9 9 2015 davidsonian

the davidsonian

SEPTEMBER 9, 2015 VOL. 108 ISSUE 1

The Independent Student Newspaper of Davidson College since 1914

College welcomes largest ever freshman class STEFFANEY WOOD Senior Staff Writer

NEWS Inside the workings of Union Board 3

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s the largest class in the history of the college, the 513 members of the Class of 2019 are part of the college’s plan to eventually expand to a student body of 2,000. Although this first-year class only has nine more enrolled students than a year ago, this gradual increase represents the new ideal number of incoming students.

The decision to expand the college came about as a result of wanting to increase overall diversity and become more similar in size to peer institutions. A total of 2,000 students will leave roughly 1,850 on campus at any given time, accounting for those who are studying abroad and living off-campus.

“The number of new students is decided in collaboration with a number of people and divisions within the Davidson community, with Admissions, Academic Affairs, Student Life, Residence Life, Business and Finance, International Education, and Athletics all involved,” said Vice President and Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Christopher Gruber.

The deliberate expansion of the student body also comes with a commitment to an increased Graphic by Shea Parikh. number of faculty, classrooms, and residence halls. Aspects of triples dorm rooms. this commitment can be seen through the recent Dean of Students Tom Shandley said, “I think addition of Chidsey Residence Hall in 2012 and people like being a small college and we don’t the current construction of the New Academic have any plans to change that. If we grow even Building, adjacent to the Martin Chemical Laboslightly it gives us more opportunities to bring ratory. Currently, the impact of the 513 students in students from different backgrounds. We’ve in the first-year class has resulted in two sets of expanded the number of students from different

Inside

SGA and President Quillen host “State of the Campus” discussion 4 LIVING PAGE 8DAVIDSON Meet new members of the campus a capella groups 5 VAC brings internationally acclaimed, performance artist to campus 6 PERSPECTIVES Summit co-owner Brian Helfrich describes time at campus location of coffee shop 7 Will King pushes for more campus inclusivity 9 SPORTS

states, more students from other countries and a variety of other countries than we’ve [previously] had. It opens up the door to more possibilities in a class, and I think this class shows that.”

Increased diversity of the college has in part

See CLASS OF 2019 on page 2

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Davidson evolves as construction reconfigures campus REID WALKER Staff Writer

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tudents returned to Davidson to find the construction on campus a shock; three short months have advanced the progress of the Academic Neighborhood tremendously.

With the extension of Baker Sports Complex near completion, and the New Academic Building taking shape, the summer provided time and space for hard-workers to help in the evolution of Davidson.

At the end of the last academic year, the new academic building (behind Little Library and Chambers) was in primary stages of construction – as one upperclassmen eloquently said.

“It was basically just poles sticking out of the ground.”

However, after a summer of incredible work, the building is taking form. David Holthouser, Director of Facilities, explains that all the new sod on campus demonstrates the progress this summer: “Outside the building, we took the opportunity of the summer to deliver utilities to the building. Chilled water approaches the building between Chambers and the Library. Electricity

See CONSTRUCTION on page 2

Construction workers scaling the side of the New Academic Building. Photo by Scott Cunningham.

News

Page 2 September 9, 2015

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&ODVV RI 3URÀOH Continued from page 1 come about as a result of nonprofit organizations QuestBridge and The Posse Foundation. QuestBridge acts to connect high-achieving, low-income high school students with opportunities at top colleges and universities. The college became a QuestBridge partner school with 19 QuestBridge Scholars in the Class of 2017.

The Class of 2019 includes the first group of

Posse Scholars from Miami, Florida. The Posse Foundation brings together a multicultural group of ten students from public high schools in the same metropolitan area to attend the same college or university. The college works specifically with the Posse STEM Program for students majoring in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, which offers the typical Posse programming plus a two-week immersion program, a STEM faculty mentor, and research

and internship opportunities.

“If we want to succeed in scientific discovery in this country, we need to include people who have been excluded. What we do well for students who are excluded, we do well for everyone,” said Academic Dean Wendy Raymond in an interview after her appointment to the National Science Foundation’s Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering.

Overall, the Class of 2019 includes students from 47 states and 23 countries, with the greatest concentration from the Southeast United States based on the location of the high school. Out of

5,382 applicants 1,195 were accepted, resulting in about a 22.2-percent acceptance rate. Students’ ethnic backgrounds comprise Caucasian (67.8%), black/African American (8.4%), Hispanic/Latino (7.8%), International (7.0%), and Asian American (6.2%), as reported in the “Class of 2019 Profile” published by the Offices of Admission and Financial Aid. “[The Class of 2019 is] a wonderful group of students that have achieved, served, and lead in their home communities--a group that is truly ready and ideal for Davidson,” said Gruber.

&RQVWUXFWLRQ FRQWLQXHV Continued from page 1 approaches the building from Richardson Stadium. Water lines approach the building along Faculty Drive. Steam approaches the building from D Road. Thus, all of these areas saw mass excavation and utility piping this summer.”

According to Holthouser the exterior of the building will be completed soon. Starting in the coming weeks, brick masons will start to give the building its “brick skin.” During the summer, Holthouser reported, “exterior walls were enclosed” and “windows were installed.” With mechanical, electrical and plumbing trades providing services for the first two floors of the building, construction is hard at work on the top floor now. Progress has been steady and swift for the planned $74 million project.

The extension of Baker Sports Complex, the Harry L. Vance Athletic Center, will be finished in October. Right now, Holthouser says, “finishing touches” are being applied to the $13 million project. On completion, the athletic complex will have “two practice courts, locker room facilities for men’s and women’s basketball, offices for men’s and women’s basketball, two dance studios, a relocated Hall of Fame and a new ticket office and window.”

Several other projects also occurred over summer. One is the renovation of the Martin Court B residence hall. John Christian, a construction project manager, oversaw the project, in which all 12 apartments were internally demolished, leading way to new plumbing, painting, and more. “It takes a pretty big contractor crew to meet the short summer window,” Holt-

houser said in reference to the project.

Another major construction project over the summer was the creation of a storm water detention basin behind Alumni Soccer Stadium.

The project, overseen by Assistant Director of Grounds Charles Jolly, is incredibly important, as “storm water detention is a County and State regulatory mandate.” The basin is two acres, and it works by collecting rain water, holding it and then slowly releasing it through a series of pipes back into the tributary.

The work done this summer to progress the New Academic Neighborhood marks success in the next stage of liberal arts life at Davidson, and this is only the beginning. Next, Chemistry will move into the new building while the Martin Science Building is renovated next year. New projects are being planned now so construction does not stop. Eventually, the plan is to improve several more buildings, including Chambers and Little Library. However, the Academic Neighborhood project intentionally added flexibility to plans in order to achieve the best results for the evolution of Davidson.

Follow the Davidsonian on Twitter and Instagram @The_Davidsonian.

The workings of the new Davidson campus. Photo by Scott Cunningham.

News

Go inside the inner workings of crime log Time Union Boad CARR KINSEY Staff Writer

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avidson’s biggest campus events, from Winterfest to Spring Frolics, come with all the showy trappings of months of planning. These events are the ones students think of when they think of the Union Board (UB) — the organization with the power to bring inflatable slides and funnel cakes to campus. Their mission, however, extends beyond the debauchery of Frolics. Working year-round to organize a wide variety of events, Union Board keeps one purpose in mind: “We see ourselves as primarily community builders on campus… bringing people together with the hope of creating commonality,” Gabrielle Garrard `16, UB Vice President, said.

Union Board organizes a huge number of events with the aim of entertaining the campus and building community. While they get recognition from the student body for the big-ticket items like Winterfest and Frolics, they get less credit for an assortment of smaller productions.

These smaller productions, put on by UB’s various committees, include everything from weekly productions like Live Thursday and Trivia Night to ice cream socials and movie screenings.

The productions are the brainchildren of committees, the groups that create the ideas and turn them into events. Members of the committees get ideas for these events from other organizations or from consulting with students. Once a committee feels that the idea has been sufficiently developed, the committee chair presents the event plan to the full board — complete with budget, scheduling and other logistics. Once the proposal is introduced, the Union Board dis-

cusses the idea and votes on whether or not to make it an event. In order for the event to receive the blessing of the Union Board, all 16 members must unanimously decide to allocate resources, financial and otherwise, to the project. Garrard emphasized that UB focuses heavily on being fiscally responsible with their money — especially since their funds come from student activity fees.

The President and Vice President of the Union Board lead board meetings and consult with advisors in addition to chairing the Winterfest, Special Events and Spring Frolics Committees. Also, the incoming President and Vice President select the entering Union Board Committee Chairs.

