2015 11 18 the davidsonian

the davidsonian

NOVEMBER 18, 2015 VOL. 108 ISSUE 10

The Independent Student Newspaper of Davidson College since 1914

Students lead solidarity demonstration

Inside NEWS Harry L. Vance Athletic Center opens 2 College releases summary of sexual misconduct reports 2 LIVING DAVIDSON PAGE 8 Exhibit by Kent Williams displayed in the VAC 4 PERSPECTIVES Fabian Lara discusses reality of students of color on campus 5 An open letter to black students at Mizzou 5

Davidson students link arms during a demonstration in solidarity with University of Missouri activists. Photo by Shea Parikh.

MARY CLICK Co-News Editor An estimated 250 Davidson students, faculty, administrators and staff circled the flagpole on Thursday during Common Hour in solidarity with student-activists around the country marking a National Day of Action.

“I’m proud of our community,” said Rashaad Phillips ’16, who, alongside Fabian Lara ’16, planned Davidson’s gathering against the marginalization of students of color at America’s predominantly white institutions.

He and Lara were responding to a call to action made by Ravyn Brooks, a student at Missouri State University, last Monday, a week after protests led to former University of Missouri President Tim Wolfe’s resignation. Mizzou student-activists had accused Wolfe of neglecting to address students’ concerns about racism on campus.

“This is not only happening at the University of Missouri, but these same problems are happening at Davidson College,” Phillips said, noting that he was pleased with the turnout.

The demonstrators formed a large circle outside Chambers, linking arms while students in the center led songs and chants such as “This is what America looks like” and “No justice, no peace.”

Between chants, students gave short speeches and personal testimonies.

Joi Stevens ’18 recounted being followed by a police officer while driving with friends to a fastfood restaurant. Many in the circle were audibly moved as she spoke of calling her mother in case anything happened to her.

“Picking which story to tell was the most difficult, because I have so many stories about race from Davidson,” she said.

She felt the story she chose reflected a common experience. “The first thing my mother told me when I was learning how to drive was that if I was ever to be pulled over at night, to go to a well lit and populated area, only crack my window, and ask for another cop to come as backup,” Stevens said.

Although she said she was nervous about sharing, she is now glad she spoke. “Everyone has to know the daily struggles of people of color, and they can’t ignore them anymore.”

Student Government Association President Pablo Zevallos ’16 spoke about the exhaustion that stems from underrepresentation and prejudice. “I’m tired because whenever I see an injustice on this campus or elsewhere, I feel like I have to suppress my anger because I don’t want to be perceived as dangerous or as a threat.”

He defended his choice to support the event in a Wednesday night email to the student body, claiming, “Neutrality in the face of inequality does not exist.”

Shuyu Cao ’16 participated in the demonstration by reading aloud racist Yik Yaks from the Davidson area. She said the demonstration was unique because it gave students of color a chance to be heard.

“This event provided an hour that focused on people of color and allowed us to speak without limitation,” Cao said. “There are very few events on campus that provide spaces like that.”

Phillips noticed Cao’s reading of the Yik Yaks seemed to make a big impact of the faculty and administrators present. “It was interesting watching the faces of the faculty, because I think they were realizing, ‘Oh my god, I teach students who think like this. How scary is that?’ ” He hopes the testimonies will increase awareness about the realities of racism at Davidson.

Lara and Phillips planned the event in less than 24 hours after reading about the call to action in The Black Tribune, an online publication edited by students at Loyola University-Chicago.

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Thank you for reading the Davidsonian

See DEMONSTRATORS on page 3

Ta-Nehisi Coates discusses book and race relations in America AJ NADDAFF & MADISON ABBOTT Guest Contributors In two weeks, according to Ta-Nehisi Coates, you will see a report of another black life lost to police brutality. He claims it is inevitable at this point. This somber thought reverberated across a sold-out John M. Belk Arena Monday evening, where an audience of students, faculty and members of the Charlotte community listened to the journalist Coates, this year’s Reynolds lecturer, speak on the legacy of black criminality and the racial disparities that plague our nation. Coates said the crowd, which neared several thousand people, was the largest group he has seen during his seven-week book tour so far.

Known for a prose as brutally honest as it is lyrical, Coates serves as a National Correspondent for “The Atlantic.” His story, “The Case for Reparations,” published last year, earned him a George Polk Award for Commentary and is one of the most discussed non-fiction works of recent years. His newest book, “Between the World and

Me,” made the shortlist for the 2015 National Book Award in the nonfiction category, as he seeks to understand why criminality has been imposed upon black people in a letter to his teenage son, Samori.

The book articulates his conclusions from investigations into how blacks have been criminalized in the United States. The death of Prince Jones, a classmate of Coates’s at Howard University, instigated Coates’s inquiries. Coates described Prince having been incredibly brilliant and charismatic; he was very fond of Prince and had “nothing but love” for him, as he used to say. One evening when driving through Prince George’s County, Prince was followed by a police officer chasing a criminal suspect in a similar Jeep. He was followed across county lines and into the suburbs before being shot and killed mere minutes away from his fiancé’s house. It

See COATES on page 3 Coates spoke to a large audience in John M. Belk Arena. Photo by Bill Giduz .

News

Page 2 November 18, 2015

College releases three-year summary of sexual misconduct reports MARY PORTER Staff Writer Earlier this month, the college released its first three-year summary of sexual misconduct reports in compliance with one of last year’s revisions to the sexual misconduct policy—“Policy and Procedures on Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Abuse, Violence, and Stalking”—in which the college agreed to publish such a report annually. The decision to share such information with students was made in an effort to inform the community about the college’s response to reports of sexual misconduct and to promote increased awareness about sexual misconduct on campus.

The summary contains data from fall of 2012 through spring of 2015. Reports are collected and publicized after a period of three years so that records are not identifiable to a particular person; furthermore, the report does not expose names.

Of the 49 reports of misconduct, 33 involved the enforcement of interim measures “designed to make a student feel safer and supported,” explained Kathy Bray, Title IX Coordinator and Associate Dean of Student Life. Such measures include, but are not limited to, eviction from college housing, restriction from student organizations, and a targeted educational program. Likewise, the reporting student may receive consolatory and academic-related considerations. The in-

terim measures may be imposed at any time, regardless of whether or not the complainant or the college seeks formal disciplinary action.

In seven of the 49 reports, the student filing the report chose to submit a formal complaint to the Sexual Misconduct Board (SMB). A student can make a formal complaint for adjudication by submitting a written account of the incident to Tom Shandley, Dean of Students. Alternatively, a student can file a report with the intention not to initiate an investigation but to just “make the college aware of what happened,” explained Bray.

Of the 49 reports, three were deemed “unfounded,” meaning that either no factual evidence supported the claim or the claim was recanted; seven were “unsubstantiated”; and four did not have “sufficient information to investigate the basis for the claims” according to Bray.

