<p>I personally find this thread to be really sad. But Vanderbilt is definitely getting more diverse and I think/hope that things will start to change.</p>
<p>This thread IS sad.</p>
<p>And I hope things starts are starting to change as well.</p>
<p>^hilsa</p>
<p>sorry I’m late…</p>
<p>looks like we got a lot of work to do IF we get accepted :)</p>
<p>The few of you are obviously big liberals. </p>
<p>Here’s a question I want you to think about.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt is obviously a very well rounded school but also has a lot of personality which includes a Southern vibe and a significantly stronger conservative atmosphere on campus than most schools.</p>
<p>What is it about this that attracted you to Vanderbilt so much over other schools? You obviously hate it enough to get all riled up about it and want to “inject more diversity” into the school to make it more appealing to you but maybe less appealing to other people. Why wouldn’t you get all excited about going to a more liberal school instead?</p>
<p>This comment especially cracks me up: “Vanderbilt should impliment questions into their supplement, full of heated questions on racy subjects.” You’re enough excited about the idea of doing that, you can misspell a pretty easy word and not care. Again, you realize that Vandy is fairly conservative and a lot of that old money vibe still exists, meaning a lot of people have been raised to be uncomfortable around an application with “heated racy subjects”. This is also called class. So how can you be SO excited about coming to Vandy just to get in people’s faces and stir things up when you could just as easily go to one of the majority of liberal schools?</p>
<p>Maybe you should take a trip to Natchez, MS, a place where the 1800s are more alive than you might think. A lot of this venting basically comes down to why you think it’s so good to go someplace that is different from where you’re from and change it to be more like where you’re from…</p>
<p>I’m a liberal, but I didn’t really choose a college based on a “vibe.” I was really interested in all the research opportunities here. I also knew I wanted to go south for school, just based on weather. Plus, Vandy offered me a great fin aid package. I’m not really one to press my views on other people. I have no desire to go around changing people’s views.</p>
<p>Aha! I knew someone would bring this up.</p>
<p>Misspellings happen to all of us. This definitely isn’t my first.</p>
<p>I just like sticking out. I just think going somewhere where everyone like me would be boring. If I wanted to apply to somewhere where there would be tons of people like me, I’d apply to a UC, Carnegie Melon, Brown, etc. But I don’t want to be around a lot of me’s. Why would someone who advocates diversity want to attend a school where everyone is just like that certain someone? (that wasn’t redundant at all…)</p>
<p>And I’m just somewhat of a firebrand. Maybe it’s because I come from a very liberal school (half of the school went to the local Obama rally a few months ago, two of my friends are actually registered communists, etc). But keep in mind I still have a few southern roots and ties, since all my family is from Alabama.</p>
<p>I said Vanderbilt needs diversity. I’m not saying it doesn’t have any at all. Those admissions counselors are too smart to let 0 diversity happen. </p>
<p>And please don’t say that I hate Vanderbilt. If you want to know why it’s my top choice then here it is: a) Academics, especially for undergrads. The professors really care and the research opportunities are wonderful. b) Beauty composed of grass, trees, squirrels, and the leaves blowing in the wind and strown out across campus. c) Nashville suburbs are lovely d) Sarratt. That’s all I have to say. e) The weather is very nice. Being from Florida, anywhere North of TN is way too cold for me.</p>
<p>Ok. I was there for 6 weeks this summer. The majority of the kids were conservative. I still had the best goddamn summer ever. My science/engineering professors were great people (I even went to Smoothie King and hung out in Sarratt with my Chemistry professor). The faculty and students were still all very nice and friendly. I connected with amazing people who weren’t even like me. Imagine a group with New Jersey, Minnesota, and Florida liberals; Oklahoma, Texas, and Tennessee conservatives; an Ohio apathetic. Yes, we may have engaged in a lot of debate, but when it all came down to it, we all ended up having fun playing video games and watching weird movies in the basement of Vanderbilt/Barnard Hall.</p>
<p>I don’t know if you were referring to me, but on a political scale with 0 being very liberal and 10 being very conservative… I’m probably 7-8. Orientations and accepting people doesn’t necessarily define political stances.</p>
<p>Yotti</p>
<hr>
<p>I sincerely apologize, but I was just addressing smalllabs’s comment towards me on gay marriage. I was just saying that my religion stops me from being a supporter for that because I fear what happens in the after life if I support what goes against my religion. I will speak anything I want. While I may have been a bit off topic, I have managed to keep it surrounded on topic.</p>
