Davidsonian October 26, 2022

Student Journalism

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Professors Emphasize that War in Ukraine Continues

invasion on February 24, 2022.

Onthe evening of October 18, 2022, around 50 people occupied the Davidson College Alvarez Student Union 900 room for a presentation from Dr. Amanda Ewington (Russian Studies) and Dr. Besir Ceka (Political Science) updating the campus on the war in Ukraine.

Since February of 2022, Russia and Ukraine have been engaged in a brutal war. Putin’s belief that Ukraine is part of Russia and his strong resistance to Ukraine’s efforts to join NATO were driving factors behind the initial

Tuesday’s update covered the historical context of the war, how the war has changed since February, and what it may look like in coming months. Kat Andersen ‘25 attended the update and shared, “you should take advantage of events like these because they’re free, and they’re a learning opportunity, and, especially with things that are this important and only take an hour of your day, why not go learn something?”

Ewington opened the event stating that “Russia is the clear aggressor in this war.”

She proceeded to explain that if anyone were to argue differently it would be her, a “Russianist”—someone who has spent her entire life studying and celebrating Russian

history and culture and wishes that Russia’s aggression wasn’t the case.

The event gave listeners important historical context. Ewington explained how Putin has framed this war as a fight between “brothers” as he has long ignored Ukraine’s sovereignty. Russia is bent on making Ukraine a part of Russia, using this narrative as justification. “If Russia stops fighting, there will be peace. If Ukraine stops fighting, there will be no Ukraine,” explained Ewington.

Ewington finished her lecture with some ways to support Ukraine, like using Ukrainian spellings in place of Russian spellings: Kyiv, instead of Kiev. She also referenced the organization Davidson for Ukraine, which she co-organizes with Davidson local Motria

Valeriia Kruzhkova, a first-year international student from Ukraine, shared that she has felt supported on campus, but there is more that Davidson can do.

“I was really glad when I first came to Davidson because I saw a Ukrainian flag next to an American flag. I felt so happy. I would say that I would like to see more events based on the situation. It is really helpful to be updated [. . .] other people, they don’t really know. Updates on the situation would be nice.”

Kruzhkova appreciated the historical context given during the briefing. “It is really difficult to talk about the situation from my

New Endowment Supports Racial Equality and Social Justice

On October 10, Davidson College anounced the donation of the Larry Hardaway ‘76 Endowment for Racial Equity and Social Justice by alumni Wayne and Susan Cunningham Jonas ‘77. Named after Larry Hardaway—a Davidson College football alumnus and the third Black student in the college’s history to join the football team—the endowment was made with the goal of supporting student-led racial and social justice work, specifically through the efforts of the football program’s P.A.C.E. initiative.

Spearheaded by Head Coach Scott Abell and senior cornerback Quentin James ‘23, the P.A.C.E. initiative (which stands for Progress, Advocate, Cooperate, and Educate) was founded in 2020 by members of Davidson’s

football team following the murder of George Floyd. On August 28, 2020, members of the football team held P.A.C.E.’s first official gathering on Chambers Lawn in light of the shooting of Jacob Blake and to commemorate the 57th anniversary of the March On Washington. As freshman cornerback for Davidson’s football team Amare Hill ‘26 explains, “[The P.A.C.E. Initiative] steps out and speaks about [racism] and shows our community that [we don’t stand for it] and we’re with the Black community, [so] basically what P.A.C.E. does is spread Black awareness and Black leadership.”

The P.A.C.E. initiative is especially important at Davidson considering the fact that it is a predominantly white institution (P.W.I.). Though the College was founded in 1837, its first Black students were not accepted until 1964—nearly 130 years later. Larry Hardaway was only the third Black student to join the

football team at Davidson, and beyond this, in 2012, he was also the first Black student to receive the James P. Hendrix award, which is “presented annually to a Davidson football letterman who, by the use of lessons learned on the playing field, has gone on to achieve outstanding success in his chosen profession.”

The recognition and commemoration of Hardaway’s legacy and accomplishments through the Endowment is extremely meaningful to many members of the Davidson community. Not only was he a role model for many Black students at Davidson in the years following his attendance, he also took his leadership roles outside of the Davidson community, making the subject of the Endowment very fitting.

Though Davidson is still a P.W.I. with a student body consisting of nearly 70% white students, the college makes a strong effort to create an inclusive space. Hill agrees that

connecting with various kinds of people at Davidson isn’t a huge problem because “everybody here is very social and open […] and everyone communicates with each other.”

Students from different racial and ethnic backgrounds can also find opportunities to connect through different affinity groups and other organizations such as the Black Student Union (BSU), the Davidson International Association (DASA), and the Organization of Latin American Students (OLAS).

Freshman offensive lineman for Davidson’s football team Kyler Herring ‘26 shared that “coaches are very open to discussion with their players. If the players have something they want done or have something that they feel very strongly about, a lot of times they can approach the coaches and [their coaches will] do anything in their power to give them the platform or the program to be able to speak out about [those] issues.”

What’s in a name? Mattie Baird ‘25 discusses Fagg Field and queer identity

Cameron Clark ‘15 highlights the Sustainability Office’s new space

Matt McKillop steps up to the court: a look into the new head coach of men’s basketball

On conversing: The Yowl teaches a skill Davidson students lack

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KATHERINE MARSHALL ‘26 (SHE/HER) STAFF WRITER

In the 900 Room last Tuesday, students gathered for an update on the war in Ukraine, led by Dr. Amanda Ewington (left above) and Dr. Besir Ceka (left below). Photos by Brigid McCarthy ‘25

Faculty Experts Discuss How to Help Ukraine at Campus Event

perspective, but it is really helpful for other people to talk about the future of Ukraine and Russia and how the relationships are going to be in the future, and it is really important to American and non-Amerian Davidson students to know about the situation.”

