The Vanderbilt Hustler 1-27-16

vanderbilthustler WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2016

WWW.VANDERBILTHUSTLER.COM

VOL. 128, ISS. 3

Breaking down the

SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVEY 28% of undergraduate female respondents reported being sexually assaulted.

More statistics and student reactions inside PAGE 2

OPINION

LIFE

Silence with significance

Guest columnist Lauren Heyano explains why introversion isn’t something to be remedied

PAGE 4

SPORTS

Study abroad PAGE 6surprises

From the least-visited sites to the most unique classes, we investigate Vandy’s international programs

PAGE 8

Should we fire Coach Stallings?

The Hustler weighs both sides in the midst of a disappointing basketball season

PAGE 13

ILLUSTRATION BY VIVIAN SAXON/ THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER

2

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2016

news THE SURVEY Vanderbilt has released the results of its first campus climate surveys about sexual violence. The surveys were distributed to 11,615 Vanderbilt undergraduate, graduate and professional students in spring 2015, in accordance with White House recommendations and a national effort among universities to survey their respective campus climates on the prevalence of sexual assault, the reporting of incidents, and student awareness and use of campus resources.

Two different surveys from two different outside consulting firms were each distributed to half of the student population.

The shorter Educational Advisory Board (EAB) survey had a total response rate of 28 percent — four percent higher than the longer EverFi survey. As a result of this higher response rate and the lower percentage of students who failed to complete the survey, the university has relied more heavily on the EAB data. Accordingly, most of the numbers used below also come from the EAB survey.

The university chose to distribute two different surveys in order to evaluate which was more effective in garnering a higher response rate.

“The insights we gain from the survey must and will inform Vanderbilt’s response to this serious problem, which is impacting the safety and wellbeing of students here and on campuses across the country,” said Provost Susan Wente.

CAMPUS UPDATE The Provost Task Force on Sexual Assault is partnering with the Faculty Senate and VSG for a town hall meeting on Monday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. in 114 Furman Hall to discuss the survey results and task force recommendations.

Understanding the sexual assault survey Five key findings from the Campus Climate Survey results

By ALLIE GROSS Editor-in-chief --------------------

Here are some of the most important findings from the survey results:

1. STUDENTS ARE UNAWARE OF THE UNIVERSITY’S FORMAL PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING SEXUAL ASSAULT. Only 34 percent of respondents said they understood the “formal procedures” for investigating an incident of sexual violence.

Laura Carpenter, sociology professor and chair of the Provost’s Task Force on Sexual Assault, called this finding “a key takeaway” from the survey results released today. Another member of the task force, Vice Provost for Learning and Residential Affairs Cynthia Cyrus, agreed that this was one of the most important findings from the survey results.

“We’ve clearly identified a gap where we need to be more proactive about explaining what our process looks like going forward,” Cyrus said.

However, the survey also found that the majority of students — 56 percent — indicated that they had received some training in sexual assault prevention. This number was 90 percent for first-years, all of whom were required to participate in an online sexual assault prevention module.

It should also be noted that neither survey specifically defined the phrase “formal procedures.”

2. THE PREVALENCE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ON VANDERBILT’S CAMPUS IS IN LINE WITH PEER INSTITUTIONS. TWENTY PERCENT OF UNDERGRADUATES SURVEYED REPORTED EXPERIENCING UNWANTED SEXUAL CONTACT. Around 20 percent of undergraduate respondents reported experiencing unwanted sexual contact, ranging from touching to penetration. Cyrus said this result is in line with rates at peer institutions.

“The rate of prevalence is not very different from those of the schools with which we compare ourselves, and so while we at Vanderbilt have been working very hard over the last several years to improve our

vanderbilthustler STAFF

ALLIE GROSS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

WHEN STUDENTS WERE ASKED IF THEY UNDERSTOOD THE “FORMAL PROCEDURES” FOR ADDRESSING COMPLAINTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT

66%

34%

said no campus environment, we haven’t been able to move the needle as much as we would like in terms of outcomes for students.

That’s something that we’re disappointed in,” she said, citing the Project SAFE Center as a university effort to combat sexual assault that may put Vanderbilt ahead of its peers on addressing this issue.

Cyrus said the survey also drew the task force’s attention to the fact that across all respondents, almost 20 percent reported being sexually assaulted prior to arriving to college. Cyrus said this can help with targeting particular populations moving forward.

3. RESPONDENTS SAID THEY THINK THE UNIVERSITY TAKES SEXUAL ASSAULT SERIOUSLY...

Eighty-seven percent of undergrad respondents said Vanderbilt would take sexual assault reports seriously, and 84 percent said the school/administration would support the person filing a report. Most student respondents said they feel safe at Vanderbilt.

Cyrus said that could reflect a culmination of various administrative efforts and participation in campus dialogue over the past few years. “People believe we are taking this issue seriously, that it’s not just a matter of show for us, but it’s really institutionally a place where investment is making a difference,” she said.

4. … BUT VICTIMS ARE MORE LIKELY TO REPORT TO FRIENDS THAN CAMPUS RESOURCES. Sixty percent of undergrad victims told a friend, roommate or classmate about the incident. Comparably few respondents said they reported their assaults to a campus authority or resource. Around a quarter of

said yes victims told no one about what happened.

For Cyrus, the fact that victims are likely to tell their friends about their assaults is a testament to Vanderbilt as a caring community.

“That, I think, really matters and speaks well to Vanderbilt’s culture, that people feel supported that way,” she said. Still, she thinks students need to know more about the “formal procedures,” which is a goal of the Provost’s task force.

Compared to the high rate of undergrads who confided in friends, only 38 percent of graduate students reported their assaults to a friend, roommate or classmate.

5. ALMOST THREE-QUARTERS OF THE STUDENT BODY DID NOT RESPOND TO THE SURVEY, MEANING THE FINDINGS ARE “NOT GENERALIZABLE” TO THE STUDENT BODY OR OTHER INSTITUTIONS. “We very much wish more people had actually responded to the survey,” Cyrus said.

