2015 9 30 the davidsonian

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The Independent Student Newspaper of Davidson College since 1914

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Davidson now accepting mid-year transfers

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<:>I7J&KAL !"#$$%&'(")' Starting this January, Davidson College will begin accepting mid-year transfer students that have completed at least one year of college at a different institution. They are aiming to accept close to five students who will enter as either sophomores or juniors.

David Kraus, Director of Admission, explained that virtually every year the College has considered admitting mid-year transfers, but has always turned them down. This year, the Admissions Office deliberated, with different results: “We pulled together a meeting with student affairs, residential life, academic affairs to say, ‘What do you think about this?’” Kraus said.

Kraus anticipates that athletes will take advantage of the new policy, as coaches, in the past, have often requested Davidson to accept athletes mid-year. In fact, Kraus explained, his office “already has an application for one student hoping to compete at Davidson.”

Although Davidson has accepted many first semester transfers, mid-year transfers will most likely have a different experience adapting to a new campus. Taylor Miller ’17, a transfer student that came to Davidson last fall from Elon, remarked, “It does make it harder because there won’t be other freshmen getting adjusted to the campus at the same time.”

Shane Gilbert ’16, a transfer student that transferred into Davidson his sophomore year, agrees. “I felt less ostracized because the freshmen were also new to Davidson. These mid-year transfer students will be the only group going through orientation.”

Miller recounted the difficulties of transferring to a new school where everyone else is already acclimated. “It was hard but a lot better than staying where I was,” she said. Since Davidson requires that transfers have at least a year of college or university experience, most transfers, like Miller, are confident that Davidson will be the right fit.

Kraus explained that a common reason for transferring is because Davidson is “well known for relationships between the faculty and the students.” Students at larger universities recognize the benefits of a better ratio and want to take advantage of that resource by transferring to Davidson.

Davidson’s competitive admit rate of 21% is twice as competitive for transfer students: according to Kraus, the rate for transfer students is closer to 10%.

While being a transfer student comes with its challenges, Gilbert, who transferred from a large

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460 Fall 2012

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Transfer students

'DYLGVRQ DGPLWV DSSUR[LPDWHO\ RI VWXGHQWV ZKR DSSO\ HDFK \HDU IRU IDOO WUDQVIHU 7KHVH PHQ DQG ZRPHQ PDNH XS D VPDOO SRUWLRQ RI WKH LQFRPLQJ VWXGHQWV HDFK \HDU 'DWD IURP ZZZ GDYLGVRQ HGX DQG WKH :LOGFDW +DQGERRNV .%/+*0"%&'%1,2")33)%4*5.% state school with over 20,000 undergraduate students, focuses on the positives: “I will always appreciate that I experienced a different college environment,” he explained. My exposure to a large state university has given me a perspective centered on gratitude for how incredibly fortunate I am to be at Davidson. Everyone is different, and large universities are certainly better places for

some students, but I find it easier to develop in this smaller setting. I can engage and collaborate with professors, pursue outside activities, and immerse myself completely in my studies.”

Davidson’s choice to accept mid-year transfers looks like it has great potential to add more members to the community. Students should expect up to five of them in January.

Follow the Davidsonian on Twitter and Instagram: @The_Davidsonian

News

Page 2 September 30, 2015

College changes car share service from Enterprise to Zipcar 5(,' :$/.(5 !"#$$%&'(")' Zipcar has replaced Enterprise as the on-campus rental car service this year. Zipcar markets its product to millennials as a smart alternative to both owning a car and using traditional rental car

services; it claims its service relieves on-campus parking congestion, reduces carbon footprint, and provides a simpler payment system and reservation process. The car sharing system employs a mobile reservation process, by which students and faculty can reserve a car on campus any time for a single hourly or daily fee that includes gas

and insurance.

Zipcar’s convenient, millennial-marketed approach is not the only reason Davidson switched to it from Enterprise. “The new arrangement with Zipcar saves the College and SGA over $13,000 per year. We believe Zipcar’s marketing and promotion efforts will increase participation in the

program,” Jeff Mittelstadt, Davidson’s Director of Sustainability, said.

Mittlestadt also points out that Davidson students who have a membership on campus can use any other Zipcar location across the country.

Moreover, Zipcar gave free memberships to returning students who had originally had a membership with Enterprise on campus.

Zipcar stresses that its product is a better environmental alternative to traditional car rental services, as well as a better economic alternative. The company’s focuses on simplifying the car rental process, reducing carbon footprint, and relieving auto congestion in cities and on college campuses are the major reasons the College switched providers for student and faculty car rental services.

Registering for Zipcar at Davidson is simple and easy, and it does not require getting a form from anyone on campus. While the Davidson Sustainability office oversees the Zipcar service, renting cars now goes entirely through the company. To sign up, one must go online and register at zipcar.com/davidson. The process involves putting in basic information like your name, license number, credit card, and billing address. Rates on campus for Zipcar are cheaper than normal Zipcar rates. At $7.50 per hour and $69 per day, they are a dollar cheaper per hour and eight dollars cheaper per day compared to normal Zipcar rates. In addition to the hourly and daily fee, it is necessary to pay a $15 fee for a year of membership.

After completing the application and registering to receive a Zipcard in the mail, students can reserve a car through the Zipcar mobile app at any time. Short videos on the website – less than ten minutes total – go over the basics of Zipcar, and more complex and varied FAQs are outlined on their website in a clear fashion.

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Panel in Vann Center discusses ethics in legal services

ence morals and values on a day-to-day basis.

Overall, each spoke about the “broken” nature of the legal system and the absence of means that they all have experienced in their careers.