Ceka’s lecture focused on the changing nature of the war since February. According to Ceka, Russia has the second largest military in the world, but aid from the west (30 billion dollars from the US alone) coupled with Ukrainian resolve has contributed to a strong defense.

More recently, Russia targeted civilians in terrorist bombings, which has caused immense devastation. The United States may provide more serious weapons to Ukraine to retaliate, but there is fear of escalation to nuclear war. According to Ceka, the threat of nuclear war is the highest it has been since the Cold War, with a 25% rough (very unsure) estimate. There are various deterrents under consideration to prevent Putin’s use of

Russia’s nuclear arsenal; according to Ceka, it comes down to whether or not “Russia can be convinced that the cost of using nuclear weapons is too high.”

The event had an overall somber and urgent tone markedly contrasting an earlier event held by Ewington and others last semester, in February. According to Ewington, the initial briefing had a tone of “sadness, confusion, and shock” compared to the motivation at Tuesday’s update “to learn about the history and cultural context. [...] As I learned afterward from students who wrote to me, they want to take action and help Ukrainian refugees.”

Kruzhkova’s roommate, Yutika Patel ‘26, also attended the event. She shared that she walked up to one of the professors after the event to thank them because she got so much clarity out of the talk. She shared, “It’s so important just to show up for others and, even if you are going to better your knowledge, it’s your presence at these types of events that means a lot.”

Cameron Clark ‘15 Talks Sustainability on Campus

From Freshman Year at School to First Year on the Job, Environmentalism Has Remained a Passion and a Priority

CIMBALLA

(SHE/HER) STAFF WRITER

CameronClark ‘15 eagerly opened the door to Hamilton House, situated on the corner of Concord Road. The welcoming interior of the space was filled with an early afternoon glow. The space is the Sustainability Office’s new home, which just relocated this summer.

Clark explained that the move aligns with the Sustainability Office’s approach. “It allows us to do our work with students in a more impactful way. Our sustainability programming has been student-centric. And I’m excited because I think this space fits that approach,” said Clark. He was excited to see how the new space has enhanced student experiences from sustainability office employees to the Summer Sustainability Scholars program. “To me, what it signals is that sustainability is about not just the operations, but also about students being involved, students leading those efforts and students collaborating around this stuff,” Clark explained.

Before taking on his role as Sustainability Coordinator for Student Programs, Clark was a Davidson student passionate about sustainability.

In high school, Clark initially “resisted” choosing to attend Davidson. His mother graduated from Davidson, and Cameron himself had grown up in the town. Until recently, his parents ran the Davidson Village Inn, which they opened in 1993.

Clark outgrew his resistance, and decided to attend Davidson after being drawn to its liberal arts appeal and academic rigor. Clark graduated with a degree in environmental studies as a member of only the second environmental studies major class at Davidson. Now, he has

chosen Davidson once again, returning to his alma mater to serve in this role.

Passion for the environment has been a common theme in Clark’s life. At Davidson, he was involved in sustainability beginning in his freshman year. “I was an eco rep,” he said. “The idea was we did some field trips, did some training around sustainability and learned about it ourselves. And we were a representative to our freshman hall. And so our job was to host one or two educational events for our freshman hall, put up bulletin board stuff, things like that, but we also got to know other freshmen that were interested in it.” He also participated in the Sustainability Scholars program, and lived in the “eco-house,” known now as the Sustainability Cooperative.

Clark’s vision of sustainability centers on building connections. “I liked working with people I cared about. That was a big part of my upbringing [...] And sustainability connects my concern with the natural world with my concern for people.”

Successes and challenges of sustainability work on Davidson’s campus function on both an institutional and individual level, according to Clark. “One of the challenges is balancing passion and excitement with an understanding that progress takes time and everyone’s priorities are not all the same as yours.”

Clarke highlighted recent advancements made in regards to Davidson’s Climate Action Plan as a positive area of institutional progress. Davidson aims to reduce emissions by 50 percent by 2026.

Since graduating and returning to Davidson seven years later, Clark has noticed a shift in campus sustainability culture. “I am excited to see that it feels like sustainability has become a topic that is being talked about, and students are concerned about all over campus. It doesn’t

feel like a niche topic,” said Clark. He noted sustainability efforts across campus beyond the Sustainability Office, such as the Student Government’s Green Fund Initiative: “The SGA Green Fund. They have worked with our office to push that forward [...] We think students have ideas that we want to support with funding and make it happen,” said Clark.

Clark stressed the importance of continuity and dedication among the student body for sustainability initiatives. Often the short time at Davidson can inhibit student-led clubs and organizations reaching their full potential,

which Clark experienced first hand while at Davidson. He urged students to consider, “How can we make sure that the change that we’re pushing for is lasting?”

Returning to Davidson represents Clark’s dedication ensuring sustainability changes are lasting—from freshman hall “eco rep” to his current position as Sustainability Coordinator for Student Programs, he has remained dedicated to building community with environmental progress at Davidson.

Cameron Clark is the sustainability staff’s newest addition. Photo courtesy Cameron Clark

Professor Ewington gives historical context to the current crisis. Photo credit Brigid McCarthy

make it to Shark Tank

HUSAIN

(SHE/HERS) STAFF WRITER

Lastyear Davidson students saw dozens of Storage Scholars boxes stacked high and lining residential hall corridors. While the move and storage company no longer offers services at Davidson College, it’s left a mark on the move-in, move-out process.

