Letter from the Editor Dear Readers, It seems like only yesterday we published the inaugural issue of the Vanderbilt Historical Review. I am pleased to present the second issue of our journal of history. Our editorial board has selected another series of thoughtprovoking and engaging historical essays that serve as exemplary models of historical research. I hope readers will enjoy these pieces, which elaborate on an interesting blend of economic, political, social, and artistic issues. The “History at Vanderbilt” section of our journal features two articles that demonstrate the importance of history and how it connects to our school. The first article, “Vanderbilt and the Vietnam Crisis,” examines the campus’ response to the war using articles written by student journalists at the time in our school newspaper, The Vanderbilt Hustler. The second article is an interview with our very own Dr. Michael Bess, Chancellor’s Professor of History at Vanderbilt. Here, we discuss his recently published book, Our Grandchildren Redesigned: Life in the Bioengineered Society of the Near Future. Other articles cover topics ranging from the economics of reunification in Germany, to the history of unconventional opera in twentieth-century Russia, and more. In our future-oriented society, history often can be ignored. These articles, however, hopefully can reveal the usefulness of history, which arguably has more potential now than ever before due to new information and interpretations constantly being developed. In only the past decade, historians have witnessed an unprecedented shift in the way we use sources to retell the past. The digital humanities have made archives and countless primary sources available to the general public. With this type of access, I encourage readers to learn more about the past of their families, countries, or religions to understand how we arrived at the present day. This journal can offer a glimpse into humanity’s shared past and hopefully guide us to a better future. Thank you again to all our readers, editors, and supporters! Robert Yee Editor-in-Chief
Vanderbilt Historical Review The Vanderbilt Historical Review is an undergraduate journal of history. We provide an opportunity for undergraduate students to develop skills in historical research, publishing, and editing. To learn more, visit us at www.vanderbilthistoricalreview.com.