On September 22, the Vann Center for Ethics Absence of means symbolizes different things, hosted a panel discussing “Ethics in Legal Ser- according to each speaker: absence of proper vices.” Present were Calvin Murphy ‘70, a retiree funding, absence of enough legal aid lawyers, of the North Carolina Superior Courts, Hender- and absence of hard-working lawyers across the son Hill, Faith Fickling, and Ted Filette. Ron Gib- board. Henderson called for a complete “reworkson ’74, the President of the North Carolina Bar, ing” of the legal system that would offer more moderated the event. rehabilitated programs for incarcerated persons The discussion began with a definition of because each of these people “can’t be employed, ethics as “moral are ripped away from conduct,” which enfamily, and are serving compassed the ideas a sentence that is really of delivery of justice “It’s up to you to hold your elected lifelong”. and legal aid or abAfter the open resence thereof. Gib- officials accountable... marks, there was a son posed questions question posed regardregarding the cost whether each of the -Faith Fickling, “Ethics in Legal ing of legal and counselpanel members were ing services and the Services” Speaker optimistic about the lack of monetary repossibility of a solusources that the legal tion. Every participant system is currently responded affirmatively. The most prominent soexperiencing. Afterwards, he gave a brief intro- lution was our generation-- in the sense that we, duction about each of the members of the panel. as a community, are interested in social change Filette works at a legal services office in Charlotte and delving deeper into issues rather than just rewhere he has been a member of their team for lying on the surface level of what we’ve been told over 42 years; he works to ensure fair access of by newspapers, teachers, or social media. As said legal services to all, specifically focusing on land- by Fickling, “It’s up to you to hold your elected lord- tenet laws. Fickling is a supervising attor- officials accountable… It’s up to the community ney who has worked with low-income domestic to be involved in that [election process] and make violence victims. Hill is an executive for the 8th a change”.

Amendment Project, a movement to abolish the Overall, the members of the panel were indeath penalty in all states. Judge Murphy worked formative, wise, and optimistic about the future for a private practice as a criminal defense atton- of the legal system. Despite the lack of monetary rey for 25 years, served on the Superior Court for funds and lawyers, they believed that our generaseveral years, and then served in the corporate tion, in collaboration with the elder one, could business court. He also served as the President of truly make a difference in the legal system. the North Carolina Bar and has held three terms on the Davidson Board of Trustees.

Following introductions, the participants all had the opportunity to share their opinions of “Ethics in Legal Services” and how they experi-

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News Center for Interdisciplinary Studies fills academic gaps 0(/$1,( 5(,0(5 !"#$$%&'(")' Davidson students often speculate whether the college plans to develop its academics to provide more majors and minors that are in high demand by students. In fact, faculty members at Davidson constantly strive to support student interests, and have already made great gains in recent years with the addition of majors such as Environmental Studies, Africana Studies, and East Asian Studies. Prior to the establishment of these programs as official majors, students pursued these subjects through the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies (CIS).

CIS is a valuable resource for the school because it allows students to develop their academic interests and curiosities despite the lack of a fully structured program at Davidson. Dr. Fuji Lozada, Professor of Anthropology and Environmental Studies, and Director of CIS, refers to CIS as a “playground” and considers it an effective way to combine studies across disciplines without having to double major. Lozada explained that bioinformatics is essentially the study of computer science and biology and hopes that the CIS can be home to other interesting combinations in the future.

Some majors, such as neuroscience, benefit from the CIS major format because research is at the core of the curriculum, whereas other CIS majors have the potential to develop into independent programs outside of the Center. According to Dr. Shelley Rigger, Brown Professor of Political Science and Chinese Studies, and Assistant Dean for Educational Policy, student interest catalyzes the formation of new majors, but “changes are made with real deliberation.” Rigger further stated that investments must be made to ensure that a program can maintain its structural integrity as well as further the liberal arts mission of the school before it can transition out of the CIS. One of the greatest obstacles to creating a new major or minor is providing sufficient faculty to support the number of students who pursue it.

The Africana Studies major took a long time to finalize because the college did not have a historian of Africa and could not form a department until

it hired one. The Russian and Arab Studies Departments are also limited by faculty resources.

Both programs only offer minors because their departments are not large enough to ensure that students can complete their major requirements within four years. Furthermore, Rigger and Lozada agree that it does not make sense to “major in a professor”. Lozada explained that students who wish to study Russian or Arabic often combine study abroad with a CIS major in order to fulfill their major requirements.

Professor availability and course value also impact a department’s ability to staff a minor. The Political Science Department already experiences a high student-to-faculty ratio, so it cannot facilitate a minor without detracting from the major advising program that is currently in place. The Economics Department, on the other hand, has the resources to support a minor, and has incorporated a set of substantial courses into the minor that serve as a great value to student.

Another critical reason some studies exist only as minors and CIS majors is that Davidson faculty have not figured out how to fit the program into a liberal arts curriculum. According to Rigger, the benefit of a liberal arts education is that it allows students to “broaden their minds and develop a comprehensive understanding of the world”. In order to preserve this mission, Davidson does not train students to enter a certain profession such as business or education, but, instead, gives us the skills we need to become lifelong learners and leaders. Public health is considered a professionally focused area of study, so there remains no option to major in it despite the great amount of student interest it receives.

According to Rigger, the Medical Humanities Department which encompasses public health is reevaluating its program in order to better serve students.

Both Rigger and Lozada emphasized the value of the Davidson education and the effort that goes into meeting the students’ academic interests. Ultimately, the quality of the liberal arts curriculum found at Davidson allows students to choose from or create a wide range of majors and gain the skills to succeed in the future.

One of the greatest obstacles to creating a new major or minor is providing sufficient faculty to support the number of students who pursue it.

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Interested in writing for News? Email maclick@davidson.edu or kamcnaughton@davidson.edu

Page 3

Davidsonian.com

crime log Time

Description / Location

09/21/15 at 1837 hrs

Communicating Threats at Tomlinson.

Prosecution Declined.

09/25/15 at 1130 hrs

Larceny Misdemeanor (Textbooks) at Library.

Further Investigation.

09/25/15 at 1248 hrs

Injury to Real Property (golf cart) at Baker.

Prosecution Declined.

09/25/15 at 2349 hrs

Underage Consumption at Belk.

Dean Referral.

09/26/15 at 0034 hrs

Alcohol Aid & Abet Underage by Adult/Underage Consumption at Hart Dean Referral.

09/26/15 at 1430 hrs

Larceny Misdemeanor (MacBook) at Library.

Further Investigation.

09/26/15 at 0025 hrs

Underage Possession of Alcohol at Ryburn.

Dean Referral.

09/26/15 at 0020 hrs

Underage Possession of Alcohol x2 at Armfield.

Dean Referral.

09/26/15 at 0100 hrs

Underage Possession of Alcohol at Armfield.