Sam Chason was a freshman at Wake Forest University in 2017 when he began developing Storage Scholars. Storage Scholars is partnered with colleges from around the nation to make the moving process simpler for all students, particularly those who come from afar. In 2018, Chason started work with Wake Forest’s Residence Life and Housing team and established a partnership with co-founder Matt Gronberg. Gronberg, a Wake Forest alumnus, is the company’s current COO. Today, Chason and Gronberg are officially in business with Shark Tank entrepreneur Mark Cuban.

Former co-founder Isaac Caceres ’23 sheds light on Storage Scholars foundations, “When Sam started the company, he pretty much did it from the ground-up. He’s been through and battled all the initial struggles.”

On Season 14 Episode 4 of Shark Tank, Chason and Gronberg marketed Storage Scholars’ competitive edge. The company uses its own custom-built technology to simplify the automation process. This allows them to efficiently manage their databases and clientele. By establishing close connections and trust with college partners, Storage Scholars is able to gain keycard access to residential buildings, which ensures smooth operations.

All four Sharks on the panel listened

intently as the founders pitched their business model. While they got three offers, Chason and Gronberg opted for a deal with Mark Cuban. They were supplied with $250,000 in capital, in exchange for 10% equity.

“The legitimacy and notoriety our business will get from partnering with Mark will really help differentiate us from others in the market and goes to show that we’re serious about what we do,” explained Chason.

It has been a “childhood dream” for Chason to appear on Shark Tank. “It was quite the experience. Audiences only see about ten minutes of the pitch, but we were in there for nearly an hour. I’m really happy with the deal we took,” said Chason.

After negotiating the specifics, the founders believe they achieved the best possible outcome. Even though Mark Cuban has stakes in hundreds of different startups, Storage Scholars receives ample attention, according to Chason. In the future, the company hopes to expand across the United States and potentially internationally.

However, some students at Davidson College believe the company’s services are unaffordable. Davidson international student, Zuber Singh Chawla ’25 claimed he was “distressed” upon looking at the final invoice. Chawla said, “I chose Storage Scholars because I had nowhere to store my belongings over the summer while I went to visit my family in India. I regretted it because it ended up costing me about a thousand dollars.”

Caceres ’23 responded to student financial concerns with the following statement, “It’s not a cheap service because the company puts in a lot of work and effort. As soon as you pack up your belongings, you don’t have to worry about them for a second. Everything gets taken

care of.” Caceres believes the convenience that comes with choosing Storage Scholars is well worth the “pretty penny.”

Chason and Gronberg initially founded their business to help pay off their own student loans. In that vein, they hope to give other students the same opportunity by prioritizing student employment. Geo Echebiri ’23 worked with the team last year and shared his experiences under their employment, “If I could do it again, I would. I got paid well and definitely felt like my work was compensated for. It was also great knowing that I was

helping people in the process.” Over the years, Storage Scholars has paid over $804,000 in student wages.

What audiences may view as ten minutes of reality television is actually much more than that. A deal with a Shark drastically changes Storage Scholars’ prospects. It has already come a long way from 2017, growing from 64 customers to over 7,400. Chason is optimistic about the company’s future and is looking forward to working with a diverse range of colleges.

Hines

Sam Chason (left) and Matt Gronberg (right) on Shark Tank Photo courtesy Christopher Willard/The Business Journals

ARSHI HUSAIN ‘26 (SHE/HER) SGA CORRESPONDENT

On March 28, 2022, Davidson College announced the next step of its “Athletics Done Right: The Next Step” project: the Coach Dave Fagg Field, named for Coach David J. Fagg ’58. The field was named after Coach Fagg ’58 because his “big brother” from Phi Gamma Delta social fraternity, Peter Andrews ’59, donated $5 million to the College to go toward its new stadium and fieldhouse project. In early 2022, in interviews with representatives of the College, Andrews said, “To me, [Coach Fagg] represents all the good in Davidson there is. He has devoted his life to the college. Really, this was a no-brainer.” Many members of the Davidson athletic community are very excited about the opportunity to honor Coach Fagg.

Meanwhile, there has also been significant pushback from students and community members in response to the naming.

Lucy Helene ’25 (they/she), a non-athlete queer student on campus, wrote to members of the administration on March 28. According to Helene, their main concern was (and remains) the potential negative impact that this naming will have on

field and its impact. The presentation followed by an open conversation between participants and panelists was led by Professor Patricio Boyer, Athletic Director Chris Clunie ‘06, and scholar-athlete Bryce Anthony ‘23.

As the conversation progressed, students, faculty and staff, and community members shared their perspectives by asking questions of the panel. One community member’s question centered around the idea that the name of this field will be permanently engraved into the lives of the Davidson community and its visitors, both figuratively and literally, for years ahead. There was a lot of conversation earlier on in the event about how the College could do community-based work with students, faculty and staff, community members, and administrators, to address the history of the f-slur and affirm its ‘support’ for the LGBTQIA+ community. However, this community member’s concern centered around the idea that visitors to our campus will see the name of the field and most likely will be unaware of the aforementioned work that Davidson would be doing. Director Clunie responded that this project is an “opportunity for Davidson to lead,” and change the connotation that this word has in our community. He also

their perspective… “Oftentimes, with student activist movements, [the administration says they want to] have a collaborative environment and hear [student] voices and work it out together.” They continue: “What often ends up happening is endless conversations of student-led activism until the movement burns out. In the end, administrators often fail to act on the conversations that have already occurred.” While creating space for concerns to be voiced is important, members of the administration must realize that tangible change, like changing the name of the field, is what our community needs.

