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Governor of California Gavin Newsom makes an appearance in Davidson.
Davidsonian
For a Better Davidson.
October 23, 2024
Abby True ‘25 discusses how a flip phone has altered her day-to-day life.
Ben Peake ‘25 gives a sneak peak into basketball season.
The Yowl unpacks the Great Davidson Debate.
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The Great Davidson Debate Makes Grand Return to Campus
HALLE CARNS ‘28
STAFF WRITER
CLAIRE KELLY ‘25 (SHE/HER)
CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
On a crisp, autumnal evening, Davidson community members eagerly gathered between Eumenean and Philanthropic Halls for the renowned Great Davidson Debate. Students mingled amongst each other, consuming snacks and beverages provided by both the Davidson College Democrats and the Davidson College Republicans, before settling into their folded chairs and blankets alike.
This historic event occurs once every four years during the United States presidential election season, but it was unable to occur in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, however, it was revived once again on Friday, October 18th.
The Davidson College Democrats and the Davidson College Republicans debated on four topics: the economy, immigration, reproductive health, and Senate Bill 49 (better known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill). Center for Political Engagement President Sophia Ludt ‘25 moderated the debate with a handheld microphone amidst the crowd.
The debaters aimed to represent their party’s viewpoints and inform the community on their platforms. They also wanted to address the concerns of undecided individuals. “We’re at a point where, for the greater good of our society, we need to find the lesser evil. I wanted to help guide people who felt torn in the way I did towards making that decision [on who to vote for],” Judah Silverman ‘27, who spoke on behalf of the Democrats regarding immigration, said.
Silverman explained after the debate that he was originally uncertain about both candidates, but felt he could show undecided voters that they are not alone in their apprehensiveness. “I hope that I reached the voters who were stuck in the middle, because that was me over the summer. I was deeply frustrated with the Biden administration and Donald Trump [...] so I looked really hard for another option, but I couldn’t really find one that felt viable. [...] So I [hope] I was able to reach people as somebody who [initially] came from a more independent [perspective].”
Montgomery Krakovitz ‘25, who spoke on behalf of the Republicans regarding Senate Bill 49, wanted to ensure that a conservative voice was heard within the Davidson community. “My main goal was to show other conservative students or conservative-leaning students that they’re not the only ones on campus,” Krakovitz said.
The pressure to conform with the typically leftist political ideas that are common at a small liberal arts college like Davidson had adverse effects on the debate, and some, like Krakovitz, believe that conservative views are often underrepresented. “We [Republicans] knew that we were going into a hostile environment where the crowd was going to be against us,” Krakovitz said.
Davidson College Republicans President Stephen Walker ‘26 echoed this statement. “You can disagree with these people, [...] even if they have a crowd there supporting them like it’s an away game. For us, even in that sort of environment, you can still stand up for what you believe in.”
Political bias could be seen at various points throughout the debate, including when Brianna Pennington ‘27 took the stage to open for the Democrats on reproductive rights. After her main claim, she was received with a booming round of applause, whereas Alexa Cohen ‘27 received much less audible support for her portion on the Republican side.
While the crowd possessed a left lean, audience members were still able to have productive and stimulating conversations. In between rebuttals, student facilitators from the Deliberate Citizenship Initiative (DCI) moderated mini-deliberations among the audience during the discussion periods. “The conversations that I heard around me were very insightful [and] encouraging, and it wasn’t just nitpicky, hateful commentary. People were actually trying to think through the arguments and think through what was going on,” Alana Atnip ‘27 said.
Some students expressed displeasure with the break in the action that the mini-deliberations provided. “The breaks felt unnecessary and forced, which took time away from the speakers, the main draw of the debate. There was ample time after to discuss,” Paul Skok ‘25 said. “I wish they had used that time for extra topics.”
The critiques didn’t end there. “I wish each question that was asked could [have been] answered by both sides,” Mike Hodgson ‘25 stated. Hodgson posed a question on immigration to Republican representative Ian Anderson ‘26, inquiring, “What do you say to me, an international student who loves this country, and has paid taxes on every job and internship I’ve had and wants to stay? How are Republicans encouraging and increasing legal immigration to benefit the United States?”
Anderson responded with a personal anecdote about his time living in Dubai for three years, and even acknowledged that “Donald Trump admittedly might not be the answer to the [country’s] immigration problem.”