Dean Referral.

living davidson

Page 4

September 30, 2015

Students from abroad find adventure in Davidson (*+,-*.+/0*.1%2+34,*+2%25.-,% .603+%.4732+/*8%+0%9.:/420*% ;%.*4%.%*,<%=03*+-> !"#$%&$&''%(')*(" !"#$$%&'(")'

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aniel Zawadzki ‘18 sat languidly on a library couch. In spite of his busy schedule and tight deadlines, he appeared confident and at ease. “Are you going to record me?” he asked, flashing his customary smile. “I will,” I said, laughing, acknowledging the awkwardness in questioning my close friend about life at Davidson. “So, Daniel, why are you here?”

I asked. Zawadski, an international student from Germany, responded to my first question in the same fashion as all my interviewees: a bit dumbfounded and unsure as to how he would respond. After a prolonged pause, he admitted, “I have no idea.” Like many international students, Zawadski’s journey to Davidson was marked by happy coincidences, multiple visits to government offices, and a common desire to pursue a liberal arts education.

International students in Davidson constitute a little over 7% of the overall student body.

Based on statistics published on the College’s website, in the spring of 2014 there were 144 international students enrolled at Davidson, 104 of whom held U.S. visas. Forty-one countries were represented on campus, with China (33 students), South Korea (13), the United King-

dom (11), and Greece (9) leading the pack. The incoming freshman class has the largest crop of international students so far, including students from Latin America, Eastern and Western Europe, and South Asia.

Although there is no question that their experiences at Davidson are unique, international students can find it difficult to precisely define their college experiences. “It’s hard to generalize [the college experience] for international students, because it really depends where you come from and the type of person you are,” Oscar D’Amicis ‘18, of Italy, explained. Like most at Davidson, international students are involved in various campus activities, deal with the struggle of leaving home, and are committed to excelling in their individual areas of academic interest.

However, fundamental cultural differences between international and American students are prevalent. For Eirini Souruolidi ‘18 and Martha Kapazoglou ‘19, both of Greece, pursuing a college education in the United States has forced them to change their eating habits (“Who eats at 12 p.m.?” they exclaimed) and their attitude towards punctuality (“Why are people always early?”).

For others, such as Maria Gabriela Coloma ‘16, of Bolivia, the biggest adjustments to college life in the United States involved dealing with a language barrier. “I never had trouble speaking English in an academic setting,” Coloma recalled. “When it came to socializing in English, that’s where I experienced the biggest culture shock. I didn’t get certain expressions, and what frustrated me the most is when people didn’t

understand what I was saying.”

Zawadski believes that facing a language barrier has made him stronger and allowed him to experience more personal growth. “As internationals, we have to be stronger,” he explained.

“We have already risen to the challenge of studying in another country.”

Although transitioning into college in a different, and in some cases, new country is challenging, Davidson has different programs and organizations that foster diversity and make the transition as smooth as possible. Upon stepping foot on campus for the first time, international students attend a separate orientation session that allows them to become acclimated to the college environment and informs them about the unique resources available to them. International pre-orientation has, in the past, created special avenues for international students, enabling them to navigate through different spheres of campus life and creating a tight-knit community.

“International students are very keen to meet each other,” Kapazoglou remarked. However, she worries that the pre-orientation can initially segregate the international community from the rest of the students. “I feel as if pre-orientation categorizes internationals from other students,” she said. “Sometimes it seems as if the administration is trying to tell us, ‘these are more your people than other people’.”

As noted by students, cultural assimilation is troublesome. In response to that challenge, the College also offers a Host Family Program in which international students are paired with

town of Davidson residents. These families provide a web of security for students, particularly for those who do not visit their home country during the course of their education.

Furthermore, student organizations such as IsPAC (International Student Programming and Advisory Committee) organize student activities on weekends and during school breaks for international students. “Our mission is to help international students here have a better life at Davidson outside of the academic life,” Xudong Brandon Liang ‘17, of China, explained. “Since we are not technically an activity board-approved student organization, IsPAC is heavily run by the idea of serving the international student community. At least from my perspective, this is my role in an organization as well as part of my life.”

“Davidson chose me, and that’s why I’m here,” Coloma told me confidently. The international experience at Davidson is often initially motivated by a desire to venture into the unknown. Gradually, however, the experience becomes a rite of passage, one during which we grow and transcend the idea that our nationality is the ultimate marker of our identity.

Now a senior, Coloma looks back on her time at Davidson as a time during which she was able to pursue her intellectual passions and mold her social identity. “The most pivotal moment for me,” she said, was when I became a Davidson student rather than an international student.”

Vita Dadoo Lomeli ‘18 is an international student from Mexico.

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perspectives

Page 5 September 30, 2015

Continuous uncertainty

Do we listen enough?

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had no idea what to expect when I first arrived in Davidson. The international pre-orientation was a hectic four days that reminded me of summer camp, and the rest of the orientation was a combination of dread and tiredness, mixed with a bit of nervousness. The first week was filled with the excitement and anxiety that comes with being a freshman, along with curiosity and hope for the unknown. Even though every single person new to the campus felt the same way, my background and the fact that I am an international student seemed to be a significant part of me wherever I went.

Having lived in New Jersey and California for a total of six years during the most crucial part of my life, I considered the flight to North Carolina almost like going back to a homeland rather than a flight to a strange new state. I could not believe the fact that I was actually here until I got out of the airport and saw the great blue expanse above, and the endlessly long highways that are rarely seen in Korea. On the ride to Davidson, I remember wanting to feel like I had returned to my home, yet the hominess was not there even though I had finally returned. Despite California and New Jersey being in the same country, I felt like I was in an unfamiliar territory, completely oblivious to the lifestyle of the people here.

During the first couple of days here, I felt the most lost I have ever felt. The one country I felt was my home did not feel as welcoming as I had once remembered, and I felt like I had no roots or attachments to any place in this world. I had not realized how significant and great it was that I

had this diverse background as a part of me. I was only able to look at how much I wished I had one place where all of my family and friends could be and I could return to during breaks.