The reason that students do not choose to file a formal complaint is a matter of speculation; however, Bray noted that perhaps students fear “potential social ramifications,” a concern that “speaks [to] a need in our community to change the culture so that people who have experienced sexual misconduct feel nothing but support.”

Another reason, according to Bray, could be that students “may not want to go through the process of a hearing”; however, Bray emphasized that last year’s revisions to the sexual misconduct policy are intended to “make the process less arduous… [and] to simplify [the] investigation and hearing

[processes] without compromising fairness and thoroughness.”

The SMB is comprised of faculty and staff who participate in annually- and monthlyrequired training. Starting this year, the hearing and investigative processes, stated Bray, will be “very different from previous years.” An important aspect that will remain the same, however, is that the complainant and the respondent are given the choice of having an advisor throughout the process.

After a formal complaint is submitted and Dean Shandley -- without making a judgment of the factual basis of the claim -- deems that the incident constitutes a violation of the policy, two investigators have separate conversations with the complainant and respondent, as well as with any witnesses. A report is then given to the SMB, and if the report is satisfactorily thorough, the board meets in an executive session and has two weeks to make a determination on the case and sanction

disciplinary action. However, if any of the SMB members, or if either the complainant or respondent needs to have information clarified, then a conference with all parties is convened.

Sanctions, as referenced by the three-year summary, include, but are not limited to, probation, indefinite suspension, and referral to an educational program or counseling.

The length of the entire process is sensitive to the nature of the case. Bray attests that Davidson “[gives] priority to such cases [because] it is important to be thorough and fair, but also provide resolution as soon as possible.”

Sexual misconduct is the “most underreported crime on every college campus,” said Bray. By increasing the scope of its revised sexual misconduct policy, Davidson hopes to help reverse this trend.

“Sexual misconduct is

the “most underreported crime on every college campus[...]” said Bray.

In landmark moment, brand new athletic facility officially opens STEFFANEY WOOD Senior Staff Writer On Sunday, the ribbon-cutting ceremony conducted by Director of Athletics Jim Murphy marked the opening of the $13.3 million Harry L. Vance Athletic Center, an addition to the Baker Sports Complex. The dedication ceremony included words from President Carol Quillen and men’s basketball coach Bob McKillop, and concluded with coaches cutting the ribbon. Various student-athletes and dancers were the first to officially enter the facility.

The much anticipated 500,000 square-foot facility features new practice courts for men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball, the Cheryle Williamson Center with two new dance studios, various administrative offices, the Red Ventures Athletic Club lounge, an enhanced Nisbet Hall of Fame, and a new ticket office with internal and external ticket windows.

“We’ve been really excited about the facility for a long time so it’s great to see it open and finally see the excitement around it,” men’s basketball player Andrew McAuliffe ’17 said.

The building is dedicated to Harry L. Vance `26, whom many consider to be the college’s topranking athlete. “Now it is really most appropriate that this space carry the name of the late Harry

L. Vance, Davidson Class of 1926,” Murphy said in a formal address. “Arguably one of Davidson’s most premier athletes of all time, he still holds the record for most varsity letters earned––I think there was nine. Harry was a leader at a time when athletics were beginning to play a more prominent role at Davison, almost 90 years ago today.

Today marks another important time in the evolution of Davidson athletics. We are thrilled to be naming this facility in his honor today.”

Among the various donors, Vance’s daughter, Ann Ginn, and her husband Samuel, gifted the college’s athletic program with $4 million to support the creation of the new space.

Overall, the facility will normalize the practice schedules of men’s and women’s basketball, in addition to volleyball. It will also help expand the college’s dance program, thanks to the donations of Cheryle and Joel Williamson `67.

“Physically, [student-athletes] are going to feel so much better in terms of a more normal practice routine, normal dining hours, normal study hours––and we do study here,” McKillop said in his address. “Emotionally, it’s uplifting. I can assure you that just looking at their faces as they walk into the locker rooms and practice on the practice courts and walk through the hallways, this is physically, emotionally, and technically a jolt in the arm.”

Volleyball player Mikayla Derochie `17

A crowd gathered to dedicate the Harry L. Vance Athletic Center. Photo by Bill Giduz.

echoed McKillop’s words. “I’m really excited that we no longer have to have late practices because all three teams are practicing on the main court,” she explained. “We would sometimes have to have practice at eight or nine. It really messed up our eating, studying, and sleeping schedules.”

Dance ensemble and Shades of Brown Step Team member Zakiyyah Chism `18 said, “This is not just about athletics, although that is a very important part of our school, but it also shows how we are very interested in the arts like dance.

So the fact that we have even more spaces for dances and more spaces to create that art is something that I’m very excited about.”

During the dedication ceremony, Quillen distinguished the athletic program as exemplary of the integrity carried out in the academic realm of the college and placed high emphasis on the importance of student-athletes within the community.

“Davidson does athletics right,” she remarked.

“Athletics at Davidson serve the educational mission of the institution. And if you ever for a moment doubt that, talk to one of our studentathletes. Spend one minute with any one of these exceptional young people and you will know how much playing their sport at the highest level of competition has enriched their educational experience and the educational experience of all their classmates. We are privileged to have these extraordinary young people on our campus and in our community, and they deserve a facility that honors their commitment to excellence.”

The Vance Athletic Center is designed to amplify the national recognition of the college’s athletic programs and honor student-athletes, as Murphy, McKillop, and Quillen explained. As Murphy put it, the new space is a “state of the art difference-maker.”

“Davidson does athletics right.

Athletics at Davidson serve the educational mission of the institution. And if you ever for a moment doubt that, talk to one of our student-athletes.”

-President Carol Quillen

Dancers practice in one of the two new dance studios. Photo by Bill Giduz. .

News

Page 3

Davidsonian.com

crime log Time

Description / Location

11/10/15 at 1940 hrs

Larceny Misdemeanor (Placards)/Injury to Real Property at Chidsey.

Prosecution Declined.

11/12/15 at 0114 hrs

Injury to Personal Property (Vehicle) at Eco House.

Further Investigation.

11/12/15 at 1532 hrs

Larceny Misdemeanor (Bicycle) at Richardson.

Further Investigation.

11/13/15 at 2345 hrs

Underage Consumption at Chidsey.

Dean Referral/Medic Transport.

11/14/15 at 0041 hrs

Underage Consumption at Chidsey.

Dean Referral/Medic Transport.

11/14/15 at 0219 hrs

Posession of Malt Beverage Underage at Armfield.

Dean Referral.

11/14/15 at 0229 hrs

Underage Consumption at Watts.

Dean Referral/Medic Transport.

11/15/15 at 1332 hrs

Injury to Personal Property (Vehicle) at Eco House.

Further Investigation.

11/18/15 at 1437 hrs

Coates delivered the prestigious Reynolds lecture. Photo by Bill Giduz.