However, she said the survey’s response rates of 28 and 24 percent are common, and comparable to similar survey results of around 30 percent participation at other institutions.

She said the university wanted to survey all of its students — rather than using random sampling — to give everyone a chance to share their experience.

Additionally, attrition rates of people who did not complete the survey were high — almost a third of people who started the EAB survey did not finish it.

— News Editor Zoe Shancer and Asst. News Editor Sarah Friedman contributed to this report.

JOSH HAMBURGER — MANAGING EDITOR BOSLEY JARRETT — DESIGN DIRECTOR ZOE SHANCER — NEWS EDITOR ANNA BUTRICO — WEB EDITOR KARA SHERRER — LIFE EDITOR ZIYI LIU — PHOTO DIRECTOR QUEEN STEVENSON — OPINION EDITOR KATHY YUAN — CHIEF COPY EDITOR COLLIN ZIMMERMAN — CHIEF WEB DEVELOPER BEN WEINRIB — SPORTS EDITOR MATT LIEBERSON — FEATURES EDITOR PRIYANKA ARIBINDI — AUDIENCE STRATEGIST KATHY YUAN —ASST. PHOTO DIRECTOR

SHARON SI — ASST. DESIGN DIRECTOR JACK SENTELL — ASST. LIFE EDITOR SARAH FRIEDMAN — ASST. NEWS EDITOR PRIYANKA KADARI — ASST. OPINION EDITOR ROBBIE WEINSTEIN — ASST. SPORTS EDITOR DESIGNERS COPY EDITORS KAREN CHAN ALAN WILMS AUSTIN WILMS YUNHUA ZHAO

ABBY HINKSON PRIYANKA KADARI ANGELICA LASALA

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Students concerned, unsurprised that 28 percent of females reported being sexually assaulted Students react to Campus Climate Survey findings

By Sarah Friedman, Assistant news editor Chancellor Nicholas Zeppos said that the results from the university’s first campus climate survey on sexual assault provide invaluable information about sexual violence on Vanderbilt’s campus. However, most students interviewed about the survey didn’t know about it.

Although students interviewed said they hadn’t taken or heard about the survey, when confronted with the results, the statistic that turned the most heads was that 28 percent of females who responded to the survey reported being sexually assaulted — eight percent higher than the “one in five” national average reported in the 2014 Association of American Universities survey.

“That seems like a very high number,” sophomore Erin Savoie said. “That means probably multiple people in my own sorority have experienced sexual assault.”

None of the students interviewed were sure about Vanderbilt’s “formal procedures” used to report sexual assault, even though 90 percent of survey participants reported having received some training in sexual assault prevention. Senior Maritza Navarette said she’d undergone sexual assault prevention training through Green Dot, but still wasn’t sure about “formal procedures.”

“I can’t tell you off the top of my head what you should do if you experience sexual assault and where to go,” Navarette said.

Students weren’t surprised at the low percentages of students who reported their incident to campus officials, or by the quarter of students who told no one about what happened at all.

“That doesn’t seem like a good stat to have,” said junior Tommy Openshaw. “People get ganged up on for coming out with news like that.”

Senior Kait Spear, speaking only for herself and not in her position as chair of the VSG Sexual Assault Prevention committee, noted that more students would take advantage of campus resources such as Project SAFE if they were made into confidential resources.

“If they aren’t utilizing resources that we have, that speaks to the acceptability of our resources,” Spear said.

“The university has made it clear that the Project SAFE Center is a private resource and everyone who works there is well-versed in explaining what that means, but more people would utilize it if it were confidential.”

Students were surprised about the 40.7 percent of victims who reported in the survey that they had “no prior relationship” with their perpetrator, because many know that usually victims of sexual assault know their perpetrator.

Spear pointed out that a possible cause of this high statistic is that the “no prior relationship” option served as a catch-all category for relationships other than those listed. Many of these perpetrators, she explained, were really “in-network strangers,” an option used in other surveys on sexual assault to mean a person who isn’t a complete stranger but also isn’t in a close relationship with the victim.

Most students interviewed didn’t have trouble believing the statistic that nearly 30 percent of reported assaults took place in fraternity houses.

“I think [the assaults in fraternities] were mostly because of alcohol abuse,” first-year Chiaki Santiago said. “I feel like there’s a lot of great people at this school and you have a wide variety of people. And overall people have common sense; if you didn’t then you wouldn’t be here. Alcohol really changes you.”

First-year Karan Goyal said he expected the number of assaults in fraternity houses to be higher.

“Fraternities in general have a reputation that that’s where sexual assaults happen,” Goyal said. “It’s extremely crowded and dark and it would be hard for anyone to know.”

Spear noted that this percentage is indicative of the way that fraternity men have control over campus parties due to their lack of Resident Advisers and ability to host parties with alcohol.

“They have sort of a monopoly on the kinds of parties that they hold,” Spear said. “Sororities don’t hold these kinds of parties. So instead of having women in sorority houses in control of the parties they want to go to and throw, they have to go to fraternity houses.”

Spear noted that students should take the survey results with a grain of salt, knowing that the survey had a low response rate, around 28 percent, and there was response bias involved in those who did decide to take it.

“I think some of it is about willingness to discuss the matter,” Spear said. “There are a lot of men who don’t want to engage in the conversation because they feel that they don’t sexually assault anyone and they don’t want to enter into a conversation where they’re going to be accused of sexually assaulting someone. I think also women are much more likely to experience sexual misconduct so they are more likely to have a vested interest in filling out surveys like this.”

Navarette said that the low response rate may be owed to the fact that students receive so many surveys.

“There are certain people who are going to look at the survey and want to take it, since they’ve been more affected by the issue personally,” Navarette said.

Many of the students called attention to the fact that there were high rates of sexual assault despite what they feel is extensive programming by a progressive administration. Students interviewed largely agreed with the survey consensus that the university takes sexual assault seriously, and that the main causes of sexual assault are problems that are beyond the reach of the administration.

