Vanderbilt University

==Student life==
{| class="wikitable floatright sortable collapsible"; text-align:right; font-size:80%;"
|+ style="font-size:90%" |Student body composition as of May 2, 2023
|-
! Race and ethnicity<ref>{{cite web |title=College Scorecard: Vanderbilt University|url=https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?221999-Vanderbilt-University |publisher=[[United States Department of Education]] |access-date=May 8, 2022}}</ref>
! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number |Total
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic whites|White]]
|align=right| {{bartable|41|%|2||background:gray}}
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]]
|align=right| {{bartable|17|%|2||background:purple}}
|-
| [[African Americans|Black]]
|align=right| {{bartable|11|%|2||background:mediumblue}}
|-
| Other{{efn|Other consists of [[Multiracial Americans]] & those who prefer to not say.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|11|%|2||background:brown}}
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic]]
|align=right| {{bartable|11|%|2||background:green}}
|-
| [[Foreign national]]
|align=right| {{bartable|9|%|2||background:orange}}
|-
! colspan="4" data-sort-type=number |[[Economic diversity]]
|-
| [[American lower class|Low-income]]{{efn|The percentage of students who received an income-based federal [[Pell grant]] intended for low-income students.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|16|%|2||background:red}}
|-
| [[Affluence in the United States|Affluent]]{{efn|The percentage of students who are a part of the [[American middle class]] at the bare minimum.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|84|%|2||background:black}}
|}

===Residential college system===
[[File:Vandy-Kissam Hall.jpg|thumb|right|Kissam Hall was a men's dormitory from 1901 until it was demolished in 1958. The baths were all in the basement.]]
[[File:Warren College.png|thumb|right|Warren College, which along with Moore College, are known as Kissam]]
[[File:ZepposCollege.jpg|thumb|Zeppos College]]
[[File:Tolman Hall.png|thumb|right|Tolman Hall]]

In the early 2000s, Vanderbilt made a decision to convert its residence halls into an academic residential college system.<ref name=WeberNYT>{{Cite news|last=Weber|first=Bruce|date=2007-07-29|title=The Residential Collage|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/29/education/edlife/cornellweber3.html|access-date=2022-02-05|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=Dobie/> The intent is to form "a cohesive and growing network of residences that spark creativity, build community, support student success, and extend educational opportunities beyond the classroom."<ref name=collegehalls/> The first phase of this conversion was opening in 2008 of The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons, which brought together all first-year students in 10 adjacent houses, each house guided by a faculty head of house, living among the students in a faculty apartment. It is planned that in their sophomore year, students will enter a Residential College that will be their home for the remainder of their undergraduate years. This residential option expands on the experience provided during students' first year on The Commons. The first two upperclass colleges are Warren College and Moore College, which opened in 2014.<ref name=collegehalls/> They were constructed on the site of pre-existing dormitories known as the Kissam Quadrangle<ref name="collegehalls">{{cite web|url=http://www.vanderbilt.edu/collegehalls/about.php|title=About the College Halls|access-date=August 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722063808/http://www.vanderbilt.edu/collegehalls/about.php|archive-date=July 22, 2015}}</ref> E. Bronson Ingram College, on the site of the former Vanderbilt and Barnard Halls, opened in 2018.<ref name=collegehalls/><ref name=600M/> Additional colleges are being constructed at the site of Carmichael Towers so that all upperclass students will reside in college.<ref name=collegehalls/><ref name=600M/> The new College Halls are intended to complement the earlier communities, The McGill Project, Mayfield Lodges, and McTyeire International House.<ref name=collegehalls/>

