www.insidevandy.com WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2008 THE VOICE OF VANDERBILT SINCE 1888 120TH YEAR, NO. 65

VERSUS: Check out the exclusive Q+A with singer-songwriter Brett Dennen. COMPLETE SECTION INSIDE

POYTHRESS: Read this column about the importance of reading just about anything. SEE PAGE 4

CAMPUS LIVING Vanderbilt prepares for u season Students VSG in partnership with stand Student Health Center for flu shots up for Nashville taxi drivers

by CALLIE JONES News Contributor

Vanderbilt Students of Nonviolence has embraced the plight of Nashville’s BRYAN CANDELARIO / The Vanderbilt Hustler taxi drivers that has, until recently, gone BRYAN CANDELARIO / The Vanderbilt Hustler Graduate student David Scoville receives a free u shot at the Student Health Center on Monday October 13th. relatively unnoticed. by ALLIE MORRIS every year because each year students who are young, strong  e student group is gaining  rst-hand Science and Medicine Specialist the vaccine is modi ed to keep and healthy are still susceptible by LILY CHEN Members of the SST accounts from the drivers and using up with the changing in uenza to the virus. Leadership Specialist Committee set up tables that knowledge to try to help them stay Vanderbilt Student Health has virus. “ e  u is very contagious with signs and candy in organized, inform the student body begun to o er free  u shots for “ is year, we have … You share breathing space In anticipation of the places around campus, and pressure the university to use their students this month in an e ort manufactured a completely new within three feet and that is the upcoming fl u season, such as at The Commons leverage in the city. to prepare for a severe in uenza vaccine,” Scha ner said. way the virus is transmitted ... Vanderbilt Student Center, recruiting students “We’ve been going out to the airport season, as anticipated by health Director of Student Health  e notion to avoid everyone Government Student and urging them to go and talking to the drivers waiting in line o cials. Louise Hanson reported the who is coughing won’t work Services and Technology upstairs to get shots. to get passengers” said sophomore Josh “ e last three years, there health center has already given because people excrete the virus Committee partnered with “Students took shifts Rogen. “We listen to their stories and has been a relatively mild 1,000 vaccinations of the 3,000 for 25 hours before they get sick,” the Student Health Center in working the tables and encourage them to keep a high morale in uenza season,” said Professor vaccinations in their possession. Scha ner said. to provide fl u shots for dealt with signing consent despite no tangible gains yet.” of Preventative Medicine and “ e more vaccines we give, Hanson said getting students. forms,” Williams said. The city’s drivers have formed the Medicine Bill Scha ner. “ is the better it is for everybody,” vaccinated is an important part The committee, headed According to Director Metro Nashville Taxi Drivers Association year, the crystal ball is cloudy, said Hanson. of avoiding in uenza; however, by Senator Jean Xiao and Co- of Student Health Louise to end what they view as unfair wages but we anticipate a more severe Hanson said during the she said good nutrition, enough Chair Tommy Obenchain, Hanson, a wellness clinic and working conditions, and held a in uenza season.”  u season, between fall and sleep and washing hands worked to inform the held Monday night in strike in early August to protest these According to Scha ner, early March, the health center frequently all help to prevent  u student community to the Health Center was issues. in uenza experts anticipate this generally sees  ve to six patients contraction. Student Health also take advantage of this free very successful. The clinic A preliminary report to the Nashville-  u season, we will be hit with a a day who have in uenza or an o ers preventative medicine service. gave out 200 fl u vaccines Davidson County’s Transportation new strain of in uenza. in uenza-like illness. to students who have been in “This is a great opportunity to undergraduate and and Licensing Commission by MTSU “It changes a little bit year to “We typically start seeing the contact with a person sick with to get VSG’s name out and graduate students within Assistant Professor of Political Science year, some year the (in uenza)  u around  anksgiving … it in uenza. it’s a partnership (with the the two hours in addition Sekou Franklin found that after operating virus appears to be more knocks people out for days and Free  u shots will continue Health Center) to make to 40 HIV screenings. costs, taxi drivers make just over $2 an aggressive than others,” Scha ner leaves you  at on your back with through October at a variety sure students are informing The partnership between hour, making them some of the lowest said. a fever, unable to do anything fun of on-campus locations. More students of this service,” VSG and the Student Health paid workers in the nation. According to Scha ner, it is or work-related,” Hanson said. information is available at the said VSG President Joseph Center began last year. ■ Franklin’s study found that most drivers important to get vaccinated Scha ner warned that even student health Web site. ■ Williams. are responsible for gas, car insurance and service fees in addition to their licenses.  