The Vanderbilt Hustler 10-28-15

vanderbilthustlerWWW.VANDERBILTHUSTLER.COM WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2015 VOL. 127, ISS. 26

vanderbilthustlerWWW.VANDERBILTHUSTLER.COM WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2015 VOL. 127, ISS. 26

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#FREEVU IN REVIEW

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‘What I learned from my week

of free food on campus’

PAGE 6Columnist Alice Li taps into the art form’s transformative and healing qualities

OPINION

ILLUSTRATION BY VIVIAN SAXON/ THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER

Meet Tommy OpenshawNEWS SPORTS

Making music a priorityA ‘Humans of New York’-style campaign highlights students with disabilities

Disability Awareness MonthThe special teams Swiss Army knife’s journey from high school soccer to SEC success

BOSLEY JARRETT / THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER

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2 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2015 THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER u WWW.VANDERBILTHUSTLER.COM

By ANNA BUTRICOWeb editor

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Students in uniformnews

STAFF

ZACH BERKOWITZKAREN CHANAUSTIN WILMSALAN WILMSYUNHUA ZHAO

DESIGNERS

ALLIE GROSSEDITOR-IN-CHIEF

KATHY YUANPRIYANKA KADARI

COPY EDITORS

ZOE SHANCER — NEWS EDITORKARA SHERRER — LIFE EDITOR QUEEN STEVENSON — OPINION EDITORBEN WEINRIB — SPORTS EDITOR

JOSH HAMBURGER — MANAGING EDITORBOSLEY JARRETT — DESIGN DIRECTORANNA BUTRICO — WEB EDITORZIYI LIU — PHOTO DIRECTORWESLEY LIN — CHIEF COPY EDITORCOLLIN ZIMMERMAN — CHIEF WEB DEVELOPERMATT LIEBERSON — FEATURES EDITOR PRIYANKA ARIBINDI — AUDIENCE STRATEGISTKATHY YUAN —ASST. PHOTO DIRECTOR

SHARON SI —ASST. DESIGN DIRECTORJACK SENTELL —ASST. LIFE EDITORSARAH FRIEDMAN — ASST. NEWS EDITORPATRICK ZINCK — ASST. NEWS EDITOR

ROTC training shapes the lives of cadets

Waking up at 5 a.m. to spend an hour working out may sound like a nightmare, but to a special group of students, this early morning train-ing is the best part of the day. This devoted group is called ROTC.

ROTC, or Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, is an officer training pro-gram for the U.S. Armed forces with programs for the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. Vanderbilt has an Army and Navy program but does not have an Air Force program.

ROTC is a significant time commitment, with Vanderbilt Army cadets undergoing morning physical training three mornings a week at 6 a.m for an hour, and Navy cadets training on Friday mornings at 5:40 a.m.

“Many students couldn’t comprehend waking up at 5:30,” said Barry Linden, ROTC senior.

“An example of a typical PT session is 30 minutes of repeating a circuit of activities, such as carry someone on your back 50 yards and back, squat jumps and flutter kicks as many times as you can, and then 30 minutes of running up and down a hill,” Hank said.

There are three physical fitness tests per semester consisting of two minutes of push-ups, two minutes of sit-ups and a two-mile run. Each cadet must meet certain standards for each section of the test depend-ing on their sex and age. Scholarship students need to pass at least one of these tests per semester to keep their full scholarship.

“There’s a lot more pressure to do well when you’re on scholarship,” freshman army cadet Sam Hank said. “You prepare a lot.”

Additionally, each cadet must enroll in a military or naval science class and a leadership lab each semester. For the rest of their time, ca-dets are average college students with majors in any of the four schools, but many are engineering students.

Linden enjoys the leadership class and appreciates working closely with real army majors and colonels on planning and executing strate-gies.

“On its own, the ROTC stuff isn’t that bad,” Linden said. “The main struggle is trying to juggle it with academics and also getting involved socially.”

Many ROTC participants apply for full scholarships, complicating their college application process.

“I’ve wanted to do ROTC since fourth grade,” said Sam Hank, first-year Army cadet. “I wanted to experience life and see the world, and I figured the Army is a good way to do that.”

In order to receive a scholarship, applicants must provide the ROTC program with their top seven college choices, and they receive up to three school-specific scholarship offers. An applicant must be admitted as a regular undergraduate to a college in order to accept a scholarship. Receiving a scholarship to a college doesn’t gain them admission. The scholarships are awarded based on a student’s academic merit, not on financial need. Anyone can become involved in ROTC on campus provided their school offers it, even if they do not receive a scholarship.

In exchange for accepting a scholarship, a college student com-mits to serving in the U.S. military for five years after graduation. It is possible to obtain an academic extension to attend medical school or graduate school before enlisting, especially for applicants who want

to be Army doctors. Hank, who is a biology major, plans on trying to obtain an academic extension so he can go to medical school.

ROTC students must come to campus a week before move-in to complete new student orientation, a program in which new cadets learn the basics of military training.

“It was pretty intense,” first-year Katie Peplow said. “I don’t think I smiled or laughed for four straight days. A lot of times I was scared of the things we were going to do, and having to just face my fears and do those things has really stuck with me and made me feel like I can do other things too.”

Once a year during freshman and sophomore years, cadets spend a long weekend at an army installation doing field training exercises. Between junior and senior years, cadets also attend a month-long lead-ership course at Fort Knox. These programs require all-day focus and physical exertion, but Linden recalls on one 40 degree night during his freshman year, one of the supervisors brought Pizza Hut for the cadets and let them warm up in his van before bed.

On the whole, ROTC offers students both an education and a future occupation.

“Sometimes we are in the school environment, and it transitions really quickly to the military environment,” Peplow said. “I’m still a col-lege student before anything else, but I guess knowing that ROTC is pre-paring me for a career as soon as I graduate is different. Knowing I have a job when I graduate takes some of the stress of job-finding away.”

VANDER

BITSOffice of Greek Life changes format of sorority recruitment

Sorority women will experience changes in the rush process this January.

In past years, potential new members (PNMs) rushed in what was known as the “10-7-5-3” format. They visited all ten of the sorority houses on the Display Round, seven houses on Philanthropy Round, five houses on Entertainment Round, and three on Preference Night.

This year, they are switching to a “10-8-5-2” format. The PNMs will still visit all ten houses on Display Round, but will return now to a maximum of eight houses on Philanthropy Round. They will visit five houses on Entertainment, just like they did in past years, but will only go to a maximum of two on Preference Night.

Lauren Brooks, Panhellenic recruitment chair, said that the change was made after consulting with the National Panhellenic Conference Release Figures specialist.

“We anticipate the outcome of this change to be that PNMs will likely have greater satisfaction with their final choice,” Brooks said. “Thus we will have better member [retention] in our community.”

