Students gather for Election GameDay

The Commons facade was awash in red, white and blue lights, and balloons lined the dining hall where hundreds of Vanderbilt students celebrated casting their first ballots for president. Housed in The Commons, the Election GameDay event sought to capture the attention of first-time voters. Shuttles departed from Peabody campus and Branscomb Quadrangle all day to bus students to vote. Multiple big screens projected minute-by-minute coverage of election developments at the Commons Center. Watch a special election video. » Full Story

Another successful Reunion/Homecoming Weekend

More than 6,900 alumni returned to campus for Reunion/Homecoming Weekend on Oct. 24-25 to reconnect with friends and enjoy a weekend of fun, including educational events, Reunion class parties, the Homecoming Tailgate, and the VU-Duke game. Undergraduate attendance was 3,351, up almost 26 percent from these classes’ last reunion five years ago. Alumni from 12 undergraduate Reunion classes, including the Quinqs, and alumni from Law, Nursing, Divinity, and the Medical School, together gave nearly $42 million in gifts and pledges to Vanderbilt in honor of their special reunions. Mark your calendars for next year’s Reunion/Homecoming October 16-17, 2009. » View photos from the weekend

Time magazine features Vanderbilt's new Commons

Time magazine featured Vanderbilt University's new freshman complex, The Commons, in its recent story about how U.S. universities are working to improve students' first-year experience to attract and retain the best students. Vanderbilt invested $150 million to create The Commons and trimmed its class size to 1,570 so all first-years would fit. » Full Story

Dr. Watkins honored

Noted cardiac surgeon and civil rights advocate Dr. Levi Watkins Jr. was honored as Vanderbilt's 2008 Distingished Alumnus at the Oct. 22 Alumni Association dinner. Watkins, the first African American to enroll at and graduate from the Vanderbilt Medical School, says his passionate advocacy for racial equality and diversity was shaped by his early exposure to the civil rights movement and its leaders. » Full Story

Seven simple steps save energy

New Vanderbilt research identifies seven simple steps that can dramatically reduce energy use and carbon emissions. "Put another way, these savings are the equivalent of removing 26 million automobiles from the road or eliminating the need for 54 large power plants," says Michael Vandenbergh, Vanderbilt environmental law professor and director of the Climate Change Research Network. Find out how easy these steps are. » Full Story

Hearing a different beat

It's true—musicians really do think differently than the rest of us. Vanderbilt psychologists have found that professionally trained musicians are better at using a creative technique called divergent thinking and also use both the left and the right sides of their frontal cortex more heavily than the average person. » Full Story

News from
Alumni Relations

Find Vanderbilt events at a chapter near you

Connect with fellow Vanderbilt alumni and friends at chapter events in your area. Cities with upcoming chapter events include:

Check the current calendar for all events planned in your area. New events are always being added.

Association of Vanderbilt Black Alumni reunites

Local alumni joined Association of Vanderbilt Black Alumni President Tremayne Anderson, BE'95, in greeting visiting alumni on Oct. 24 at the Welcome Reception/Ol' Skool Alumni Mixer. They were also welcomed by new Alumni Association President Billy Ray Caldwell and other Vanderbilt administrators. On Oct. 25 alumni gathered for "Traffic Jam" to kick off the 2009 AVBA 25th anniversary celebration. Both events were held at the Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center. » Full Story

Canada's historic cities and waterways

Cruise with Cecilia Tichi, William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of English, from Newfoundland down the St. Lawrence Seaway to Lake Ontario, visiting historic cities full of French charm and old world influences. The cruise is scheduled for June 13-23, 2009. Prices start at $5,795. Contact the Vanderbilt Travel Program via e-mail or call 615/322-2929 with questions or to receive a brochure.

Haute Meets Cool

From Philip Glass to Charles Darwin to his Harlem landlady, Daniel Bernard Roumain translates life into music. » Full Story

The Longest War

In the epic battle against cancer, Vanderbilt investigators think globally and act locally. » Full Story

The Right Approach

Teaching her students how to approach problems, rather than just focusing on facts, led this Peabody alumna to become an award-winning teacher » Full Story

New Vision

Vanderbilt’s new VISAGE program puts a service-learning twist on study abroad. » Full Story

First Impressions

The Class of 2012 opens the page on a new chapter in Vanderbilt history. » Full Story

Dreaming Out Loud

A 7-year initiative to shrink student debt takes a bold step forward. » Full Story

Read more from our magazines »

VU + iTunes = iTunesU

Download coursework, lectures, news, music, sports, special events, and more. Play on your iPod, Mac or PC, or burn a CD. Explore a world of knowledge at Vanderbilt. » Full Story

From the Campus

Student groups register new voters

More than 1,300 newly registered voters made their voices heard during this year's hotly contested presidential race thanks to the efforts of Vanderbilt University student organizations. The groups worked in partnership with the university's Office of Active Citizenship and Service. » Full Story

Best-selling author of Freakonomics to speak at Vanderbilt

Stephen J. Dubner, co-author of the international best-seller Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything, will speak at 7 p.m. Nov. 18 in the ballroom of the Student Life Center at Vanderbilt. Tickets for the lecture are available now. » Full Story

Professor Colas remembered at memorial service

Colleagues, family members and former students remembered Professor Pierre Colas' love for good chocolate, a competitive game of Stratego, and the frequent company of friends during a memorial service at Benton Chapel. His sister, Marie Colas, killed by assailants along with Pierre during a robbery at his home, was also mourned. » Full Story

Susan Gray School cuts ribbon on 'playground for all'

The Finan Family Playground officially opened at the Susan Gray School for Children on Oct. 24 as part of Vanderbilt Peabody College's Homecoming activities. The playground, a grassroots effort made possible by Tom and Mary K. Finan, Vanderbilt Athletics and other donors, is the school's first barrier-free, fully accessible playground for children ages 3 to 5. » Full Story

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Price key in Rays making World Series

Former Vanderbilt baseball pitcher David Price was instrumental in the Tampa Bay Rays beating the Boston Red Sox in Game 7 of the AL championship series. The former Commodore recorded the final four outs. Price also pitched extremely well in the World Series. » Full Story

Vanderbilt women picked to win SEC basketball title

Tennessean—On paper, it appears that the Vanderbilt and Tennessee women are playing a game of role reversal. The Commodores lost just one player from last year's NCAA Region semifinalist team and are picked to win the SEC title. UT, meanwhile, lost five players from its national championship squad. » Full Story

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