Davidsonian 10.18.23

The

Davidsonian

Independent Student Journalism Since 1914

inside

davidsonian.news

Annabel Groseclose ‘27 gives a preview into Wildcat Weekend

Volume 122, Issue 04

October 18, 2023

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Cameron Krakowiak ‘24 writes a letter about their new video interviews of studentathletes

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Clara Ottati ‘27 checks in on Davidson’s literary magazines as they make their goals for 2324 school year

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The Yowl gives some creative tips for asking your crush out

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Emily Drew ‘04 Brings Professional Insight Back to Davidson

Drew reports in the field. Photo from Emily Drew

MADELINE RICHARD ‘26 (SHE/HER) SENIOR STAFF WRITER

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mily Drew ‘04 is a three time Emmy award winning journalist, and her field work has covered terrorist attacks, mass shootings, natural disasters, and presidential campaigns. She has worked at print and television news outlets including The Taipei Times, China Central Television, Al Jazeera America, NBC News & MSNBC, VICE News, and ABC News. Drew returned to Davidson this fall to serve as the James K. Batten Professor of English and work alongside some of her former mentors.

The Batten professorship is a semesterlong position, and according to English department chair Dr. Randy Ingram, it usually goes to public policy professors. However, Drew’s focus is different: she teaches classes about media literacy, journalism, and news production.

Drew got connected with the Batten professorship this spring, when she returned to Davidson for the first time since her graduation. “[English professors] Alan Michael Parker, Suzanne Churchill, Randy Ingram, and the Career Center invited me down to talk to a couple classes and meet some students about career opportunities in journalism,” Drew explained. “It was a really successful visit.”

Dean Shelley Rigger — Davidson’s Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty — reached out to Drew a few weeks after her trip and invited her to teach this fall.

“When [Dean Rigger] asked me [about the Batten professorship] I was surprised, but very excited about it,” Drew said. “It was kind of the perfect time for me because I had just finished my last contract at ABC in New York.”

Drew has loved returning to Davidson so far — it has brought back fond memories and allowed her to reflect on her career.

“I was really surprised at how special it was to be back [...] when I stepped out of the car and stepped onto campus,” she said. “It’s kind of fun to cycle back and have this opportunity to really think about the last 20 years of my life and what I’ve been professionally.”

Though Drew had not formally taught before this semester, she has enjoyed acting as a mentor in past jobs.

“One of my favorite roles in news has been mentoring younger journalists and mentoring writers,” Drew said. “It’s nice for me to be able to switch gears and teach people skills and ways of looking at stories that can last beyond however long I decide to work in news.”

Davidson does not typically offer journalism classes, so Drew’s work is a unique addition to the campus.

“Journalism is not [seen as] a liberal art,” Ingram explained. “[It] is more vocational training.”

Drew serves as the James K. Batten Professor of English. Photo from Davidson College website Yet he points out that Drew’s humanistic approach to journalism challenges this notion.

“Some of [her] work has to do with interviewing family members of people who die [in tragedies like mass shootings, natural disasters, and terrorist attacks],” Ingram said.

“She is a deep researcher, so she has a kind of respect for [journalistic] sources when they are printed sources, but even more so when they are human.” According to Ingram, Drew recognizes that people “need to talk [about the trauma they experience] [...] she hears that need and meets it [even after collecting the information she needs for her piece].”

Helping interviewees process situations is not part of a journalist’s job description, but it aligns with Davidson’s fundamental goals.

“One of Davidson’s cardinal values is humane instincts,” Ingram commented. “[Drew’s willingness to listen] is a really good example of humane instinct.”

Drews career experience serves her in the classroom. Cate Goodin ‘26 takes Unreliable Narrator in News with Drew and appreciates her journalistic background.

“My favorite part [of the class] is that we will be talking about something and then she [delves into] her professional knowledge and experience. I cannot get a perspective like that in just any class, and it is valuable to have.”

Drew’s identity as a Davidson alum impacts her teaching as well — it helps her connect with her students.

“It is fun to hear her anecdotes and personal experiences [because] she was in the same town and at the same school,” Goodin said.

Drew feels similarly.

“There really is a certain type of student that is a Davidson Student and I can relate because I was one,” Drew said. “I knew coming in [...] what you are looking for in a class in a way.”

She also understands that, just like her, many of her students “[want] to participate in the world in some way [after graduation].”

Though Drew has only been back at Davidson for about two months, she has already made an impact on the campus community.

After taking Unreliable Narrator in News, Goodin aims to “read [the news] with a more critical eye” and has learned to “just be cognizant of where you are getting your sources from.” “[The class] has given us a new perspective on [engaging with news],” Goodin added.

Ingram is also impressed by Drew’s influence.

“One of the students in that class starts every class by talking about how great Professor Drew is [...] It’s been great to see what an impact she’s had from the start,” Ingram said.

“There seems to be a kind of hunger for this kind of work.”

Davidson Hosts Annual Wildcat Weekend ANNABEL GROSECLOSE ‘27 (SHE/HER) STAFF WRITER

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ildcat Weekend, the College’s annual parent’s weekend, offers families a glimpse into all things Davidson. Oct. 20 marks the 70th anniversary of this event, which will host a range of activities, from academic sessions to interacting with the greater Davidson Community.

In line with the College’s mission of

engaging the wider community, Dr. Rose Stremlau, associate professor of history, will teach a faculty-led class; “Why are things around here named Catawba?: The Native history of Davidson,” an informational session about the history of the Catawba people prior, during, and after the founding of the college.

“A lot of folks have snippets, you could say, of knowledge about native people in the South,” Dr. Stremlau said. “At the same time, folks move into this community where we are surrounded by the term

Catawba and by Catawba words, and they don’t understand the history of the Catawba nation or the college’s relationship to it as part of this larger process of colonization.

And so, in some ways, what I’m doing is taking that curiosity people have and just trying to make some things that are already here visible.”

Academic sessions are also designed to provide insight into the various styles and ways in which classes are taught at Davidson. Dr. Anthony Kuchera, associate professor of physics, will give a crash

course on electronic circuits for students and their families with a theme of exposure to new ways of teaching and learning.