Coates addresses origins of black criminality Continued from page 1 later turned out the true suspect had dread locks, was fifty pounds heavier, and was a good many inches shorter than Prince, who was 6’4”, had close-cropped hair, and the build of a NFL wide receiver.

Their common denominator, nonetheless, argued Coates, was their blackness. In the tragic tale of Jones’s death, Coates provided a personal example of the implications of institutionalized racism. Coates said he was convinced that had Prince been white, he would not have been shot.

The policies which have criminalized black people are interwoven in our nation’s history, he explained. He spoke about the fugitive slave clause in the U.S. Constitution, old slave codes that forbade blacks to learn how to read, to worship in a church without a white pastor, or to gather amongst other blacks. The justification for lynching was that black men had allegedly raped white women. The criminalization of the black race is part of the foundation of our society. Coates calls it the “heritage that murdered my friend, that endangers my son.”

After the lecture, the floor opened up for Davidson students, and the following day there was a small-group Q&A. Coates shocked his audience with his unconcealed honesty and realistic view of the world. At both Q&A sessions students sought advice on how to change people’s intolerant and dogmatic beliefs and asked if Coates’s attempts to do so were exhausting. Coates responded that writers cannot change the minds of people who are not willing to listen. As an example, he spoke about some people’s denial of slavery’s tie with the Civil War despite documents from the nine-

teenth century that explicitly stated the purposes of the war. “Be careful of assuming the burden of other people’s ignorance,” he warned. “It does stuff to your humanity.”

Dr. Tae-Sun Kim, Director of Multicultural Affairs, emphasized that Coates provided one of many opportunities for students to educate themselves about racial issues. “I thought Coates made a convincing case for self-directed education and liberation”, Kim said in a written statement. “He described himself as a selfish learner who had the privilege of being raised in a home environment and attending a college that supported his intellectual development and journalistic inquiries.

Though many of us in the Davidson community do not share a similar family or educational background as Coates, his point is still well taken. ‘The lack of information’ is not the problem, Coates insisted. For example, several faculty members at Davidson, several core Africana Studies faculty come to mind, have been teaching and preaching on the criminalization of black bodies, educational excellence in black schools, and African American literary masterpieces for decades.”

Coates’s visit to campus came as discussions about systemic marginalization of students of color are pervading college campuses nationwide. Last Thursday Davidson students voiced their solidarity with students at the the University of Missouri in a demonstration. (Read more on Page 1.) Furthermore, SGA Collaborative, SGA’s Diversity Coordinating Board, and Residence Life Office are sponsoring an open discussion about the issues of college protests and anti-racist activism in the 900 Room at 4:30 p.m. today and encourage all those who feel their voice has not been heard to attend.

Stalking at 409 Ridge Road and 102 Nelson Lane.

Prosecution Declined.

Demonstrators support Mizzou Continued from page 1 A list of participating schools, including Davidson, can be found on its website.

“As members of the Tau Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated here, typically we’ve been a part of that movement,” Lara said. “Our chapter and students like us have been big leaders in events like these, in moments like these, and so we felt it was our duty and responsibility to react as well.”

Although they were pleased with the turnout to the event, both Lara and Phillips noticed a disproportionate ratio of students of color to white students. “Where are 70% of white people?” Phillips asked. “Hello? Where are you?”

Lara blamed these absences on a desire to feel comfortable rather than challenged. “It’s OK to be wrong. It’s OK to try and fail when it comes to understanding race,” Lara said. He hopes to encourage students to “ask the hard questions, to really try and step out of their comfort zone so

they can learn, and so we can actually progress.”

Hannah Lukow ‘17, who spoke up at the demonstration about white silence, said, “this lack of reciprocity in racial dialogues is unacceptable.”

She urged white students not to place the burden of racial education on people of color, but rather to learn to both listen and engage. “As a white person, my race profoundly affects my experience—I just have the privilege of not noticing,” Lukow said.

The Rev. Rob Spach ’84, Davidson’s chaplain, ended the demonstration with a prayer: “How long, how long, how long must this struggle continue?” He invited students to participate in oneon-one prayer with him after dispersing.

The organizers hoped that standing in solidarity with Mizzou would bring to light the experiences of people of color at Davidson. Lara said his biggest goal for the event was “to continue to make the issue of race salient to students and faculty so that it can be addressed and changed and not just passed over, as it often is.”

The Davidsonian would like to clarify a quote in the article “Transition to Atlantic 10 brings more intense travel schedules for athletes” published on November 11. A comment from a player on the volleyball team suggested that the team missed three days of Tuesday-Thursday classes, a number that would have exceeded the permitted number of missed classes for those days. The player has since clarified that the team flew to matches on three Thursdays but missed class on only two of those days. Therefore, the team did not exceed the permitted range.

Students stand in solidarity with the University of Missouri. Photo by Shea Parikh.

living davidson

Page 4

November 18, 2015

In VAC exhibit, artist blends figural, realism, and abstract Kent Williams’ art in “Native Bone and Far to Home” on exhibt now at the VAC COLLEEN KARLOVICH STAFF WRITER

L

ooking for something new? Looking for something fun to do while staying on campus? Looking for a way to expand your horizons? I invite you to see the amazing exhibition of Kent Williams’s art, “Native Bone and Far to Home.” The exhibit, on display through December 16, is . This show is a mustsee because of his amazing draftsmanship, depiction of the human figure, and incredible control and use of paint and color.

Williams lives in Los Angeles where he teaches at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California and is a member of the mentor faculty at the Laguna College of Art and Design.

However, his home state is right here in North Carolina where he was born in New Bern on the Atlantic coast. In addition to his teachings,

he has had solo exhibitions in locations such as New York City, San Francisco, and Santa Fe. There are many things to see in Williams’ art. For example, one can tell that he is an exceptional draftsman in the way that he captures the anatomy of the body. Lia Newman, the curator of the exhibit, sees Kent “taking a narrative that you would see in a graphic novel or comic, a narrative that would take place in multiple frames […] and he’s merging all of them together.” She attributes her interpretation to Williams’ background as an illustrator for companies such as DC and Marvel. Regardless, one can see the merging of sequences in a story through all the colorful components in Kent’s art. As Shaw Smith, chair of the art department, describes it, “He uses that figure in contest with the environment. I love that sort of shaping of the body and then deconstruction of the body in the environment, and that’s the type of battle, almost confrontational between the body and space.”

The idea of bringing Williams to Davidson was to add a new element to an already diverse series of shows. The goal of the gallery is to provide variety, Newman said. “Primarily, the gallery is a teaching tool for the college -- not just

students in the Art department but across campus,” he said. “We are also interested in building a bigger audience in the community.”

While balancing an assortment of artists, it is also important to look for what an artist will bring from a technical standpoint with his work.

