davidsonian.com
Student organizations host Black History Month events, open to all
February 15, 2023
Volume 121,
Issue 14
Coach Bob McKillop celebrates retirement surrounded by friends, family, current athletes
A profile on the “Brick Painter,” or Mallory Kavanaugh ‘26
The Yowl examines the humanity of the basketball team
2 5 7 8
Service, which notifies students and faculty of important safety information.
In November, the University of Virginia lost three of its football players to an active shooter.
Just this past Monday, three people were shot at Michigan State University.
According to the Sandy Hook Promise, twelve children die from gun violence in America each day, and guns currently are the leading cause of death among teens. Davidson is not immune to the danger of gun violence, and recently the active shooter protocol was updated to increase the protection of students and professors.
This past August, Chief Financial Officer Ann McCorvey emailed staff about the newly updated locks on classroom doors in Chambers.
“Our facilities team worked for the past several months installing new hardware on doors, and modifications had to be made for every classroom. We struck a balance between the need to lock the doors in an emergency and preventing them from being locked in non-emergencies, such as students studying in a classroom late at night…” the email states.
Chief Julian Coaxum, head of campus police, explains that the current Emergency Response Plan (ERP) at Davidson includes “police stopping the threat” while also establishing guidelines for “campus-wide communication, service coordination and safety procedures in the event of emergencies and dangerous situations such as fires, bomb threats, severe weather or any situation that could threaten lives or safety within the college community, including active shooters.”
For communication, Davidson uses a program called SSAFER through Banner Self
According to Coaxum “recent mass shootings have not changed the ERP but they have reinforced the value of constant, consistent preparation.” For instance, last December, campus police organized a “crisis event exercise” intended to teach people from both the college and town of Davidson about how to respond in a situation with an active shooter.
Staff members are offered optional training at multiple points throughout the year and students participate in emergency training during orientation. However, many current professors and students admit that they do not know much about the protocol.
Gibby Heiser ’26 feels uninformed about what to do in the situation of an active shooter on campus. She does not remember receiving training during orientation on this topic.
“I think I have seen it on my door before,” she states, referring to a poster with steps on how to respond to an active shooter. Heiser has not participated in mass shooting safety training, yet she feels safe on campus.
“I think Campus Police has a pretty secure presence on campus,” Heiser said. “I have seen the cars and I have seen them in the halls before checking in on people. I think they improve safety, but I don’t think I personally know anything about education.”
Professor of English Dr. Shireen Campbell began thinking about the possibility of an active shooter at Davidson after the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting. It came to her attention that her classroom doors did not lock.
“Very recently, within the last two years or even last year, the classroom doors were all changed so that they can lock from the inside,” Campbell said. “And here’s where this is disconcerting news for you, I know we got
elaborate instructions about how it works and I know that if I’m teaching, I’m supposed to lock the door but I’m unclear about how I’m supposed to.”
Campbell has an office key, but she is unsure where she would find a key to lock a classroom she is teaching in. While Campbell remembers learning a protocol at some point, she admits that it was almost a “year and half ago,” and she has not been refreshed since.
When discussing safety protocols and
training at Davidson, Coaxum emphasized the significance of the SSAFER system.
“The most important step faculty, staff and students can take is to make sure their contact info is correct in Banner Self-Service so SSAFER messages reach them,” Coaxum said. “SSAFER messages convey the most critical information in fast-moving crises like active-shooter situations.”
I’d seen a whole lot of unity, programming, and activities as a chance to get to know other people,” said Petties. “It was the first time I really got immersed in the BSC.”
community allows us to share some degree of a collective experience,” she said.
This February, a handful of students of color have been hard at work planning events to celebrate Black History Month in the Davidson community. So far, the Black Student Coalition (BSC), NPHC organizations, and the Black Femmes at Davidson have hosted a wide variety of events, ranging from a discussion on intersectionality to supporting dining workers at Commons. In the upcoming weeks, Davidson students will have the opportunity to enjoy a fashion show, reflect on key historical activists, and the month will culminate with the BSC Gala in Charlotte. All the while, the DuBoisian Scholars, a campus organization that mentors students at West Charlotte High School, will be guiding their high schoolers every Friday through activities in celebration of Black history.
Reflecting on her time at Davidson, Kennedy Petties ‘23, the Black History Month Chair of the BSC, remembers February of her freshman year fondly. “This was the first time that
Now a senior, Petties and other members of the BSC have planned events every week of the month. With similar passion and energy, Ted Pasquette ‘24, President of the Tau Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Inc., has high hopes for his fraternity’s events this month. “We want to make sure that people are very aware of the things going on campus, the Black perspective on campus, as well as the Black perspective across the United States,” he said.
Together, the Tau Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and the BSC will host a fashion show to highlight Black culture this Friday, February 17th, in Union. In hosting events like the fashion show, Petties emphasized that celebrating Black history includes much more than reflecting on the past.
“It’s a time to celebrate us now instead of just what has happened. Being here is an active part of history for a lot of us because there are so few of us at this school, so having that
Morgan Henderson ‘23, President of the DuBoisian Scholars, also hopes to reinforce the value of building community to the students she mentors at West Charlotte, a predominantly Black high school. Last Friday, Henderson shared that, “we made blankets for a homeless shelter to get the kids involved in community service and to stress the importance of helping your local community.” Later this month, the DuBoisian Scholars will orient their lesson plans around Black history as the high schoolers they mentor prepare to transition to college. Henderson emphasized, “whether it’s the history of their life, the history of somebody else’s life, or the history of their family, we’re just opening up and allowing a range of discussions for each person to feel not only comfortable in the culture, but proud.”