“I think that the topic isn’t as important as seeing what a modern classroom is like,” Dr.Kuchera said. “How we teach physics now is drastically different from when I was a student. Parents will get a chance to see how far higher education has come.

I’m really excited to interact with parents and give them a taste of what their kids are

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

News

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A Letter From the Editors: Our Coverage on Israel and Palestine

Dear Davidson Community, We recognize the severity and seriousness of the events that occurred and continue to occur in Israel and Palestine. We intend on publishing a piece covering this news, and its impact on the Davidson community. However, we want to do this story justice and that is why you don’t see it in this issue of the paper. Our pitch meeting for this issue occurred before fall break, and in the aftermath of the war breaking out we felt as though it was necessary to give the community time and space to heal, before jumping into this project.

Writing and publishing a story on this topic requires extensive interviews and community discussion on complex and at times traumatic topics.

We want to emphasize that we are not ignorant of the news, and we are trying our best to be respectful of all parties. That doesn’t mean silence, but it does mean that we owe to our community to craft a well researched, interviewed and well rounded article. As a college paper with limited resources, we as student journalists are doing our best to write the story this issue deserves. That takes time.

The next issue of the Davidsonian, which will come out on October 25, will feature our first article on the war. We thank you for you understanding, if this is something that you are passionate about, as we are, please reach out with your thoughts and opinions.

- Anika Banerjee ‘24 and Stella Mackler ‘26

Students Showcase Their Academics and Extracurriculars

A previous Wildcat Weekend celebration. Photo from Davidson College website

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 doing.”

Classes at Davidson looked very different when Wildcat Weekend began in the fall of 1953. Hosted exclusively for the parents of the freshman class of 1957, activities such as a presentation by the Dean of Students and a football game were organized. By 1975, parent weekend was expanded to include students of all classes and families at Davidson. The new Wildcat Weekend offered the opportunity for families to eat at Vail Commons, attend Saturday classes

with their sons, and attend sporting events.

While the College no longer holds classes on Saturdays - or admits only sons - families are given a window into life at Davidson.

The weekend will host a conversation with President Doug Hicks, family brunches and the first ever “Cats Community Celebration,” with music, food, games and crafts on Chambers Lawn.

Rolls emphasizes that the weekend is a continuously evolving event.

“Next year, I think we will look at what other offices and other areas we have not been able to highlight. Maybe we highlight literary studies and have an event centered

A Wildcat Weekend tailgate. Photo from Davidson College website around poetry or reading fiction or creative writing. Maybe we get involved in the sciences and have showcasing around labs. We’d love to pull in other offices that are interested in being a part of Wildcat weekend.”

The Celebration, along with another new event “Family by Choice” are the result of student and family feedback from last year’s Wildcat Weekend. Family By Choice in particular seeks to curate a welcoming atmosphere for those whose parents cannot attend the weekend.

“We understand that not everyone’s family of origin can make it to campus to celebrate,

so who are the people you depend on?” asked Jennifer Rolls, Associate Director of Family Engagements for the College.

“Maybe just some of your friends, maybe it’s your roommate’s family, or your aunt or uncle who live down the street. Maybe it’s your parent’s friends that live nearby.

Whoever those people are, they are your family.”

Features

Fall Fling 2023: A Masquerade

Photos from the 2023 masquerade-themed Fall Fling hosted by Union Board. Photos from Mary Molloy Blackstock ‘26

Crime Log Time Reported Offense/Location 09/29/23 23:34 hrs

Injury to Property Offense PCC #6 SAE, Inactive

10/08/23 16:34 hrs Burglary

Offense: Breaking & Entering a Vehicle Chidsey, Inactive

10/14/23 17:14 hrs Larceny Offense:

Misdemeanor Larceny Old Tennis Court Lawn, Inactive

10/14/23 14:57 hrs Bomb Threat:

Making a False Report Concerning Destructive Device Tomlinson, Further Investigation

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Perspectives

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Grab a Hoe! Davidson Students Should Work the Grounds STEPHEN WALKER ‘26 (HE/HIM) AND PHIL GREENWOOD ‘26 (HE/ HIM)

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avidson is in decline. Though decreasing acceptance rates may indicate heightened selectiveness, our rank has been falling on the lists of America’s most prestigious liberal arts schools and hidden ivies (according to US News and Wall Street Journal data). We also have an attitude problem. I personally detect a general lack of appreciation for the honor code, which is the foundation of the ethics-based education, and culture of trust Davidson offers. Arguably the most concerning trend is endemic narcissism.

Last year’s marriage pact found that 70% of students claimed they were in the 99th percentile when asked if they were smarter than most people at Davidson.

This is a problem. When historic institutions begin to collapse under the weight of inflated egos, the best solution often lies in the forgotten past, the humble beginnings.

Davidson was originally founded as an all male agrarian college, where men worked the fields in the mornings, attended class in the afternoon, and retired to the social halls for conversation and debate in the evenings.

As explained in Charlotte Magazine’s article from 2018 “Students were made to be scholars and laborers. Thinkers and doers.”

In those early days students were required to perform three hours of manual labor each day, usually on a farm. This lasted just four years, not nearly long enough. Perhaps all of these ills listed above would crumble when faced with a curriculum designed to build physical strength, manufacture unwavering grit, cultivate a shining work ethic, and breed unwavering humility unknown to this strange & fantastic modern age of ours.

While an anecdote seemingly from a college operating on a different planet, agricultural work mandates offer potential solutions to problems that created the gap between Davidson’s mission and flawed outcomes faced today. Mindlessly coexisting among the manufactured nature of campus– the arboretum, highly manicured lawns, shrubs, and all the rest–is not getting the most out of our natural world. Physically engaging with these spaces and those of many local farms and gardens, including Davidson’s own, will prove beyond fruitful for students’ experiences. There is a scientific proponent to this approach: German educator Friedrich Froebel’s work to pioneer the style of experiential education and engagement with the outdoors that inspired modern kindergarten systems in the United States can be extended to higher education. Almost the entire student body still seeks to figure their identities out. Taking to the outdoors,

relating to the natural world, and reckoning with how it and our identities converge are essential steps in the individual’s holistic collegiate development. That work starts and ends outside with work on the farms of Davidson and the surrounding community.

