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Vanderbilt Beat Alabama… Now What?

Vanderbilt Beat Alabama… Now What?

Photo taken by Ezra Wang “This is a whole new team. We got a team full of dogs who prepare every week like they wanna play on Sundays … the only person that knows who’s gonna win on Saturday is God.” That’s what Diego Pavia said in a press conference, just days before Vanderbilt shocked the world.  Before Saturday October 5th, Vanderbilt was 0-60 against AP top 5 opponents (which are the top 5 performers in a weekly vote taken by 62 broadcasters and sportswriters). Next on their schedule was number one ranked Alabama, which many analysts called the best…
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Coke vs. Pepsi: The Battle for University Soda Machines 

Coke vs. Pepsi: The Battle for University Soda Machines 

Nutthaseth Vanchaichana via iStockPhoto The age-old rivalry that has long divided the nation: Coke vs. Pepsi. Some claim they taste the same, while others say they are incomparable. Those with a strong preference for one of the two find themselves in unfortunate situations when the waiter replies, “sorry, we don’t carry [preferred cola drink], just [undesired cola drink].” For the consumer who enjoys both Coke and Pepsi alike, this poses no real inconvenience. But for consumers on either end of the spectrum, the lack of their favorite cola turns day into night. Now imagine a die hard Coke-lover coming to…
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Research at Vanderbilt: The Money behind the Innovation

Research at Vanderbilt: The Money behind the Innovation

Totojang via iStockPhoto At Vanderbilt, students are constantly surrounded by the effects of research funding. From posters advertising new breakthroughs, emails detailing newsworthy projects, or even the paragraph-long official titles of professors. The research ecosystem of elite universities like Vanderbilt is constantly publicized. At innovative universities like Vanderbilt, research is a business. With national academic research expenditures totaling more than $75 billion, universities race to obtain maximum funding from as many sources as possible. Research success at universities attracts both students and faculty. Research experience is a critical component of many graduate applications, such as those for medical school and…
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We’re Going to Build a New Stadium, and You’re Going to Pay For It!

We’re Going to Build a New Stadium, and You’re Going to Pay For It!

Image generated by ChatGPT 4o The Tennessee Titans are building a new, $2.1 billion dollar home and you’re going to pay for it. No, Vanderbilt students are not going to have to take out their, or their parent’s check book and write out an eye watering figure, but Nashville and Tennessee taxpayers are going to bear a record breaking financial burden to the tune of $1.2 billion dollars, the largest ever stadium subsidy in the nation.  Large public subsidies for the stadiums of major sports teams have been somewhat of a trend in recent years, and with that has come…
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Vanderbilt’s Sushi Kitchen: A Talk with Wasabi

Vanderbilt’s Sushi Kitchen: A Talk with Wasabi

Photo taken by Sabrina Liang One day, when I had finally finished my classes, I dropped by Wasabi and bought a tray of sushi: late night snacks with low calories. The cashier lady smiled at me like she always does, and I suddenly realized that I never knew her name. What is her name?  More questions came into my head, and that’s when I decided to learn about Vanderbilt’s sushi kitchen: Wasabi. Wasabi is a family business. The sweet and warm couple we see in the store, Vum and Khen, bought the place and have run it diligently since then.…
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Natural Disasters: A Drain in the Most Crucial Regions of Economic Development

Natural Disasters: A Drain in the Most Crucial Regions of Economic Development

CHUYN via iStockPhoto As hurricane season approaches its end following historic destruction in North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee, it is more important than ever to pay attention to the economic disasters that can accompany them. Natural disasters have devastating effects, and with climate change exacerbating the strength and frequency of these tragic events, they become even more relevant in the discussion of local economies. The issue of disasters is especially relevant in the Southeast, as Texas, Florida and Louisiana lead the nation in the associated costs of weather events. Florida alone suffered a 7.5-10% hit to GDP as a result…
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GLP-1s: A Game Changer. But for Whom?

GLP-1s: A Game Changer. But for Whom?

PeopleImages via iStockPhoto What are GLP-1s? The emergence of GLP-1 drugs as effective treatments for obesity has dominated the recent news. Top headlines from Bloomberg, CNBC, The New York Times, People, and numerous other publications illustrate how this product has quickly become a mainstream part of our culture.  GLP-1, or glucagon-like peptide-1, is a peptide hormone antagonist that blocks glucagon secretion to prevent excess glucose from entering the bloodstream. Initially developed over 15 years ago for lowering blood sugar for Type 2 diabetics, GLP-1 drugs are now also clinically proven to reduce weight significantly. Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk led…
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How Nashville Businesses Market Themselves to College Students: Student Deals and Discounts

How Nashville Businesses Market Themselves to College Students: Student Deals and Discounts

csfotoimages via iStockPhoto When you ask someone about Nashville, “college town” will probably not be their chosen descriptor. With its incredible music scene, fabulous restaurants, and all sorts of attractions, Nashville is often known for its tourism, drawing people from all over to experience the city’s unique culture.  One might think that tourists are then the main focus of local businesses, but the greater Nashville area is also home to roughly 9 colleges, making college students an important market for Nashville businesses. But how do businesses attract these college kids? And, likely most important to you, which businesses do this? …
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Maintaining Net Neutrality: Just the First Step 

Maintaining Net Neutrality: Just the First Step 

Image generated on OpenArt.ai With the greater purpose of sustainability and addressing the causes of climate change, achieving net zero carbon emissions is a benchmark that organizations, companies, and countries around the world have pledged to achieve. Many have given themselves a goal of hitting carbon net neutrality by 2050, while others shoot for 2040 or even sooner. On Earth day in 2019, Vanderbilt University aligned its sustainability aspirations with those of other world-class higher education institutions by aiming to attain net zero carbon impact by 2050. By 2021, the university delivered on their sustainability pledge 29 years ahead of…
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