abraham in a tough spot late in a tie game on Saturday. Rogers also miscalculated a fly ball in his first career start in left field — against Texas A&M in April 2014 — behind former Commodore hurler Tyler Beede in a 10-4 loss. Although Reynolds’ athleticism makes sense in center field, Rogers’ inexperience in left was evident over the weekend.
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The ’Dores you know
going pro
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2015
Looking back at the some of the more prominent professional athletes who started their careers in a Vanderbilt uniform
Jordan Matthews: rookie stands out from the rest By MATT CITAK Sports reporter --------------------
Going into the 2014 NFL draft, it was quite clear that there was a lot of depth at the wide receiver position. In fact, five were selected in the first round alone. While many teams clamored over guys like Sammy Watkins and Mike Evans, Philadelphia Eagles Coach Chip Kelly had his eye on someone else. Kelly traded up to the 42nd pick to select Jordan Matthews, and when the season came to an end, Kelly was certainly happy about this decision. Vanderbilt’s all-time leader in receptions, yards and touchdowns played in all 16 games during his rookie season and caught 67 passes for 872 yards and eight touchdowns. His first career touchdown reception came in Week Three against the Wash-
ington Redskins (he also notched his second career touchdown reception in the same game). However, after that, Matthews failed to gain more than 50 receiving yards in a game until Week 10. A big reason for this was the play of Eagles quarterback Nick Foles. In the eight games he appeared in, Foles passed for only 13 touchdowns and had a completion percentage under 60 percent. As soon as Foles went down in Week Nine, Matthews emerged as backup quarterback Mark Sanchez’s go-to guy. With Sanchez under center, the former Commodore secured six of his eight touchdowns and had his only three 100-yard receiving games. The highlight of Matthews’ rookie season came in Week 10, where he secured seven receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns. While there were some concerns heading into the season about his ability to gain separation from de-
fenders, Matthews seemed to silence those doubts. His toughness, work ethic and smarts make him an ideal No. 2 wide receiver behind Jeremy Maclin going forward for the Eagles. He also has the ability to play both inside and outside, a skill not all NFL receivers contain. His pass-catching abilities make him the perfect receiver to line up opposite Maclin, and the two make quite the deadly combination. Heading into the 2015 season, there is a lot to be excited about with Matthews. With his 103 targets as a rookie, it would not surprise anyone to see Matthews hit 75 catches next season. Matthews, Maclin, Riley Cooper, LeSean McCoy and Zach Ertz make up one of the most dangerous offensive groups in the NFL. If Chip Kelly can find the right quarterback to take the reigns of the offense, there is no telling what this team can accomplish.
KEVIN BARNETT / THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER
Wide reciever Jordan Matthews celebrates a 17-13 win over Auburn in 2012. The Commodores went on to finish the season 9-4.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2015
SPORTS
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Macdonald makes a difference on and off the court for 21 seasons
COLUMN
By JOSH ULINO Sports reporter --------------------
Women’s tennis coach Geoff Macdonald advises sophomore Sydney Campbell during a match.
JOE HOWELL / VUCOMMODORES
Can you name Vanderbilt’s longesttenured coach? You’re not alone if you can’t. Coach Geoff Macdonald is in his 21st year with the women’s tennis team. In an age of constantly changing coaches across all sports, Macdonald’s longevity, and what he’s been able to do with this team in all of his years here, is something to be celebrated. After sitting with Macdonald, it’s easy to see why he has had so much success in his many years at Vanderbilt. As I walked into his office on a cold Thursday afternoon, he greeted me as if I were an old friend, despite having only met him once at practice the previous day. The first thing he asked me was if I wanted to walk over to Quiznos with him and grab a sandwich. The entire time, despite my being there to interview him, he took a genuine interest in me, asking me a variety of questions. It is this genuine caring
that makes him such a great person and coach. Macdonald’s love for tennis started later than most. Growing up, he played just about every sport except for tennis. In seventh grade, as his mom was driving him to a baseball tryout after his family had recently moved to Naples, Florida, their car was rearended, he missed the tryout and his mom got whiplash. She had signed up for a series of tennis lessons, but she wasn’t going to be able to take them, so she suggested that the young Macdonald take them in her place. He said he was “mortified because (he) didn’t think it was a ‘real sport.’” After those lessons, though, Macdonald fell in love with tennis and played every day for the next two years. He and his friend would ride their bikes out to the tennis courts and play against anybody they could, including “older people, ladies’ groups who needed a fourth in doubles” and future Wimbledon Doubles champion JoAnne Russell. From this small park in Naples, Macdonald would learn many lessons and increase his skill to the point where he was able to play tennis at the University of Virginia and on the World Tour for three years. After being on the tour, Macdonald went back to school, enrolling in a graduate program at the University of Florida in fictional writing. Both his wife (who is the head of the creative writing department at Vanderbilt) and what he learned during graduate school have contributed to his writing skills and desire to always be learning and observing in tennis. From approximately 10 years ago
until just last year, Macdonald wrote for The New York Times on a tennis blog, analyzing some of the biggest and most important matches going on in the world. Not only was he able to write for a newspaper that he reads every weekend, but he was also able to analyze game strategy, learn more about tennis and use everything that he’s learned to make himself a better strategist and coach. Macdonald is a lifelong student of the game. While playing on the tour, he was constantly learning and strategizing. From there, he got his first job coaching at LSU. At the time, LSU was the worst team in the SEC, but Macdonald made them the top team in the SEC in his three short years there. After LSU, Macdonald spent three years at Duke, where he made them the top team in the ACC. At both locations, he won Coach of the Year for their respective conferences once. In his 21 years at Vanderbilt, Macdonald has won two SEC Coach of the Year awards and has taken Vanderbilt from being a .500 team to a perennial powerhouse. While it seems like success naturally follows Macdonald, he likes to emphasize that this is not the case. In his first year at LSU after jumping right into the SEC — one of the country’s premier conferences for women’s tennis — he experienced his fair share of losses. Macdonald emphasizes that he “doesn’t love winning as much as (he) hates to lose.” Because of this, he adopted a philosophy that he has brought with him to every school that he has coached at: a lot of hard work, hours of individual attention and
a constant study of the game. In his own words, he wants his players to learn “how to work hard and that it’s all one discipline. The way you go through college tennis is an imprint of how you’re going to take on other challenges. If you do it really well, your studies come up, you become more motivated about your future and you become a person who is a person of character who works really hard and is reliable.” To Macdonald, it’s all about buying into the system in order to become a better player, student and person. Outside of the countless hours of individual attention he spends with his players to make them better, the other aspect of his philosophy that he wants his players to remember is that they’re not alone. Macdonald stresses to the team that they’re playing for the team and not only for themselves. This current team is buying in wholeheartedly, and it shows. There is enough talent on the team to compete for a national championship. According to Macdonald, “Some of the players out there can go play at the next level.” Plus, by the end of the season, this team will have the resume to prove that it is one of the best teams in the nation. The Commodores play one of the toughest schedules in the country, which is composed almost entirely of teams that are ranked in the top 30 nationally. As this team continues to grow and mature into one of the best teams in the country, Macdonald only has one request: that more students come out and support them.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2015
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NEIL BRAKE / VUCOMMODORES
Macdonald is a lifelong student of the game.
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