e average gross income of a taxi driver is around $100 a day and the net income ACADEMICS is only about $32 for a 14-15 hour day. Vanderbilt women (and “When a driver wants to take a vacation, or even if he gets sick, he would have to Learning from the pay the cab company $400 per week men) ‘Take Back the Night’ to cover licensing fees and insurance,” Rogen said. horrors of the past “ ey already own the cars — most of them have thousands invested in the by SARAH BILSKY Gellar said the present is a business — and were suckered in by News Contributor place, “in which genocide still companies that don’t require the drivers takes place, where persecution to pay the license the  rst few weeks” In the face of current still takes place, where … said senior Braden Clark. challenges, it is easy to feel dehumanization still takes  e licensing issue was placed on the overwhelmed and uninformed. place.” Metro council’s agenda in response to It is therefore appropriate Michelle Peck, a senior the strike held in August. Although the that the theme of this year’s and president of Dores for Vanderbilt community was largely absent Vanderbilt Holocaust Lectures Israel, echoes this sentiment, during the strike, Vanderbilt students are series is “(over)Sites of emphasizing the importance hoping to help bring the drivers’ issues to Memory,” which examines of maintaining a connection to campus. both the locations of genocides the past while keeping our eyes “When talking to the drivers, we’ve and the most e ective ways to to the future. found that especially compared to other honor victims’ memories. “ is year’s lecture series cities, the Nashville system is backwards,” Lasting from Oct. 12 until may be one of the last times said sophomore Benjamin Eagles. Nov. 16, the series consists that students have the chance While Vanderbilt Students of of lectures, documentary to hear a (Holocaust) survivor Nonviolence and the Nashville screenings and even a ballet. tell their story in person,” said Movement, an organization that works to “ e series has not (just) Peck. “Raising awareness is bene t Nashville’s poorest workers, work been about what happened crucial to keeping things like to increase fares for the city’s taxi drivers, then and there.  e series has this from happening again.” the students agreed it is important for the been, and is about, the present,”  e next event of the series Vanderbilt community to be aware of the said Geller, associate professor is a lecture by University of realities facing the drivers. of Modern Jewish Culture at Minnesota Duluth Associate GENEVIEVE GALE / The Vanderbilt Hustler “Talk to them,  nd out about their the Divinity School, to explain Professor of Spanish Maureen Supporters gather under a tent on Olin Lawn to hear speakers before leaving for the lives and their families,” said Matt the importance of the longest Tobin Stanley. On Oct. 23, she offi cial ‘Take Back the Night’ march to Centennial Park, an annual rally hosted by various Leber, an organizer with the Nashville running continuous Holocaust will share her examinations of Movement. “If nothing else, members student organizations to promote domestic violence awareness. lecture series at an American Spanish voices of resistance, of the Vanderbilt community should be university. exile and deportation. ■ kind to their drivers.” ■

CAMPUS LIVING: Students organize a wide range of service options for spring break. SEE PAGE 3

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FROM THE BLOG

SNAPSHOTS compiled by HANNAH TWILLMAN WEATHER NEWS BRIEFS WEATHER.COM TODAY Bailout becomes buy-in as feds move into banking industry England is kind of close to France … Submitted by Sydney Wilmer, 10-14-08 at 3:35 p.m. WASHINGTON (AP)—Big banks started falling in line Tuesday behind a rejiggered bailout plan that will have the government Really, the only thing new being talked about in the French press vis-a- forking over as much as $250 billion in exchange for partial vis the American election is the fi nancial crisis, which isn’t really bringing ownership — putting the world’s bastion of capitalism and free any new information about the candidates and their capabilities, at least in markets squarely in the banking business. respect to French opinions on the elections… HIGH 86, LOW 61 Some early signs were hopeful for the latest in a flurry of Therefore, I thought I’d show you all this clip of John Cleese–a British actor Mostly sunny radical efforts to save the nation’s financial system: Credit was a who is usually pretty conservative–damning the whole election, and Sarah bit easier to come by. And stocks were down but not alarmingly Palin in particular, as something “Monty Python could have written.” so after Monday’s stratospheric leap. THURSDAY The new plan, President Bush declared, is “not intended to take over the free market but to preserve it.” For more blog entries, go to InsideVandy.com It’s all about cash and confidence and convincing banks to lend money more freely again. Those are all critical ingredients to getting financial markets to function more normally and reviving the economy. The big question: Will it work? There was a mix of hope and skepticism on that front. HIGH , LOW Unprecedented steps recently taken — including hefty interest 72 56 rate reductions by the Federal Reserve and other major central Showers banks in a coordinated assault just last week — have failed to break through the credit clog and the panicky mind-set gripping investors on Wall Street and around the globe. STAFF The Dow Jones industrials declined 77 points on Tuesday after SNAPSHOT Editor Michael Warren piling up their biggest point gain ever on Monday on news of [email protected] Europe’s rescue plan and in anticipation of the United States’ THE LAST DAYS OF INDIAN SUMMER Day Managers new measures. Hannah Twillman [email protected] Eve Attermann [email protected] Janelle Stokes [email protected] Missing Fla. girl’s mom indicted on Opinion Editor Thomas Shattuck murder charge after failed search [email protected] Senior Copy Editor Hannah Twillman [email protected] ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)—The mother of a missing 3-year-old girl Academics Specialist Judy Wang was arrested Tuesday and charged with killing her daughter, [email protected] even though the child’s body has not been found during an Administration Specialist Eve Attermann [email protected] exhaustive four-month search. Campus Living Specialist Norah Scanlan A grand jury indicted Casey Anthony on charges of [email