Maybe it’s this connection of being unfamiliar to an area and trying to make this town home for the next four years, but there is this sense of community and feeling of ease within the international group at Davidson. I had no idea where Tbilisi was nor that people all the way from Palestine and Maldives would even hear about Davidson. It was interesting to find out that someone was from Germany but spoke Latin, or that someone was half Taiwanese when I would have never expected it. Hearing about the different lifestyles and expectations of people around the world has been fascinating, and even though I am considered an international student here, I am reminded of the vastly different experiences each and every individual has, and the diverse backgrounds that make this campus an intriguing place.

In the end, we all have different backgrounds and experiences that are unique to ourselves, whether those aspects were created in the United States, Palestine, China, Turkey, Italy or Germany. We all have roots that we can trace back to a particular place or multiple places. While the uncertainty of belonging to some place will impact many of us, perhaps the most we can do is know that this is a temporary stop in our lifelong journey. Change is an inevitable cycle of life that allows us to appreciate and open our eyes to the different experiences everyone has, and lets us see life in a new perspective.

Yeonjae Han `19 is undeclared from Los Angeles, CA. Contact her at yehan@davidson.edu.

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It’s a normal Sunday.

When I was in high school, like all Davidson students, I was involved in a few different service organizations. One of my favorites was the community outreach club. So there I am, playing bingo with senior citizens at the local nursing home, with the beeping of someone’s breathing machine (every seven seconds) keeping time for me as I call the bingo balls. The small basement room can barely contain the personalities within; between the B-4’s and the winner’s quarter distribution, I hear some outlandish comments.

“College is expensive these days. This is helpful advice,” the elderly man explained his earlier non-sequitur.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I replied. Laughing, I call the next ball. Spending time with these senior citizens went beyond just calling letters and numbers in winning combinations. Sometimes I listened to complaints about food quality (it’s worse than usual today). Other times, it means I get unorthodox advice regarding how to make some extra cash--through theft, in this case.

My job depended on the visit, but most Sundays I am listener-in-chief, which is fine by me.

Empathizing with them gave me a purpose. Listening is one of the most important ways to care for a person.

Do we listen enough at Davidson? I’m not sure.

Sometimes I think we forget to hear the voices in our community who don’t scream to be heard. A few weekends ago I went to a leadership retreat in the woods with 18 other sophomores. While there, the facilitators distinguished between “pop-

out” questions (ones that were posed to the entire group) vs. check-in time, where each person got a chance to take their turn to talk. Pop-out questions catered to the extroverts, the people who will make their voices heard in a group. Many humanities classes at Davidson are like this, just by virtue of their Q&A style. This is great for opinionated extroverts, but for those too shy to carve out their own time, their voice gets lost. I wish we more often did the check-in approach. If professors started each class period by asking everyone to give them a ten second summary of their days, we could all get a much greater sense for how our community stands and what we need from each other.

The thing I noticed most this weekend in the woods was the silence. This cliché rang true just as our phones did not ring at all. No road noise.

No Chambers bell. No voice crying out from your email saying “read me.” The sort of absolute silence we found in the woods was the best platform for listening to each other. The silence let us hear, and the activities helped us to learn how to listen.

So the first step is to limit distractions, and to be available to hear what’s being said. But I also think we need to encourage and affirm the opinions of quieter students, because there’s so much that they observe. This weekend doing different rope challenge courses, we talked over so many different strategies. But usually the winning solution was whispered, not yelled, and I only wish the microphone could be passed more often to those quieter peers. I miss calling bingo at the elderly home, yet there are plenty of people here who need to be listened to as well. Oh, and do any of you guys know how to rob a bank?

Erin Davenport `18 is a Political Science major from Marietta, GA. Contact her at erdavenport@davidson.edu.

Tolerance should not be the cardinal virtue at Davidson

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avidson College has been an arena in which my personal ideology has grown and in some cases changed throughout the years. I will always hold that dearly, but in my time at Davidson I have experienced the troubling reality that tolerance has become the cardinal virtue of the college and intolerance has become it’s greatest sin. Not necessarily in theory, but certainly in practice. I do not believe that tolerance is a virtue, because it is based in apathy. For me to tolerate another person I never have to interact with them. If tolerance is a virtue, then it is a virtue of avoidance. In some cases, tolerance is simply prejudice wrapped in silence. If prejudice is never vocalized or publicized it can masquerade itself as tolerance.

G.K. Chesterton once said, “A prejudice is a private thing, and even its tolerance is misanthropic.”* Prejudice still exists here at Davidson, you just never hear about it because tolerance

has stopped the conversation. We have forgotten how to disagree. The liberal arts students have lost their rhetorical skills because they are not allowed to disagree. We never disagree in the name of tolerance while secretly hating our ideological opponents. Unfortunately the Davidson culture believes it is abolishing prejudice by preaching tolerance. Tolerance might make Davidson College look good, but it does not make Davidson’s students good.

Chesterton says, “Prejudices are divergent, creeds are always in collision.”** Tolerance has only silenced prejudice, it has not addressed the problem. We now avoid the collision of creeds because we are too afraid to actually believe anything. We live terrified of offending someone, so we water down our words and never speak our minds.

If we never speak our minds, how can our minds change? If we never articulate what we believe, then how can we believe anything? Having conviction does not guarantee correctness, but conviction is a building block of truth. I have interacted with students at Davidson who can talk for hours and never say anything. There

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is no conviction in their speech, only a masterful ability to never step on anyone’s toes. These conversations are impressively uninspiring because I never disagree with these students nor do I ever learn anything from them. If you believe something you should tell people. They may not agree with you. They may challenge your thinking, but you are never forced to come to terms with how you view the world unless you articulate your convictions. The danger of a tolerant campus is the silencing of convictions.

Tolerance is not a utopian ideal. It would be a shame if your parents, friends or professors simply tolerated you. Deep down we all hope that our parents love us, our friends respect us, and our professors care for us. Tolerance from those people is precisely what we do not want.

It is also a shame to deconstruct an ideal with nothing to build in its place. I do believe love is a virtue. But, love is not nearly as comfortable as tolerance. C.S. Lewis says, “Love is more stern and splendid than mere kindness.”*** Kindness cares how you feel, love cares who you are.

Love challenges your ideas. Love cares enough about you to disagree with you. Love can nev-

er masquerade itself as tolerance, because love sticks with you on your journey to figure out the world. It is so much easier to tolerate someone then to love them. It is difficult to love. But I believe we should hold ourselves to a higher ideal.

