TODAY’S WEatHER Other schools can maintain Britney Spears Do you think Notre M definitely deserves Dame is overrated? academic standards and have a T J. ARK a thumbs down … Vote on: E successful football team… RRILL For more, see The Verdict, page 5 Sunny, 81/56 For more, see Sports, page 6 / A P Extended forecast, page 2 THE VOICE OF VANDERBILT SINCE 1888 wednesday, september 12, 2007 • 119TH YEAR, NO. 48 THE WALL Alumna compiled by SYDNEY WILMER THIS WEEK Yearbook portraits Study abr ad offices teaches for Through Friday, non- seniors are encouraged to stop by Sarratt 112 (behind the Baseball America Glove Lounge) any face examination time between 9 Leadership at Vanderbilt a.m. to 1 p.m. or 2 Department looks to expand programs. to 6 p.m. Seniors prepared Gilpin for classroom. should visit www. by EVE AttERMANN up part of a larger investigation vanderbiltcommodore. Asst News Editor into relationships between by CHARIty HEMPHILL com to make colleges and universities and Contributing Reporter appointments for tudy abroad offices private corporations, Vincent senior portraits. nationwide have come said. Recent graduate Hunter Gilpin is still in the Sunder scrutiny for The Vanderbilt Global classroom — but this time, she’s the teacher. the common use of private Education Office uses five Gilpin is one of 14 alumni who are starting TODAY middleman companies in private providers. Gary their first year with Teach for America this fall. Blood Drive offering university abroad Johnston, director of study Teach for America, a well- A blood drive will programs. abroad programs, said no one in known post-graduate program, be held from 7 a.m. Officials in his office received any personal recruits graduating seniors to 5 p.m. in the Washington and a benefits from these companies to teach for two years in children’s hospital. recent New York but acknowledged that impoverished public schools. Appointments are Times article have representatives travel abroad GILPIN While Gilpin has only been in scheduled every 15 called attention to for free when they evaluate and the classroom for a month, the experience has minutes. the free trips abroad approve many programs. already proven influential, teaching her about and direct cash Free trips abroad are “the things what we take for granted as educated bonuses that many necessary in order for advisers to adults.” offices receive from see programs personally before “For example, some of the kids that I teach TODAY particular providers. they are approved, Johnston didn’t even know how to organize their binders Masala-SACE Diwali “The issue is these said. And the use of private before this year,” she said, “so I had to spend time sign-up companies are providing companies helps Vanderbilt with them showing them how to put dividers in Masala-SACE will be anything — memberships study abroad provide a level of their binders and things like that.” having their annual on boards, paid travel, paid service it would otherwise be Because of her attendance in conferences in unable to due to its small staff experience, Gilpin said Beyond Diwali sign-up the meeting in Furman nice places, even office supplies of five. she plans to stay involved Bubble — that might get the colleges While college officials may not in public education. An occasional series Hall, Room 114 at 9 of alumni profiles p.m. This meeting and universities to favor those have done anything illegal, they Gilpin teaches sixth is mandatory for companies,” said Jeff Vincent, might have created an unethical grade world culture at Y.E.S. Preparatory School, anyone who is assistant vice chancellor for perception of favoritism, a charter school founded by Chris Barbick, a interested in taking federal relations. Vincent said. 1992 Vanderbilt graduate. part. If conflicts arise, The study abroad issue makes Please see STUDY ABROAD, page 3 Gilpin, an art history major, was the founder e-mail Atur Sheth and president of ArtReach, a program that brings art into lower-income, north Nashville schools. at atur.t.sheth@ STUDY ABROAD STATS VANDERBILT DUKE EMORY AMERICAN GEORGEtoWN vanderbilt.edu She was also the president of Vanderbuddies and Percentage of undergraduates a member of the LOOP tutoring and mentoring studying abroad 25 53.2 42.1 53.5 58.7 program. Gilpin said joining Teach for America just felt TODAY Undergraduate “like it was the most natural thing to do.” Songwriters’ night population 6400 6244 6346 5921 6853 “I saw it as an extension of everything I was The Writing involved in at Vanderbilt, and through my Number of study abroad pro- Studio will host a 60 100 80 105 115 activities at Vanderbilt, I saw the great need for songwriters’ night grams offered improvement in public education,” she said. at 7 p.m. in Alumni Number of staff in study Hunter said her leadership