“I don’t necessarily know if it’s solely in the hands of administration to be tackling this,” senior Michelle Warren said. “It’s kind of a cultural thing that our student body has to take on and has to be willing to stand up to in order to change. Because obviously the administration is not at a frat party or in the dorms late at night when this would occur.”

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2016

28% 28%

56% 56%

identified the location of the sexual assault incident as “fraternity house”

of students indicated that they had received some training in sexual assault prevention

28% 28% 87% 87%

56% 56% 84% 84%

87% 87%

84% 84%

of undergrad respondents said Vanderbilt would take sexual assault reports seriously 60

60%

3

said the school/ administration would support the person filing a report

Who victims told about their assaults

50 40 30

25%

20 20

60

10 10

9% 0 0

50 40 30

Roomate, classmate or a friend

No one

5%

Family member

Medical professional

Relationship of perpetrators to victims

41%

38% 25%

20 10

00

No prior relationship

Acquaintance or peer

Friend

4

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2016

QUOTE OF THE DAY

opinion

“Your time in college is short and valuable — spend it doing what you want.”

YOKO KANAI, SENIOR

‘Being quiet’ isn’t an issue that needs solving Introverts need to be understood, not changed A

LAUREN HEYANO is a junior in the Peabody College of Education and Human Development. She can be reached at lauren.s.heyano@ vanderbilt.edu.

s an introvert, I sometimes feel like a problem others are attempting to solve, even though we have a unique set of strengths. To eat dinner alone in a dining hall can be viewed as an act of loneliness.

Well-meaning passersby may join me and engage in small talk in an effort to become a new friend. If I participate in a meeting without talking, or by talking quietly, other participants might encourage me to speak up and use my voice. And when I tell people I’m president of the Vanderbilt Association of Introverts (VAI), more often than I’d like, they ask, “Do you all collaborate with the PCC?” These are not horrific acts. They are perfectly kind and may sometimes have the intended effect of improving someone’s life. If someone really is lonely, for example, a new friend can be critical. For those of us who consider ourselves introverts, however, they can be another reminder of how quickly and often we are misunderstood.

When I speak about introverts, in general I am talking about people who gain energy from solitary activities and who may or may not possess qualities like quietness that are typically associated with introversion. For introverts, meals alone can be times to recharge from strenuous days of socialization. Small talk can be a nightmare. Nudges to change our quiet natures can be discouraging. And the insinuation that introversion is a mental illness, well... that one can be deeply saddening.

With so many people trying to “solve” introversion, it comes as no surprise that some introverts feel the need to become more extroverted. Fellow students have confided in me that they are introverted, but have become more extroverted since being at Vanderbilt. They sometimes felt pressure to do so in order to be included in social and academic realms on campus. While extroversion is important and valuable to our society, there is equal value in introversion.

Instead of, or in addition to, becoming more extroverted, we should attempt to understand and appreciate the inherent strengths of introversion. At VAI, we explore ways in which introversion can be beneficial to us as individuals and to society as a whole. We attempt to redefine the meaning of strength so it includes introverted qualities. At our last general body meeting, members were encouraged

vanderbilthustler EDITORIAL BOARD ALLIE GROSS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF editor@vanderbilthustler.com

ZOE SHANCER

KARA SHERRER

NEWS EDITOR news@vanderbilthustler.com

LIFE EDITOR life@vanderbilthustler.com

QUEEN STEVENSON

BEN WEINRIB

OPINION EDITOR opinion@vanderbilthustler. com

SPORTS EDITOR sports@vanderbilthustler.com

to complete the sentence, “Introversion is my superpower because....” In their (anonymous) responses, members explained that their introversion enabled them to become better listeners, focus more on reflection and engage more thoughtfully with their environments.

Self-awareness, deep thought, excellent listening — these all seem like great qualities to me. They should be respected and encouraged. Doing so can make all the difference to an introvert who might be struggling to appreciate and effectively utilize their introversion.

Others’ approval of my introversion has helped me value it myself. For example, in high school, I attended a writing program after which the instructors wrote letters of recommendation for each of the participants. My teachers wrote: “... a born observer, someone who absorbs every detail, then has a way of changing the tide of the conversation once she joins in.”

I’ve thought about this statement frequently in my

“(Introversion) helps me be a better listener.”

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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.

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reflections on supporting introversion because it exemplifies the act of identifying and encouraging introverted strengths. The phrase “once she joins in” is key; it contains recognition that, yes, it might take me a while to have something to say. But their comments also recognize that it is my quiet nature, my tendency to observe before speaking, that makes my voice valuable once I decide to use it. My teachers demonstrated a true appreciation of introversion.

Appreciating introversion and sharing that appreciation with introverts who need to hear it is a simple act of kindness that can improve the quality of life for introverts on this campus and elsewhere. Supporting introversion will ultimately prove advantageous to each of us as introverts learn to value and utilize their strengths for the benefit of the common good. By redefining introversion as a strength, we can create spaces where introverts can fulfill their potential and become their truest selves.

“(Introversion) draws me to seek out extended time for reflecting and thinking deeply.”

reserves the right to edit and condense submissions for length as well as clarity.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2016

5

Rushing to leave

Your sorority house doesn’t have to be your home forever

YOKO KANAI is a junior in the College of Arts and Science. She can be reached at yoko.m.kanai@ vanderbilt.edu.

’’

M

y freshman year, I rushed a sorority. I ran between houses in the freezing January air during recruitment. I sat in the SLC with roughly 500 girls, all waiting to open our bids. I had an awesome Bid Day buddy who later became my big.

Eight months later, I turned in my formal deactivation letter.

I don’t frequently speak about my sorority experience because, simply put, it isn’t a big part of who I was or am. I had prioritized other extracurriculars, and while I made a few lasting friends in the sorority, most of my closest friends were either in other Greek organizations or not in one at all. I didn’t hate my sorority — I just made the personal decision to spend my money and time elsewhere. Although leaving any organization is difficult, it’s important to realize it’s not the end of your entire relationship with the people in it.