Another issue that came up both during and after the event was the turnout of scholar-athletes… while Director Clunie wrote a short email inviting them to the event 8 days before the event, no scholar-athletes were in attendance besides Bryce Anthony ’23 (he/him), who co-facilitated the event. In reflecting on the lack of demonstrated interest in this issue by our community, Jane Berick ’23 (she/her) reflects, “I would like to see athletes, especially non-LGBTQIA+ people, caring about this.” The lack of scholar-athlete attendance at the event was disappointing to many, and points to the broader issue of the intolerant and often homophobic culture within the athletic community at Davidson.

According to Director Clunie, “There would be a long, formal process involved with changing the name.” There is already a formal agreement in place between the donor and Davidson regarding the name. The College again demonstrates how despite their stated commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion, student well-being is not their number one priority when it may result in the loss of a $5 million donation.

LGBTQIA+ identifying students. They say that the stadium being named after Coach Fagg will give non-LGBTQIA+ students an excuse to use the f-slur in regular conversation.

Moreover, Vee Mellberg ’25 (they/them) made a powerful comment while reflecting on what other folks have been saying regarding the name… “It’s not a matter of if people are going to use the naming as an excuse to say this word… they already have.” Mellberg makes an important observation: the anxiety of many LGBTQIA+ folks surrounding this naming is not rooted in hypotheticals; it is based on real, lived experiences of discrimination that have been faced by members of the Davidson community already.

In response to the significant amount of student criticism in response to the naming, Professor Melissa González, Acting Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, organized ‘“What’s in a Name?,” a conversation about the name of the

cited a lot of the work that Davidson has done in the last 1020 years to make Davidson a more inclusive place: “We’ve become more inclusive, diverse, and equitable…” I responded to the panel saying that this naming seems to go in the opposite direction of a lot of the progress that has been made in the last few years.

Director Clunie responded, saying that he and members of Davidson’s administration would welcome folks to come to them to help figure out what makes the most sense. He also emphasized that he and his department are doing the best they can to balance all of the different perspectives that the community brings to the naming of this field: honoring the legacy of Coach Fagg and listening to and validating the experiences of LGBTQIA+ students.

During the event, Rachel Gronberg ’23 (she/they) shared

In conclusion, despite who seems to hold power at our institution, I urge students to continue voicing their concerns about this issue to members of administration, other students, and the community at large as they have the capacity to do so. As far as the next step for individuals in positions of power at Davidson, Gronberg would encourage you to “think very critically about the messages you’ve already received from students, because we’ve been saying the same thing for months.” I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Mattie Baird (she/they) is a Gender & Sexuality Studies and Hispanic Studies double major from Sudbury, MA and Greensboro, NC. Mattie can be reached for comment at mabaird@davidson.edu.

Taylor Swift is a MF Queen, @misogynists

From her 2010s country era to her most recent release, Midnights, Taylor Swift’s music has been notorious for her bold confrontation of relationship dynamics. Songs like the 10-minute version of “All Too Well,” for instance, have especially been criticized for being “unnecessary,” “overdramatic,” and “boy-obsessed.” I remember this time last year sitting around the breakfast table with a group of friends the weekend after the release of Red (Taylor’s Version). Several men at the table were quick to dismiss the album, making comments like “all she ever writes about is her exes, ruining their lives for no reason” and “was releasing this album once not enough? She needs so much attention.” Yes, many of her pieces have centered her emotions and past relationships, but it was unsettling to me how quickly my peers decided to write her off for that very reason. I think this response to Taylor Swift and female artists in general is a reflection of society’s internalized misogyny and the stigmatization of emotional expression. First of all, Taylor discussed her reasons for recording Red (Taylor’s Version) last year

on Late Night with Seth Meyers: “I made it very clear that I wanted to be able to buy my music. That opportunity was not given to me, and it was sold to somebody else. And so I just figured, I was the one who made this music first. I can just make it again.” I would wholeheartedly argue that re-recording her album to reclaim her songs was an act of empowerment, not attention-seeking or selfish. The truth is that not many listeners understand who exactly they’re supporting in listening to the old versions of Taylor’s newly recorded songs. After spending copious amounts of time and effort perfecting her art, it’s perfectly reasonable that she would want official ownership of her work. She has also had to publicly confront the (sexist) accusations that she doesn’t write her own music in several interviews. Female artists face enough sexism in the industry, and I think it’s time that we become more conscious listeners and begin looking to understand before we mindlessly criticize.

In response to claims of Taylor’s music being too focused on heartbreak, I would argue that it’s a misogynistic inclination to want to demean women for expressing their emotions—especially when relationships are a universal experience. I can name several male artists who have also written primarily

about their relationships and break-ups, but none have received criticism anywhere near the extent that female artists have. Art in all forms tends to center self-expression. Why then, has Taylor’s music specifically attracted so much criticism? It’s one thing to not enjoy her genre or style, but disliking her solely for the relational focus of her songs is another thing entirely. It’s also important to note that the release of these songs is not about the exboyfriends that Taylor Swift has written about. In the same Late Night with Seth Meyers interview, Taylor was prompted to think about the subjects of her songs. In response, she grinned and said “I haven’t thought about their experience, to be honest.” Her songs were never about vengeance against her exlovers, but rather, an outlet for her story and a platform for self-expression. Much of the criticism against her songs’ focus on breakups is attached to a deep-seated discomfort with emotional expression. Ultimately, the broader issue is not Taylor’s form of artistic

expression, but society’s feminization and stigmatization of emotion.

With all of that said, I hope that going forward we can think more critically about what message Taylor’s work is actually sending. Rather than immediately dismissing her for her emotional expression, we should recognize her unashamed authenticity as the art form that it is. As her new album Midnights explores themes of romance, heartbreak, and self-acceptance, I hope we can find something to take away from it that is rooted in empowerment rather than judgment or hate.