<p>The thing is, this is Tennesse. You won’t find much gay support. This is coming from an African American male! My cousin, who used to be on the downlow, eventually came out of the closet at TSU (Tennessee State) and dropped out because of the intolerance towards gays. I’m letting you know the same partially reflects on Vanderbilt: They don’t accept the homosexual/lesbian scene. Again, I say, I have gay friends, lesbians to be exact. I support them in all ways… just not marriage, which you will see in Vanderbilt: anti-gays that are much worse than I am. Get used to it.</p>
<p>When I said “those admissions counselors” I wasn’t specifically talking about Vandy admissions counselors. Any school’s admission counselors would be foolish to admit students that would result in a 0 diversity class.</p>
<p>Still, your sarcasm is lawlz-worthy.</p>
<p>I’m applying as a transfer and if i get in, I’ll march with you ;)</p>
<p>Hilsa, I want you to tell me why you think racial diversity is such a good thing. Also, do you just think everyone should be as different as possible from everyone else? Do you realize that diversity can come in a lot of things other than the things that get people the most fired up (race, sexual orientation, etc) such as musical abilities, languages spoken, sports, etc…</p>
<p>Just help me understand the liberal mindset here, I’m genuinely interested.</p>
<p>I feel like your (this is plural) end goal isn’t for everyone to be as different from everyone else as possible but instead for everyone to be exactly the same. Like the goonbacks from South Park.</p>
<p>Basically, tell me why it would be “foolish” for an admissions office to “let 0 diversity happen.”</p>
<p>Hilsa, you sound like a nice person and it is obvious that you are trying very hard to be objective about Vanderbilt. You said you had a fabulous summer studying there–doesn’t that already say something about the school?</p>
<p>You need to worry less about your preconceptions and “what Vanderbilt needs” and more about what you need. Do the programs offered at Vandy have what you want and need? Did you like the people you already met, do you like the sports, professors, campus, etc?</p>
<p>Don’t listen to the ignorant posters with the exception of Silversparkles, who told you that she went there to study what she was interested in. You will make friends there–and don’t believe the b.s. about conservatives either. VandySAE does not speak for the conservatives at Vandy. My child is a religious conservative and has an extremely diverse group of friends, including basketball and football players of different races, internationals, gays, atheists and preppy kids. In my child’s opinion the conservatives are more open and tolerant of differences than some other groups that are ideologically doctrinaire and demanding. Some of the ideologically driven groups also keep very much to themselves because they falsely believe that they will not be accepted. A case in point are the internationals from Malaysia, who will not talk to the student community at large–so what’s the point of going to college?</p>
<p>If you want to function in the real world don’t expect it to change for your comfort. Put yourself out there–be who you are and be it well, as one of the saints says–and people will love you for who you are. Go for the college that seems like the most challenging and the most fun and give it your all. You will not fail wherever you go if you are as nice and open-minded as you seem.</p>
<p>Question - If Hilsa is admitted will she and Vandysae meet for lunch? They have so much to hash-out I think they should! Perhaps, they would become BFFs!</p>
<p>well I’m sure that gay marriage will become legal someday, it’s just a matter of time.</p>
<p>So you guys need get used to it in the future… no matter you like it or not ;)</p>
<p>@VandySAE
If you are really a Vanderbilt student, you are smart enough to figure out why hilsa said "it would be “foolish” for an admissions office to “let 0 diversity happen.” :)</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s anyone’s place to decide what Vanderbilt needs. Vanderbilt obviously has it pretty well figured what it needs, as it’s been a fully functional institution for a long time and has a very solid history. I don’t think it’s right that every school needs to have the mindset of a place like Oberlin or Bard. If you want to preach liberal values, go someplace where people want to hear you. Hilsa, I understand that you want to “stick out” and I fully respect that; I’m not a wallflower myself. In fact, I’m a bit of a conservative firebrand. However, I would not take it upon myself to try and inject G*d and guns into a liberal school where I know that my kind is less welcome than at a place like Vandy. I personally find it somewhat offensive that you feel the need to change the school to your needs instead of finding a school that already has the mindset you are looking for. Let the Southern culture remain; it’s something America should preserve whether you are a part of it or not.</p>
<p>Side note: the only way you can have “0 diversity” is if you have a school with one student. No two people are the same; diversity goes beyond skin color or sexual orientation. I think it would be wise of people to look for diversity of actual people, not diversity of labels.</p>