It seems that girls very rarely leave their sororities after they join. But, weirdly enough, a common remark that I heard from others was “I almost did that too.” In fact, probably around half of the people I knew expressed this exact sentiment. Some were happy that they stayed with their sororities. Some simply felt stuck after not leaving early on. This latter group continues to baffle me: why spend thousands of dollars and countless hours devoting yourself to an organization simply because you feel nervous about leaving?

Because I left after formal initiation, the deactiva-

tion process was a little bit more extensive. It involved a few meetings and writing a formal letter, but all in all it was relatively painless. And although my big was sad to see me go, she was honest, loving and supportive throughout the entire process.

There are so many communities on this campus — believe me, you don’t have to be anywhere you don’t 100 percent want to be.

’’

To be honest, I was nervous to leave the organization. I was afraid I would lose touch with the people that I had met and that people would read too much into my decision. As it turns out, neither of the concerns ended up being that significant. This isn’t a big school: I run into my old sorority friends all the time, and my big is still one of my closest confidants. And while people frequently ask me about my decision to leave, they aren’t all that surprised (that is, if they even

realized that I had joined a sorority in the first place).

Second-guessing the decision to join a sorority is widely relatable, and even if few people actually leave, the underlying sentiment is common.

In retrospect, I’m positive that I made the right decision. I don’t do well in massive groups, and I resented that the time commitment was much more than I had bargained for. I have a tendency to overcommit and spread myself too thin, and leaving taught me that prioritizing things in your life is nothing to apologize for. It freed up enough time to allow me to join several other service groups that I felt passionate about. And, the more time that passes, the more I realize that my complaints had little to do with the specific sorority I chose to join: I don’t think I was particularly suited for Greek life in general.

There are so many communities on this campus — believe me, you don’t have to be anywhere you don’t 100 percent want to be. Although Greek life is a great way to meet new people, it’s far from the only way. If you’ve gone Greek and are genuinely excited by the opportunities to come, knock yourself out. I’m honestly happy that you’ve found a community you adore.

But for the rest of us: don’t be afraid to do whatever you’ve got to do. And hey, if you leave before initiation, you can always rush again next year. But whatever you choose, whether that means sticking it out or bailing immediately, just remember that it’s a personal decision. Your time in college is short and valuable — spend it doing what you want.

Uninvolved and unperturbed

’’

Changing the meaning of personal success after four years

F

DANIEL WEITZ is a senior in the College of Arts and Science. He can be contacted at daniel.r.weitz@ vanderbilt.edu.

or the past three years, I have always had something to do. Whether it was attending to my overflowing inbox or endless to-do list, the time I spent sitting and watching Netflix was time that I should have been spending doing other, more productive things.

But now, I’m in my second semester of my senior year. I am no longer the president of any student organization, no longer the point person for when something goes wrong or a crisis arises. Sure, I still sit on the executive board of one organization and remain involved in the others I used to lead, but I am a participant at this point, not the leader.

My inbox has a total of three emails in it and my to-do list is mostly empty, save for some readings that I’ll finish right before class throughout the week. And you know what? It feels wonderful. I’m ready to stop thinking about positions on executive boards and start thinking about what will stay with me when I leave campus.

Something that we really don’t like to consider throughout college is that at the end of our four years here, we are expected to enter into the “real world” and to know exactly how to balance a budget, cook our own meals and handle life as it is thrown at us. For so long I’ve measured my success by the positions I held and how well people know my name. After all, it’s not who you know, but who knows you.

However, I’m determined to rid myself of that mantra.

Throughout college, there has been such a push, both conscious and not, into developing my resume and rack-

Our previous positions and the various boards we served on throughout our four years here really don’t matter come May 13.

’’

ing up those titles so that at the end of the day, I will win the biggest competition: getting a job. And now that we have been through the late nights, huge stresses and the interpersonal issues involved with student organizations, we deserve to have some fun. Just as we begin anew from middle school into high school, and high school into college, our previous positions and the various boards we served on throughout our four years here really don’t matter come May 13. What matters is who we are and who we are turning out to be.

It is now time for me to find what will give me fulfillment and help me truly enjoy my life after college. I want to deck

out as an overly eager “residential tourist”: visiting different restaurants and breweries, and finding live music in all sorts of random places (both on and off Broadway). I plan on finally visiting the Bluebird Cafe, seeing Leon Bridges perform at the Ryman, going on a Pedal Tavern ride, and (hopefully) managing to escape from Escape Nashville.

Even with all of these experiences I plan on having, it still will not be easy to leave Vanderbilt. Many people talk about the freedom that senior year brings, especially after finding a job and completing all your major’s requirements.

What they don’t talk about is the hard part of confronting the truth that at this time next year, we will be with different people in a different place, working 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or preparing to go to graduate school or fulfilling alternative plans. We won’t be worrying about the homework we have due the next day and the long-term projects that loom over our heads. We (maybe) won’t be drinking excessively on a Tuesday night, carefree about the dull ache of a hangover that continues with us throughout Wednesday. We will not have a meeting at 9 p.m. on the other side of campus about some organizational issue that must be confronted. We must find our own paths and embrace the adult world that we are entering.

For now, I have three more months to really enjoy myself. Nashville has a ton to offer, and I fully plan on taking advantage of all of it. It’s time to truly confront the hard question of what will bring me fulfillment.

6

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2016

life

GO DO

THIS

Free Speech and Diversity In Higher Education Panel Student Life Center Ballroom; Thursday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m.

The Vanderbilt University Speakers Committee welcomes Jelani Cobb, a writer for The New Yorker, and Greg Lukianoff, President of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, to campus for a panel on free speech and diversity. The event is open to all students, free of charge, and admittance will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.

s i h t t a E

not that

Munchie Marts

PHOTOS BY ZIYI LIU / THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER

By SARAH FRIEDMAN Assistant news editor --------------------

ON THE SHELF LAY’S VS. DORITOS:

While a bag of Lay’s potato chips and Doritos nacho cheese chips have a similar amount of calories and fat, the Lay’s chips have only three ingredients: potatoes, sunflower oil and salt. By comparison, the Doritos chips have an ingredient list a mile long, including several different colors, preservatives and oils. Clean eating, in this case, is the easy way to decide between these two common late-night snacks.