Samantha Ewing (she/her) is an English major and Communication Studies minor from Atlanta, GA. Samantha can be reached for comment at saewing@davidson.edu

“While creating space for concerns to be voiced is important, members of the administration must realize that tangible change, like changing the name of the field, is what our community needs.”

It’s one thing to not enjoy her genre or style, but disliking her solely for the relational focus of her songs is another thing entirely.

We Must Rename Fagg Field!

Matt McKillop Takes On New Challenge

First-Year Head Coach Steps into Father’s Shoes

ANDREW ELKADI ‘23 (HE/HIM)

CO-EDITOR

When the Davidson Men’s Basketball team runs onto the court in two weeks to begin their 2022-23 season, there will be a familiar face in a new role patrolling the sideline in front of the Wildcat bench. Matt McKillop ‘06 succeeded his father, Bob, and became the 19th head coach in program history over the summer, following years of involvement in many of the program’s operations as an assistant coach and as associate head coach. “I had a very good upbringing to be prepared for [the promotion], in my opinion, so there were a lot of luxuries I had that many new head coaches don’t have … My new office was 20 feet down the hallway, I had familiarity with all players, we had a staff that was intact, and certainly [I had] an understanding of what the Atlantic-10 is and what it takes to win that league,” McKillop spoke about his transition to Head Coach. He also added that he has felt the increased responsibility of his new position already, “there is a level of leadership that I was given and a responsibility that I’ve been given, it feels a lot different when there’s a decision made and it’s all on you.”

The departure of key scorers Luka Brajkovic, Hyunjung Lee, and Michael Jones from last year’s squad means that the progression of returning players is key to the team’s success.

Sam Mennenga ‘24, Des Watson ‘25, and Grant Huffman ‘24 all played considerable minutes for a championship team last year, and McKillop is prepared to call on them even more this season. “I think their minutes will certainly increase, and if they continue to do the right things, I think offensive production

will be the result of that,” McKillop said. With last year’s Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Luka Brajkovic gone, McKillop expects a different feel to the offense, with more versatile forwards who can play on the perimeter. McKillop additionally expressed excitement about the group of fresh faces on this year’s team, “we also have a lot of freshmen and two transfers that can fill some of the void that our graduating seniors from last year left behind.”

The return of the Wildcats’ point guard, Foster Loyer ‘24, is a big source of comfort for Matt McKillop as the season approaches. McKillop recalls that on the day of his promotion, he stressed to Loyer the importance of his role as a player-coach. McKillop raved, “[Foster] is brilliant on the basketball court, and when the ball is in his hands something good will typically happen because he plays at his own pace, he controls the game the way he chooses to control it, and he’s so intelligent and such a good decision maker.” Loyer, as well as Huffman and Mennenga, will serve as team captains this season. Connor Kochera ‘25, a transfer from William and Mary, has also become a vocal leader in the locker room prior to the season’s start and McKillop expects him to become a key offensive contributor.

McKillop expanded on what he’s seen from some of the other new arrivals: “I think Sean Logan [‘26] could be one of the best shot blockers in our history. I think Reid Bailey [‘26] could be one of the most versatile frontcourt players that we’ve had in a very long time. I think David Skogman [‘25] is tough, physical, smart, and plays a style that is exactly what we want from a player at his position. And then we have Achile Spadone [‘26], who can maybe be considered an afterthought because he wasn’t highly recruited, but he’s

Photo Gallery:

really made an impact on our team, and he’s shown that he’s going to be in our rotation and play for us.” Hoping for a deeper rotation than the ‘Cats deployed last season, McKillop envisions that there “are seven guys that can start for us … And maybe there’s an eighth or ninth guy that could be ready to start at some point this year with continued improvement and development.”

Coach McKillop is eager for the season to begin: “These next few weeks, we’re going to have some competitions, and we’re going to have some chances to see what our program is made of.” He’s not sure exactly how he will feel when he steps on the court named after his father as head coach, but he noted that “what’s

special is I know so many people around this campus and around this community that it has felt very natural already. You know, I walk around town and I see the people that I’ve known for fifteen, twenty years that have been involved with our program and nothing seems very different.” He is excited for the challenge of running the Wildcat program and coming into his own as head coach, noting that “I’m not trying to be my father in many ways. I want to emulate what he did in terms of how he ran a program and how he was successful doing it, but I’m going to do it with my own voice and in the way that I feel is right, which is being genuine to myself.”

Week for Davidson Athletics

Jonathan Hammond ‘24 was named Pioneer League Defensive Player of the Week after recording 5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks in Davidson’s 48-14 win at Drake last Saturday.

Photo courtesy Davidson Athletics

Tim Cowie,

Members of the Women’s soccer team celebrate a goal in a 1-1 draw against Richmond on October 20th. The ‘Cats open up A10 tournament play against Duquesne at home on Friday. Photo courtesy Tim Cowie, DavidsonPhotos.com

Alex Heffner ‘24 (-4) was the ‘Cats lowest finisher at the 2022 Furman Intercollegiate, where Davidson finished tied for second as a team over the weekend. Photo courtesy Davidson Athletics

Arts and Culture

Noah

Though Davidson College is far from Noah Kahan’s Vermont hometown, the New England nostalgia he evokes in Stick Season still feels familiar. The album was released on October 14, and it grapples beautifully with the bittersweet complexity of hometown memories and the people who have shaped us.

Liminality grounds the entire album, and it has roots in Kahan’s Vermont upbringing. As he explained in an interview with Insider, New England stick season “is the time between peak foliage and Halloween and the first snow— when all the leaves are off the trees. It’s a time of transition.” However, Kahan avoids romanticizing this period of ambiguity, even calling stick season “super depressing.” The album interweaves similar vulnerability, and in doing so, it sounds incredibly comforting.