From there, however, the decisions regarding how the individual committees are run are up to the committee chairs. Committee chairs hold regular committee meetings, run all of the committee’s events from set up to clean up, and participate in all other Union Board events.

The Union Board is always changing and evolving as an organization. Over UB’s 59-year history, the board has given birth to many Davidson organizations such as Davidson Outdoors and the Davidson Women’s Action Committee. One major reason that the board evolves so quickly is that the leadership for each committee changes annually. With each new member, Union Board gains new ideas and new perspectives that help to change its course.

“Our aim is to provide collaborative and innovative programming to unite the diverse community of Davidson College,” said Lauren Schassberger, President of the Union Board, who encourages students to offer positive and constructive feedback after events.

Davidsonian.com

Description / Location

08/24/15 at 1549 hrs

Larceny of Property (Bicycle) in New Dorm.

Unfounded.

08/28/15 at 2339 hrs

Injury to Real Property/ Provide False Information to Officer at Armfield.

Dean Referral.

08/29/15 at 0100 hrs

Underage Consumption in Richardson.

Dean Referral.

08/29/15 at 0310 hrs

Underage Consumption in Belk.

Dean Referral.

08/29/15 at 2330 hrs

Underage Consumption/Misc. Smoking Policy Violation at Armfield.

Dean Referral.

08/30/15 at 0111 hrs

Underage Consumption/Misc. Smoking Policy Violation/ Misc. Failure to Comply at Armfield. Further Investigation.

08/30/15 at 1552 hrs

Larceny of Property (Bicycle) in Chidsey Hall.

Dean Referral.

08/31/15 at 1551 hrs

Larceny of Property (Bicycle) in Sentelle.

Further Investigation.

08/31/15 at 2032 hrs

Injury to Personal Property (Bicycle) in Baker. Further Investigation.

09/01/15 at 1155 hrs

Larceny of Property (Bicycle) in Knox.

Further Investigation.

09/05/15 at 0206 hrs

Underage Consumption in Chidsey Hall.

Dean Referral.

09/05/15 at 1436 hrs

Breaking & Entering Misdemeanor/ Larceny from Motor Vehicle in Ramsey Lot. Closed/Clear.

09/05/15 at 2052 hrs

Injury to Personal Property (Vehicle/ Porch) in Belk Lot & Cannon Dorm.

Further Investigation.

09/07/15 at 0013 hrs

Underage Consumption/Miscellaneous Information Dean Referral

Lauren Schassberger, Union Board President, leads a meeting. Photo by Shea Parikh.

If you’re interested in writing for the News section, email Mary Click, maclick@davidson.edu, or Kate McNaughton, kamcnaughton@davidson.edu.

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News

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September 9, 2015

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n Monday evening, many Davidson students and some faculty members gathered in the Duke Family Performance Hall to listen as President Carol Quillen delivered the first ever State of the Campus Address. Spearheaded by the Student Government Association (SGA), the event was held to build bridges of communication between the college administration and student body. As the first attendees of such an event, many students were not sure what to expect as they sat down and listened to SGA President Pablo Zevallos welcome the crowd. The title suggested an informative talk about Davidson’s position relative to those of other universities, new programs, and optimistic comments about the current school year.

However, as Quillen described the format for the evening, expectations quickly changed, as did the tone of the crowd.

The meeting began to resemble a town hall gathering or an open forum, and Quillen made it very clear that her intent was not to convey just one voice, but to open the floor to a chorus of opinions and ideas. Initially, Quillen invited students to call out the issues which “frustrate, vex, or scare” them. Among the words shouted out came matters like grade deflation, the laundry system – met with some laughs , Davidson’s name recognition outside of the Southeast, racism, micro-aggressions and perfectionism. Quillen explained that during the upcoming week, she would address issues like grade deflation, required meal plans and laundry in other fora; that night, however, she intended to focus on the social, more personal subjects at hand, believing that these were conversations that needed to be brought out on campus.

Quillen moved to address two main issues: perfectionism and racism on campus. Faced with questions about the intense workload at Davidson and how it compares to that of other institutions, Quillen urged students to seek balance and conversation within their academic routines. She specifically expressed her concern for students’ rights to assert their own opinions regarding their assigned work, providing the audience with an anecdote about her own choices as a college student; ultimately, she asserted that students must be okay saying, “I’m not doing that; I’m doing this instead,” but that such a statement can be better facilitated through communication with faculty. Emphasizing the commitment of Davidson professors, Quillen urged students to seek a change in tone, creating conversation in the place of argument. In doing so, according to Quillen, students will be able to pursue and achieve the best conditions for actually learning the material and not just doing work for the sake of work.

President Quillen engages in conversation with the student body. Photo by Shea Parikh.

Transitioning to address another large concern on campus, Quillen opened a discussion regarding racism. Students began to ask questions about the college’s cultural diversity requirement and the general sense of “white culture” on campus. Quillen spoke to these concerns from both a curricular and social perspective. Urging students to “bring [their] own critical perspectives to any curriculum,” Quillen once again emphasized the importance of communication between students and faculty with regard to curricular content and their abilities to create change in places robust with good intentions. Students began to specifically voice concerns about the existence and continuation of parties centered on themes of cultural identity. Quillen responded to this issue with two solutions: a short-term response and a long-term approach. Advocating subversion of such events, Quillen offered students a way to

express opposition in the moment, while maintaining their “sense[s] of agency and ownership.”

As a long-term response, Quillen urged students themselves to seek out the organizers and hosts of these events and facilitate conversations, moving from instinctive defensive mechanisms to a sense of common ground to “move forward as a community.”

Following the event, students seemed impressed and satisfied, albeit surprised, by the tone of the evening. Evie Osazee `16 voiced her concerns about racism and employment after graduation, saying, “I enjoyed it, and I was glad that I got to talk about the issues that are really important to me, but I just wished we had more time.”

Elizabeth Sasser `19 was “pleasantly surprised” by the event and was glad that her fellow students voiced questions that she herself had thought about; in all, she expressed her content with the

way “President Quillen talked with us rather than at us.”

Quillen expressed her gratefulness to the students for participating in the forum. She stated that she hopes to have encouraged students to seek out and participate in what may be “difficult conversations in order to facilitate a context in which [they] can create and own their own culture.” Quillen advocated further, as she did throughout the evening, for balance within confrontation and difficult issues; she continued to urge those around her to seek common ground in order to strengthen our own community by empowering its students and giving a platform for their voices.

A notice from Campus Police: Please note that bicycles left on campus over the summer were collected by the Public Safety office. The bicycles are in the custody of the Police Department and will be stored for an additional 30 days following receipt of this notice. If you left your bicycle on campus over the summer and believe that it could have been picked up by Public Safety, please stop by our office in the basement of Tomlinson Residence Hall to claim your property. You will be required to provide a detailed description of your bicycle and will need to provide supporting documentation to claim your bicycle (i.e. serial number or purchase receipt). If bicycles are not claimed within the 30 day time period they will be donated. Thank you.

For coverage of other Student Government Association programming, check back next week.

Events include “The Questions You’ve Always Wanted to Ask About Race,” “SEX+,” and “Owning Your Wellbeing.”

living davidson

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September 9, 2015

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very year the a cappella groups on campus recruit and audition fresh talent.

This year, a total of 21 new singers will be gracing the stage. Here are your new a cappella singers in all their glory.

THE NUANCES Ken Lee ‘19 Major: Undeclared Voice Part: Beat boxer From: Tokyo, Japan Favorite Song: “Run To You” - Pentatonix If you could be any food item, what would you be and why? Pancakes What’s the weirdest or most embarrassing thing that has happened to you at Davidson so far? The Nuances almost broke down my door, but it was great. I love them.

What’s the last thing you Googled? ‘How to wobble with Ice Climbers’.

Biggest pet peeve: People spitting on the ground.

Disgusting…

Most used emoji: (^.^) Kate Block ‘19 Major: Political Science Voice Part: Alto 2 From: Vienna, VA Favorite Song: “You Can Close Your Eyes” – James Taylor What’s the weirdest or most embarrassing thing that has happened to you at Davidson so far? I got stuck upside down in between my bed and the wall.

Fun fact: I’m unusually interested in trivia about United States Presidents…so if you ever hear something interesting about Lyndon B. Johnson’s personal life, you know who to call.

What’s the last thing you Googled? “Is unabashedly a word?”

Most used emoji: The smirk - always the smirk.

Weirdest thing you brought to college? A guitar (which is only weird because I cannot play.)

Michael Peruggia ‘19 Major: Undeclared Voice Part: Tenor From: Staten Island, NY Favorite Song: “Uptown Girl” – Billy Joel If you could be any food item, what would you be and why? The Ben & Jerry’s ice cream in the Union, because I am too good for the meal plan.