Describing Williams’ use of his draftsmanship, Shaw said, “There’s a shoulder in one of the pieces that is just stunning; not that it’s verisimilitude, it just has this melodic feel to it with the curving of the lines [… ]It’s not just there as a kind of pedestrian technique; he let’s you move in and out with the figure.”

The content of Williams’ work varies, but there is considerable focus on the figure and how the figure is placed in space. When asked about what students should expect to see when they walk into the exhibition, Shaw said, “I think when they come, they can see a figure that is struggling — struggling for identity, for a place in the world, struggling to find out their positioning in some ways.” This idea of struggling for one’s own identity is particularly relevant to many college-aged adults as we leave our homes, communities, and safety net and try to explore and define further our own values and

Kent Williams: Native Bone and Far to Home Photos by Scott Cunningham

character.

There was plenty of student involvement in the exhibition, ranging from unpacking the art from lenders, museums, and galleries to hanging the art. Students also had the opportunity to paint the walls, make labels, and do other tasks associated with the physical installation of the gallery. When Williams arrived, students shared meals with the him and had the opportunity to hear him talk about his work during a public gallery talk. Williams also visited several classes and conducted studio visits with some of the senior Studio Art majors.

This exhibit is a must-see. “This exhibition represents a pivotal moment, I think, where he’s pushing his work in another direction,” Newman said. “This show might be the crossover point between something realistic and more traditional in some ways and then this new abstraction he is testing.” Williams’ work from 2007-present will be on display in the VAC until December 16. See you there!

perspectives

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November 18, 2015

Exhaustion: Reality as a student of color at Davidson College FABIAN LARA

I

am a senior. I am a sociology major. I am from Chicago.

I am Latino. I am a second-generation citizen. I am a first-generation college student. I am here at Davidson. I am Fabian Lara, and I am tired.

It is that time of the semester when work is piling up, and finals are looming. Papers need to be written, projects need to be in full swing, and survival mode has been activated. However, the last ten days have been exceptionally exhausting. The uproar on campuses around my country caught my attention at various points throughout last week. I was in the library at 1:00 a.m. last Wednesday morning (yeah it was one of those nights) when a friend informed me of the violent threats towards black students on Mizzou’s campus. It was a tipping point. In that moment, every part of my body was filled with fear. I was filled with anger. I was filled with sadness and pain. For the next seven hours, into the early morning, all I could think about was why this had happened. The community, including faculty, dared to oppose a system and a leader that they felt was letting them down, and as a result, their well-being and their lives were threatened.

But why am I exhausted? Why should I

bother stressing over another campus? Why should I care about someone else’s complaint, someone who I most likely will never meet?

I am exhausted of hearing about these issues at other places and then realizing that I am experiencing the same problems here as a student at Davidson. I am fatigued from long conversations about race and how to deal with it on campus. I am annoyed by people telling me to just leave campus if I don’t feel comfortable here. I am tired of people saying I have enough space and resources on campus as a student of color when in fact I constantly am limited in my options. I am insulted by those who do their best to make me feel unwelcomed. This scenario is not new to me, it is not new to my friends, and it is definitely not new to those who tell us to shut up, get over it, and face reality.

What some fail to realize is that I am fully aware of my reality. In fact, it is this very reality that is exhausting for students of color.

“

Not only are we students, but we are students of color who have to deal with the inevitable realities of being non-white. We have a choice every time a cop kills another black person, or a threat is made on a campus, or there is another attack on a person’s humanity. We have the choice to pay attention to it, and address the issues that are affecting our communities back home and at school.

We also have the choice to ignore what happens and pretend that it does not matter to us. We can save our time and energy for being students, athletes, and active members of other parts of campus life. Either direction we choose, the heavy weight of the consequences drowns us. To engage means to exert copious amounts of energy and emotion in solidarity and support of those around us.

To ignore means to feel the guilt while watching our people hurt without support with full awareness that the next generation of students will inevitably feel the same pain because of our negligence.

Not only are we students, but we are students of color who have to deal with the inevitable realities of being nonwhite.

Some may ask what pain? What sadness?

How can living at Davidson be hurting you?

The pain comes from everything I see on campus. The pain comes from loneliness and isolation. I walk into most classrooms and I am the only Latino in the room. I look through my Webtree, and there are minimal Latino professors to teach me anything let alone the subjects I want to learn about. I walk around and I see more Latino men and women working in service jobs than anywhere else on campus. As a student and aspiring professional, what I see everyday is the reality I will soon be a part of.

I will soon be part of a world where people like me, and people like my black friends, lack power, autonomy, and even safety in every industry we might desire to work in. I will likely be a token racial minority once again after May 15, 2016 is long gone. The reality I know as the fatigue that has buried me for the last three years and three months at Davidson has a sequel right around the corner. The reality I know is that I will feel the fatigue from the choices of addressing issues or watching them pass by. The reality I know is that the fatigue never ends. This is why it matters. This is why I care. These are the battles I must choose to pick daily. This is why I am tired.

Fabian Lara `16 is a Sociology major from Chicago, Illinois. Contact him at falara@davidson.edu

An open letter of hope to black students at University of Missouri This letter was written by the leaders of the historically black sororities and fraternities at Davidson College as part of a nationwide action to show support for our fellow Black peers at University of Missouri.

W

e, student leaders of historically black organizations at Davidson College, stand in solidarity with the Black community at the University of Missouri. We heard your stories and we empathize with your pain. Most importantly, we applaud your composure, faith and resilience in the face of racism, oppression, and threats against your lives.

We know that #ConcernedStudent1950 began weeks ago in efforts to shed light on the university’s failure to provide a safe space and home for you. As students of color, we cannot condone microaggressions, lack of representation, and death threats of Black lives that have taken place at your school. As human beings, we cannot condone the violence that dehumanizes your existence. Even though we are miles away, we are your community and we resonate with you.

We understand your struggle. We know the awkward glances from your peers. The sidebar comments from people against our rallies. The constant fear that there’s always more at stake because of your complexion. The debilitating fear that comes from threats issued on anony-

mous social media apps, because those threats could have been issued by anyone in our community. The fear that takes away our time and efforts to study. Standing in solidarity with you is not just a moment of unity, but a call to action to actually take a stand. Our efforts may be long and the battle may be rough, but we are conscious that without struggle there is no progress. We will spark the flame that lights our future.

Initiated by the Tau Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the students of color and allies on campus organized a demonstration on November 12, 2015. Our organizations played an active role to show our support for your cause and bring attention to it at Davidson. At the demonstration, we stood with locked arms in solidarity by the flagpole outside the campus’ primary academic building to sing, chant, and share testimonials of our personal experiences with racism at our predominantly white institution. To see successful students of color deal with many of the very issues we have all long-fought is disheartening, but students like yourselves who fight back are an inspiration to us all.