“Northern Attitude” is first on the tracklist, and it anchors the rest of Stick Season. By reflecting on how his hometown has shaped him, Kahan hints at the album’s nostalgic feel and raises questions about how our pasts intersect with our present. More specifically, Kahan blames his imperfections on his upbringing and apologizes for his “northern attitude.” Yet he does not attempt to change himself; rather, he recognizes New England’s harshness as an indelible piece of his story.

Other songs incorporate this bittersweet retrospection, including “New Perspective” and “The View Between Villages.” However, the connection feels clearest in “Homesick.” Kahan even sings “I’m mean because I grew up in New England,” directly linking to “Northern Attitude.” He also references his hometown’s insularity, saying that he has

grown “tired of dirt roads named after high school friends’ grandfathers.” But despite these imperfections, he plans to “die in the house that [he] grew up in.” Nostalgia pulls him to his hometown, even at the expense of his dreams.

Kahan references mental health throughout the album, but this theme is clearest in “Orange Juice” and “Growing Sideways.”

“Orange Juice” tells the story of a recovering alcoholic, creating a beautifully sensitive song. In “Growing Sideways,” Kahan touches on his experience in therapy and even sings about forgetting his medication: “If my engine works perfect on empty, I guess I’ll drive.” These lyrics are both gorgeous and vulnerable, allowing listeners to connect with Kahan’s struggles and process their own experience. They also add meaningful depth to the album by destigmatizing conversations about mental health.

Several songs explore the weight of lost love. One line from “Stick Season,” the album’s first single, is especially painful: “You once called me ‘forever,’ now you still can’t call me back.” This heartbreak was destructive and even split Kahan “in half.” “Halloween” feels similar, suggesting that an old love still “knows how to haunt” him.

“Still” and “Strawberry Wine” also discuss heartbreak, but unlike the prior two songs, they focus on the difficulty of letting go.

Kahan puts it simply in “Still”: “I don’t want to say goodbye.” This lyric echoes throughout the chorus and is charged with emotion. “Strawberry Wine” is similarly bittersweet. Kahan reflects on “strawberry wine and all the time we used to have, those things I miss but know are never coming back.” He knows that

the relationship is over, yet still struggles to let go.

Though challenge colors much of the album, two songs remain upbeat. Kahan focuses on an old love interest in “All My Love,” singing “I know your name but not who you are” and suggesting distance between the two. Yet despite their separation, he still cares for this person and insists that “there ain’t a drop of bad blood.” Though the relationship has faded, their love never will. “Everywhere, Everything” seems to reference the same relationship, and it sounds equally sweet. These two songs have a different feel than the rest of the album; however, they reflect on our enduring relationship to our past and connect to Stick Season’s larger themes.

“Come Over” and “She Calls Me Back” address love too, but suggest a persistent fear of insufficiency. This theme is particularly evident in “Come Over,” where Kahan apologizes for his “sad house on Balch Street” and his family’s financial instability. He even reminds his love interest that they “don’t have to tell the other kids at school” about their relationship, further emphasizing his shame. Sadly, his efforts are unsuccessful: “I’m in the business of losing your interest and I turn a profit each time we speak.” Though he insists that he will eventually “be somebody people want,” he does not believe that he is deserving just as he is.

“The View Between Villages” is Stick Season’s final track, and it concludes the album beautifully. Kahan juxtaposes our romanticization of our past with its difficult actuality and creates gorgeous liminality. At first, he reflects on seventeen through a rosy lens, singing “there is meaning on earth” and

that he has “dreams again.” Yet this happiness falls apart when he remembers “the things that I lost”; everything washes back over him and he becomes “angry again.” This pain ends the album on a bittersweet note and speaks to the complexity of memory.

Stick season might not have arrived in Davidson quite yet, but Noah Kahan’s newest release is still meaningful. By reflecting on challenging themes with intense vulnerability, Kahan reassures listeners that they are not alone in any struggle. This warmth is both comforting and grounding, so Stick Season is a valuable addition to anyone’s fall soundtrack.

Madeline Richard ‘26 (she/her) is an English major from Baltimore, MD. She can be reached for comment at marichard@davidson.edu.

Noah Kahan in Stick Season album cover. Photo courtesy noahkahan.com

MADELINE RICHARD

Bimal

Living Davidson

Pick some favorites to find out what Midnights songs you should listen to

Happy Taylor Swift release week to all who celebrate, and to those who don’t—you should. You can start by taking this quiz.

Pick a favorite study spot.

A - Your dorm room (I’m gonna be honest, you scare me a bit).

B - Base Libs...and on a completely unrelated note, are you doing OK?

C - Wall—something about the sterile environment comforts you.

D - Nummit. You may be almost completely out of dining dollars, but you are thriving.

Pick a favorite highlighter color.

A - Pink.

B - The classic yellow.

C - Blue. It may bleed through but it makes YOU happy and that’s the most important thing.

D - All of the above. You live for the aesthetic.

Mostly A’s: Lavender Haze & Bejeweled

Two fun, vibey songs for a fun, vibey person. For previous Taylor fans — get ready for some intense Lover flashbacks.

Pick a Commons meal that you get unreasonably excited for.

A - Custom Pasta

B - Chicken Parmesan

C - Just a burger is enough for you.

D - Anything from the Herbs and Spices station.

Pick a favorite niche Netflix original TV show.

A - Heartstopper

B - Shadow and Bone

C - Peaky Blinders

D - The Great British Baking Show

Pick a favorite White Boy of the Month.

A - Logan Lerman (wow…taste.)

B - Dylan O’Brien

C - You literally have no clue what a white boy of the month is?

D - Timothee Chalamet, forever and always.

And for your last random favorite, pick a favorite form of caffeine.