experiences Hall, Room 117. abroad office 5 11 12 10 15 prepared her for the program. She mentioned Participants will that learning how to manage time, work with write songs from other people and solve organizational problems scratch and discuss Please see TEACH FOR AMERICA, page 3 brainstorming strategies. HOD internship faces demise THURSDay, SEPT. 13 Tri-cOUNCIL Only overseas program lacks popularity among students. Alternative Spring Break information by REBECCA tyRRELL to determine what factors students potential costs. session CIRCLES SQUARE OFF Asst News Editor consider when choosing internship “I decided not to go to London There will be an locations and to brainstorm ways to because the exchange rate is so information session The London Bridge may fall down educate students and parents about terrible,” said senior Laura Skwarek. for Alternative Spring for HOD students. the benefits of the London program. Davis said she recognizes financial Break from 6 to 7 With fewer Human and The focus group includes Davis, concerns are one of the primary p.m. and again from Organizational Development majors London faculty instructors John deterrents to students considering 7 to 8 p.m. in Buttrick taking advantage of the London Hindle and Paul Spear, eight London. Hall, Room 316. internship site, the program could program participants from last “We want to talk about funding become vulnerable to closure. spring, and the four students options and contact foundations “We’re just worried that if we currently participating in London to create more scholarships since don’t increase participation in the internships. The group will begin money may be a concern,” she said. FRIDay, SEPT. 14 program, it will become vulnerable,” compiling data next week to gain The program currently awards Quake pre-event said Vicki Davis, director of the HOD perspective and consider ways just one $1,000 scholarship each sale and giveaway internship program and founder of to promote the benefits of the semester to program participants. Win Quake tickets the London internship program. program. The internship is the capstone or a Kanye West CD HOD, the most popular major at London participant Stephanie of the HOD major and requires from 9 to 11 a.m. at Vanderbilt, offers London as the only Yewdell said the London program students to work 32 hours a week the Sarratt Box Office. established overseas internship that made her “calmer and more and spend one day a week taking Quake tickets go on BRett KAMINSKY / The Vanderbilt Hustler fulfills a graduation requirement. tolerant.” four courses condensed into a three- sale at 10 a.m. and Members of Delta Delta Delta sorority and Kappa Delta sorority, among other The other internship sites are “It was a hard adjustment at first, hour timeframe. are $15 for students. sororities and fraternities across campus, participated in Greek Week Trivia in the Chicago, Atlanta, Nashville, San but I came out of it knowing I could “We live in a global world, and Student Life Center on Tuesday night. Chapters from Panhellenic Council, Interfra- Francisco, New York City and find my own housing, live by myself, we want more students to take Organizers expect ternity Council and National Pan-Hellenic Council compete in tri-council circles in the event to sell out the annual Greek Week competition. Greek Week will culminate in a Pat Green and Washington, D.C. buy my own groceries, pay my rent advantage of the opportunity quickly. The Dirt Drifters concert Friday night on Alumni Lawn. Only eight students interned in and adjust to a new culture,” she to develop a skill set that will be London last spring. By contrast, 62 said. critically important in the future, See http://calendar.vanderbilt.edu did internships in Nashville. But other students said the while also fulfilling a graduation for more events. Davis has created a focus group benefits do not outweigh the requirement,” Davis said. ■ 2 Wednesday, September 12, 2007 The Vanderbilt Hustler www.insidevandy.com NEWS you CAN USE Have a campus problem? We’ll solve it (or do our best to try). Send an e-mail to [email protected]. PROBLEM: WEATHER How can I see a doctor at the Student compiled by SYDNEY WILMER IN THE KNOW Health Center in the least amount of THURSday The news you need — in brief time? compiled by SYDNEY WILMER WORLD ANSWER: Iran shows journalists feared prison where The center is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Iranian-American detained Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to noon Iran opened the doors of its most feared prison to on Saturday. Although walk-ins are accepted, journalists Tuesday in a move seen as an effort to blunt making an appointment typically decreases criticism of the country’s human rights record. the wait time. If you do walk in, earlier is better.