The Vanderbilt Torch

Calypso Craziness

On January 14, Vanderbilt University was graced with a visit from calypso singer and social activist Harry Belafonte, a man Interim Chancellor Nick Zeppos called a “remarkable individual” who has “contributed much to humanity.” Beyond his marching with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his organization of the Freedom Rides and other Civil Rights-era events, the King of Calypso made an appearance on what Zeppos remarked was perhaps “the best episode of The Muppet Show.”

Nashville's Voting Booth Blues

After the recount debacle in Florida eight years ago, one would hope that election irregularities would be a thing of the past. With the media circus that ensued, it seemed reasonable to expect that election officials would keep a close on future elections out of the fear of potential national embarrassment, if for no other reason. Unfortunately, elections have become even more susceptible to corruption as the democratic process goes digital. While old-fashioned voter fraud still persists, newer, even more dangerous forms of election tampering have emerged across the nation.

Vanderbilt Visions Losing its Sight?

This month, the Office of Housing and Residential Education (OHARE) is in the process of collecting and reviewing applications for the positions of resident advisor and head resident. Like always, applicants will be placed in one of seven dorm areas. For the first time though, the Commons will be fully operational and ready to hold the entire freshman class. The master plan to quarantine all of the freshmen away from the fraternities and close to the hospital will be complete. A new bridge was even built to connect the hospital and the Commons, speeding up the transfer of students from bathroom floors to emergency room doors.

Publication Protectionism

Who wouldn’t want to be able to pick up national news and commentary as easily as they grab The Hustler or The Torch on the way to class?

For many years, Vanderbilt students have heard news about the possibility of bringing widely known, national newspapers to campus to be available free of charge to students. This USA Today Campus Readership Program seems to be a great idea on the surface, and has been billed as such by Vanderbilt Student Government and Vanderbilt students alike.

Primary Coverage: Nevada and South Carolina

THE GOP - SOUTH CAROLINA
The results of South Carolina have pretty much devastated this Fredhead and Reagan-coalition conservative. Sure, Fred Thompson has run perhaps the most unorthodox and ineffective campaign, but I had my hopes set on message taking precedence over everything else, especially in South Carolina. Alas, John McCain pulled off an impressive win, considering this is the state that flatly rejected him over our current president eight years ago.

The Conservative's Guide to Becoming the GOP Nominee

The Requirement
Let me begin by clarifying something: if you are not a gentleman, you are not qualified to be the president of our glorious nation. And when I use the term “gentleman,” I refer not to an elite class of men defined by honor and chivalry, I mean that women will just have to set their sights a bit lower. To put it delicately, sometimes the Constitution remarks to the Magna Carta, “I got ninety-nine problems, but a bitch ain’t one.” 

If you are a woman, don’t despair, you can certainly marry a president—or at the very least, have a torrid affair with one (For further reading, see the upcoming “The Conservative’s Guide to St. Valentine’s Day”).

Do Sororities Rush to Judgment?

Rush for 2008 is finally over, and after a long week of emotional upheavals, every young lady who went through the process has either been offered a bid or has been dropped altogether.  The first day of classes for this semester was met with tired eyes and sore throats as half the female student body dragged themselves to lecture.  There is a lot of drama that surrounds the Panhellenic recruitment system, and a lot of secrecy as well.  What really goes on behind the scenes?  As a junior in the Greek system, there are a lot of things I can tell you… and a lot that remains a mystery to me.

Torch Debate: We Like Mike

Despite spending months in the single digits of nearly every poll of likely Republican voters in Iowa and being outspent 20 to 1 by former Massachusetts governor and political rival Mitt Romney, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee garnered the support of 34% of the state’s Republicans, securing him a win in the first caucus in the nation. This first place finish certainly brought Huckabee some much desired national attention, but also left millions across the nation with the question, “Who exactly is this guy?” Many are now claiming to have the answer. 

Torch Debate: Chuck Huck

One can’t deny that Mike Huckabee’s persona is a refreshing blend of eloquence, humor, and down-to-earth charm, and it’s pretty darn hard to disagree with Chuck Norris, but for “true conservatives,” Mike Huckabee is a nightmare waiting to happen. Or, one could even say a continuation of the nightmare of Bush’s Republicanism: populist and pro-big government.

Mitchell Report Strikes Out

The release of the Mitchell Report early last month, stirred great controversies in the baseball world. The report, introduced by former Senator George J. Mitchell, was drafted in response to the recent with steroid use in Major League Baseball. According to Mitchell, this report consisted of an “investigation into the illegal use of steroid and other performance enhancing substances by players in major league baseball.”