While these student organizations have created ample opportunities for the community to celebrate Black History Month, the events do not always see widespread attendance. “I feel like the issue is when we throw events out, it’s just our own circle of people that actually do
show up,” said Pasquette. “We just wish and hope that more Davidson students will come out to these events.”
Frank Edong’a ‘25, co-President of the Davidson African Students Association (DASA), similarly explained that, “when we celebrate Halloween, across campus people are dressing differently, so you know something is really happening. Most people know that February is Black History Month, but I don’t really see that activity in the same way. It would be a good thing if we really took this event seriously.”
While many of these student leaders wish for more turnout from the student body, Petties expressed gratitude for the administration. She said, “I appreciate that the school administration itself is super supportive. They do their best to make sure every event happens no matter what. Doug Hicks has also been personally invested in asking me questions about the month and what we’re up to.”
Importantly, Black identities at Davidson include not only African-American students,
On Saturday, February 4th, a Chinese spy balloon was shot down near the coast of South Carolina. The balloon first entered the US Air Defense Zone on January 28th, then moved across Alaska before entering Canada on Monday. It re-entered the US over Idaho on Tuesday. As it maneuvered across the country, it passed over many sensitive sites, including Malmstrom Air Force base in Cascade County, Montana, which houses nuclear missile silos.
The balloon spent five days in US airspace before it was shot down. US officials say the
balloon was outfitted with solar panels, cameras, surveillance equipment, and propellers. The balloon was 200 feet tall and weighed a couple thousand pounds. To avoid civilian injuries and property damage, the Pentagon waited until the balloon reached the water to shoot it down over the Atlantic.
The encounter has caused a rift in diplomatic relations between the US and China. The Chinese foreign minister expressed intense resentment toward the downing of the balloon, claiming that it was a civilian weather balloon which had floated off course.
The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, was set to visit Beijing to foster improved diplomacy between the US and China, and this
would have been the first visit to China from a member of President Biden’s Cabinet. However, he postponed his trip, calling the balloon an atrocious act by China. Blinken refused to say when he may reschedule his visit.
US officials say that this balloon is one of many in China’s surveillance infrastructure.
Multiple balloons have previously entered US airspace: three times during the Trump administration and once during the Biden administration.
The fleet of Chinese surveillance balloons is thought to have executed dozens of missions since 2018 including over Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia, East Asia, and South America. Last week, US officials briefed 40
countries that have supposedly been victims of Chinese spy balloons in recent years. The balloons are mainly used for surveillance of military and nuclear sites.
The use of balloons may seem odd or old-fashioned, but there are many advantages to using balloons over satellites for surveillance. While satellites follow regular patterns around the globe, balloons follow wind patterns, which are not as predictable as fixed satellite orbits — this can help balloons evade radar. Additionally, satellites are constantly moving, but balloons can hover over areas of importance and gather signals that do not reach satellites and take clearer images.
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but also African and Afro-Caribbean students. As Henderson shared, “Davidson has been a transformational experience in seeing how ‘Blackness’ is defined and experienced differently by people across the US and around the world. Students who exist within the Black experience but do not have an African American experience have really shaped and broadened my viewpoint.”
Student organizations have sought to celebrate this diversity of Black experiences throughout the month. Just last weekend, the BSC hosted a food truck on Friday where students enjoyed Haitian cuisine. Undeterred by the line of forty people, students of all races waited their turn to eat beef pate or Haitian-style fried chicken, celebrating a heritage claimed by many Black students at Davidson. Later this month, DASA has planned an event on Feb. 17 to have a conversation linking the
African-American experience to Africans. “As a Black person from Africa, I often ask, ‘how connected am I to these people?” Edong’a said, “they come from Africa. Even though they lived there centuries apart, it means a lot to me. If they made it, then it inspires me to keep going.”
Apart from encouraging students to attend more events hosted by Black student organizations, Petties wants to inspire a general attitude change towards Black history
in members of the Davidon community. “It doesn’t start and end at slavery or something tragic. There’s a ton of really awesome, cool Black history about little stuff. Try to do your day without using Black history. We can’t even turn on a light switch without it being an invention from someone Black. Black history is an all-year thing. Black history is general history.”
February 12 Sunday February 13 Monday
Super Bowl Party (APA, KAP)
February 14 Tuesday
Bundtinis of Love (BSC)
February 19
Sunday February 20 Monday
February 15 Wednesday
Galentine’s Visions (DST, Black Femmes)
February 16 Thursday
February 17 Friday
Fashion Show (BSC, APA, Fashion Club)
February 18 Saturday
February 21 Tuesday
February 22 Wednesday
February 23 Thursday
February 24 Friday
... ... ... ... ...
Phighting the Good Phight (AKA, APA, BCS, CDI)
Afro-Latinidad Panel (Pi Chi, APA, DST, Lambdas, CDI)
Ice an Alpha (APA)
February 25 Saturday
BSC Gala (BSC)
The Old Well has been a Davidson College landmark for over a century. While initially established to increase water access on campus, the Well soon became much more than that. According to college lore, couples who kiss at the Well owe their luck in love to its magic.
“There’s no statistical data on this, but a lot of anecdotal evidence,” said Major Gofts Office Marya Howell ‘91. “At reunion weekends, for example, I’ve been witness to people being proposed to at the Well.” She remembers the roof of Chambers being a prime kissing spot for couples on campus as well.
