FEBRUARY 2012
Students, administrators discuss nondiscrimination policy
Three Vanderbilt administrators spoke and answered questions about the university's nondiscrimination policy and its application to registered student organizations Jan. 31. Under the policy, any Vanderbilt student is free to join and seek a leadership position in any Vanderbilt registered student group, but the individual members of every group have the right to elect the leaders of their choice. Full story »
Memorial Gym to host ESPN's GameDay
ESPN's College GameDay will be on campus Feb. 11 for the Vanderbilt men's basketball game against Kentucky. The program will be broadcast live from 9 to 11 a.m. CST from inside Memorial Gym, and the game will air at 8 p.m. Full story »
Alumnus competing on NBC's The Voice
Blair School of Music alumnus Chris Mann, BMus'04, is a contestant on the new season of The Voice on NBC. During the show's Feb. 5 premiere, he performed "Because We Believe" in Italian and was invited to compete on judge Christina Aguilera's team. Full story »
Volunteer for Reunion
If your class year ends in 2 or 7, please consider volunteering for Reunion 2012, scheduled for
Enter to win an iPad 2 by staying connected
Register or update your VUconnect online community profile by May 1, and you'll be entered to win an iPad 2. Also be sure to keep up with the latest information from the Vanderbilt Alumni Association through Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Help the Alumni Association Board find new members
The Vanderbilt Alumni Association Board of Directors is seeking nominations for new members. If you know of an exceptional alumnus or alumna with demonstrated leadership abilities, please make a nomination by March 15.
Distinguished Alumni Award nominations due March 15
Nominations are being accepted through March 15 for the Distinguished Alumni Award, which is given to an alumnus or alumna who has gone beyond a successful vocation to do something of greater benefit for society. For more information, visit the Distinguished Alumni Award page.
Join alumni for basketball viewing parties
Check the chapter listing to see if a basketball viewing party is planned in your area, and cheer for the Commodores as they take on Kentucky this weekend.
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:
Click here for the current calendar of all events planned in your area, and check back frequently.
From the Campus
Vanderbilt receives record number of applications
Vanderbilt has received a record 28,306 undergraduate applications for the fall 2012 semester—15 percent more than at the same time last year. Also graduate school applications are up 12 percent, with 7,855 received as of Jan. 15. Full story »
Grant expands Vanderbilt Divinity model program
A program created by the Divinity School to reshape training for professors who prepare future ministers will expand under a $5 million renewal grant awarded by Lilly Endowment Inc. Full story »
Website offers window into Civil War life
Little-known stories of how Civil War–era Tennesseans lived their lives away from the battlefield are now accessible on Shades of Gray and Blue, an educational website created through a collaboration between Vanderbilt's Jean and Alexander Heard Library and Middle Tennessee State University. Full story »
Preserving slave records focus of Vanderbilt conference
Renowned experts on preservation of African and Afro-descended slave records gathered at Vanderbilt Feb. 2–4 to launch the university's new Ecclesiastical and Secular Sources for Slave Societies digital archive and website. The project aims to preserve endangered church and secular documents related to slavery in the Americas. Full story »
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Vanderbilt in the News
Can common chemicals hinder vaccines?
MSNBC—Wearing a nicotine patch may help improve memory loss in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, according to a new study authored by Paul Newhouse, professor of psychiatry, medicine and pharmacology. Full story » |
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In defense of negative political ads Fox News—John Geer, the Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Professor of Political Science and chair of the department, is interviewed about the importance of negative political ads in the Republican primary. Full story » Alumnus finds business success in West Africa
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ABC News—Dr. William Schaffner, chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine, is interviewed about a study that suggests perfluorinated compounds, widely used in manufactured products including nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing and fast-food packaging, are associated with lowered immune response to vaccinations in children. 
BBC News—When alumnus Kofi Dadzie, BE'00, first thought about the impact that information technology could have in Africa, he realized it was an opportunity too good to miss. In 2001, at 24, he co-founded Rancard Solutions Ltd., which is now considered one of the leading IT firms in West Africa.
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Human rhinovirus, also known as the common cold, can be uncommonly serious for very low birth-weight babies, according to a new study led by Dr. E. Kathryn Miller, assistant professor of pediatrics. Full story » New research focuses on education in Appalachia Researchers from Vanderbilt's Peabody College are collaborating with Regional Educational Laboratory Appalachia, which aims to improve education practice in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia through a $28 million, five-year research grant from the Institute for Education Sciences. Full story » Grant renewed for digestive disease research The Vanderbilt Digestive Disease Research Center, which includes 119 faculty investigators from 14 different departments, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year with a five-year, $5.9 million federal grant renewal that will help fund research for health issues like gastrointestinal cancer and obesity. Full story » |
Sports News
Vanderbilt football signs impressive class
Head Coach James Franklin and his Commodore staff secured one of the top classes of prospects in team history during National Signing Day on Feb. 1. Recruiting outlet Rivals.com rated every signee in the 21-player class three stars or higher—the first time Vanderbilt has ever achieved such status. Full story »
Women's basketball sweeps SEC weekly honors
A pair of career performances helped Vanderbilt women's basketball sweep the weekly Southeastern Conference awards given Jan. 30. Christina Foggie earned Player of the Week honors after scoring 34 points in Vanderbilt's upset of Georgia on Jan. 26, and Kady Schrann was named Freshman of the Week thanks to her 29-point effort in the win against LSU on Jan. 29. Full story »
Alumnus Snedeker wins shocker at Torrey Pines
Brandt Snedeker, BA'03, earned his third PGA Tour victory Jan. 29 by edging out Kyle Stanley in a dramatic playoff to win the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course. Full story »
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