After the debate, Anderson confessed that while he could have added a more substan-
tive response, such as Donald Trump’s plan to give green cards to all international students, he wanted to empathize with members of the audience to transcend the question. “I wanted to provide a unique perspective [that] a lot of people that go to this college as Americans have not had,” he stated. “A lot of people have not had the opportunity to live in another country, and it’s allowed me to realize things that many people have not appreciated or discovered about their identity and about the country.”
Aidan Dimitriou ‘25 posed a question to Silverman, also on immigration, inquiring as to “what Kamala Harris would do about illegal immigration rather than legal immigration.” Silverman, who responded by setting the scene of a migrant escaping danger in their home country to listeners, concluded that “the problem is that we need to make legal immigration accessible, rather than make it all illegal [and] make America inaccessible,” he stated.
In a two hour debate, not all topics that are often covered during this election cycle were touched on. Walker gave some insight as to how the groups chose what to debate on. “It’s hard to get to the bottom of so many topics in so little time and there were a ton of [topics] like foreign policy that [...] people really want to hear about,” he admitted. “But we just had to settle on some things [...] because the real goal of this was getting people to engage politically, and having the DCI there to get people to really reflect that back and forth with each other [...] was an important way to do that.”
In the following days, the organizers of the event felt satisfied with the results overall. “I
think something that really struck me is [that] people were really receptive to a lot of the information that we were giving,” Davidson College Democrats President Kailliou Macon-Goudeau ‘25 added afterwards. Walker too echoed this statement. “Obviously, a lot of work went into preparing, and I think you just saw a lot of really hard-working people getting to engage with each other. And although it was brief, I hope people enjoyed that,” he stated.
Debaters on the Republican side, such as Krakovitz, are also optimistic for the political participation of those in attendance. “It’s good that there will hopefully be some students who heard what we had to say from the conservative perspective who now feel less isolated in their views than they did before,” Krakovitz said.
This debate signified not only a historical moment in time for the country as a whole, but also a unification among a close-knit campus in a contentious time. “This is definitely good for our campus culture [...] I feel like as Davidson students, we can all look past [different opinions] and [accept] that we all have differing views,” Student Government Association Senator Chidindu Ohaegbulam ‘28 said. Despite the judgment that can come with expressing opinions, they contribute toward the continued growth of the Davidson College community. “Be willing to let yourself be uncomfortable. [Search] for that discomfort, because you will grow more than ever,” Silverman asserted.
Conversation with President Hicks Highlights Administrative Priorities, Student Concerns
LUNA NOGUCHI
‘25 (SHE/HER)
STAFF WRITER
On Monday, October 14th, the Student Government Association (SGA) held a conversation with President Doug Hicks ‘90 in the Lilly Family Gallery. The discussion gave students the opportunity to share their thoughts with President Hicks about various topics, including upcoming library renovations and community-based inconsistencies.
SGA Senator and Chair of the Food & Housing Committee Abigail Przynosch ‘27 reflected on her expectations for the event. “I was really hoping for students to come in and feel comfortable to ask any questions they might have for the administration, and allow for increased transparency between the administration and President Hicks and the student body.”
SGA President Connor Hines ‘26 and Vice President Maya Rajeh ‘27 facilitated the discussion. They began with pre-
prepared questions, followed by an open floor discussion among students in attendance.
“As your Student Government Association, our role is to represent the voices of students, and we also want to provide these forums for direct feedback,” Hines said as an introduction to the event.
Hines gathered topics and interests from SGA senators to prepare a set of ten questions before the event. Before answering these, President Hicks reflected on his love for his alma mater and reiterated his commitment to having studentoriented conversations.
“It’s an honor and a privilege for me to be president of my own alma mater, and I remember sitting where you’re sitting talking to President [John] Kuykendall in this room [...] I’m so energized and happy to be here,” President Hicks said. The first question challenged President Hicks on initiatives to protect the integrity of the Honor Code—an issue at the forefront of students’ minds given the recent influx of
violations on campus. “How has the honor system changed since your time at Davidson, and how can we play a more active role in promoting academic integrity?” Hines asked.
President Hicks acknowledged the broad social challenge of upholding an honor code in recent years. To this point, he called on students to reflect on their own relationship to the Honor Code. Students, President Hicks suggested, could not have a functioning honor code if they themselves didn’t believe in it.
