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VOL. 126, ISS. 32
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014
MEET THE
GOLDEN BOYS
Exclusive interviews with the Melodores, ‘The Sing-Off’ champs SEE PAGE 10
CAMPUS
Greeks require MLK Day engagement Chapters agree to send members to MLK Day events and restrict drinking — eliminating ‘Black Monday’
PAGE 2
Winter break roundup The Commodores stayed busy while students were away from campus, hosting games, traveling and making major leadership changes
OPINION
PAGE 16
The ‘D-word’
First-year columnist weighs in on how the university handles diversity
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SPORTS
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WEDNESDAY,JANUARY 7, 2015
campus
CAMPUS UPDATE Vanderbilt switched its Blackboard course management system, formerly known as Online Access to Knowledge (OAK), to offsite servers in an effort to increase performance and reliability.
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More than 500 women receive bids from campus sororities in the SLC as part of Bid Day (2014).
Greek chapters, Hidden Dores partner to increase MLK Day participation and eliminate ‘Black Monday’ By ALLIE GROSS News editor --------------------
Following conversations with Hidden Dores, all Greek organizations will send representation from their chapters to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day events and restrict new and active members from drinking on MLK Day. “It’s a very positive shift for our community. It’s really truly because we have identified a major concern for our community and are trying to fix it,” said Panhellenic President Leslye Barth. The weekend prior to MLK Day is a Weekend of Service, which falls on the final weekend of Panhellenic sorority recruit-
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TYLER BISHOP EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ment and Bid Day. Classes are not held on MLK Day to encourage students to participate in university-sponsored programming for the day of commemoration. MLK Day itself falls on what students colloquially call “Black Monday,” when many sorority women and new members celebrate by drinking — often with the aim of “blacking out” — after the 24 hours following Bid Day during which they are prohibited from drinking. Barth said Hidden Dores approached Greek Life posing the question of what they were going to do for MLK Day. “This is our response,” Barth said. “It was a great question to ask, and being challenged is healthy for our community. I think we’re going to rise to the occasion and do a good job celebrating
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and commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr.” Sophomore Katherine Nash chairs two Hidden Dores committees, one of which focuses on increasing attendance at cultural events including MLK Day. Nash approached Greek leaders because she felt it was problematic that the term “Black Monday” was used to coincidentally describe the same day as MLK Day. “People throw words around without thinking of the implications,” Nash said. “Many people in Greek Life are unaware of how their actions surrounding MLK Day send negative messages to the minority students on campus and also within their chapters.” Nash added that she felt frustrated when, as a Greek new
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DESIGNERS
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THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER u WWW.VANDERBILTHUSTLER.COM member last year, she herself was unable to participate in MLK Day programming due to Panhellenic recruitment obligations. She said she was upset to hear her friends’ — who are minority students — perspectives on Greek behavior on MLK Day. “This is a day that we get off school not to party, not to rest from recruitment, but to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr.,” Nash said. “If you look at recent events, you can clearly tell issues of race in America are not over by any means. I think this is a really cool forum to discuss those things, and we definitely need to use that forum. To have a large portion of this community not participating in this day is not ok.” Nash said she first approached Greek Life aiming to move recruitment to remove the problem altogether, but encountered difficulties with the academic calendar. After Nash’s meetings with the council presidents and a meeting with all the chapter presidents, Greek Life chapters have agreed to send representation from chapters — some for standards requirements, others not — to an MLK Day event. Greek Life Director Kristin Torrey emphasized that Greek participation in MLK Day is not new. Interfraternity Council (IFC) President Nick Elder said the IFC has required fraternities to participate in MLK Day activities for the past couple of years. “Greek Life has been working to increase participation in MLK Day activities to show our respect for Martin Luther King and the impact he has had and continues to have,” Elder said. Nash said that involving each chapter in MLK Day was an idea put forth by the Greek leaders: “I didn’t impose this on them, but I was really excited to hear this solution.” Torrey also stressed that this initiative was entirely studentdriven by the council and chapter presidents, rather than a policy change through the Office of Greek Life. Dr. Frank Dobson, co-chair of the MLK Day committee, which plans the university’s programming, said he is “elated” that more Vanderbilt students will be involved with the MLK
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This is a day that we get off school not to party, not to rest from recruitment, but to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Day dialogue on important issues such as poverty, privilege and service. “I think it’s fantastic because we’re one campus,” Dobson said. “The King holiday is a national holiday that all Americans celebrate, and I think it’s great that other members in our community, who would not in the past have had the opportunity to be involved in the King holiday, will now be involved.” Nash said this change represents only a first step in the process because Panhellenic recruitment still interferes with the Weekend of Service. “I know when people feel (MLK Day) is a requirement and they don’t understand the importance of it, and that’s not communicated well, then that causes issues. You might have a ton of people not paying attention or listening,” Nash said. Each chapter will determine which events they will participate in and how many members will attend. Barth said they chose to allow presidents to gauge interest and decide as an individual chapter how to participate to ensure they were sending people who would be interested in the events. “We wanted to make sure the people who were going were going to be passionate and excited, and not just feel like they had to in order to make it a more positive experience for everyone,” Barth said.
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Nash has helped coordinate with the MLK Day committee the amount of people each chapter plans to send to the different events so that the committee can accommodate space for the increased participation. She stressed that this is a positive, beneficial step toward campus unity, rather than an attempt to highlight campus division. Barth said she expects people to understand the changes. “I think sometimes people forget that there’s a lot going on in our campus beyond what’s in their immediate line of vision, so I think this is something people are going to get behind and be supportive of,” Barth said. Sophomore Nichole Smith, also involved with Hidden Dores, added that it’s important to note that this is a campus issue of a “culture of apathy,” rather than a Greek Life issue. “If at least one person goes to one of these events and is inspired or learns something, then Hidden Dores will have done successfully what we’re trying to do,” Smith said. NPHC President Jordaan McGill did not respond to comment. In a separate initiative, Greek leaders are also taking steps to reduce risks associated with excessive drinking the week following Bid Day. “Separately, we have been working hard to figure out ways to change the culture surrounding sorority bid week to stop the celebrating of new members with alcohol and ultimately hoping to make an effort to curb binge drinking in Greek Life,” Elder said. Torrey said IFC fraternity events will not be held for the entirety of the week, with increased penalties for violations. Panhellenic has also pushed forward its alcohol and social responsibility training to the several days after bid weekend. “It’s about the way in which we welcome new members into our community. We want that to happen in a safe and welcoming and fun way to all,” Torrey said.
