The Davidsonian 11/20/24

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Davidsonian For a Better Davidson.

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Ukrainian photographer Ira Lupu comes to campus.

Volume 123, Issue 10

November 20, 2024

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Cynthia Huang ‘26 challenges Davidson’s stance on abortion.

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Mauritius puts its stamp on The Barber Theatre.

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Looking to save money? The Yowl has you covered.

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The Statement of Purpose Raises Questions About Davidson’s Religious Ties

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CAMPBELL WALKER ‘25 (SHE/HER) NEWS CO-EDITOR

ince 1952, the Davidson College Presbyterian Church has served as the cornerstone of Davidson’s relationship with the Christian tradition. Originally founded by the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1837, Davidson has boasted its religious diversity while still maintaining its ties to the church.

College Chaplain and Director of Religious & Spiritual Life Julia Watkins described Davidson’s relationship to the church. “We have ties to the Presbyterian Church (USA) that I often describe as groundwater ties. If you’re not looking for the values that arise out of the Presbyterian Church (USA), you might not recognize them as such on campus,” she explained. “Davidson was established by Presbyterians, and today, those values continue to form us in some meaningful ways.”

Until the Board of Trustees revised their bylaws in 2021, the College’s president and 80% of the Board of Trustees were required to be active members of the Christian Church and committed to the Presbyterian tradition. The revised bylaws now state that only 25% of the Board must be Presbyterian and the presidential position is open to individuals of any faith, as long as they remain committed to the Statement of Purpose.

The Statement of Purpose affirms that “Since its founding, the ties that bind the college to its Presbyterian heritage, including the historic understanding of Christian faith called The Reformed Tradition, have remained close and strong. [...] The Christian tradition to which Davidson remains committed recognizes God as the source of all truth, and believes that Jesus Christ is the revelation of that God, a God bound by no church or creed.”

Chief Human Resources Officer Katie Germana and Director of Media Relations Jay Pfeiffer explained that all summer employment contracts include the Statement of Purpose and that the transition to Oracle, Davidson’s recruitment and hiring platform, in 2024 may have made the Statement of Purpose more obvious in the contract. Previously, the Statement of Purpose was embedded in the contract, but now employees must read and acknowledge the statement on its own.

Watkins acknowledged the existence of those

who are Presbyterian on campus but confirmed that it is not the most popular practice at Davidson. “The Presbyterian student body at Davidson is around 8% of our students overall, as compared to 1% of college-aged students out across the country [...] And the Presbyterian percentage has declined, as you can imagine, pretty significantly over the years. So Presbyterians actually aren’t even the single largest religious group on campus—Catholic students are,” she stated.

Still, some students have expressed concerns about Davidson’s commitment to the Christian tradition. Megan Mokriski ‘25 first encountered the Statement of Purpose when signing her contract as a summer research assistant.

“There’s this one line about how Davidson is committed to a Christian tradition that recognizes God as the source of all truth,” she said.

“I just thought that was kind of a weird thing to say on the page where I’m just signing up to get hired as a research technician, because in research, we look for truth based on the scientific method, not [through] God.” Watkins offered a different perspective. “The Presbyterian tradition is not one that’s suspicious of science as a way of knowing, but pursues truth wherever it may be found—on the theater stage, in the classroom, in the lab, out in nature. It has openness towards learning, however we may discover it.”

Amelia Roselli ‘25 discussed the Statement of Purpose with her classmates in her Thinking About Religion course with Chair & Associate Professor of Religious Studies Dr. Syed Rizwan Zamir. “[The Statement of Purpose is] a paragraph about connection to God and how Davidson respects all traditions, but recognizes the special connection to Christianity,” she said. “We talked about how most students have no idea that’s a thing, and how it’s interesting we still have that, given the relationship that most students have with the Presbyterian Church—which is none at all.”

Roselli and Mokriski agreed that the Statement of Purpose does not reflect how religious life truly appears on Davidson’s campus. “It’s a misrepresentation of the way religion works among the student body and in the classroom at Davidson,” Roselli stated.

Mokriski reflected on how the Statement of Purpose would have impacted her college application process. “I think that if I had read the Statement of Purpose while looking at applying to Davidson, I would definitely have

Originally founded in 1885 and rebuilt in 1952, the Davidson College Presbyterian Church symbolizes Davidson’s historical ties to the Presbyterian tradition. Photo from dcpc.org.

been scared off,” Mokriski stated. “I probably wouldn’t have come because I wasn’t looking for a religious college, and I wouldn’t want all of my classes to be referencing religion.” She added that she felt that Davidson was not fully transparent about its relationship with Christianity during her application process.

According to Campus Tour Guide and Summer Admissions Ambassador Davis Varnado ‘25, admissions representatives aim to use inclusive language to describe Davidson’s relationship with the church. He begins his discussion of religious life during his tours by introducing Davidson’s history with the Presbyterian Church (USA) and subsequent adoption of The Reformed Tradition.

“I like to say that to go to Davidson, you don’t have to be Presbyterian, you don’t have to be Christian, you don’t have to be religious,” Varnado said. “Then I usually just talk about the different choices you have. So I talk about the five chaplains that we have in the Chaplains’ Office. I talk about the religious student groups and how all their practices are open to [all] students.”

Despite Mokriski’s initial concerns, she recognized that it has not impacted her experienc-

es in the classroom in the ways she may have initially feared. “Of course, there are connections between religion and biology, but that’s just not what I wanted to focus on and I don’t think it actually has been like that,” she said.

“I think the Statement of Purpose might give the wrong impression, because that’s never been a part of my science or biology classes at Davidson.”

Watkins emphasized that even though the Statement of Purpose plays a role at Davidson, the school prides itself on inclusivity. “I would say that we have a very diverse student body in terms of religious and spiritual identity now, and a relatively engaged student body in terms of religion and spirituality,” she stated. “I do think that’s one thing that may set Davidson apart from some of our other small liberal arts college peers: that we really do cultivate the life of the Spirit alongside the life of the mind here.”

Correction from 11/13/24 Issue: We incorrectly referred to Jeremy Michael Whitworth as a faculty member. He was a staff member.

Behind the Lens: Pete Souza Shares Experiences with Davidson Community

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CLAIRE KELLY ‘25 (SHE/HER) CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

est-selling author and photographer Pete Souza, who is renowned for his work as a White House photographer under former Presidents Barack Obama and Ronald Reagan, came to speak in the Duke Family Performance Hall yesterday, November 19th. Souza spoke about his experiences as he guided the audience through a presentation on some of his life’s work, followed by a Q&A with audience members.

Union Board Speaker Chair Emma Busch ‘27 spearheaded Souza’s arrival to Davidson. “I’m a long, long-time fan of his

work. [...] I was a freshman in high school when his documentary came out. [...] I remember tuning into the premiere of it on MSNBC. My family had his [...] book on our coffee table; we were really a Pete Souza family and I went into this role with Union Board thinking, ‘How cool would it be if I brought Pete Souza?’” she stated. “I think he’s an important guy, and I think it’s a really cool moment for our community.”

Souza walked the audience through various stages of his experience from both the Reagan and Obama administrations, and even highlighted a North Carolina photography series he did for National Geographic.

After a brief introduction by Busch, Souza glided onto the

stage, high-fiving Busch on his way to the podium. He began by discussing how and why he entered the photography field. “I was eight years old when JFK was assassinated. I didn’t know really what it meant, but I was really struck by the next day’s front page in my hometown newspaper, and there was a picture of the new president [Lyndon B. Johnson] being sworn in on Air Force One,” Souza described. “I remember asking my mom if I could cut this picture out of the newspaper, and I ended up scotch taping it to my bedroom closet door. [...] I thus created my first photo gallery.”

He emphasized how video clips don’t capture moments like

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News

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Pete Souza Reflects on Two Stints in the White House

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 photography can. There’s no instant replay, and this spoke to Souza at a young age. He quickly learned of “the power of still photography.”