“For an honor code to work, you need responsibility and trust across the entire campus,” President Hicks stated. As the event progressed, President Hicks was pressed on topics ranging from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives to ways to combat economic disparity within the college community. On supporting first-generation college students, Hicks reiterated the salience of programs giving
It has been eight years since the Davidson community has gathered to watch the Great Davidson Debate. Photo by Clyde Dwyer’25.
Students Express Concerns About Campus Life
first-generation students access to resources for academic and professional development. He highlighted programs like Research in Science Experience, which gives students from underrepresented or first-generation backgrounds opportunities to conduct STEM research over the summer.
“I know we can do better,” President Hicks admitted. “I want to hear from you and learn from you, but there’s been an incredible number and quality of programs that are out there to help students succeed.”
Another question probed President Hicks on how he plans to improve the affordability of tuition.
President Hicks, who pays full tuition for his son at California Institute of Technology, understands this plight from many students. “Why is it so expensive,” Hicks questioned, before explaining further. “Two thirds of your money that comes to the college are for people: for [...] faculty and for staff.”
He reiterated that while Davidson does not have extravagant amenities on campus like other institutions, the education here is immeasurable. “Our faculty are first class, [...] our staff are the best at what they do [...] and so that’s where the cost is. The true cost to educate each student at Davidson is higher than the full tuition [...] but it’s more than that, and so the way that the financial aid comes is from generous donors and those donors of the past who left endowments.”
Still, he stressed that the cost of attendance is an issue that the current administration focuses on. “We choose quality over bargain, and then we try to go out and raise money for financial aid. [...] It’s not just what the cost is, but what you get from that cost.”
Students who came to the event took advantage of the opportunity of this open discussion and asked hard-hitting questions, including some that took President Hicks aback. Clara Ottati ‘27, who has had difficulties getting proper medical help at the Student Center for Health and Well-Being, asked President Hicks if he was aware of the disconnect between the students and Health Center workers.
“When it comes to the Health Center, there’s almost [...] no trust there anymore,” Ottati stated. She questioned President Hicks on what the school can do to respond on this front. President Hicks, somewhat shocked, responded, “I was not aware of that.” Ottati’s question stems from a larger student concern surrounding the quality of student health services at Davidson.
Ottati emphasized after the event that this problem had been on her mind for a while, and she saw this conversation as an opportunity to create a larger dialogue around trust on campus. “So many of my friends and people around me have expressed their own frustrations with the health center
and it just makes me super frustrated,” Ottati said. “If he [President Hicks] wasn’t aware that [student problems at the health center] was happening, he just wasn’t aware and that’s not his fault, but I will say I’m super shocked he hasn’t heard anything about it because honestly anyone I ask about the health center almost always has something to complain about,” she added.
By the end of the event, President Hicks emphasized that he is available to students and that he hopes the community will take advantage of this. “I am looking forward to hearing more from you [...] you can also email me [directly via] douglashicks@davidson.edu. If you want the whole team to read it, you can send it to the President’s Office—I’ll see that too, but just email me directly if you want,” he emphasized. Ultimately, Hines believes President Hicks is trying his best to meet students where they are and create the change that so many long to see on campus. “I guess the main takeaway is that he’s a very busy person, but is working really hard to make things better,” he stated. SGA hopes to continue to host events in order to increase transparency between students and the administration. President Hicks has expressed interest in holding the event again, likely in the spring.
“It was inspiring to see respectful and curious discussion taking place, and I hope we can continue to apply these standards when conversing with [the] administration and our peers,” Rajeh added.
Going forward, President Hicks emphasized over email that he will continue to help address students’ needs and ensure their success. “[I hope to gain] a little better understanding of students’ Davidson experience. What is working well and maybe needs to be more easily or more widely available? Is there something we need to fix? I want to know if the experience here is succeeding in connecting students between their learning on campus and the role they see for themselves in the world.”
A Lesson in Hope: How an American Illustrator Paints the Current War in Ukraine
BEN PEAKE ‘25 (HE/HIM) CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
On Tuesday, October 15th, the Dean Rusk International Studies Program and the Pulitzer Center co-hosted award-winning illustrator George Butler and Davidson graduate Dr. Lauren Van Metre ‘84 for a lecture titled: ‘Hope Behind the Headlines – Why Now Is Not the Time To Forget Ukraine.’ John and Ruth McGee Director of the Dean Rusk International Studies Program Dr. Jane Mangan moderated the discussion.
