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Editors’ Note Dear Members of the Class of 2016, Table of Contents You are here to learn and grow—intellectually, creatively, ethically, socially, Welcome What To Do Music City, USA and personally . The only environment capable of fostering so many levels of learning and growth is a community . You are now part of the Vanderbilt Welcome from Chancellor Zeppos . .3 Service, Creativity, and Out of the Bubble and into Music City: Welcome from the Board of Trust . .3 Involvement A Sociologist’s View . 59. community . Welcome to The Ingram Commons . 4. Finding Fulfillment . 35 Tune Out the Bubble . 60 The members of this community are students, professors, staff workers, Welcome from Your Faculty Heads of House . .5 Why Should We Care about The Music Scene . 61 administrative officials, health professionals, coaches, athletes, artists, Community Service . 36. Other Nashville Attractions . 62 musicians, researchers, writers, alumni, and citizens of the Metro Nashville I VU: VIP: Beyond Tutoring . 36 Tips on Money Management . .63 . Nashville Bucket List . 64 area . No matter what they do, each member of this community has a story Getting Involved with Service on CommonVU, Vanderbilt The Ingram Commons . 36 Useful Stores . 65 that is worth learning . Visions, & VUcept Creativity, Innovation, and Problem Solving . 37 Popular Restaurants . 67 . The activities in this community are classroom learning, academic CommonVU Schedule . .8 . Doing Theatre . 38 . assignments, scholarly paper writing, athletics, creative expression, socializing, Half the Sky and Human Identities . 16 . Being a Blair Kid . 38 Nuts and Bolts community service, undergraduate research, exploration, entertainment, YOLLO: You Only Live and Learn Once . 17. Greek Life . 39 . Why We Are VUceptors . 18 Practical Information relationship building, and countless others . Vanderbilt Visions Curriculum . .18 . Campus Map . 40 . Access to the Houses and Floors . 69 . But why? Why are you at Vanderbilt? Why do you participate in Vanderbilt A Quick Guide to the Commodore Card . 69. Visions? Why choose a certain major? Why join a student organization? Why Class Is In Session The First-Year Student Meal Plan . 70. Identities Online Resources . 72 serve your community? And who? Who are the people around you? How? Taking Responsibility for Services and Resources . 73 A Strange New World . 43 . How can you find help? How can you access support when you need it? How Your Learning Athletics, Recreation, and Wellness . 75 Don’t Judge a Story by Its Skin Cover . 43 . do the logistics of this place work? On- and Off-Campus Transportation . 76 . What to Expect in Your First Year at Vanderbilt 21 Challenges of an Aspie . 44 Our intent is to answer the many questions you have, and those you haven’t Tips on How to Succeed Academically 22 Perspective of a Homeschooled Student . 44 even thought to ask, by sharing with you different experiences and insights Goals, Expectations, and Requirements . 22 Being Jewish in the “Bible Belt” . 45 . Words You Need To Know Time Management . 23 . Work to Gain Perspective . 46 into the Vanderbilt community . Our goal is to give you an understanding of Vandy Lingo . 79 Tools for the Road . 22 Be Yourself . 46 . the many facets of our community, so that you can find your place in it . Some Common Abbreviations . .79 . Communicating with Professors . 22 . Gay Greek Gaiety . 47 Honor Pledge . 80 . The heartbeat we have tried to give this publication is one of community and Learning How to Think . 23 Finding My Home at Vanderbilt . 47 Note Taking . 23 Community Creed . .80 . caring . This university—faculty, fellow students, administrators, and the many We R Who We R . 48 . Study Spaces . 24. Alma Mater . 80 . others who make this place what it is—cares about you . Make good use of The Curious Case of Being a Minority . 49. Resources . 24 . what this publication—and our Vanderbilt community—has to offer you . Why We Are at a Research University . 25. Inside Back Cover Continuing the Tradition of Integrity . 25 . True Life Your co-editors, The Ingram Commons Map Take Control and Think . 51 Stevenson Center Map Michael Hogue The Rules . .52 . Finding Direction Important Numbers College of Arts and Science, ‘14 Making the Transition: Why the Psychological VUcept Executive Board Where You Are and and Counseling Center Can Help . 52 . Where You’re Going Help a Roommate in Crisis . 52. Nina Warnke Reflections on Year One . 27. Living with a Roommate . 53 Assistant Dean of The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons Professional Development as a Freshman? . 28 . Fight the Unseen . 54 at Vanderbilt Letting Service Lead the Way 28 Share the Burden . 54. With VISAGE in South Africa . 30. Share the Responsibility in Our Community . 55 Both Sides of Failure . 31 . My Green Dot . 56. Research: Not Just a Resume Builder . 32 . My August 26: Losing a Loved One . 56. Undergraduate Research Outside the Almost Transferring . .57 . Fume Hood 32 What Will I Do with My History Major? . 