We should do away with tolerance and try to love. We need to learn that it is okay to disagree with someone and still love, respect, and care for that person.

Maybe you disagree with what I’ve said.

That’s wonderful; let’s talk about it! *Chesterton, G. K. What’s Wrong with the World. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1910. Print. **Ibid. ***Lewis, C. S. The Four Loves. New York: Harcourt, Brace, 1960. Print.

Dan Casey `14 was a Religion major. He is studying at the Duke Divinity School in Durham, NC. Contact him at daniel.casey@ duke.edu.

THE â&#x20AC;&#x153;MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEEDâ&#x20AC;? ISSUE This  bar

HAS Â A Â DIAMOND Â IN Â IT

Davidson College Class Of 2038 Takes Its First Steps

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Humans of Davidson Blog Only Pictures of Campus Squirrels Page ah-two

Seniors Discover Weekly Spotify Playlist Just 1.6 Hours Of Screaming

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Junior At Last Breaks His Streak of Calling Mother Every Week

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Union Station Sales In Floss Spike As Parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Weekend Approaches

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High School Musical Franchise Sues First-Year For Copyright Infringement On Facebook Album Title

This  Issue  Brought  to  You  By:  Undeclared  Sophomores  (too  real)

THE Â DAVIDSONIAN

Discovered: Davidsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Own Room of Requirement

Sunshine Continues Her Strike Until All of Her Ludicrous Demands Are Met

Wilma Longbottom (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;17) was only looking for a bathroom last Sunday when she ran across something much greater. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d chugged a few Nantucket Nectars that morning, so I was about to burst with no refuge in sight. Then suddenly a gender-neutral restroom appeared in place of a library carrel. I was floored. Funniest thing though, I never did find it again.â&#x20AC;?

Like something out of a childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s novel about a school of witchcraft and wizardry, the space that some have dubbed â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Room of Respiteâ&#x20AC;? only appears when students need it the most.

Because the roomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s location remains secret and ever-changing, we couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t investigate it ourselves. Fortunately, several students who have encountered the Room of Respite have come out of the woodwork to give us the inside scoop. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have three take-homes and an essay due this week, so I really needed a place to have a good panic-cry for about four hours,â&#x20AC;? reported Elena Jones (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;18), â&#x20AC;&#x153;On a whim I opened a mysterious door that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d never seen before and entered a room

Page four

Davidson Cuts Out Middle Man By Upgrading Vam-Van To Ambulance

Page Drum Solo

First Year Invests in Mini-Trampoline; Becomes Most Popular Kid On Hall Page Guitar Solo

Whiz Kid Prospie States That College Will Be â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Breezeâ&#x20AC;?

Page Thank You Goodnight!

The Yowlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Senatorial Campaign Platform We vow to create the most funny, least informative poster.

We vow to insert buzzwords into everything we meal plan.

We vow to become power hungry and eat the meal plan.

We vow to overthrow the meritocracy.

We vow to steal the moon.

Your Davidson Honor Section

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Like something out of a childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s novel about a school of witchcraft and wizardry, the space that some have dubbed â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Room of Respiteâ&#x20AC;? only appears when students need it the most.â&#x20AC;? full of two-ply tissues, punching bags, and shoulders to cry on! That ended up being a really good day.â&#x20AC;?

Misery isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t all the room is good for. Other eyewitness accounts report it turning into a haven for sexiled vagabonds, an affordable restaurant that actually caters to the college demographic, and â&#x20AC;&#x153;just a chill place to pop open a beer and watch the game.â&#x20AC;?

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the Room of Respite is its dual-purpose of also being a holding room for all of Davidsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lost and forgotten items.

Frank Clodman (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;19) describes one of his ventures to the room: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m always loosing my cat card, so I go there all the time. My card is always there, along with a ton of other crap no one remembers. Left socks, transfer students, teacher evaluation forms. You name it, the room has got it!â&#x20AC;?

A spokesperson from RLO was questioned about the room, but refused to comment and excused himself to â&#x20AC;&#x153;make some calls about a possible solution to the impending housing crisis inevitable when the juniors come back from abroad.â&#x20AC;?

As we approach day ten of dreary New England-like weather, the Sun still appears to show no signs of ending her tantrum. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This trouble all started with the darn Super Moonâ&#x20AC;?, reports local astronomer and consultant-to-the-stars, Esmerelda Diamond, â&#x20AC;&#x153;There was a huge fuss about it, hashtags and everything. That caused the Sun to feel a bit, well, outshined. Now sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pouting behind a cumulonimbus cloud until she gets the attention she feels she deserves.â&#x20AC;?

Attention is what sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s getting, but not the sort she wants. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After all weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done for her, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d think sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be a little more grateful,â&#x20AC;? cried James Peach â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;19. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve harvested her energy for food, captured her light for work, even tolerated her burns! Without us, sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d just be another aged and thankless star.â&#x20AC;?

Others are more supportive. One campus group, Davidson Dungeons and Dragons, conjectured that the Sun has every right to stay behind the clouds. President Julia Preziosi â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;18 explains: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Sun works 12 hour â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Super Moon caused the shifts every day! Who are we Sun to feel a bit, well, outshined. to say she canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take a vacation every once in a while?

Now sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pouting behind a cloud Besides, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re playing a vamuntil she gets the attention she pire campaign this month, so the eternal darkness works feels she deserves.â&#x20AC;? well for our aesthetic.â&#x20AC;?

Support is all well and good, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s imperative to recognize how dire the situation truly is. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d better give her what she wants--and fast,â&#x20AC;? recommends Bill Gates, the mayor of Seattle. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Years ago she pulled this same stint with us, demanding that we rename the Seahawks the Sunjocks. We resisted, and look where that got us.â&#x20AC;?

In order to avoid similar dreary damnation, Davidsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s administration is working as hard as it can to meet the Sunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s outrageous stipulations. But some have proved difficult. Among the more ludicrous of the Sunsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; demands, she has requested that we disband all SPF above 30 so she can â&#x20AC;&#x153;love us rightâ&#x20AC;?, discontinue sunglasses as to better appreciate her light, and tune all of our televisions to the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gilmore Girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; marathon so she can â&#x20AC;&#x153;finally see what happened between Rory and Dean.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;This isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t coming out of nowhere,â&#x20AC;? explained the Sun in an exclusive interview via satellite. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It all started with those sultry lamps. Electric light I was okay with. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! But then you had to start humanizing your bulb-holders. Lamps are tall, curvy, sleek-- something I know Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll never be. Either the b*tches go or I do.â&#x20AC;?