Working outdoors with one’s hands will prove equally fruitful to development into the leaders of tomorrow, no matter what field that leadership ability may manifest itself within. Manual labor is hard, not in the same way Davidson academics are hard but still incredibly challenging for people of all physical capabilities. Much of the academic journey we partake entails a “no wrong answers mentality”–for the sake of intellectual exercise all ideas are explored fully and scrutiny is withheld. Agricultural work pulls no punches. It is abundantly clear whether you have done well or poorly at the task before you. Being able to acknowledge failure of this sort, and to keep working through it develops the grit one relies on in life to overcome challenges, to solve problems that appear impossible. Physical effort under mental distress of mistakes and setbacks will build you up overtime in ways which are simply not possible within our classrooms or down the hill at F (these facets of college life play their own role in the holistic development of the student, also).

One also develops humility through the

admiration they will gain for the laborers of our community who keep these vital operations afloat day in and day out. Existing only within the academic echo-chambers of grand education halls and professional societies limits the empathy that going out and working with these important people can develop within all of us. Through deepening our ties to the surrounding communities’ agrarian roots via such collaborative efforts, we realize how difficult and important their work is. Students gain a robust sense of empathy for a wider range of occupations than would be otherwise possible, not to mention enhancement of our institutional credibility by engaging in such unique work to bolster our local reputation.

All this paired with the aforementioned benefits of the reinstatement of such a program furthers the leadership and service tenets all Davidson grads live by. Reigniting our agrarian roots brings students closer to our goals than would be possible without such manual labor, with its historic, communityoriented, environmentalist approach.

“The Cause of War is Preparation for War:” The Past and Present of US Nuclear Weapons EMMA BEGLEY-COLLIER ‘25 (SHE/HER)

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ot so long ago, the official foreign policy of the United States was to knowingly kill hundreds of millions of people, vaporizing Russia, Eastern Europe, and China simultaneously with 3,423 nuclear weapons. These policies can be found in the Single Integrated Operational Plan of 1962, or SIOP-62. Once Extremely Sensitive protected information, portions are now open to the public.

What the Strategic Air Command did not know was the nuclear winter theory.

Theorized by Carl Sagan in 1983, theory states that just 100 nuclear bombs could create enough smoke to block the sun, destroying much of the world’s vegetation and causing a mass famine.

The immeasurable violence of this policy is less surprising in the wake of the US government’s unwavering support to the Israeli government as it responds to Hamas’s October 7th attack that killed 1,300 Israelis. Genocide, as defined by the UN, is “the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such.” The impact of Israel’s retaliation on Palestinian civilians fits this definition.

On October 9th, Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant declared a “complete siege on Gaza” and that “we are fighting human animals, and we will act accordingly.” The Israeli government has cut off fuel, water, food and electricity to the Gaza strip, dropped 6,000 bombs, used white phosphorus gas according to the Human Rights Watch, and ordered over a million civilians to complete the impossible task of evacuating to Southern Gaza before an impending ground invasion.

As of the 13th, 400,000 Palestinians have been displaced and 1,800 killed. Knowing all

this, 392 representatives sponsor a resolution to supply Israel military aid in addition to the already-existing $3.8 billion annually.

Before October 7th, the magnitude of the US military was already in the American cultural consciousness. The Oppenheimer movie introduced many to the reality of nuclear weapons. While the consequences of creating nuclear weapons are alluded to in the movie, the core reason for the US’s development of the atomic bomb is compelling. Oppenheimer is ultimately convinced to develop the atomic bomb to defend against Nazism and fascism more broadly.

Since the Trinity Test shown in the Oppenheimer movie, thousands of stationary missiles, submarines, and bomber jets have been developed in the name of deterrence against fascist actors. These nuclear weapons are supposedly tools with which to maintain the American values of liberty and democracy. But when do the means stop justifying the ends? Or more accurately, when do the means become antithetical to the very end you are trying to reach?

The movie, a historical piece heavily based on the book American Prometheus does not delve into the current state of nuclear weapons. But nuclear threats are not in the past; they are not distant spatially or temporally.

After the 1945 Trinity Test shown in the movie came decades of nuclear testing in the Pacific Islands and on Native American land. According to PBS, in 1954, “Bravo” was tested on the island of Bikini Atoll.

One thousand times bigger than Hiroshima, “Bravo” produced radioactive fallout which fell like snow on the inhabited Marshall Island of Rongelap. US service personnel were evacuated a full day before the Marshall islanders, who were experiencing acute radiation poisoning effects, like severe

burns and hair loss.

Testing occurred in the continental United States too. Between 1951 and 1992, approximately 928 nuclear tests occurred on Shoshone territory in Nevada, without permission of the Shoshone Nation. A 2009 Nevada Law Journal study found that 620 kilotons of nuclear fallout resulted from decades of testing, which was 47 times more nuclear fallout than Hiroshima. That fallout has caused severe disease and birth defects for Native Americans living downwind of the test site.

There is a false belief that nuclear weapons, while serious, are an improbable and distant threat. But the reality of nuclear testing exposes the immense violence they have already caused. The way the US tested nuclear weapons between 1945 and 1992 aligns with a fascist and racist world order deeming some lives –the lives of Pacific islanders and Native Americans especially— as disposable.

Nuclear testing is an example of localized danger. But nuclear weapons are unique in that they can be both selectively exploitative and violent, as well as threatening global destruction, irrespective of nationality, wealth, and race. I ask my reader this question—are you safer with nuclear weapons?

Currently, the United States and Russia have an estimated 1,670 and 1,674 deployed nuclear warheads respectively, according to the Federation of American Scientists. Despite the potentially world-ending effect of just 100 warheads, our nuclear weapons policy is based on mutually assured destruction and the right to use nuclear weapons first. There is no reason to trust the “experts” who have continued to build ten times more nuclear weapons than it would take to cause a global nuclear winter. There is no reason to trust “experts” who are funding a genocide in

Gaza. “ T h e cause of war is preparation for war,” writes W.E.B DuBois in his essay “The Souls of White Folk.” DuBois is writing about WWI, but this quote could not be more relevant to nuclear weapons.