Dr. Van Metre, the director of Peace, Climate, and Democratic Resilience at the National Democratic Institute, a non-profit, non-partisan, and non-governmental organization that works to strengthen and safeguard democracy, provided a macro perspective and detailed policy answers on the Russia-Ukraine War. Butler provided individual, micro examples and anecdotal stories that he experienced during his time in Ukraine, with his illustrations serving as the backdrop for the conversation. His drawings are collected in his new book: Ukraine: Remember Also Me
Early in the lecture, Butler briefly explained his creative process. “I work [...] on a drawing board in a very analog, old-fashioned dip pen and ink, [which] hopefully offers an alternative to some of the news that we absorb on our phones.” His illustrations are done on-site. There is a lot of empty white space in his works, providing a contrast to the drawings and allowing the viewer to focus on the subject matter. Parts of the pen and ink illustrations are often painted over with watercolor, giving Butler’s work a beautiful pop.
Later in the lecture, Butler went more in depth detailing his process and sentiments toward his human subjects. “[It’s very] personal. It’s deliberately slow. I get a chance to sit opposite somebody, and whilst I’m drawing, we have a conversation about what’s been going on.” When he’s doing a portrait of someone, Butler expressed that he gets nervous over whether they’ll like it or if they’ll be offended. “But [...] I feel real responsibility, especially when they start talking about their stories, to do [what I do]. [...] Drawing allows for a kind of intimacy that I think you don’t always get on the front pages.” Butler’s perspective incorporates bits and pieces of Ukraine’s civil society, but Dr. Van Metre balances his more individualistic angle by looking at the overall structure, something not overtly evident in Butler’s work. In response to a question about what stood out to her regarding Ukraine’s response to full Russian invasion, Dr. Van Metre said, “Ukraine civil society is an amazing phenomenon [...] I call it surge capacity.
George Butler documents life in Ukraine through his illustrations. Photo from georgebutler.org.
It’s very movement-based. So what happens is [if] they see an issue in society that needs to be fixed, [...] they will quickly pivot and mobilize and resolve the issue.”
Dr. Van Metre is consistently impressed with Ukraine’s societal response and the role civilians play in it. “Ukrainian civil society is no longer doing democracy rights work. It’s no longer doing rule of law work [...] [Civilians] are now delivering medical supplies. They are taking care of veterans. They are building drones,” Dr. Van Metre exclaimed. Unfortunately, despite a motivated citizenry, Ukrainian families are still being torn apart. “Some people are allowed to leave, some people have to stay,” Butler explained. “Men [that are of] fighting age have to stay, unless they’ve got three children under eighteen [or have] a medical condition. So in one sense, you’ve got an immediate divide.”
Other complications arise too. With large swaths of the
Ukrainian population living apart from each other, often in different countries, Butler recounted that a woman told him that many of her friends were getting divorced because their husbands were away at war and they were simply living different lives.
“And so [this woman] made this remarkable decision to return to where [her husband was living] so that they could be together, even at the risk of them both not making it, just so that their marriage would survive.”
The nature of Butler’s work opens him up to these types of emotional conversations, and his personal stories brought a degree of humanization to a war that is so often devoid of it. What hasn’t been lost is a sense of hope among the Ukrainian people. “[Hope] is carried in them, and it was passed on to me [through their] stories,” Butler reflected. “Hope [is the] whole reason for living at all.”
President Doug Hicks ‘90 facilitated a conversation with the Student Government Association to learn from students’ experiences and concerns. Photo by Claire Kelly ‘25.
3 Politics
Gavin Newsom Rallies Davidson Community Amidst a Tumultuous Election
SOPHIA SCHUR ‘27 (SHE/HER) STAFF WRITER
Governor of California Gavin Newsom’s visit to Davidson drew a bustling and diverse crowd of students and community members to King Canary Brewery Co. on Wednesday, October 16th, the first day of early voting in North Carolina.
Governor Newsom has led a long career in politics, starting out as the mayor of San Francisco from 2004-2011 before moving on to serve as California’s lieutenant governor from 2011-2019. Since then, he has served as governor of California, making national headlines as a leader in clean energy, same-sex marriage, marijuana legalization, and criminal justice reform.