From there, Souza described how he ended up taking a photography course in his junior year at Boston University, and by the time he was twenty-eight, he had made his way to the White House, serving as an official photographer for the Reagan administration from 1983 to 1989.

One of Souza’s most unique photos was one of former President Reagan throwing a paper airplane over the balcony of a hotel in Los Angeles. “One of the things I was really trying to do is capture the humanity of this guy—just lighter moments,” he said. “This was one day we were in LA and I had gone into his hotel suite with one of the speechwriters, and Reagan was sitting at the table there in a little living room, folding a piece of white house stationery into the shape of a paper airplane. And he said [...], ‘Well I’ll be right with you, fellas.’ [He] finished making his paper airplane. I thought it was a funny picture.”

Souza went on to show photos of former President Reagan sitting stoically in the Oval Office, visiting his wife Nancy Reagan in the Bethesda Hospital as she was recovering from breast cancer surgery, and casually chatting on Airforce One. Naturally, Souza developed a close relationship with the Reagans, and later had the privilege of photographing the former president’s funeral, even capturing a solemn photo of his casket being flown to the funeral service. “Nancy Reagan asked me to be the official photographer for the funeral. [...] I covered the first few days at The Reagan Library, and then President [George W.] Bush sent out Air Force One to pick up Reagan’s body to fly back to D.C., where he was going to lie at the U.S. Capitol. Now I gotta tell you, it’s pretty eerie having the casket of the former president aboard Air Force One,” he remarked.

As the transitioned to the highly anticipated Obama administration photos, Souza’s gentle grin grew a bit larger as he got into “the meat of the presentation,” as he described it.

Souza emphasized that when he took on his role with the Obama administration twenty years after his first stint at the White House, he wanted to ensure that he would be able to properly capture the important moments of who the president really was. “I thought I was in a unique position, because I had already known Barack Obama for four years. I photographed him for The Chicago Tribune, and had traveled with him overseas for The Tribune. I covered the start of his campaign. So

he knew me, I knew him. [...] I had the experience of working at the White House before, and so I felt very confident saying to him, ‘Look, I’m only going to take this job if you give me total access.’ And he got the importance of having somebody document his presidency for history,” he said. “Even though I’m not the greatest photographer in the world, I was the right photographer to be the chief photographer for him. And I really wanted to concentrate on behind the scenes images.”

Souza displayed a vast array of photos, including both somber and joyous moments alike. He showed iconic historical moments, including the reaction in the Situation Room when Osama bin Laden had been assassinated. As he displayed this photo, he described how he tried to capture the tension on their faces. “These are the [people] that make big decisions every day. [Here] they are powerless. There is nothing they can do to affect the outcome at this rate, and I think that’s what accounts for this anxiety that you see in their face,” he described.

One moment that captivated the audience was under a section titled “The Worst Day,” where Souza described what it was like being in office during the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting in December of 2012. With a photo of former President Obama puffing his cheeks on the screen before speaking to the press that fateful day, Souza described the empathy he saw, and how he captured the former president’s feeling in such a dire moment. “More than anything, more than being president, imagine the horror of those families where you have made them breakfast, kissed them goodbye, put them on the school bus, and it turns out to be the last time you ever see him.

He thought his duty as president was to speak to the nation, so early that afternoon, he walked down to the press briefing room. I’d never seen him do this before—blow his cheeks—because I think he thought he might lose his composure.”

Souza went on to show photos of the aftermath of the situation, including former President Obama hugging his own daughter Sasha a little tighter that day, and how he visited families in Newton, Connecticut and mourned with them.

Despite these challenging moments, Souza went on to present photos that showed who former President Obama was beyond his title. He showed photos of him playing in the snow with his daughters (which he claims is still the former president’s screensaver to this day); photos of small, intimate moments with his wife Michelle Obama; photos of him laughing with children during the annual White House Halloween event, photos of him playing with his dog Bo in the halls of the White House; even photos of him stepping up to coach his daughter’s

recreational basketball league game.

He also discussed what it meant to be capturing the photos of the first African-American president. “At first I didn’t really think about it that way. I thought of every presidency as historic.” That was until Souza had a moment with five-yearold Jacob Philadelphia in 2009, whose father worked in the Foreign Service. “President Obama invited them into the Oval Office for a snapshot. Standing in front of the desk, Jacob [...] said [something like] ‘Mr. President, my friends tell me my haircut is just like yours.’ And [...] Obama bent over, and Jacob touched his head. [...] It’s like a fraction of a second and I got it just right, thankfully. [...] But this picture really resonated with kids of color,” he said. “I realized I [needed] to really be paying attention to this aspect of his presidency.”

Throughout these snapshots, Souza emphasized the meaningful moments were not hard to come by. “It’s just a combination of luck and a little bit of experience in terms of trying to document the humanity of this guy. I always thought it was the little moments that reveal what he was like as a person, how he interacts with other people,” Souza described.

Attendee Samantha Smith ‘25 thought that Souza brought class and humility to his lecture. “I loved Pete Souza’s presentation. I saw so much humanity in his shots, especially of Barack Obama, with Michelle and his family, and also how he interacted with the staff at the White House and the families he visited. I thought it was beautifully done and very evident that he has a lot of intention with the [photos he takes] and the stories he’s hoping to tell.”

Julien Ernoul ‘28 and Hajime Inada ‘28 both took home valuable lessons. “I found it very interesting. I took pictures when I was in a photography class, so in that aspect of taking pictures, the story behind this [was] also fascinating,” Ernoul said. “I think his engagement that tried to show the president’s humanity [and] his efforts to tell these stories is impressive,” Inada added.

Souza concluded by showing a picture of a boy named Alex, who wrote a letter to former President Obama asking him to bring home a boy who had been injured in Aleppo, Syria in 2016. “This six-year-old son of two Albanian-Americans shows more compassion, more empathy, more understanding, and knows more about what it means to be an American than… well…you know,” he stated with a knowing smile, getting some light chuckles from the audience. “It’s really kids like this [...] that give me hope,” he declared.

Ukrainian Photographer Ira Lupu Displays Her Work for Davidson Community

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JAMES GOURLAY ‘26 (HE/HIM) SOPHIA SCHUR ‘27 (SHE/HER) STAFF WRITERS

n the pillars of the second floor of E. Craig Wall Jr. Academic Center, collectors from the Van Every/ Smith Galleries have displayed an array of photos that depict what modern life in Ukraine looks like in the midst of war. The mastermind behind the exhibition is world-renowned Ukrainian photographer Ira Lupu. Lupu’s show brings new meaning to photography, highlighting its role in storytelling in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

On November 14th, Lupu hosted a talk about her exhibit in the Katherine and Tom Belk Visual Arts Center (VAC). It was moderated by Professor and Chair of Russian Studies Dr. Amanda Ewington and Director & Curator of the Davidson College Art Galleries Lia Newman. While Lupu resides in New York City, she has taken many trips to Ukraine to capture photos for her exhibits. “The conditions of working there [Ukraine] are similar to living there: surreal,” Lupu described.

The content of Lupu’s photos varies. Some portray the tragedies the war has brought to the region. Others depict photos of children playing and show how everyday Ukrainian life persists despite the devastation. “We’ve learned to coexist with explosions,” Lupu explained. “Psychologically there’s only a certain amount of this more explicit imagery that a person can absorb and you just want to look away at some point. And it’s sad, but it’s also natural. I think we would all just go crazy if we looked at this day and night.”

Through these photos, Lupu hopes to shift the narrative about Ukrainian citizens as the war continues. “Ukrainians are fighting for liberation and their people,” she said.

In regard to the current relationship between the Ukrainian government and its citizens, Lupu criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “I didn’t vote for Zelensky. A lot of my friends didn’t. My mom is the biggest hater of Zelensky in the world.” Despite this, she still acknowledged the president’s leadership. “In Ukraine, this [war] is something that we have to deal with, and [there are] internal issues in our country, but

Ira Lupu brought her work to Davidson, highlighting various aspects of modern Ukrainian life. Photo from davidsoncollege artgalleries.org.