Yet, in the face of these policies, there has been a long line of successful grassroots anti-war and anti-nuke activism. We can organize right where we are.

The US government has refused to endorse the 2017 UN Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), but localities are endorsing the treaty themselves to pressure their representatives. Throughout North Carolina, from Carrboro to Durham to Chapel Hill, localities have signed.

Davidson College can do this too. If you support ending nuclear weapons, sign the petition below. 193 signatures would trigger the student body to vote on a referendum.

An official endorsement of the TPNW from the student body of Davidson College would strengthen the case for the Town of Davidson signing the treaty.

I don’t have much faith in electoral politics, but I do have faith in people collectively recognizing that something is wrong. At the very least, or perhaps the very most, an endorsement from the Town of Davidson would expose that the government is doing something the people do not want.

And exposing that is certainly more antifascist than developing nukes.

Petition: https://chng.it/bvZzKbwVvC

Sports

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Introducing New Athletic Video Series

‘24, Cross Country and Track runner Frances Whitworth ‘24, 5th round draft pick and Houston Astros minor-league pitcher Nolan DeVos ‘23 and Seattle Mariners minor league pitcher Will Schomberg ‘23, as well as Women’s Basketball seniors Maddie Plank ‘24 and Rosie Deegan ‘24.

Be on the lookout for next week’s edition which will include stories from Davidson women’s volleyball seniors Bella Brady ‘24, Jessie Doyal ‘24 and Sola Omonije ‘24. This story will center around their experiences coming into Davidson during the 2020-2021 season, which was shortened by COVID-19 and defined by only two wins. They shared how this shortened season impacted the culture in the locker room, and how this led to a successful change in attitude. They were able to capitalize the three seasons after their first year to become a winning program. Additionally, they reflected on their time playing in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship, as well as finishing second in the Atlantic-10.

We hope that these stories are informative, entertaining and provide a valuable window into the lives of Davidson’s student athletes. Stay connected by subscribing to our YouTube Channel: @ DavidsonianNewspaper and our Instagram: @The_Davidsonian.

CAMERON KRAKOWIAK ‘24 (HE/HIM) SPORTS EDITOR

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avidson athletes have compelling stories to share about their experiences here, and through The Davidsonian we always have tried to illuminate those stories. This is why, starting this semester, we are creating a YouTube page to offer the Davidson community a more immersive storytelling experience.

Over the past month, I have been interviewing Davidson student-athletes and administration for a new video series. A few weeks ago, we published an article in the paper on Davidson’s new logo. We wanted to publish the story in a video format as well, and show the complete interview with Chief Communications and Marketing Officer Mark Johnson. With the video interview viewers are provided with a more in-depth report about the logo change. We interviewed Mark Johnson one-on-one in order to get a deeper understanding of how the logo was unveiled and the thought process behind it. You can check out that video by scanning the QR code.

For the upcoming videos, we are doing a series of Senior Spolights, where we will delve into the academic and athletic excellence that student athletes exemplify. These one-on-one interviews will be posted on YouTube in order to promote a longer format for the Davidson community to gain insight about the experience of a scholar athlete at Davidson.

Upcoming interviews that will be published on the YouTube and Instagram include: Olympic Qualified Swimmer Dylan Felt ‘26, Davidson Divers Isabella Grayson ‘24 and Benji Cutforth

Sincerely, Cameron Krakowiak ‘24 Sports Editor and Head of Video Department SCAN THE QR CODE TO WATCH THE INTERVIEW ON DAVIDSON’S NEW LOGO

Cameron Krakowiak ‘24 interviews Mark Johnson, Nolan Devos ‘23, Rosie Deegan ‘24, and Maddie Plank ‘24. Photos by Thomas Krakowiak

Fall Sports Come to A Close

supported they are.”

Looking forward to the final two games of the season, Patton and the ‘Cats look forward to stringing together a solid “90 minutes” of soccer. As Patton put it, “this team is special and I hope that we are able to reflect that in the score line in at least one of our next few games.”

In other news, Davidson women’s volleyball team continues their solid year. Despite losing two against the 16th best volleyball team in the nation, Dayton, this past weekend, they continue to play well against their opponents. Four of their next five matches they play are against teams below the .500. After that they face Duquesne and St. Louis, two admirable teams that hold the same conference record as the ‘Cats 4-5 record. Volleyball’s last home game of the regular season will be on November 4th.

Davidson men’s soccer has also continued their impressive season since the recent update with three straight wins on the trot, including two more clean sheets. This brings their in-conference record to 5-1 and with a Saint Louis loss to Loyola Chicago, the ‘Cats are now in the driver’s seat to claim their first A-10 regular season title ever and their first since 2003, the last time they made the NCAA Tournament.

Davidson Football continues their strong play too this season, as they are undefeated in conference play and have won their last four contests. They look to win their third PFL regular season championship in the past four seasons. The ‘Cats have five more games and finish up their season on November 18th.

Lastly, Davidson Women’s Field Hockey plays two more games this semster on their home turf. The ‘Cats look to win their first conference game this weekend at #14 St. Joseph’s.

CAMERON KRAKOWIAK ‘24 (HE/HIM) AND VICTOR TAYLOR ‘24 (HE/HIM) CO-SPORTS EDITORS

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s Davidson reaches the midway point of the first semester of the 2023-2024 school year, the fall sports season reaches its closure for several teams. Davidson Women’s soccer has two games remaining this season. The ‘Cats have not won in eight of their last contests as they have not been able to score a goal since September 14th against Duquesne.

The lack of scoring might be the reason behind their inability to take home a win. Moreover, the team has only averaged five shots on goal per game which ranks 10th out of 15th in the Atlantic 10 Conference. In comparison, St. Louis, the number one team in the A-10, averages 9.09 shots on goal per game, almost double the ‘Cats offense.

Despite thier struggle to finish, senior Riley Patton had some highlights to remark on this year’s team: “I think the team’s biggest strength is the culture that we have built this year, as we all get along incredibly well and have been able to remain a unit despite the results not going our way.”

Patton went on to speak about the team keeping thier spirits up.