Every Valentine’s Day, Howell compiles a list of couples who went to Davidson. This year she found that there are 2,482 alumni married to another Davidson alum. In 2006, 81 students—or 20 percent of the graduating class—married other alumni.
While the rumor goes that 41 percent of Davidson alumni marry each other, Howell dispels this as nothing but a tall tale.
“The average is about 14 percent,” Howell said. “Regardless, Davidson does have its share of wonderful love stories.”
Even with the actual statistic being substantially lower than the rumored one, Howell claims the number is high relative to other average liberal arts colleges. She attributes this to the unique Davidson community—for example, the Honor Code, which permeates throughout campus culture.
“There’s a lot of shared values here. After graduation, people often reconnect through shared experiences from their time at Davidson.”
Students aside, there’s a number of faculty and administration that either come to Davidson in pairs or end up meeting their future significant others on campus.
Morgan Kee ‘12, who currently works as the Director of Annual Giving, met her husband her freshman year. A classic love story: she was a cheerleader, and he was a football player. They hardly knew each other when
they first found common ground at a BSC event, but soon enough, she was cheering on the sidelines at football games. Morgan Kee married her college sweetheart, Harvey Kee ‘11, in 2016, and looks back fondly on the special moments that they shared on campus.
“The fireplace at Union was our spot. We had many of our first dates there.”
Alumni Ellen Marshall ‘91 and Tommy Marshall ’91 reflected on their time at Davidson: the pair met in a Hindu mysticism class their senior year. In 1993, they decided to tie the knot, surrounded by old friends and classmates, and are now approaching their thirty-fourth anniversary.
“We were married at the Davidson College Presbyterian Church and had our reception brunch at Commons, catered by Commons” Ellen said.
The Marshall’s believed it would be most fitting to celebrate in the dining hall that brought them closer together, accompanied by the people that had witnessed their love story from the very beginning.
Ellen further recalls that some of her best memories from college entail sitting with Tommy and her friends laughing around a table at Vail Commons. When asked whether she and Tommy have any favorite memories from their time at Davidson, Ellen mentions that, on rainy days, they would frequently slip and slide on a little golf course on campus.
Another couple whose love flourished at Davidson is Susan ‘94 and Peter Cobb ‘91. Their love story unfolded on the soccer field, a sport they both played passionately. Before the pair began dating, Susan recalls being in awe of Peter’s soccer skills. Peter was able to spend extra time with his girlfriend before he left Davidson due to an honor code violation. In order to graduate, he had to help coach the women’s junior varsity soccer team, allowing the couple to strengthen their relationship. Peter proposed to Susan in Rusk Eating House when she was a junior, and they got married upon her graduation in 1994. Fittingly, Peter ensured that the entirety of the men’s soccer team was present at Rusk to celebrate their engagement.
Anurshi Modi ‘26 and Srijit Banerjee ‘26
carry on the legacy of love at Davidson as an international couple from India. Banerjee says that they enjoy taking walks around campus and going to Nummit for dates. One of his fondest memories so far is the first dance they had together at Davidson during freshman orientation. When asked whether they have kissed at the Well to memorialize their yearslong love, he responded, “No, not yet... but it sounds like a great idea for Valentine’s Day.” Modi and Banerjee say that the close-knitness of the Davidson community helps them in fostering the special bond that they share.
Romantic relationships aside, Howell stresses the importance of the strong friendships that this campus harbors.
“I think it’s heartwarming and speaks to the
community at Davidson.” Romantic and platonic relationships tend to thrive here simply because of the strong sense of community, similar degrees of intellect, and core values that people at Davidson have in common. Howell alludes that the Davidson culture forever shapes people in a way that it seeps into every connection they go on to form. She hopes to remain in touch with her college friend group the way that Davidson graduates often do. Whether or not the magic of the Well is real, the magic of Davidson very much is, points out Howell.
“It’s amazing to see the number of people that stay close with their Davidson circle.”
Airen
Sarah
Anya
Kelsey
Zuber
Julia
One of my best childhood friends was about 200 feet away from the shooting at the University of Virginia last November. He texted me updates right after as he barricaded himself in a room and hid in the corner. I remember the intense fear I had for a friend who was many miles away and feeling that there was no way for me to help. All I could do was check Twitter and see the hundreds of tweets every minute about the situation. As I stayed on Twitter, it was shocking to see how the debate about gun reform immediately began to dominate the feed. This was especially upsetting considering that the gunman was still at large, and important tweets informing students of necessary safety information were being lost in a sea of debate and argument.
This was not the first time in my life that I had a close experience with gun violence. When I was eight, I was at a dress rehearsal for a ballet recital when a gunman was spotted entering the facility where we were performing. It was terrifying being put on lockdown in my snowflake costume, as we waited for any sort of update on the situation. While there ended up being no emergency, I often think about this incident and how scary it was to know we were near a dangerous person with a firearm.
Looking back to middle and high schools, my peers and I always had a background awareness of the potential for a
school shooter. This fear was amplified after the Parkland shooting in 2018, which really drove home the reality of gun violence in America. I remember the somber nature of my high school in the days following Parkland, and how my friends and teachers discussed escape and survival strategies in case a gunman ever came. I especially remember the fear I felt when one teacher explained how the circular layout of my high school would make it especially easy for a gunman to navigate. This discussion opened my eyes to how truly defenseless students are to weapons of mass destruction.
