https://padlet.com/rachelahanebutt/nrxg85t9f3xheg98 Pretend the Chancellor has called on you to help improve student life at Vanderbilt and has asked you to devise a student plan. Identify a concern of Vanderbilt students (e.g., physical health, mental health, identity, feeling of belonging, academics) and what you want the situation to be like (usually we identify a problem because something isn’t what we want it to be). 1. What systems are connected to the concern you have? You can think about Vanderbilt as a single institution, as well as multiple organizations within (e.g., A&S vs Peabody). 2. What systems and institutions may be important outside of Vanderbilt (e.g., Nashville, TN) What changes would you want to see in those systems? 3. Now, come up with a plan to help make these changes! Use your imagination, but draw on the ideas of coalition building, community organizing, and/or interdisciplinary research. a) Could you form a coalition of student groups to help make this change? Would you try to do individual student organizing as well? b) What research might you need to help make your case. c) Make sure to reflect on power, both held by individuals and by organizations. [Tip: If you get stuck, check out Rachel's fictitious example to the far right!] en-us 2021-04-19 19:18:44 UTC 2025-12-26 02:25:41 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/2693.png https://padlet.com/rachelahanebutt/nrxg85t9f3xheg98/wish/1443637721 There are several systems interacting to create the problem of using fossil fuels. As it relates to Vanderbilt, the private university system grants them the freedom to use fossil fuels. There are also student-run organizations that contribute to the goal of divesting. Some of the outside systems that affect this are how other universities influence Vanderbilt and their energy sources. Some of the changes that we would like to see is more accountability organizations to hold universities responsible for harmful environmental practices. There fortunately is already a well established Divest Dores organization that fights for Vanderbilt to completely divest from fossil fuels. They have been successful in raising awareness and funds to support divesting. Research conducted on how major policy changes like this happen in Vanderbilt administration and how to effectively gather substantial support for this change. Working with Vanderbilt administration could pose challenges based on the power imbalance but meeting with them to create talking points is a good place to start. ]]> 2021-04-21 17:12:42 UTC https://padlet.com/rachelahanebutt/nrxg85t9f3xheg98/wish/1443637721 https://padlet.com/rachelahanebutt/nrxg85t9f3xheg98/wish/1443638556 The major system that is connected to this concern is the school system as they were the ones that developed it for this semester. While some teachers would adhere to reading days which ultimately led to students having more work concentrated on one day later in the week which was more detrimental to our mental health, some teachers completely disregarded the reading days. This led to a sentiment of reading days not even being enforced for some, but when it was enforced it actually caused more difficulties mentally in the long run than it would have in the short run if everyone was on the same schedule/page. ]]> 2021-04-21 17:12:53 UTC https://padlet.com/rachelahanebutt/nrxg85t9f3xheg98/wish/1443638556 https://padlet.com/rachelahanebutt/nrxg85t9f3xheg98/wish/1443643843 In the past year, the online education systems has had an overwhelming impact on student's mental health and well-being. In order to solve this wicked problem, the university could encourage more teacher student interaction and collaboration. Examples of this could include, mandatory meetings one on one to promote stronger teacher student relationships and organized student study groups proctored by TA's. ]]> 2021-04-21 17:13:56 UTC https://padlet.com/rachelahanebutt/nrxg85t9f3xheg98/wish/1443643843 https://padlet.com/rachelahanebutt/nrxg85t9f3xheg98/wish/1443644116 Other universities typically gave an actual day off or a few days off from school, some schools even gave an entire week. We feel that Vanderbilt likely followed the lead of other universities but did not enforce these reading days well enough.]]> 2021-04-21 17:13:59 UTC https://padlet.com/rachelahanebutt/nrxg85t9f3xheg98/wish/1443644116 https://padlet.com/rachelahanebutt/nrxg85t9f3xheg98/wish/1443648773 Financial Inclusivity is a major problem here at vandy.  Making sure that everyone on campus has an equal opportunity to enjoy their time in college is extremely important.  
1) Systems at Vandy
a. Office of Financial Aid
b. VSG
c. Clubs that people are a part of (Greek life specifically)
d. The laundry system
2) Systems outside of Vandy
a. Public Transit (so people can explore the city)
b. Restaurant expenses
c. Grocery Shopping
d. Concerts, sporting events, entertainment in general
3) Plan to make changes
I think the change would have to start with the students and more specifically VSG.  They are the connectors to admin, so in order to get something done, it must go through them.  Also, getting other individuals to start a petition, just push for change in general would make a difference.  The research would consist of surveys of students.  It would ask questions about students needs and give a gist of the changes they want. below is an outline of how to change it.
Make it easier to get money to join clubs/pay dues.
b. Make it so that laundry is always free, nit just in COVID times.
c. Student discounts through uber/lyft so that it is cheaper to move around Nashville 
d. Expand restaurants on Commodore Card so students can have greater freedom in enjoying the food scene
e. Figure out a way to get people groceries who need them, whether it be through munchie marts or something else.
f.  Continue to push for student discounts at sporting events/concerts