YORK PEPPERMINT PATTIE VS. REESE’S PEANUT BUTTER CUPS:

The peanut butter cups contain nearly twice as much fat as a peppermint pattie, as well as over 60 additional calories.

Plus, peanut butter cups don’t leave your mouth minty fresh.

SNICKERS VS. HERSHEY’S BAR:

While you may think keeping it simple helps avoid calories and fat, the original Hershey’s milk chocolate bar contains more fat and calories than the Snickers.

PEACH DANISH VS. BLUEBERRY DANISH VS. APPLE DANISH:

The peach danish is the real star, with only 245 calories and no saturated fat. While the other two treats have similar amounts of calories, the apple variety packs 5 grams of trans fat. The blueberry has more saturated fat, but considering that you should steer clear of trans fats in general, go with the blueberry between these two options if you really don’t like peach.

CINNAMON RAISIN ROLL VS. CINNAMON ROLL:

While the addition of raisins may seem like it would add unnecessary sugar and calories, the raisins sweeten the pastry and avoid the need for added sugars and butter, making the raisin option lower in calories, fat and carbohydrates.

CLIF CHOCOLATE CHIP VS. FIBER ONE OATS & CHOCOLATE:

While the Fiber One has fewer calories and less fat, it also has only one-fifth of the protein of a Clif bar and contains corn syrup as a sweetener. If you want to make the most of that meal plan side, the Clif bar will keep you fuller and provide more nutrients: It contains Vitamin A, Vitamin C and 15 percent of your daily iron value.

IN THE FRIDGE SPRITE VS. COKE:

While these two fan favorites have similar numbers of calories in a 20 oz. bottle, negative properties in dark-colored sodas such as Coke — including phosphoric acid (an ingredient in fertilizer and soap), caramel coloring and caffeine — make it the inferior option. Sprite, which is sweetened with sugar and doesn’t have artificial colors or caffeine, is the best choice if a you’re craving a bubbly drink.

SIMPLY LEMONADE VS. MINUTE MAID LEMONADE:

Simply Lemonade is really just that: the ingredient list consists of filtered water, sugar, lemon juice and natural flavor.

On the other hand, Minute Maid packs several preservatives and colors, making it more of a blend of chemicals than real lemonade.

CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICH VS. CHIPOTLE CHICKEN WRAP:

The chipotle chicken wrap contains 1053 calories and 21 grams of saturated fat, which is 105 percent of your daily allotted value. Nearly anything else could be a better option, but if it’s chicken you’re craving in particular, the chicken salad sandwich is a good option with only 448 calories and 3 grams of saturated fat.

CHOBANI STRAWBERRY YOGURT VS. FAGE TOTAL 2% WITH STRAWBERRY:

Chobani deserves the hype. With no fat and half the cholesterol of Fage, it’s a better choice than every other yogurt brand in Munchie Mart.

DIPPIN’ STIX SLICED APPLES & CARAMEL VS. SLICED APPLES & PEANUT BUTTER:

While both snacks contain 100 calories, the caramel has no saturated fat while the peanut butter adds 2 grams along with a dose of hydrogenated oils. To put everything in perspective, a plain, medium-sized apple contains about 95 calories, making each of these good options for a snack on the run.

IN THE FREEZER AMY’S ROASTED VEGETABLE PIZZA VS. DIGIORNO TRADITIONAL CRUST PIZZA:

Don’t be fooled by Digiorno’s label, which claims the serving size is only half of the small pizza. Realistically, eating the whole thing puts you at 710 calories and 70 percent of your daily saturated fat. To make matters worse, its hydrogenated oils give it half a gram of trans fat. While the organic Amy’s packaging doesn’t look as fun, this pizza tastes just as good (if not better) than Digiorno’s and has only 280 calories and 8 percent of your daily saturated fat. If pizza is your late-night craving, Amy’s is the move.

SIMPLY ASIA SESAME CHICKEN RICE NOODLE SOUP BOWL VS. HEALTHY CHOICE CAFE STEAMERS SWEET SESAME CHICKEN:

Don’t let the “healthy” brand name fool you. The “healthy choice” has a mile-long ingredient list and packs twice the calories of the rice noodle bowl. Steer away from the freezer and pick up the rice noodle bowl from the refrigerated section instead.

BAGEL BITES VS. TOTINO’S PIZZA ROLLS:

One package of the original flavor of each product contains 5 grams of saturated fat, but with only 400 calories (125 fewer than the Pizza Rolls) the Bagel Bites take the win.

Nutritional information found off nutrition labels and through Vanderbilt Campus Dining nutrition information.

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Matilda the Musical comes to TPAC

By LEAH SPANN Life reporter --------------------

This January, the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) at Broadway musical series will start out the year with a production that has seen roaring success on both the West End and Broadway stages: “Matilda.”

Based on the classic children’s book by British author Roald Dahl, the musical follows the life of young Matilda, a precocious and imaginative girl from a family who cannot understand her love of learning. “Matilda” is a story about perseverance despite adversity, the power of books and the importance of finding a community of like-minded people who offer support and love, even if those people are not family.

Since books are a key element of Matilda’s escape from her cruel family, the play includes many stories-within-the-story.

In one such tale — narrated in fragments throughout the musical — Matilda tells a friendly librarian about an escape artist and

an acrobat, slowly building a narrative that becomes increasingly interwoven with the events in Matilda’s life.

Justin Packard, who plays the escape artist in Matilda’s story, says that the musical will be a delight for fans of the original source material. “The creative team of the production mainly utilized the original Roald Dahl story as the source material, so it shares a similar universe as the book primarily,” he said.

Featuring some plot changes to the classic story, this show should still be an entertaining experience for newcomers and fans alike. “There are also a few new plot points in the stage version that will surprise and intrigue even the most avid fan of the book or movie,” Packard said.