I know that I cannot single handedly solve the problem of gun violence in America. However, I also know that raising my voice and encouraging others to think and act on this matter is crucial. It is especially important to continue advocating because many people have simply become numb to gun violence in the United States. As soon as there is a shooting, an immediate debate about gun rights ignites, when I think a far more appropriate response is to take time to reflect and mourn. The instant politicization is especially upsetting after a mass shooting, when it appears that the posturing of gun rights advocates is nothing more than a reactive response to squelch any possibility of meaningful change.
The sad reality of gun violence in America is that no tragedy ever seems to inspire real reform. It is tragic knowing that the
Stella Mackler ‘26
Co-Editor in Chief
I am an intended environmental science major and Arab studies minor. One of my main characteristics is being passive aggressive in google docs.
Favorite Commons Meal: Tuscan Roasted Cauliflower at the power plant.
McKinley Lettre ‘24
Co-News Editor
I am a junior political science major and English minor from Bethseda, Maryland. I like to run and ski.
Favorite Commons Meal: Salmon Bowls and Tomato Soup bar.
Arshi Husain ‘26
Features Editor
I am from Islamabad, Pakistan. I am an intended economics major and am so excited to be bringing you new stories.
Favorite Commons Meal: Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Bilal Razzak ‘25
Co-Politics Editor
I am a part of Sigma Epsilon, the tour guide program, and club tennis. I am excited to bring you all some riveting politics stories!
Favorite Commons Meal: Salmon
Katherine Marshall ‘26
Arts and Culture Editor
I am a first year from Atlanta, Georgia.
Favorite Commons Meal: Commons eggs and crispy tots.
Cameron Krakowiak ‘24
Co-Sports Editor
An avid sports enthusiast.
Favorite Commons Meal: Chicken Parm and Mac & Cheese.
Anika Banerjee ‘24
Co-Editor in Chief
I am a political science and communication studies double major, from Boulder, Colorado. I also have back problems from hunching over the Davidsonian laptops.
Favorite Commons Meal: Banana pudding!
Abby Brissitt ‘26
Co-News Editor
I am really good at speed walking. At present, I am over investing myself in knitting and regretting my choice to sign up for Twitter’s “What’s Trending” notifications.
Favorite Commons Meal: Life Cereal!
Ian Macel ‘24
Co-Politics Editor
I am a political science major. Outside of the Davidsonian, I am in jazz band and enjoy hanging out with my friends!
Favorite Commons Meal: Breakfast Sandwich
Avo Reid ‘25
Perspectives Editor
I love Commons. Orzo salad at the salad bar takes me places I have never been.
Favorite Commons Meal: Butter Chicken at herbs and spices.
Victor Taylor ‘24
Co-Sports Editor
A fan of sports!
Favorite Commons Meal: Chicken Parm.
Stephen Walker ‘26
Living Davidson Editor
I am from Haverford, Pennsylvania and am hoping to major in English.
Favorite Commons Meal: Eating at commons makes me sad, really sad. Maybe Chicken Tenders.
next mass shooting is certain to occur because our nation lacks effective gun control laws. And it is demoralizing to realize that there is very little citizens can do to establish these laws because the gun lobby holds so much power over our legislative branch. Solutions are not easy, but certainly it is wrong that the entire country should live in fear because a relatively small number of gun advocates believe that AR13s should be in general circulation. Certainly, some sensible gun reforms should be possible.
The night of the UVA shooting was my friend’s birthday. He spent that night hiding in a corner, fearing for his own life and the lives of his friends. His story is unacceptable, three young men losing their lives is unacceptable, and the lack of sensible firearm legislation in our country is unacceptable. I sincerely hope that in the future our nation can enact meaningful gun reform. It is truly my wish that students and teachers never have to think about potential ways to escape or survive any experience of gun violence.
Grace McGuire ‘25 (she/her) can be reached at grmcguire@ davidson.edu.
Mallory
Charlie Sellers ‘24, Skylar Linker ‘25
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Silly, silly, silly, silly, silly, silly, silly, silly, silly, silly, silly, goofy, silly, silly, silly, silly, silly, silly, silly, silly, silly
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Editors-in-Chief News Editors
Features Editor
Politics Editors
Perspectives Editor
Arts and Culture Editor
Sports Editors
Living Davidson Editor
Yowl Editors
Photography Editors
Social Media Manager
Business Manager
Design Editors
Senior Copy Editor
Anika Banerjee ‘24, Stella Mackler ‘26
Abby Brissett ‘26, McKinley Lettre ‘24
Arshi Husain ‘26
Ian Macel ‘24, Bilal Razzak ‘25
Avo Reid ‘26
Katherine Marshall ‘26
Cameron Krakowiak ‘24, Victor Taylor ‘24
Stephen Walker ‘26
Skylar Linker ‘25, Mallory Justis ‘24, Charlie Sellers’ 24, Eric Schoellner ‘25
Bailey Maierson ‘25, Sydney Schertz ‘24
Arshi Husain ‘26
Sierra Brown ‘25
Isabelle Easter ‘25, Bailey Maierson ‘25
Mattie Baird ‘25
Justis ‘24, Eric Schoellner ‘25 Mattie Baird ‘25 Senior Copyeditor Bailey Maierson ‘25 GRACE MCGUIRE ‘25 (SHE/HER)
VICTOR TAYLOR (HE/HIM) SPORTS EDITOR
Many former players, staff, and friends of longtime coach Bob Mckillop returned to Belk Arena on Saturday in order to celebrate his retirement after Davidson took on Fordham in an A-10 clash. President Doug Hicks ’90 and Athletic Director Chris Clunie ’06 both delivered remarks before Coach Mckillop addressed the crowd himself. Mentions of longtime “Mckillop-isms” such as “help somebody, help yourself”, “moving the spotlight”, and the famous “TCC” were all reminders of what an impact the 33year head coach left on the program, the athletic department, and the school itself. From a first year head coach who moved his family from their home in Queens, New York to chase a dream in a small North Carolina town, to one of the greatest, most respected coaches of all time, Saturday’s ceremony was an amazing way to honor a legend in our community.