I respect him as someone who stood up for us in the critical moment, who did not leave, who probably made some bad decisions, but also made some decisions that helped us survive.”

Dr. Ewington hopes that this photo exhibit will showcase another side of the Russo-Ukrainian War, highlighting its cultural significance. “A lot of experts consider what Russia is doing [to be] cultural genocide, and there’s a long history of suppression of Ukrainian language and Ukrainian culture. And so it felt like it was the time to shift focus and remember that there is art and there is beauty, and we need to understand what is at stake when Russians are trying to suppress or destroy that culture,” Dr. Ewington said.

Likewise, Newman hopes that the exhibit will inform viewers

about the Ukraine the news cannot portray. “I think what’s really interesting about these photojournalistic documentaries is that they’re not the same images that we’re seeing in the news.

It’s not like they’re all sensationalistic,” she emphasized. “I’m hoping that it gives a wider image of what’s happening. [...] So for me, what does photography do? What [else] can it help us see?”

Dr. Ewington and Newman also emphasized the significance of displaying the photos in Wall as opposed to the VAC. “I’ve realized since the exhibit went up that it’s fantastic because students are seeing it who aren’t seeking it out,” Dr. Ewington said. “I think the VAC is such a beautiful space, but a student would have to decide to go into the art gallery, whereas here you could just be going to class and stumble across this exhibit and take a few minutes to have a look.” Newman agreed.

“That’s definitely why we use these spaces around campus: to make connections.”

The photo exhibit has already left an impact on students.

Many, including Daniela Martinez ‘28, have been especially moved by the eye-catching, vermillion photos, something Lupu emphasizes in several of the exhibit’s pieces. “I think for me, [these pictures] stood out the most,” Martinez said.

Sophie Van Rhijn ‘28 felt that the pieces force viewers to reckon with a war that may not affect them. “[You realize] that this is really happening right now [...] I feel like living in Davidson, we’re in such a bubble, it’s hard to imagine having these struggles,” she said.

Much of Lupu’s work is dedicated to documenting the youth experience. These photos allow Davidson students to empathize with Lupu’s subjects, coming to terms with the fact that they could just as easily be facing this international violence instead.

Politics

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Professors Discuss the Significance of a Second Trump Term

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AIDAN MARKS ‘27 (HE/HIM) POLITICS EDITOR

n the aftermath of the 2024 presidential election, academics and policymakers have begun to speculate on how a second Donald Trump administration will affect U.S. policy at home and abroad. As Davidson community members reflect on what the next four years will bring, professors offer their insight into what Trump means for various policy areas.

Environmental Policy: Associate Professor of Political Science Dr. Graham Bullock predicts Trump will immediately attempt to alter climate policies passed by the outgoing Biden administration. “I think the most obvious and likely changes will be related to climate change regulations and funding specifically under the Inflation Reduction Act.” Trump’s administration will need to reckon with how rolling back the IRA, which was created to help the U.S. reach its climate goals, and other environmental regulations might come into conflict with the traditional Republican commitment to some basic level of environmental protections.

“I think Donald Trump and the Republican Party do talk a lot about valuing clean air and clean water, and so there may be a sort of disaggregation of the environment [...] where things that are perceived as [environmental issues] are not rolled back as much as things related to climate change,” Dr. Bullock said.

If the Trump administration does pass climate-friendly legislation, especially related to nuclear or renewable energy, it will likely be called by a different name. “To the extent that there is some recognition of the impact of climate change, it won’t necessarily be direct or explicit, but couched in the terms of economic development and opportunity, and these so-called co-benefits of climate-related investments,” Dr. Bullock said.

Ultimately, the stakes of a second Trump administration for environmental policy are clear. “The stakes are highest in the context of climate change, where there’s been, I think, by all accounts, an enormous amount begun and already implemented by the Biden administration, and that will most likely come to a screeching halt,” Dr. Bullock concluded.

Relations with Latin America: Associate Professor of the Practice in Political Science Dr. Britta Crandall explained that recent U.S. policy toward Latin America has been bound by a common theme. “Latin American scholars would say one thing stays consistent, which is this benign neglect or less than benign neglect of the region, and this tendency to perceive the region through the lens of immigration and drugs.”

Under the Obama and Biden administrations, the U.S. sought to engage with Latin American partners through multilateral diplomacy on topics ranging from trade to human rights to security. Dr. Crandall expects the Trump administration to focus heavily on immigration and drugs.

“The difference is right now we’re in a world in which those two priorities will be the only priorities, and all other elements of bilateral relationships will be seen transactionally [...] whereas, I would say more broadly speaking, there’s at least been lip service paid to notions of multilateral approaches [under previous administrations],” Dr. Crandall said. “[Democrat] administrations tend to have embraced that kind of win-win approach toward the region, toward trade,

whereas more recent Republican administrations have seen it much more as a zero-sum game,” Dr. Crandall said.

In the wake of an increasingly isolationist and transaction-oriented U.S., many Latin American countries have increased trade relations with China. By some figures, two-way trade between the region and China has grown from $18 billion in 2002 to $450 billion in 2022—and is expected to continue to increase.

Dr. Crandall notes that this may create an interesting dynamic for U.S. relations with Mexico, especially because the USMCA free trade agreement, which aims to create a balanced trade environment between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, will be renegotiated in 2026. “One area that is going to be interesting to see, specifically now because it’s so contentious, is the Chinese role in the Mexican economy, [which is perceived as] a backdoor into [USMCA],” Dr. Crandall said.

Despite Trump’s isolationist tendencies, he may be forced to pick his battles and work with his southern neighbor.

“The last thing that the United States wants is to push Mexico, or any other country, closer to the Chinese sphere, which is very clearly against US interests,” Dr. Crandall said.

Relations with Europe: To Chair & Associate Professor of Political Science Dr. Besir Ceka, tensions will emerge with European countries, primarily over NATO support for Ukraine. “Trump will certainly jolt the alliance, certainly will pressure Ukraine to negotiate, and it’s unclear to me where that process will end and to what extent Putin might or might not change the calculus of the U.S. administration.”

“I know it’s very clear the Republicans in general, but especially the Trump people, have no interest in continuing to support Ukraine,” Dr. Ceka said. “Trump is [unwilling] to buy into the shared values argument, and that will certainly hurt America’s image and ability to influence politics internationally. American foreign policy has been at least clothed, historically, with this liberal rhetoric.”

Instead, Dr. Ceka expects Trump to adopt a more explicitly transactional approach. “[Trump] has made it very clear that what he cares about is, at least when it comes to foreign policy, ‘What is the bottom line for America? Are they taking advantage of us?’ He’s very allergic to perceptions that allies are taking advantage of America, so it is very transactional, and it does put into question the value-driven approach that NATO and the EU have.”

Nevertheless, Dr. Ceka is confident U.S.–European relations will withstand the tensions of the incoming administration. “[European allies] were not thrilled with the Trump presidency the first time around, and they’re certainly not thrilled with another Trump presidency now. However, I get the sense that the vibe is one of ‘we will weather this one out,’ in part because they now know Trump better than they did in 2016.”

Reproductive Rights: Abortion rights ballot measures were voted on in ten states and passed in seven during this election cycle. Despite this, many of those same states voted for Trump. This phenomenon is of interest to Professor of Political Science Dr. Susan Roberts. “What was curious is all of those victories [...] that put access to abortion in [state constitutions] didn’t translate into a Harris win.”

To Dr. Roberts, the Trump administration’s playbook is clear.

“The best place to look at what’s going to happen for reproductive rights is right in front of us, and that is Project 2025 as well as Agenda 47, which was the Republican Party platform.