Kristin Torrey, director of Greek Life, also anticipates an increase in retention rates, as no PNM will receive their third choice of house on bid day.

“We anticipate that it will be beneficial for our chapters and potential new members in focusing their recruitment efforts and decreasing stress for the women involved in the process,” Torrey said.


Over 500 women receive bids from campus sororities in the SLC as a part of Bid Day.

By SARAH FRIEDMANAssistant news editor

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PHOTO COURTESY OF VANDERBILT ARMY ROTC

Freshman Katie Peplow, a member of ROTC, embraces her father.

vanderbilthustler

THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER u WWW.VANDERBILTHUSTLER.COM WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2015 3

Most people don’t realize it from look-ing at her today, but senior Tricia Tyson was born fully blind. While surgeries have helped her gain some sight, she still has a visual impairment that even the strongest prescriptions can’t fix.

“When I was born, my doctor said that I would never be able to see a house,” Tyson said. “I was learning Braille. I learned how to read really late, and I think I’ve had to overcome a lot of those challenges from birth, and I think that that’s made me re-ally strong.”

She said she can now drive a car and live a mostly normal life, and most people still don’t realize that she has a disability. Her experience with overcoming the challeng-es of her vision has helped her empathize with others’ circumstances.

Tyson leads this year’s efforts in ex-panding awareness and community for disabled students on campus. This month she headed the Vanderbilt Disability Awareness Partnership’s Disability Aware-ness Month project that put together pictures and quotes, showing the perspec-tive of different students with a range of

disabilities. She said the goal of the project was to show disability as another form of diversity and promote a sense of com-munity.

“I think that turning what was con-sidered a disability into an ability or a strength has become one of the biggest successes in my life, and I think it’s been a success in many other people with disabil-ities’ lives,” Tyson said. “So that’s one of the purposes behind the photo campaign.”

Her senior year is the first time she’s ever really “come out” as a disabled person. Ty-son said there’s a stigma around disability that can make it hard to discuss, which is what the photo campaign tries to break down.

As a member of Project: BRIDGES who works to promote refugee health and well-being, Tyson wants to continue working with all types of vulnerable communities after graduating. She hopes to pursue a career in neuroscience, where she can continue advocating for people with dis-abilities.


Kicking off a push for inclusion and acceptance, Disabilities Awareness Partnership (DAP) is celebrating Disability Awareness Month throughout October with a Humans of New York-inspired project depicting students’ experiences with their disabilities. Stromer said the goal of the project was to raise awareness about the range of disabilities on campus as well as to allow students to share their own stories.

“One big project that we’re trying to work with is really looking at how Vanderbilt can transition from viewing disability as solely a compliance issue to really a form of diversity and difference and really kind of embodying it in our culture,” said Bryan

Stromer, Vice President of DAP. Marking the 25th anniversary of the Americans

with Disabilities Act that required accommodations for disabled students on college campuses, this year brought the formalization of the DAP into a student committee and a greater push for disability initiatives on campus.

“What I think is really exciting about what’s going on at Vanderbilt is that disability is being talked about a lot more, in part because of advocacy efforts from groups like Vandy DAP and other students with disabilities,” Stromer said. “What we really want to push for now as a community is how can we move

from just talking about disability to really making action that’s sustainable.”

In addition to the profiles, DAP has been working with Chancellor Zeppos to address issues on campus. Stromer said one of their goals is to establish space on campus for disabled students other than the Disabilities Services Office, which is currently located on the edge of campus behind Kissam, a location that Stromer feels is hidden from students. Stromer believes this contributes to the separation between students with disabilities and the rest of the community.

Overall, Stromer said the idea is to go beyond

Vanderbilt’s physical accommodations for disabled students and make sure that they are actively included in the community.

“I think it’s time that we really invest in this idea of how do we continue to focus on making sure we’re compliant but also making sure that we’re inclusive and that the students with disabilities are given that opportunity to thrive, as opposed to just survive here,” Stromer said.

DAP’s student profiles can be found on their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VandyDAP.

Humans of VanderbiltStudents are celebrating Disability Awareness Month with a Humans of New York-inspired project that shares students’ experiences with their disabilities. The goal of this project is to help students see disabilities as another form of diversity By Catie Lambert, News reporter

DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH

Andrew Hey ‘18

Sophomore Andrew Hey was born with a tumor in his brain that causes epilepsy. He has seizures that are triggered by stress and lack of sleep.

“I have to put sleep ahead of everything on my schedule,” Hey said. “Also I have to manage my time very well because this is Vanderbilt. There’s tests everywhere and it’s a lot of stress, so I have to decompress every day practically.”

Due to where the tumor is located in his brain, Hey’s seizures cause loss of memory or speech function, making balancing a sched-ule that includes VU Theater, Greek life, the board for My Vanderbilt Experience and the National Council for Leadership and Success difficult.

“Most of my efforts go to scholastic duties, and then I tried to do all these other clubs on top of that, and I have to get eight hours of sleep, so it’s really, really hard,” Hey said.

The frequency of Hey’s seizures increased throughout his life, starting with one or two a year as a kid and increasing to the point that he would get ten or twelve a day every day for a week. He had brain surgery, however, in March 2013.

“I was freaking out,” Hey said. “They were telling all these risks of me dying, losing con-trol of all my speech, becoming a vegetable, not being able to process memory or even move the right side of my body.”

The surgery removed two thirds of Hey’s tumor and reduced the frequency of his sei-zures to where he’ll have them about once a month rather than every other week. Still, he said college was an adjustment.

“Especially freshman year, I don’t re-member the exact number, but I maybe had 20-ish days of seizures, and even now I live in Branscomb and it’s very very loud, so I have seizures a lot there. I’m trying to get moved somewhere else,” Hey said.

Despite this, he said he’s found a lot of acceptance at Vanderbilt and a sense of com-munity with not just other disabled students, but all students that identify with diversity on campus.

Overall, he said his epilepsy has taught him to value the present.

“It’s really changed my outlook on life,” Hey said. “I have the life motto of ‘carpe diem’ and I try to make the most of my life in any way, shape or form I can.”

‘I have the life motto of “carpe diem” and I try to make the most of my life in any way’

PHOTO COURTESY OF TRICIA TYSON

Profiling student experiences with disabilities

PHOTO COURTESY OF TRICIA TYSON

Tricia Tyson ‘16‘Turning what was considered a disability into an ability’


6 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2015 THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER ◆ WWW.VANDERBILTHUSTLER.COM

opinion

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Like many others, I played an instrument in high school. It wasn’t just one of my favorite extracurriculars — it was a central part of my

identity. As I progressed through high school, the lessons, rehearsals and concerts that I attended outside of class became sources for some of my greatest friendships, role models and learning experiences.