The 2023
Women’s Lacrosse season kicked off this past Saturday, February 11th, at High Point. The team beat High Point with a score of 17-13. The ‘Cats had a with a slow start to the game, allowing four goals in under seven minutes. They trailed 6-2 before scoring five straight goals. Both Julianne Carey and Riley Cochrane had five goals each to lead the team. Seven other ‘Cats had one goal a piece in leading them to the win. It was quite the nailbiter until half way through the Fourth Quarter.
Davidson plays Duke at Richardson Stadium, Feb.15 at 4:30pm.
DThe Davidson Men’s Track and Field team competed in Boston University’s David Hemery Valentine Invitational on Feb.12 and broke five school records all together.
Jayden Smith ‘25 snapped two program records: one in the 60-meter hurdles at a record 7.76 seconds and 21.83 seconds in the 200 meter race. He is atop the Atlantic 10 this year with his new program record. Charlie Siebert ‘25 finished the day with a new program record in the 5,000 meters at 14:22.15, snapping a decade old record. Siebert ranks 11th in the Atlantic 10. Josh Hardin broke the program record set in 2019, in the 400 meters at 47.99 seconds. He finished inside the top 15 in a field of over 250 runners.
Kierra Marshall ‘24 set a Davidson record in the 200 meters with her time of 24.70. This time currently places her fourth in the Atlantic 10.
It is easy to associate art with century-old paintings and sculptures, but Jacolby Satterwhite’s exhibition “Finding Home Again” in the Davidson Van Every/Smith Galleries proves the ever-expanding boundaries of contemporary art. Satterwhite is an American artist who incorporates a variety of themes into his work, including fantasy, sex, and technology. Do not expect an ordinary gallery visit; this is an immersive experience that draws the viewer in with music, neon lights,
video, and even virtual reality. Don’t miss these three artworks during your visit!
“Finding Home Again” features two neon artworks, the smaller one holding a more personal meaning to the artist. Hands and Wrist consists of two lines of red and green text: “we are in hell when we fail to exist / we are in hell when we nail hands and wrist.” This ominous statement is actually sourced directly from one of Satterwhite’s late mother’s drawings. Patricia Satterwhite practiced art and music as a means of dealing with mental illness, which the artist honors by incorporating decades of her creations into his. Thus, the font of the neon signs is based on Patricia’s handwriting, and even recordings of her voice can be heard in the music playing throughout the gallery.
Satterwhite created an album, “Love Will Find a Way Home,” which plays in conjunction with the digital animation series Birds in Paradise. The series is a major feature of the exhibition, spanning three different walls. On each wall, two videos are paired together to create a 20-minute long visual and auditory experience. Nude bodies, winged creatures, and natural disasters create an imaginary universe of shocking imagery. Satterwhite tackles prominent issues in America in his artwork while also reflecting personal mythologies. He references African history and queer culture throughout his work to express both of these elements; for example, in one video, Satterwhite is dancing in a Brooklyn nightclub which was once a place of irrepressible expression for the LGBTQ+ community.
Venturing further into the idea of a created universe, “Finding Home Again” also features a virtual reality installation titled We Are in Hell When We Hurt Eachother. After putting on the VR headset, you are immediately transported to a 3-dimensional green landscape. Looking around (the chair swiveling while you move), you are surrounded by robotic feminine Black bodies. While some scenes of Birds in Paradise were strikingly sexual, this is not at all eroticized. The figures sway and dance to funky edm music playing through headphones, some beginning to grow so large that they extend toward the sky. As relevant as ever in an age of AI and video games, this VR scene reflects an appreciation and celebration of Black women.
“Finding Home Again” is truly a unique exhibition, transporting viewers to a different universe. In a largely autobi-
ographical demonstration, it explores themes related to gender and race through an unconventional use of technology. Satterwhite utilizes multiple mediums to create an engaging and mesmerizing visit; whether exploring the gallery alone on a Wednesday afternoon or wandering through the bustle of an evening gallery opening, you cannot help but to get consumed by the art. Experience it yourself in the Van Every/Smith Galleries through March 26, 2023
Violet ‘26 (she/her)
“Here Comes the Moon” George Harrison
“I love how this song is a play on the Beatles’ more well known song ‘Here Comes the Sun.’ Obviously, the sun is representative of light and happiness, but I really appreciate how this song gives love to the moon for bringing light to darkness and being not just ‘little brother to the sun’ but also ‘mother to the stars at night.’”
Eliza ‘26 (she/her)
“Anywhere With You” Maggie Rogers
“This is an incredible driving at night with the volume up high and windows down song. Maggie Rogers starts the song slow, building to a climax that is so easy to scream along to. The background vocals and music production complement the song incredibly and match the energy of the lyrics perfectly, making ‘Anywhere With You’ catchy, yet still a meaningful ode to the person you would do anything for.”
Josh ‘25 (he/him)
“House of My Soul” Langhorne Slim “A very listenable song”
Connie ‘25 (she/her)
“where’s the confetti?” jev “It’s just a great song.”