33. II 1 Welcome to Vanderbilt Welcome Nicholas S. Zeppos, Chancellor, Faculty VUceptor By setting high standards for yourself and working hard to meet your academic goals, you have earned acceptance to one of the world’s most distinguished institutions of higher education. Your passion and commitment demonstrate the values we hold dear as a university, and I know that you will enrich the extraordinary undergraduate experience that defines Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt is a place of discovery and self-discovery where you will find an abundance “ Vanderbilt is a place of of ways to explore your interests and become engaged in the community. With its firm foundation in the liberal arts, and focus on fostering creativity, innovation, and discovery and self-discovery critical thinking, the university’s unique learning environment provides opportunities for research and advanced study rarely offered at the undergraduate level. Linking where you will find an your academic talents and skills with the university’s mission to advance education, research, and health care, you will discover ways to make valuable contributions to abundance of ways to explore the betterment of society as you prepare for your future. your interests and become As a Vanderbilt student, you will be embraced by a sense of connectedness and authentic community as you build lifelong friendships. Here, you’ll find a special engaged in the community.” culture that values the learning that takes place in our interactions with one another and in how we choose to respond to the world that surrounds and supports us. I look forward to personally greeting you in August. In the meantime, know of my congratulations and best wishes as you take this important next step in your life’s journey. Welcome Mark F. Dalton, Chairman, Vanderbilt University Board of Trust Congratulations on the outstanding record of achievement that brings you to Vanderbilt ‘s vibrant intellectual community. As Chairman of the University’s Board of Trust, I am pleased to extend a warm welcome as you join our extraordinary family of scholars, professors, researchers, and physicians. As a Vanderbilt alumnus, a Vanderbilt parent, and a member of the Board, I am proud of the distinctive position my alma mater holds among the world’s best colleges and “ From the moment you step universities. This university is a very special place devoted to preparing students to become leaders and engaged citizens who contribute to society in profound and onto campus, you will find meaningful ways. amazing opportunities to From the moment you step onto campus, you will find amazing opportunities to discover new strengths and sources of inspiration. Both in and out of the classroom, discover new strengths and Vanderbilt’s world-class faculty stand ready to provide advice and guidance to help sources of inspiration.” you develop your skills and knowledge to shape this university and the world. Throughout the years ahead, I know that you will look back on your Vanderbilt experience as one of the most transformative times of your life. Today, as you stand at the beginning of that path, I encourage you to connect with the incredible resources, the diversity of talent, and the many avenues of exploration before you. Approach each day with an open mind and an appreciation for Vanderbilt’s unique culture, and take great pride in being a Commodore. 2 3 Welcome to The Ingram Commons Frank Wcislo, Dean of The Ingram Commons, Associate Professor of History and European Studies, Faculty VUceptor Welcome to a very special neighborhood at Vanderbilt. For the next ten months, it belongs to you, the Class of 2016. The Ingram Commons isn’t just a place—despite its beautiful buildings and quads. It’s also an idea, and a simple one at that: let people of diverse backgrounds live together and encourage opportunities to learn from each other. What results are previously unimagined discoveries. The Ingram Commons, with its ten Houses, is a network of living-learning communities. Think about the people you will meet in the next days and weeks. Your roommate “ You’ll discover that these great might be from your hometown, but just as likely hails from another state or country, speaks another language, and certainly holds different values. You’ll discover much teachers and scholars also are about yourselves from each other. You’ll share experiences with floor mates—the mentors and intellectual leaders chemical engineer who lives next door to a cellist and a basketball player who is friends with a pre-med and an education student. You’ll all learn that plenty of first- whose love of ideas and year students at Vanderbilt are undecided about their majors. discovery is contagious.” You’ll meet your Resident Adviser, an upperclassman who lives on the floor. The RA helps you maintain the rules that keep everyone safe and healthy, and knows what a successful Vanderbilt undergraduate is.