<p>My piano teacher’s daughter is of minority status. She is a very bright musician and had near perfect test scores. She was accepted to Vanderbilt with a $42,000/yr scholarship. However, she had to leave the school because the campus can’t even be considered a safe place for her. There was prejudice everywhere, and she had to come back to the state school due to safety reasons. I was so surprised to hear this; I would’ve thought that a school like Vanderbilt would not fall to such low levels.</p>
<p>I’m sorry - is this a legitimate post? A friend of my daughter’s is “of minority status,” also an excellent musician, and is having a very successful first semester at Vanderbilt. I cannot imagine what you mean that the campus “can’t even be considered a safe place for her.” There are many minority students on campus, quite a number of whom have high profile leadership positions. If there are minority-related safety concerns at Vanderbilt, why is campus any safer for them than for your piano teacher’s daughter? Or are you trying to tell us that it isn’t?</p>
<p>Here we go again. Man, I’m tired of the negative Vanderbilt stereotype!!!</p>
<p>^ I bet it’s a fake poster by a hater :(</p>
<p>I have had a child at Vanderbilt every year since fall 2002. I have taken campus tours which discussed safety and have listened attentively to my children’s comments on safety. Vanderbilt makes considerable efforts to keep students safe through e-mail alerts, phones placed conveniently on campus for direct access to campus police, and Vandy Vans providing transportation between areas of the campus after dark. There have been safety issues this fall, as there are every year for a campus this size and given the location in a busy part of a metropolitan area. I have never read any information indicating that minority students are at an increased risk for safety related issues. It is imperative for all students to take safety seriously and to use common sense with regard to crossing campus late at night, locking their dorm rooms, etc.</p>
<p>check the OP’s other posts: resident of North Dakota. Perhaps the big city life was just not a good fit for the piano teacher’s D.</p>
<p>aka:
“plz dont apply if ur a minority with good scores b/c u hurt my chances”</p>
<p>My D’s roommate is a URM. She doesn’t seem to feel unsafe or threatened. There are quite a few other URMs in their dorm. If the OP’s post is legitimate, I certainly feel bad for the young lady for whatever happened to her. However, I disagree that Vandy is dangerous for minorities.</p>
<p>@frazzle and hookem: you think I’m joking? you think this is funny? I have no intent to lie about vanderbilt. I was actually planning to apply, and it brought me to tears when she told me what happened. I just think it’s sad that things like this happen at such a prestigious school, no matter how common or rare it is.</p>
<p>Guideme, was what happened something that is actually reflective of the school itself? Did this happen in public, with others aware but not stopping it? Did the young woman let anyone know about it, and if so, did no one help? The answers to these questions are very important in assessing whether or not it was something the school community allowed to happen.</p>
<p>^ right. I really don’t want to come off as insensitive, but, to quote Forrest Gump: “[sh]it happens.”</p>
<p>It could happen at basically any university campus in the United States. The answers to kelsmom’s questions are what’s important, because they say more about Vanderbilt specifically, rather than one or two idiots (exceptions, hopefully).</p>
<p>I’m a URM applying to Vanderbilt and while stories like this shouldn’t be ignored, anecdotal information should always be considered with the context of the situation. Basically they should be evaluated by answering questions kelsmom posted. A misfortune on one person who fits a certain profile does not mean most, or even many others who are similar will suffer the same way.</p>
<p>Yeah I’m not sure this story is true; the whole “not safe” part sounds very fishy. But then again, Vandy is in the Southeastern Conference, and unfortunately being associated with those other “schools” may have rubbed off on them. Vandy is more normal and accepting than say, an Alabama or Ole Miss, but it still has that fratty feel with its accompanying racist undertones.</p>
<p>This is the most pathetic thing I’ve read in a long time and after writing a long response, I deleted it and will be laughing all the way to dinner.</p>
<p>guideme, perhaps you could give even one specific bit of info. To say there is prejudice everywhere just won’t convince anyone.</p>
<p>Plus, Vanderbilt’s taking very active steps to break racial barriers right now. Although they may have a ways to go, they’re trying. If you can be specific, your story will have more credibility.</p>
<p>Yes - specifics would help. It’s certainly possible that this young woman had the bad luck to meet up with a jerk or a sociopath who made her life miserable, and that this happened to be at Vanderbilt. But to see prejudice “everywhere,” and to infer that URM students should be warned about an unsafe campus, is ridiculously far off the mark. </p>
<p>In response to the OP’s post #8 above - of course I don’t think this is “funny,” which is why I’m taking the time to try to correct your misrepresentation of a fine institution.</p>
<p>this thread is very offensive and a blantant, gross lie. find something better to do</p>
<p>I am a URM and I am applying early decision II :)</p>
<p>I love Vandy, my boyfriend’s in Nashville, he is NOT a URM, his friends are absolutely sweet, and I have never felt safer anywhere else, save the fake stories for another time.</p>
<p>vandy’s pretty good about the minority thing. as a minority here i have never felt uncomfortable, and i feel like it’s easy to interact with people here of all kinds of backgrounds</p>