protected] first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated Leadership Specialist Lily Chen manslaughter and four counts of lying to investigators about [email protected] Greek Scene Specialist Janelle Stokes the disappearance of her daughter, Caylee, State Attorney [email protected] Lawson Lamar said. The mother is being held without bond. Science and Medicine Specialist Allie Morris If convicted of first-degree murder she could face the death [email protected] penalty or life in prison. Prosecutors said no decision has been Sports Specialist David Rutz [email protected] made on whether the death penalty will be sought. Election Project Director Katherine Miller Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary said investigators’ [email protected] satisfaction that the indictment had been issued was tempered Commons Project Director Kelly Swope [email protected] by what it concludes about the girl’s fate. Art Director Matt Radford “Speaking as a father, a day doesn’t pass where I wish the [email protected] evidence that we have gathered didn’t add up to the painfully BRETT KAMINSKY / The Vanderbilt Hustler Photo Editor Chris Phare obvious,” he said. “Sadly, I cannot change the facts surrounding Students enjoy one of the last warm days of fall by eating and reading outside on Rand Terrace. [email protected] the investigation.” He said investigators would continue doing “everything in our SERVICE GUIDE power to find little Caylee.” A few hours before the sealed indictment was issued Tuesday, The Vanderbilt Hustler (ISSN the 22-year-old Anthony stood silently, sometimes crying, as her 0042-2517), the student newspa- per of , is pub- attorney told reporters she is innocent. lished every Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the academic year except for during exam peri- ods and vacations. The paper is not printed during summer break. McCain proposes $52.5 billion The Vanderbilt Hustler allocates one issue of the newspaper to each economic plan to cure financial woes student and is available at various points on campus for free. Addi- BLUE BELL, Pa. (AP)—John McCain, echoing both Barack Obama tional copies are $.50 each. and Republican orthodoxy, proposed a $52.5 billion economic The Vanderbilt Hustler is a divi- sion of Vanderbilt Student Com- plan Tuesday that would eliminate taxes on unemployment munications, Inc. Copyright © 2008 benefits and cut the capital gains tax. He warned voters about Vanderbilt Student Communica- taking a chance on his Democratic rival. tions. “Perhaps never before in history have the American people LOCATION been asked to risk so much based on so little,” McCain said of The Hustler offi ces are in 130 Sarratt Student Center on the Vanderbilt his opponent during a speech at a community college in this University Campus. Address postal Philadelphia suburb. mail to 2301 Vanderbilt Place, VU McCain also promised that as president he would order the Station B 351504, Nashville, Tenn. Treasury Department to guarantee 100 percent of all savings for 37235-1504. six months. Such a guarantee, above the $250,000 now in force, AFFILIATIONS The Hustler is a member of the As- would ease consumer fears of bank failures and restore “rational sociated Collegiate Press, Colum- judgment to the choices of the market,” he said. bia Scholastic Press Association, The Arizona senator, who trails in the polls on economic College Newspaper Business and issues, said, “The moment requires that government act. And as Advertising Managers, Southern University Newspapers and the president I intend to act, quickly and decisively.” Southeastern Journalism Confer- McCain said President Bush’s $250 billion plan to buy shares ence and is an associate member of in the nation’s leading banks — advance word of which helped the Associated Press. stocks soar on Monday — should be short-term and last only TO ADVERTISE until the institutions are reformed and put on a sound footing Display ads: (615) 322-4237 or e-mail advertising@vanderbilthus- again. tler.com Display fax: (615) 322-3762 Offi ce hours are 9 a.m. — 4 p.m., Monday — Friday Visit us online at http://www.vsc- Ringo Starr: No more fan mail media.org/advertising.html TO REPORT A NEWS ITEM LONDON (AP)—Ringo Starr doesn’t want to hear from you. Campus news: Call 322-2424 or If you do write, your letter will end up in the trash. e-mail [email protected] That’s the message from Richard Starkey, aka Ringo Starr. Entertainment news: Call 343-0967 or e-mail vibe@vanderbilthustler. After 45 years of stardom, he doesn’t want to spend any more com time answering mail or sending signed photos back to fans. Sports results: Call 343-0967 or The fan fatigue led the former Beatles drummer to post a e-mail [email protected] sometimes angry sounding short video clip on his Web site CORRECTIONS telling fans that any mail sent to him after Oct. 20 will not be The Hustler strives for accuracy and fairness and will correct errors read or answered. British television stations broadcast the video of substance. See our correction on Tuesday. policy on the Opinion page for in- “It’s going to be tossed,” he says on the video. “I’m warning formation about notifying us. you with peace and love, I have too much to do. So no more PRINTER fan mail. Thank you, thank you. And no objects to be signed. The Hustler is printed at Franklin Web Printing Company in Franklin, Nothing. Anyway, peace and love, peace and love.” Tenn. The drummer and singer did not elaborate on the reason SUBSCRIPTION RATES behind his decision to cut off a major point of contact with his Subscriptions are available for $125 many fans. per semester or $200 per year. Starr, 68, has maintained a very active touring and recording Checks should be made payable to The Vanderbilt Hustler. A pdf sub- schedule in recent years, drawing large crowds for performances scription order form is available at with his All-Starr band. http://www.vscmedia.org/hustler. The band plays a mix of old Beatles hits, Starr’s many