It is similar in many respects to Project 2025 and they share a

move for restricting access to abortion, in particular [...] mifepristone.” Mifepristone is a drug that blocks a hormone called progesterone that is needed for a pregnancy to continue.

Dr. Roberts was skeptical about whether or not Trump’s recent comments about a federal abortion ban have been truthful. “Trump dismissed the question of whether or not he would vote for a national ban on abortion by saying it would never come up. And that, I think, there’s no guarantee [of]. He can’t say that with any certainty now that you have the trifecta [of Republicans controlling the Presidency, Senate, and House of Representatives].”

“When he dismissed [the possibility of a federal abortion ban] with that comment, that’s no longer relevant. I cannot see that the new House and the new Senate would pass on that one,” Dr. Roberts continued. However, it should be noted that Trump did vow to veto any federal abortion ban in a post during the vice presidential debate on October 1st, stating that the decision is up to individual states.

Welfare Programs: To Professor of the Practice in Communication Studies Issac Bailey, the Trump administration’s approach to welfare is consistent with national trends since the Clinton administration.

“From what I’ve seen, [the trend in] welfare policy since the ‘90s has been to make it harder for individual, needy people to get [support] even if the money has been allocated. The red tape is extremely difficult to get through [...] At the individual level, a lot of poor people can’t get through the process to be able to receive the money they are entitled to, and so states often use that money for other purposes,” Bailey said in an email inquiry.

Bailey expects Trump’s first priority to be extending tax cuts passed during his first term. “Everyone saw national income taxes fall because of those cuts, but the cuts were heavily weighted to benefit the wealthy more than anyone else. I don’t see that changing this time around.”

If extended, Trump’s tax cuts would likely force the government to cut funding for welfare programs. “The incoming Trump administration was already thinking of ways to offset those tax cuts so it wouldn’t drive up the deficit even more than the first round did. The targets for spending cuts? Welfare programs such as Medicaid and the like,” Bailey continued.

Criminal Justice: According to a recent report by the ACLU, Trump’s incoming administration is likely to accelerate mass incarceration, further dehumanize incarcerated people, and reverse reforms made over the past two decades. Bailey agrees with this characterization.

“Trump has said he regrets the reform he agreed to during his first term, a reform that was led by Democrats. He says he wants to bring back the discriminatory stop-and-frisk policies that targeted Black and Brown young men much more than others. He says he wants to make it harder for the Department of Justice to investigate police departments accused of brutality and the like,” Bailey said.

On top of efforts to dismantle welfare programs and roll back decades of criminal justice progress, Bailey also warns the Trump administration may resort to inflammatory and racist rhetoric in an attempt to gain support for his policies.

“Race is transactional for Trump. If he thinks falsely claiming Haitian immigrants are eating people’s pets will lead to votes, he’ll say that. If he thinks saying he is for diversity will lead to votes, he’ll say that. I don’t expect Trump to be anything other than the man who kicked off his 2016 campaign saying Mexican immigrants are rapists,” Bailey said.

Pete Souza Captivates Davidson Community

Pete Souza presents his collection to the audience. Photos by Clyde Dwyer ‘25.

Perspectives

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Finding my “Third Place” in College: Lessons from a Picnic Table SOPHIA REES ‘27 (SHE/HER) PERSPECTIVES CO-EDITOR

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often find myself comparing my Davidson experience to that of high school. I attended an allgirls school in Washington, D.C. where, no matter how hard anyone tried, students struggled to find enough time for themselves. We constantly reflected on academics, but rarely reflected on the lives we were leading. Ironically, my AP Human Geography class often served as a refuge for our well-being. The teacher, Mr. Bonner began each class by asking us a deceptively simple question: How’s everyone doing? Rather than settling for the standard “good” and swiftly moving on, he encouraged us to go into detail about the good and the bad in our lives—again, every single class. He fostered a shared humanity, transforming his classroom into what sociologists call “third places”: an environment separate from home or work where people interact and build relationships. Throughout senior year, Mr. Bonner continuously encouraged us to seek third places, especially as our favorite coffee shops turned into silent dungeons for college essay writing.

When we graduated, Mr. Bonner gave us a parting assignment. He requested that we email him at some point and share a glimpse into our new lives, detailing what we were excited about and the friendships we were creating. As I wrote my email to him this year, I began by describing my newfound love for hot yoga and my friend group’s decision to dress up as Smurfs for Halloween. I soon diverged, though, gravitating toward a reflection on a seemingly ordinary thing: a picnic table.

At Davidson, it seems like every place I frequent is multipurpose. I draft papers for my political science course and play cards on Friday afternoons at the same

table outside of Nummit. I analyze policy reports and refresh Reformation’s “Recently Added” clothing collection from my dorm desk. Even now, I’m writing this article from the same well-worn couch in the Chidsey lobby where I read about Marie Antoinette’s trials for my French history class with Dr. Tilburg. Despite the duality of many places on Davidson’s campus, the picnic table adjacent to Connor Eating House serves solely as a place for communion, conversation, and laughter.

“Meet at the picnic table in 10?” “Going to put my stuff at the picnic table.” “I’m at the picnic table! Come whenever.” Texts like these flood my phone, capturing just a fraction of its significance in my daily life.

There is little that I savor more than these moments— work and phone tucked away, lost in hours of conversation that naturally rejuvenate me. Each conversation carves its own sanctuary in my heart, perhaps more vividly than a lesson on economic elasticity or a paper on vocational education in Finland (though my nerdy side will likely cling to some point from these too).

I also treasure the table’s setting—tucked beneath a tree that changes with the seasons, the proximity to the door that grants us access to Chef K’s famous ranch, and its vast view of Patterson Court which facilitates easy people-watching. I also value its ability to bring together my friends from different eating houses, assuaging the worry I once held that we might drift apart because we’re eating fewer meals together (for context, we had hour-long lunches and dinners in Commons every day last year). The table has deepened my connection with other Connor Jesters too, some of whom have become my closest friends. The table is a “girls’ space,” echoing the similar sisterhood I found in high school.

I have decreed that this table will never see my homework and only serve as a space for serenity. I firmly

believe that everyone needs a space solely for communion and, honestly, laughter. Especially in college, where the lines between home and work blur easily, I urge everyone to seek a place that exists solely to nurture relationships, even if that place happens to be Nummit trivia or F on a Saturday night.

I can already sense that the Connor picnic table will anchor my college memories. I will always remember the first time my roommate and I stumbled upon the table. I will always remember the last lunch before this year’s fall break, when Connor girls filled the table minute by minute. And I will always remember the early November dinners under the slowly darkening sky. Even now, the highlights of my week come from the table, more so than a highly anticipated night out or post-exam exhilaration.

Most importantly, though, this table serves as a living tribute to Mr. Bonner and his devotion to authenticity.

Just as his geography class became a symbol of all that mattered most to me in high school, this table has become the cornerstone of my college years, grounding me in community and belonging. Writing this article, I can only hope to transmit a fraction of Mr. Bonner’s energy, but I’m certain that I will always seek places that remind me of his classroom while I continuously encourage others to do the same.

Sophia is an intended Political Science and History double major from Washington, D.C. and can be reached for comment at sorees@davidson.edu.

Abortion is Murder—and Davidson Condones It CYNTHIA HUANG ‘26 ­_______

I

would like to address two issues regarding Davidson College: its health insurance coverage of abortion obstructing freedom of religion and its widespread stance on abortion.

First, the student health insurance plan’s coverage of abortion fees obstructs students’ fundamental First Amendment right to religious freedom. When opting to join the student health insurance plan, students are not notified about this critical and disturbing component. Consequently, pro-life students who do not view abortion as “health care,” but instead as murder, are thus forced to contribute to transactions that completely defy their moral convictions.

Second, although many on this campus describe themselves as being “pro-women,” the college’s attitude and sentiment toward abortion is precisely the opposite. To be “pro-women,” you must first allow for women to be born.