What’s the weirdest/most embarrassing thing that has happened to you at Davidson so far? An assembly line of about 15 girls passed down a blown-up picture of my friend Brandon and I eating a hot dog together (a la Lady and the Tramp spaghetti scene) on move-in night.

Is there anything else you want our readers to know about you? Please direct all fan mail to mailbox 6645.

What’s the last thing you Googled? “At what point does Yik Yak fame become dangerous?” A more accurate search might have been ‘how can one become famous from an anonymous app?’

Weirdest thing you brought to college? 4 tubs of marinara sauce.

Amelia Willingham ‘19 Major: Undeclared Voice Part: Alto From: Charlotte, NC Favorite Song: “The Only Living Boy in New York” - Simon & Garfunkel If you could be any food item, what would you be and why? I would be an avocado, because then I could be used for so many delicious things, like

guac. Especially guac.

Fun fact: I play the mandolin. Not super well, and not for very long, but I have one on campus and I love it.

What’s the last thing you Googled? Probably a vocab word.

Biggest pet peeve: Loud chewing Weirdest thing you brought to college? Homemade Wayne’s World hat Caylyn Harvey ‘16 Major: Biology/English Voice Part: Alto or mezzo-soprano From: Nashville, TN Favorite Song: “Say Something” - Pentatonix Why did you decide to audition for an a cappella group? I have been auditioning for a cappella groups since freshman year, because one of the few goals I had for myself for college was to be in an a cappella group--and finally, here I am! I freaking love singing and am obsessed with Pentatonix (the best a cappella group ever. For real.

Check them out. And then come on over and obsess about them with me).

If you could be any food item, what would you be and why? A Bagel Bite--because you are what you eat.

What’s the weirdest or most embarrassing thing that has happened to you at Davidson so far? I don’t know if I would classify this as weird or embarrassing, but sophomore year Halloween I went around campus dressed as Waldo with a giant cardboard door and went door-to-door reverse trick-or-treating (giving out candy). I’ll be doing it again this year, so BOLO for that.

If you were arrested today, what is the crime you would have committed? I was probably helping my roommate hide a body.

Weirdest thing you brought to college? A Harry Potter cutout.

Jon Kurosu ‘19 Major: Psychology Voice Part: Bass/Baritone/Tenor From: Wilmington, NC Favorite Song: “Can’t Help Falling in Love” - Elvis Presley If you could be any food item, what would you be and why? Brussel sprouts, so I wouldn’t be eaten.

What’s the weirdest or most embarrassing thing that has happened to you at Davidson so far?

Having to be carried from F. Biggest pet peeve: Surveys If you were arrested today, what is the crime you would have committed? Public indecency Weirdest thing you brought to college? A life-size Curious George.

New Nuances not listed: Sarah Ethridge ‘19, Zach Balcomb ‘19, and Savannah Deal ‘18

THE DELILAHS Elena Jones ‘18 Major: Psychology Voice Part: Alto 2 From: Charlottesville, VA Favorite Song: “Drops of Jupiter” - Train If you could be any food item, what would you be and why? Resorted to a Buzzfeed quiz for this answer which said I should be cheese because I’m “nerdy, wise, and make a lot of people happy.”

What’s the weirdest or most embarrassing thing that has happened to you at Davidson so far?

Falling through two platform tables at a court party last fall (shout out to Katherine Maultsby for pulling me down and to some kind, random soul for lifting me out of the tables).

Fun fact: I really like writing TripAdvisor articles.

What’s the last thing you Googled? Moodle Weirdest thing you brought to college? Cartons of goldfish.

Laura Searles ‘19 Major: Undeclared Voice Part: Alto

From: Philadelphia, PA Favorite Song: Every song Drake has ever released.

Is there anything else you want our readers to know about you? Kanye West and Jaden Smith are always right. Also, if anyone tells you the prayer hands emoji is a high-fiving emoji, they’re the feds.

If you won the lottery today, what would you spend your money on? A ticket to the next Drake concert.

What’s the last thing you Googled? “Smooth by Santana featuring Rob Thomas of matchbox 20” Biggest pet peeve: True Religion jeans and Childish Gambino If you were arrested today, what is the crime you would have committed? “Smooth” by Santana featuring Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20.

Tess Schaberg ‘19 Major: Undeclared Voice Part: Alto From: Washington, D.C. Favorite Song: “Gimme Shelter” – The Rolling Stones If you could be any food item, what would you be and why? Nutella. It goes really well with lots of different things.

What’s the weirdest or most embarrassing thing that has happened to you at Davidson so far? I have gone into a boy’s room thinking it was mine multiple times, because I was on the wrong hall.

Is there anything else you want our readers to know about you? I will only eat mint chocolate chip ice cream if it’s green.

Biggest pet peeve: Teacher’s pets Weirdest thing you brought to college? A giant bag of smart food.

Ashley Behnke ‘19 Major: Undeclared Voice Part: Soprano 2 From: Bethesda, MD Favorite Song: “Brown Eyed Girl” - Van Morrison If you could be any food item, what would you be and why? Lucky Charms, because I’m magically delicious.

What’s the weirdest or most embarrassing thing that has happened to you at Davidson so far?

Having to duck and avoid an impromptu makeout session with a stranger.

Is there anything else you want our readers to know about you? Follow me @ashleybehnke97 on Instagram.

What’s the last thing you Googled? Sparknotes.

If you were arrested today, what is the crime you would have committed? Public indecency

THE GENERALS Parker Smith ‘19 Major: Undeclared Voice Part: Tenor From: Washington, D.C. Favorite Song: “Stole the Show” - Kygo If you could be any food item, what would you be and why? I’d be a mozzarella stick so I could swim in marinara sauce all the time.

What’s the weirdest or most embarrassing thing that has happened to you at Davidson so far?

When I was abducted by the Generals and taken to Denny’s at 1 in the morning.

Fun fact: Will Ferrell is my role model in life.

If you won the lottery today, what would you spend your money on? I’d tear down commons and build a Chick-Fil-A. Chocolate or Cheese? Chocolate.

Weirdest thing you brought to college? My seersucker suit. It’s fire.

Isaac Mervis ‘19 Major: Undeclared Voice Part: Tenor/Baritone From: Indianapolis, IN Favorite Song: “Call Me Maybe” – Carly Rae Jepsen

If you could be any food item, what would you be and why? Pepper, because I would spice up every meal.

What’s the weirdest or most embarrassing thing that has happened to you at Davidson so far? I had to ask somebody where the library was in the middle of the first week.

If you won the lottery today, what would you spend your money on? Gummy bears and a college education.

What’s the last thing you Googled? Kanye West 2020 If you were arrested today, what is the crime you would have committed? Streaking Nick Johnson ‘19 Major: Undeclared Voice Part: Baritone/Bass From: Baltimore, MD Favorite Song: “You are the One I Love” – Jon McLaughlin If you could be any food item, what would you be and why? Green tea, because it’s zen and lowcarb.

Is there anything else you want our readers to know about you? I’m friendly. Say hi to me.

If you won the lottery today, what would you spend your money on? I would go on a world exploration and try to visit as many places as possible.

What’s the last thing you Googled? Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden Biggest pet peeve: Don’t ask me what you should do; chart your own course through life.

Most used emoji: ;-) New Generals not listed: Kebron Sawhny ‘18

ANDROGYNY Anna Rupp ‘19 Major: Biology?

Voice Part: Soprano From: Minnetonka, MN Favorite Song: “Mexico” - The Staves If you could be any food item, what would you be and why? Peanut Butter. It’s delicious and spreadable.

If you won the lottery today, what would you spend your money on? All the clothes. All of them. Oh, and shoes.

Most used emoji: Penguin If you were arrested today, what is the crime you would have committed? Speeding Chocolate or Cheese? Chocolate.

Bristow Richards ‘19 Major: Undeclared Voice Part: Tenor From: Columbia, SC Favorite Song: “The Divided Sky” - Phish If you could be any food item, what would you be and why? Crunchy peanut butter, because crunchy is better than creamy, always.

Is there anything else you want our readers to know about you? I am very serious about crunchy peanut butter being better than creamy.

If you won the lottery today, what would you spend your money on? Concert tickets for days, and enough funding to bring back Lula Bell.

What’s the last thing you Googled? Duck Army If you were arrested today, what is the crime you would have committed? Downloading music.

Lots and lots of music.

Matt Hunter ‘19 Major: Theatre Voice Part: Bass/Baritone From: Columbus, GA Favorite Song: “Dreams” – The Allman Brothers Band Why did you decide to audition for an a cappella group? I wanted the opportunity to sing alongside a cappella greats like Nathan Brown, Elijah Moffe, and all of Androgyny.