solo html offerings, and other classics from the 1960s and 1970s. Starr BACK ISSUES usually serves as front man, though he sometimes plays the Back issues are available in Sarratt 130 during business hours. drums. www.insidevandy.com The Vanderbilt Hustler Wednesday, October 15, 2008 3 CAMPUS LIVING Campus groups plan spring break service options by JENNIFER DENNARD irrigation ditches, doing dishes, I’ll never forget how grateful she News Contributor tending to animals,” said Scott. was,” Deloach said. More importantly, Scott said she All the spring break options IMPORTANT TRIP INFORMATION Each year, while many and the other students learned a provide students with the Vanderbilt students spend lot about the men they worked opportunity of volunteering and Application Organization Location Contact/Web site their spring breaks lounging on with. “ ese men are not simply connecting with other students deadline beaches, traveling or spending addicts, they are people” Scott for a week. Vandy+Catholic will time with family and friends said. be doing their  rst spring break Within the U.S., Alternative Mexico and Friday, Oct. 17 http://vandyasb.wordpress.com at home, more and more are Junior Lucas Deloach traveled trip this year to Honduras, where Spring Break Guatemala electing to forgo a relaxing to Brunswick, Ga., last year as a they’ll work with Franciscan vacation in favor of extended part of Habitat for Humanity’s nuns in an orphanage. service projects. And as more spring break trip. Habitat for “ is will be a beautiful Best Buddies Knoxville E-mail contact by [email protected] students choose to become Humanity builds houses for chance for students to deepen Friday Oct. 17 involved with these service trips, those who cannot a ord a their faith while serving others more organizations are deciding down payment and provides in a foreign country,” said senior Site leaders: Friday, to sponsor them. them with an interest free, low Geo Smith. Habitat for Oct. 31 Humanity Within the U.S. Participants: Friday, http://www.vanderbilt.edu/h4h Last year, senior Sarah mortgage option. Other groups that will sponsor Nov. 14 Scott traveled to Harvest “It opened my eyes to income spring break service trips this Farm in Wellington, Colo. e inequality. We would drive to school year include Manna Friday, Oct. 24 and farm is a part of the Denver our build site in an area hit Project, which will send students Manna Project Latin America Monday, Nov. 12 [email protected] Rescue Mission, which tries hard by poverty, and head to to places like Nicaragua and to rehabilitate and reintegrate the beach afterward, where we Ecuador, and Best Buddies, in men with addiction problems saw million dollar homes,” said which students and their buddies into society. “We worked six- Deloach. “( e homeowner) with intellectual disabilities will E-mail contact by Vandy+Catholic Honduras Friday, Oct. 24 [email protected] plus hours a day lifting railroad was so happy that volunteers do service together. ■ ties, scraping paint, digging had started on her future home;

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by ABRAHAM HANSON election is perhaps the most extraordinary using cultural preferences to drive wedges $3 Classes News Contributor and hyperbolic of them all. into the electorate. 90 days unlimited for $270 Applebome said he found plenty of e Clinton campaign then changed the Seeking to navigate the media’s electoral historical roots in the 2008 election and pace of politics, according to Applebome. ruckus, the Communications department media behavior. e 24-hour news cycle quickly accelerated That’s a savings of $150! hosted New York Times writer and editor As evidence, he cited two personal into a minute-by-minute media contest. Peter Applebome on Monday night as journalistic experiences. According to e growing popularity of cable news part of their presidential campaign lecture Applebome, the 1988 Presidential race channels and accessibility of the Internet COOLEST THING IN FITNESS! series. between Michael Dukakis and George H.W. challenged the cemented institutions of 2214 Elliston Place (1 Block from Campus) 615.321.8828 e lecture, entitled “All the News that’s Bush was characterized by “a changing of print media. Fit to Blog: Old Media, New Media and rules.” e Applebome lecture was a joint www.HotYogaNashville.com the Brave New World of Election 2008,” Applebome said political strategist e ort sponsored by the Vanderbilt explored the evolution of political media in Lee Atwater was a pioneer in modern Communications department and the presidential elections. negative campaigning. Atwater was able Robert Penn Warren Center for the According to Applebome, the 2008 to transform the dynamics of elections by Humanities. ■ Nashville in Our Living Room presents MATTHEW PERRYMAN JONES A Major A air and Audrey Spillman

TOMORROW 6-8 p.m. in The Commons FREE CONCERT AND FOOD! Students peruse the majors fair at Sarratt Student Center on Tuesday. Representatives of all the Departments from the College of Arts and Science were on hand to discuss major options with The Department of Psychology at undeclared students. Vanderbilt University is looking for subjects to participate in research studies. You will be compensated for your time. Studies examine aspects of cognition, emotion and brain functioning. ERIC GLASSER / The Vanderbilt Hustler To find out more about participating in studies, see http://vanderbilt.sona-systems.com/