Abortion blatantly thwarts that: it killed at least 1,026,690 babies in 2023 (allowing us to reasonably assume that they included 500,000+ females), according to a report by the Guttmacher Institute. Moreover, while many argue that abortion is a “woman’s choice,” research by the medical journal Cureus shows that “nearly 70% of women with a history of abortion describe their abortions as inconsistent with their own values and preferences, with one in four describing their abortions as unwanted or coerced.” These statistics contradict the notion of “pro-choice.” If abortion clinics were truly and honestly providing the individuals seeking an abortion with more “choices,” such as assisting in adoption procedures or directing them to pregnancy help centers who can equip them with the adequate financial and emotional resources to be a mother, these women would not feel pressured to abort their child. Therefore, rather than encouraging female students to abort their child while also

providing them with the means to do so with little to no monetary costs, we should be instead supporting their pregnancy.

If we truly believe that women are strong and resilient, we should be telling them that they can pursue their academic and career goals while also possessing the ability to become mothers. Or, at the very least, we should be helping them carry their baby to term so that he/she can be adopted by a loving family that longs to care for her child. We should be encouraging them and their male partners to respect and protect womens’ bodies and responsibly utilize contraceptive measures made widely available, especially when they do not feel prepared for parenthood. We should be providing women with encouragement and support rather than degrading them and implying their inability to become a mother, the role that they were created for and which will bring them true fulfillment and joy.

Lastly, Davidson’s characterization of abortion as a “reproductive right” is wildly inaccurate. Abortion does not directly relate to reproduction, nor is it a right. Abortion does not inhibit one’s “right to reproduction,” for reproduction has already occurred when one makes the deliberate decision to engage in sexual relations and has nothing to do with abortion. Instead, abortion is an attempt to escape the consequences of irresponsible actions. The act is not only the murder of an innocent life but would also inflict long-lasting physical and emotional trauma upon the mother, so much so that there is a medical condition known as the “post-abortion stress syndrome” (PASS) that presents similar symptoms to PTSD. Therefore, abortion should not be allowed, let alone encouraged and promoted, except in extreme and rare circumstances of rape and incest or when the mother’s life is in danger. Abortions under these conditions comprise only 0.4% and 0.3% of all abortions, respectively, according to the Lozier Institute. Over 99% of abortions are thus for elective purposes, and as previously mentioned, about

70% of abortions were not independently decided by the women but rather pressured upon them.

True women’s rights entail the ability to vote, pursue an education, and hold the same merit-based employment positions as men, all while experiencing the joys of motherhood and raising the future generation. Many women around the world long for such opportunities and women in America should be extremely grateful for these blessings. True “female empowerment” means providing support and encouragement to women in their journey to and through motherhood, the journey that young girls dream of and what all women intrinsically desire. With that being said, I would like to deeply apologize to all the female students on this campus who have been told that abortion is your “right” or that it “empowers” you. I am sorry that your true strength and resilience have been diminished and characterized by a cruel act that not only kills your innocent child but leaves you more alone and anxious than ever before. I am sorry that Davidson currently underestimates your great capacity and potential to pursue your academic and career aspirations, all while fulfilling the role that no man can undertake and that will bring you the greatest fulfillment: motherhood.

Cynthia is a Political Science and Economics double major from Richmond, VA and can be reached for comment at cyhuang@davidson.edu.

Sports

5

Davidson Wrestling Dominates Opening Duals

T

RYAN HARRIS ‘26 (HE/HIM) SPORTS WRITER

he Davidson wrestling program is off and running in their 2024-2025 campaign. The ‘Cats currently boast a 3-0 record following their first dual meets, after an offseason that included some big changes on their coaching staff. Over the summer, Head Coach Nate Carr Jr. and the Wildcats added three assistant coaches, all with winning experience at the NCAA level.

These three additions began with the hiring of Alan Clothier, who was previously an assistant coach at the University of Buffalo. Clothier was a four-time NCAA Championships qualifier for Appalachian State and Northern Colorado during his wrestling career. Then, Davidson welcomed home Ike Byers, a Mooresville, NC product, who most recently finished up his five-year wrestling career at Appalachian State.

In his last season as a Mountaineer, he placed at the Southern Conference Championships. The Wildcats most recently hired former Virginia Tech and Oklahoma wrestler Joey Prata, who, over the course of his accomplished collegiate career, placed in both the ACC and Big 12 Championships, and qualified for the NCAA Championships three times.

This new leadership on the mat has already paid off, as the ‘Cats took both matches of their dual on November 14th, beating Belmont Abbey and St. Andrews. The ‘Cats started out strong against Belmont Abbey with a massive bodyslam and pin by Ian McGehee ‘27 within the first minute of his match. From there, the middleweights dominated, as McGhee, Tyler-Xavier McKnight ‘27, team captain Tanner Peake ‘26, and Marc Koch ‘26 all won their matches by major decision or better. These results, along with wins by Enis

Ljikovic ‘27 and DJ Spring II ‘27 in double overtime, sealed the 26-16 victory for Davidson to start the night.

Following the match against Belmont Abbey, Davidson ran the table on St. Andrews, whom they beat 51-0. The ‘Cats controlled the mat throughout, including a win via decision (15-8) from freshman Blake Reihner ‘28 at 141 pounds.

In addition to this 3-0 team start, the Wildcats saw many strong individual performances in their two prior tournaments. At the Southeast Open on November 2nd, the ‘Cats had eight wrestlers place, including a runner-up finish by Peake in the Open Division of the 157 pound bracket. On his run to the finals, Peake defeated University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Sonny Santiago, who was ranked in the top twenty-five in the country at their weight class coming into the season. This result helped Peake, who is coming off back-to-back seasons as runner-up in the Southern Conference Tournament, earn a ranking of his own, as #22 in the country, according to the FloWrestling NCAA DI Rankings.

Three more Wildcats finished as runners-up in the freshman/ sophomore bracket, where they saw plenty of in-conference competition, showing the strong promise of the Wildcats’ young core.

Coach Prata stated that these early season successes have been “rewarding to see,” and that he is proud of how the team has continued to rise to the “high standards [the coaches have] set for them.” Coach Prata shared how “[the athletes are] showing a true commitment to doing whatever it takes to succeed.” This praise for a young team who has only been working with Coach Prata for three weeks speaks highly of the positive culture being built at Davidson. Reihner elaborated on the strength of this team culture, saying that he has really enjoyed the team dynamic and that it already “feels like a family to [him].” Peake, who is entering his third sea-

son with the Wildcats, shared this sentiment. “We’ve got a young team with guys that are passionate and excited about wrestling and getting better each day. The positive energy we’re bringing into the room each day is what’s going to help us see success,” Peake stated.

This solid start is expected to continue throughout the Wildcats’ long season. “I think the rest of the season is looking pretty bright,” McKnight added. “Right now, we’re all just focused on learning and fixing mistakes, but I think we’ll be on point for the postseason. We’re for sure sending guys to nationals, and I think we can make a statement this season.”

Davidson wrestled in a dual meet at Presbyterian College this past Sunday, November 17th. The Wildcats won the match with a sccore of 27-13. Their next match is at Duke University on Friday, December 6th.

Ian McGehee ‘27 bodyslams his Belmont Abbey opponent within seconds. Photo from Davidson wrestling Instagram.

‘Cats Stats Continues to Benefit Davidson Athletics

ANNA MORROW ‘28 (SHE/HER) SPORTS WRITER

I

n 2013, ‘Cats Stats was started as a research program by Joseph R. Morton Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science Dr. Tim Chartier, along with four students in the class of ‘14. The project’s goal was to provide analytical support to Davidson athletic teams. After a successful first season supporting the men’s basketball team, the group of students, under Dr. Chartier, was asked to continue providing analytics for the program the following year.

Since its development in 2013, Dr. Chartier transitioned the program to a student organization that has continued to grow.