See A CAPELLA, Page 6

Living Davidson

Page 6 Davidsonian.com

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What’s the last thing you Googled? Davidson. .

Biggest pet peeve: Patrick Morris’ Brita water.

Weirdest thing you brought to college? Plastic, great horned owl.

Jenna Brunner ‘17 Major: Econ/Math Voice Part: Alto From: Atlanta, GA Favorite Song: “Electric Love” - BORNS What’s the weirdest or most embarrassing thing that has happened to you at Davidson so far? Last year we were walking through a mall after one of our matches and I decided to race the rest of my team up a down escalator while they went up the regular one. I had a consistent pace going until I got toward the top, and then the angles of the stairs [changed] and I wiped out in front of everyone… I tried to get up and then fell again and my coach yelled “GIVE UP JENNA.” And so I rode it all the way down in silence. I had to go to a makeup counter to get cotton balls to wipe up the blood.

Fun fact: I always wear my socks inside out.

If you won the lottery today, what would you spend your money on? Davidson tuition.

Biggest pet peeve: The size of hotel shampoo bottles Chocolate or Cheese? Cheese

Want to write for the Living Davidson section? Email editor Sophia Guevara at soguevara@davidson.edu to get involved!

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he Museum of Art describes “Performance Art” as a form of art in which the performer’s body serves as the medium.

The first real movement of performance art was in the 1960’s, and the MoMA notes that it normally consists of time, space, the performer’s body, and the audience’s reaction to it. The Visual Art Center on Campus is very excited to announce its very own exhibition of performance art, Regina José Galindo: Bearing Witness.

The Van Every/Smith Gallery curator, Lia Newman, introduced Galindo and her work.

Born in Guatemala City, Guatemala, Galindo was ushered into a time of political turmoil marked by a bloody civil war and years of military dictatorship. Her artwork is an attempt to capture and illuminate the oppression found in a country riddled with street violence, brutality against women, and political corruption.

Her performance art has received international recognition and acclaim, including a Gold Lion Award for Best Artist Under 35 from The 51st Venice Biennial and a Grand Prize at The 29th Ljubljana Biennial of Graphic Arts in Ljubljana, Slovenia in 2011. Galindo has been known to push her body to physical limits as a way of expressing trauma. In an attempt to point out the danger of discriminatory language used to describe women, Galindo used a knife to carve “perra” (“bitch”) into her thigh; in an attempt to send a message about the political corruption facing Guatemala, Galindo walked from the Constitutional Court to the National Palace and drenched her feet in human blood.

In an attempt to highlight the issues of power and aggression, Galindo trapped herself in a plastic dome, and “aggressors” beat on the roof in the middle of a city street. Interestingly, much of her work depends on the action or empathy of bystanders.

In her commissioned work for Davidson

entitled “A Latino Near You,” Galindo will walk around the VAC and the surrounding area with a tracking device, similar to the ones that migrant workers wear once they are released from custody. Her whereabouts will be projected onto a screen in the gallery to create what she calls an “electronic painting.” This will take place during the reception, and afterwards the documentation from the event will stay on display in the VAC. I got a chance to see a sneak peak of the gallery on Monday, and I was certainly struck by the visually appealing and almost disturbing images. The exhibit features twenty-three of her previous performances documented through photos, videos, and various objects. Her work for Davidson will be the largest work of hers commissioned in the United States. Furthermore, her work has never been shown in North Carolina, so this exhibit will be unprecedented in more ways than one. According to the latest Mecklenburg County Census, Charlotte has experienced a growth rate in the Latino population, around 11 percent since 2010, making her work especially topical.

Although she does not consider her work to be activism, Galindo is undoubtedly making a statement. Lia Newman, curator of the VAC, says that Galindo considers her work vital to her own self-expression. She hopes instead that audience members will walk away more aware of social justice issues and the dangers of selective amnesia. Her art is almost an acquired taste, and it requires critical thinking on the part of the audience. The messages conveyed in her work are far too important to be written off as “weird.”

You don’t have to be an art lover to enjoy this exhibit, especially since the art work is far from conventional. However, if you have a socially conscious spirit and a desire for justice, “A Latino Near You” and the rest of Galindo’s work has the potential to open your eyes, but only if you let it.

The performance and reception will be held on September 17th from 6-8 pm, and an informal artist talk with be held at the Multicultural House at 6 pm on September 16th. The show runs from September 10th to October 25th at the Visual Arts Center located across Main

Street.

For more information on the artist, visit www.reginajosegalindo.com.

Upcoming Events at The Van Every/Smith Galleries: Thursday, September 10, 6pm, The Long History of Performance Art, with Dr. Kristine Stiles, France Family Professor of Art, Art History, and Visual Culture, Duke University, Semans Lecture Hall, Belk Visual Art Center Tuesday, September 15, 11am-12noon, Common Hour Coffee + Conversation in Spanish (translated for non-Spanish speakers), co-hosted with OLAS and Latin American Studies, Semans Lecture Hall, Belk Visual Art Center Wednesday, September 16, 6pm, Dinner + Conversation between Matt Samson and Regina Jose Galindo; co-hosted by OLAS and Multicultural Affairs; event is open to Davidson College students, faculty and staff, Multicultural House Thursday, September 17, 6–8pm, Exhibition Reception + Performance, Belk Visual Art Center Friday, September 18, 7pm, Conversation with Regina Jose Galindo, Kristine Stiles, and Lia Newman, moderated by Pedro Lasch. This event is co-sponsored by 21c Museum Hotel, Davidson College Art Galleries, and the Visiting Artist Series of the Department of Art, Art History, and Visual Studies at Duke University.

Conversation will take place at 21c Museum Hotel in Durham, NC. Thursday, October 1, 6pm, Granito: How to Nail a Dictator, post-film discussion with Matt Samson, John Wertheimer, and others, Semans Lecture Hall, Belk Visual Art Center Wednesday, October 21, 6-8pm, Performances by three Charlotte-based artists, John W. Love, Jr., April Marten, and Jon Prichard; Regina Jose Galindo: Bearing Witness exhibition will be open until 8pm this evening, Belk Visual Art Center.

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perspectives

page 7

Davidsonian.com

Back on campus with familiar feelings, new mission BRIAN HELFRICH

T

en years ago I moved into To m l i n s o n 301, and it feels like I’m back. My roommates need spontaneous naps, fall asleep with their clothes on, and often eat things they shouldn’t. The only difference is that Lewis and Doug have been replaced by my two infants, and they’re not great companions for beirut.

I re-enrolled in Davidson in the Fall of 2013, ten years after moving into Belk 301, and the last two years have felt oddly familiar. My acceptance letter is now a five-year lease, my tuition is now called rent, and my junior year feels super important.

Class of 2017, I am with you -- for the second time. I’ve played this role before. I was totally unprepared in 2003, and it hasn’t gotten easier. Freshman year was fun, exhausting and overwhelming. I came to campus with an idea of who I was and who I wanted to be, of how to get there and what that was going to look like.

But long days and later nights make everything a little sloppier.

Like Football Mike from 3rd Belk who wasn’t actually good at football, and Futon Rachel from 2nd Rich who merely built a piece of furniture during Orientation, we had a nickname we didn’t like (Nummit). Closing that last Blue Book in

May felt a bit like waking up from a nine-month blackout. What the hell just happened?

After a summer to reorganize, reprioritize and lose weight, Sophomore year brought the second wave of false hope. “I’ve got things figured out this year,” you said to no one in particular. But at the first hurdle of the fall semester -- be it bombing your lab science requirement (Edible Plants was harder than you’d think) or losing your weekend manager (pour one out for Luke) -- you were walking way too fast toward the Union and those yogurt covered pretzels. Year two felt a little more hopeful, and with a little less time trying to remember the day before, but suddenly you’re two years through Davidson with no better idea of who you are.

All this is to say we’re at a crossroads in our life, too. Davidson College brought Summit to campus in 2013 to be the pub/social alternative that students had been lusting after.

But those students have since graduated, and half of you didn’t even know a Davidson College with-

“

Being back home especially helps you see what you’re doing at Davidson, what you’ve done, and what you really want to do.

the davidsonian staff editors-in-chief

news editors

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

living davidson editor

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

out us on campus. We’re a coffee shop to some, a restaurant to others, a bar to a few and a latenight sobriety check for a few too many.

We want to be great, and we want to evolve.

Like sharing a suite with Lewis and Doug in 2005, we’re surrounding ourselves with great people (Andrew, Courtney, Erin, etc...) and leaning on each other to use junior year as the springboard that it is.

