The official student newspaper of Vanderbilt University

The Vanderbilt Hustler
The official student newspaper of Vanderbilt University.
Since 1888
The crossword for Monday, October 7th — 'ALABAMA, WHAT HAPPENED?' — is now available!
The official student newspaper of Vanderbilt University

The Vanderbilt Hustler
The official student newspaper of Vanderbilt University.
The official student newspaper of Vanderbilt University

The Vanderbilt Hustler
The official student newspaper of Vanderbilt University.
Jessica Barker wearing silver glasses and a black shirt in front of a brick wall

Jessica M. Barker, Former Editor-in-Chief

Jessica M. Barker ('23) is a student in the College of Arts & Science. In her free time, she likes to garden and bake. She can be reached at [email protected].

   

All content by Jessica M. Barker
Paths on Alumni Lawn near McGill Hall around sunset, as photographed on Nov. 5, 2020.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: I’ve been looking forward to this moment

By Jessica Barker, Former Editor in Chief
May 11, 2022
Dores Divest protest

UPDATED: Chancellor Diermeier’s ties to fossil fuel industry under review after conflict of interest filing

By Jessica Barker, Charlotte Mauger and Rachael Perrotta
Jan 31, 2022
Graduate student protest

Graduate students continue to protest university response to omicron variant

By Brina Ratangee and Jessica Barker
Jan 26, 2022
Grant Bowlds and Lauren Harmon’s campaign advertisement. (Hustler Staff/Rachael Perrotta)

Grant Bowlds and Lauren Harmon emerge as write-in options for VSG presidential election

By Jessica M. Barker and Rachael Perrotta
Mar 22, 2021
image of campaign signs

VSG election voting rescheduled to today at 5 p.m. through Wednesday 9 p.m.

By Jessica Barker, Charlotte Mauger and Rachael Perrotta
Mar 22, 2021
Kirkland Hall during the fall. Photo taken on Oct. 12, 2020. (Hustler Multimedia/Emery Little)

VSG election pushed back a week, campaigning suspended until Monday

By Jessica M. Barker, Immanual John Milton, Jonathan Liu, Charlotte Mauger, Avery Muir and Rachael Perrotta
Mar 19, 2021
Students carried a 14-foot figure of a unicorn to Kirkland Hall on Feb. 23. (Hustler Multimedia / Josh Rehders)

DivestVU, Dores Divest hold an over 30-person protest at Kirkland Hall

By Jessica M. Barker, Justine Del Monte, Immanual John Milton and Avery Muir
Feb 23, 2021
image of sign outside the testing center

COVID-19 testing center has reopened Feb. 21

By Jessica M. Barker, News Editor
Feb 21, 2021
News Editor Jessica Barker sitting in the newsroom doing homework, photographed Jan. 21, 2020. (Hustler Multimedia/Emily Gonçalves)

EDITOR’S MIX: News Editor Jessica M. Barker

By Jessica M. Barker, News Editor
Feb 21, 2021
Chancellor Daniel Diermeier sat down with The Hustler on Feb. 19, 2021 to speak about the snowstorm, the upcoming march and Greek Life at Vanderbilt. Screenshot taken of Zoom. (Hustler Staff/Immanual John Milton)

Debrief with Diermeier: Snowstorms, COVID-19 and what Greek life adds to campus

By Jessica M. Barker, Immanual John Milton and Avery Muir
Feb 20, 2021
Title page of the 1776 Report. Screenshot captured on Jan. 31, 2021. (Screenshot/Jessica M. Barker)

[Photo] Former Vanderbilt political science and law professor Carol Swain serves as Vice Chair for 1776 Commission

By Henry Ridley
Jan 31, 2021
Dores Divest, a student group advocating for divestment from fossil fuels, sent an email to part of the student body impersonating the chancellor on Jan. 25, 2021. Screenshot taken of email. (Hustler Staff/Immanual John Milton)

Dores Divest impersonates chancellor’s email, calls for divestment from fossil fuels

By Jessica M. Barker, Immanual John Milton and Avery Muir
Jan 25, 2021
Path on main campus

2020 in Review: The Year of Headlines

By Jessica M. Barker and Immanual John Milton
Jan 18, 2021
Calhoun Hall on a sunny day, photographed on Sept. 11, 2020. (Hustler Multimedia/Geena Han)

Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy opens with speaker panel

By Jessica M. Barker, News Editor
Jan 12, 2021
Nashville explosion occurs on Christmas Day in 2020. (Metro Nashville Police Department)