‘Cats Stats has remained consistent in its support of the men’s basketball program but has also extended its reach to six other teams that are active this year. Some of the club members are developing code to streamline the process of keeping and analyzing statistics, watching opponent film to prepare for future games, and promoting the teams on social media to benefit the performance of the seven teams ‘Cats Stats is supporting this year. The program continues to develop under the new leadership of President Will Kercher ‘25 and Vice President Sam Greenberg ‘27. Kercher and Greenberg have put in significant effort to recruit new members that will create a stronger program. These new members have new programs and analytics to learn as the basketball season picks up.

Greenberg explained the club’s role on the men’s side of the ball: “what we’ve been doing for a while [are] these scouting reports, where we scout the other team [before each game] and then analyze how they play together and individually. After every four games, we do a self-scout.” Women’s Basketball Scouting Chair Abby Pompeo ‘25 has been involved in the women’s basketball division since her first year at Davidson.

“It’s changed a little bit, but when I was doing live coding, I essentially was pressing a button when they were on offense, then when they were on defense, and when they took a shot so the coaches could easily line it up with the film afterwards.

I would also record which five [women’s basketball players] were on the court at the same time so they could look at each player individually to see the plays that each player is in,” Pompeo described.

‘Cats Stats reports Davidson men’s basketball stats ahead of their matchup against ETSU. Photo from ‘Cats Stats Instagram.

The women’s team has introduced new programs that ‘Cats Stats is working with to provide a more in-depth look at their own team as well as opponents. One of the projects within the programs is called “angle tracking. [...] Based on the video replay, we record which play they are running because the systems can’t track for that. So we’re tracking the plays and

Women’s Volleyball Standings Team

Standings Update

Dayton VCU Loyola Chicago Davidson George Washington George Mason Saint Louis Duquesne Rhode Island Fordham

W

L

STK PCT

18 16 13 11 9 6 6 4 4 3

0 2 5 7 9 12 12 14 14 14

W18 W14 W9 W2 L2 W2 L2 L9 L3 L6

1.000 .889 .722 .611 .500 .333 .333 .222 .222 .167

then using that data to figure out which are most efficient,” Greenberg explained.

Kercher has noticed a heavier reliance on the club’s statistics throughout his time at Davidson. “We see this in professional sports [...] people rely more heavily on data and big data. And I think collegiate athletic programs are trying to replicate what the pros are doing. And that’s a huge [endeavor]. It’s [all about] how much information [we can] get our hands on and how much important information [we can] relay to the coaches and these players,” Kercher said.

Pompeo has seen this transition firsthand as a midfielder for the Davidson field hockey team, which is in its second year as a ‘Cats Stats division. “They have all that knowledge [...] we can tell how [the coaches] are applying stats very clearly in their practice plans. [...] Those statistics are vital for how we score and defend. So having those numbers is critical to making sure we’re capitalizing on our opportunities,” Pompeo stated.

Greenberg believes the organization will increase its success as it grows. “‘Cats Stats leadership is striving to create a more robust and sustainable program that will continue to support Davidson Athletics for years to come. Having more time with the data will give us a better understanding of what we need to do. Because these programs are new and the club is dominated by first years, [getting them] more comfortable with the system will then lead to better results,” Greenberg said. Kercher echoed Greenberg’s statement, adding, “I think our biggest challenge right now is getting people to be committed, but also getting the work to the quality standard we need. That is not the fault of anyone. It’s just a part of rebuilding a program where we have a lot of new people. So that’s going to take practice, it’s going to take some time.

But as people get adjusted to that and people stay committed, I think we can grow this to be something big, something special.”

Arts and Entertainment 6 WALT-a-thon Supports Charities and Student Radio

JAYSON RIVERA ‘27 (HE/HIM) STAFF WRITER

F

rom November 14th-15th, WALT 1610 hosted their first ever WALT-a-thon. For twenty-nine straight hours, WALT ran a constant radio broadcast that aimed to raise proceeds for three charities: Lula Bell’s, BeLoved Asheville, and Roof Above. The nonstop radio event featured special guests and student organizations, concluding with a celebration with Davidson Local at Summit Outpost (Nummit).

The idea of WALT-a-thon began with WALT Secretary Abby

Davidson Local playing music for the WALT-a-thon broadcast in the WALT Studio. Photo by Abby True ‘25.

True ‘25. “I started thinking about doing a twenty-four hour thon when I was first on WALT’s E-Board,” she said. “WALT was really active with student music and social events, but not as much with the actual radio, so I wanted the radio to have more listeners, and I also wanted to use the radio as incentive to support a charitable cause. I pitched it for the first time this year, and the general idea was to have community members and fun special guests on the radio for twenty-four hours. [...] It ultimately turned into twenty-nine hours.”

Throughout WALT-a-thon, WALT incorporated a wide variety of special guests. Notable participants from Davidson included Mayor Rusty Knox, Professor of History Dr. John Wertheimer

with the Davidson Local professor band, Frank Dominguez from WDAV Classical Public Radio, and Chair & Professor of Film, Media, and Digital Studies Dr. Mark Sample. Additionally, WALT streamed Live Thursday performances from the Davidson Delilahs, Generals, and Nuances.

The event even allowed students absent from campus to participate. Henry Wilcox ‘26 and Sofia Cimballa ‘26 called in from their study abroad programs, and former WALT presidents joined a Zoom meeting to have a “presidential debate” with the current presidents, Grace McGuire ‘25 and Annabel Semans ‘26. “As far as I know it was the first time in a while since non-students used the space,” Semans stated. “It definitely inspired us to have more non-students on air, as some of the guests really enjoyed this and it makes for great programming.

It’s definitely a future expansion to look out for.” True added that “the idea of having a radio station and its resources at our disposal was something that was really put into perspective by the adults’ earnestness and sincerity.”

When it came to maintaining the broadcast overnight, WALT took many precautions to ensure the event ran smoothly for all twenty-nine hours. “Every hour there were two members of WALT E-Board who acted as a support team, facilitating transitions and helping DJs throughout the broadcast. And prior to the entire thon, we sent out an instructional video on how to use everything in the studio,” Semans described. True along with Michael Allen ‘27, one of WALT’s studio managers, stayed in the Alvarez College Union overnight to supervise the broadcast. “I was in Union for far too many hours,” True said.

The marathon ended with an event co-hosted with Union Board at Nummit involving a performance from Davidson Local, as well as a taco truck, lawn games, fire pits, and an African drumming ensemble performance outside. The event was primarily geared toward commemorating all the work that had gone into WALT-a-thon, ending the twenty-nine hours on a high note. “As much as the event was meant to continue fundraising, it was also meant to be a quality, community-oriented celebration in honor of everything that had happened,” Semans shared.

WALT’s fundraiser raised a total of $3,615. There was also extra profit from merchandise and Summit itself, which is to be evenly distributed between Lula Bell’s, BeLoved Asheville, and Roof Above.

Along with the charitable success generated from the event, WALT-a-thon also highlighted the importance of radio as a means of community involvement. “I love radio, that’s why I’m in WALT,” McGuire stated. “But it’s a forgotten medium— no one listens to radio like we did growing up. However, it reinforces an idea of community through being able to listen to someone else’s voice and music curated by them. Using that opportunity to have people share their favorite songs and what is important to them while streaming is becoming more prevalent. Everything from WALT-a-thon circles back to the community aspect.”

It is evident that McGuire’s sentiment is not unfounded, as WALT continues to expand its campus presence and find both charitable and social success through events like WALT-a-thon.

Abroad student Sofia Cimballa ‘26 zooms in for her WALTa-thon radio slot. Photo by Abby True ‘25.

Jayson Rivera ‘27 is an intended English major and Music minor from Middletown, DE and can be reached for comment at jarivera@davidson.edu.

Students and Stamps Shine in Mauritius CAMERON UNICE ‘27 (SHE/HER) STAFF WRITER

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his past week, student actors took to the stage, cussing, slapping, and fighting each other over a very unsuspecting object: stamps. The Barber Theatre presented Mauritius, a student-directed performance centered around stamp collecting.