So, now that we have put down our bull horn, unlocked OUR arms, and left the flagpole, one question still hangs above us: what do we do next? The protest held at Davidson, as well as the protests held at campuses across the country, have exposed a deep rift between

the davidsonian staff editors-in-chief news editors living davidson editor

:LOO 0F'XIÀH Michelle Wan Mary Click Kate McNaughton Sophia Guevara

perspectives editor

Will Weisgerber

yowl editor

Sophie McHugh

sports editors

Ethan Faust Jason Feldman

photo editors

Scott Cunningham Shea Parikh

web editors

graphic design editor

Sabrina Cheema Emily Kent Bridget Lavender Sophia Smith

students of color/allies and the remainder of our communities. The tedious and often bitter debates that bubble to the surface on our social media, at our lunch tables, and maybe even in our classrooms flare up and then fizzle out following moments of urgent activism such as the one you saw last week. After some time, perhaps, we get social justice fatigue on both fronts. Students of color and their allies feel as though they are shouting into a cavernous vacuum where their ideas, thought processes, and experiences are invalidated at every turn.

Eventually we tire of screaming our lives are the primary sources that substantiate the academic claims made for systemic racism and the debilitating effects of racial microaggressions. Those who feel adamantly that the protests are unnecessary hide behind anonymous social media apps out of the fear they will be labeled racist.

But in order for us to even begin to heal the rift, we cannot give in to that fatigue. We challenge students of color and allies to keep talking and demonstrating and asserting our humanity. And, perhaps most importantly, we challenge those who would oppose us to lean into the discomfort. Be willing to actively engage. For those who don’t agree with actions taken, say so. Change starts with a discussion, and we must be willing to do the work to have it.

To the Black students at University of Mis-

souri, thank you for challenging campuses all across the nation to participate in this critical movement. Thank you for your activism and we stand in solidarity with you in propelling this movement forward.

Sincerely, Mahlek Pothemont Amani Carter Se’Vaughn Carter Shuyu Cao Mahlek Pothemont `16 is an Anthropology major from Charlotte, North Carolina.

Contact him at mapothemont@davidson.edu Amani Carter `16 is a History and Sociology double major from Bear, Delaware. Contact her at amcarter@davidson.edu Se’Vaughn Carter `16 is a Physics major from Waldorf, Maryland. Contact him at secarter@davidson.edu Shuyu Cao `16 is an English major from Durham, North Carolina. Contact her at shcao@davidson.edu

THE DOUBLE-STUFFED ISSUE Thesis Proposal Fails Because Senior Omits Semicolon

Page A

Satan Officially Trademarks Hell Week

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New Demerit Policy Includes Sending Naughty Students To Bed Without Supper

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‘Effect’ and ‘Affect’ Declared Affectively the Same Word

Page Easy As

Junior Grabs Coffee at Basecamp Summit To ‘Get Out of The Davidson Bubble For a Bit’

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This  Issue  Brought  to  You  By:  Philips  Academy  Andover:  “Where  a  kid  can  be  a  kid�

New Snapchat Lens Shows Users What They Most Desperately Desire

RLO Adds New Predictor To First Year Roommate Questionnaire

In the world of smartphone applications, there reigns one clear king: Snapchat. Snapchat started off as a convenient way for friends and politicians to discretely trade lewd photographs. It then incorporated instant messaging, geofilters, and Snapcash. Some experts predict that by the year 2022, Snapchat will have absorbed the functions of all other competing apps, thus rendering pesky platforms like Yik Yak, Instagram, and HiCalculator obsolete under the monstrous catchall’s shadow.

Snapchat’s latest feature, ‘Lenses’, has garnered much positive attention for the app. This newest addition allows the user to take selfies with whacky, animated filters superimposed over them. Filters present images of what the user would look like as a monocle-clad elderly man, a friendly bear, an angry demon and more. One filter in particular is sparking conversations across the nation: the Desire Lens.

All first-years know they have to take the Myers-Briggs test to pair them with their optimal freshman roommate. Often considered the E-Harmony of friendship finding, the standard questions asked revolve around sleeping habits, music tastes, and cleanliness. However, there has recently been a drop in the rate of freshmen choosing to live with their first-year roommate. Thus RLO has decided to add what it believes to be a crucial question. The new addition prompts students to write a short paragraph about the type of person they envision their best man or maid-of-honor at their future wedding to be. “We added this question anticipating that freshman will get drunk and have deep conversations, in which they make egregious promises that they will stand by one another when they are getting married,� explained RLO test coordinator Jeannette Maines. “They then go on with their lives, and when they become engaged, in the back of their minds they think, ‘Well shit, gotta call up the old roomie to be in the wedding. Awkward, I haven’t talked to them in eight years.�

The RLO office aims “Students will become engaged, to diminish that uncomand think ‘Well shit, gotta call up fortable gap by pairing roommates who are al- the old roomie to be in the wedding.� ready hand to suit each other’s wedding ceremonies. They decided to pitch the idea to prospective financers using this case study as an example of the type of situation that could be avoided if the proposed question were implemented: Roommate 1 begins preparing a Cup-of-Noodles as a treat for getting through the week. Then Roommate 2 suddenly bursts through the door, and Roommate 1 realizes what she is in for. “I’m at F and I swear when T. Swift says, ‘I’ve got a blank space baby, and I’ll write your name,’� slurs Roommate 2, “I just want to know who will be in my blank space.� Roommate 1 acts like she is listening intently, but she truly has her mind set on their noodles unfurling, seeping into the sodium water broth. She decides to give Roommate 2 a little white lie: “You know your dream guy is down there, Sperrys and all!�

Roommate 2 looks up, pupils still dilated from Natty-lite. “I just don’t think I will ever be the one walking down the aisle,� she whispers.

Surprised at the sudden emotionally morbid vibe in the room, Roommate 1 tells her friend-by-convenience: “You will walk down that aisle, and I will be the one to witness it.� She then plugs in her headphones and presses “continue watching.� Gilmore Girls awaits.

RLO urged the administration that we as a campus cannot afford to have such awkward roommate encounters, as they are loosely tied to a loss of alumni donations. The administration quickly agreed and took it right up to the top to the Board of Trustees. The esteemed Trustees approved of this addition under the condition that the new question be named for one of them in honor of their generosity.

So, prospective students, get ready to answer The Chidsey Question, designed to foster emotional support and a secure, immalleable future best friend.

Area Grandmother Becomes First Human in World To Use Extra Button That Sometimes Comes With Expensive Jackets Page 2

Perpetually He a d ph o n e - C l a d Student Not Actually Introverted; Just Ashamed Of Pointy Ears Page 3

The Yowl’s Runner-Up Thanksgiving Foods: Mystery Gravy: Grandma’s old family recipe, rumored to use ingredients like flour and roadkill.

Just Butter: A delectable soupy side dish made from churning fermented cream.

A Heaping Plate of Guilt: Your mother’s favorite. Served best piping hot.