But here’s a confession: Before coming to Vanderbilt, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue pursuing music.

The reason wasn’t that I had lost interest in my instrument or all desire to practice. I simply thought I had more important things to do.

After all, what would be the purpose of music in my new life at college? I intended to join the College of Arts and Science, not Blair. In none of my most ambitious dreams did I see the possibil-ity of myself becoming a world-renowned concert artist (although it would have been nice to pretend otherwise). Besides, I planned to embark on the pre-med track, which was rigorous enough without the effort of practicing an instrument on a regular basis.

But something held me back. Without quite knowing the reason why, I ended up taking my music books with me when I left for move-in. And for good measure, I signed up to study piano for an elective credit.

Now, more than two months later, I realize that music has been crucial in helping me survive the fi rst half of the semester. When I practice my instrument or listen to my favorite recordings, it’s helped me relax, refocus and begin to make some sense out of the chaotic elements of my life. Music has also contributed to the positive energy I’ve felt at dozens of Vanderbilt traditions and community events, ranging from Founder’s Walk to the most recent home football game. As it turns out, the music that I hadn’t thought deserved as much con-

sideration as my other classes has become just as vital to my happiness and my college experience.

The realization startles me, though, because it confl icts with the common perception that music isn’t really that important of a subject. To some ex-tent, we treat music as though it has about as much as use as the extra pack of gum we pick up while waiting in line at the grocery store: It’s convenient and mildly satisfying, but ultimately unnecessary for our well-being.

Similarly, society teaches us that music is just a form of entertainment — something to fi ll up our leisure hours. That explains why newspapers categorize music-related articles under “arts and entertainment,” and why many families see concert tickets as luxuries meant for the leftover bits and pieces of the budget. It also explains why, when faced with budget cuts, the knee-jerk reac-tion of many school districts is to slash funding for arts education. From their perspective, no harm is done; as long as the other core subjects are covered, students are getting all the “serious” academic preparation they need.

But in reality, music is so much more than a trivial pastime. It infl uences our moods and perceptions, forms a crucial part of our culture and helps solidify the foundation upon which we unite our communities. Imagining a world without music is a strange and disorienting experi-ence, like envisioning “Jaws” without its ominous theme, a graduation ceremony without “Pomp and Circumstance,” or a silent wedding with neither Pachelbel’s Canon nor “Here Comes the Bride.” In times of celebration, we rely on music to create the festive atmosphere that we seek. And in times of tragedy, we turn to our songs to help us grieve together.

Music is not entertainment, but rather a vital form of expression that pieces together the frag-ments of the human experience. It deserves to be treated with the same respect we give to the

sciences, not degraded as something unimportant and disposable. At Vanderbilt, the diversity of our interests means that we won’t all take music-relat-ed courses during our time here. But as residents of the heart of Music City, we should at least acknowl-edge the importance of music in our lives.

Why music deserves more than its common defi nitionNeither luxury nor entertainment

QUOTE OF THE DAY“As internationals, we need to know that there is more to your politics than just the Republican-Democrat divide.

Additionally, our political experience abroad is valuable to you and could broaden your global perspective.”

PAUL SNIDER, SENIOR

ALICE LI is a fi rst-year in the College of Arts and Science. She can be reached at [email protected].

ALLIE GROSS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF [email protected]

EDITORIAL BOARD

ZOE SHANCERNEWS EDITOR

[email protected]

QUEEN STEVENSONOPINION EDITOR

[email protected]

KARA SHERRERLIFE EDITOR

[email protected]

BEN WEINRIB SPORTS EDITOR

[email protected]

But in reality, music is so much more than a trivial pastime. It infl uences our moods and perceptions, forms a crucial part of our culture and helps solidify the foundation upon which we unite our communities.

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George Orwell’s epic dystopian novel “1984” depicted a society in which the people were under constant surveillance to keep the people

oppressed and obedient to the totalitarian system, with a “Big Brother” government constantly watching them. Orwell championed that government surveillance of its people is inherently wrong and that the people should be left free in the privacy of their homes, neighborhoods and cities. Today, Orwell’s old neighborhood in North London has about 32 government issued CCTV cameras monitor-ing the area.

The American people are not unfamiliar with this climate of suspicion due to increases in government surveillance. Since Edward Snowden leaked information of the bulk collection of metadata by the NSA in 2013, Americans have become more wary of the fact that they are being watched. Government surveillance has become a contentious political issue, albeit one that has not conformed to party lines. This could be simply because the issue is so new, people just simply don’t know what to make of it. Many people probably don’t know exactly what

is going on throughout America. According to Pro Publica, an investigative journal-

ism outlet, the NSA collects as much data as it can on a daily basis which is “nearly everything a user does on the Internet.” Phone calls are monitored with the time, length and even the content. Here’s the kicker: We have no idea how massive the monitoring of phone calls, messages and emails is in our nation. When talking about monitoring the content of phone calls, the NSA states this happens “…on a much smaller scale,” compared to internet sur-veillance rather than giving an actual number.

While national security is defi nitely important, the mass collection of data that the NSA has been collect-ing is excessive. Governments should take caution when spying on their citizens, because spying is an encroach-ment upon civil liberties which we hold dear in the United States. Although it is the government’s job to protect its citizens and promote the general welfare, the NSA and other programs have not proven that the surveillance has greatly benefi tted U.S. citizens.

In a hearing following the Snowden incident, the chief

of the NSA Keith Alexander admitted that the number of terrorist activities stopped by the NSA’s spying was grossly exaggerated. Today, evidence that the NSA has success-fully stopped any terrorist attacks has been circumstantial at best. If it is useful the NSA should release actual useful statistics on their spying activity for an open conversa-tion of its effectiveness. All it has currently done is create an atmosphere of uneasiness and fear among Americans — a fear of both being watched and watching for the supposed many terrorists among us. Perhaps this fear is why so many government workers on the inside hadn’t challenged the new spying methods for years before the Snowden incident.

As Vanderbilt students, we are part of the next genera-tion of policy makers in the U.S. We can change a system motivated by fear to a system motivated by logic and ra-tionality. Just look for yourself at the statistics which prove that mass government surveillance on its citizens through phone, email and website hacking isn’t working. We need to think of more effi cient and less invasive ways to keep our country safe.

THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER ◆ WWW.VANDERBILTHUSTLER.COM WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2015 7

Why our current system of government surveillance failsAVI MEDIRATTAis a fi rst-year in the College of Arts and Science. He can be reached at [email protected].