Two of the new residence halls have received [[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design|LEED]] silver certification and the new Commons Dining Center has received gold certification, making Vanderbilt the only university in the state to be recognized by the [[United States Green Building Council|U.S. Green Building Council]].<ref>{{cite press release|title=Vanderbilt first university in Tennessee recognized for "green" building |publisher=Vanderbilt University |date=August 17, 2007 |url=http://sitemason.vanderbilt.edu/newspub/bjfTyg?id=36730 |access-date=September 2, 2007  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209032042/http://sitemason.vanderbilt.edu/newspub/bjfTyg?id=36730 |archive-date=February 9, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|title=Vanderbilt University goes for the gold and wins for 'green' building efforts |publisher=Vanderbilt University |date=June 18, 2008 |url=http://www.vanderbilt.edu/myvu/news/2008/06/16/vanderbilt-university-goes-for-the-gold-and-wins-for-green-building-efforts.60447 |access-date=June 18, 2008  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906213735/http://www.vanderbilt.edu/myvu/news/2008/06/16/vanderbilt-university-goes-for-the-gold-and-wins-for-green-building-efforts.60447 |archive-date=September 6, 2008 }}</ref> The university expects all five of the new residence halls and one renovated residence hall to eventually receive LEED recognition.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sisk|first=Chas |title=Seven Vanderbilt buildings to get 'green' certification|url=http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070903/BUSINESS02/709030330/1045/NEWS05|work=The Tennessean|date=September 3, 2007|access-date=September 3, 2007}}{{dead link|date=November 2015}}</ref> The total cost of The Commons construction project is expected to be over $150 million.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lewis|first=Princine|title=Living and learning at Vanderbilt to undergo major transformation|work=The Vanderbilt Register|url=http://www.vanderbilt.edu/register/articles?id=31832 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328201711/http://www.vanderbilt.edu/register/articles?id=31832|archive-date=March 28, 2013 |date=June 13, 2005|access-date=July 1, 2007}}</ref>

Generally, undergraduate students are required to live in dorms on campus, with first-year students all living in the ten resident halls of The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons and all upperclassmen living on the main campus.<ref name="Residential Requirement">{{cite web|title=Residential Requirement |url=http://www.vanderbilt.edu/ResEd/main/housing/housing-policies/the-residential-requirement-for-all-undergraduates/|website=vanderbilt.edu|access-date=March 22, 2015}}</ref> Exceptions are made for students living with relatives in [[Davidson County, Tennessee|Davidson County]], students with health exemptions, married students, and some students with senior standing.<ref name="Residential Requirement" />
[[File:CommonsCVanderbilt.JPG|thumb|The Commons Center dining hall|right]]

===Organizations===
The university has over 430 student organizations, ranging from academic major societies and honoraries to recreational sports clubs, the oldest of which is the Vanderbilt Sailing Club.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://studentorgs.vanderbilt.edu/sailing/history.php|title=Vanderbilt Sailing Club – Historical Background|publisher=Vanderbilt Sailing Club|access-date=July 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808212023/http://studentorgs.vanderbilt.edu/sailing/history.php|archive-date=August 8, 2016}}</ref>
[[File:Vanderbilt Sailing Club Homecoming Regatta.jpg|thumb|right|Sailing Club Regatta]]
One publication, ''[[The Vanderbilt Hustler]]'', was established in 1888 and is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Nashville.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mondotimes.com/1/world/us/42/2320/5671|title=Vanderbilt Hustler|access-date=August 3, 2015}}</ref> In ''Langford v. Vanderbilt University'' (1956), a student sued the university for libel;<ref>{{Cite web|title=Langford v. Vanderbilt University|url=https://law.justia.com/cases/tennessee/supreme-court/1956/287-s-w-2d-32-1.html|access-date=2022-02-05|website=Justia Law|language=en}}</ref> the Tennessee court dismissed the lawsuit, concluding the university was not the owner of the newspaper.<ref name="whoisresponsible">{{cite news|last=Russell |first=Kirk  |title=Who is responsible for student press? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/37924367/?terms=%22langford%2Bvs.%2Bvanderbilt%2Buniversity%22 |newspaper=The Argus (Fremont, California) |date=January 15, 1969 |page=4|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date = July 16, 2015 }} {{Open access}}</ref> Additional student publications include those published by the College of Arts & Science, such as the ''Vanderbilt Political Review'' and the ''Vanderbilt Historical Review'', as well as the Vanderbilt University Law School, which publishes three [[law review]]s; the flagship journal is the ''[[Vanderbilt Law Review]]''. The on-campus radio station, [[WRVU]], represents the student body by playing a range of music from bluegrass to choral, with a focus on non-mainstream music.<ref>{{cite news|last=Taylor|first=Kelly|author2=Sam Patton|title=Letter: Greer column fails to mention diversity of campus radio station|work=The Vanderbilt Hustler|date=April 4, 2007 |url=http://www.insidevandy.com/drupal/node/3976 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128111049/http://www.insidevandy.com/drupal/node/3976|archive-date=November 28, 2011 |access-date=April 26, 2007}}</ref>