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WEDNESDAY,JANUARY 7, 2015
CAMPUS
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Custodial outsourcing seen as ‘intimidation tactic’ by union workers Students and workers react to outsourcing of third-shift custodial services during contract negotiations between Vanderbilt and custodial union By KELLY HALOM News editor --------------------
Vanderbilt’s Plant Operations began working with external partner Aramark, effective Oct. 5, for third-shift custodial services — which takes place between 11 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. The change came at the beginning of contract negotiations between Vanderbilt and its labor union. The move to an external partner eliminated approximately 35 part- and full-time employees’ positions. Employees were given the option to leave their job, switch to another shift or continue working the third shift as an Aramark employee. Senior Joshua Everett, who has been heavily involved in Vanderbilt Students of Nonviolence’s (VSN) campaign to raise awareness about the social justice concerns of Vanderbilt’s decision to outsource the third shift, said that for those who have been on the shift for much of their career, options
like these offer little condolence. “This is the kind of thing that completely jolts someone’s life, and so, it’s just another show — I think — of how this administration tends to disrespect the workers at the lowest end of the pay scale,” Everett said. According to a statement by the university, the decision to outsource third-shift services was due to a “high turnover rate of third shift employees coupled with difficulty identifying and hiring new staff.” Assistant Vice Chancellor of Plant Operations Mark Petty said when the decision to outsource was made, there were only 21 out of 35 third-shift positions filled. All 21 employees who were affected chose to retain employment at Vanderbilt, moving to work full-time jobs during different shifts for the university. Petty explained that Nashville’s growth over the past few years has led to some of the highest levels of competition for service-level employees that he has seen in the last 15-20
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An unattended custodial cart in Sarratt Student Center. The outsourcing of 35 third-shift custodial positions has caused increased tension between union workers and the university. years. “We were having a very difficult time filling positions especially on the third shift because people could get daytime jobs at the same compensation levels,” Petty said. Union steward for Vanderbilt’s custodial staff Dewayne Abrogast said that he does not believe high turnover was the
CAMPUS THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER u WWW.VANDERBILTHUSTLER.COM real motivation for outsourcing the third shift. “I believe it (the outsourcing) was intended as an intimidation tactic,” Abrogast said. “I think the overall aim, if they can do it, is to get rid of housekeeping on campus, but they want to do it a little at a time so people won’t notice so much.” Petty said that the decision came after two years of looking at various vendors and that outsourcing services is nothing new to Vanderbilt, citing a 40-year relationship with Advanced Building Services as well as several outsourced food outlets across the campus. “It certainly isn’t an intimidation tactic. It is a reality that a lot of universities contract out these types of services to outside entities,” Petty said. Abrogast said he believed management would prefer to privatize housekeeping, as such a move would mean that the university would no longer provide benefits for housekeepers and no longer have to negotiate with the union every two to three years. Everett also echoed concerns with the union as a reason for outsourcing the third shift, saying that privatizing the third shift could eventually lead to the entire custodial staff’s being outsourced. “If that were to happen, that would be a clear form of deliberately weakening the union and the labor force, so they won’t have as strong of a negotiating base when these contract negotiations come around,” Everett said. “Of course, Vanderbilt would never admit that, but I think it’s pretty reasonable to deduce from their behavior that that would be the route that they’re taking.” Abrogast said that outsourcing to Aramark can be problematic for both accountability and security reasons. While the University requires a 10-year background check on all university employees, Aramark requires a seven-year
background check. Petty said that Vanderbilt is still in a debate with Aramark to move to a 10-year background check as well. Theoretically, with an external company, a different person could come to do custodial work each day, making it much more “murky” and “difficult” to hold people accountable, according to Abrogast. “The students do not want strangers in their classrooms, in their dorms, cleaning up after them, because these people are not answerable to Vanderbilt. They’re only answerable to the company, and the company is just contract help,” Abrogast said. “It’s much more efficient and much more secure to have an in-house cleaning staff.” However, Petty said that his office remains responsible for the conditions of the building, regardless of who does the work. Vanderbilt’s Plant Operations meets with Aramark daily to review the quality of their work and discuss various issues. “It doesn’t matter who does the work at this point in time,” Petty said. “We are and I am responsible for the conditions of the buildings.” Everett said that VSN has been working to raise awareness and has expressed their grievances to Petty through various outlets. “But if the administration doesn’t listen to the fact that students and members of the Vanderbilt community don’t want this and also the fact that this negatively impacts workers who have been here, then we’ll be forced to make our point in a more direct way,” Everett said. The custodial staff’s contract expired Nov. 15, but has been extended as contract negotiations between the union and Vanderbilt persist. Abrogast said that he hopes the remaining details can be resolved near the beginning of the new year.
WEDNESDAY,JANUARY 7, 2015
BY THE NUMBERS
14
third-shift vacancies prior to outsourcing to Aramark
21
third-shift employees who stayed with Vanderbilt, moving to a different shift
35
total part- and full-time third-shift positions outsourced
5
6
CAMPUS
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Glass recycling expanded to almost all residential areas Student initiative leads to expansion as part of ‘continued efforts to expand recycling options’ By AADITI NAIK News reporter --------------------
Spurred by students’ initiative and environmental consciousness, the Sustainability and Environmental Management Office (SEMO) expanded access to glass recycling bins to six new campus locations and converted the event-only bins at Rand and the Student Life Center into public bins. “The expansion of glass recycling locations was prompted by both an observed increase in volume at The Commons Center location and requests that were received from students, and from campus offices
such as the Dean of The Commons’ office,” said Matthew Buckley, SEMO campus waste and recycling manager. The only facilities previously available for glass recycling were a public container behind The Commons Center and private bins at Rand and the SLC since they were put into place in 2008. “Unfortunately, recycling glass is not nearly as lucrative as other materials such as aluminum, and collecting the glass creates more safety hazards and logistical headaches, so it was never regarded as a priority,” said Michael Diamond, president of Students Promoting Environmental Awareness and Responsibility (SPEAR).
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As a resident adviser, senior Claire Gamino pushed for a permanent glass recycling bin in Towers. She has continued working to educate students about glass recycling available on campus.