“I think that our mentality every game has been to focus on the little moments, as these ultimately build up and can win or lose a game. When things aren’t going our way, I think that my role as a teammate is to help pick people up and make sure they know how loved and

Pioneer Men’s Football Conference Standings

Standings Update

Team Davidson Drake Marist St. Thomas Butler Morehead State Presbyterian San Diego Stetson Valparaiso Dayton

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L

PCT STRK

3 3 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 0 0

0 0 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 4

1.0 1.0 .75 .75 .50 .50 .33 .33 .33 .0 .0

W4

W3 W1 L1 L2 W2 W1 L2 W1 L2 L4

A-10 Conference Women’s F-Hockey Conference Standings

Team

St. Joseph’s VCU La Salle Richmond UMass Lock Haven Davidson St. L ouis

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L

PCT STRK

5 4 4 3 2 2 0 0

0 1 1 2 3 3 5 5

1.0 .8 .8 .6 .4 .4 0 0

W3

W2 W2 L1 W1 L1 L2 L3

Arts and Entertainment 6 Someone Wants To Read Your Depressing Poetry: A Guide to Davidson’s Literary Magazines

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CLARA OTTATI ‘27 SHE/HER

f there’s one thing Davidson is definitely not lacking, it’s literary magazines. With three already established and another on the way to debut this spring, opportunities for students to get their work published are endless. Of course, with all of these options comes the daunting decision of which to become a part of, which is why students from each magazine team helped to shed some light on what sets each of them apart.

Abby Morris ‘24, editor-in-chief of Exit 30, discusses the versatility of the magazine. “We do poetry, prose, and art. And that’s any kind of art, so photography, paintings, drawings…” she explains, adding that, “We’re the only themeless magazine on campus…It’s open for students to literally submit anything they want.” Exit 30 publishes twice a semester with the process of assembling taking about a month. They collect submissions, meet as a review board, and send out copy editors to discuss suggestions with artists who sent in their work. Last year, Exit 30 tried something new by including an art editor to help with the aesthetics of the publication. “Usually the magazine is led by someone more English oriented… to have someone who knows more about [the art] side of things is nice,” Morris says. She also mentions the balancing act that’s necessary to produce a well-rounded issue.

The Exit 30 team doesn’t necessarily want to cut specific pieces, but they occasionally have to make the hard decisions so as not to let an issue lean too hard on one medium. “We wouldn’t want to publish an issue that’s all poetry, for example,” Morris points out. “But it’s also really dependent on what’s getting submitted for that round. Normally we have a

pretty even split.” For those looking to join an editing team, the opportunity Exit 30 provides to look at peers’ work and have a say in what gets put out is indispensable. “Plus, maybe I’m biased, but I think we have fun,” Morris includes.

Libertas is another student-run literary magazine that’s working towards publishing their first issue of the year. While still open to all mediums of work, Libertas is more specific about what they’re trying to get printed.

“Libertas is themed,” magazine secretary Cate Goodin ‘26 says. “Mythology is the theme for the first one this year… so when people submit their work it applies to that.” The whole team gets a say in the issue’s theme. After compiling a brain dump of ideas, they go through a ranking process and anonymously vote on their favorites. Previous themes include Pandora’s box, patchwork, and windows, all of which offer room for the artist’s interpretation.

Right now, Libertas is preparing for their first issue by assembling different editing groups.

The first submission deadline has passed, but Goodin encourages anyone who wants to get their work out there to submit for the next cycle. Goodin mentions that the best part about submitting is getting the opportunity to show the Davidson community something that would’ve otherwise just been turned into a professor or relegated to your notes app.

The last established literary magazine that Davidson has is Hobart Park. It’s pretty sleepy in the fall as they only publish once a year during the second semester, but it’s the perfect place to go if you want to submit a piece that’s on the longer side, like a short story. Many students submit things they’ve been working on throughout the year and, like the other two publications, Hobart Park takes any form of art.

Playdate with Hobart Park at Nummit. Photo by Cate Goodin Exit 30, Libertas, and Hobart Park have been established magazines for a while now, but something completely new coming this year is a music literary magazine founded by sophomore Amira McCormick called Side B. She’s still in the early stages of discussing budgets and creating a team,, but Davidson students should expect an issue twice every semester starting sometime this year. McCormick was inspired to start this new publication by Davidson’s deep musical history, complete with bands that have come through the school and acapella groups. It seemed only natural to her to give people a chance to talk about it all. “Pretty much anything music related can be published,” she explains. “Reviews, just music news, interviews… I really want to interview whoever’s going to perform at Frolics.”

Students can submit reviews of their favorite

albums, opinion pieces on what’s going on in the music industry, and everything in between.

“I really want it to be open,” McCormick says. “It’s just a way for people to talk about something that they love.”

The one thing each of these magazines has in common is their shared goal of giving Davidson students an outlet to express themselves. So send in your poems, drawings, photos, and anything else you can think of.

They want it all.

Clara Ottati ’27 (She/Her) is from Chicago and can be reached for comment at clottati@ davidson.edu.

Ballet Hispanico Packs Duke in Artist Series Installation SOPHIE DUBARD ‘26 SHE/HER

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n October 4th, the talented Ballet Hispánico took the stage of the Duke Family performance hall, performing a beautiful blend of ballet and hispanic social dance.

As the largest Latinx/Hispanic dance organization in the United States, Ballet Hispanico was the perfect performance to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and kick off the Smith Artist Series’s season.

The company of fifteen dancers performed four completely distinct and equally fascinating pieces. The first piece, “New Sleep,” was a duet that seamlessly combined technical pointe work and classical ballet technique with techno-electronic music and Latinx influence. The next piece “Linea Recta’’ emphasized the strength of the male dancers. Their fiery dancing only intensified the already-dramatic piece, revolving around a dancer’s red-hot dress with what must’ve been a five foot train.

Each performance brought influence of Hispanic-social styles, such as flamenco, where dancers used fans and their costumes as props and then their voices and clapping as instruments, which contrasts the sometimes-silent music on stage. It was amazing to see these dancers so talented in such differing styles: their dancing was equally as beautiful in pointe shoes and as it was barefoot.