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www.DentistryofNashville.com 383-3690 4 Wednesday, October 15, 2008 The Vanderbilt Hustler www.insidevandy.com OPINION Why EDITORIAL A call for won’t you Students must be selfl ess read? aware of crime voting CAROLYN PIPPEN JUSTIN POYTHRESS As reported on InsideVandy.com, two suspects and peripheral F lots. Students and faculty should Columnist Columnist from the Sept. 29 armed robbery near Kensington avoid walking on the edges of campus late at night Garage have been arrested by Metro Police. without someone else. Women should always e two apprehended suspects have also been carry some sort of self-defense tool, like pepper e democratic system of election in this For the most part — mainly because of the accused of a slew of robberies in and around the spray, but always be aware that a robber or rapist country is pretty simple. Everyone gets one inevitable replies of “You went to Vanderbilt western part of Vanderbilt’s campus. According may be carrying a  rearm. vote, everyone chooses the candidate who best to do that?” — I try to avoid mentioning my to Metro Police, more investigation into these and Take Back the Night, despite its radical represents their own personal interests and, at major of Elementary Education. However, other crimes is expected to lead to more arrests. beginnings in San Francisco, is a positive force to the end of the day, majority rules. Sounds fair, there are those times when it comes in handy, Vanderbilt community members should realize reinforce the dangers of violence against women. right? such as supplying an emergency pack of the danger of gang violence in our neighborhood. e annual rally at Vanderbilt, held Monday night, e glaring hole in this theory no one seems crayons for placemat coloring or constructing Too often, we feel insulated by our well-lit, focused mainly on domestic and sexual violence, to address is the fact that, despite almost a musical instrument out of beans and a well-patrolled campus and our excellent police but as recent events have proven, violent crime can universal su rage in modern day America, cardboard tube. department. While the university has done much happen to anyone. ere should be a greater e ort not every citizen gets a vote. ere are small But it’s not all fun and games. Some of my to keep its community safe, there are so many by the university, VUPD and student organizations demographics for which it is overwhelmingly requirements include reading picture books important steps individuals can and should take to educate community members about the reality di cult, if not impossible, to make their voices to children. It is in this process of reading to keep themselves secure in their persons and of gangs and the violent crimes they commit. heard. For some of these groups, the upcoming instruction that I’ve made some observations their possessions. Before the police, streetlights and friends, the election carries phenomenal weight, but about reading I think are valuable for some Students should always be smart when traveling  rst line of defense against violent crime is the unfortunately neither party can a ord to long-winded, opinionated droning. Pretty o campus. is means walking to shops and individual. Vanderbilt community members champion their causes too loudly as the most much all of us, except those intellectual snobs restaurants in groups, particularly at night, and have a responsibility to make sensible decisions direct bene ciaries of these issues will most who walk around holding a framed copy of staying in well-lit areas. Lock car doors in parking about their actions. While there may always be likely never step up to the voting booth. their subscription to e Economist, have lost lots, avoid parking far away from your destination violent crime in the world (and that includes One such group deprived of their ability interest in reading. and take a cab rather than unnecessarily walk long around Vanderbilt University), individuals can to in uence this election by the technicality It isn’t because we don’t think there are distances. take the  rst step in prevention by avoiding bad of age requirements is our children, namely good things to read: Some of us even have On campus, fraternities and sororities should situations and looking out for themselves and those children being subjected to the abysmal “Stu White People Like” as one of our keep their doors and windows locked, and cars their belongings. decline of the education system. John McCain’s Internet bookmark tabs. e main excuse for should always be locked, particularly in garages education policy is based on the notion that not reading anymore is the same one we use families should be empowered to choose what for why we haven’t been to a women’s soccer schools their children attend, an idea appealing game: “It might not be a total waste of time, to voting parents concerned about their own but I’m just really busy.” Believe me, I’m children’s future, but with exactly zero potential among the  rst to accept blame on this issue. for the fundamental change needed to rectify How could I possibly emphasize the value of Some things are the system. Barack Obama has focused his literacy if I can barely focus on Harry Potter? own platform on the improvement of school is raises assessment techniques and e orts to support, some general rather than abandon, failing institutions. Where did we lose c o n c e r n s . While the economy has grabbed a fair Where did we more important amount of spotlight over the last few weeks, our way? What lose our way? the demographic perhaps least advocated by was the last book What was voters is that which  nancial disparity had the last book IMA PAYDAR the Persian Wars. In research lab, I learned the devastated long before Wall Street’s demise. of which I actually of which I Guest Columnist importance of failure as a part of the learning It may be legally permissible for a homeless read more than actually read process. e zebra sh will probably mate American to cast his vote, but the technical more than Medical school. My suitemates will tell you I tomorrow, and the protocol will probably work di culties of registration and education make two chapters that two chapters think about it all the time. I panicked in September the  fth time … or the sixth time. this fundamental right a nearly impossible weren’t covered on that weren’t as I waited for my MCAT score and completed 18 And I learned through Alternative