Potato Skin Casserole: Made using only the skins of sweet potatoes. That’s where the nutrition is, so the kids will love this one!

Turkey Vulture: A cheaper alternative to the holiday favorite.

Your Davidson Honor Section

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THE Â DAVIDSONIAN

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whenever I use the Desire Lens, I suddenly look like a young Jane Fonda and my eyebrow mole disappears.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;My favorite filter is the one that shows the ideal version of yourself, the Desire Lens, I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s called,â&#x20AC;? reported Sandy Miller â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;18. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whenever I use it, I suddenly look like a young Jane Fonda and my eyebrow mole disappears.â&#x20AC;?

Millerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friend, Madison Everett â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;18, chimed in: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I look pretty much the same with the filter. Except my eyes get huge, my cheeks are rosy, and I vomit an infinite sparkly rainbow. Which makes sense, because thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basically the dream.â&#x20AC;?

While for some, the lens only affects appearance, others report more resonating effects. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I put on the Desire Lens, everything changes,â&#x20AC;? explained Chester Carpenter â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;15. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My neck isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as thick, and sometimes my parents appear in the background and whisper about how Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not a disappointment. Other times, I have a forehead tattoo that says, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I shagged Lana Del Reyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Once, I had three lips.â&#x20AC;?

While the Desire Lens may have been created in the spirit of fun, we at The Yowl couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help but wonder if presenting impressionable users with idealised versions of themselves could be harmful. To be sure, we consulted local body positivity expert, A. P. Dumbledore: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Men have wasted away before [The Desire Lens], entranced by what they have seen, or been driven mad, not knowing if what it shows is real or even possible.â&#x20AC;?

When asked what he saw through the filter, the wizened man smirked. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I see myself holding a pair of thick, woolen socks. That, and an autographed set of the Lord of the Rings series. I think that would be pretty cool.â&#x20AC;?

Honor Council Performs Sting Operation on Potential Chicken Tender Thieves While the exact details of the operation were supposed to be kept under wraps, a recent leak on Yik Yak revealed the lengths that the Honor Council is willing to go to catch potential violators of the Honor Code.

This controversial operation was performed by the Davidson College Honor Council last Thursday in order to catch potential violators of the Honor Code. After staking out in the Union CafĂŠ for over an hour, undercover Honor Council members singled out a potential assailant, Mark Zap â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;17. The undercover agents knew he had a reputation as a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;bad boyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, sometimes taking a few more ketchup packets than would be deemed socially acceptable. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have a few reliable sources willing to testify to the quality of Zapâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s character,â&#x20AC;? reported Dilbert Dogood, who spearheaded the operation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s even a tape circulating that provides documented proof of him stealing a plastic knife without paying for it. This man is armed, and he is dangerous.â&#x20AC;?

After Zap placed an order for four chicken tenders, the agents on the spot stealthily placed a fifth one into his basket.

Agents on the scene commented on the dastardly deed that followed: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Zap collected his order without even blinking an eye.

There was clearly an extra finger! People like him are the real scum of Davidson College.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s documented proof of him stealing a plastic knife without paying for it. This man is armed, and he is dangerous. â&#x20AC;?

Although Zap was given a formal warning of the potential ramifications for his actions, the delinquency didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop there. Agents stumbled upon a veritable goldmine of dishonesty shortly thereafter. The agents discovered that instead of writing his god-given name on the tickets, he had written the name Seymour Butts. Though during an interrogation Zap protested that he had merely committed the criminal act with the intention of eliciting a few laughs from his peers, the Honor Council did not want to set a precedent of tolerance for such intentional deception. With this newfound evidence against Zap, the agents cited him with the possibility of talking to his RA personally, one of the highest punishments they can impose.

The Honor Council formally announced the sting operation as part of their new â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;No Crime Too Smallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; initiative. In response to this, there was an extremely negative response among the student body, particularly on Yik Yak. Some commenters protested, â&#x20AC;&#x153;This totally blowsâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Honor Council, this is bullsh*t.â&#x20AC;? A plethora of Yaks have included the vague tagline, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Free MZâ&#x20AC;?. Only time will tell if these operations will prove effective in strengthening the Honor Code, or if it will be another just another encumbering bureaucratic program.

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Page 7 Davidsonian.com

McKillop tree continues to grow as he approaches 500th win !"#$%&'$()" !"#$%&'(#)*+,%#$

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ob McKillop commands respect for the job he’s done on the court. He’s been to the Elite Eight. He currently sits three wins away from 500 in his career. He’s won 12 conference championships. So with that success, in the last 27 years at the helm of the men’s basketball program at Davidson, McKillop has been able to spread his roots.

“That’s one of the great things about this situation here at Davidson,” McKillop said, sitting on the couch in his beautiful, brand new office, earned in part through so many years of dedication to Davidson. “It allows you to build your army. And our army has expanded.”

That army begins with the assistant coaches that have gone on to head other teams. Over McKillop’s career, 10 of his former assistant coaches have gone on to head coaching positions, with the latest being Jim Fox’s appointment at Appalachian State in 2014.

But equally important to that army is the group of ex-student managers that are staying in the game of basketball. Under the tutelage of the legendary coach, managers in the Davidson basketball program have experienced tremendous post graduation success in recent years. That comes in part from the culture McKillop has created within the team.

“The managers here have been welcomed as members of the team,” McKillop said. “They feel like they’re part of the team. They have the same sense of satisfaction of success as the team has.

They work as hard as the team. And they’re held accountable just like the team. I think it’s a great training experience for leadership.”

Two former managers from the class of 2014 currently work in the NBA. Miles Abbett recently was promoted to be the Basketball Analytics Coordinator with the Chicago Bulls, where he has an office right across from the head coach and general manager. Back at Davidson, Abbett was crucial in the founding of ‘Cats Stats, the analytics program that has taken on national fame.

Another manager from that year with a math background, Ford Higgins, began with the Philadelphia 76ers organization a year ago as an analytics intern. In addition to helping out with the D-League affiliate, the Delaware 87ers, Higgins helped with player scouting for the NBA Draft.

Higgins has since moved to working with the Dallas Mavericks in an analytical role.

“When you see the merger, the marriage, the collaboration between academics and athletics here,” said McKillop, “[Abbett and Higgins] are shining examples of that.”

Billy Thom, who stayed on after his managerial days to work as Director of Operations for Davidson, has since moved to coaching and teaching at the high school level. At the helm of the program at the Millbrook School in upstate New York, Thom regales his players and students with stories of the magical run to the Elite 8 back in 2008. It is the lessons learned then during his time alongside Stephen Curry and McKillop that he aims to instill in them.

Before he left Davidson, Thom helped bring along some of the current crop of Davidson bas-

ketball managers. Even before Fabian Lara ‘16 began his freshman year, he and Thom had spoken at length about the ways Lara could be engaged with the program.