After SEMO’s expansion of the glass recycling program, glass can now be recycled in glass recycling bins at Towers West, Moore College, Warren College, Rand/Sarratt, The Commons Center, Crawford House, Lewis House and McTyeire. “The expansion of access to glass re-
cycling is part of our continued efforts to expand recycling options for all recyclable materials,” Buckley said. “As result of these ongoing efforts, Vanderbilt doubled its recycling amount in the last two years from 3 million pounds to 6 million pounds.” All colors of glass will be recycled as long
THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER u WWW.VANDERBILTHUSTLER.COM as the containers are emptied and placed in the glass recycling bins. However, the glass recycling is only a drop-off service, so glass left anywhere except in the glass recycling bins will not be recycled and housekeeping will throw them away. Residence halls around campus already had aluminum, plastic and paper recycling bins. The lack of availability for glass recycling on campus became apparent to Towers Resident Adviser Cassie Doyle and Area Coordinator Matthew Sinclair when they noticed that residents were trying to recycle glass bottles in the paper, plastic and aluminum bins. Last spring, Doyle and Sinclair decided to try running their own glass recycling program in Towers as a “Go Green” initiative for St. Patrick’s Day. They placed a few small recycling bins, similar in size to the ones provided to residents in their rooms, in Towers to gauge whether residents would take advantage of the glass recycling facilities. “We placed the bins in Towers and it seemed to become rather popular, so much so that students were even separating the glass and adding extra containers if the ones we set out were full,” Sinclair said. The glass bottles were transported to the glass recycling container behind The Commons Center. At the end of last spring, Doyle and Sinclair’s beta glass recycling program had collected approximately 7,500 glass bottles in only one and a half months. Doyle graduated last year but another Towers RA,
CAMPUS
Claire Gamino, approached Diamond and Sinclair this year about getting Towers a permanent glass recycling bin. “I am an RA in Tower 4 and I have always had an issue with the fact the we don’t recycle glass in the upperclass areas. I am ‘that girl’ that insists on recycling everything that I possibly can,” Gamino said. “What irked me most was that students would bring their glass bottles down to the recycling area and would leave them neatly organized, yet they would be thrown away by housekeeping because there wasn’t a program in place.” Using existing resources, Buckley found the necessary bins for Towers and Kissam by mid-October and redesignated the private bins at Rand as public ones. “When the gorgeous green glass recycling bins were installed, I received an email and was ecstatic,” Gamino said — she is now using posters to educate people about the improved glass recycling facilities so that residents use them. The safety hazard posed to residents and residential workers was another factor that contributed to the need for glass recycling bins in residential areas. Without a specific bin for glass recycling, students had just been leaving glass in other bins and on the floor, creating a safety hazard. McTyeire Head Resident Won Ki Lee contacted Diamond to expand glass recycling there after a staff member was hurt. “Sadly, a housekeeper cut herself earlier in the semester on broken glass that was
thrown in a garbage bag, again underscoring the safety hazard posed by a lack of glass recycling infrastructure,” Diamond said. This was brought to Buckley’s attention, and he expanded glass recycling access to not only McTyeire but also Crawford and Lewis, meaning that almost all residential areas on campus now had access to glass recycling bins. According to Buckley, because Vanderbilt students work for SEMO and empty the recycling bins in residential areas, Vanderbilt’s recycling vendor and its personnel will directly service the glass recycling bins, protecting students and staff from potential injury. The bins will be emptied by “mechanical means” at the recycling facility. “The recycling location and handling methods were implemented this way to address concerns with both safety, cleanliness and aesthetics,” Buckley said. SEMO does not plan to add any more glass recycling locations but will make sure that the capacity of the new bins matches the volume of glass recycled. Gamino believes the glass recycling bins have the potential to make a big difference — she has faith that “every little bit counts.” “The amount of waste generated by humans is something than can be changed quickly but have an incredible impact,” Gamino said. “Enough plastic water bottles are thrown away every year to stretch to the moon and halfway back if laid end to end. If that doesn’t scream that we have an over-
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consumption issue, I don’t know what does. I am passionate about sustainability and living responsibly, of which I believe recycling is very important part.” Gamino said she is proud of the Vanderbilt administration for responding to student voices about glass recycling. “I felt like I was heard and not simply dismissed when I brought these concerns forward,” she said. “From my perspective, Vanderbilt makes sustainability a priority. They don’t throw a little money at a project or two to satiate the environmentally conscious students, but really try to make lasting improvements. There is still a long way to go, but each step is a reason to celebrate.”
GLASS RECYCLING LOCATIONS • • • • • • • •
Moore College Warren College Carmichael Towers West Rand Hall McTyeire The Commons Center Lewis House Crawford House
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life Sorority sisters speak out on recruitment changes QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Every day is a chance for us to learn something new about ourselves or about others or about the music we get to make ... I’ve learned more from the Melodores in my four years here than I have from classes. You just learn how to be a good person and a good performer. That’s the biggest thing for me.”
AUGIE PHILLIPS, PRESIDENT OF THE MELODORES
Another winter, another recruitment season for Vanderbilt’s Panhellenic sororities — or so it may seem. From updated rules allowing more interactions with first-year girls during first semester to the new policy allowing upperclass sorority women to drink during the interim week of recruitment, to the complete ban of the oft-discussed ‘Black Monday,’ this year’s recruitment is vastly different compared to that of previous years. The Hustler spoke with women from every chapter on campus, who weighed in on the new policies anonymously By Priyanka Aribindi, Life editor
“I think (the new rules) are nice. I mean, the freshmen can’t and they’re really kind of the ones who get blackout on Black Monday, or Tuesday — whatever we’re calling it now. Them not being able to go out doesn’t really change anything — they’re still gonna get obliterated.” “I’m indifferent — I don’t think it’s going to have much of an effect.” “I think it makes sense for women who are above the age of 21 if you’re not that busy. I feel like freshmen shouldn’t be allowed to go out, but if upperclassmen women don’t abuse that, then I really don’t see a problem with it.”
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I think it makes sense for women who are above the age of 21 if you’re not that busy. I feel like freshmen shouldn’t be allowed to go out, but if upperclassmen women don’t abuse that, then I really don’t see a problem with it.
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“As an upperclassman and 21-year-old, I really enjoy that. It’s not as though I was going to black out every single night that week or something — it would just be a social setting, like I can go to Saucer on Monday now and enjoy the company of other seniors. I think by then, when you are 21 and you’re not going out to get blackout drunk — which it never should be — but you just realize these things more as time passes, so I think that was a nice ‘give and take’ by Greek Life.”
The new rules regarding contact with first-years
“Obviously it’s not fun news, but at the same time I understand and agree with why they would. There’s a full semester of partying and getting to know the PNMs; you don’t need to have one night to get them blackout and have that be their first impression.”
“This makes it so much better if you don’t have a long standing — you have a fair chance. Especially if you’re not as social.”
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I think we can still give MLK Day the respect it deserves during the day because we can’t go out until later that night anyway.
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“I think that being able to go out during rush puts less pressure on girls, and they won’t feel the need to go out as hard (after).”
The 'Black Monday' drinking ban
“I think it was dumb in the first place, so I’m okay with it.” “For me personally, I’m so glad to sleep, but I think it’s ridiculous. The main reason is because they don’t want it to be associated with Black Monday, MLK Day, but I’ve never heard of anyone, regardless of their race, actually offended by that. No one sees it as us calling it Black Monday because of that — I just think they’re being overly politically correct.” “I see the advantages and disadvantages of the change, but in the past I think it became more of an event and girls got too drunk. Hopefully more people can actually participate in the MLK Day of Service and come to the walk.” “I love that, actually. First of all, it was really disrespectful given that MLK Day is that day, and there are just so many other ways to bond as a chapter that don’t have to involve drinking, and I know that our house specifically is planning a lot of alternative programming events throughout the entire week.” “I still feel like there will always be another day to replace Black Monday. I’m not really sure that by eliminating it they’ll eliminate the problem of having girls drink too much and all that.” “I think it’s a good step to try to eliminate a problem of dangerous drinking and women getting hurt or feeling pressure, so maybe it’s more indicative of a cultural change that needs to come from within the chapters.”