Christmas Day explosion in downtown Nashville; ATF, FBI and MNPD investigating

By Jessica M. Barker and Immanual John Milton
Dec 25, 2020
Central Library on Vanderbilt's campus, photographed September 10, 2020. (Alex Venero/Hustler Multimedia)

Administration announces four additional reading days throughout Spring 2021 semester

By Jessica M. Barker, News Editor
Dec 4, 2020
Screenshot of Zoom call captured Nov. 19, 2020. (Screenshot / Immanual John Milton)

Debrief with Diermeier: Destination Vanderbilt, community in the face of COVID-19, football and more

By Jessica M. Barker, Simon Gibbs and Immanual John Milton
Nov 19, 2020
Masked statues are among many visual displays on campus that remind us to “Anchor Down, Step Up.” (Hustler Multimedia/Hunter Long)

Wente sends campus-wide email asking students to ‘stop the spread’

By Jessica M. Barker, News Editor
Oct 23, 2020
Eskind Biomedical Library as photographed on August 29, 2020. (Hustler Multimedia/Truman McDaniel)

Fall semester undergraduate mandatory surveillance testing to end Nov. 10

By Jessica M. Barker and Immanual John Milton
Oct 19, 2020
Blakemore House

An inside look at quarantine both on and off campus

By Jessica M. Barker and Sophie Mize
Sep 17, 2020
Red sculpture outside Student Life Center, photographed on Sept. 10, 2020. (Hustler Multimedia/Alex Venero)

SSO sign-in issue causes Brightspace, Anchorlink crash; Apple Wallet Commodore card also malfunctioning

By Jessica M. Barker, News Editor
Sep 16, 2020
Dining Tent, set up by Vanderbilt administration, on Alumni Lawn on Sept. 6, 2020. (Hustler Staff/Jessica Barker)

[Photo] Dining tents remain underutilized despite university efforts

By Riya Chinni and Matt Mangano
Sep 7, 2020
The Hustler’s News Editor, Jessica M. Barker, as well as the Editor in Chief, Immanual John Milton, Zoom with Vanderbilt’s ninth Chancellor David Diermeier on Sept. 3, 2020. (Hustler Staff/Immanual John Milton)

Debrief with Diermeier: The chancellor speaks about COVID-19, policing and more

By Jessica M. Barker and Immanual John Milton
Sep 5, 2020
image of white dome of wyatt building late in the day. the sky is clear and the leaves on the trees are just starting to turn from green to orange

Mandatory testing to begin Aug. 31 for all undergraduates authorized to be on-campus

By Jessica M. Barker, News Editor
Aug 27, 2020
Whether living on campus or off-campus, Vanderbilt will notify students of instances of non-compliance within the Nashville city limits, as seen from above here. (Hustler Multimedia/Emily Gonçalves)

Students living off-campus notified of COVID-19 public health violations

By Jessica M. Barker and Avery Muir
Aug 21, 2020
These quotes on the side of Zeppos Residential College, shown on Aug. 12, highlight Vanderbilt’s emphasis on learning. This semester, a Brightspace Sandbox Course will serve as a pilot learning exchange program to help students master their courses. (Hustler Multimedia / Hunter Long)

Pilot university test bank to launch next month for select courses

By Jessica M. Barker, News Editor
Aug 20, 2020
Peabody College pictured during the day. (Hustler Multimedia)

Peabody graduate student passes away

By Jessica M. Barker, News Editor
Aug 19, 2020
As students start to move into the new Zeppos Residential College, shown above on Aug. 12, 2020, Chancellor Diermeier and Dean Bandas remind students of the consequences for flouting community COVID-19 guidelines. (Hustler Multimedia/Hunter Long)

‘Anchor down, step up’: Diermeier, Wente and Bandas email students detailing accountability policies, emphasizing personal responsibility

By Jessica M. Barker, News Editor
Aug 19, 2020
Greek Row is home to the ten IFC and ten Panhellenic fraternity and sorority houses. Abolitionists want to see these spaces reallocated for the benefit of the whole Vanderbilt community. (Hustler Staff)

Behind the movement to abolish IFC and Panhellenic chapters

By Jessica M. Barker, News Editor
Jul 20, 2020
Chancellor Daniel Diermeier speaks with The Hustler June 30 via Zoom. (Hustler Staff/Screenshot by Immanual John Milton)

Q&A: Incoming Chancellor Daniel Diermeier speaks to The Hustler about his role as chancellor, student concerns

By Jessica M. Barker and Immanual John Milton
Jul 2, 2020
Plants in one of the Vanderbilt Greenhouses, which were permanently terminated last school year.