So we’re declaring our major: craftsmanship.

We’re enhancing our coffee training so that the lattes are always great; we’re amending our food menu to highlight local food and our creative kitchen team; and we’re refreshing our programming and social calendar to make the Summit Outpost a cool place to be -- for everyone. It shouldn’t surprise you that both Tim and I, brothers and Summit owners, were Center majors.

We’re still going to mess up, that’s for sure. Dropping a food order or pulling bad espresso shots feels an awful lot like sleeping through an 8:30 or turning in a C-quality paper in your advisor’s creative writing class

Sabrina Cheema Emily Kent Bridget Lavender Sophia Smith

Please address all correspondences to: The Davidsonian P.O. Box 7182, Davidson, NC 28035-7182 or email davidsonian@davidson.edu. Our offices are located in Room 411 of the Alvares College Union. Opinions in articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board of the Davidsonian. Subscriptions cost $50 per semester. Email davidsonian@davidson.edu for advertising inquiries. Copyright is held by the Trustees of Davidson College.

(sorry, Dr. Parker).

I want to know what you want from Summit.

More sports on TV? Quieter music? The reincarnation of chocolate lava cakes? We keep wondering -- what’s going to inspire students to have beer or wine here on a Friday night? Do freshmen get lost on their way down the hill? Let’s create something great together, that all of us can enjoy.

When I applied to Davidson in 2002, I promised that I would leave the college a better place when I left. Thirteen years later I am still here, I am still working on it. Here’s to fulfilling promises.

Brian Helfrich `06 is co-owner of Summit Coffee. Contact him at brian@summitcoffee. com.

Interested in contributing to the Perspectives section?

Email wiweisgerber@ davidson.edu

Re-thinking the system ERIN DAVENPORT

“M

s. Eric” “ No. M s .

Erin. E-ri-nnnnn” I repeat, stressing the tricky last syllable.

My pupil struggles to repeat the sounds, and ultimately fails, my Irish name sounding foreign and forced to his well-intentioned lips. I don’t correct him this time. Punctuation. No, not a period, a question mark. Uncertainty means a question mark.

I plod back to my desk, strategically placed so that while I study my lesson plan I can be sure they all feel watched. A security guard at a museum, I ensure the valuable learning is untouched by distractedness. I hear eight scribbling pencils.

Just right. Breathing and sighing, I think about all the times in my life I’ve probably mispronounced names that to me sounded foreign or ethnic.

Now, in a classroom in South Charlotte, teaching students who are learning English as a second language, I am the outsider. Their whispered Spanish comments remind me that when left to their own devices, my students will not prefer the English I have grown up with, that slides off of my tongue like honey.

We read a book about a pond. Explaining the picture with my voice: “And here we have the water, there are some weeds” “I’m allergic to weeds.”

“Oh… very interesting. Is anybody else allergic to anything?” I try as often as I can to make connections between them.

“White people.”

I’m startled for a second. I look at the student who said that, and my eyes are met with a neutral facial expression. I realize the students don’t really know what they’re saying. They don’t even know that I’m white, and are probably just repeating things they heard from their parents.

Still, an unintended comment makes me feel out of place. A micro-aggression from a micro-human. I keep reading.

Twelve Thirty. Time to walk the kids to recess.

I exit my room with my ducklings behind me to

see the watchful eye of my superior. She frowns slightly as my kids walk energetically out to the playground. I feel her disapproval singe my back just as the sunlight catches my front. Watching the kids play outside I consider my own behavioral philosophy as a teacher. The crooked lines in the hallways to me felt like the least of my worries.

I never fully bought into the intensity of behavioral correction that some of my coworkers wanted to enforce. I focused on imposing behavioral standards through a more social contract approach. On the first day of the summer, I asked them what rules they wanted in their classroom, and from that brainstorm our community standards were born. Because they had all devised these rules and agreed to them, I felt completely justified in holding them accountable for them.

Social contract theory can, in fact, be applied to first graders. Instead of making normative statements like “it’s bad to hit people,” I tried to focus on helping the kids to understand their actions in the context of their peers. They shouldn’t hit people because when you hit someone you hurt them, and we don’t want to hurt our friends.

In my opinion it’s much more important to teach the kids how to be good citizens as opposed to how to be good students. They will be students for the next ten years, more if they choose, but they will be community members for the rest of their lives. It’s more valuable to learn how to be a good person than to learn how to be a good student. Although there is certainly some intersection there, I also think our behavior standards in education reward certain behaviors more than others. I dislike rules that separate the “good kids” from the “bad kids” based on how quickly their spirits are subdued, and many schools teach kids that to succeed one must be blindly obedient. A cog in the machine. Not every machine is perfect.

Not every rule is worth following. I want to teach (and someday raise) kids who aren’t afraid to destroy the machine and build another one. Who remember their duty to each other and build a life of purpose based on that.

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

Perspectives

Page 8 Sseptember 9, 2015

Cherish charity and justice Give my bike some shelter EMILY TAYLOR

D

uring my first two years here at Davidson, I volunteered weekly at a local therapeutic riding center that provided services to those suffering from traumatic brain injuries (TBI’s). I loved working with the horses and giving back to my new community. By the end of my sophomore year, however, I stopped going, feeling that my time wasn’t well spent. While those suffering from TBI’s undoubtedly need the therapeutic services, I saw a healthcare system that doesn’t adequately address the needs of the disabled.

This experience has led me to reflect on the fundamental difference between charity and justice. At its best, charity is an expression of generosity, love, and mercy, although it can also be motivated by a sense of pity; it typically addresses the effects of injustice in our society. On the other hand, justice arises from the conviction that we all deserve the same basic rights, and that leads to a determination to change a system that does not guarantee these rights to all citizens. Charity provides services that address needs that stem from societal injustice. Justice, in its many forms, restores dignity, while also building a community will no longer need charity.

This is essential to understanding the ways in which we treat those in our society who are marginalized or underserved. While the services provided by many nonprofits are vital to underserved populations, they only address immediate needs, such as food from a soup

kitchen or housing from a homeless shelter. This model treats the problem as if it were temporary one that, once addressed, will be solved forever.

While this is true in some cases, many times it addresses a permanent problem that can only be solved by bringing justice to a community.

This year, I have gotten involved with Divest Davidson, the campus organization that advocates selling the fossil fuel stocks that are part of the College’s investment portfolio. This divestment campaign is a part of the larger climate justice movement, which recognizes that climate change disproportionately affects the poor, not only of our country but also of the world. Divest Davidson works to change policy that will address the root issue of climate change, which is the pollution emitted into our environment by the burning of fossil fuels. In this way, Divest Davidson works to bring justice, although charity will be needed to provide relief for those that are impacted by the natural disasters that will occur as an effect of the changes that have already taken place in our climate.

Involvement in charity within our global community is needed, but providing charity without justice guarantees that charity will always be necessary. So, I challenge you: when you’re looking for your next volunteer opportunity, instead of asking what you can do for your country, ask what you can do to bring justice for all.

Emily Taylor `16 is a History major from Greenville, SC. Contact her at emtaylor@davidson.edu.

CAROLYN RAIHALA

L

ike many Davidson students, I like to navigate the campus via bike. It’s convenient, especially for those of us perpetually rushing to class (like me). And I don’t just pedal from dorm to class and back, but also to places like CVS, Harris Teeter, and the Ada Jenkins Center. On two wheels, I can shave off significant transportation time from each round trip. Being busy college students, you all can probably relate to my enthusiasm for time optimization.

From a less practical standpoint, I simply enjoy riding my bike. Therefore, keeping my bike in good working condition is important to me.

Using a neglected bike makes for a rougher and less efficient ride; plus, shoddy upkeep can curtail the lifespan of even the most top-of-the-line vehicles.

I know very little about bike maintenance.

But two weeks ago, after only a few blocks of riding my bike fresh out of summer storage, I could tell that it needed a check up. I took it to the Spirited Cyclist for what I anticipated would be a standard clean, lube, tire check, and inflation.

But when I returned to pick it up, the repairman informed me that my chains were rusted straight through, my brake pads were shot, and my tires were destroyed with dry rot. “Dry rot” describes the drying and cracking of rubber that can lead to punctures (think of a crusty old rubber band that snaps when stretched). The bill, tip included, was over $200.

Surprised, I told him that I had replaced the chains and tires just a year previous. He responded that the damage accrued was mainly the result of months of precipitation and occasional snow exposure, in addition to regular usage.

I would like to continue riding my bike around campus, but would like to see my bike live to a ripe old age before retiring it. Walking around campus, I have also seen many a high-quality bike that I presume also has an owner interested in their vehicle’s upkeep. And although bike larceny is problematic, its frequency speaks to a campus-wide passion for cycling! But I digress.

