2008 Woodie Awards
"Vanderbubble" more complex than it seems
Jessica Shields
Culture Editor
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I concede that being at Vanderbilt can be trying at times, and it is fair to say that we have all fallen victim to the monotony of the infamous Vanderbubble. But is the Vanderbubble really all that bad?
Of course everyone needs a break from Vandy catch phrases like “fro-yo” and the repetitiveness of student life in general, but perhaps the Vanderbubble has more to offer then we give it credit for. Every week Pascha Brown and other Vanderbilt Hustler editorial writers give us the standard 600-word blog about the inadequacies of Vanderbilt and its students. Apparently we are culturally oblivious students who need to “step outside of the campus blueprint” and experience life outside of the Vanderbubble; however, the Vanderbubble, while enclosed and protected, really is a culturally diverse setting.
As I was riding on the Chancellor’s Trolley at Friday night’s Homecoming Parade, joyfully tossing black and gold beads out of the trolley’s window alongside Gordon Gee, I was taken aback by the influence of the university on the Nashville area. The trolley, along with the cheerleading squad, the caravan of VUPD cars and the horses who followed backed up traffic for miles up and down West End. I was understandably impressed by this display of Vandy prominence. I turned to my friend to relay my amazement at Vanderbilt’s ability to disrupt the normalcy of life in mid-town Nashville, but she simply said, “This is all the Vanderbubble.” I realized that she was right.
The Vanderbubble is much more than the hustle and bustle of campus life; it also includes the area surrounding the school. West End and 21st Ave. and other close streets offer an interesting array of restaurants and specialty shops. There are cultural gems in walking distance of campus.
The Great Escape for example, is a comic book and used music shop, complete with DVDs, vinyl and random trinkets, located right off 21st Ave. With just a little time searching through the shelves of the small dusty store one could find a multitude of fascinating items including foreign flicks and finger puppets of famous philosophers.
A little farther down 21st Ave., closer to the Hillsboro Village area is Jackson’s, a popular neighborhood bar and restaurant. Jackson’s is a bit over priced, discouraging frequent visits from the frugal student crowd, but what could be better than self –seating, Xerox paper menus, and cookie dough egg rolls. Not much.
Café Coco, on Louise Ave. across West End, is another popular destination for those late-night coffee or beer drinkers. The café’s simple menu (coffee, wraps and such) and convenient hours (open 24 hours a day) attract an alternative crowd. Café Coco is a great place to go to get some work done or to just watch the patrons.
The Vanderbubble is home to a lively bunch of shops and restaurants, but the Vanderbilt campus is not so shabby either. Too often students and others criticize the school for being elitist and just too “Vandy.” Whether it’s the powder blue Vandy Vans or the nail shop in Branscomb, the school is too bourgeoisie for some. And this may be true, but I think there is something to be said for a school that offers five flavors of gourmet humus as well as mozzarella balls and roasted bell peppers in extra virgin olive oil in the Munchi Mart.
Vanderbilt and its Vanderbubble are by no means perfect, but it offers experiences that critics often overlook. Vanderbilt theater, television, radio, various university organizations and the surrounding community all provide cultural insight, although some of them are more appreciated than others. For all the Vanderbubble is or is not, it is the student’s responsibility to take advantage of what it has to offer.