“I wasn’t a huge fan of it because it added a pressure to go out and have lunch with these girls where before, there was kind of an excuse to not try hard; therefore, you didn’t have to go the extra mile (in that way). I feel like it makes the competition more fierce. It also makes it so you’re even more heartbroken when that PNM goes to another sorority if they do because you’ve established a relationship with them.” “I think they’re great because I think it allows for a fostering of actual relationships at least somewhat more than previous years because all you could do was meet (first-years) out in a very social situation that probably involved drinking or you would meet them in ... Pumpkins with Panhell — and there was no in-between where more friendships are found.” “I was so appreciative of the fact that they recognized how awkward it had been before, where … everyone had been on pins and needles, just kind of self-regulating themselves, doubting themselves on what was appropriate or acceptable … It was nice having the more organic relationship.” “I feel like it allows upperclassmen women in sororities to not beat around the bush as much, but also for first-year women to be more open and have friendships with upperclassmen. As long as it’s not abused, I think it enhances the process.”
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I was so appreciative of the fact that they recognized how awkward it had been before … everyone had been on pins and needles, just kind of self-regulating themselves, doubting themselves on what was appropriate or acceptable … It was nice having the more organic relationship.
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’ The new alcohol policies during recruitment
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Month in music: January
This month Music City will be visited by artists ranging from from Sam Smith to Linkin Park. The Hustler has compiled five can’t-miss concerts to help you decide which to catch By Charlie Obrecht, Life reporter
Sam Smith (Jan. 10 at Grand Ole Opry House)
Greg Allman (Jan. 13 at Ryman Auditorium)
Linkin Park, Rise Against and Of Mice and Men (Jan. 17 at Bridgestone Arena)
Yonder Mountain String Band (Jan. 23 at Cannery Ballroom)
Jack White (Jan. 28 at Bridgestone Arena)
The British singer rose to fame in 2012 when he collaborated with Disclosure to record “Latch,” and he has since pursued a successful R&B and pop career, producing major hits in the last year. In December Smith was nominated for six Grammys, including Best New Artist and Album of the Year, and after a quick trip to Music City performing at the Ryman in October, he will be back in Nashville this weekend at the Opry. Photo by Laura Fedele
Allman, a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band, embodies the genre of Southern rock, melding together sounds from rock, blues and country. Though The Allman Brothers Band broke up this past fall, Allman is currently on a solo tour, and you can hear his trademark sound enhanced by the famed Ryman acoustics next week in Nashville. Photo by Tim Johnson
This show packs in three of the biggest names on the rock and metal scenes right now. While Linkin Park blurs the the line between rock and metal, Of Mice and Men is decidedly a metal band. Both bands will put on a performance packing in heavy bass riffs and intense vocals. Headliner Linkin Park is currently touring their sixth album “The Hunting Party,” which was released this past summer. Photo taken from Instagram
Yonder is a progressive bluegrass jam band from Colorado and their music has a genuine, down-toearth vibe rarely heard in the contemporary, commercialized music scene. Despite having lost mandolinist and singer Jeff Austin, Yonder should put on a lively jamdriven show, and at an intimate venue like Cannery Ballroom, fans will have the chance to get up close and personal. Photo courtesy of DSC Photography
This eccentric American rocker founded and fronted The White Stripes and also has a connection to Music City, having established the headquarters of his record label Third Man Records in Nashville in 2009. Since the 2011 breakup of The White Stripes, White has pursued a solo career to much critical acclaim and is currently touring following the release of his second solo album “Lazaretto.” Photo courtesy of Dreadheadphotos
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015
MEET
special
THE
The Melodores return to campus as Vanderbilt’s newest national champs after bringing home the title — and a $50,000 prize — from NBC’s ‘The Sing-Off.’ The Hustler caught up with each of them to hear more about their music, memorable moments and what #MeloLove is really all about By Claudia Willen, Eliza Yass, Anna Butrico, Michelle Phan and Zane Lincoln, Life reporters JAMAL MARCELIN Sophomore Hometown: Brooklyn, New York Voice type: Tenor How did you prepare yourself for going from stages here at Vanderbilt to a larger, national stage on live television? So, actually back in New York I was part of a choir that did a lot of performances at places like Carnegie Hall, and that really helped prepare me for performing at Dolby Theatre.
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Do you have a routine you do before performing or anything special you do before going on stage? Before I perform, I usually just try to stay quiet for about an hour just to get into the zone.
JONATHAN AMAROBARRON First-year Hometown: Miami, Florida Voice type: Bass
NIKHIL RAMAPRASAD Junior Hometown: Morristown, Tennessee Voice type: Vocal percussionist
What song do you hope to see the Melodores perform in the future? I’d like to see the Melodores try something electronic. That would be a really interesting choice. We usually do things that aren’t typical a cappella. Maybe something like “Blame.”
What song do you hope to see the Melodores perform in the future? I’d like something a little more dubstep because it’s more up my alley. I beatbox, so I’d have a tough job.
What does the audience go wild for? Part of the audition process is to know how to perform rather than just sing. I think the fact that we all have that stage presence — that is definitely what makes the audience go crazy.
Most embarrassing Melodore moment: During “Trumpets,” we did a kick line on the end and for whatever reason I phased out and you can see it in the video. My legs weren’t cooperating and the camera was on me. It was the one time I didn’t get my legs high enough, I swear!
DAN MCNEILL Senior Hometown: Woodstock, Georgia Voice Type: Tenor II You were performing on an especially big stage and singing a vocally challenging song (“Take Me to Church”); how were your nerves? I’ve sung the song 100 times already with guys I’ve sung in 50 different places, and so the pressure of what it was really wasn’t there because of those other factors. And I knew it wasn’t just riding on me; it was all of us. How did you prepare yourself for going from stages here at Vanderbilt to a larger, national stage on live television? To be honest, when we were in L.A., I didn’t think about it on TV. I thought about it as the process of that week: practicing and working and focusing on just the crowd of that night. What song do you hope to see the Melodores perform in the future? Why? “Don’t” by Ed Sheeran is sick. What’s the most exciting upcoming thing for the Melodores? We’re singing in the Ryman on Mar. 15 as a part of “The SingOff” Tour, which is unbelievable. Everyone who is anybody has sung there. And that’s really, really exciting.
JAMES MCHUGH Junior Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts Voice type: Tenor I What song do you hope to see the Melodores perform in the future? Why? I want us to keep taking musical risks. We did some mainstream songs on the show, but I don’t want us to be an a cappella group that just covers top 40 songs. I’d love to see us do an original song. How do you feel about your fans? I’ve had hundreds of friend requests from people I don’t know and a few weird Facebook messages. But it’s been really cool to hear from old friends I haven’t talked to in a while. What are some challenges in creating arrangements for popular songs that also best fit singing styles for so many different individuals? I arranged “Take Me to Church” and “Trumpets.” I would say for “Trumpets” it evolved a lot even after we were rehearsing. They wanted us to add more crazy moments and do more stuff. “Take Me to Church” was different in that it was more one-dimensional, but not in a bad way. It’s very dependent on the song.
AUGIE PHILLIPS Senior Hometown: Frankfurt, Ke Voice Type: Tenor
What did you say to the gro at TSO? I reminded them how much w were about to go do and that it at that point … just focus on en
Best part of leading an all-m Best part would definitely have is to see the 13 other guys grow us to learn something new abo or about the music we get to m from the Melodores in my four classes. You just learn how to b performer. That’s the biggest th
Do you have a preshow ritu (We usually) just kind of have a and then we’ll just get out there performances like “The Sing-O here on campus, we’ll stand in then we’ll hum two pitches like while one guy, like the presiden of the officers or just somebod kind of give us a pep talk (and) next to you and pass it around.