Though I had planned to continue using my bike at Davidson, the cost of yearly upkeep is preventative. Therefore, an easy solution is for the college to invest in bicycle shelters–which can be as simple as four posts supporting a slanted roof–for student use, to prevent costly weather damage.

Carolyn Raihala ’18 is undeclared from Madison, WI Contact her at caraihala@davidson.edu.

Perspectives

Page 9 Davidsonian.com

My struggle with inclusiveness WILL KING

Last spring, a graduating senior asked me why so many Americans oppose same-sex marriage. At first I chuckled in agreement, assuming the question was rhetorical. “No, I’m actually curious,” she replied. I asked myself, “How could a student attend Davidson for four years and not know the answer to that?” But I soon realized that her question was the unfortunate result of a much larger trend. Through my four years here, I have seen Davidson transform from a campus of tolerance and inclusiveness to one in which only certain opinions are viewed as valid.

My freshman fall, I held a microphone on the steps of Eu Hall to defend Mitt Romney’s foreign policy platform. The speakers defending President Obama sought to rebut my arguments while maintaining respect for my perspective. Afterwards they congratulated my presentation, despite personally disagreeing with its content. This attitude endured through even the most controversial issues of the next two years. As debate raged about Outpost, the Multicultural House, and the bylaw requiring the president of the college to join the Presbyterian Church, students became angry with one another’s arguments, but never with each other.

This practice changed during the first talkback with Divest Davidson. Wanting to partic-

ipate in the conversation, I researched the issue and went to the event to listen to the discussion.

I heard very legitimate arguments in favor of divestment, but I thought that introducing a few hard questions would raise the level of debate. Instead, my comments allowed others to lower it. I shared their goal of environmental conservation, but I expressed concern about the implications of divesting from every company to which a student has a moral objection. In addition, I raised questions about the logistics and the real impact of such radical action.

The reaction was shocking. Many attendees made no attempt to attack my arguments, just to attack me. I was called a “denier” (I believe in anthropomorphic climate change). I was labeled “ultraconservative” (I’m socially liberal/libertarian), “ignorant” (I had done more research on the topic than most people in the room), and “disengaged” (I showed up specifically to be engaged). Personal attacks continued for several days on social media, and disparaging comments about conservative groups continued for weeks.

Divestment supporters joked about campus conservative groups hosting “Insiders’ Monologues,” a reference to last spring’s Outsiders Monologues.

Another student was attacked simply for having wealthy parents.

The process was chaotic, but the message was clear. If you dissent against certain viewpoints, other students will invariably ignore your argument and find ways to attack you.

Nevertheless, I wanted to remain engaged. I attended the talkback about rainbow flags, intending to find a way to support the LGBT community while preserving the traditional beauty of our buildings. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the

courage to raise my hand. After my recent experience, I believed nobody wanted to hear what I had to say. I thought anything other than full support of flying rainbow flags out every window of Chambers would be seen as an attack on the LGBT community and would not be tolerated.

Perhaps my fears were justified, but I have always regretted not speaking.

Our campus is effectively censuring speech with which some people disagree. Students are discounting arguments by judging and labeling the people that make them, not by refuting their logic. For instance, anyone who supports the presumption of innocence in police shooting cases must be racist. In sexual assault cases, anyone making a similar argument about constitutional protections must be sexist. Anyone who supports tax cuts must be an elitist. Anyone who opposes environmental regulation must be ignorant. Further upsetting is the double standard with which this practice is applied. For example, anyone supporting an African American’s ability to refuse service to a white supremacist is a champion of civil rights, but anyone who opposes legally forcing a Southern Baptist to serve a gay wedding is a homophobe.

The new focus of political correctness is not about proper speech, but about “proper” opinions. Those who disagree with the majority are becoming scared to express legitimate viewpoints for fear of personal attacks or being labeled some form of “evil.” With this trend, we are at risk of diminishing the richness of campus discourse.

We are starting to lose the ability to disagree. We claim to welcome diversity, but we can only tap its true potential if we respect all perspectives.

There are, however, signs of hope. The re-

cently created Center for Political Engagement has the potential to revive campus dialogue. The leaders of the College Democrats have done a phenomenal job of making conservatives feel welcome. Most of all, a few people remain who are not afraid to disagree with the majority.

Encouraged by these signs of improvement last spring, I volunteered to serve on the climate change panel. I once again contended, this time in front of the Trustees, that we cannot simply divest from every company to which a student has a moral objection. Otherwise there would be nowhere left to invest. Once again my comments elicited nods from many and rage from some.

One student addressed me directly, yelling, “You make this like it’s a matter of opinion!” In fact, it is a matter of opinion, and I happen to hold one that is different from hers. How easy it must have been for her to view her own opinion as fact and any opposing view as fiction!

As the event ended, a student from the divestment movement approached me and reminded me of why I love Davidson so much. She put a hand on my shoulder and said “I admire you for being here. We need voices like you in this room.”

Will King`16 is a Chemistry major from Wilmington, NC. Contact him at wiking@davidson.edu.

Three weeks in July MICHELLE WAN

I

learned how to juggle this summer. Although I can only manage three beanbags and I start dropping them after about 30 tosses, I’m pretty excited about this accomplishment. It’s a great stress reliever. Last night I spent 10 minutes juggling in my room because I was already frustrated about the Davidsonian, and we still have 21 more issues to print this year.

I learned how to juggle in Zambia. On the Davidson-in-Zambia program, eight of my peers and I spent three weeks in the village of Mwandi.

We were there to learn about healthcare issues in Sub-Saharan Africa and immerse ourselves in the local culture. On breaks from our rounds at Mwandi Mission Hospital, I came back to our house and juggled beanbags in the living room.

When the customs officer stamping my passport at JFK International Airport asked what I learned on my study abroad program, I told him I learned how to juggle. *** In the last few days before our departure to Zambia, I was not looking forward to the trip. I felt guilty about leaving my family at an inconvenient time. I wanted to do research for my thesis.

I questioned why we were going to Mwandi at all, because I was convinced that our presence in the community for only three weeks would not lead to any meaningful change for the people in need.

I felt that we as visitors would benefit more from our time in Mwandi than anyone we would meet there.

Zambia is a country of 15 million people.

Over one million of them live with HIV/AIDS. The presence of the disease is overwhelming.

An exterior wall of the local secondary school in Mwandi is painted with the words, “HIV school slogan, AIDS is not a ghost, it is real,” in block capitals like a decorative mural. One of my most haunting memories is the sound of students at a primary school reciting, “H- human, I- immunodeficiency, V- virus!” in unison. AIDS is the

leading cause of death in Zambia, but the nation also struggles to provide basic health care to its residents.

I have never felt more useless than during the three weeks we spent in the hospital in Mwandi.

The brand-new hospital opened in April but is already showing signs of disrepair. Basic healthcare supplies are lacking. Watching healthcare workers treat patients who lay on beds without clean sheets in a hospital that did not yet have an X-ray machine further supported my conviction that there was nothing I would be able to do to materially improve these health conditions. I think the most helpful thing I did in the hospital was count the bloody rags used in a Caesarean section.

I hope I was able to at least make someone laugh. I attempted, and definitely failed, to pronounce “good morning” in Silozi. I hope that our conversations with patients comforted them in an unfamiliar hospital, and that our jokes with health care workers disrupted the monotony of their long working day while not distracting them too much from their patients. The state of healthcare in Zambia and other Sub-Saharan African countries is tied to a complicated history of national and international politics that I cannot claim to understand with any authority. I can’t change the lives of the people in Mwandi, but I hope that I was able to have the tiniest impact by making those three weeks in July a little brighter for them. *** Returning home, I found it difficult to tell people who asked about my trip what it meant to me. Instead, I told them about juggling. I showed them pictures of wild animals. I wanted to share about how the people in Mwandi inspired me and welcomed us to their home. But I resorted to tangible, superficial experiences that people can visualize and assign a value. It was difficult to talk about what happened in a single village in a particular country to someone who has not been there. And that’s okay, because I shared the experience with ten people I went to Mwandi with and the people we met there.

Michelle Wan`16 is a History major from San Francisco, CA. Contact her at miwan@davidson. edu.