Staying vigilant against ‘Big Brother’

I have always taken pride in communicating. I enjoy presentations (even group presentations). I love being asked to emcee events. I relish editing

my papers (when I’m not doing it 30 minutes before the deadline). In many senses, I revel in speaking up. But never have I been more silent than my fi rst year at Vanderbilt during the 2012 U.S. presidential election. Coming from living in Jamaica prior to college, I felt like a fi sh out of water when it came to politics. I was so fresh-off-the-boat that I didn’t even know what FOB meant and could not be offended by it until it was explained to me.

The sad truth is that most international students won’t be actively engaged by the political system in America simply because to the system, they aren’t worth pursuing. Why? They can’t vote. I exist in a weird threshold since I have the citizenship of an American but the bank of experiences and understanding of a Jamaican. I didn’t vote in the 2012 election — partly because I procrastinated on getting registered and partly because I hadn’t fi gured out where I fell on the issues and for whom I should vote. And I defi nitely didn’t want to ask questions and seem uninformed or unintelligent.

One change that could help is approaching political discussions as if you were swapping life experiences in-stead of focusing on winning or losing arguments. De-bates may work for candidates trying to demonstrate that they are better leaders, but they are divisive when it comes to personal relationships. I think that is why many people (myself included) refrain from having these conversations. Debating can exclude people who don’t feel like they have anything to contribute. You and your best friend might be comfortable with debating the pros and cons of the Trans-Pacifi c Partnership Free Trade Agreement, but I am not.

We need to get over this obstacle because there is so much value on both sides. Your experiences as Ameri-cans are worth sharing. As internationals, we need to know that there is more to your politics than just the Republican-Democrat divide. Additionally, our politi-cal experience abroad is valuable to you and could broaden your global perspective. Politics overseas does not conform to the “single story” of corruption

and violence. Don’t assume that just because we aren’t American or European that our government is less so-phisticated. We have issues, but so does every country that is run by fallible human beings.

During my senior year in high school, there was a general election in Jamaica. It was held on Decem-ber 29, 2011 and got a lot of criticism for being called too close to Christmas. A friend and I wrote a poem called “Twas the Night before Election” which we performed in front of our school. This was an election I could speak up about — if you ever thought to ask. In Jamaica we have a parliamentary system, based on the British parliament. There are two major political par-ties, The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and The People’s National Party (PNP). Generally speaking, the JLP is more conservative and the PNP is more liberal. Our current Prime Minister, The Most Honourable Portia Simpson-Miller (yes, that is the correct title), is our fi rst female Prime Minister and was elected in the 2011 election but has been the PNP party leader since 2006.

I’m happy to tell you a little bit about my home and our government in the hopes that you’ll evaluate how much you know about politics outside of America. Think of an international student you’re friends with and consider if you’ve ever asked them about their gov-ernment. Have you ever explained your own experi-ence of American politics? As the spotlight on the 2016 presidential election grows stronger over the coming months, I want to do a better job of speaking up and asking my friends why they believe what they believe and what they think about each candidate and issue. There’s more to talk about than just how much we don’t like Donald Trump.

A Jamaican-American dual citizen weighs in on divisive nature of political dialogue

PAUL SNIDERis a senior in the College of Arts and Science. He can be reached at [email protected]

International experiences, American politics

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Politics overseas does not conform to the ‘single story’ of corruption and violence. Don’t assume that just because we aren’t American or European that our government is less sophisticated. We have issues, but so does every country that is run by fallible human beings.

8 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2015 THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER ◆ WWW.VANDERBILTHUSTLER.COM

l fe GO DO

THISWellness Bash

1. THIS IS POSSIBLE...To answer the most common question I’ve gotten: I

survived. Through scouring AnchorLink and bulletin boards, an open lunch schedule, and sheer force of will, I was able to live off of free food for a week. This is most defi nitely a doable exercise. You’ll have to make some di-etary sacrifi ces, and I’m sure some weeks are easier than others, but living off of free food on campus can be done.

2. ...BUT I WOULDN’T RECOMMEND IT.While the most obvious drawback was sacrifi cing

breakfast some mornings, nobody told me how ex-hausting this week would be. Actively participating

in each event made the week more of a burden than I anticipated. Coupled with doing actual schoolwork and living a balanced college life, being involved in so many events every day is diffi cult. The biggest issue was trying to stay focused and engaged everywhere I went. As the week went by, this became more diffi cult. So while it is defi nitely an option for a meal or two if you want some rollover meal money for Chili’s margaritas, I wouldn’t advise anyone else take up my challenge.

3. PEOPLE WANT YOU AT THEIR EVENTS, ALMOST REGARDLESS OF WHY.

I expected as the week went on that people would rec-ognize me as “free food guy” and frown on my presence. The opposite was the case. People were excited to have me at their events, even though I was there explicitly for free food. This surprised me, but I realized as the week went on that the free food was just a hook for people to begin engaging with the event. Once I was in with a plate of food, they had me.

4. A SUCCESSFUL EVENT HAS A PURPOSE BE-YOND FREE GIVEAWAYS.

My most meaningful engagement came when I was engrossed in a discussion or event. The events where I

learned about a different culture or a new viewpoint were the ones that I found most valuable. My least meaningful engagement, on the other hand, came when I was only waiting in line for a meal or a shirt. If an event wants to be successful, it should have some sort of overarching goal. The Block Party, for example, was 95 percent lines. While I understand that some events are simply meant to be fun, there has to be a better way to engage students with each other at an event like the Block Party. When the only interaction people have with an event is waiting in a line, then there is a problem.

5. EVERYBODY SHOULD GO TO AT LEAST ONE EVENT A SEMESTER THAT MAKES THEM UNCOM-FORTABLE.

A lot of the events I went to involved hard, uncom-fortable conversations, and I got the most out of these events. College is about being challenged, and many of the discussions I had challenged me in ways a classroom setting can’t. My dinner discussion about body hair with the Women’s Center made me consider implicit societal expectations of women, something I had never thought about before. My Invisible Identities dinner in Kissam put the issues of minorities at Vanderbilt in a new light.

Five things I learned as the ‘Free Food Guy’

Features editor Matt Lieberson spent last week living off of free food by attending events all around campus. Now, he shares the knowledge he gained from the project. Read his daily recaps from last week online at vanderbilthustler.com.

