Okay, it’s been quite a while since I’ve posted on here.  There are many things that have been happening and floating through my mind these days, the two items that have been preoccupying my mind have been grad school and the “non-discrimination/all-comers” clause at Vanderbilt (my alma mater).

Grad School:

It’s been a tough year and I’m slowly figuring out how to proceed forward and hopefully move onto my third year and propose a thesis project.  However there have been some hard hits that I took over this past year.  I won’t get into the details, but it’s given me some serious things to think about.  Questions like “Is science is what I really want to be doing?” have gone through my head, and it’s terrifying to see these thoughts go through my mind.  I’ve had to search for the original spark that brought me to science deep within myself.  I can only hope that I not only find traces and hints of this spark, but find a shard that I can hold onto for future bouts of questioning.

Vandy Happenings:

This past year has been a source of worry on the back of my mind leeching hope and focus.  Here’s a brief run-down of the whole situation: Vanderbilt University has begun to enforce a recently edited non-discrimination clause on student organizations with the intent to allow all students to not only be involved with any group but also give all members involved the opportunity to run for leadership.  It sounds great, except that this interpretation is being used to bar groups with “discriminatory” language in their constitutions, the biggest example being multiple christian organizations (including the fellowship I was actively involved in).  It’s disheartening to see this change in events because I really do treasure my time at Vanderbilt, but I cannot give my support while this is happening.

For further reading, check out the following links:

Intervarsity at Vanderbilt – A series of posts by IVCF staff in the Nashville area addressing the whole situation.
Reverend Gomes and Religious Freedom – An editorial written that references a similar case where a “non-discrimination” clause was almost enforced in a discriminatory manner.
Staff’s View of Christian Group Backward –  The article referenced by the previous link.  Note, this is in regards to a situation in 2003 that took place at Harvard (a university that many other universities aspire to emulate).

Okay, time to get back to housework.  Hopefully I’ll have something positive to post the next time I get back.