Spring Break feat. Obama has responded to poverty as a test? covered on a applications. Now, I panic every time I imagine the most important lesson of all — the value of many do, by proposing to throw imaginary test? And how the admissions committee snickering at my human life and its preservation through service. I money at the problem through a billion dollar old will I be before my social life dwindles away misplaced commas and run-on sentences. Adrift attended the ASB retreat this past weekend as this investment in “career pathway programs” and to the point where reading a book becomes an in my thoughts, I sometimes feel like an island, years’ 70 site leaders met their partners and found a raise of the minimum wage that would be acceptable use of my evening? entirely to myself. out their sites. In the words of an ASB member, impossible for already  ailing small businesses For most of us, I would conjecture reading I sense that other islands do exist — that other it was like Christmas, except I was opening 70 to uphold. McCain has developed more motivation began to slip away sometime seniors panic like I do. A friend of mine felt it the presents. It was like bid day, except people were creative and  nancially feasible options such in high school. It was the combination of day before the LSAT. e  nance kids felt it the day screaming about service. In this moment, I as the “Urban Homestead Act,” which would discovering Cli sNotes and having to read Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy and the realized how foolish I had been all along, fretting transfer unoccupied, federally owned housing books like “Walden,” “ e House on Mango day fear spread on Wall Street as the House failed about medical school when the grander purpose to communities for their more e ective Street,” or “ e Old Man and the Sea.” You to pass the rescue bill. at day the Dow dropped of life had been standing in front of me. distribution. know who I blame? Society. And MTV. But 778 points. Gazing at the cover of e New York I hope not all seniors fear rejection letters the e  nal two groups of citizens unrepresented seriously, this is our own problem, and I have Times, I shuttered, and I know I was not alone. way I do. And as I cruise through senior year, I in the voting booths are those who have the yet to meet somebody who says, “You know, I Pondering the highs and lows that have marked urge all seniors to remember the lessons we have most to lose: their lives. Unborn children think I really need to read fewer books.” the past month, it is easy to let the applications learned in the past three years. In the world of subject to legal abortion and convicted So what’s the obstacle here? I think the mire us with anxiety. It is possible all 18 medical adulthood, the potential for failure will manifest criminals facing capital punishment have no biggest step is just getting started, and although schools will reject me. Someone might fall itself at all times. And yet we keep  ghting because means through which they can make their it’s OK at  rst, don’t always just go for the quick through the cracks, and it might be me. And as I Vanderbilt taught us to do so. We contribute to voices heard this November, except through the and easy  xes, like “Green Eggs and Ham,” the bow down to the establishment, in this moment of humanity in our own way, we value honesty and informed decisions of their fellow Americans. Sunday cartoon section or e Slant, which unparalleled vulnerability, the potential for failure hard work and we build careers that empower Obama may not have the political gumption to has already matched its publication quota has never been greater. e stakes have never the men and women who surround us and who oppose the death penalty altogether, but he has from last year. You don’t want to totally rule been higher. we love. at is, after all, the great lesson of made strides in reforming the way in which it out Vanderbilt publications. e Torch makes But it is also in this moment that I look to the Vanderbilt. is implemented, leading e orts to require the reading the Vanderbilt opinion section fairly invaluable lessons of Vanderbilt. For it was in videotaping of interrogations and confessions redundant, while Orbis always comes in handy General Chemistry where I learned you could —Ima Paydar is a senior in the College of Arts to ensure the guilt of those convicted in extreme for mopping up those messy spills around earn a 60 on the  rst exam and still ace the class. and Science. She can be reached at ima.paydar@ cases. In the case of abortion, however, the your dorm. Meanwhile, e Slant does still Greek History taught me that a loss at the Battle vnaderbilt.edu. only thing the Democratic ticket will  ght for o er a great forum for its editor to try to get of ermopylae does not prevent victory in is the right of a woman to choose death for her a date with sta from Versus, complemented unborn child. by clever, sophisticated quips about underage Come Nov. 4, the ultimate choice of what drinking, statutory rape and feminine hygiene button is pushed or which lever is pulled products. e point is reading is good. Just remains your own, and the electoral system thinking about reading over fall break would will play out the way it was meant to be played. be a start. ere are plenty of ways you can get Annoyed? Need to rant? Just keep these often overlooked issues in back in the game: graphic novels, choose your mind, along with the knowledge that your own adventure, even Stephen King books are Have an issue you’d like to decision a ects more than just yourself, and still technically considered reading. the memory of those whose vote will most likely never count. —Justin Poythress is a senior in the College voice your opinion on? of Arts and Science. He can be reached at —Carolyn Pippen is a senior in the College [email protected]. Email the Opinion Page at [email protected] of Arts and Science. She can be reached at [email protected].