Our Features editor refl ects on his #FreeVU experience as he rejoins the meal plan

By MATT LIEBERSON Features editor--------------------

KATHY YUAN / THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER

BY THE NUMBERS

3 New T-shirts

2 Chick-Fil-A meals eaten

12 People recognized me as “Free Food Guy”

52

5.3 Rollover meal money in Chili’s margaritas

New Twitter followers

Vanderbilt Recreation and Wellness Center, Wednesday, Oct. 28 4-7 p.m.The Rec Center’s annual fall event will feature free food, massages, t-shirts and more. Students can swipe in with their Commodore Card to enter to win door prizes, and there will be a live DJ on site as well. The Commodore Trot 5k, which benefi ts Habitat for Humanity, will be held in conjunction with Wellness Bash and will start at 4:30 p.m.l fel fel fel fe


How to watch the Rocky Horror Picture Show

Never seen this cult classic before? We’ve got you covered with our comprehensive watch guide By Madeline Goetz, Life reporter

“Rocky Horror Picture Show” is a 1975 box-offi ce fl op turned cult-classic fi lm. The outra-

geous sci-fi thriller begins with Brad Majors and Janet Weiss — a straight-laced, unassuming

couple — encountering car trouble on a dark and stormy night near a mysterious castle. Sounds like

the introduction to a typical, kitschy horror fi lm, right?

Wrong. The castle actually belongs to a group of aliens from the planet Transsexual in the Transyl-vanian galaxy — defi nitely not the typical psycho-killer thriller one would expect from such a cliche set-up. All preconceived notions of a scary movie unravel once the innocent pair of lovers meets the mad scientist and “sweet transvestite” Dr. Frank N. Furter, his crew and his creation.

Upon its release, the pseudo-horror musical was poorly received by the public; however, a devout fan base developed a year later when theaters began showing it at midnight. The emergence of a cult following brought about a set of rituals that are still in place at midnight showings to this day. By attending a live showing of “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” you will be partaking in a decades-old tradition of audience participation. Here’s a compre-hensive list of everything you need to know about the midnight showing so you don’t look like a total RHPS virgin your fi rst time.

WHAT TO WEARThere are many different ways to dress

up for “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” but most people either choose to dress as one of the characters or embrace the virgin life and simply wear jeans and a t-shirt. There is no pressure to dress a certain way, but if you wish to dress up, it is important to have a basic under-standing of the characters. You can’t go wrong with fi shnets, gaudy makeup and anything with sequins.

HOW TO PREPAREDo your homework on “Rocky Horror.” The ben-

efi ts of being a participatory audience member far outweigh the novelty of the surprise of going into the performance blind.

Step 1: Watch the movie. Do it with friends, alone or drunk at 3 a.m. — it doesn’t matter. Just as you wouldn’t go to a concert without any prior knowledge of the band, you don’t want to go to a live showing of “Rocky Horror Picture Show” without any knowledge of the storyline or char-acters. For instance, without watching the movie, you won’t truly appreciate that Dr. Frank N. Furter is played by Tim Curry, the guy who voiced Nigel Thornberry. Smashing. Unfortunately it is not available on Netfl ix, but you can rent it for less than $4 on Amazon or fi nd it for free on a less-estab-lished website.

Step 2: Learn the songs. “Rocky Horror Picture Show” is a musical, so if you don’t know any of the songs, you won’t be able to sing along. If you truly do not have time to watch the movie, I recommend at least looking up the songs on YouTube to get comfortable with the lyrics.

Step 3: Learn how to Time Warp. One of the most popular songs from the fi lm is accompanied by a dance that’s spelled out in the lyrics to “The Time Warp”:

“It’s just a jump to the left / And then a step to the right / With your hands on your hips / You bring your knees in tight / But it’s the pelvic thrust / That really drives you insane / Let’s do the Time Warp again.”

Everyone in the audience will be doing the dance, and you don’t want to look like a killjoy with two left feet simply because you didn’t take the time to learn the moves.

Step 4: Follow the rules. Each venue will have its own guidelines for what types of props and behaviors are allowed during the midnight show-ing. While it is fun to engage with the fi lm and the live performers, it is important to be respectful and mindful of the theater’s policies.

WHAT TO BRINGThe midnight showing of “Rocky Hor-

ror Picture Show” involves many rituals that require props. While full prop lists are available online, many of the props are banned at certain theaters. For instance, a candle or a lighter should be lit when the line “there’s a light” is sung during the song “Over at the Frankenstein Place.” For obvious reasons, most theaters strictly prohibit open fl ames. Here is a shortened list of generally acceptable props and when to use them:

1. Newspapers: Hold above your head when Brad and Janet are running through the rain.

2. Flashlights: Use instead of candles or lighters during “Over at the Frankenstein Place.”

3. Rubber Gloves: Snap them in unison with Dr. Frank N. Furter.

4. Party Hat: Wear when Dr. Frank N. Furter dons one at the dinner table.

5. Cards: Toss into the air during the line “cards for sorrow, cards for pain” in the farewell song “I’m Going Home.”

Note: Some theaters provide prop bags, so check their websites for information. Also, one prop that you automatically bring is your voice. It is important to pay atten-tion for call and response lines during the fi lm. Each midnight showing devel-ops its own unique pattern of phrases to be exclaimed during particular moments in the movie. However, one of the most common audience responses during RHPS is yelling “Asshole!” whenever the name “Brad Majors” is mentioned and “Slut!” when you hear “Janet Weiss.”

How to watch theRocky Horror Picture Show

Never seen this cult classic before? We’ve got you covered with our comprehensive watch guide By Madeline Goetz, Life reporter

“Rocky Horror Picture Show” is a 1975 box-offi ce fl op turned cult-classic fi lm. The outra-

geous sci-fi thriller begins with Brad Majors and Janet Weiss — a straight-laced, unassuming

couple — encountering car trouble on a dark and stormy night near a mysterious castle. Sounds like

the introduction to a typical, kitschy horror fi lm, right?

Wrong. The castle actually belongs to a group of aliens from the planet Transsexual in the Transyl-vanian galaxy — defi nitely not the typical psycho-vanian galaxy — defi nitely not the typical psycho-killer thriller one would expect from such a cliche set-up. All preconceived notions of a scary movie unravel once the innocent pair of lovers meets the mad scientist and “sweet transvestite” Dr. Frank N. Furter, his crew and his creation.

Upon its release, the pseudo-horror musical was poorly received by the public; however, a devout fan base developed a year later when theaters began showing it at midnight. The emergence of a cult following brought about a set of rituals that are still in place at midnight showings to this day. By attending a live showing of “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” you will be partaking in a decades-old tradition of audience participation. Here’s a compre-hensive list of everything you need to know about the midnight showing so you don’t look like a total RHPS virgin your fi rst time.

WHAT TO WEARThere are many different ways to dress

up for “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” but most people either choose to dress as one of the characters or embrace the virgin life and simply wear jeans and a t-shirt. There is no pressure to dress a certain way, but if you wish to dress up, it is important to have a basic under-standing of the characters. You can’t go wrong with fi shnets, gaudy makeup and anything with sequins.

HOW TO PREPAREDo your homework on “Rocky Horror.” The ben-

efi ts of being a participatory audience member far outweigh the novelty of the surprise of going into the performance blind.