A high-paced, weekend-long event, 3 Day Startup builds college communities around entrepreneurship. Collaborate alongside other Davidson students with a wide range of backgrounds while networking with top-notch entrepreneurs, mentors, advisers and investors. You’ll pick the best ideas for a startup during day one brainstorming sessions, workshop pitches with mentors over the course of day two, release a prototype by the end of day three, and have an unforgettable experience when the weekend wraps. All food and drink provided.

sports

Page 10

September 9, 2015

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$IWHU WUDQVIHUULQJ IURP :DNH )RUHVW 3DFLĂ€FL KDV IRXQG D KRPH EHWZHHQ WKH SLSHV DW 'DYLGVRQ ETHAN FAUST Co-Sports Editor

M

att Pacifici ’16 doesn’t look like a kid anymore. A two-time captain and the starter in goal for seemingly forever, Pacifici is the elder statesmen for the men’s soccer program. Now back for year five, he is aiming to make the most of his final opportunity, hoping to lead the team to new heights in the Atlantic 10.

In the fall of 2011, Pacifici began his freshman year at Wake Forest as a highly touted recruit out of Charlotte. In his senior year at Charlotte Catholic, he led the nation with 21 shutouts in goal, including 16 consecutive at one point. Conquering the highly-competitive ACC was the obvious next challenge for a star from the southeast.

But on day two of preseason at Wake, his left wrist gave out when he went to stop a shot, something he’d done thousands of times. Soon after, tests revealed ligaments badly torn from years of overuse. Not only would he miss the entire season, but getting his wrist back to the point where he’d be comfortable making saves would be an uphill battle.

Along the recovery path, Pacifici decided he wanted a change of scenery. Still armed with four full years of eligibility after being given a medical redshirt, he chose to come to Davidson. “I wanted to go somewhere I felt I could play at. But I also wanted to go a school that was going to have an equally competitive schedule,� said Pacifici. “And then academically, I didn’t want to downgrade at all. But I think I upgraded there. In my experience, Davidson is three times tougher than Wake is.�

The first practice with his new team that next summer provided the first big hurdle. Not only was he adjusting to a new program and new defenders, but he had lingering doubts about whether his wrist was truly ready. With the help of the training staff and coaches that were willing to take it slow with their new keeper, Pacifici’s faith in his wrist grew stronger with every shot.

Pacifici soon put the doubts to rest and seized the starting job. In the four years since his opening game against ACC foe Clemson, in which he posted his first shutout, he has started 54 times.

Missing only a couple games in 2013, he has helped turn what was a leaky Davidson defense into one of the A-10’s best a year ago. Last year, his goals-against average was a miniscule 0.65, a Davidson record. “Having [Pacifici] as the keeper behind our back line is extremely helpful,� said Matt Reinikka ’18, a defender who started every game of his freshman season in defense in front of Pacifici. “He makes it so much easier on our defense because of his constant communication. You can always hear him, and his directions are clear and concise. He keeps our group organized and tough to break down.�

This year’s Davidson team has 18 underclassmen, an absurdly high number for a team that hopes to contend for the A-10 crown. However, the veteran influence of Pacifici in goal can go a long way in keeping the team calm and composed. On the field, he strives to find the balance between critiquing and motivating each individual, knowing and predicting how teammates will respond. Through two games, there have been some mistakes on defense. But with two freshmen and two sophomores starting in the back four, it was always going to be a season-long process of maturation. Pacifici largely likes what he has seen, and appreciates that the underclassmen know nothing but success as the norm. “[Pacifici] brings a degree of professionalism that is necessary for cohesion and growth on any team,� said Alec Rotunda ’16, a fellow senior on the team. “It is rare for [him] to accept anything less than excellence from those around him. His commitment to excellence is contagious and a great trait to have as a leader of a young, dedicated, and talented squad.�

Pacifici always knew he had an extra year of eligibility. Double-majoring in Economics and Spanish, adding an extra semester could allow him more freedom in class selection. When talking with the coaching staff, returning for a fifth year made too much sense for him not to take the opportunity.

But beyond the practical reasons, Pacifici simply wanted to stay in college. After interning with Bank of America Leveraged Finance in Charlotte this past summer, Pacifici wasn’t too keen on the real world quite yet. With unfinished business at Davidson, he arrived back on campus for preseason ready to make the most of the final semester. “You can’t beat [college,]� Pacifici told me with palpable excitement. “So if you can come back here, even if it’s just for an extra semester, why not?�

Having gone to Wake Forest originally to beat ACC competition, last year was especially sweet for Pacifici. For in 2014, Davidson was perfect against ACC foes, beating both Duke and eventual national champion Virginia on the road. Although a game against his old school Wake Forest was cancelled, Pacifici was thrilled by the results.

In beating those schools, he was doing what he’d always wanted to do. Although when he transferred, he wasn’t allowed to go to an ACC school per Wake Forest policy, he was still doing what he’d set out to do.

This year, there are three ACC games on the schedule. After a 2-1 victory over NC State on Monday, Davidson still has games against Duke and Wake Forest. The return trip to Winston-Salem on October 27 will be especially meaningful for Pacifici as his collegiate career winds up.

Despite being a key cog in the dramatic im-

provement over the last three seasons, Pacifici has one glaring absence on the career checklist: he has never won a postseason game. After being knocked out in their first game of the SoCon tournament each of his first two years, making the A-10 Tournament in year three was a feat in and of itself. But the penalty-shootout loss to George Mason didn’t feel any better than previous years’ losses. “I thought we had a really good opening season in the A-10, but one or two results didn’t go our way,� said Pacifici. “A lot of teams in the conference lost their top scorers including us, so I’d say it’s really kind of a free-for-all. Personally, I’ve never gotten out of the first round in any tournament here. So for me, I’d love to see us make a push in the postseason.�

When the season is over, Pacifici will say his final goodbyes to Davidson, graduating in December. Where he goes next is unknown at this point. Recent training experiences with the Colorado Rapids of the MLS and their feeder club, Charlotte Independence, suggest there might still be a place for him between the posts. He may go overseas armed with a fluency in Spanish, or he might stay closer to home. However, one thing is for sure. If the opportunity presents itself for Pacifici to keep playing soccer, the little kid inside him will not say no. The longer the real world can wait, the better.

Pacifici takes a goal kick during the match against ACC foe NC State, a match Davidson won 2-1. Photo by Shea Parikh

The advantage of being the underdog: Curry and Under Armour STEPHEN PACHECO Staff Writer “Stephen Curry is an underdog.� The phrase has been uttered a million times in hundreds of iterations by a countless number of people. Yet somehow, after six years in the NBA, two All Star selections, an MVP Award, and a championship ring—in addition to shattering every conceivable 3-point record in NBA history and endearing fans to himself and his entire family through his attitude, personality and personal branding—this phrase still rings true about the former Wildcat.

Just three years ago, when the league was still concerned with his long-term health and stability, Curry signed an extension for $44 million for four years, a figure which pales in comparison to the exorbitant contracts being given to mid-level players at the time. A year later, Nike passed on his expiring shoe contract, offering Curry $2.5 million a year and refusing to match Under Armour’s offer of less than $4 million a year. To put that in perspective, over the next two years, Kevin Durant signed a 10year extension with Nike worth as much as $300 million, Derrick Rose signed with Adidas for 13

years, $185 million, and James Harden most recently signed with Adidas for $200 million for 13 years. Somehow, Curry continues to put up superstar numbers while still being paid as a second-tier player.

Yet, by no means do his contracts reflect his true value as both an NBA superstar and a worldwide brand-ambassador. In June, Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank announced his plan to launch a $1 billion basketball brand around Curry. Since then, Plank has already begun to make major business moves that would not have been possible without Curry at the center. A few weeks ago the company began rolling out its first major brand campaign featuring Curry, and just recently they announced a lucrative deal with the NBA to partner with its Jr. NBA and NBA Draft Combine divisions, working with young talent and having the opportunity for early access to future superstar talent.

Additionally, in the second fiscal quarter of 2015, Under Armour saw its sales grow an inconceivable 754% in the basketball category after Curry led the Warriors to an NBA championship over Lebron James and company in the 2015 NBA Finals. Curry isn’t just shattering records on the court—he’s changing brands and

entire marketplaces off the court as well.

Yet while all of these numbers and recent campaign strategies seem to reflect a major breakthrough by Under Armour and Curry himself, one thing is certain: Steph Curry remains the underdog. Nike and its Jordan brand control an enormous 90% of the basketball shoe market, and last year made almost 10 times Under Armour’s total revenue. And despite Under Armour’s recent push into the NBA, Nike isn’t going anywhere anytime soon: it just announced an 8-year apparel deal with the league worth roughly $1 billion dollars. Under Armour still hasn’t found a way to break into the urban or high-end shoe market like Nike has been able to, as Under Armour mostly caters to a middle-class suburban audience. And until it find a way, it will remain the underdogs it’s always been.