At press time, vitamin D-deprived students were reportedly writing her sonnets (now called sunnets), and offering her sunflowers as an apology. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wanted roses,â&#x20AC;? was the Sunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only response.

Thus her jealous rage continues.

The Theory of Evolution Does Not Believe in Texas In a controversial tweet posted yesterday morning, the Theory of Evolution announced that it did not, in fact, believe in Texas. Responding to a history lesson its son sat through on the Battle of the Alamo, Evolution tweeted, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want government conspiracies like this so-called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Texasâ&#x20AC;? being taught to my children. #teachthecontroversy.â&#x20AC;? Evolution was quickly mobbed by both critics and defenders, leading it to delete the tweet.

Evolution later released a statement clarifying its disbelief in the prominent American state: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Geographers believe that Texas exists, but they havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come up with any proof yet. Texas is just a theory.â&#x20AC;? Evolution elaborated on its belief, citing the lack of photographic evidence of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo to bolster itsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; point.

Evolution went on to say that the lack of cowboys in the United States serves as proof for its allegations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I mean, everybody knows that Texas is where cowboys come from. But when was the last time that you saw a guy on a horse herding

â&#x20AC;&#x153;When was the last time you saw a guy on a horse herding cattle across the freeway? If Texas were real, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d see a lot more cowboys. â&#x20AC;?

cattle across the freeway? If Texas were real, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d see a lot more cowboys.â&#x20AC;?

Angry Facebook grandmother Tabitha Carrey agreed with the statements. In a minion-themed image she posted today, Carrey stated: â&#x20AC;&#x153;If Texas is real, why isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it in the Bible? They say we have freedom of worship in this country, but the schools can force propaganda about alleged geopolitical institutions down my grandkidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; throats?â&#x20AC;? She continued to state that she didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really mind schools teaching the existence of the second largest state, but that they should at least have a course on the arguments of Texas-skeptics.

We reached out to Gregory Konrad, leading cartographer at Michigan State University, to respond to Evolutionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s statements. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Evolutionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s claims are ludicrous. 95% of geographers and cartographers, and nine out of 10 dentists strongly believe in the existence of Texas. And the other 5% are just irate Mexican bureaucrats.â&#x20AC;?

Evolution recently announced plans to use the momentum generated by the controversy to push for the removal of references to Texas from classes in itsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; home state of Delaware. The American Civil Liberties Union has pledged to stop the campaign, marking the first time ever the ACLU has defended Texas.

sports

Page 7 Davidsonian.com

Men’s tennis continues solid fall campaign !"#$%&'(%)*&# !"#$$%&'(")' The team may not begin official competition until mid-February, but men’s tennis is wasting no time preparing for the upcoming season. Led by the talented sophomore duo of Artem Khrapko ‘18 and Shamuel Chaudry ‘18, both of whom were named to the A-10 All-Conference Team this past spring, the team has high aspirations.

To say that they will be competitive this year in the A-10 this year would be a glaring understatement.

Given their level of talent and experience, the Wildcats are on the brink of another breakthrough year, with the team viewing an A-10 championship as a reasonable, rather than distant, goal. But confidence in one’s potential for success is only half the battle. Coach Drew Barrett has stressed the importance of taking practice seriously and competing well in fall tournaments, using this crucial time to build upon the foundation of hard work and preparation that could propel the team to success in the spring.

Davidson had its first opportunity to prove itself this past weekend, hosting an invitational with USC-Upstate, UNC-Charlotte, and former Southern Conference rival Appalachian State.

Although Davidson had been hoping to christen the newly constructed 12-court outdoor complex by hosting the invitational, all matches were held inside the Knobloch Tennis Center this past Saturday and Sunday due to inclement weather.

In their first day of competition, the ‘Cats competed solely against UNC-Charlotte, recording four singles wins and a pair of doubles wins against the 49ers. Davidson continued to showcase its plethora of young talent, with sophomores Khrapko and David Hager ‘18 recording singles wins in addition to those from Jordan Hart ‘17 and J.B. Gough ‘17. Hart’s comeback victory after dropping the first set 2-6, and Khrapko’s victory at No. 1 singles, were highlights of what was a laudable effort by the ‘Cats against tough competition. In doubles, the duos of Hager and Zack Zapatero ‘17 and Gough and Jack Riazzi ‘18 also earned victories.

On the tournament’s second day, the ‘Cats experienced a similar level of success against Appalachian State. David Hager finished off the weekend with a second singles victory, while Chaudry, Riazzi, and Alex Howard ‘16 also earned victories. Ricky Saad ‘17 also earned a victory in a

hard-fought match, persevering through a first set loss of 3-6 to win the final two sets in 6-4, 6-3.

Eli Abernethy ‘19, a walk-on, followed in similar fashion, cruising to an impressive 6-3, 6-1 victory, performing well in his first ever college match. When asked about how it felt playing in his first match as a Wildcat, Abernethy acknowledged, “It definitely can’t be compared to any high school match I’ve ever played in. There’s a consistently higher energy and intensity at this level that far surpasses what I’ve ever experienced before.” He also added, “there’s definitely more

pressure too. Regardless, it was exciting to finally get out there and see what I could do.”

Hoping to build off the success of this past weekend’s tournament, Men’s Tennis looks to continue its focused and demanding push toward an A-10 title by gaining more experience this fall season. With the team still figuring out its lineup, and with so much subject to change, the ‘Cats are as motivated as ever to continue competing in high level tournaments. Men’s Tennis will next be competing in the USTA regional championship in Cary, N.C. from October 16-18.

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Bruce seeks to carry ‘Cats in final season J-<;H<4/G$F:-A$C>5/$E knee injury during her junior year of high school that required two surgeries. “My surgeon wasn’t positive I would ever be able to play soccer again,” Bruce explained.

Through perseverance and dedicated recovery, Bruce was recruited to play as a Tar Heel at UNC, one of the best women’s soccer programs in the country. In two seasons there, she played in eighteen games, starting three.