As Governor Newsom strolled into the brewery, he beamed an optimistic smile as he shook locals’ hands, eager to stand before the people of Davidson and excite constituents about the upcoming presidential and local elections. While small town Davidson, North Carolina may initially seem like an odd pit stop for a hotshot politician, this was a tactical choice. As Kaillou Macon-Goudeau ‘25, President of the Davidson College Democrats, explained, “[North Carolina is] one of the top swing states in the country right now. And so, people [are] trying to pull Gavin Newsom [...] to places where he could be useful.”
Indeed, Governor Newsom could be useful here. Mecklenburg County is a swing county, and in 2020, a little over 72% of its registered voters cast their ballots, according to data acquired by Amazon News. Swing states like North Carolina have immense power in swaying an election, and their power starts at the county level, so politicians like Governor Newsom could have influence in uniting voters.
Governor Newsom was not the only Democratic candidate to make an appearance on Wednesday. Kate Barr, a Democratic Senate candidate for District 37 who attended Newsom’s talk, is running with a rather unorthodox tagline: “Kate Barr Can’t Win.” A longtime Democrat, Barr’s platform pushes back against North Carolina’s gerrymandered districts. Though she knows that as a Democrat she cannot win, she hopes that voters will use their ballots to protest this system. “I believe that we all deserve a representative democracy, and our gerrymandered maps don’t give us that,” Barr stated.
Democratic candidate for North Carolina House District 98 and Davidson alumna Beth Helfrich ‘03 was also in atten-
dance. Helfrich is running on a platform that prioritizes public education and expanding access to healthcare, childcare, and reproductive care. She spoke before Governor Newsom emerged.
“This has been the journey of a lifetime [running for North Carolina House District 98] as a first-time candidate. The reason I knew that I could do it is because of this place and the people who live here, who have shaped me, supported me, and been behind me my entire life,” Helfrich professed in her speech.
Finally, Governor Newsom, sporting slicked-back silver hair and a navy blue suit, took the stand. He began by emphasizing the importance of this election specifically. At fifty-seven years old, he recalled the illuminating experience of watching civil rights, women’s rights, and LGBTQIA+ rights prosper throughout his lifetime. However, he expressed concern over a worrisome political trend he has watched take hold over recent years: a rights regression. Specifically, he spoke about the changes he finds dangerous in recent legislature, such as the censorship of Rosa Parks’s race in Florida’s history books.
Davidson Democrats
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“We saw this rights regression. We saw this cultural purge that’s taking place all across the United States of America” Governor Newsom said. “We’re censoring historical facts. We’re rewriting history, quite literally rewriting the history books in some states in this country.”
Despite all his fears about a rights regression, Governor Newsom’s speech was ultimately invigorating, and cast a hopeful eye toward the future. He underscored the value of civic engagement, telling listeners, “What a privilege it is to be here at this incredible, profound, and precious moment in American history.”
These inspiring words contributed to a passionate buzz throughout the crowd. Many audience members clamored for the blue and white signs that were present. Some were labeled ‘Youth for Harris,’ others ‘Women for Harris,’ and others ‘Small Business Owners for Harris.’ Many came with their own merchandise, sporting t-shirts, hats, and pins advertising their endorsement of the Harris-Walz campaign as well as the Beth Helfrich campaign.
Among this group stood Davidson student Jake McGraw ‘25 and his mother Jackie McGraw. Jake McGraw emphasized that “bodily autonomy and queer rights” are ballot issues that resonate with him when voting. His mother shared the same sentiment. “I want to feed off the excitement of Gavin Newsom. Watching him on TV, [...] I’m so ready to vote, and I’m gonna vote today,” she added.
Toward the back of the crowd, Davidson resident Jo Cloniger and her dog Obi listened intently to what Governor Newsom had to say. Cloniger, who has lived in Davidson for thirty years, emphasized how this election has brought a lot of excitement. “Everybody’s enthused, I think on both sides, and I’m happy for that. You know, we’re all exercising our right to vote,” she stated.
Like the McGraws, she too believes there are prevalent issues on the ballot this November, such as women’s reproductive rights and education. “The disparity we have going on in the states [is important], and looking out for public schools. I was a public school teacher and a principal, so that’s a biggie.”