Above all, Packard emphasizes that the heart of the show lies within its young protagonist. He said his favorite parts of the show are “the many moments every night where I get to watch one of our young actresses playing Matilda (there are three girls who share the role and alternate perfor-

PHOTO BY JOAN MARCUS / MATILDA THE MUSICAL

mances) captivate an entire audience with her words or her song … every night, she has the entire theater in the palm of her hand.”

Packard also understands that the importance of learning and having caring teachers exists at the core of the show. “We have all, every one of us, been inspired by a ‘teacher’ at some point. Whether they hold that official title or not is inconsequential,” he said.

“I think we all desire to be inspired but also to impart some inspiration upon others.”

To highlight the love of learning and reading celebrated by “Matilda,” TPAC is also partnering with the Nashville Public Library

Foundation for a book drive. Patrons of TPAC are encouraged to donate new books, appropriate for ages 5-10, to the box office during Matilda’s week-long run. The donations will help underprivileged Nashville children get access to books and encourage the same love of reading that comes at the heart of the musical.

“Matilda” will be performed at Andrew Jackson Hall from Jan. 26-31. Tickets are available at http://tpac.org, at the TPAC box office or by phone at 615-782-4040.

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special feature:

Oh the places you’ll go!

By SARA ERNST Life reporter --------------------

Some study abroad sites are so popular that they almost seem like Vanderbilt cliches: Spanish students heading south of the border for full language immersion in Buenos Aires, while Econ majors fly straight to London, the business capital of the world.

However, there are several study abroad sites available that only a few Vanderbilt students have ever visited (if at all). We asked the Global Education Office (GEO) about the six most unique and undervisited study abroad programs the office provides to Vanderbilt students.

APIA, SAMOA

Samoa is one of two sites that have yet to host a Vanderbilt student in the history of study abroad.

The program is centered in the heart of Samoa, at the capital city located on the northern coast of Upolu, the smaller of Samoa’s two main islands. The site’s program, entitled “Pacific Communities and Social Change,” explores the origins, culture and lifestyle of the Asian Pacific Islanders. This program is arranged around a rich and comprehensive tour of the Polynesian islands, beginning on American soil at the University of Hawaii-Manoa, in Honolulu, HI. As the program progresses, students fly out to other islands of the region such as Savai’i (the largest island of Samoa), American Samoa and Fiji. This location is suited best for students studying Anthropology, HOD or Asian Studies.

PUNE, INDIA

Like Samoa, Pune also remains unvisited by Vanderbilt students as of January 2016. Pune is located three hours southeast from Mumbai, and students study at the town’s Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics. The site’s program, called “India: Development, Economy, Society,” is geared towards Arts and Science students looking to gain elective credits in anywhere from Communication Studies to Economics to Anthropology. All Vanderbilt students in this program are required to take a core sociology course

These are six of the least-known Vanderbilt study abroad sites

called “Contemporary India” as part of learning the social and cultural terrain of Pune.

Of special note to Cinema & Media Arts students, Pune also provides class offerings at the Film and Television Institute of India; students will be given the chance to write, film and produce a documentary film while there. This location is suited best for students studying Anthropology, HOD and Asian Studies.

STELLENBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA

Roughly the size of Ann Arbor, Stellenbosch is a college town on the western cape of South Africa located 30 miles outside of the legislative capital Cape Town. While English is well-utilized and understood in Stellenbosch, the majority of the city’s residents speak indigenous South African languages such as Afrikaans and Xhosa. Courses are taught at the University of Stellenbosch.

The in-class academic enrichment is complemented by local field trips to renewable energy sites and sustainable agriculture projects that truly engage students with the developments in civil and agricultural infrastructure of the area. This location is suited best for students interested in sustainability and environmental studies.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

Nicknamed “Cidade Maravilhosa” (Portuguese for “The Marvelous City”), Rio de Janeiro is an option provided by the GEO that has only been visited twice in the past two years. This site is perfect for Portuguese students who are looking to reach peak fluency in their language skills or experienced Spanish speakers looking to thoroughly explore the richness of Latin American culture. Classes are conducted at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, where students will start the term with a month long Pre-Term Intensive Language and Culture Program (ILCP). Those studying abroad during the spring semester have the opportunity to experience the festivities of Rio Carnival, a yearly festival of dance, music and merriment. This location is suited best for students studying Portuguese or Spanish.

.

Greetings from..

Vernazza, I taly

erson Connor Hend

TURIN, ITALY

Italian chocolate capital and host of the 2006 Winter Olympics, Turin is the capital of the Piedmont region, located in northern Italy. Surrounded by the Italian Alps, the city holds onto the Renaissance architecture and artistic aesthetic reminiscent of Florence. Located about 90 miles from Milan, Turin resides close to the French border, making the city prime real estate for those looking to country-hop through Western Europe. Direct Eurail train lines are available to Paris, where virtually the entire continent is convenient-

ly accessible.

Classes are taught at the Polytechnic University of Turin with courses in both English and Italian.

This site program is only available for the full academic year and is exclusive to mechanical engineering students.

Turin is a truly unique site as it provides classes that can knock out integral engineering and major requirements such as ME-3202 “Machine Analysis and Design” or ME-3224 “Fluid Mechanics.”

KATHMANDU, NEPAL

Dubbed by many as “the city of temples,” Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal, located smack on the Indian subcontinent. This study abroad site offers two separate programs: “Tibetan and Himalayan People,” for those interested in learning about South Asian culture and religion, and “Development and Social Change,” for those interested in international relations or non-profit work. The program is designed to allow exploration beyond the Kathmandu Valley, with planned excursions spread out across the semester. Travel is organized to Terai (Sanskrit for “lowlands”) and the Himalaya Mountains. Kathmandu is a city deeply tied to Eastern religion and culture; the overwhelming majority of Nepali people subscribe to Hinduism, though there lies a deep underlying historical connection to Buddhist roots in the Himalayan region. This location is suited best for students studying Asian Studies, HOD, Religious Studies and Anthropology.