Paul ‘25 (he/him)
“Blackbird” Paul McCartney
“My mom used to sing this to me to help me fall asleep when I was younger. It was also the first fingerpicking song I learned how to play on guitar.”
Wells ‘26 (she/her)
“Closer to Fine” Indigo Girls
“It sounds so good on the earphones in Walt. It reminds me of my family and some of my besties from Davidson. It is also just so good.”
Abby ‘26 (she/her)
“Adventures of the Invisible Dog” Allan Wachs
“This song magically appeared in my library and makes me think about driving with the windows down in the prettiest of summer weather.”
Bailey ‘26 (she/her)
“I’m That Girl” Beyoncé
“First heard the intro on tiktok and now I feel so powerful walking through the halls listening to it.”
Bilal ‘25 (he/him)
“Last Night” Morgan Wallen
“Morgan Wallen has been one of my favorite artists in recent memory. His lyrics never fail to transport me to a sentimental road, one that I always enjoy going down. Last night takes one down the same emotional path—truly a work of art. It’s a reflection on the pain, beauty, and messiness of love: a commentary like no other.”
Caroline Ewing ‘26 (she/her) is an intended English and Art History major from Princeton, NJ. She can be reached for comment at caewing@davidson.edu. CAROLINE EWING ‘26 (SHE/HER) Larger of the two of Satterwhite’s neon works included in Two-screen digial display. Photo credit: Caroline Ewing This semester’s schedule of shows for Walt 1610 Poster by Grace McGuire ‘25We’re hitting the point in the semester where planners are no longer being written in, Google Calendars are becoming overcrowded, and every professor seems to think it’s time to show their true colors of being the hardest graders known to man. For the very small price of designing your perfect day in Davidson, I’ll help you with the first step towards regaining control of your life and tell you where you should settle in for a couple hours to finally get some things checked off your to-do list.
What are you doing first thing in the morning?
A- Breakfast! It’s the most important meal of the day for a reason, people.
B - Scroll on your phone for two hours just to realize you did not have that sort of time to waste.
C - Going to spend some time outside in the few hours of sunlight a day.
D - Hitting the gym (the author of this quiz admires you, but wouldn’t want to be you.)
Mostly A’s: The Courtyard between Watson and Dana - This is a very nice place to do your work, and I know you deserve it. Enjoy the couple warm days of false Spring before Winter drags us back in.
Mostly C’s: Libs - Now, I know I’m telling you to go to libs, but you need to ACTUALLY DO WORK there, not just talk to the friends that you came with. I’m watching you.
It’s time to eat! Where to?
A - The Soda Shop is a classic.
B - Is DoorDash an option?
C - You will brave Pickled Peach and the undeniable fact that everyone you’ve ever met will somehow also be there.
D - Commons, if only for the post-meal dessert (or possibly pre-meal…) Pick some people to run into that you really would prefer not to see.
A - A tour group that is all looking at you like you’re a zoo animal.
B - The middle school biker gang.
C - The entire Davidson Men’s Basketball team. This could also be a group you did want to run into, depending on who you are.
D - The professor for the class you haven’t been to for a bit….awkward.
Mostly B’s: Wall - You seem like you really need to lock in. It’s probably best for you to find a study room somewhere in the back and hog it for the foreseeable future.
Mostly D’s: Chambers - Find some random room that’s very quiet and a bit creepy. It’ll be good motivation for you to finish as fast as possible so you can leave again!
Waste the rest of your day on.
A - People watching in the sculpture garden.
B - Honestly. Rotting in bed. It IS a fun activity, you promise!
C - Having philosophical conversations with friends that make you question your own existence. It’s really what college is for, after all.
D - Attempting to bake something. You can’t guarantee success, but isn’t it really the journey that matters?
See You All in Two Weeks :)
SAHANA: Secret Brick Painter, would you like to introduce yourself?
SECRET BRICK PAINTER: I’m Mallory Kavanaugh. I’m a freshman here at Davidson. I’m going to double major, hopefully in art history and political science, and my pronouns are she/her.
SAHANA: I noticed your brick painting when I was walking by Commons and it made my whole day. What gave you the inspiration to paint on campus?
MALLORY: Well, I kind of thought it would be funny, but also, I just think there needs to be more public art overall, like on campus. I’m doing mostly famous paintings right now.
SAHANA: That’s amazing. When did you get into art?
MALLORY: I’ve been painting seriously since maybe my freshman year of high school. But I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember.
SAHANA: I would’ve thought you’d been painting all your life. Your pieces are stunning. How many of these paintings have you done and how much time did they take?
MALLORY: The first one that I put out, The Girl with the Pearl Earring, - that one got stolen, actually. It only took me an hour and 30 minutes. I’ve done that painting before, so I Knew what the process was like to paint it.
SAHANA: Do you plan on doing a lot more of those around campus?
MALLORY: I think so, probably in the same spot just because that’s where most of the loose bricks are. Also it’ll be a little bit more noticeable, rather than people just coming up on one or two.
SAHANA: That makes sense. Has art influenced other areas or areas of your life?
MALLORY: I think on a daily basis I notice things a bit more than someone who’s not into art. I might look at something and think, “Wow, that would make a really gorgeous painting,” or, I don’t know, my knowledge about colors comes in handy sometimes.
SAHANA: Seeing your brick made me reflect on how the smallest things can make us happy. Does art have that kind of power over you? To brighten your mood?