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SUDOKU: To solve, fill in the blanks so the numbers 1-9 appear just once in each horizontal row, vertical column and 3x3 box. 10/13/08 SOLUTIONS 6 Wednesday, October 15, 2008 The Vanderbilt Hustler www.insidevandy.com sports With a 5-1 start, No. 22 Vanderbilt has far exceeded pre-season SEC Power Rankings Midseason report card expectations and is in a first place-tie in the SEC East. The Hustler Compiled by Geoff Hutchinson Compiled by Hustler Sports Staff Sports Staff grades them on all aspects of their performance to date. 1. Alabama 6-0 (3-0 SEC) Quarterbacks, B- Running backs, B- Wide receivers, C+ The Crimson Tide are coming off a bye week Redshirt senior Chris Redshirt junior Jared Limited production from and have an intriguing Nickson was solid through Hawkins has taken on the the receivers has been matchup on Saturday the first four games of the role of the featured back partly due to the fact that with unpredictable year, more with his legs and was great through the the unit has been decimated Ole Miss. They were than his arm, rushing first four weeks. However, by injuries. From here on leapfrogged by Texas for for five and he has been rendered however, the team will the No. 1 ranking in the throwing for three with no obsolete over the past two have back redshirt seniors country. . However, he weeks, as opposing defenses Andrew Diomande and 2.Florida never threw for more than 91 have stacked the box to George Smith and redshirt 5-1 (3-1) yards in a game, accounting stop the run and force the junior Alex Washington. Tim Tebow and the for Vanderbilt’s 116th-place Commodores to beat them Another issue is that there Gators looked awfully nickson hawkins wheeler rank in passing offense out with the pass. Redshirt has not been much for the impressive in their rout of 119 teams. After injuring his shoulder against senior Jeff Jennings has struggled with injuries receivers to do, as Vanderbilt is last in the SEC in of LSU 51-21 Saturday Ole Miss, Nickson struggled greatly against Auburn for much of the year and could be considered a passing attempts. Redshirt freshman Jamie Graham night in the Swamp. and Mississippi State, tossing two interceptions and disappointment thus far in the season. He showed and redshirt senior Sean Walker have been used very 3. Georgia passing for only a combined 19 yards. Redshirt junior some flashes of good production in Saturday’s loss effectively on many receivers runs this season, junior 5-1 (2-1) Mackenzi Adams came in relief the last three games to Mississippi State, but needs to build on that Justin Wheeler has devloped a rapport with Adams, Georgia handled the and played very well, especially in rallying the team performance. Redshirt sophomore Gaston Miller and redshirt freshman tight end Brandon Barden has Volunteers more easily than the score showed on to victory over Auburn with two passes. has fumbled twice on limited touches and needs to been a pleasant surprise leading the team with two TD Saturday, but their next As a result, Adams has been named starter for the work on his ball security. catches. Still, if the Commodores want to win the SEC three games will not be foreseeable future at quarterback. East, the receivers will need to step up production. as easy, starting with Vanderbilt this weekend. Offensive line,B Defensive line, B+ Linebackers, A- 4. LSU 4-1 (1-1) The offensive line has The Commodores’ Redshirt freshman Chris LSU’s vaunted defense been a pleasant surprise defensive success this year Marve has been outstanding was exposed against the for this team, as no one begins with their front four, in his first season, getting Gators, as Florida was expected a unit that was which has amassed nine 44 tackles, 22 solo and also able to move the ball at replacing all five starters to sacks and 18 tackles for loss the most important forced will against the Tigers. have much success early so far in the first half of the fumble of the year when he 5. Vanderbilt in the season. Redshirt season. The Commodores saved a go-ahead Ole Miss 5-1 (3-1) junior Bradley Vierling has lead the SEC in sacks so touchdown. Marve’s size, Vanderbilt’s offensive been the glue that has kept far this year. This unit has speed and smarts on the ineptitude against Mis- them together and redshirt been led by the stellar field have made him ideal sissippi State caused the sophomore Reilly Lauer play of junior Greg at the middle linebacker Commodores to suffer has performed admirably Vierling (60), lauer (68) Billinger, who also has a billinger position. Also, junior Patrick benoist their first loss of the sea- against top-flight SEC pass blocked kick on the season, Benoist has been among the son and make a change rushers despite consistently being outweighed by and junior ends Broderick Stewart and Steven league leaders in tackles all season and has twice at quarterback. his opponents. The line has only given up 10 sacks Stone. The defensive line has also received excellent been named conference Defensive Player of the 6. South Carolina through the first six games, but needs to cut down contributions for some of the younger members of Week. The decision to bring junior Brett Trice from 5-2 (2-2) on giving opponents free shots on the Commodore the unit such as sophomore tackle T.J. Greenstone safety to linebacker has also paid off. Though this Besides Alabama, the quarterbacks. They also need to go back to the and ends sophomore Theron Kadri and redshirt unit has performed beyond expectations after the Gamecocks may be the hottest team in the SEC drawing board after struggling to open up holes in sophomore Teriall Brannon. In the second half, the loss of Jonathan Goff and Marcus Buggs to the NFL, right now, reeling off the running game in recent weeks. Commodores are going to have to do a better job of improvement is needed in run defense. four straight wins after stopping the run, as their last three SEC opponents starting the season 1-2. have been able to run the ball almost at will against the Commodores’ defense. 