Step 1: Watch the movie. Do it with friends, alone or drunk at 3 a.m. — it doesn’t matter. Just as you wouldn’t go to a concert without any prior knowledge of the band, you don’t want to go to a live showing of “Rocky Horror Picture Show” without any knowledge of the storyline or char-without any knowledge of the storyline or char-acters. For instance, without watching the movie, you won’t truly appreciate that Dr. Frank N. Furter is played by Tim Curry, the guy who voiced Nigel Thornberry. Smashing. Unfortunately it is not available on Netfl ix, but you can rent it for less than $4 on Amazon or fi nd it for free on a less-estab-lished website.

Step 2: Learn the songs. “Rocky Horror Picture Show” is a musical, so if you don’t know any of the songs, you won’t be able to sing along. If you truly do not have time to watch the movie, I recommend at least looking up the songs on YouTube to get comfortable with the lyrics.

Step 3: Learn how to Time Warp. One of the most popular songs from the fi lm is accompanied by a dance that’s spelled out in the lyrics to “The Time Warp”:

“It’s just a jump to the left / And then a step to the right / With your hands on your hips / You bring your knees in tight / But it’s the pelvic thrust / That really drives you insane / Let’s do the Time Warp again.”

Everyone in the audience will be doing the dance, and you don’t want to look like a killjoy with two left feet simply because you didn’t take the time to learn the moves.

Step 4: Follow the rules. Each venue will have its own guidelines for what types of props and behaviors are allowed during the midnight show-ing. While it is fun to engage with the fi lm and the live performers, it is important to be respectful and mindful of the theater’s policies.

WHAT TO BRINGThe midnight showing of “Rocky Hor-

ror Picture Show” involves many rituals that require props. While full prop lists are available online, many of the props are banned at certain theaters. For instance, a candle or a lighter should be lit when the line “there’s a light” is sung during the song “Over at the Frankenstein Place.” For obvious reasons, most theaters strictly prohibit open fl ames. Here is a shortened list of generally acceptable props and when to use them:acceptable props and when to use them:

1. Newspapers: Hold above your head when Brad and Janet are running through the rain.

2. Flashlights: Use instead of candles or lighters during “Over at the Frankenstein Place.”

3. Rubber Gloves: Snap them in unison with Dr. Frank N. Furter.

4. Party Hat: Wear when Dr. Frank N. Furter dons one at the dinner table.

5. Cards: Toss into the air during the line “cards for sorrow, cards for pain” in the farewell song “I’m Going Home.”

Note: Some theaters provide prop bags, so check their websites for information. Also, one prop that you automatically bring is your voice. It is important to pay atten-tion for call and response lines during the fi lm. Each midnight showing devel-ops its own unique pattern of phrases to be exclaimed during particular moments in the movie. However, one of the most common audience responses during RHPS is yelling “Asshole!” whenever the name “Brad Majors” is mentioned and “Slut!” when you hear “Janet Weiss.”



sports12 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2015 THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER ◆ WWW.VANDERBILTHUSTLER.COM

1. No. 4 LSU (7-0, 4-0 SEC)LSU gave up 20 points to

Western Kentucky in a blowout win, proving once again that

Vanderbilt’s defense is far and away the best in the conference. Or at least 6 points better than LSU.

2. No. 7 Alabama (7-1, 4-1)Alabama will have a week

to prepare for LSU in a game that will determine if they will still have a shot to win the SEC

West and make the College Football Playoff. Methinks Nick Saban will have quite a bit to say to his team after they nearly lost to Tennessee at home. Tennessee!

3. No. 11 Florida (6-1, 4-1)Don’t be surprised if the

Gators lose the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party to Georgia this weekend. They’ve got Vanderbilt next week, and we all know where their minds are.

4. No 19 Ole Miss (6-2, 3-1)The Rebels held Texas A&M

to just 3 points last week, which is no small feat. Although then

again, this seems to be a theme the past two years: start off hot, start losing and stop scoring. It was just an inevitability.

5. No. 25 Mississippi State (6-2, 2-2)

It’s been a few weeks since we brought up the fact that Dak Prescott got jumped at a Waka Flocka Flame concert in PCB and was kicked by a student at his own school. That happened. Figured I should bring it up again.

6. Texas A&M (6-2, 2-2)Kyle Allen went 12-34 against

Ole Miss before getting pulled, which I fi nd just amazing. Even

Stephen Rivers completed 38.5 percent of his passes last season, and he was throwing to receivers half as good as what the Aggies have.

By BEN WEINRIBSports editor--------------------

SEC POWER RANKINGS: WEEK 8

THE BIG STATNumber of points per game Vanderbilt football has held

its opponents below their scoring average 14.4

It’s safe to say that tough usually isn’t what comes to mind when discussing kickers.

Rather, kickers are often depicted as frail and soft; decent soccer players masquerading as football players who are only on the team because the rules of football mandate it.

However, when Vanderbilt kicker Tommy Openshaw’s high school coach Paul Stan-ton was asked to describe him in one word: “tough.”

“Physically, mentally and emotionally, he’s just a really tough kid,” he said.

Like a lot of kickers, Openshaw grew up playing soccer at a young age.

“I played soccer and always had a pretty good leg,” Openshaw said. “But I didn’t have a kicking coach till my freshman year of high school.”

But quickly it became clear that he was meant to play football after he fi rst tried the sport.

Though he hadn’t taken football lessons, Openshaw impressed his coaches so much that he was moved up to varsity as a freshman. Stanton said Openshaw was different than most of the other kickers he had coached.

“You know, most kickers are soccer players who happen to play a little bit of football,” Stanton said. “But Openshaw was a football player who happened to kick and play a little

bit of soccer.” Continuing to impress, Openshaw got the

starting kicking job as a sophomore. By his junior year, he gave up soccer to pursue his newfound dream of kicking in college.

“I really improved between my sophomore and junior season and started going to camps and getting noticed,” Openshaw said.

It was also during his junior year that Open-shaw had his greatest moment as a kicker.

In the 2011 Regional quarterfi nals, his Creekside High went up against undefeated Bishop Kenny that was ranked in the top ten in Florida at the time. Right before the end of the fi rst half, Openshaw attempted a career long 56 yard fi eld goal and knocked it through.

Creekside would go on to stun Bishop Kenny 30-27.

“We know he was special, but that was incredible,” Stanton said. “I coached (Falcons Pro Bowl kicker) Matt Bryant, and he can be just as good as Matt.”

In Openshaw’s fi rst season at Vanderbilt, he didn’t get to see the fi eld because he was buried in the depth chart behind Carey Spear.

That proved to be a valuable experience however, as Openshaw claims that he owes a lot of his success to Spear and his blockers.

“Carey made me the kicker I am today,” Openshaw said. “And I always wanna give a shout out to the ‘take it in the face club.’”