To any still ambivalent about voting, Governor Newsom offered a final rallying cry: “You matter. You don’t even understand how important you are. I mean, this is the voice you have, the ability for you to turn this country around and allow us to continue to transform [it], to expand liberties, to expand freedoms.”
Davidson Republicans
These claims are part of a twenty-three-page document we’ve compiled about the debate, which includes a number of misleading and exaggerated claims. We can provide an accurate list of sources for each claim, and the entire document, upon request. If you are curious to learn more, please contact Claire Kelly (clkelly@davidson.edu) or Ben Peake (bepeake@davidson.edu).
Economy (Aidan Marks ‘27)—
Claim: “The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act continues to rebuild our nation’s crumbling infrastructure. The Inflation Reduction Act has spurred nearly $500 billion worth of investment into clean energy and technology. The Chips and Science Act will allocate $52 billion to reshoring and revitalizing domestic manufacturing. Furthermore, Kamala Harris’s opportunity economy will supplement these long-term investments with fast-acting policies that support working class Americans and lower the cost of living across the board.”
Fact Check: The claim that Harris’s plan will supplement long-term investments with fast-acting policies is generally in line with her stated goals, therefore this statement is mostly accurate. It correctly describes major economic legislation passed during the BidenHarris administration and accurately represents key aspects of Harris’s proposed economic policies. However, the specific outcomes and effectiveness of these policies may still be subject to debate and ongoing economic analysis.
Claim: “There is no evidence the residual price inflation that we’re seeing today was caused by anything the federal government has done. Experts say that grocery price inflation is due to labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, global drought, avian flu, and industry consolidation, which allows corporations to charge more simply because they can. Despite this, inflation is at the lowest rate since February of 2021.”
Fact Check: The claim that there is no evidence of government actions causing residual price inflation is not entirely accurate.
Research shows that federal spending played a significant role in the 2022 inflation spike. A study by MIT Sloan found that 42% of inflation in 2022 could be attributed to government spending, which was two to three times more important than any other factor.
Immigration (Judah Silverman ‘27)—
Claim: “Trump’s preferred policy of indefinitely closing our border and committing mass deportations, which [...] is expected to cost us taxpayers over a trillion dollars, is not a solution, but a convenient way to run from this problem.”
Fact Check: The claim that mass deportations would cost “over a trillion dollars” is exaggerated. A 2015 study by the American Action Forum estimated the cost of deporting all undocumented immigrants to be between $400 billion and $600 billion. The average cost of detaining, processing, and deporting a single undocumented immigrant was about $10,900 in 2016, with additional transportation costs of around $1,978 per deportee. This would likely reach billions, not trillions, of dollars over time.
Immigration (Ian Anderson ‘26)—
Claim: “The border wall, by the most critical estimates, would have only cost us $40 billion to build. [...] Kamala Harris then turned around and spent $451 billion on a failed immigration system that has done nothing but further open our borders and add risk to the public safety.”
Fact Check: This statement is misleading. A 2020 report from U.S. Customs and Border Protection put the average cost at $20 million per mile, which would total around $40 billion for 2,000 miles. However, this does not include long-term maintenance costs which could increase the total expense over time. As Vice President, Harris does not have direct control over federal spending. The Biden administration has requested increased funding for border security and immigration processing, but it has not been nearly $451 billion.
Claim: “In almost every country outside the US, you don’t have [the] freedom to speak your mind.”
Fact Check: This statement is exaggerated. While freedom of speech protections do vary significantly around the world, many countries outside the United States do provide substantial protections for freedom of expression, though often with some limitations. A Pew Research Center survey found that the majority of people in 38 nations polled consider free speech, free press, and internet freedom to be important.
Abortion (Alexa Cohen ‘27)—
Claim: “Trump has made it clear that he supports access to contraception and IVF [in vitro fertilization], and he has no interest in restricting those options. To those of you concerned about restrictive reproductive rights, let me assure you, Donald Trump is not interested in taking away your freedoms. His
focus is on ensuring that states, rather than the federal government, have the power to decide on abortion laws, allowing each community to reflect the values and beliefs of its people.”
Fact Check: While Trump has made some statements supporting access to contraception and IVF, his overall record and recent statements on reproductive rights are inconsistent. Trump has given mixed signals on contraception access. In May 2024, he said he was open to supporting regulations on contraception, but later claimed his comments were misinterpreted. He has not released a clear policy statement on contraception, despite suggesting he would do so. Trump’s positions have shifted significantly over time, from describing himself as “very pro-choice” before his presidency to supporting various restrictions during and after his term.