[Photo] GUEST EDITORIAL: On the closure of the outdoor recreation center

By Andrew Harwell, Guest Writer
Jun 29, 2020
a group of backpackers walk past a sign that says cottonwood creek

Assistant director of the Outdoor Rec Center terminated, community responds

By Jessica M. Barker, News Editor
Jun 19, 2020
While the city skyline is an exciting marvel to many out-of-state Vanderbilt students, its a landmark of home to Nashville natives. (Former Hustler Multimedia/Emily Gonçalves)

10 changes to your Vanderbilt fall semester

By Jessica M. Barker, Simon Gibbs, Immanual John Milton and Avery Muir
Jun 18, 2020
Sunlight streams through tree in front of Cole hall

Graduate student passes away

By Jessica M. Barker, News Editor
Jun 17, 2020
Vanderbilt's Peabody Campus. (Former Hustler Multimedia/Emily Gonçalves)

What you need to know about Vanderbilt’s fall plan

By Jessica M. Barker and Avery Muir
Jun 16, 2020
Highland quad with the sun streaming in front and a tree

Housing constraints will require that new transfer students live off-campus for the 2020-2021 academic year

By Jessica M. Barker, News Editor
Jun 12, 2020
This photo, from the change.org petition to hold Vanderbilt accountable for racial justice, was designed by rising junior Shivani Sharma, one of over thirty collaborators that developed the petition. This image was circulated with the petition, which was posted to change.org on June 3. (Screenshot from Hold Vanderbilt Accountable for Racial Justice petition on change.org/Jessica Barker)

Students and alumni create petitions calling for further action from Vanderbilt administration regarding racial justice

By Jessica M. Barker, News Editor
Jun 5, 2020
Screenshot of Zoom call with incoming Chancellor Diermier on bottom, Veer Shah with Vanderbilt Zoom background in left top corner, and Bruce Evans in top right corner. Bruce and Diermeier are smiling

Incoming Chancellor Daniel Diermeier addresses Vanderbilt community via Zoom

By Jessica M. Barker, Logan Cromeens and Thomas Hum
Jun 3, 2020
Asian American Student Association and Black Student Association joint statement, Vanderbilt Student Government statement and Association for Latin American Students statements pulled from Instagrams. Black text on white backgrounds with organization logos.

University, faculty and over 40 student groups provide statements of solidarity following the death of George Floyd

By Jessica M. Barker, Thomas Hum, Immanual John Milton and Avery Muir
Jun 3, 2020
The US Supreme Court concluded that the dismantlement of DACA was unconstitutional.

Vanderbilt CSDI Poll finds COVID-19, economic concerns and high approval ratings in Davidson County

By Jessica M. Barker, News Editor
May 21, 2020
Poster of Maymester and Study Abroad poster

Vanderbilt suspends Fall 2020 study abroad

By Jessica M. Barker and Avery Muir
May 15, 2020
Hustler: Jessica M. Barker, Deputy News Editor Name of Pet: Pete Favorite Activity: Rolling in gravel Fun Fact: His nickname is Stinky Pete

[Photo] IN PHOTOS: Hustler Pets

By Emily Gonçalves, Multimedia Director
May 1, 2020
Image of trees and Kirkland Hall from above

Wente announces that no decision has been made regarding fall semester

By Jessica M. Barker and Rachel Friedman
Apr 21, 2020
HOD interns and student teachers Zoom to graduation

HOD interns and student teachers Zoom to graduation

By Jessica M. Barker, Deputy News Editor
Apr 19, 2020
Vanderbilt's student center. (Hustler Multimedia)

Students slam new Vanderbilt summer transfer credit policy

By Jessica M. Barker and Eva Durchholz
Apr 6, 2020
Highland quad with the sun streaming in front and a tree

UPS to be sent into dorms to pack students’ belongings, on-campus students to be consolidated into fewer dorms

By Jessica M. Barker, Deputy News Editor
Mar 26, 2020
Veer Shah and Shun Ahmed high five on campus

Veer Shah and Shun Ahmed win VSG Presidential and Vice Presidential positions for the 2020-2021 school year