7. Kentucky 4-2 (0-2) Week after week, the Kentucky defense keeps Secondary, A- Special teams, A- Coaching, B+ showing it’s among the The Vanderbilt secondary The Special Teams has The Commodores have best in the SEC. How- has been as good as arguably been the best gotten to where they are ever, their offense not so advertised, tied for third unit for the Commodores today on the strength of great much. in the nation with 11 thus far. Junior punter Brett coaching by Bobby Johnson 8. Ole Miss interceptions. Hard-hitting Upson has been magnificent, and his staff. This team is very 3-3 (1-2) safeties redshirt junior especially with his ability to disciplined and knows how to You never know what to Ryan Hamilton and redshirt pin opponents inside their get the job done. Critics may expect for the Rebels, senior Reshard Langford own 20-yard lines. Senior point to Saturday’s loss to who head into Tuscaloosa have five interceptions kicker Bryant Hahnfeldt looks Mississippi State as Johnson this week in a very tough between them, including as if he has fully recovered showed too much dedication road game. They have three in one game by from the injuries that plagued to an injured Nickson. The beaten Florida on the Hamilton in a remarkable hamilton (2), Moore (17) him in previous seasons. Moore Commodores did not come to Johnson, adams (9) road, but have blown games against Vanderbilt defensive effort against Ole Returner Moore leads the play offensively last week and and South Carolina at Miss. Also, junior cornerbacks D.J. Moore and Myron SEC in returns so far, and has been vital in giving had a poor offensive game plan under Ted Cain, but home. Lewis have each picked off two passes, and redshirt the Commodores great field position with many of that should be the anomaly this season as they won’t seniors Jared Fagan and Josh Allen have provided his returns. For the rest of the season, Vanderbilt is overlook another team like they did with the Bulldogs. 9. Auburn 4-3 (2-3) solid relief for injured nickelback Darlron Spead. It’s going to need its special teams to continue its great Expect Johnson to get serious consideration for Coach One week after firing not surprising that the only game this season that play and hopefully find a spark on kick returns as the of the Year, as he has built this program almost from their offensive coordina- the Commodores didn’t pick off a pass, they lost. Commodores rank 10th in the SEC in that category. scratch and brought it to national prominence. tor, Auburn proceeded to have their worst offensive display of the season. Somewhere, Tony Franklin is laughing. Swimming team heads to UT after first win in 2 years 10. Mississippi State 2-4 (1-2) Hustler Staff Report native also placed second in Surma finished right behind sophomore Christina Chao, The Bulldogs have played the 100-yard butterfly with Obranowicz with a time of sophomore Anna Fargo, better as of late, and After their first win in dual- a time of 59.80. Five events 25.77. Molchan and Obranowicz that showed in their win meet action since 2006, the later, Axt added to her list of Freshman Laura Dillon picked up the gold medal after over the Commodores in Commodores’ swimming achievements as she cruised picked up where she left off two recording an impressive time Starkville on Saturday and diving team will travel to to the 500-yard freestyle title weeks ago as she placed second of 1:41:48. in a sterling defensive Knoxville on Friday to face with a time of 5:12.49, nearly 11 in the 200-yard individual After the meet, the effort. Tennesssee and Arkansas. seconds faster than the second medley with a time of 2:16:25. Commodores’ coach talked 11.Arkansas The Vanderbilt swimming place competitor. Freshmen Nicole Woodworth about how this can help the 3-3 (1-2) and diving team defeated Centre Sophomore Jennifer and Liz Asche swept the team gain some momentum Arkansas’s upset over Au- College 127-106 and Rhodes Molchan followed Axt’s first- 1-meter dive as they finished heading into the conference burn gave the Razorbacks their first SEC win of College 176-43 in a double-dual place finish with one of her first and second overall with season. the season after getting last Saturday at the Centennial own as she swam to finish the scores of 239.40 and 198.08, “Hopefully, it is the first two blown out of their first Sportsplex in Nashville. It was 200-yard freestyle with a time respectively. The duo also of many, many more,” Organ two conference games. the program’s first win in dual- of 1:57.64. picked up the top two finishes said. “We’ve got a long road 12. Tennessee meet action since starting the Later in the meet, freshman in the 3-meter dive, with ahead of us, and we have to axt 2-4 (0-3) program up again almost two Kelly Obranowicz picked up Woodworth claiming the top keep the focus on the end of the The Vols played much years ago. the tone for the Commodores her second-straight 100-yard honor with a score of 227.33. season and doing our best at better against Georgia, “It is exciting for us,” said Saturday as she cruised to a first- butterfly title with a time of Freshman Allie Voss picked the (Southeastern Conference but still have major issues head coach Jeremy Organ. “It is place finish in the 1,000-yard 55.06. Obranowicz continued up a first-place finish of her own meets) and getting better each that must be addressed if good to do it at home and have freestyle with a time of 10:32.84, her strong fall season as she in the 100-yard breaststroke by week. It is a nice stepping stone, they hope to finish with a the girls see some success with 40 seconds faster than the placed third in the 50-yard swimming to a time of 1:08.49. but we’ve definitely got a long winning record. Tennessee our fans here.” second place finisher. freestyle with a time of 25.62. The Commodores’ 200-yard way to go yet.” ■ is off to its worst start in Sophomore Leigh-Ann Axt set The Kingwood, Texas, Freshman Zoe Cooper- freestyle relay team of 20 years.

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