Claim: “One of their [the Democratic Party’s] primary tactics is invoking the phantom menace of Project 2025, a 900-page document that critics are quick to condemn but few have actually read. Let me be perfectly clear, Donald Trump has no connection to Project 2025, and he has publicly distanced himself from it.”
Fact Check: While it’s true that Donald Trump has publicly distanced himself from Project 2025, claiming he has “no connection” to it is miseleading. CNN found nearly 240 people with ties to both Project 2025 and Trump, covering almost every aspect of his time in politics and the White House. Six of Trump’s former Cabinet secretaries helped write or collaborated on the 900-page playbook. Four individuals Trump nominated as ambassadors were involved and several enforcers of Trump’s immigration policies contributed to the project.
Governor of California Gavin Newsom and Sophia Schur ‘27, pictured at gathering in Davidson. Photo by Savannah Soraghan ‘27.
Editors’ Note: Now a few days removed from the October 18th debate, The Davidsonian feels it is important to check the facts. Below are some of the most questionable claims made by both sides during the debate, followed by
fact check.
Perspectives
It’s concerning how much time I spend on my smartphone. My screen time is at an average of about five hours per day. Five hours of my precious and fleeting days on this Earth, at this college, are spent on X or stalking high school classmates on Instagram. Five hours that I could have been asleep, or reading a book, or finishing a paper early. To deal with my pent-up angst, I bought a flip phone this summer, hoping to disconnect. This week, I spent a day with my smartphone turned off. If friends and family wanted to reach me, they needed to try my second number. At midnight on October 16th, while doing homework in the library, I shut everything off and turned on the flip phone.
I fully immersed myself. I went so far as to create a new profile on my MacBook, which meant no texting or social media. Immediately, I noticed an itching desire to open my smartphone, to scroll through something. But not being able to scratch that itch meant it started to fade. As the day went on, I found myself feeling like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I was getting things done, paying better attention in class, and feeling fully present in conversations. It began to feel like living in a bygone age.
We’re living in the future, walking around with computers in our pockets. Per the Pew Research Center, 90% of Americans owned a smartphone in 2023. In 2011, this number was just 35%. It’s standard practice to use a smartphone for emails, texts, tweets, games, the news, social media, and so on. Thanks to “Find My,” I can always tell if my roommates are home and which of my friends are in class. In fewer than fifteen years, it’s become normal to have access to a world of information
right at your fingertips. Any question, any lingering curiosity, can be answered by pressing a few buttons. As artificial intelligence becomes more capable and accessible, it, too, solves problems we didn’t know we had. Your smartphone can write an essay, do your readings, make you a grocery list, and tell you how to make your dinner. And hitting the generate button will only cost the planet two liters of water, according to The Sunday Times As technology advances, consumers spend more and more time on their smartphones. According to a study done by Reviews.org, Americans spend an average of four hours and twenty-five minutes on their phone every day, equating to sixty-seven days per year. Beyond this, according to the Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, cognitive ability may be negatively impacted by the mere presence of a smartphone. It’s not surprising, then, that some people might want a break. These days, it’s becoming more popular among The New York Times writers, TikTokers, and regular people to make the switch to what many are calling “dumb phones.”
This switch is true even on Davidson’s campus. I spoke to flip phone user Georgia Fairbanks ‘27, who said she bought hers because she “did not want to be on my phone as much because in high school, we weren’t allowed to have iPhones. And so coming to college, I was really aware of how much I was using my phone, and this felt like a good alternative to having my iPhone on me all the time.”
Georgia’s flip phone is the sturdy yet reliable Nokia 2780. “I like that it’s really difficult to use. Typing is hard, [and] it takes me probably five minutes to input anyone’s contact in my phone. But that’s awesome. It discourages use, which is great,” she said. But she doesn’t think she’ll be able to ditch the smartphone quite yet, emphasizing that “usually when I do homework, I have to take [my iPhone] with
What I Did for Fall Break
Over fall break, I went up to Western North Carolina to help with the cleanup in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Christine Tabor, our music department assistant, went to Burnsville with her church group and I went with Professor [Bill] Lawing to New Dale, a small community near Burnsville. These areas were among the most devastated.