<p>Isn’t it best to just have a university with some kind of balance? Personally, I would not want to spend 4 years with one type of personality. I think the beauty of a place like Vanderbilt and others is you will find ALL kinds, not just liberals, conservatives, etc. Isn’t that what makes for an interesting environment? My hope is that the student body is smart enough to hold to their own values, beliefs, etc but capable of appreciating and respecting everyone else. Can’t we all just get along?</p>
<p>Absolutely, which is why Vanderbilt is so unique. The country club experience already provides a place of little diversity for most of the students here. Most of what I’m saying is just a little parodied. The worst thing that can happen to Vanderbilt is a radical shift to the left which would make it much more similar to the majority of schools that make up the top tier of universities in this country and the world. I’d rather it not become much more conservative either, but rather stay the same. I have a friend who attends Brown and to give you a visual of the significance of difference between the two schools, there wasn’t much discussion here about Proposition 8 but apparently there were all sorts of protests at Brown. Her decision to go there after being raised in a conservative environment was because she wanted to be become more liberal, not rile up a bunch of “pro-abortion” people about how it’s a sin and her brothers’ hunting.</p>
<p>Other than the fact that there are more Southerners here, more athletes, a stronger Greek scene, better weather, and all of those things, this is the biggest difference between us and the rest of the Top 20. If you decide you’re a raging liberal and want to “stick out” in this type of environment, consider the ramifications, and if you still think it’s a good idea, you’ll find that you’ll be welcomed with open albeit perplexed arms once you’re here.</p>
<p>VandySAE took the words out of my mouth. But, honestly, I’m speaking on behalf of Tennessee as a state. IF Vanderbilt DID accept homosexuality, stepping off the campus would be a totally different thing! And I was cracking off the Natchez, Mississippi thing. That is like so true.</p>
<p>To EVERYONE: I’m glad I got somewhat of a heated discussion going on here. I think it’s nice to hear everyone’s opinion, even though some of these opinions may differ from mine. I just like to “introduce a little anarchy.” =P</p>
<p>Ok, I’ll address everyone individually:</p>
<p>VandySAE: a)Racial diversity works, if each people have different backgrounds. If you admit an Asian, an Eastern European, a White, a Black, an Indian… and they are all upper middle class who have dedicated their high school careers to being sports captains (and I am in no way condoning sports), then that’s the point? People will be similar but just have different colored skin. b) No, I don’t think everyone should be as different as possible from everyone else. There just needs to be decent sized groups (of similar people) that share a quality that is different from other groups. Like, a decent-sized Jewish population, gay population, animal-rights activitists, hippies, etc. Of course, I’m sure many people might belong to a few of these groups at the same time, but there still needs to be a decent sized group of different ideals, mindsets, and beliefs.</p>
<p>@mciver: a)I loved the people and the professots I met. And of course, the campus was beautiful. Looking at the amber night sky on library lawn and alumni lawn was always wonderful: lots of grass, lots of open sky, lots of quiet. b)Malaysians probably made up 1/3 to 1/4 of the total program. They did seem to stick to themselves (but maybe that’s a cultural thing), but the ones that hung out with everyone were pretty cool. I think the others just need a little incentive.</p>
<p>@dwhite: I would totally have lunch with VandySAE.</p>
<p>@macaroni870: I think diversity should be judged by how you think and how you view life. It’s all about differences in the mind. But it’s not like I’m going to start a revolution there. I just feel like awareness needs to be spread atleast a little. Some aspects of Southern culture need to be preserved, others, definitely not.</p>
<p>Well, I think my S will be an interesting one to watch in the next few years. He fell in love with Vandy but is politically liberal (spent all innauguration weekend on the mall) and quite open-minded; really he’s just a regular nice guy – doesn’t have anything negative to say about anyone. On the other hand, he attends a fairly elite private school, lives in a very affluent area and is himself, quite preppy (khakis, VV shirts, ties, blazers, you get the picture). I know he doesn’t have an issue with homosexuality, but I don’t know what his stance is on the marriage issue. I also know that although he is liberal, he always joked that Brown or NYU would be his worst nightmare! </p>
<p>All in all, I think he just wants to be around nice, fun, smart kids who aren’t extreme in either way. I think he is more bothered my mean people than anything else and mean people come in all shapes, sizes, and political views.</p>