Now a senior, Lara says he’s often asked why he would spend 20 hours doing this job without getting paid. People look at him and others on the sideline and assume he’s just a glorified water boy.

But Lara wouldn’t give up the job for anything.

And it is helping him prepare every day for his future.

“The more I invest, the more I get out of it,” said Lara. “A lot of the skills are transferrable to future potential jobs. And it’s a lot of fun. There’s a lot to get out of it. The experiences of traveling and being in those games and those moments is also just a personal great experience.”

“But I feel like I do get a lot of life lessons from Coach McKillop, the same as the players, because we’re present for all the stuff he says,” Lara continued. “What we learn every day, contributing to the team and the program, makes ourselves better everyday.”

None of it is easy work. Before practice, the managers will come in at least a half hour early to set up. With access to the schedule, they know when and where everything has to be. The tape has to be in the right place on the floor. Then in practice the clock has to be operated. They’ll have to make sure the balls are getting to the right spot. They’ll also be called into drills. And just like with the players, they will be held to a very high standard.

Some managers have even earned a jersey in recent years through a combination of their basketball ability and the trust they’ve earned from the coaching staff. In doing their work so well, they showed they could belong on the court. Will Thoni ‘14, who has since joined the coaching staff at Davidson in addition to helping out with USA Basketball, found himself on the roster his senior year after three years of continued dedication.

Ryan Ansel ‘14 did the same. And Kamau Faines ‘18 was a manager for two weeks last season before being given a roster spot.

Though he is not on the court playing, Lara, who is looking to coach basketball either as a post-grad assistant or at his old high school in Chicago, is gaining valuable experience. Coming from McKillop’s system will have him as prepared and qualified as anyone. He is ready to spread the tree.

Another senior manager, Danny Howard ‘16, was not always as set on the position as Lara. Although Howard is looking to be a counselor after college, being a part of the program has been incredibly profitable.

“I’ve learned a lot about work ethic from watching people like Will Thoni and the other coaches prepare for games and how they go through their practice plans,” Howard said. “It’s been immensely helpful preparing for postgrad work and just life in general. They’re extremely precise and caring about everyone.

“Coach does a really good job of making us feel like family,” he continued. “He’s very com-

plementary of us as managers which is helpful to make us want to do our job better. He’s not like other coaches. When he is in a press conference, he thanks his coaching staff, his managers and his players. It means a lot that he would do that for us - that such a great coach would bring us up with him.”

Seeing the precision and work ethic that the coaches use every single day has inspired many like Howard. It has taught them how to go about both their job and their life. These lessons have prepared them for the greater world.

Not all the former managers stay in basketball. Some go into finance. Some are lawyers. One of the earliest managers under McKillop is even a doctor here in town. But one thing is for sure.

They’ve all learned valuable lessons from Coach Bob. And as McKillop told me, “When those banners hang in Belk Arena, they own a piece of that banner.”

When the 500th win arrives in a couple weeks, it will be an appropriate time to talk about McKillop’s legacy. Though he has seen the court named in his honor a year ago and the dedication of a brand new basketball center last week, that legacy is not just about winning basketball games. Through more than a quarter century of commitment to a program, McKillop has transformed the lives of so many individuals. And through this good work, his army is growing ever stronger.

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omen’s basketball opened its season against Furman on the road this past Friday. The ‘Cats started their 201516 season with a strong 69-51 win, avenging last year’s season-opening defeat (67-60) to the Paladins.

Hannah Early ’16 continues to be an impact player on the court for the Wildcats. She led the team in scoring during a record-setting junior season, averaging a career-best 14.4 points a game, and she also became the 17th player in program history to reach the 1,000-point plateau.

She received the team’s Best Offensive Player award last season. Early is a fifth year senior after using her medical redshirt when she tore her ACL and meniscus during her freshman year. For her fifth and final season, she will be leading the ‘Cats as captain.

Off the court, Early is the student charter president for Access to Success (A2S), a nonprofit

that empowers youth and their communities to achieve positive change through Christian-based athletic and educational programs in Nigeria. A few years ago, she traveled with A2S to Nigeria and led the first women’s basketball camp that A2S had hosted. She also is a part of the student charter for Young Elites, which is a nonprofit that provides free expert leadership training for high school girls in the Lake Norman area.

Early sat down with the Davidsonian to discuss her career and this season.

What is your role on the team this year, and how is your leadership going to shape this season?

This year I am a captain on the team, which is a huge role to play. As a leader, my job is to encourage and inspire my teammates. My leadership plays a role not only in how I act toward my teammates, but also how I play on the court.

I must lead by example. Specifically, this means scoring and also being a defensive presence. I also must communicate on both ends of the floor.

How do you inspire yourself and your teammates day in and day out? Who do you play for?

What motivates you?

Our team is really close so we all inspire each other. We know that last year was a tough transition for us, but I truly feel like we have what it takes to compete in the A-10 all season long. First, I play for God. He is the reason I play and the reason I play to win. God has given me the gifts that I have to play this sport and has given me the opportunity to use these gifts to point others to him. Second, I play for my teammates. I may miss shots or let them down with a bad decision, but I know that they’ve always got my back, so I need to have theirs. By the time the season starts, we’ve gone through summer camp together, six weeks of preseason, and six weeks of straight practice. It would be a slap in the face to them if they weren’t the reason I played.

How do you view your schedule this season?

We definitely have a tough nonconference schedule highlighted by Wake Forest, NC State, James Madison and Michigan State (who we play at home!). Although these are tough opponents, they’re also very win-able games. The A-10 schedule is always tough and will be a dog fight

every night. There is never an easy game in the A-10, and I love it!

What are your goals as a team this season on and off the court?

This season, our goal is to shock the world.

Coming from last year, we know many people aren’t expecting much, if anything, from us. We have a lot of small goals that will help us do this, but ultimately, we want to defy the odds and shock a lot of people.

How are the new recruits going to add to the team’s dynamic?

Our freshmen have been great this year. They add a lot of energy and enthusiasm and also a ton of skill. The move to the A-10 has really helped us with recruiting, so we’ll really be able to see the benefits of that this year. They will definitely contribute a lot on the court, as well as off the court with team chemistry.

In the A-10 Coaches Preseason Poll, the ‘Cats were picked to finish 14th. The win at Furman marked the start of seven straight road games coming up. After a 77-58 loss to Wake Forest last night, they take on N.C State on Monday.

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Volleyball impresses in last two games +)!!,'-%$.+)

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everal Wildcats put on their Davidson jerseys for the last time this weekend. The five volleyball seniors, Gaylen Fronk, Morgan Shannon, Michelle McNeight, Layne Doctson and Hannah Rau, were honored as they stepped onto the court Sunday to celebrate their careers as Wildcats.