Stakes are high as two sisters inherit a rare stamp collection and feud over ownership.

Three meddling men also vie for the collection, leading to over two hours of tense stamp-centered negotiation and argument.

Director Davis Varnado ‘25 explained how even though philately (the art of collecting stamps) can come off as mundane, the performance is “tense [...] surprisingly funny [...] and violent.”

The actors on stage performing Mauritius.

Photo by Clara Ottati ‘27.

Every year, the Davidson Theatre Department selects one student to direct a play, and after a concept presentation to a panel of professors in the department, Varnado was selected. After his selection,

Varnado began to research and read potential plays. When browsing through scripts, he kept his vision in mind, explaining, “I definitely love more realism, but I love a lot of energy, a lot of activity, a lot of stakes in my plays that I like to direct. Which is why I landed on Mauritius.”

Mauritius is, according to Samantha Smith ‘25, “what happens when […] men are hungry for power […] and sisters and relationships get torn apart.” The play’s dialogue and tension emerges from a seemingly simple object: a binder full of laminated stamps. The audience is first introduced to the stamps when Jackie, played by Mahrle Siddall ‘25, brings the stamps to get inspected by Phillip, played by Aidan Overcash ‘28. When business partners Dennis (David Kilde ‘25) and Sterling (Will Conley ‘25) discover that Jackie holds two incredibly rare and valuable stamps in her possession, chaos ensues. The chaos is amplified by Jackie’s older half-sister Mary, played by Smith, who claims the stamps belong to her. While the complex family dynamics between the half-sisters are slowly peeled back throughout the play, the desperate and power hungry characters clash from the beginning, each fighting to either sell or gain possession of the stamps.

The play has only two locations: a house and a stamp shop. “However, the stakes are so high,” Varnado stated. “It’s intense pretty much from the minute the actors are on stage, which is why I was really drawn to it.”

Audience member Jake McGraw ‘25 was a fan of the set, describing it as “so simple but still so effective at creating the different spaces.” The stage was set up with two oversized chairs, a file cabinet, and a big wooden desk. Two rugs adorned the floor and overhead lamps provided a shadowy ambience.

The actors fight on stage during the performace. Photo by Clara Ottati ‘27.

The cast would do table reads before moving to rehearsal at The Barber Theatre.

Throughout rehearsal, Varnado explained that he tried to strike a balance between letting cast members express their creativity while also fostering his own vision for the performance.

Smith explained how Varnado’s leadership style shined in some of the exercises the cast went through in the first week of rehearsals.

“We would be walking around the space, and then we would become our characters just through our physicalities. And [Varnado] would have us [ramp] up from a one to a ten [...] we would interact with each other as our characters in the space, which was really cool. I think that was a good start to getting in the body and mind of the character.”

Audience members felt the impact of these choices. “[Smith] did an incredible job of getting the audience to relate to and even root for her character, even if she wasn’t the obvious protagonist. She made her struggles and emotions seem so real,” Charlotte Frampton ‘27 said. “[The performance was] funny, passionate [...] I even teared up at some points. Overall, the cast, crew, and directing team did an amazing job!”

Mauritius includes numerous fight scenes between cast members. Even though tensions are high during these scenes, they actually gave the cast the opportunity to grow closer together. Smith explained that “every time [the cast] does a fight call [...] we high five and it’s just very supportive backstage.” Audience member Brogan O’Connor ‘28 explained that the ”skill and effort in the fight scenes were impressive.”

And the violence goes beyond just physical boundaries as well. “[Mauritius] isn’t just violent physically, but violent emotionally,” Varnado stated.

With Varnado at the helm, the actors were able to flourish. Be sure to keep an eye out for future Theatre Department plays like The Outsider in the spring, running from April 3rd to April 13th, 2025.

Cameron Unice ‘27 is an intended Political Science major from Richmond, VA and can be reached for comment at caunice@davidson. edu.

Living Davidson

Crossword Spread The 38-Down

7

Crosswords by Victor Fleming ‘73

Across 1 “___ of Steel” 4 City of southern Honshu 9 Branches of study 14 Absorb, as gravy, with “up” 15 Twangy-sounding 16 Change form 17 Deny, deny, deny 19 “Not that I’m ___ of” 20 Pitch 21 Make lean 23 “... ___ the cows come home” 24 “Terrible” time for tots 26 Solitude-preferring sort 28 Band instrument 31 Lecherous fellow 32 Dodgers’ org.

33 Time of decision 35 Gabbed away 39 Give a heads-up 41 Embarrass 44 After-bath garment 45 Slow-moving mollusk 47 Disposition 49 “In what way?”

50 De ___ (from the start) 53 Short ___ (Lucia Berlin’s forte) 55 “Girls ___!” (adult entertainment franchise since 1997) 59 Pique 60 Apply frosting to 61 AM-FM carrier 63 Lawn care tool 66 “Falstaff” composer 68 Drained of all energy 70 Gutter sites 71 Jungian feminine principle 72 Astronaut Jemison 73 Move furtively 74 Barely make it 75 Alpine road shape

Down 1 Abbr. in job titles

2 Joni Mitchell’s “___ Sides Now” 3 Athlete’s support garment

4 Club to drive with

5 Carpenter’s cutter 6 “It’s ___ state of affairs!”

7 Superman’s name on Krypton 8 Strongly behind

9 Unpaid performer 10 Handle the oars

11 Versifying muse 12 National Poetry Month

13 Wardrobe feature 18 “___ as good a time as any”

22 Twelve months in Madrid 25 The ___ Shop (Main Street eatery) 27 ___ and tear

28 Autobahn autos 29 English Professor ___ Michael Parker

30 Collar, as a crook 34 Thanksgiving vegetable

36 Baseball pitcher’s coup 37 Reed in a pit

38 They’re spread in 17-, 26-, 55-, and 68-Across and 4- and 48-Down

40 Lowest card in Pinochle 42 Letters of distress 43 Red ___ 46 Insurer’s delight 48 “You’ve ___ too much for me already!”

51 By means of 52 Tote that’s seen better days 54 Harass persistently 55 Donates 56 Atlantic or Pacific 57 Gumption 58 Moon of Saturn 62 “Put a lid ___!”

64 Time stretches named for folks 65 Seeded loaves 67 Narcs’ grp.

69 Diplomat’s res.

ANSWERS TO PREVIOUS CROSSWORD: LATEMONTH FEAST

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Description/Location

11/13/24, 13:09 hrs

Traffic Offenses: Handicapped Parking Knox, Closed/Clear

11/16/24, 00:45 hrs

Alcohol Offenses: Consume by Person Under 21; Injury to Property Offenses: Injury to Real Property Patterson Ct., Further Investigation Larceny Offenses: Misdemeanor Larceny Little, Further Investigation

11/18/24, 12:23 hrs

Crime Log Time Reported

SGA Updates

Charters and Bylaws: Met with Director of Student Rights & Responsibilities Mak Tompkins about Media Board and its connection to the Code of Responsibility. Also met with Director of Alvarez College Union and Student Activities Emily Eisenstadt to plan the rechartering process and discuss the implementation of Media Board in the spring.

Food and Housing: Partnered with the Davidson International Association to advocate for expanded dining options for students over Thanksgiving Break.

Please refer to an email sent out this week by the SGA for more information on options for students on campus during this period.

Accessibility and Student Affairs: Discussed ways to better prioritize seats on shuttles for the more popular timeslots. Discussed the need for more funding for shuttles in the future.

Community Committee: Meeting with Assistant Dean of Students Angela Harris to discuss how SGA can help with promotional videos for CARE Referrals/ CARE Team and check in about collaborative events between Dean Harris and interested Mental Health and Wellness student organizations.

Other Updates: Vice President for Finance Antoinette McCorvey will visit the SGA on Tuesday, 12/3 to present on recent tuition increases. The Senate and those in attendance will have the chance to ask questions.