We Are Wildcats is a human-interest column that aims to share the extraordinary within the ordinary at Davidson College and to showcase the inspiring things that make each and every Wildcat unique. If you wish to be featured or know someone whose story needs to be heard, please feel free to contact saathreya@davidson.edu! Stay tuned for future stories! This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
From door stoppers to room decor, loose bricks have served many purposes for Davidson students. On the 11th of February, a brick was taken from outside Commons and was returned the next day with the famous Girl with the Pearl Earring painted on its surface. The Mona Lisa and the Birth of Venus followed soon after. For days, the Brick Painter’s identity remained a secret. Now, she has finally been discovered and is ready to receive her praises.
(Check out the full profile to the right).
MALLORY: Oh, for sure. In addition to painting and my more serious stuff, I do a lot more cartoonish pieces. Not comics necessarily, but art that explains some of my experiences; I draw to make sense of things. Sometimes I write down things that my friends have said that have made me giggle or something that I’m mad at that day and then draw it.
SAHANA: Do you also think art has the power for social change?
MALLORY: Oh, yeah, definitely. In the future, I want to incorporate more social justice themes into my artwork because I also study politics, and there have been things that have happened that have made me really passionate, like the overturning of Roe v. Wade. That was something that made me very upset. And I think I’d definitely like to explore that because that’s something very personal to me.
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February 15, 2023
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Page There are Only Two Options
As Davidson students anticipate the reprieve from the general repression of lib-filled weeknights, substance-induced weekend dazes, and Common’s ‘spicy’ curry, spring break planning commences. Finally, students will be able to live outside of the planned herd activities sanctioned through higher education. That is, of course, if they choose to.
“I just can’t leave Davidson this spring break,” explains a freshman Pre-Med Bio Major. “I have to get my shadowing hours up. How will I ever fulfill my lifelong purpose if I don’t fill my time preparing for med school? I’ll travel later, maybe, after I take the MCAT.”
In terms of time prioritization, it is a general consensus that ‘life planning’ takes higher priority than ‘life living.’ However, while some of the younger students of Davidson decide to save the ‘off the beaten path’ experience for later down the road, the seniors relish the freedom of spring break as their last joy ride before their pre-planned post-davidson experience will begin.
“I need to leave Davidson,” explains a pale senior that everyone thought took a gap semester during the fall.
“I just can’t think about college—or worse, after college—anymore. I’ve applied to every internship, job, and gap year program that will give me some sense of stability next year. I have nothing left to do right now but camp out at Nummit and refresh my LinkedIn. I don’t know what to do—oh wait, it’s five? Do you want to split a pitcher?”
The desperate urge to leave the Davidson Bubble— and the many realities which encompass it—however, is not felt by all. As juniors return from fall study
abroad, the act of experiencing realities around the world and feeling enamored by cultural nuances has gotten as stale as the common’s gluten-free bagels.
“My friends want to go to Spain but I will NOT go to Spain again for spring break,” explains freshly-returned Davdison Junior. “I went to Cadiz this fall and it was fine. I ate tapas—honestly I prefer Qdoba— spoke some Spanish, and spent a week in my family’s vacation home near Italy. But honestly, I’m so sick of traveling around, I just want to have fun this break and drink my oat milk lattes. Alternative milk can be such a pain to get overseas.”
However, luckily for many spring breakers, the act of making new, exciting memories does not have to include an unfamiliar destination. In fact, for many Davidson students, though they return to the same place each year, their experience is unlike any they can remember.
“I’ve gone to Fort Lauderdale every year and I don’t remember anything about it,” explains Senior Polisci Major. “I had a really good hamburger a few times… I think. But that’s what vacation is for no more thinking! No more reflecting! TBH spring break is just the pregame for Frolics.”
As students choose between Florida, Hilton Head, or Punta Cana, they all must remember that spring break, at the end of the day, is a week long possibility filled venture where one can live unattached to the identities of frat bro, med school applicant, SGA member, or simply a Davidson student. It is only an added benefit that the pre-planned ‘zany experiences’ of spring break fit nicely into Outlook calendars and Instagram posts.
Sorry folks, your AT is taken, give it up. But lucky for all of you that were planning on yet another high-top solo Commons dinner for Valentine’s Day, we have some tips on how to spot fellow single individuals to make life less lonely.
Let’s start at Commons! Herbs and Spices line? That’s the only spice in their lives. Swiping in with a CatCard on a lanyard? They’ve lost important things before. Still no success? Check the CIS department. Designing your own major is a sure sign of commitment issues. If not, keep an eye out for the mullet. Is it on an SAE pledge or a climbing club member? Doesn’t matter, they’re probably single. Frustrated with their bid, frustrated with their route, or frustrated sexually? Probably all of the above, which makes it the perfect time to catch them at a moment of vulnerability.