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: study abroad

Oh the classes you’ll take!

From bikes to bagpipes: Offbeat courses you can only take abroad

By ADRIENNE ALDERMAN Senior life reporter --------------------

Study abroad experiences are usually characterized by their Instagram-worthy pictures and crazy stories that happened while abroad — students focus more on exploring the city around them than the classes they take. However, some study abroad sites offer truly unique courses that you can’t take anywhere else. Below are six of the most unusual options (and their Vanderbilt equivalent courses)!

BICYCLE URBANISM

Danish Institute for Study Abroad Copenhagen, Denmark VU Equivalent Credit: HOD 2051 Track Elective This class description notes that “confidence in cycling is mandatory,” meaning that much of the learning occurs directly through experience. Offered only during the summer session, this course looks at how cities can integrate and optimize environmentally friendly bicycle use in the city. Copenhagen, a city where there are more bikes than people, presents a perfect case study in exploring innovation and practicing the art of avoiding bicycle accidents.

FOOD AND CULTURE

CET Florence, Italy FLorence, Italy VU Equivalent Credit: EUS 2050 Elective A course with the word “food” in the title immediately piques both the interest and appetite. The focus of this course is to use an understanding of food to enhance one’s understanding of Italy and its communities. In addition to readings and analysis, the highlights of the class are the on-site

visits to shops and markets, in-class tastings of Italian products, and excursions to wineries, cheese farms and olive orchards. For the foodie hoping to snap #foodstagram pics during their study abroad, this is a delicious option.

FROM GRAFFITI TO TERRORISM

University of Melbourne Melbourne, Australia VU Equivalent Credit: SOC 2050 Elective While the title may make this class sound shocking and even violent, in actuality, this is a criminology course, looking at the causes and measures for crimes of all varieties. The class aims to provide a background understanding in the complex issues of crime and controlling criminal behavior. The course also highlights very topical issues regarding crime, such as the implications and importance of gender, race and socioeconomic status.

BAGPIPES: HISTORY, REPERTOIRE, PERFORMANCE University of Glasgow Scotland, UK VU Equivalent Credit: MUSL 2050 Elective In partnership with the National Piping Center of Scotland, University of Glasgow offers an opportunity for novices in “piping.” This course allows students studying abroad to begin to learn how to play the bagpipe, while at the same time experiencing the history of the instrument within its cultural and historical context. Students can enjoy the company of others or take a one-onone class. Consider this when you’re seeking an abroad experience that will allow you to bring back real skills to the states.

MONSTERS AND VAMPIRES: THE IMPACT OF BRITISH GOTHIC ON CONTEMPORARY POPULAR CULTURE

University of Stirling Scotland, UK VU Equivalent Credit: ENGL 2050 Where did Edward Cullen and the obsession with the paranormal come from? Turns out these classic ideas first emerged in the Gothic era of the 19th century. This course will inform students how these mythical characters have had lasting impacts on the entertainment industry. As a bonus feature, students will take a trip to the Edinburgh Dungeon and a Gothic-themed bar.

TV SERIES AND THE MYTH OF THE AMERICAN DREAM

Sciences Po Paris, France VU Equivalent Credit: CMA 2050 Ever wished you had an excuse to binge-watch the first season of a TV show? In this course, students’ required “reading” includes watching season one of “Mad Men” and “The Wire,” clocking in at 13 hours each. The American Dream, and how it is portrayed through TV for viewers across the world, is examined by a French professor through the lens of American ideals. The class offers a unique perspective on how the American Dream is depicted in television and how this depiction compares to real life.

We asked students:

hardest part of coming back from study abroad?

What’s the

THE FAMILIAR

MATT INGRAM, senior

“

CET Chinese Studies & Internship Beijing, China

I think the hardest thing ... after coming back from a study abroad semester is readjusting to the familiar. When overseas, every day is something completely new with new experiences. Even just a lot of daily tasks like doing laundry or buying stuff at the store can be a challenge … but when you come back to Vanderbilt, everything’s the way it was when you left.

THE STRUCTURE

GARRETT RICHARDS, junior

“

CIEE Liberal Arts Buenos Aires, Argentina

I say probably just getting used to the schedule again. When you are abroad, I think you have a lot more independence. You only have your classes. You probably don’t have any extracurriculars going on ... just getting back used to the campus culture and doing things all the time on campus [is difficult]. When you are abroad, you live in a city, and you’re traveling a lot. You have a broader realm or community that you are a part of, but here, it’s a lot more close-knit.

With reporting from Sophie Jeong. For more student perspectives, please visit vanderbilthustler.com.

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2-MINUTE

sports

DRILL

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2016 MEN’S BASKETBALL AT TEXAS

Saturday, Jan. 30 at 11 a.m.

Men’s basketball travels to Austin in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. Vandy finally notched its first road win of the season last week at Tennessee, and it will look to improve upon its 1-5 record in true road games. One of those losses was against Baylor, another Big 12 foe.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL AT UK

Thursday, Jan. 28 at 6 p.m.

After playing just one game in 10 days, Vandy started a stretch of three games in seven days with a win over Alabama on Monday. Their busy week moves to Kentucky on Thursday with a tough matchup against the Wildcats, who defeated No. 19 Tennessee on Monday.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS UGA Sunday, Jan. 31 at 2 p.m.

In its first Sunday afternoon home game of the conference season, Vandy hosts Georgia.

The Bulldogs sit tied for last in the SEC but boast an elite rebounder, Shacobia Barbee.

She will match up against Marqu’es Webb, who has consecutive double-digit rebound games.

+ 2000 – 2003

Four straight NCAA Tournament misses

+ 2004 – 2007

Two Sweet 16 appearances in four years

+ 2008 – 2012

Four poor tournament performances

+ 2013 – 2015

Three straight NCAA Tournament misses

16 YEARS OF

KEVIN STALLINGS ZACH HARDY / THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER

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We need to

KEEP Stallings

BOSLEY JARRETT / THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER

Vanderbilt won’t be able to find a better replacement for one of the nation’s best strategic coaches

By TORBEN GINSBERG Sports reporter --------------------

Entering the season as a dark horse Final Four pick for some, the Vanderbilt men’s basketball team has not lived up to the hype.