After transferring from UNC, Bruce had an exceptional debut season with the Wildcats, scoring two goals and assisting on another three for seven points, ranking second on the team in goals and points. “I was accepted for my talent right away and bonded with the team before the season even started,” Bruce explained.

Transferring made it hard on Bruce because she had to switch her major from Journalism to Sociology at Davidson. Determined to graduate on time this upcoming May, Bruce has to take three to four sociology classes a semester. Although this work load can be difficult to manage at times, she enjoys her classes. “It doesn’t seem like I’m doing work all of the time,” adding cheekily, “sometimes it seems like I’m learning about things that I like learning about.”

“The thought of getting better drives me” she continued. “I truly enjoy seeing improvement in all aspects of my game. But more importantly, my teammates, family, and coaches drive me because without them, I wouldn’t have a reason for playing. They’re my family and the reason that I enjoy getting better.” This attitude and admiration for the game has gotten Bruce to where she is, and is setting the pace for where she wants to go.

While she enjoys playing for the ‘Cats, Bruce has high aspirations to play professionally in Europe, her ultimate goal being to play for the English National Team. She wants to start playing professional ball, and then work her way up the youth system there, with the hopes of earning a spot on the full national team roster. The rest of the season lies ahead for Bruce, with A-10 play beginning on October 1 at home against VCU.

Lessons from a loser: Why and how to root for a struggling team )"!)$1(#*(#

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or many students entering Davidson who have gotten used to watching winning football all their lives, this time of year can be tough.

I have a message for those students: check your football privilege.

Often their attitude comes from growing up in the southeast, supporting an SEC team or perennial college contender. Or it comes from high school, where many future Davidson students got to watch big-time hometown football.

But not all of us had that luxurious experience.

While your high school team was competing for the state title, mine was trying to recruit the basketball team’s center to play wide receiver in the red zone (even though they never got there).

Yes, my Maine West Warriors were consistently terrible. During my four years they won three games, but I still went to every one of their contests.

Now, you might be asking, “Tait, isn’t that because you were in the marching band?” Touché, but save the jokes for later, because there is nothing like being forced to watch your beloved team lose over and over to prepare you for a life of volatile football fandom.

I’m embarrassingly proud to admit that I am a bit of an expert in this area. In college, I root for the University of Illinois Fighting Illini, who haven’t had a winning regular season since 2007. In the NFL, my team is the Arizona Cardinals who, before recent success, made the playoffs once in 20 years.

So I have some sage counsel to offer all those

who are just now encountering a losing football team for the first time. Contrary to what you might believe, there are plenty of reasons to support a team that isn’t winning, and I, better than anyone, can show you how.

There is no greater sin in all of fandom than turning on your team just because they aren’t winning. Any football fan like myself who has been through the worst of times without any of the good times will tell you that anyone who gives up on his team because of bad results never really loved his school in the first place.

Pride isn’t spirit. You don’t just have it when your team is doing well. Pride is earned from years of fandom under any conditions, especially losses. So just be happy you have a team to root for. Even if you team loses consistently, over time you will learn to wear it as a badge of honor.

I wouldn’t try to convince you to keep rooting for a losing team if there were no possibility of a reward. One of the best parts of sticking with your terrible team through thick and thin is the light at the end of the tunnel. What could possibly be better than watching your team win a championship knowing you’ve been with them through it all?

I got a taste of it when the Cardinals worked their way into the Super Bowl in 2009 after going 5-11 just two years before. I would not stop bragging to my friends that I had been a fan the whole time, and they agreed that I had license to do so.

But what if I had given up after that fifth straight losing season? Closer to home, what if Davidson had fired Bob McKillop after the three straight losing seasons that opened his tenure?

The point is that you have to walk through the weeds to get to the flowers. Football fans should

know that consistent losing seasons can pay off even bigger in the end.

Life would be great if everyone could win every game. But life isn’t fair, and therefore, neither is football.

Even in today’s America where every kid gets a participation trophy just for trying, fans don’t get a similar privilege. We still must bear every tear-jerking last second loss or gut-wrenching blowout without means of compensation.

But being a football fan isn’t easy. If it were, everyone would do it. Being shoved and kicked into the dirt alongside your team makes you that much tougher once you get back up.

If you need another incentive, you can put it on your resume: “unwavering resolve in the face of loss and hardship.” Who says Davidson doesn’t give you the skills to get a job?

But how exactly do you root for a losing team?

As we have learned the last week, you can’t appreciate a sunny day without some rainy ones.

In football, this principle is a simple payoff: Every interception makes you appreciate the next touchdown that much more.

When I was in high school, it wasn’t “we scored a touchdown!” but “we got a first down!”

Instead of walking away beaming after a win, we would leave happy that we just didn’t get shutout.

Once a kid ran onto the field in a morph suit and did a cartwheel just because we were winning at halftime. He outran security, juked a cop, and hopped the fence to a getaway car, so we chanted all second half for the offensive coordinator to “put blue man in!”

The importance of quality over quantity in celebration can be emphasized here. If there’s less to celebrate, you expend less energy, so when the

one good thing happens, you can go all out.

If you really need to, pick up a second team.

If your team is that bad, no one will blame you for choosing another team to follow just to keep yourself sane. That way, you can explore your fandom and root for a team that will consistently make you happy while still taking credit for any unexpected wins your original team gets. It’s a win-win situation.

When the Cardinals were at the depths of their despair I decided to start following the upand-coming Carolina Panthers. I never gave up on my Cards, watching every game, win or lose.

But it made much more sense to watch Marcel Shipp fumble the ball into oblivion week after week knowing that I had Jake Delhomme to fall back on.

But keep going. This is my last and most inspirational piece of advice regarding losing fandom.

All good fans know that we are just as important as the players. It is our team as much as theirs.

So, in the immortal words of Coach Herb Brooks, “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.”

Anyone who has ever played a sport knows that it means so much more if you’re playing for something bigger than yourself. This is where fans actually come in. If we want our Davidson football team to keep working to break out of their slump, we should put in as much effort in the stands as they do on the field. Attend every game and make your support known, not because you’re expecting a win, but because you want them to succeed.