Vanderbilt also has a large performing arts community spanning every genre of the arts with multiple organizations representing each category. There are dance groups covering contemporary, tap, hip hop, Latin, and Bhangra styles as well as numerous theatre, improvisation, spoken word, music and singing groups including the 2014 Sing-Off champion male a cappella group, The Melodores.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2014/12/melodores-sing-off-champs/|title=Melodores are 'Sing-Off' champs|author=Kara Furlong|work=Vanderbilt University|access-date=August 3, 2015}}</ref> Performing arts organizations comprise over 1,000 students and are represented by the Vanderbilt Performing Arts Community, which supports groups by sponsoring performances and awards.

The student body is governed by Vanderbilt Student Government, which includes Senate, Judicial, and Executive branches. The organization is responsible for the distribution of nearly $2 million in funds set aside by the university to fund student organizations.

=== Greek life ===
Vanderbilt's Greek system consists of 15 [[Fraternities and sororities|fraternities]] and 12 [[sororities]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vanderbilt.edu/greek_life/meet-the-greeks/interfraternity-council/|title=Interfraternity Council|publisher=Vanderbilt University|access-date=October 2, 2017}}</ref> Of this, 7 chapters are members of the [[National Pan-Hellenic Council]]. As of the 2021–22 academic year, 20% of men were members of fraternities and 26% of women were members of sororities, or 23% of total undergraduates were actively involved in the Greek system.

===Student controversies===
In 1980, several Vanderbilt students, one of whom was African-American, decided to hold [[Nat Turner]] Day to protest [[Kappa Alpha Order]]'s celebration of Old South Day, when KA brothers dressed as Confederate States Army personnel.<ref name="tennesseanblacktolead">{{cite news |last1=Shoulders |first1=Carolyn |title=Black To Lead Protest of Fraternity Dixie Ball |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/112025076/?terms=%22nat%2Bturner%2Bday%22 |access-date=June 16, 2018 |work=The Tennessean |date=April 2, 1980}}</ref> The university administrators sided with KA, banned Nat Turner Day, and let KA parade in their Confederate costumes.<ref name="nashscenewherethe">{{cite news |last1=Suddath |first1=Claire |title=Where the Freaks Are |url=https://www.nashvillescene.com/news/article/13010627/where-the-freaks-are |access-date=June 2, 2018 |work=Nashville Scene |date=August 26, 2004}}</ref> The African-American student was called a homophobic slur and beaten up by the KA chapter.<ref name="nashscenewherethe"/>

On November 4, 2010, two anonymous former members of the Vanderbilt chapter, an alumnus and a senior student, alleged they were evicted from [[Beta Upsilon Chi]], a [[Christian fraternity (fraternities and sororities)|Christian fraternity]], for being gay.<ref name="insidevandy.com">{{Cite web |date=2011-12-09 |title=Former Beta Upsilon Chi members allege unfair treatment based on sexual orientation &#124; InsideVandy |url=http://www.insidevandy.com/drupal/node/15386 |access-date=2022-02-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111209080908/http://www.insidevandy.com/drupal/node/15386 |archive-date=9 December 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-11-12 |title=Vanderbilt Christian Frat Ousted Gays &#124; News &#124; The Advocate |url=http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/11/09/Christian_Fraternity_Accused_of_Antigay_Discrimination/ |access-date=2022-02-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101112052014/http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/11/09/Christian_Fraternity_Accused_of_Antigay_Discrimination/ |archive-date=12 November 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|first=Melissa|last=Wright|title=US fraternity comes under fire for expelling gay members |publisher=[[Pink Paper]]|date=November 10, 2010|url=http://news.pinkpaper.com/NewsStory/4247/10/11/2010/us-fraternity-comes-under-fire-for-expelling-gay-members.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319054830/http://news.pinkpaper.com/NewsStory/4247/10/11/2010/us-fraternity-comes-under-fire-for-expelling-gay-members.aspx|archive-date=March 19, 2012}}</ref>