“Sor Juana,” the company’s newest piece, at only a few months old, was my favorite. It was vibrant and thought-provoking.

The piece seemed to make a statement about the connection between Hispanic culture and religion. Its costuming clearly held historical significance, with women’s corseted dresses and men’s pantaloons looking like they came from the 18th century.

However, some men wore women’s costuming, leading the audience to wonder if the piece was a statement about defying gender roles. Similarly, with all costumes being a rainbow of different colors, they emphasized the individuality and unique identity of each dancer. At times, the music transitioned to the sounds of a pen against paper, with a singular dancer’s body moving as she was writing with her body as the pen. Then,

as she became frustrated with the constraint of her corset, she removed the costume, putting instead on a priest’s vestment, outfitted with a cross. The piece concluded with letters falling from the sky, perhaps a representation of love letters written by the featured soloist.

During the intermission following the piece, students engaged in lively debate over the meaning of it: was it about the acceptance of gender and sexuality within the church? Or a story of a star-crossed love triangle?

As the performance progressed, it captivated the audience more and more, ending with an incredible final piece. As a disco ball descended, the last piece, “Club Havana,” proved to be equally dramatic and fun, with partnership that truly transformed the stage of the Duke hall into a window viewing

Ballet Hispanico performs at Davidson College on October 4th, 2023r. Photo from Ballet Hispanico a Saturday night at a Cuban club.

The energy on stage was palpable to the audience. This energy was not simply fabricated by the performers for the purpose of performance but simply an aspect of the company’s personality. Some students in the audience were lucky enough to attend a masterclass workshop with two of the company’s

dancers, Fatima Andere and Antonio Cangiano, the night before the performance. As a dancer at Davidson, I was super excited for the opportunity to expand my dance repertoire with a style I had never tried before with professionals from outside of the Charlotte Area. Members of Gamut Dance Company and other dancers at Davidson are always eager for additional chances to dance at the college. I’m very grateful for the Union Board Artist Series for this reason, because when companies perform at Davidson, they also host classes for students, as did Kyiv City Ballet last fall. Students in the class, dancers and non-dancers alike, learned a mambo and a salsa, experimenting with circling our ribs and hips in new ways. Fatima and Antonio were supportive and energetic, helping us all out of our comfort zones and allowing us to experiment with new styles in a supportive environment. Likewise, the students who attended the class cheered each other on as we learned choreography.

Maeve Corcoran ‘24, the manager of Gamut Dance Company, explained, “The studio was packed with all types of people in the dance community at Davidson, and the joy was contagious.

I don’t think anyone stopped smiling the entire class!” As the class concluded, we wished it was longer, but we all looked forward to seeing our teachers’ talents the next day on stage.

Of course, they did not disappoint. The way that their energy commanded the attention of the students in class translated to their command of the audience in the performance. Since 1970, Ballet Hispánico has celebrated Latino/Hispanic cultures, uniting the communities for whom they perform, and amplifying not only the voices of their dancers but also their creative expression and social dialogue. Students and Davidson community members alike are so grateful that they could bring their mission here for a thought-provoking and captivating performance.

Sophie DuBard ‘26 (she/her), political science major and economics minor from Winchester, MA, can be reached at sodubard@davidson.edu.

Living Davidson

7

Tell Me About Your Fall Fling and Find Out How Your Midterms are Going to Go! Fall has been flung and I am ready to question absolutely everyone about said flinging! I bet some

of you always think you’ve seen the last of me, but no such luck. I’m back every two weeks - you couldn’t escape me even if you tried. And for this week, I am once again asking you all to answer completely random questions about yourself and your experiences in order to give you advice that is entirely uncoordinated to your responses - yippee!

First, though I’m assuming if you’re Did you manage to make it out to taking this week’s quiz at all you must’ve F post-flinging? attended Fall Fling in some way, how exA - Yeah, but only for a few minutes. actly did you find yourself there?

B - Absolutely! The only way to fight the

A - I mean, nothing special. Your friends cold was to be in the sweaty crowd of people were all going and it’s not like you had any dancing to pitbull, obviously. other plans.

C - You irish-goodbyed your friends at B - You’ve been planning your fit and picmidnight - they’re still mad at you. ture poses for weeks - it would’ve been D - Nah - 1 am was plenty late for you. impossible to convince you not to go.

And finally, what was your favorite C - You were dragged there semi-against your will by friends who know you’ve been moment of the night?

A - Seeing your friends who never go out on working hard sans playing hard. the town, of course!

D - You were working the event - it’s not B - Getting lots of cute pictures at the like you had much of a choice. photobooth.

C - Watching people moshing to songs that simply do not call for moshing.

D - The conga line with the band!

Mostly A’s:

As good as can be expected - You’re not overly concerned about your midterms, and you shouldn’t be. You’re going to do well on most assignments, maybe struggle on one or two, but overall passing everything and also managing to get some sleep this week - an incredible feat.

Mostly B’s:

…Maybe study a bit more - To each their own, but winging all of your midterms may not be the best course of action. Maybe make a quizlet or something (or don’t, it’s not like I’ll ever know), and you’ll probably be fine.

What was your chosen footwear for the night?

A - Boots. Comfy, stylish, and basically indestructible.

B - Heels/Dress Shoes (you scare me, by the way.)

C - Sneakers - you didn’t even know you were supposed to dress up?

D - Sandals (did you happen to lose any toes to hypothermia?)

Check Your Answers Below To See What You Got!

“The Instagram Guy”

Interviewer: Hi! How about you start by introducing yourself?

Mr. Roach: Hi! I’m Finny, you might know me as @uhhhfinny on Instagram. I live in Atlanta. I am a freshman. A fun fact about me is I’m a silly little goofball!

Interviewer: Can you tell us a little bit about your Instagram page?

Mr. Roach: My Instagram was originally a basic Instagram, but I would now call it a dump for all of my thoughts and inner workings.

Mostly C’s: Interviewer: Off the top of your head, how many people from the freshman class did you follow Mostly D’s: Study a bit less - Your shoulders are practibefore coming to Davidson?