What’s your favorite part ab My favorite part is definitely th with these guys. We’re closer th think of. I know that I am going single one of these guys for the
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oup before going on stage
we had practiced everything we t wasn’t about the little things ntertaining people.
male singing group: e to be just how rewarding it w ... Every day is a chance for out ourselves or about others make ... I’ve learned more r years here than I have from be a good person and a good hing for me.
ual? a quick zone-in conversation e. But for our big Off” or one of our own concerts n a circle and all hold hands; e an open fifth. We’ll hum that nt or musical director or one dy who wants to, will talk and ) squeeze the hand of the guy .
bout being a Melodore? hat I have lifelong friendships han any fraternity you can g to be friends with every e rest of my life.
TED MOOCK Senior Hometown: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Voice Type: Baritone What was “The Sing-Off” experience like? That was a show I watched since freshman year ... and three years later, my senior year, we made it, we won, which was crazy. That was definitely ... the highest point that the Melodores have ever achieved in terms of exposure. What was the “Sing-Off” experience like compared to your time on the “Pitch Perfect” set? It’s unique because they’re both the platform for a cappella in today’s media ... So it was awesome that I got to do both of those in the same year... Obviously, (Pitch Perfect) was crazy. I was there by myself ... so I was more focused on my personal career because that’s something I want to go into after I graduate -- whereas “The Sing-Off” I was there with all my friends. We get to be a part of this, it’s a very much teamoriented thing, and I guess being on The Treblemakers in “Pitch Perfect” was kind of similar. We worked together, we rehearsed to put on a performance, but there’s nothing like being with 11 other guys that you’ve gotten close with over the years.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015
MELODORES
WILLIAM WOODARD Sophomore Hometown: Normal, Illinois Voice Type: Tenor I
What was better, cash prize or being known as “cuter than kittens” by Jewel? I would say happier that the group won. That was one of my goals, though. I wanted Jewel to talk to me. We hugged and talked after the show. It was surreal. How do you feel about your fans? I think that it’s really funny. I didn’t think people that watch the show would single us out as individuals. I have random junior high girls that follow me on Instagram now. What song do you hope to see the Melodores perform in the future? Why? Any song by Sara Bareilles because I’m in love with her. #MeloLove or #plaidswag? #plaidswag
HOLLIS CUFFIE Sophomore Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia Voice type: Baritone/bass How do you feel about choreography/dancing in general? I love it. I live for the stage.
Most embarrassing Melodore moment: Missing my flight to L.A. (for “The Sing-Off”). It was really dumb because I was staying up purposely so I wouldn’t miss the flight. But I still ended up missing it because I passed out. I woke up and had like five missed calls and barely missed my flight. But I made it there eventually. What does the audience go wild for? The dance break in “Wiggle” and anytime Ted sings.
AUSTIN LYONS Junior Hometown: Bowling Green, Kentucky Voice type: Tenor/baritone What’s the most exciting upcoming thing for the Melodores? Definitely “The Sing-Off” Tour. Unfortunately, we won’t be going on the whole thing, but we’re going to be doing between 12 and 15 shows and they’re going to be for thousands of people. We’re going to be going everywhere from Boston to Atlanta, including playing at the Ryman, which for me personally is just amazing. I grew up going to plays at the Ryman, and it’s just one of the most legendary stages in Nashville.
What’s your favorite part about being a Melodore? Oh my God, I love everything. As cheesy as it is, I’d have to say the brotherhood. The fact that if I were in jail, I would call Augie to come get me out. The fact that the night you make the group, those are 13 or 14 guys that are going to be with you for life.
JUSTIN RIELE Junior Hometown: Danville, California Voice type: Bass
Most embarrassing Melodore moment: I was on stage at ICCAs, which was the International Championships of Collegiate A Cappella, in front of I think 700 people, and it was my first year in the group and I have my first solo and it had the F-word in it and the president of the group told me not to sing that word and I actually thought he told me to sing it, so we got in a bunch of trouble from the school because I swore and there were a bunch of kids in the audience and I was just a little freshman, and all the seniors had to deal with me making that ridiculous mistake. Favorite part of watching “The Sing-Off”? I think watching my celebration, because when we won the show it was pretty surreal and I don’t really remember that much of that 30 seconds. When I went back and watched it, it was hilarious.
Members not pictured: Rani Banjarian, Cameron David and Phillip Kim
For the full interviews visit vanderbilthustler.com The Melodores will perform on Jan. 15 and 16 in Ingram Hall. Tickets are $10 at Sarratt Box Office or on Ticketmaster.
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opinion To ‘Secret #978’
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Prejudice is born of ignorance, and it will take uncomfortable conversations to displace that ignorance and prejudice with cognizance and understanding.”
AADITI NAIK
Remembering your worth in the face of academic pressure
M QUEEN STEVENSON is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Science and the assistant Opinion editor. She can be reached at queen.o.stevenson@ vanderbilt.edu.
ost, if not all of us, are familiar with the popular anonymous forum Vandy Secrets, home to exploits of latenight debauchery, stolen laundry escapades and brutally honest reflections on relationships. I don’t comment often, opting instead to “like” others’ contributions and laugh to myself. But on Jan. 3, I couldn’t stay silent and this time I couldn’t laugh. Secret #978 had been posted, and it was utterly heartbreaking. The original poster (OP) wrote that they “failed out of Vandy this semester” and couldn’t tell their parents for fear of disappointment. OP added that they would “(take) a Megabus far away” and cut all contact with family. I felt my breath catch as my fingers wavered above my keyboard. I felt genuinely scared for this grieving student who thought the only solution to their situation was complete isolation from those who loved them the most. I say “grieving” because OP lamented, “I didn’t think that when I was a straight A’s student in high school that I would one day not be in school at all.” When I think of the host of valedictorians, salutatorians, school body presidents, AP scholars, National Merit finalists, Mock Trial/Model United Nations/ Quiz Bowl/Future Business Leaders of America champions, and state and nationally recognized musicians, athletes and artists currently residing on this campus, I feel like we are all collectively grieving our former glory. How I wish I could take OP out for a coffee and tell them that they shouldn’t run away, that I’m sure
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their family would first and foremost be loving and supportive, and then be willing to discuss the next steps. Secret #978 struck a personal chord because I realized OP’s sense of worth was so inextricably linked to their academic performance that they were willing to resort to such drastic measures. Though I’ve never entertained the thought of running away, I have allowed my self-worth to get tangled up with the collection of four numbers separated by a decimal that fluctuates every semester. Haven’t we all? I can’t count the number of times I’ve asked myself, “Why am I here at Vanderbilt?” and I am positive that many students share this sentiment. We had been built up, fawned over and deemed brilliant for most of our lives. Our resumes and recommendations had runneth over with accolades and adoration. When we are rewarded for particular behaviors, we seek out opportunities to act out those behaviors, and these behaviors ossify, becoming a part of our identities.That’s why starting one’s college career at a school like Vanderbilt feels more like a deliberate dethroning than a simple “transition” — we’re going from being the best to being a member of the best of the best. The identity we once knew for certain is in question, and we don’t know how to deal with it. However, college is the time to forge a truer, more authentic identity. We’ve all sung the same tired song — we’re trying to “find ourselves” — but isn’t there merit to the cliche? It’s easy to base our worth in the tangible — the GPA — but the tangible shifts and changes. You are
more than your grade; a mere letter can’t encompass the experiences, thoughts and traits that makes you, you. At Vanderbilt, our grades are bound to suffer during our time here. If we base our self-worth in our grades, we’ll suffer too. With both the new semester and new year upon us, it’s easy to succumb to the intoxicating, heady, pressure-laden mix of New Year’s resolutions and inflexible semester
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
expectations currently bubbling up in all of us: Annotate all the readings! Ace all the tests! Do all the things! But first and foremost, let’s take care of ourselves — mentally, physically and emotionally. The grades will follow.