Despite having two projected first-round picks on the roster in Wade Baldwin IV and Damian Jones, the Commodores have struggled mightily, sitting at 12-8 overall and 4-4 in the SEC. A few bad losses combined with the lack of a notable win leaves Vandy on the outside looking in on NCAA tournament projections at this point in the season.

Amid these struggles, head coach Kevin Stallings’ job security has naturally come into question. To fire Stallings would not be entirely unfounded given the team’s recent struggles. After reaching the Round of 32 in 2012, the Commodores have failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament in each of the past three seasons.

Vanderbilt ended the 2014-15 season in strong fashion, winning eight of their last 10 regular season games before reaching the quarter-finals of the NIT tournament and fall-

ing to the eventual champion Stanford Cardinal. With such a young and talented squad, this momentum was supposed to carry into the 2015-16 season and make the Commodores a contender again.

While that clearly hasn’t happened, firing Stallings now would be an overreaction. As the winningest coach in Vanderbilt men’s basketball history, Stallings is a staple of the program and has brought it to relevance during his tenure.

That fact itself might not be a justification for keeping him around, but the perks that come along with his continued success are worth it.

For starters, the respect that comes along with his building a winning program has helped him become the most successful recruiter that this program has ever had. The NBA prospects on this team only aid in proving that point. College basketball today is largely seen as a means to an end by many of the top prospects, and proving to those prospects that this program can produce lottery picks is a huge recruiting tool.

Furthermore, Stallings has long been recognized as one of the top strategic minds in the nation. A 2013 ESPN poll of approximately 250 Division I coaches found that he was

selected as the 10th most feared coach in terms of drawing up plays. For a program that isn’t often attracting top talent, this is a critical asset to have.

It is also doubtful that the Commodores would be able to find a replacement who can move the program in a better direction. Making a coaching change coming off a disappointing season with the two best players possibly leaving for the draft and no top prospects coming in to fill the holes is a dangerous proposition.

The Commodores would not be able to attract the very top coaching candidates like Brad Stevens, Gregg Marshall or Archie Miller to fill Stallings’ shoes, but rather would have to target an up-and-coming mid-major coach or a notable assistant.

In all likelihood, the program would suffer during the first few years of the new era, and that might be enough to doom Vanderbilt basketball for the foreseeable future. It took quite some time to build a respectable program, and the chances of maintaining or improving upon that success are much better in the hands of Kevin Stallings.

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We need to

FIRE Stallings

CHRIS HONIBALL / THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER

The lack of progress in the last four years is reason enough to move on from Vanderbilt’s winningest coach

By KARIM OLIVER Sports reporter --------------------

I would like to preface this article by saying I have tremendous respect for head coach Kevin Stallings and everything he has done for this program. Stallings is easily the best basketball coach in Vanderbilt history and has deserved the support from the athletic community that he has received.

However, with this week’s game against Kentucky and the season overall, it may be time for Stallings and Vanderbilt to part ways.

The decision of whether or not to fire Stallings, I believe, should come down to one simple question: Is the school satisfied with the state of the Vanderbilt basketball program?

The recent history isn’t positive. Since winning the SEC tournament in 2012, Vanderbilt has failed to make the NCAA tournament for three consecutive years and is staring at a fourth this season. In those years, they have also failed to finish in the top five of the SEC. Going back to last season, Vanderbilt is 2-13 in games

decided in five or fewer points. Combine that with the fact that Vanderbilt blew a 10-point lead against No. 3 Kansas, a 13-point lead at No. 25 Baylor, a 16-point lead at home against tournament hopeful Dayton, and halftime leads against No. 14 Purdue, LSU and South Carolina, and you get an abysmal picture.

Simply put, Vanderbilt hasn’t been able to close games, and while it’s unfair to blame it all on Stallings, Vanderbilt’s second-half woes have become a trend, and trends are reflected in coaching.

It’s extremely rare for a team this talented — featuring two likely first-round NBA draft picks — to struggle so mightily; only four such teams since 2000 have missed the tournament. And though you must give credit to Stallings for recruiting the talent, especially given the academic complications, it’s very difficult to say that he has maximized it.

In 2012, Vanderbilt had three players selected in the first 31 picks of the NBA Draft, and although they won the SEC tournament, they still managed to lose in the Round of 32. In fact, since Stallings was hired in 1999, Vanderbilt has made it to the Sweet 16 just twice — in 2004 and 2007 — and never advanced further. More alarmingly, in their last three NCAA

tournament appearances, Vanderbilt has been eliminated by two No. 13 seeds and one No. 12 seed.

The reality is that the team has performed consistently average and rarely above average.

Of course, it’s very difficult to fire a coach in college sports.

One, for Vanderbilt, there is an academic reputation that is much more important than basketball. Unlike Kentucky, who can just recruit the best players, Stallings has to find players that wouldn’t mind the academic rigor and can make the grades.

Two, the players on the team committed to play at Vanderbilt in large part because of Stallings, and new recruits would likely bail if he was no longer the coach.

Lastly, Vanderbilt would have to buy out the rest of his contract if he was terminated, which can put a strain on boosters and the athletic budget, although Vanderbilt has not released the terms of his contract.

Given all of that, barring a turnaround this season, it may be in the best interest of the athletic department to look in a new direction and find a coach that can raise the program to an elite national level just like Tim Corbin did with the baseball program 12 years ago.

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backpage TODAY'S CROSSWORD

TODAY'S SUDOKU

Answers to last week’s sudoku

PHOTO OF THE WEEK Answers to last week’s crossword

ALEC MYSZKA/ THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER

Students enjoyed a day off of classes on Friday, Jan. 22 after a historic snow storm hit Nashville.