In the wake of a [[Christian Legal Society v. Martinez|U.S. Supreme Court decision]] in 2011, four Christian student organizations were placed on probation due to non-compliance with the university's nondiscrimination policy, which requires student groups to accept all students and forbids them from requiring that their officers share the "beliefs, goals and values" embodied in the group.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/09/26/professor-says-vanderbilt-suppressing-christian-student-groups-amid-shutdown/ |work=Fox News |title=Professor Says Vanderbilt Suppressing Christian Student Groups Amid Shutdown Threats | date=September 26, 2011}}</ref> Controversy continued to surround this issue throughout 2011 and 2012, culminating in a proposed state law exempting student organizations from nondiscrimination policies. Although the bill passed both houses of the [[Tennessee Legislature]], it was vetoed by [[Bill Haslam|Governor Bill Haslam]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Tennessee Senate Bill 3597 History |url=http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=SB3597&ga=107|access-date=July 25, 2012}}</ref>

In March 2015, three [[swastikas]], a symbol of [[Nazi]] [[antisemitism]], were found spray-painted in the elevator and basement inside the house of [[Alpha Epsilon Pi]], one of the historically Jewish fraternities on campus.<ref name="tennesseantamburin">{{Cite web|last=Tamburin|first=Adam|title=Swastikas painted in Jewish fraternity at Vanderbilt|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2015/03/17/vanderbilt-hate-crime-jewish-fraternity-swastikas/24887351/|access-date=2022-02-05|website=The Tennessean|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="reutersswastikas">{{Cite web|agency=Reuters|title=Three swastikas were spray-painted in a Jewish fraternity at Vanderbilt University|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/r-swastikas-painted-in-jewish-fraternity-in-tennessees-vanderbilt-university-2015-3|access-date=2022-02-05|website=Business Insider|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="jerusalempost">{{Cite news|title=Vanderbilt University investigating Swastikas painted in Jewish fraternity|url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/vanderbilt-university-investigating-swastikas-painted-in-jewish-fraternity-394193|access-date=2022-02-05|website=The Jerusalem Post &#124; JPost.com|language=en-US}}</ref> The campus [[Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life|Hillel]] chapter called it "a malicious attack intended to bring to mind the horrors of [[the Holocaust]], to force us to feel different, endangered and isolated."<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-03-17|title=Swastikas painted on Jewish frat house at Vanderbilt|url=https://www.jta.org/2015/03/17/united-states/swastikas-painted-on-jewish-frat-house-at-vanderbilt-university|access-date=2022-02-05|website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|language=en-US}}</ref> The news, characterized as a "[[hate crime]]" by university officials, made national and international headlines, including in Israel.<ref name="tennesseantamburin" /><ref name="reutersswastikas" /><ref name="jerusalempost" />

A 2015 survey reported that 20% of undergraduate students were sexually assaulted in 2014–2015.<ref name=tnsurveyassaulted>{{cite news |last1=Tamburin|first1=Adam|title=Vanderbilt survey: Hundreds encounter sexual assault |url=http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2016/01/26/vanderbilt-survey-hundreds-encounter-sexual-assault/79354560/ |access-date=January 30, 2016|work=The Tennessean|date=January 26, 2016}}</ref> Meanwhile, as of 2015, ''[[The Tennessean]]'' reports that the university is "under review by federal education officials, spurred by six current and former female students who filed a complaint about how Vanderbilt has handled cases of sexual misconduct."<ref name=tnsurveyassaulted />