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 © 2015 Vanderbilt Student Communications.
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The ‘D-word’
Why we need to do more with the diversity we bring to campus
I AADITI NAIK is a first-year in the College of Arts and Science. She can be reached at aaditi.g.naik@ vanderbilt.edu.
first visited Vanderbilt University as an admitted student invited to MOSAIC weekend. I had never heard of any other college or university holding an event with the specific purpose of attracting multicultural students to the school. Arriving at Vanderbilt, I exchanged pleasantries with people of religious, national and cultural backgrounds that I had never been exposed to in central Wisconsin. During a showcase of Vanderbilt’s performance organizations, I experienced music and dance from all over the world, even seeing aspects of my own culture of which I had been unaware. Thoroughly impressed, and no doubt affected by speech after speech of Vanderbilt’s commitment to diversity, I decided that Vanderbilt was a place that prioritized a true understanding of culture. During my first months at Vanderbilt, it seemed as if my theory were true. As I attended cultural events hosted by organizations like SACE and VAHS; participated in discussions hosted by Warren & Moore HOT TOPICS; and saw performances by VIDA, Voices of Praise and VIBE, I felt like I was being fully exposed to the diversity I had heard so much about. However, I slowly began to realize that being exposed to diversity was not enough. All of these events and organizations were doing a great job informing me about the various cultures they represented; however, I was still a long way from understanding them. My understanding of these cultures
was shallow and limited to a materialistic understanding of music, dance styles and food because the events I attended had only focused on these elements. Advertised with promises of free food and T-shirts, these events had done excellent work drawing people in and introducing them to certain facets of the culture. The organizations responsible for these events have taken Vanderbilt forward by building real momentum in the arena of cultural appreciation. Nevertheless, before this momentum dissipates, it is time to take exploration of culture to the next level by encouraging more value-based discussion of culture. When I speak of value-based discussion of culture, I speak of the crucial need to understand the specific communal values that are responsible for a group’s customs, traditions and perceptions. A lack of understanding of these values leads to an inability to understand why certain customs persist, and perpetuates prejudice and stereotypes. Prejudice is born of ignorance, and it will take uncomfortable conversations to displace that ignorance and prejudice with cognizance and understanding. I attended a mostly white high school and was one of two Indian-American students. Throughout high school, I was continually asked whether the other Indian-American student, a boy, and I would have an arranged marriage when we were older. Some did not even ask and simply assumed we were “betrothed,” making our friendship awkward
at times. While all of this was annoying, what really hurt was the rigid condemnation with which people treated the idea of arranged marriage. As members of an individualistic culture focused on individual success and choice, they could not understand why anyone might give up that choice. While I hope to make my own choices when I grow up, I also understand that in the more collectivistic Indian culture, marriage is considered to be a union of two families and not just individuals. In most cases, arranged marriages are not a form of oppression but an individual choice made in response to values of respect for elders and family before self. To some people, an arranged marriage is just doing what is right and best for the family by entering into a marriage arranged by the elders to ensure that both families are compatible. Until people understand the values behind people’s decision to have an arranged marriage, they do not have the right to judge it. It is easy to condemn a practice that you do not understand as “backward” or “unjust”; it is far more difficult to examine the values that prompt people to adopt that practice and then understand why people might make the choices that they do. At Vanderbilt, we need to take the difficult route and encourage dialogue about values and principles espoused by different cultures. It is not enough to bring diversity to campus and showcase it; we need to actively interact with it to strike down the barriers among cultures.
Death and decay
Normalizing the discussion around mortality ASHLEY SAULSBERRY is a senior in the College of Arts and Science. She can be reached at ashley.g.saulsberry@ vanderbilt.edu.
I
GUEST COLUMN
rarely hear students at Vanderbilt discussing death or mortality; we feel that death is irrelevant to our daily lives and lies far in the future. But death is all around us. As I progressed through college, I have witnessed my parents beginning to age; they complain about knee problems and need hemorrhoid surgery. As a senior, I essentially lie on the brink of adulthood, and one of my upcoming responsibilities will be to care for my aging parents. Modern medicine has protracted the process of dying, and because of this it is imperative that we accept death in order to simplify those necessary conversations about how our loved ones want to die and what conditions they are willing to face. One cannot wait until the proverbial deathbed to consider mortality; if we want to understand life, find its meaning and help our aging or terminally ill loved ones, we need to face death instead of denying it. Ironically, this necessity conflicts with our cultural phenomenon of death denial, which is evident through our death practices. Throughout much of American history, bodies of the deceased were cared for by loved ones and viewed in the home. Today, this tradition seems shocking and macabre. Nowadays, the people who have the most contact with the deceased are strangers to them, not family. Most people no longer die
at home, but in hospitals or nursing homes. Their corpses are quickly whisked away to a discrete refrigeration unit and then to a mysterious funeral home or crematory. After embalming and funeral proceedings, the body is sealed in the casket and placed in a vault in the ground. Afraid of mortality and destruction, we refuse to let the corpses decay anymore. While the idea of decomposition can be revolting, it can also be beautiful. An unpreserved corpse can become a miniature ecosystem with various organisms working to return the body to the earth. We need not fear this awe-inspiring, natural process. Today’s post mortem processes have become medicalized; embalming has become the standard, and the so-called threat to public health corpses pose is often wrongfully invoked as a defense for this practice. We view corpses as unsanitary — perhaps to affirm our desire to avoid them — and embalming is used as a pseudo-medical procedure to sanitize the dead. Embalming is not a ritual fraught with meaning to help alleviate grief of the living; it merely keeps the corpse looking (and smelling) as fresh as possible. Most of us don’t even understand the process, probably because we don’t want to know the disgusting details. How can one of our most prominent practices surrounding death be considered repugnant and gross? Perhaps we only consider it less disgusting than the alternative, decay. Embalm-
ing merely allows us to indulge our ignorance and keep a blind eye toward decomposition. Embalming was born as a capitalistic venture, and as consumers demand distance from death, those involved in the funeral industry are all too obliging to supply it. These days one can arrange to have the deceased picked up, driven to the crematory, cremated and then scattered as ashes at sea, all online without talking to an actual person or seeing the deceased. This takes all meaning from death rituals and makes it clear that the adage “out of sight, out of mind” is how we prefer to think about the dead. Death is the great equalizer, reducing us to anonymity. However, today funeral ornaments are endlessly personalizable, with different designs available on caskets and unique urns available for a price. This expensive personalization of death is a desperate struggle against the reality of our eventual demise, allowing us to deny death and its inevitability. Our culture enables us to deny or ignore death, but we need to reflect on death, as hard and uncomfortable as that sounds. The fact that we have limited time makes our lives meaningful. Accepting the realities of death and dealing with it are highly personal matters, and people may find meaning in different death practices. However, death denial only feeds our fear and prevents us from properly helping the dying.