A member of the “take it in the face club,” the team’s nickname for the special teams players who block on punts and fi eld goals,

long snapper Jacob Schultz also had high praise for the kicker.

“Openshaw has an incredible work ethic and it motivates us as blockers even more,” Schultz said. “We really wanna make sure that block well so that he can put it through the uprights and put points up on the board.”

Openshaw’s work ethic resulted in a new job with the team this season. Since he had some experience punting during his senior year of high school, Openshaw took on an ad-ditional role this season as Vanderbilt’s punter, which he has taken to quickly.

On Saturday’s game against Missouri, Openshaw set a personal record with a 78 yard punt in the fi rst quarter, the second longest punt in the country this season and Vander-bilt’s fourth-longest punt of all time.

“I am constantly working with sports psy-chologists and perfecting my routine,” Open-shaw said. “Along with improving my power in the weight room and with repetition.”

Openshaw’s versatility isn’t just limited to his kicking abilities. In the fi rst quarter against Georgia on a 4th and 10, Openshaw was back to punt. Schultz’s snap came in low and ended up on the ground; rather than panic, Open-shaw simply scooped the ball up and outran the defenders for a fi rst down.

“I couldn’t even see the play,” Schultz said. “But I heard the crowd roar, and when I went to the sidelines the coach told me Openshaw had my back.”

Openshaw’s accolades as a kicker and

By KARIM OLIVERSports reporter--------------------

Each week, I rank the teams in the SEC 1-14. This week, Stephen Rivers makes his third appearance in the power rankings, Sean White still can’t score, and the Commodores make it out of the basement.

Here’s the kicker... he’s also the punter


Tommy Openshaw (17) converts Vanderbilt's only points in the fi rst half as Vanderbilt trailed the Ole Miss Rebels 13-3 September 26, 2015 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium Oxford, Mississippi.

DEREK MASON VS. TOM HERMANProbably the most intriguing aspect

of this weekend’s game is the showdown between two of college football’s premier play callers. Both head coaches call plays in some capacity, and both sport proven track records of success at multiple programs across college football. Mason has ener-gized the Commodore defense this season with his exotic and aggressive schemes, while Herman has groomed Coogs quar-terback Greg Ward, Jr. into a top-fl ight dual threat. This game could come down to which head coach gets the better of the other in the head-to-head play calling matchup.

VANDERBILT QUARTERBACKS VS. HOUSTON SECONDARY

The quality of Vandy’s quarterback play is a variable to watch nearly every week, and we saw why against Missouri. The ‘Dores need to continue taking care of the ball in or-der to give the defense a chance to dominate, as VU can’t afford to gift good fi eld position to the explosive UH offense via turnovers. Whether it be Kyle Shurmur or Johnny Mc-Crary, whichever quarterback is on the fi eld must take care of the ball and manage the of-fense so as to avoid negative plays. A couple of touchdowns would be nice, but the Dores simply can’t turn the ball over multiple times and still expect to win this game.

ZACH CUNNINGHAM VS. GREG WARD, JR.

Speaking of Ward, the UH junior signal caller leads the team in rushing and sports a 5:1 touchdown to interception ratio. Vandy’s Cunningham may be the best equipped of any Commodore to act as a QB spy due to his exceptional athleticism and range. Keeping Ward contained when plays break down will be crucial to limiting a Houston offense that ranks fourth in scoring among FBS teams with an average of 47.6 points per game.

By ROBBIE WEINSTEINSports reporter--------------------

punter stand on their own, but those around him are just as enamored with his personality.

“He is someone that everyone wants to imitate,” Schultz remarked glowingly. “And he’s an awesome teammate.”

Openshaw recognizes how important football is, but he takes pride in being well-rounded outside of athletics.

“I know that how I perform as a kicker doesn’t make me who I am as a person,” Openshaw reiterated with the smile that his teammates and coaches have become accustomed to.

As a double major in economics and engineering, Openshaw’s focus within the Vanderbilt community reaches far beyond fi eld goals and punts.

So when asked if there was anything else he wanted to say about Openshaw outside of football, his high school coach replied:

“You know, me and my wife have been married for 27 years, and we didn’t have kids,” Stanton said. “But if we did have a son and he ended up half as good as Openshaw, he’d be a darn good son.”

7. Georgia (5-2, 3-2)Fun fact: The World’s Largest

Outdoor Cocktail Party brings in $30 million annually to Jacksonville, Florida. Think about how much sad infrastructure they can build in that town because of one football game.

8. Tennessee (3-4, 1-3)Losing by 5 points to Alabama

is really about all Tennessee could ask for. Plus Josh Dobbs completed

13-of-22 passes. That’s got to be a record for him right?

9. Arkansas (3-4, 2-2)Auburn-Arkansas lasted four

hours last Saturday in what ended up being a quadruple overtime game. Nobody should be subjected to that kind of football for that long. I had to watch Vandy-Mizzou and Titans-Falcons (30 total points in 120 minutes), but at least there was a day break between them and neither took more than three hours.

10. Kentucky (4-3, 2-3)This is relevant to nothing, but

did you know Kentucky was ranked No. 8 in 2007 after starting 5-0? Isn’t

that wild? Kentucky. Good at football. If you’re as amazed and confused as me, do not fear: They lost fi ve of their next seven games and did not end the year ranked.

11. Auburn (4-3 ,1-3)Sean White has now played in

four games and has yet to score a touchdown. Auburn has scored 120

points during that stretch, including 46 last game. I’m excited to see how long this streak can go on. Do we think he can go the whole season? 300 points? This could go on for three more years.

12. South Carolina (3-4, 1-4)The Gamecocks didn’t lose this

past weekend, which is progress considering how their season has gone. And considering their next

three games are against Texas A&M, Tennessee and Florida. Basically, they should have more bye weeks.

13. Vanderbilt (3-4, 1-3)There are few things in life that

give me more joy than moving Vanderbilt up in the power rankings.

Really, I’m just looking forward to the basket-ball power rankings. And the baseball power rankings. And the women’s bowling power rankings. Just any power ranking that doesn’t have Vanderbilt consistently at 13 or 14.

14. Missouri (4-4, 1-4)Do yourself a favor and search

“maty mauk coke” on Twitter.


SEC POWER RANKINGS: WEEK 8


3 MATCHUPS TO WATCH: HOUSTON

EMMA MAGID / THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER

ZIYI LIU / THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER

ZIYI LIU / THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER

Vanderbilt soccer has a chance to clinch its fi rst SEC Tournament bid since 2010 this Thursday against Ole Miss.

After riding a fi ve game unbeaten streak, the Commodores fell in their two most recent matches against Georgia and Missouri. They now sit in a four-way tie for 8th place in the SEC with just one game to go.