Even if you can’t find success here, we have a number of other honorable mentions for the most single people. Anyone on the honor council (not naughty enough), people wearing any type of fur (they’re touch deprived, let’s face it), people who have won trivia (the only wiener they’re getting is the “I’m a Wiener” sticker), people who order hot chocolate at trivia, OTMs (they rushed move in just like
they tried to rush in to their last relationship), that one libertarian in the libertarian club (not liberated enough for your sexual needs), the Baker student employees, anyone whose snack of choice from the vending machine is pretzels (they’re most likely a sociopath), anyone who covers their phone and appears to be swiping back in forth, those with a car in satellite (they talk too long), consistent Yik Yak users (you know they’re not being milked), all of Base Belk (they’re bottoms for a reason), anyone that spends hundreds of hours in nummit (they have too much work cause they spend most of time looking like they’re doing important work), Union piano players (obviously), Humanities Majors (will never have a stable job), those that run to class (just be late), people who use debit cards in commons market (financially illiterate), people that wear the Curry for 3 shirt (NPC), those that call fratenrities “frats” (way too cool), those that post that they love each other on an instagram story (95% of relationships will end in the next weeks), and of course whoever you saw getting something for their “dry skin” at CVS. And last but not least, people who spend their time writing a Yowl article. Hit us up for more sound love advice...or just hit us up, Ali Bi and Heeve Hough (desperate)
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There’s a lot of things no one tells you about college. It’s hard to believe after hours and hours of listening to unsolicited advice not a singular person would mention that (1) you will need a complete inventory of both dignified and completely slutty dance moves, (2) you can’t just nod or shake your head you actually have to talk to people like a real human being, and (3) that your mouth will hurt all the fucking time. The last one may come as a shock to even the most enlightened of college students, but this Yowl correspondent truly believes this a strong uniting factor across all of Davidson. Here are some reasons why members across the Davidson community mouths’ may be hurting.
You went too hard this weekend because you used Valentine’s Day as an excuse to release all your pent-up sexual tension that’s clearly a result of you ignoring your other needs in a healthy way. As any PPE man will not hesitate to tell you, this obviously relates back to Sigmund Freud and how you were not only neglected as a child, but are also neglected right now, meaning the only way to cure this is to put your mouth on something real juicy, just like when you were a babe. Luckily, the impending romantic holiday meant that even those with stable childhoods were frothing at the mouth ready to exercise their jawular muscles.
You’re an 11 year old boy named Spike whose parents told him to put down the Xbox, go outside, and as a result you ended up eating shit biking down the hill trying to get away from campo. Advice to Spike: Thank your mom and dad for giving you a good story to include in your college application to Davidson, if the world still exists that is. Advice to campo: Do you really need 20 officers when your biggest task is shooing away elementary school bike gangs? Probably not.
You’re a 17-25 year old and your body hates you. All four of your wisdom teeth were growing in completely sideways, you get them removed but your mom who’s had a credit card since the 70s casually forgets credit lines exist and that her’s is maxed out so you have to pay the upfront costs, then you find out that there’s a nationwide shortage of your narcotics prescription so you have to take the largest safest dose of acetaminophen and ibuprofen only for you to still be in extreme pain forcing you to drink a 46 oz can of pineapple juice as a last resort. This is totally relatable, right?
You’re Doug Hicks trying to enter a conversation. Let’s face it, Doug, you can only awkwardly smile for so long until the corners of your mouth start aching. “Think of something funny, Dougie boy, you can do it,” President Hicks whispers to himself on the daily as revealed to The Yowl in a moment of pure vulnerability. Just know, Doug, we’re in your corner.
Davidson Basketball, the sport on campus with the largest fan base, has provided us with exciting home games, free tickets to a March Madness game in which they lost, and most importantly, men that are actually above 6 feet tall (well, most of them–there’s some generous rounding on that online roster). While they may be campus celebrities, these giants walking around campus are more similar to us than we may have originally thought, except they can reach the top row of dryers. We sent out our stealthiest Yowl editors to observe their daily routines, and we found out that other than being relatively talented compared to other players you’ve never heard of in small D1 leagues, these players are just as human as the rest of us. Here are some things we observed:
Foster Loyer dropping a cup at Commons
• Sam Mennenga at the writing center getting help learning the difference between “there,” “their,” and “they’re”
Grant Huffman doing an awkward white boy dance in an F apartment
• Connor Kochera Snapchatting “streaks” once a day
Chris Sosnik living with a nonner
• Sean Logan sighing as he gets another Duo Push notification to open Moodle
• Michael Katsock accidentally printing 33 copies instead of 3 copies of his final paper in the library
Reed Bailey taking your clothes out of the dryer mid cycle
• Desmond Watson tripping over a brick on the pathway to Chambers
• Achile Spadone swiping left on your Tinder profile
Riccardo Ghedini falling out of a hammock on Chambers lawn
• David Skogman having to use dining dollars at Commons because he ran out of meal swipes
Joe Thompson’s alarm, which is California Gurls by Katy Perry, going off in the middle of class
• Brock Matheny getting locked out of his dorm room in his towel with his shower caddy in hand
However, we never saw a single player get a rebound.
How Students Are Switching Up Their Masturbation to Celebrate Valentine’s Day Lonely on Valentine’s Day? Wearing black out of pure to spite those who insist on wearing pink and red garments? Here’s how you can hijack your brain into making you feel the serotonin that those giddy brainwashed people keep going on about: Masturbation Tips: Don’t lock your door. Looking for an extra thrill while you’re “flogging the dolphin?” Don’t lock the door to your shared dorm room! The subconscious knowledge that your roommate could walk in at any second will keep your blood pumping for the low cost of $7,950 a year. Spice up your toys. Has your “humping pillow” lost its stability and softness? Try your brand new “Build-A-Bae!” Fingers or wrist too tired? Don’t own a dildo? Try a thick, chisel-tip Sharpie™ or other wide marker to reach that spot you’ve been dying to itch. (Please, God, use a condom.)
Looking for a firmer flesh-light? Chambers has a free selection of abandoned Hydro Flasks™ in accommodating varying sizes for you to lube up and go to town in.
Good luck and go Wildcats!
Note: The Yowl is a satirical supplement to The Davidsonian Hence, nothing in it should be taken as truth.