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sports
THE BIG STAT Number of colleges at which new Vanderbilt offensive coordinator has coached, including Wisconsin, Oregon and Boise State
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COLUMN
Where is Vanderbilt’s home-field advantage?
Support for athletics should go beyond free T-shirts and TV time By MAX HERZ Sports reporter --------------------
One of the primary reasons I chose to attend Vanderbilt was that it is the only elite academic university that also houses Division I athletics. Not only did I presume that high-level interscholastic athletic competition would fulfill my sports fix, but I also concluded that relevant sports teams playing on campus signified a united student body. My first presumption has materialized and then some, but I still cannot decide if my second is true or false. In my first year I rapidly learned that, despite our school’s foothold in the lauded SEC, Vanderbilt sporting events lacked the traditional college sports atmosphere that I still have never experienced. The Anchor Dash is a great, albeit new, annual custom — not quite a tradition — that allowed my entire first-year class to run onto the field just after sundown before the second game of the 2013 college football season. With the rest of the student body having already claimed their territory for kick-
off, my fellow first-years and I crammed ourselves into a packed student section, leaking into the aisles. The crowd was loud, the game was close and the students cared. Halftime was an exodus. Those were the only two quarters all season during which the student section was at capacity. I haven’t seen it full since. Since then, I’ve discovered that the Vanderbilt student body is made up of more than 6,000 fair-weather fans who only grace the stadium with their esteemed presence to watch the visiting team and will only stick around as long as it takes to earn that night’s promotional item. Glad I got that off my chest. Before I divulge further, let me remind you that all Vanderbilt sporting events are free for all students. We are one of a handful in this pleasant distinction. Only thrice have I seen the basketball student section filled completely. Those three games were against Kentucky, Florida and Tennessee. It wasn’t the Commodores, but rather the Wildcats and Gators who drew students to Memorial Gym, as Vandy held tough with two teams bound for the Final Four. Vanderbilt students demon-
strated a warm interest in basketball when these powers came to town. I almost want to give credit to the student section for packing the house in a rivalry game with unranked Tennessee, but I just can’t do that. Lurking at the student entrance was the Aphrodite of Vanderbilt students. The truly irresistible, awe-inspiring and invaluable free T-shirt. Lining up much earlier than usual for such a delicacy, more than a few patrons entered (free of charge, as always), collected their longsleeved bounty and headed back to their dormitories. Did these savage, garment-desiring scoundrels return to the arena in time for tip-off? I sure hope so. I doubt it, though. If not, they missed one hell of a win — the team’s biggest of the season — and an unforgettable alley-oop by Damian Jones, a man whom Vandy students should be turning out to see no matter who the opponent is. The patron saint that is Vandy Fanatics (a student organization) has created leaps and bounds in student presence at athletic events. A promise of 150 free sweatshirts brought more fans to a Commodore soc-
cer game than I had seen at the team’s first eight matches combined. A decree of free smoothies at halftime led to packed bleachers in the first half, but sudden absence in the second. Perhaps the squad that most deserves more student support is the baseball team. Might I remind you that we are the national champions? Despite marginal student support at The Hawk all season long, there was an outpour of passion for baseball on social media the night of that championship win. To steal a fictional moniker from Vanderbilt Professor John English, I saw about 1,873 statuses that looked something like this:
Excuse me, miss, but how many games did you go to this year? None. How many players could you pick out on campus? No more than two. Who knows if that championship, which I don’t doubt was watched by most of
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the student body, will bring more fans to Hawkins Field this spring? It had better. All we know for now is that it further fueled the burning desire for free T-shirts. August’s VPB Palooza boasted National Championship T-shirts for the first 500 students. The line serpentined around campus for an event whose headliner was a piece of ink-stained cotton. This wasn’t the line to get into a big game. This was the line for a shirt. Yes, I know you do homework at night. Yes, I know your club meets every Tuesday at 7. Vanderbilt students are busy, and that’s part of the problem here. But I believe that attending a game is a more fun, interactive and positive experience than watching Netflix. Basketball games are two hours, baseball games are two and a half and football games are three hours just six times a year. You deserve a break, and I cannot stress enough that going to sporting events and cheering on your team with friends is fun! Vanderbilt students, the time is now. There is a multitude of SEC athletic venues just a few blocks from our bedrooms, where your classmates are putting in thousands of hours to represent this school on the field, court and diamond, doing an impeccable job in their mission to bring further fame to Vanderbilt. Just by attending games, you too can make Vanderbilt a better place. Packed student sections will make going to games more fun, which boosts student morale and enhances insiders’ and outsiders’ perceptions of our school. Sure, you have homework at night, but an investment in the university’s well-being will increase academic drive and motivation. It starts this winter in Memorial Gym, continues through Hawkins Field on the road back to Omaha this spring and rounds out on tailgate football Saturdays this fall. Win or lose, no matter who the opponent is, you’d better be there. Our path to glory is paved with free T-shirts, crowded bleachers and SEC supremacy.
A version of this article was originally written for English 200: The Art of Blogging.
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Encouraged by the promise of free pom-poms, Vanderbilt students come out for a quarter of the disappointing season finale against Tennessee. The Commodores lost 24-17. The Commodore fans just lost.
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SPORTS
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Winter break roundup Men’s basketball heated up, women’s basketball cooled down and the football team made a big personnel change. The Hustler breaks down a busy winter break for Vanderbilt sports, day by day By Allison Mast, Sports editor
Men’s basketball defeats Purdue Freshman guard Riley LaChance led the Commodores to a victory over Coach Stallings’ alma mater to start winter break. After a nineday break for final exams, the Commodores did not show signs of rust, shooting 67 percent from three-point range in the first half. LaChance posted a career-high 26 points--the most points by a Vanderbilt freshman since AJ Ogilvy scored 27 in 2008. The Boilermakers, who have not faced the Commodores since 1965, went on a 21-10 run to make the game close in the last four minutes. The visitors were led by Rapheal Davis, who posted 15 points, but the Commodores ultimately pulled away to capture a 81-71 victory.
Dec. 14 Women’s basketball cruises past Elon The Commodores were without Audrey-Ann CaronGoudreau and Marqu’es Webb when they traveled to Elon, but a familiar face helped push the visitors to a 66-50 victory. Junior Heather Bowe, who had been serving a suspension for violating an academic policy, returned to the court in a dramatic fashion, posting a team-high 15 points and four rebounds. Morgan Batey followed closely with 14 points and pulled down an impressive 16 rebounds. The Elon Phoenix struggled during their first home game against an SEC opponent. They shot only 30 percent from the floor and 25 percent from beyond the arc.