Vanderbilt (7-7-4, 3-4-3 SEC) is positioned to qualify for its fi rst SEC tournament berth since 2010. The top ten teams from the league make the tournament, and only Arkansas and Alabama have been eliminated going into Thursday’s regular season fi nales.

Vanderbilt sits at 12 points in conference play. Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky are tied with identical conference records.

All fi ve relevant games start within an hour of one another on Thursday evening.

Essentially, three of the four teams will make it in assuming Mississippi State (1 point behind) doesn’t leapfrog the rest in the stand-ings with a win of their own.

If Vanderbilt wins, they hope for a tie or loss by at least one of the other three teams. And as long as Mississippi State loses, Vanderbilt wins every tiebreaker except a 1-on-1 tie with Georgia.

Now, if all four teams win, lose, or tie (and Mississippi State doesn’t enter the conversa-tion), there is a four-way tie. The SEC states, “If all teams have played one another, then most points earned in those matches advances.”

Vanderbilt lost this past weekend to Geor-

gia and falls behind them in the standings in any tiebreaker. However, Tennessee beat Georgia and tied Vanderbilt and moves ahead of both. Kentucky and Georgia did not meet.

This situation puts Vanderbilt at a signifi -cant disadvantage, as Tennessee defeated Georgia earlier this season. But as long as all four teams win, lose, or draw, Vanderbilt will be safe.

Essentially, Vanderbilt needs to salvage at least a point from the Ole Miss game on Thursday. A loss puts them at the mercy of the other teams, in which case any number of scenarios could push them out of the tourna-ment.

A win, however, helps them immensely. Georgia is facing Florida; the top team in

the SEC. Florida has only suffered two losses on the season and will be vying for the #1 seed in the tournament. If Vanderbilt is able to end in a tie with Kentucky and Tennessee, the tiebreakers are much more favorable. The SEC moves to record against common opponents (where Kentucky and Vanderbilt edge out Ten-nessee) and then to goal differential (where Vanderbilt holds a 2 goal edge over Kentucky).

There will be plenty of scoreboard watching across the Southeast on Thursday, however to the players and coaches in Oxford, none of it will really matter.

“You only want to watch the scoreboard if you don’t take care of your own business,” said head coach Darren Ambrose. “If we show up and play like we did 75 percent of the year then I like our chances.”

Regular season fi nales rarely lack excite-ment; Thursday’s slate of games should be no exception.


MINUTE

DRILL2

FOOTBALL (3-4, 1-3 SEC)at No. 18 Houston

Saturday, Oct. 31 at 6 p.m. Houston, Texas

TV: ESPN2

Vanderbilt football plays its fi nal non-conference game of the season in a spooky Halloween night tilt with the undefeated Houston Cougars. At 7-0, Houston is one of three remaining undefeated teams in the All-American Athletic Conference of America, alongside No. 16 Memphis and No. 21 Temple. The only prior meeting between these two schools was the 2014 BBVA Compass Bowl, a 41-24 Vanderbilt win and James Franklin’s fi nal game as Commodore head coach. This is the fi rst season in which every SEC team is required to play a non-conference game against a major-conference school, and the Cougars will fulfi ll that requirement for Vandy in 2015. Johnny McCrary and Kyle Shurmur tied for fi rst place in the annual team costume contest, and will split reps on Halloween night as a result.

SOCCER (7-7-4, 3-4-3 SEC)at No. 12 Ole Miss

Thursday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. Oxford, MississippiTV: SEC Network+

Vanderbilt soccer plays its regular season fi nale in Oxford on Thursday night. The Commodores enter the weekend in a four-way tie for eighth place in the conference with Georgia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. At most, only three of these four teams can make the SEC Tournament by fi nishing in the league’s top ten. Vanderbilt needs a win to fully assure its spot in Orange Beach, but is likely to reach the postseason with a tie. The Dores have a chance to reach the SEC Tournament even with a loss on Thursday but will need some help around the league to sneak in.

This weekend in Commodore sports

By MAX HERZSports reporter--------------------

By JOSH HANSANSports reporter--------------------

NO. 9 NOTRE DAME VS. NO. 21 TEMPLE

The primary draw of this game is to see if the Temple Owls are the real deal. They’re 7-0 with wins against not-quite-perennial powerhouses Tulane, UCF, Massachusetts and East Carolina. On the other hand, Notre Dame is coming off a well-deserved bye week after beating a tough USC team. Their sole loss this year was against No. 3 Clemson. This game may be Temple’s biggest in program history, so look for the Owls to come out hot.

TENNESSEE VS. KENTUCKY

Historically called “The Battle for the Bar-rel,” this year’s UK-Tennessee game should be dubbed “The Battle Between the Two Teams Vanderbilt Actually Has a Chance Against.” Tennessee is coming off a tough 19-14 loss against Alabama and sits at a dis-appointing 3-4 while Kentucky has somehow snuck its way to 3rd in the East and sits at 4-3 after a blowout loss to Mississippi State. Two mediocre SEC teams going at it may not seem like the game of the weekend, but Vanderbilt fans will get a good look at what lies ahead.

GEORGIA VS. NO. 11 FLORIDA

Throw Florida’s ranking out the window; Georgia knows what’s at stake here. Winner takes control of the SEC East. This game is going to be punishing on both sides of the ball. If you’re one of the hopelessly optimis-tic Vanderbilt fans out there that thinks they still have a shot at the SEC Title game, you’re rooting hard for the Bulldogs. And yes, I’m saying there’s a chance.

AROUND THE NCAA: THREE GAMES TO WATCH

VS VSVS

Vandy soccer looks to break tie, enter SEC Tournament

By JOSH HANSANSports reporter--------------------

Cristina De Zeeuw (17) clears the ball upfi eld during Vanderbilt’s 2OT 1-1 tie against Tennessee on Sept. 27.

KATHY YUAN / THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER

Vanderbilt (13-3-2) at Ole Miss (7-3-0) at 7 p.m. CSTKentucky (10-4-4) vs. LSU (4-4-2) at 7 p.m.Tennessee (11-4-2) at South Carolina (5-3-2) at 6 p.m.Georgia (13-3-1) vs. Florida (7-2-1) at 6 p.m.Mississippi State (13-4-0) vs. Auburn (6-4-0) at 7 p.m.

SOCCER MATCHUPS

*all games on Thursday, Oct. 29



backpageTODAY'S CROSSWORD TODAY'S SUDOKU

Answers to last week’s crossword Answers to last week’s SudokuPHOTO OF THE WEEK

Vanderbilt Football picked up a win on homecoming, its first SEC win under Coach Mason against Missouri 10-3 on October 24, 2015.

Answers to last week’s sudoku

The Vanderbilt Hustler 10-28-15

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