Yet, being the underdog has its privileges. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.� This verse – Philippians 4:13—appears on the CurryOne sneaker, which has been promoted by Curry himself using the tagline, “Charged By Belief.� In an Under Armour press conference for the shoe, Curry addressed the freedom he has been able to have with a com-

pany like Under Armour, allowing him to put pieces of himself and his faith into his products, stating, “Charged by belief has a lot of meanings. It matches with the Under Armour story, being an underdog and having to build from the ground up, and the belief [Under Armour CEO] Kevin Plank had in his vision. It’s also about my faith and the belief in my game despite what other people might say‌ It means a lot to be able to spread that message [of Philippians 4:13], whether that’s what you believe or whether it helps you find whatever it is that motivates you to do all things. Every time you put on the shoe, it’s a good reminder of what is possible.â€?

Curry would never have the ability to express himself in these ways were it not for the freedom given to him by the Under Armour brand—a freedom that sometimes comes with being the underdog. And as Curry has discovered time and time again over the course of the last 10 years of his life: there’s nothing wrong with being the underdog.

Interested in writing for sports?

Contact etfaust@davidson.edu

Page 11 Davidsonian.com

Leading quietly, Woods has earned the full respect of his teammates $ VWDU RQ DQG RII WKH ÀHOG :RRGV KDV FRPPLWWHG KLPVHOI WR IRRWEDOO TAIT JENSEN Senior Staff Writer

C

hris Woods ‘16 is a quiet, unassuming character around campus. But when the senior linebacker hits the gridiron, it’s a very different story.

The FCS Preseason All-American has become known as one of the most ferocious tacklers in the Pioneer Football League. Woods followed up a career-best 43-tackle sophomore season with 26 more last year, garnering him an All-PFL Honorable Mention. And with eight tackles in the season opener against a tough Citadel team on Saturday, Woods looks to pick up right where he left off. “On the field, there’s not much change, and that’s good,� Woods said of the young season. “We have the same coaching staff in place and are now growing in the system. We had a lot of young guys last year and we’re now able to stop thinking as much and just play because we know the system.�

That newfound stability in the program is good news for Woods, who has been a leader on defense for the Wildcats in more than just statistics for four seasons now. Even though he came in as a freshman with “big eyes and a bushy tail�

having only played safety in high school, Woods settled into his new role behind then-senior Jelani Doeman ‘13.

Now in the mentoring role himself as a captain on defense, Woods continues to practice his subtle brand of leadership in the Wildcat locker room. “One of the things I’m really big on is having those personal relationships,� Woods explained. “So even though it might not seem like I’m the big crowd guy with the motivational speeches and stuff like that, I think those personal relationships are really what makes [my teammates] think of me as a leader.�

A player so cemented in his role as a leader for the Davidson football team was actually a star basketball player in high school as well. Woods had offers from UNC-Greensboro, Elon, and Appalachian State to play basketball, but chose to attend Davidson and play football because of the academic opportunity the school offered. “I knew I really wanted to come to a school that was academically prestigious,� Woods said, and steals the advice his AAU coach gave him when he was making his decision: “Athletics are there wherever you go, but the academics and intelligence you get through the school is the only thing that will be there later in life.�

So Woods picked Davidson, and the religion major claims he is all the better for it. “My reli-

gion studies and my football career are actually quite intertwined with one another. The things that I learn in the classroom and the things that I learn on the field I approach the same way. They go hand in hand.�

And his good work isn’t limited to the field and the classroom. During the offseason, Woods has been heavily involved in programs that help underprivileged school systems in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area, including the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools Program. He has also volunteered with the Special Olympics, Brookwood Village Retirement Community, Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club, Allied Homeless Shelter and the American Red Cross Blood Drive.

Woods’ character and commitment to service have seen him elected to the team’s honor committee three times; he also represents football on the Student Athlete Advisory Council.

His efforts have earned a nomination for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, and he hopes to combine his love for sports with a youth advocacy program in the future. “I just want to continue in the capacity where I can impact others and they can impact me as well,� Woods said.

But until then, Woods will be making his impact on the field for the Wildcats in his senior season. Now, he says, expectations have been raised. “Last year we were in a lot of close games, but expectations were low,� he explained. “This year there’s no excuse, so we have to think that we are going to win every game we play, and if we don’t there’s going to be disappointment.�

There’s sure to be some of that after a 69-0 defeat at the hands of The Citadel on Saturday. But Woods and the Wildcats have a slate of more winnable home games coming up, and he says they won’t stop working for the guys next to them. “Especially in the midst of a lot of adversity, it’s important for us as teammates to really stick together,� Woods said. “We need to know that we’re going to be a family on the field, and we’re going to play for each other.�

These are strong words from a guy who could have been an Elon basketball player right now.

But Woods says he has no regrets. “Honestly I wish I could’ve just been a two sport athlete in college, too,� he said, laughing, “but if you’re going to give yourself to a sport, for me I have to give myself fully to football.�

Scoreboard CROSS COUNTRY (M) 9/5 1st place at Richmond Invitational Ryan Phillips - 1st overall CROSS COUNTRY (W) 9/5 2nd place at Richmond Invitational Caroline Yarbrough - 2nd overall FIELD HOCKEY 9/3 Missouri State Davidson

2 0

FOOTBALL 9/5 Davidson Citadel

0 69

SOCCER (M) 9/7 NC State Davidson

1 2

SOCCER (W) 9/6 Furman Davidson

2 1

VOLLEYBALL 9/8 Davidson Elon

0 3

Volleyball sweeps away opposition at Wildcat Classic /2 '21$72 Staff Writer

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enim attire and platform shoes never looked so good. Fans hurried to Belk Arena with free fanny-packs in mind this past Friday at 7 pm, for the opening game of the Wildcat Classic Tournament. It was a blast from the past as fans embraced the 90’s theme and supported the women’s volleyball team in their first home match of the season.

In a packed Belk Arena, the ‘Cats clinched their first home victory with a 3-0 sweep over Hampton. With Sabrina Shepherd ’19 and Mason Rooney ’19 pacing the Davidson offense, the team finished the night with a .253 hitting percentage. The sets were close at times but the players never doubted themselves. “We are never negative on the court and always support each other, and that worked to our advantage this weekend,� captain Mikayla Derochie ’17 remarked.

The momentum continued Saturday at noon, as the Wildcats took on Presbyterian in their second match of the tournament. On the offensive end Rooney ’19 recorded her first career double-double with 11 kills and 15 assists, Mikayla Derochie contributed six kills, and Kylie Bishopp ‘18 added four kills for the Wildcats. Davidson’s defensive play was strong as well, limiting its opponent to a .043 hitting percentage and causing

the Blue Hose to commit 26 total errors. The ‘Cats rolled to victory with a convincing 3-0 win, and the fans could feel the energy imbuing Belk Arena.

The Wildcats pulled out a strong final finish against ECU, one of their toughest opponents of the weekend. “To finish against a great team like ECU lets us know how well we have applied our hard work in practice, and that we can beat those bigger tougher teams,� captain Layne Doctson ‘16 said.

Davidson’s first set against ECU featured nine ties and three lead changes, but Rooney’s kill clenched the set 25-22. The Wildcats never trailed in the second set, rolling to a 25-18 victory. Shepherd’s five kills and Rooney’s nine assists paced the offensive play, while Doctson and Morgan Shannon ‘15 led the charge defensively. The ‘Cats finished the match in the nail biting fifth set of the day with a score of 15-12. “Our energy on the court this weekend was great, and it was really exciting because we didn’t have a great weekend last weekend down in Charlotte,� captain Gaylen Fronk ‘16 remarked with a positive outlook going forward. We feel really good about the changes we have already made in such a short time. “In that fifth set especially we put it all out there,� Fronk continued, discussing the decisive set. “We had no reserves, no regrets, and it was about who wanted it more.� Evidently, the ‘Cats

dug deep and craved it more, as they posted a 3-0 record at their home tournament for the first time since 2013. The team received the Wildcats Classic Tournament Trophy following the exciting win.

Derochie, Shepherd, and Rooney were named to the all-tournament team for their stellar play throughout the tournament. After going undefeated last weekend, things are looking bright for

the rest of the season. “One of our pillars of success is 100% effort, 100% of the time, and I think that’s how we are shaping this season,� Fronk explained. With these pillars building the foundation of their team, the Wildcats will travel to the High Point Invitational next weekend with aims to continue their run of success.

(L-R) Sabrina Shepherd ’19, Mikayla Derochie ’17, and Kylie Bishopp ’18 set up to return a serve.

Photo by Shea Parikh.

THE DAVIDSONIAN Matt Pacifici’s composure leads Men’s Soccer to new heights See Page 10

Matt Pacifici ’16 Photo by Shea Parikh

September 9, 2015