In April 2016 and June 2016, two former Vanderbilt football players were found guilty of charges related to the videotaped rape of an unconscious woman in a dorm room.<ref name="brandonvandenburgrapist">{{cite web |url=http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2016/06/18/vanderbilt-rape-trial-brandon-vandenburg/86052710/|title=Brandon Vandenburg guilty on all counts in Vanderbilt rape retrial|website=The Tennessean|first=Stacey|last=Barchenger|date=June 19, 2016|access-date=June 20, 2016}}</ref> Cory Batey was convicted of aggravated rape, aggravated sexual battery, facilitation of aggravated rape, and attempted aggravated rape,<ref name="corybatesrapist">{{cite web|url=http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2016/04/09/jury-cory-batey-guilty-vanderbilt-rape-retrial/82769934/|title=Cory Batey found guilty of aggravated rape in retrial|website=The Tennessean |first=Stacey|last=Barchenger|date=April 9, 2016|access-date=June 20, 2016}}</ref> while Brandon Vandenburg was convicted of aggravated rape, aggravated sexual battery, and unlawful photography.<ref name="brandonvandenburgrapist"/><ref name="vandenburgrapist">{{cite web |url=http://wreg.com/2016/06/18/brandon-vandenburg-found-guilty-on-all-charges-in-vanderbilt-rape-case/|title=Brandon Vandenburg found guilty on all charges in Vanderbilt rape case|website=WREG-TV|date=June 18, 2016|access-date=June 20, 2016}}</ref> The two are among four former football players charged with crimes related to the case.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-vanderbilt-football-player-convicted-rape-20160618-snap-story.html|title=Former Vanderbilt football player again convicted of rape |website=Los Angeles Times|date=June 18, 2016|access-date=June 20, 2016}}</ref>

In July 2020, a white fraternity brother from [[Delta Kappa Epsilon]] was caught on video utilizing a racial slur along with white [[Kappa Alpha Theta]] sisters, wearing what appeared to be a mock durags. Hundreds of students dropped out of their fraternities and sororities, writing op-eds condemning their own fraternities and sororities for the student newspaper, [[The Vanderbilt Hustler]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schulman |first=Max |date=2020-07-14 |title=SCHULMAN: Drop. - The Vanderbilt Hustler |url=https://vanderbilthustler.com/2020/07/14/schulman-drop/ |access-date=2023-08-29}}</ref> The controversy surrounding this sparked a national "Abolish Greek Life" movement at multiple other universities, including but not limited to the [[University of Richmond]], [[Duke University]], [[Emory University]], [[American University]], [[Northwestern University]], and the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Marcus |first=Ezra |date=2020-08-01 |title=The War on Frats |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/01/style/abolish-greek-life-college-frat-racism.html |access-date=2023-08-25 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In February 2021, the university released a statement regarding the death of a construction worker at the Rothschild College construction site.<ref>{{Cite web | last2=Oung | first2=Katherine | last1=Lele | first1=Aaditi | title= Construction worker found dead on Rothschild College construction site | url=https://vanderbilthustler.com/2022/02/23/construction-worker-found-dead-on-rothschild-college-construction-site/ | access-date=2023-04-27 | website=The Vanderbilt Hustler| date=February 23, 2022 }}</ref> Additionally, the university confirmed in February 2023 to [[The Vanderbilt Hustler]] that there had been another on-campus construction death in July 2021 at the [[Owen Graduate School of Management]]. The university stated that the deaths were of natural causes and not work-site related. Students have since organized the "Dores Worker Solidarity Network", which aims to improve construction practices in Nashville amid worker deaths and wage disputes on campus.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Freed |first=Benjamin |title=University acknowledges another on-campus construction death, students launch Dores Worker Solidarity Network |url=https://vanderbilthustler.com/2023/02/23/university-acknowledges-another-on-campus-construction-death-students-launch-dores-worker-solidarity-network/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=The Vanderbilt Hustler|date=February 23, 2023 }}</ref>

In 2024, university administrators blocked the Vanderbilt Student Government from voting on a [[Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions]] resolution following [[Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip (2023–present)|Israeli invasion of Gaza]]. Students protested with sit-ins, including a protest in which the university suspended 27 students and the university police department arrested a ''[[Nashville Scene]]'' reporter.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramirez |first=Alejandro |date=2024-03-26 |title=Scene Reporter Arrested at Vanderbilt University |url=https://www.nashvillescene.com/news/pithinthewind/scene-reporter-arrested/article_522c14b8-eba6-11ee-b344-ebb6b5f6f03e.html |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=Nashville Scene |language=en}}</ref>