]]> 2021-04-21 17:14:50 UTC https://padlet.com/rachelahanebutt/nrxg85t9f3xheg98/wish/1443648773 https://padlet.com/rachelahanebutt/nrxg85t9f3xheg98/wish/1443660306 Students felt that having a reading day really did not offer a day of relief in any sense. A full day off would have been a better alternative to reading days because it would have actually felt like a mental rest day rather than a half rest day that would ultimately lead to more concentrated work later on in the week. In order to enforce this, we could possibly inquire students to sign a petition in support of a change in the format of reading days and this could lead to the university taking notice on however many signatures were provided to change the current format of reading days on a university level. ]]> 2021-04-21 17:17:07 UTC https://padlet.com/rachelahanebutt/nrxg85t9f3xheg98/wish/1443660306 rachelahanebutt https://padlet.com/rachelahanebutt/nrxg85t9f3xheg98/wish/1443678666 Situation: Vanderbilt's WiFi is always down, which causes students extra stress and worry. How will assignments get done? How will we all watch Netflix at the same time...Zoom? No way! We need WiFi that is high speed, reliable, and available all over campus! This is a student equity issue.]]> 2021-04-21 17:20:34 UTC https://padlet.com/rachelahanebutt/nrxg85t9f3xheg98/wish/1443678666 rachelahanebutt https://padlet.com/rachelahanebutt/nrxg85t9f3xheg98/wish/1443680568 Main campus seems to have okay WiFi, but Peabody's campus and near the Nursing school are not good! Don't even try getting WiFi at Chipotle or at Student Health!]]> 2021-04-21 17:20:58 UTC https://padlet.com/rachelahanebutt/nrxg85t9f3xheg98/wish/1443680568 rachelahanebutt https://padlet.com/rachelahanebutt/nrxg85t9f3xheg98/wish/1443682194 Internet providers in the area might have some advice. The Public Library always has good WiFi, as does the McDonald's near the Parthenon. But even more importantly, other campuses are having the same issue! I wonder why?]]> 2021-04-21 17:21:18 UTC https://padlet.com/rachelahanebutt/nrxg85t9f3xheg98/wish/1443682194 rachelahanebutt https://padlet.com/rachelahanebutt/nrxg85t9f3xheg98/wish/1443683323 First, we might want to know if this issue is truly as widespread as we think it is. We might send out some surveys at Vanderbilt, and connect with our friends at other institutions to see what their situation is like. Informational calls with internet companies and campus administrators might also be useful; if multiple groups across the country do this, we might gain a more insightful picture of what is going on with this wicked problem!

Then, maybe universities across the country can band together (create a coalition!) to create a better WiFi mesh system...better yet, let's create a WiFi system that allows ANY college student to have access to the internet at ANY collect (this exists...EDUROAM). OR we might partner with some of the internet companies to give students individual hotspots that can make sure they have access to the internet, even when they are off campus. These hotspots can also provide free public wifi for those who are not college students. Access for all means access for everyone, not just for those who are attending college!]]> 2021-04-21 17:21:31 UTC https://padlet.com/rachelahanebutt/nrxg85t9f3xheg98/wish/1443683323 https://padlet.com/rachelahanebutt/nrxg85t9f3xheg98/wish/1443696460 Student Organizations like:
- VSG
- VUSM Student Wellness Committee 
- Student Center for Wellbeing 

]]> 2021-04-21 17:24:05 UTC https://padlet.com/rachelahanebutt/nrxg85t9f3xheg98/wish/1443696460 https://padlet.com/rachelahanebutt/nrxg85t9f3xheg98/wish/1443734762 I 100% agree.  The intended effect of the reading days was not actually what happened, and I feel like admin would have benefited from getting a student perspective before they decided to move forward with the plan]]> 2021-04-21 17:31:41 UTC https://padlet.com/rachelahanebutt/nrxg85t9f3xheg98/wish/1443734762