A - A nice herbal tea/matcha.

B - Some sort of energy drink that is definitely destroying your organs.

C - You actually don’t consume caffeine (Teach me your ways!! Please, I am begging.)

D - Any sort of iced coffee, no matter how cold it is outside.

Mostly B’s: Mastermind & Anti-Hero

Prepare to be psycho-analyzed. No, really, you’re about to feel so attacked. But it will be a good listening experience none theless!

Food Review: Alino Pizzeria

I feel that when it comes to recommending local restaurants, we often use phrases like “must have” or “the best around’’ with much frivolity. That’s why it takes a lot for me to say that Alino Pizzeria is a must have and is quite possibly the best pizzeria in the greater Davidson area. Alino has been serving up neapolitan, New-Havenesque pies for over a decade now, and they’ve got it down to a science. With a thin, oblong crust, tasteful charing all around, sparing use of melting cheeses, and only the finest quality imported toppings, Alino has achieved a perfect pie. It’s drier, more thin and flavorcompact than your typical NY slice. This keeps things light, neat, and above all: tasty. But it’s an ignorant man who judges a pizzeria solely by its product. Pizza is an art form, and like any good art, it is meant to be experienced inside a specific atmosphere. When one closes and locks the car door in

the lot alongside Alino, they are immediately greeted with the welcoming sight of outdoor seating in the form of long tables nestled within a beautiful garden. A step inside and the lucky customer is slapped in the face with the nearly orgasmic scent that only comes from a sizzling pizza. Hanging from the rafters: a fleet of Italian city flags and soccer jerseys dangling above more long wooden tables and interestingly: bench seating. This last detail implies the necessity of kinship that is the secret ingredient behind any Alino Pizza.

My advice to readers: sequester your closest friends here at Davidson: a roommate, a couple of visiting parents, maybe a whole hall. Go for a hike; note the fall foliage. Then, head on over to Alinos. Relax, laugh, tell stories, sip wine, and eat near biblical quantities of pizza. You won’t regret it.

Mostly C’s: You’re On Your Own, Kid & Labyrinth

maybe keep some tissues nearby for this one.

Mostly D’s: Maroon & Karma

Listen to Maroon and get really mad at that one situationship, then listen to Karma and remember that everyone gets what they deserve.

DAVID SOWINSKI (HE/THEY) ‘25 & ANAYA PATEL (ANY PRONOUNS) ‘25

Spooky season is in full swing! Thus arrives the exhilaratingly stressful task of choosing who to be for a few hours of sugar-induced shenanigans (sugar substitutes optional). In preparation for the occasion, we have compiled a brief list of the costumes we look forward to seeing this Halloweekend. Don’t let us down.

If you haven’t heard of House of the Dragon star Emma D’Arcy and their agonizingly sultry recitation of their favorite drink, you can only be straight or chronically offline. A pink ensemble and imitation of D’Arcy’s “Negroni Sbagliato, with Prosecco in it” is sure to steal the night. Extra credit if you convince a partner to dress up as the stunning *wink* Olivia Cooke.

In honor of Stranger Things 4 finally being released and the subsequent Will-Byers-isgay craze that swept the Internet, we would love to see a few bowl cuts and short shorts. This is also an opportunity to live out your Byler fantasy, because you’ll never see it onscreen.

To mark JoJo Siwa’s entrance into the TikTok Lesbian Hall of Fame, we hope to see some rainbow hightops, neon skirts, and glitter—a lot of glitter. If you’re feeling particularly old school, we’d recommend JoJo in her Dance Moms era with a classic high pony and sparkly bow.

Also making a come-back is A League of Their Own. With the reboot TV series bringing a fresh and excitingly diverse cast to the screen, dressing up as a WWII-era baseball player is once again in. Whether in Max’s classic baseball cap and knee high socks or the Rockford Peaches pink uniform, just remember: there’s no crying in baseball.

Of course, we’d love to see some classic queer characters. From mixing shades of pink with But I’m a Cheerleader to dawning David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust lightning bolt, we hope you enjoy the season in all its camp glory. However, if we see anyone dressed as Jeffrey Dahmer, it’s on sight. Happy Halloween!

Swifties Now to Only Tell Time in Relation to Midnight

Page Nevermore

Yowl

Irreverent student journalism since 2004. Castigat Ridendo Mores.

Fall Break a Mere Fever Dream of the Past as Professors Start Men tioning Final Projects

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Job Hacks: Start Self-Identifying as White Christian Man to Get Your Foot in the Door Page Career Fair

Missed Opportunity at Fall Fling

Fall Fling: what a success it was! Throngs of students were present and dancing (but only from 11:30pm to midnight, ninety minutes after its beginning and an hour before its finish); the fried pickles, pretzels, and caramel apples were major hits (but noth ing will ever compare to the Crumble cookies of Fall Fling 2021); and the typical sweaty, nasty atmosphere of a Davidson apartment party did not hang stale in the air (probably because it was cold and outdoors, never a good combination for the thin party dresses that can feel oppressively obligatory for this sort of bash). So overall, it was a good time. Good job, Union Board.

Except, my loyal Yowlers, for the naming controversy last week in the days leading up to Saturday night that nearly disrupted the entire event. I accosted a Union Board member out side Davis Café during my delightful (READ: ‘hungover’ What? We can’t all be sober saints!) morning after, asking her about the rumors fly ing from first-year ear to first-year ear about what went down Friday afternoon. Unnamed member responded, “No comment except that I’m tired of talking about it. And also, you look and smell like you need a Gatorade and a show er.” Which I did, but that was irrelevant.