Half-and-Half - Your semester is pretcally attached to your ears with how tense Mr. Roach: I tried to follow all of them. ty split between impossible courses and you’ve been since getting back from fall Interviewer: Why? pretty easy ones, and that’s going to be Mr. Roach: Because I wanted to connect to people, I wanted to know all 500 freshmen. I really break. Despite the sacrifices you’ve had to reflected in your midterm scores. You came into Instagram with the intent of socializing. make in order to make this possible, you’re Interviewer: Did you meet anyone on Instagram before coming here? probably know exactly what you’re gogoing to absolutely kill your midterms.

Mr. Roach: I met a lot of people off of Instagram, some of my good friends even now I met ing to do well on and what you may nevMaybe treat yourself to an ice cream (or a through Instagram. er check the final score on, and honestly, trip to the chiropractor?) post-reviews this Interviewer: So, would you suggest Instagram as a socializing tool? good for you.

Mr. Roach: It’s a wonderful starting point, but personally I don’t answer any of my Dm’s off weekend.

Instagram. I have so many unanswered Dm’s. But it’s a great hub to get to meet new people.

Especially with the class of 2027 page.

Interviewer: How would you rate our class of 2027 page?

Mr. Roach: Honestly, I am a fan of it. I think definitely at the beginning Davidson had some trouble getting an actual page, there were like three. I actually ran one of them, but I gave up and I said this is too difficult. I do vividly remember the first one that was out there, you had to pay 5 dollars to get featured.

Interviewer: So, would you say that paying five dollars to meet new people is a scam?

Mr. Roach: *Sarcastically* No, I think it’s a great business model. I think it’s a terrible idea, that is why I started my own in retaliation.

Interviewer: As a freshman how did it feel coming into Davidson with people already knowing your name from your Instagram? How did it feel for people to walk up to you and go ‘Hey, you’re Finny right?’

Mr. Roach: It’s so weird, but honestly, I love the attention. It’s the type of thing that would never happen at my high school, no one would ever approach me and say ‘Oh I saw what you put on your Instagram, loved it. So funny!’ It was a lot more of like “Oh Finny posted, *negative tone* Oh Finny posted.” It feels so weird to have people know me, it makes me feel like a celebrity.

But I also have imposter syndrome because “why me?” I feel like if I had gone to any other school, people wouldn’t walk up to me and talk to me. I feel like Davidson is the only place where @uhhhfinny on Instagram would thrive in person. I am like Radio Rebel.

Interviewer: Do you think this fame added any undue anxiety in your freshman year?

Mr. Roach: It’s a great icebreaker. It gives me something to talk about and there is nothing I love more than talking about myself. I mean… look at what we are doing. I mean, yes there was definitely pressure for me to be silly and funny. To present as I do on my Instagram, but at the We Are Wildcats is a human-interest column that aims to share the extraordinary same time, the way I present myself on Instagram is the way I behave in real life. So, there was a within the ordinary at Davidson College and to showcase the inspiring things little bit of vulnerability there, but it was nice.

Interviewer: Do you think you were stereotyped in any way from your Instagram? that make each and every Wildcat unique. If you wish to be featured or know Mr. Roach: Yes, people thought I was short. I don’t know why, I am not super tall, but I am 6 someone whose story needs to be heard, please feel free to contact stwalker@ ‘1”. For anyone out there that wants to start casually posting on Instagram, be very secure in davidson.edu! Stay tuned for future stories! This interview has been edited for your height. Thankfully, I am. This reminds me of something I posted on my Instagram ‘I always think it is so funny how disappointed people get when they meet me in person. Like lowering length and clarity. your expectations. I literally post on my main Instagram story for fun. What do you expect?’ The beauty of Instagram is if someone doesn’t like what you’re posting, they will unfollow you. They not bound to you. I recognized that and said ‘I am going to start posting silly things. I am The concept of Campus Celebrities has taken both the internet and Davidson are going to start posting about Arby’s and Paula Abdul.’ by storm. The Davidson class of 2027 has one of their own Campus celebrities. Interviewer: Since coming to campus how has your Instagram been doing?

Freshman Finny Roach has been spotted ever since the first day of move in, Mr. Roach: So, my Tik Tok fame was definitely a surprise to me. That [a viral video about the third week of college being too stressful, but instead it displayed filling out a 2nd grade math freshman referencing his Instagram in haste and him going from internet fame to sheet] was the most viral thing I had or created. It was fun and all, I don’t care about that at all. I Davidson fame in the matter of days. Finally, Mr. Roach has decided to speak out thought it was funny and that is what I care about. on what this newfound fame means to him, and the impact it has had on his life. Interviewer: To finish it off, how has your skunk content been going?

Mr. Roach: I think both the skunk and raccoon are so cute, and so funny. But I can’t tell you why.

Interviewer: Thank you so much!

The

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Irreverent student journalism since 2004. Castigat Ridendo Mores.

inside

yowl.com/trusteessupportyowl

E

New Study Shows Binge Drinking and Happiness are Positively Correlated Page This was an Actual Study

Fall Break Backfires: Restful Break Makes Students Realize They Much Prefer to Not Be Going to School Page Gateway Drug

Board of Trustees Advocates to Replace Sex Vending Machine with Bible Dispenser

Hart Strip Show Nothing Short of a Magic Mike Experience

Things I Learned at Davidson: Quantum Mechanics and BDSM

Page New Testament

Page 18 Year Olds

Page SASV BDSM Event in 900 Room

Who Should I Invite to Crush: A Guide

very year when crush rolls around, members of the eating houses are forced to sit and ponder their options, or more frequently, lack thereof. Faced with the question of what’s worse, no date or a date with a semi-grown pornstache, the pros and cons begin to flow. To provide some aid during this time of need, we’ve done some preliminary research on the most eligible candidates on campus, and have some exciting statistics to relay.

At least 75% of the Art majors are willing and able to provide you with flowers and good head at the end of the night, no strings attached, seeing as their sculpture projects take up at least 40 hours of their week on top of their already busy Nummit work schedules.

If you can find an SAE member who’s not participating in an ethically-non monogamous entanglement with a blonde and or a freshman then you’re in luck! Approximately 5% of the single SAEs will treat you with respect and not give you a UTI. Boy, do we like those odds!