The weekend festivities started Friday afternoon with a match against Rhode Island at John M. Belk Arena. Following a loss to the Rams earlier in the season, the Wildcats were eager for redemption. Their desire was evident in their first two games, both of which Davidson won by a score of 25-21. In the third game, they fell just short, dropping it 24-26. A 14-25 loss in the fourth game forced a decisive fifth and final game. The Wildcats dug deep and found a way to get a 15-10 victory. Rau led the team with 12 kills and 13 digs. Sabrina Shepherd ‘19 recorded nine kills and four blocks, while fellow freshman Mason Rooney had eight kills and 22 assists. Ranked third in the A-10, the Rams were a formidable opponent, but a strong crowd inspired the Wildcats’ performance.

“The energy was amazing, our fan base was vibrant, and we played really well,” Rooney said.

“It was great to be able to get a little revenge in our final weekend of play. Being at home made the win even sweeter.”

The momentum from Friday’s win carried over to Sunday’s match against Fordham. Starting all of their seniors, the ‘Cats used a 7-0 run to win the first game, 25-13. A heavily contested second game resulted in a 25-19 victory. Playing from behind, the Wildcats were able to regain the lead late in the third and seal the victory with a kill from Rooney. Shepherd and Emily Franklin ‘17 led the team with seven kills each. Mikayla Derochie ‘17 provided the Wildcats with 16 assists.

In her final match, Fronk recorded a career-high 14 assists as well.

“This was the first time we not only swept an A-10 weekend, but also the first time we swept at home for an A-10 weekend, which was incredible,” Rau said. “Sweeping this weekend was like my Superbowl. Just such a fantastic way to end, especially beating the number three team in the conference.”

“This season was a huge improvement from last season,” she continued. “We knew what to expect from the A-10 and responded well to the

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‘Cats Photos of the Week

various opponents we faced.”

This season saw a lot of new faces making large impacts on the team’s success. Shepherd and Rooney were two major pieces in the Wildcats’ game plan. Thrust immediately into the spotlight, both handled it with poise and maturity. Crediting her teammates, Rooney attributes the success to her teammates on the court.

“My teammates pushed me so hard all season to better myself, and to strive to get better each day,” Rooney said. “My coaches’ mindsets were similar as well; they see our teams potential, and they push us each day in practice to take steps towards how good we can be.”

With the help of these youngsters, the hopes are high for next season. Ending the year on such a high note, with wins in three of the final four matches, will play a major role in motivation for the offseason.

“I think ending the season with two amazing wins shows us that we are moving in the right direction to compete with the top teams in the A-10,” Shepherd said. “I am really excited to keep building on the success we had at the end of this season. I really want us to make the A-10 tournament next year, and personally I think we can do it.”

While most of the team will start training soon for next season, Rau and the other four seniors are hanging up their jerseys for good. However, not being on the roster doesn’t mean they are not part of the team.

“Being a part of this program changed my life, and now I not only have my family by blood, but I know I will always have my DCVB family supporting my every step of the way from here on out,” said Rau, reflecting on her career. “For those players that went before me and for those who came after me, I will always be grateful to have each of them in my life.

“Being a part of athletics at Davidson asks you to be [almost] abnormal and strive for excellence in every realm of your life,” she continued. “When you battle every day with the same girls, in practice, in lifting, and in matches, you create a bond like nothing else. I will miss those thrilling moments of battle with my teammates.”

Watching seniors like Rau compete this year, Rooney and Shepherd have seen what it takes to improve. Now, with another offseason ahead to improve, Davidson volleyball will look to keep the momentum going into next fall.

Scoreboard Men’s Basketball 11/14 UCF 85 Davidson 90 Football 11/14 San Diego 35 Davidson 10 Wrestling 11/12 Davidson 51 Greensboro 3 Cross Country 10/3 - NCAA Southeast Regionals Men - 13th out of 32 teams Women - 20th out of 33 teams Women’s Basketball 11/13 Davidson 69 Furman 51 Volleyball 11/13 George Mason 1 Davidson 3 11/15 George Washington 3 Davidson 0

November 18, 2015

Athlete’s Corner

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n late June in the summer of 2014, Alec Rotunda told me he would never play soccer again. It was his hip, he said; the cartilage was wearing away too fast. If he wanted to be relatively pain-free for the rest of his life, he would have to stop playing soccer.

In mid-September of this year, I thought I would never play soccer again, at least not at the collegiate level. I’m a senior goalkeeper, and I’d broken my pinky finger badly enough to need surgery. The recovery time was, at best, three months. Our season would probably end mid-November. I could do the math.

Alec stayed on the team, helping out in practice and providing encouragement but never playing. But then after 20 months on the sidelines, he got a new diagnosis. He could play sparingly without risking lifelong pain. Alec made the most of his new lease on life, leading our team in scoring this year.

I didn’t have to wait 20 months for good news.

A few hours after my diagnosis, my coach offered me a spot on the team next year. I thought about it for a while, but ultimately accepted it. While a large part of me wanted to get the hell out of Davidson, I needed to end my career on my own terms.

Alec and I were lucky. Faced with being forced out of the game we love, we got a chance to walk out on our own. But the sad reality is that some athletes don’t get to do this. Athletics is a funnel; tons of people start out playing, but at this point in life, few still play for anything besides fun.

Some athletes burn out. Some want to do other things. Some just aren’t good enough. But once you reach college, where everyone has the passion and skill, the biggest funnel is injuries.

Take David Sisson ‘19. Dave was a freshman defender this year, but after playing his first game, he decided he couldn’t play anymore. A history of concussions made every tackle and header a serious risk. He had the rest of his life to think about.

He had to stop playing.

Or Alex Feliciano ‘15. He graduated last year and was a forward on the soccer team. He tore his ACL before his freshman year, but worked back to fitness and played his sophomore and junior year. Then during one of the last practices of his junior year, he slipped while trying to turn. He tore the ACL again and would never return to the field.

I could go on. I can think of about a dozen examples of athletes at Davidson whose careers have been ended by injury. Everyone else has, at some point, had their career at least interrupted by injury. The point of talking about this is not to be a downer. The point is to highlight an athlete’s unique relationship with their bodies, and how that relationship can be disrupted by a single misstep or one hard fall. It’s something that’s always on our minds. Because while there are things we do to prevent injuries, most of them are random, from career-ending ACL tears to sprained ankles with two-week recovery times. It’s unnerving to think about how a lifetime of work and dedication can end because of something largely out your control. It’s hard to know what to say to a friend who has just been told they can’t play anymore, and that they can’t do the thing they’ve spent most their life to doing. “Sorry” never seems to cut it. But I always think the same thing: that could be me.

If there is a bright side to this, it’s that seeing friends’ and teammates’ careers ended by injury has made me even more grateful for every day that I play. Every time I make the walk from our locker room to our field, I try to think about the people who would love to still be doing what I’m doing. No one plays forever, but I’m thankful that I’m not done yet.