Dec. 15 Riley LaChance named SEC Freshman of the Week The guard from Brookfield, Wisconsin was named the Southeastern Conference’s Freshman of the Week after a solid performance during Vanderbilt’s victory over Purdue. LaChance became the second Commodore to earn the honor this season; Wade Baldwin IV was given the distinction on Nov. 24. En route to a career performance, LaChance had season highs in field goals made (9), free throws made (5) and three-pointers made (3).
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Dec. 18 Women’s basketball falls to Marquette The Golden Eagles shut down the Commodore defense, dismantling several tactics to close out a 80-67 victory. Marquette shot 50 percent from the field in their second consecutive victory over Vanderbilt, while the Commodores shot 43 percent. Kristen Gaffney and Rebekah Dahlman led the team with 13 points, while the rest of the team failed to reach double digits. Morgan Batey posted seven rebounds and Dahlman added two steals. The Golden Eagles used ball movement to outscore the Commodores, totalling 21 assists, while their opponents finished with 12.
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Men’s basketball handles Western Carolina Riley LaChance picked up where he left off, tying his career high in points during a 99-79 defeat of the Western Carolina Catamounts. James Siakam contributed off the bench, adding 20 points and seven rebounds. The Commodores struggled defensively in the first half, entering halftime with a 44-41 deficit. However, the young team went on a 16-2 run to start the second half and maintained control of the game until the clock expired. Sophomore center Damian Jones was the third Commodore in double digits, with 16 points on 5-of-6 shooting.
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Coach Kevin Stallings
Stallings gets 300th win against Penn After seeing consistent performance off of the bench, Stallings decided to start senior forward James Siakam, and his decision helped earn him his 300th career win. Siakam scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the 79-50 victory over the University of Pennsylvania. Vanderbilt displayed a relatively balanced offense with Wade Baldwin IV scoring 16 and Damian Jones scoring 15. Conversely, the Quakers were cold from the field and particularly from behind the arc, making just five of 19 attempts.
Freshman guard Riley LaChance
Dec. 16
Dec. 22
Dec. 20 Men’s basketball drops road game to Georgia Tech Vanderbilt lost a physical matchup against Georgia Tech, 65-60. The Commodores got off to a good start, leading 33-25 at halftime. Josh Henderson, in six minutes of play, had 10 points and three rebounds. In the second half, the physicality of the Yellow Jackets proved too much for the Commodores. Henderson and Damian Jones led the team with 12 points each, and Riley LaChance followed with 10. Shelton Mitchell finished with seven assists, while Georgia Tech’s Charles Mitchell led all scorers with 19 points. After the game, Stallings said his team failed to perform in front of a hostile crowd.
Dec. 21 Women’s basketball loses close contest to Dayton Still hampered by injuries, the Commodores suffered a close 71-67 loss to the Dayton Flyers. While Khaleann Caron-Goudreau, Audrey-Ann Caron-Goudreau and Morgan Batey remained on the bench, four Commodores played for more than 30 minutes. Back in the starting lineup, Heather Bowe led Vanderbilt in scoring with 15 points. She received help from the other starters, all of whom finished in double digits except for Rebekah Dahlman. After the 4:41 mark, however, the Commodores failed to keep pace with the Flyers, losing their second consecutive game.
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Jan. 2
Dec. 29 Women’s basketball slides past James Madison Following a short Christmas break, the women’s basketball team returned to the court to defeat RV/No. 24 James Madison, 66-62. The Dukes, who entered the game with five consecutive wins, took to the court with confidence, but some crucial plays by Jasmine Jenkins put the Commodores on top when the clock expired. With 51 seconds remaining, Jenkins hit a contested jumper to give her team a twopoint lead. At the other end of the court, she pulled down a defensive rebound and sealed the victory with free throws.
Women’s basketball loses SEC opener to Texas A&M The Commodores started the SEC portion of their schedule on a sour note, dropping a contest to the No. 5 Aggies, 75-61. Once again, Heather Bowe led the way with 16 points. The Commodores also benefited from the play of Khaleann Caron-Goudreau, who made her season debut after being sidelined for the entirety of non-conference play. She collected 11 points, three assists and three rebounds in 22 minutes. Unfortunately, star freshman Rachel Bell didn’t make the trip to College Station because she was suffering from the flu.
Junior forward Heather Bowe
Jan. 3 Dec. 31 Men’s basketball defeats St. Louis To finish 2014, the Commodores made a statement in Saint Louis, beating the Billikens 70-55. Once again, Riley LaChance stole the show, posting 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Damian Jones added another game to his string of impressive performances, collecting 15 points and six rebounds. The Commodores were aided by cold Billiken shooting in the second half, during which their field goal percentage dropped from 42 to 31 percent. For Saint Louis, two players finished with 15 points each. BLAKE DOVER / THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER
Freshman guard Shelton Mitchell
Men’s basketball outlasts Yale In their last non-conference game of the season, the Commodores held on through two overtimes to beat the Yale Bulldogs, 79-74.The Ivy Leaguers, who upset Connecticut in early December, controlled the game for the majority of regulation, leading by as many as 13 points. Thanks in part to freshman guard Shelton Mitchell, who finished with 15 points, the home team went on a 20-7 run to tie the game at 59. Center Damian Jones led the team with 19 points, while Riley LaChance added 14 and Matthew Fisher-Davis contributed 12. ZIYI LIU / THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER
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Jan. 5 Riley LaChance earns second SEC FOW honors For the second time this season, LaChance earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors. In Vanderbilt wins over Saint Louis and Yale, the guard averaged 16.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Andy Ludwig becomes new OC Former Wisconsin offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig will bring his 28 years of experience to Nashville next fall. He has accepted the same position with the Commodores. Under Ludwig’s tutelage, the Badgers put together an extremely productive season. In 2013, the Badger offense averaged 480.8 yards per game (6,251 yards in 13 games) and 34.8 points per game. The 2014 season was nearly as successful, as the Badgers averaged 34.6 points and 468.9 total yards. Women’s basketball goes cold against UT The Commodores’ shooting went cold against in-state rivals the Lady Volunteers, starting off the second semester with a 57-49 loss. Only two Vanderbilt players finished in double figures, Christa Reed with 13 and Khaleann Caron-Goudreau with 10. Vanderbilt has had recent success against the Lady Vols in Memorial Gym, winning three of the past six meetings. However, the young Commodores cracked under the pressure and failed to perform offensively.
PHOTO COURTESY OF VUCOMMODORES
Offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig, hired on Jan. 5
Jan. 6 Men’s basketball opens SEC play with convincing win The Commodores took an early lead against the Auburn Tigers with 13:16 left in the first half and never trailed for the remainder of the game. Senior forward James Siakam started his fourth game in a row and recorded his first double-double of the season, contributing 14 points and picking up 10 rebounds. Three other Commodores put up double digit points: Riley LaChance with 13, Damian Jones with 11 and Shelton Mitchell with 10.
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