Here’s what happened: An unnamed firstyear (of course it was a first-year) emailed Union Board at 2:30am Friday morning. A source of mine at Union Board was a bit tip sy on Saturday night when I taped a wire to my chest to get his unedited opinion of the controversy. (I would give anything, cross any boundary, break any privacy law in the name of the true and just news, dear Yowlers. Anything for you!) This is what my source said about the email: “Bro, it was absolute gibberish. She must have been on shrooms when she wrote this thing. There was s**t about monkeys ripping out her

hair and bugs crawling under her toenails. But she basically said that she wanted Fall Fling to be rebranded as the ‘FALL BALL.’” And holy heck Yowlers, is that not a better name? Screw alliteration when you can have a rhyme. And you know what I say? Screw the name Frolics! Let’s call it ‘SPRING FLING’ instead!

JK, JK. That little tirade was all for the bit. I personally prefer Fall Fling and Frolics. Nev ertheless, when the email was leaked to all of Union Board beyond just those high-ranked of ficers with privileged access, swift and sudden grass-roots support for the name change ex ploded. Union Board had a crisis. Posters had already been printed; word-of-mouth news al ready spread; fried pickles already bought and paid for before delivery! Thankfully, through the steady leadership of Union Board, the title Fall Fling won the day. But only after a serious of last-minute meetings and discussions and coin tosses, did Davidson students’ beloved moniker for the singular major official party of the Fall Semester survive.

And aren’t we all glad that it did? Long live Fall Fling! Long live Union Board! And long live fried pickles!

Dougie’s Search His tory Leaked: “Lorax” + “Resurrection,” “PR Team in CLT Area”

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How to Fill the Rings on Your Apple Watch By Going on Yet Another Depression Walk

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A Guide to Conversations

While for most, Davidson’s small communi ty may be a blessing, con stantly running into those you know and striking up chit chat along the way, for me it is a constant re minder of how incapable I am at having conversa tions. Anyone who knows me knows I’m consistently awkward and greatly lack social fortitude. But I have a hunch I’m not alone. Which is why I’ve been conducting meticulous research, observing even the most casual of con versations to compile this list on how to successfully converse.

1. Begin with a greeting. Most people give a sim ple “hello,” but I’d warn against this. First impres sions are very important so it’s good to choose a greet ing strongly representative of your personality. For example, if you’re politi cally inclined, “Greetings, fellow citizen,” should be good, as it is appropriately vague (you never specified where they’re citizens), potentially controversial (there are some commie vibes here), and has a tinge of wokeness (gender neutrality for the win).

2. Say something funny. Being a Yowl correspon dent has hardened me into only enjoying dark, hope less commentary on so ciety. Perhaps that’s your new one liner. Whenever someone says something you don’t know how to re act to, go, “society amir ite?”

3. Match your audience. Maybe the person you’re trying to strike up a con versation with is a dude bro mindlessly swiping Tinder. Immediately di vulge your sexual pref erences. Personally, I’m attracted to worldly wom en. She’s intelligent, but not an intellectual. She’s opinionated, but only shares my opinions. She’s also traditional. She’s never on her phone, is likely to die from scarlet fever, and was probably last seen around the turn of the century.

4. Fall back on the weath er. Not only is it some thing everyone can relate to, but it’s also a great time to bring up your re gional background and passionately explain why where you’re from is so much better than here even though you moved cross country to find your self.

5. If worst comes to worst, excuse yourself. Take a good, long look at your nonexistent wristwatch and say you have a prior commitment. If asked for a follow up, say it’s your bedtime. C’mon, we’re college students. Maybe you pulled an all night er and really need to get some shut eye. Maybe your spirit animal is an old, crotchety dog and you need a good nap to rest your weary soul. Bedtime is never a bad idea.

Opportunities for Making a Real Change in the Davidson Community

Hot on the heels of a grueling week of midterms, PCC organization mem bers are reminded they need to con tribute to the community in other ways than hosting outdoor parties in 30 degree weather, playing “Somebody Told Me” ad nauseum, and making the bottom of every shoe per petually sticky. Volunteer opportunities are plentiful, but some of them require real work and time commitment. Luckily, the Yowl’s critical thinking department has compiled a few alternative volunteer opportunities for those in need of hours.

1. Take random photos of people. Log hours with the NSA by capturing each and every stu dent’s portrait. Bonus points for posting them on social media so the NSA’s civilian counter part, Facebook has access to them too.

2. Swab your cheeks for an hour while donat ing bone marrow. Knock out two birds with one stone by supporting a great organization and getting a singular volunteer hour. While they only require thirty seconds of swabbing per side, go the extra mile and swab for an en tire hour to make sure they have a great sam ple of DNA.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

3. Go to French Cafe but only reference Rata touille. If there’s anything French people love, it’s culture. Prove yourself to them by inces santly referencing the beautiful human-rat relationship captured on screen as the epito me of French culture. The Frenchies will be undoubtedly grateful for your service and re membrance.

We here at the Yowl hope that these ideas can get you thinking about the ways in which you can have a positive impact on your communi ty. We’re all in this together, Wildcats!

Hollywood: Pay Attention

With Halloween around the corner, I’m sure many of you have been watching scary movies to get in the mood.

Larsky Laaaarsky M. Shack

“Be able to occasionally lift up to 30 lbs.”

Charlotte Country Day School website, requirement for applying to be a subsitute teacher

Let me tell you, if Hollywood had a glimpse into my sub conscious, there would be a million-dollor horror-film deal immediately ready to go. I’m talking about nightmares, baby. Talk about jump scares! Somehow, even though it’s just my own brain, I never expect the serial killer to be just around the corner in the house even though I am the one who put him there. Wild! I’m going to monetize this asset for sure.

Note: The Yowl is a satirical supplement to The Davidsonian

Hence, nothing in it should be taken as truth.