The

Yowl

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Irreverent student journalism since 2004. Castigat Ridendo Mores. yowl.com/itsalmostbreak!

November 20, 2024

inside

How to Fake HavToo Loud 250: Commonsgiving, Midnight Breakfast: ing a Thesis so Why Do You The Only Times Your Friends Think See These People Literally People Actually En- You Don’t Just Sit joy Commons Around All Day Everywhere?

Page Go Away Page Same Food Page No Way You Have That Much Work

Why Tuition Must Be Increased

W

hile students are complaining about the yearly increase in the cost of tuition, it’s important to give credit to the administration for making the tough decision. The costs incurred by the College have recently gone up by quite a bit, and we need to consider where all of this money is going. As a result, here’s a list of the things this new money will be going to, which I’m sure you will agree is well worth the increased cost.

Campus Police suddenly need to fund a campus-wide search party to find and remove any possible hidden cameras. This will require lots of overtime work and bringing in hidden camera experts (the criminal kind, not the fun “Impractical Jokers” kind). Your money will be going to help rid Davidson of a problem that avoided detection for nearly two decades. This round of funding can also serve as a preemptive collection of money to pay for an eventual settlement of anybody found on said hidden cameras.

Increased staffing for the Fundraising Department is essential, as we need more #AllinforDavidson and ‘Cats Say Thanks emails. The one-day delay between a tuition raise and a fundraising request was way too long, and they need additional staffing to ensure these emails follow each other within a matter of hours.

The ATC needs to be able to give out even more money to student clubs you have never heard of or considered. You truly do not want to know the obscene amount of money we give to organizations that don’t seem to do anything. We couldn’t possibly consolidate any of the four mental health-themed clubs or provide those resources to trained therapists instead of college sophomores. What will happen if Casual and Competitive Gaming Club is not able to buy free Domino’s Pizza for their E-Board meeting of six people every week? They can barely survive on their paltry tens of thousands of dollars. We need more funding for crucial clubs.

We also need more money to replace those expensive goofy-looking glowing balls that Union Board got offended about losing. Davidson must place comical and easy to steal objects in major areas frequented by drunk students. Perhaps Union Board can put up giant neon signs outside of Nummit while everyone drinks pitchers of beer with this funding.

Davidson still needs help paying off the literal millions of dollars we spent on rebranding the logo. Good thing we’re paying outside consultants incredible amounts of money to change our brand instead of asking any internal art students. I’m so relieved we were able to change our logo away from anything distinctive and recognizable and instead now have one that looks like a knockoff Washington D.C. hat or a misshapen leopard. Thank god we’ve distanced ourselves from the look of the most recognizable Davidson moments in the national consciousness. I would have hated if we had saved money and just kept the branding look from the most successful basketball run in school history under the student leadership our most famous alum!

Who You’ll See at Thanksgiving

The Tuition Raise Issue

Doug Hicks Still Believes Semis Offer ExpeFull Tuition to be Worth it rience of Talking Even After Being Visited to the Same Exact

by Ghosts of Christmas People With SlightPast, Present, and Future ly Nicer Clothes Page Costs 12,276 Hours at Page In-Group Minimum Wage Per Year

Administration Not Sure if Now is the Best Time for Tuition Increase

Editors’ Note: Yikes! Between the time this was submitted for publication and the day of publishing, tuition was in fact raised for next year. Perhaps you should directly blame this article for it. As we had already selected it for publication, we will run it in its entirety anyways.

S

tudents of Davidson College have watched the leaves turn from green to yellow and trees start to come up bare over the past few weeks of fall. It’s the time of year many liberal arts students find familiar: the Grand Tuition Increase.

Whether a few percentage points for supposedly meaningful change or $5,000 extra to Commons (which didn’t end up doing much), the dreaded notification has been surprisingly absent thus far. “It’s nowhere to be found this year,” Ben Dover ‘26 said.

“It’s sort of a tradition of sorts, and I think people are just a little anxious on why it hasn’t come around yet.”

Y

Your Mom, Several Glasses of Wine in

Your Cool Uncle

The

Your Dog That Your Parents Love More Than You

Your Great-Great-Grandmother (It’s Been Her Last Thanksgiving Since 2008)

Yowl

WRITERS Hugh Jass (Again) Editor That Understands Canva Editor That Doesn’t

People You’ve Literally Never Seen Before

You From Middle School

Your Cousin, Who Was Your Gay Awakening

Many students expressed to The Yowl that they are worried Doug might remember to send the dreaded email if they asked too many questions about its absence. Thankfully, The Yowl, as curious as the rest of you, decided to contact the Man for answers, as we are afforded a sort of “jesters’ privilege” inaccessible to the average person. Doug Hicks invited us to his house to discuss the matter, where he shifted anxiously in his chair while he described the issue. “There’s just a lot of things happening on campus currently,” he noted feverishly. “I’ve had to send a lot of bad emails recently. I just think it might be inappropriate, and a little too awkward to bring up right now.”

We’re thankful Doug believes the matter “a little too awkward to bring up right now,” just like politics at Thanksgiving or asking what you and your situationship really are.

We can only hope that the situation on campus remains a bit awkward so that we may avoid a few extra thousand dollars leaving the trust fund every year.

Local Stores to Offer Discounts

ou remember when you were a kid and you could bring in your report card to your local ice cream shop and if you got all A’s, they would give you a free scoop or some extra sprinkles? Well, The Yowl has done some extreme networking and has convinced local businesses to offer rewards to students if they prove their academic worth on some level. Here are what the businesses are offering, and what you need to do to get a discount: Ben & Jerry’s - Free chocolate-covered cone for students who are lactose intolerant.

However, they do not offer any dairy-free cones.

CVS - For students really going through it this semester, CVS is helping out with mental breakdowns by giving students who randomly start crying out of nowhere a 25% discount on hair dye and black nail polish.

Your Weird Uncle

Ugly Sweater Party Turns Out to Just be Davidson College Merch Party Page Rebrand

Cook Out - Free milkshake, any flavor, for those who have taken any upper-level math or computer science course. Trust us, you need this.

Kindred - Kindred will offer a 16 oz. NY Strip steak with pommes puree and sauce bordelaise, originally priced at $75, to any student for free if they “embody the Kindred spirit” (i.e. you’re a legacy student). They will even throw in a milkbread donut for free if your family goes back multiple generations of Davidson students! Just don’t ask your great-grandfather how he feels about the current demographics of the school.

Total Wine & More - If you’re a member of any PCC organization, you can get an entire pallet of room temperature Keystone delivered to your front door at bulk rate pricing!

Summit - Students who dress head to toe in Carhartt but have never touched a wrench in their life receive a free drink! That drink, however, must have at least three different adjectives before the name of the drink and you must let employees blindfold you in order to choose an arbitrary alternative milk to go with it.

Kung Fu Tea - Students who have studied abroad and experienced the mystical “Other” realm that is outside the United States (only to return with this permanent sense of yearning) will receive a boba tea on the house!

Harris Teeter - While Harris Teeter already offers a 10% discount to students during the school year, they’re spreading their generosity even further by expanding the discount to 10.05% during finals week. They know this small difference will go a long way toward making food more affordable for students.

Sabor Latin Street Grill - Spanish students can receive a free extra taco if they prove they have attended all of their AT sessions this semester. ATs can receive a free BYOB burrito if they prove they haven’t canceled any AT sessions.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Overheard in First Libs

“They still haven’t sent out the Health Bingo for a Lifetime Credit. I don’t think I can graduate now. I still haven’t done either, and I was banking on a Sandy email for that.”

- A Seemingly Desperate Senior

“I have raw, underdeveloped, aggressive and unusual feelings toward this man.”

We have not yet determined if this means they are enemies, friends, dating, talking about dealing with a male professor, or just listing every adjective they know.

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

Hence, nothing in it should be taken as truth.