By Jessica M. Barker, Deputy News Editor
Mar 25, 2020
Humans have reacquired lost genetic variations from Neanderthals. (Photo / Claire Barnett)

Vanderbilt announces room and board refunds; university invests $1 million in new Student Hardship Fund

By Jessica M. Barker and Rachel Friedman
Mar 20, 2020
Shah/Ahmed and Bauman/Rome tickets advance into general election for VSG President and VP

Shah/Ahmed and Bauman/Rome tickets advance into general election for VSG President and VP

By Jessica M. Barker, Deputy News Editor
Mar 20, 2020
Snowy part of campus

VSG Senate passes resolution requesting Vanderbilt reimburse undergraduates for housing and meal plans

By Jessica M. Barker, Deputy News Editor
Mar 19, 2020
The deserted Amsterdam Airport on March 14. Vanderbilt students all over the world have had to grapple with the impacts of international travel restrictions. (Photo courtesy Isaac Stovall)

Students abroad scramble to book flights following travel restrictions due to COVID-19

By Jessica M. Barker, Eva Durchholz and Immanual John Milton
Mar 18, 2020
Photo of the Stevenson bridge

Meet the four tickets for VSG President and Vice President

By Jessica M. Barker, Emma Mattson and Ryan Suddath
Mar 15, 2020
Vanderbilt's campus as viewed from above

VSG elections pushed back one week due to coronavirus developments

By Jessica M. Barker, Deputy News Editor
Mar 11, 2020
Susan Rice and John Bolton sit with the moderators to discuss issues in leather chairs on top of a rug in Langford Auditorium

‘I just don’t understand using the fact of a pre-clearance process as a fact not to be forthcoming’: former National Security Advisors Susan Rice and John Bolton discuss impeachment testimony, foreign policy and more at Chancellor’s Lecture Series event

By Jessica M. Barker, Deputy News Editor
Feb 20, 2020
Rice sat down for an interview with The Hustler before the CLS event Wednesday.

Q&A: Former National Security Advisor Susan Rice answered questions on presidential pressure, the travel ban and congressional war powers

By Jessica M. Barker and Immanual John Milton
Feb 20, 2020
John Bolton sat down with reporters Feb. 17 prior to his talk with former Obama-era National Security Advisor Susan Rice.

Q&A: Former National Security Advisor John Bolton sits down with The Hustler prior to CLS talk

By Jessica M. Barker and Immanual John Milton
Feb 19, 2020
Poster of Maymester and Study Abroad poster

Vanderbilt limits international study abroad program options for A&S and Peabody students

By Jessica M. Barker, Deputy News Editor
Feb 16, 2020
Buttrick Hall houses a number of A&S departments and a graduate student floor, serving as one of many staple academic spaces on campus.

Vanderbilt takes steps to make graduate programs ‘leaner and meaner’

By Jessica M. Barker and Eva Durchholz
Feb 10, 2020
One of the rooms in the Stevenson Center greenhouse with succulents, hanging plants, and light

VSG forms investigative committee to look into A&S decision-making

By Jessica M. Barker and Eva Durchholz
Feb 7, 2020
Plants hang from ceiling in one room of the greenhouse

Almost all greenhouse plants gone, but Vanderbilt yet to make decision on Stevenson Center 2 architect or construction company

By Jessica M. Barker, Deputy News Editor
Jan 12, 2020
Plants within one of the rooms of the greenhouse

Greenhouse manager eliminated, possibility of greenhouse permanently closing as part of decision to decant Stevenson Center Two

By Jessica M. Barker, Deputy News Editor
Dec 4, 2019
(Photo courtesy Iceberg Theatre Company)

What’s next for student-run Iceberg Theatre Company: ‘Colorado: The Musical’

By Jessica M. Barker, Campus Deputy Editor
Nov 10, 2019
Girl in red dress with jean jacket walks outside the Project Safe Center

Vanderbilt University launches gender harassment portal as an effort to make resources more accessible to students

By Jessica M. Barker, Deputy Campus Editor
Oct 27, 2019
The roof of Commons Center. (Photo by Emily Gonçalves)

First-year students find muddy tap water in Commons residence halls

By Jessica M. Barker and Thomas Hum
Sep 16, 2019
The US Supreme Court concluded that the dismantlement of DACA was unconstitutional.

Vanderbilt students help blaze campaign trails for 2019 Nashville mayoral election

By Jessica M. Barker, Deputy News Editor
Sep 8, 2019