They are our friends and classmates. This is our school, and they are our team. As long as they keep going, we should too.

sports

Page 8 September 30, 2015

A standout on the field, Bruce looks to lead Wildcats to A-10 tourney in senior season !"#$%&#%'()"$%%*(+&"%,-& ./01&2*345&6%73$&8')& )#$99$:&79&8$%&+'-$! "#!$#%&'#

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ornelius native Vicky Bruce ‘16 is determined to go out with a bang in her final season. Her vision on the field, versatile foot-skills, and strength in the air have brought the women’s soccer team success this season. “Individually I would like to make a name for myself this year. I want to stand out and prove to my coaches and teammates how hard I’ve worked,” Bruce said. As a reliable powerhouse leading the mid-field with 12points, she is already doing just what she aims for.

Bruce works diligently on and off the field to yield the results she desires. You can find her on the turf after-hours, studying hard on weekends to get ahead, in the fitness center improving her fitness outside of practice, and always working to mend her weaknesses. All of her hard work on and off the field is certainly paying off.

“Everything you do as a student and as a person affects how you perform as an athlete,” Bruce said. “And it takes a lot out of you. But this is also the thing I love most about being a D1 athlete making individual sacrifices for your team’s success.”

Bruce recently earned the women’s soccer program’s first-ever Atlantic 10 Player of the Week award after leading the ‘Cats to victory on the road against Wofford and Georgia State.

Her role on the field has changed since last year but Bruce acknowledged, “I take it upon myself to be the person that demands the ball. If there’s a game-winning play needing to happen, I put pressure on myself to be a part of it and to make it happen.”

On September 18, Bruce scored the game-winning goal with only one second to go in the second overtime period against Wofford, and also had a career-high of nine shots on net. “Seeing the ball in the back of the net was the most exhilarating feeling in the world—you never imagine that happening with just one second left,” Bruce reflected. Two days later against Georgia State, Bruce assisted two of the ‘Cats’ three goals in their 3-1 victory, marking her third two-assist game of her collegiate career. She followed that up against Francis Marion this past weekend, with a school-record four assists in one game in a 7-0 drubbing.

Seeing her team’s three-game losing streak turn into a three-game winning streak, Bruce is

thrilled about where the season is headed. The team’s dynamic off the field is making a difference. “We have a really good relationship on the field,” she says. “We’re connected and everyone is playing for each other. Everyone has a role on this team.” The ‘Cats will be hosting the conference tournament at home at Alumni Stadium this year, and Bruce is excited about potentially playing in it on their home field rather than watching from the stands. To do that, they’ll need turn their non-conference success into A-10 success.

The Wildcats were not always fortunate to have Bruce on their roster. She suffered a severe

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omen’s cross country headed to the Charlotte Invitational last Friday for its first and only 6K of the year. The Wildacats laced up their spikes for the sloppy conditions to take on several strong programs such as UNC Charlotte and College of Charleston, among others. In the pack of 107 runners was Greensboro, N.C. native, Caroline Yarbrough ‘19.

Yarbrough led all runners in the unorthodox 6K with a time of 21:52.0, a whole 22 seconds before the second place finisher. Allison Cheeseman ‘18 was the second Wildcat to finish, with a

Women’s Cross Country 9/25 First Place at Charlotte Invitational Caroline Yarbrough - First overall Field Hockey 9/27 Davidson William & Mary

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Golf 9/28-9/29 Ninth Place at Primland Collegiate David Sargent - 23rd overall Men’s Soccer 9/29 Duke Davidson

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time of 22:36.1, placing seventh. Sierra Ponthier ‘18 followed shortly after to capture 10th place, while Sarah Sears ’18 took 12th. Caroline Turner ’17 rounded out Davidson’s all-important top five with a 14th place finish to seal a Wildcats victory.

The efforts of these five were enough to pull out a nail-biting win, topping host UNCC by only four points.

Yarbrough, recently named the A-10 Women’s Cross Country Rookie of the Week for the second time this season, has gotten off to a hot start this fall. Although her success in the sport is not new, the amount of focus and effort she is putting into it is. She is making the transition from being a multi-sport athlete in high school. There, she was able to play field hockey, soccer, basketball, track,

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and cross country competitively. However, now at the Division 1 level, she has decided to put all of her effort into running.

Yarbrough wakes up each morning with one goal on her mind: “to keep improving and continue to get faster.

“As strange as it sounds,” she continued, “I actually get so excited when I hear my alarm go off at 5:55 a.m. on Tuesday and Fridays.” Despite some early-morning training and intense runs each day, Yarbrough enjoys her practices because “it also means I will get to see my entire team, and that just makes my day.”

The camaraderie of the teams, both men’s and women’s, is the most enjoyable part of her experience. “Our team does so much more beyond just competing and training together,” she explained.

“From our preseason trip to the mountains to our Common Hour Bible study, spending so much time together has led to a great team dynamic.”

The effects of the close-knit team are evident in the team’s results, which have seen it earn a second place finish in the Richmond Invitational and a strong finish at the Commodore Classic against very tough opponents. Yarbrough led the charge with second (out of 60) and 40th (out of 210) place finishes respectively. Cheeseman has followed closely behind to provide a powerful top two, finishing fiifth at the Richmond Invitational and running a solid 17:52.9 5K in Nashville.

Yarbrough and the Wildcats plan to build on this momentum throughout the year, getting better and better each time they step onto the course.

The goals are certainly high for this team paced by youngsters such as Yarbrough and Cheeseman. Winning conference this year, along with a strong finish at Regionals, is certainly not out of the question.

The team will take a bit of a break before facing its next opponents at the Royals Cross Country Challenge on October 9.

A-10 Men’s Cross Country Performer of the Week Daniel Samet ’16 and the rest of the men’s team heads to Louisville this upcoming Saturday.

9/26 Francis Marion Davidson

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Volleyball 9/27 Davidson Rhode Island

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Upcoming Women’s Soccer vs. VCU Thursday at 7pm Field Hockey at Saint Francis Friday at 3pm Volleyball vs. George Mason Friday at 7pm Swimming at NC Collegiate Friday-Saturday Football vs. Valparaiso Saturday at 1pm Men’s Soccer vs. GW Saturday at 7pm Men’s XC at Louisville Classic Saturday Golf at Tar Heel Intercollegiate Saturday-Sunday Men’s Tennis at ITA Championship Saturday-Sunday