We’ve heard pretty good reviews around campus about the KSigs, and if you’re looking for a man who could be the father of three with a 401k and a 5 o’clock shadow, one of these boys just might do the trick. Editor’s note: If

The Threatening Email Issue

October 18, 2023

you’re not looking to be emotionally manipulated, these lads may not be for you.

The Ex-SPEs are desperate for a warm Keystone and the touch of a woman, so who am I to tell you that they should be deprived of that? Why not give it a whirl and try your odds with a bad boy at crush this year. According to our interviewees, about 60% of the remaining SPEs have not left their rooms since last spring, so why not light up their lives with a crush invite?

We know you want to make it happen with that athlete in your Poli-Sci class, so put their name on that form! When you finally talk to them at K-pub after a few flat seltzers it may feel like pulling teeth, but if all goes well you could end up with bad sex and an Irish goodbye the morning after. You’ll be happy about all of this because they’re hot, and you can tell your friends it went great, and even if they ghost you they’ll still awkwardly wave as you enter Chambers together. A tale as old as time.

Tbh just invite someone in Walt. They’ll playlist bomb you but you’ll like it. Probably.

We hope this helped. Best of luck this crush season, and as always, wrap up that gator for no regrets later.

• •

Learn Your ABCs with The Yowl!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• • •

A is for Academic Weapon B is for BDSM event 900 Room Thursday at 7:30 (this is not a joke, it’s an actual event). bit early for BDSM don’t you think?

C is for Commons.

D is for the Davidson Difference E is for explain to me why my giant coal burning space heater is an RLO violation.

F is for F*** Field G is for goose. We didn’t forget, KSig. H is for HIV awareness through male strip shows.

I is for irritable bowel syndrome.

J is for just kidding please don’t get upset at us.

K is for kissing by the F dumpster.

L is for laxatives in the Commons food.

M is for microaggression.

N is for not doing your assignments. It’s so out right now.

O is for organic Commons tilapia.

P is for pre-med dropout.

Q is for quickie in base Chambers.

R is for review. We’re unique and don’t call them tests here.

S is for SPE virus. Ghost of SPE still haunts us to this day.

T is for tired of reading is for? Imagine typing it.

U is for UTI need some cranberry juice from Commons.

V is for values. At the Yowl, ours are making you all giggle and offending at least one organization on campus a week.

W is WALT 1610 (not on the) Radio. Be prepared to listen to a recording of Ronald Regan’s Address to the Nation on the Campaign Against Drug Abuse played over a custom Wii Music track on repeat while your roommate talks about their mommy issues to an audience of one.

X is for your ex. I bet he’s in all your classes and you see him at Commons every day.

Y is for Yankees who make fun of you for being cold when it’s 40 degrees outside, but immediately burst into flames the second it gets over 80.

Z is for the zoo that this place is. You animals.

From the Archives: “Smoothin’ Around the Dance Floor”

W

asn’t last year’s Fall Fling theme masquerade? And the year before that? And before that? Maybe it’s an easy theme. Maybe Union Board is hoping you were too drunk last year to realize the themes are the same each year.

Maybe they were too drunk to realize, too. In the spirit, in the spirit of being unscathed from the endless marching of time, here’s a throwback from the archives: One of the things nobody tells you about college is that it’s necessary to craft a large repertoire of dance moves, large enough to keep you going for three hours while your classmates scream, jump, step, and grunt to songs you haven’t heard in years since you only listen to underground, indie artists. Of course, having approximately zero people on the dance floor the whole first hour makes it more bearable, but there’s only so many times you can do the sprinkler before you feel silly—and that’s once.

Fear not, though, as here’s some tips and tricks on how to drag out those hours on the dance floor (for next year).

•

•

•

Go hard. Rest. Go hard. Repeat. Shed your inhibitions and get down and get dirty. Use up all your energy in blitzes on the dance floor. Do the cabbage patch, sprinkler, and raise the roof all at once. When you’re resting, just stand there. Don’t even sway. Maybe spit on the ground too like the fête freak you are.

Rewatch the dance-along version of High School Musical. Briefly leave the dance floor and go to the porta potties in the dark abyss. Use this privacy to rewatch the entire movie, paying special attention to the cast’s step-by-step breakdown of the choreography to all the songs you know and love. Better yet, perform the dances in the porta potty so you’re extra prepared when you hit the floor again. Once you’re back, bop to the top by doing all the dances in sequential order from the movie. No one will be able to rival this.

Play cornhole for two hours with someone you don’t know. This is actually a successful way to make new friends and avoid draining yourself on the dance floor, sources confirm. The circular nature of cornhole means the game could continue in perpetuity and the fact that neither of you know each other and are too scared to speak up and say you want this to end definitely solidifies that. After the dance ends, forcing your cornhole game to end too, you’ll go your separate ways but still feel the need to wave and make small talk when you see each other all over campus. Just remember: you’ll always have cornhole <3

Wow, wonder what impeccable Yowl writer wrote that one. Anyways, here’s to next year’s masquerade!

The

Yowl

WRITERS

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Editor(s) Chivalry

“We need stronger Presbyterians here.”

— One trustee to another

10 Things I Witnessed at Fall Fling

W

ere you too wasted to remember Fall Fling? Didn’t go because you’re too cool for that high school crap? Well, here is a completely true retelling of every important event that went down: 1. Mike Goode standing in the dark abyss on the outskirts of the tent watching small, drunk children from afar and reminiscing on his days at Davidson, asking himself where all the time went.

2. Pearls! Everywhere! One ghostly girl in particular.

3. Coping with alcohol does in fact work.

4. Leftover vegetables because Davidson students only eat their greens when their mommy tells them to.

5. Approximately 1,000 conga lines that never stopped.

6. People will happily mask, but only if it’s masquerade masks.

7. You can play the same 4 songs from people’s childhood allnight.

8. Everywhere is a port-a-potty if you want it to be.

9. Large mass gatherings boost your immune system.

10. The same 5 photos on everyone’s Instagram posts.

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Note: The Yowl is a satirical supplement to The Davidsonian.

Hence, nothing in it should be taken as truth.