On the way up 40 W, we noticed that the road was full of trucks: military, commercial, and private. All of them were packed with supplies, water bottles, gravel (for rebuilding roads), and bales of straw and hay for farm animals that survived (but with flooded fields).
The most heart-warming moment on this part of the journey was noticing the logos and names of organizations and companies that came from out of town in order to help. We noticed a search and rescue truck from Missouri and many others representing churches from all over.
Shortly after passing through Hickory, North Carolina, one couldn’t help but notice the downed trees of all sizes, some snapped off and others clearly pulled out of the ground with roots still intact. A few trees had been sawed and moved to the side of the four-lane highway we were on so supply and rescue could continue on through toward Burnsville and New Dale. Once we got close to our destination, we were redirected by road-closure signs, some manned by policemen who ordered us to use alternate routes. The route chosen for us was winding up a steep mountain, unpaved, and full of silt from being flooded with rivers and creeks that ordinarily would have only come up to mid-calf. This twisty road was one of few routes to get up and down the mountain, so it had two lanes. The silt that was stirred up created thick fogs of dust, which hampered visibility even in broad daylight. There were many white-knuckle mo-
me so I can use Duo Push.”
Owning a smartphone means constant access to group chats, school accounts, and regular communication with friends and family. It’s difficult to distance from technology without distancing from everything. Still, Georgia enjoys the freedom her Nokia gives her. “I just feel so much more free with my flip phone than with an iPhone. I hate getting texts. I get really mad about getting texts because someone buzzing at me is so insistent, and my flip phone [is] quiet, it’s easy,” she added.
Professors too are grappling with a shifting culture as a result of rapidly advancing technology. Professor of Religious Studies Dr. Doug Ottati doesn’t allow technology in his classes because he wants students to engage with the physical text. “I think that the level of attention in class is sometimes hurt, particularly in a larger class, if you have all the computers open, because people can be looking at anything. But even if they’re looking at something that has to do with the course, they’re not looking at what’s going on in the room,” he said. According to Dr. Ottati, the most significant change over the course of his tenure has been “the ability to read text with care and to write with precision.”
Still, he enjoys the everyday pleasures of the smartphone from time to time. “They are really wonderful devices. There are so many things you can do. But I think it’s possible to have them on too much, in part because they’re so [distracting],” he said. Dr. Ottati thinks it’s about finding a balance.
During my experiment, I did start to feel separate from chains of communication. My roommates were making decisions in our group chat without me. When I had to drive to dinner twenty minutes away, my printed directions failed to account for fifteen minutes of traffic. My friends had to open my smartphone to click my Duo Push. Still, I finished the day
ments looking down at deep gorges while big vehicles were coming down toward us. All the while, I was aghast at the damage done by Hurricane Helene.
Finally reaching Burnsville and New Dale, it was again heart-warming to see the countless utility trucks filled with workers. No doubt that most volunteered their time, laboring to replace gigantic electric posts and transformers, and disposing of broken wires and cables covering the roads. Houses along the Toe River, which stretches through Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties, were swept away. Not even the foundation was left standing. Parked cars and semi-trucks were tossed about, broken beyond repair. There were stories of many lives lost in gruesome and tragic ways, which I will not describe here.
Since Burnsville and New Dale are still without water and power, the only constant (and welcome) sound was the chainsaw. The awesome and terrifying power of nature was evident, as trees that were three to four stories high–-with roots bigger than a cabin–-had been torn clean from the soil, crushing whatever unfortunate objects got in the way.
Through the constant rerouting, we noticed many homemade signs left on the roads, highlighting areas for distribution, including water, clothing, and cooked food. Hot meals were essential, since most people had neither power nor water. Many churches that were left intact in the area also offered hot meals with posted hours.
Throughout this trip, I was shown the power of neighbors helping neighbors, not only from within communities, but across state lines. The strength we have and the utmost compassion we can foster for our fellow brothers and sisters is the true American spirit, and it is what makes our country a leader on the global stage. This is what the warmongers of the world must learn: the love and compassion we have for one another!
feeling lighter and, as Georgia put it, free. My mind wasn’t occupied with what was happening in a group chat or who was tweeting what. Exhausted by manual texting, I was talking to friends on the phone instead. I was walking into Nummit without knowing who was there. Mystery had returned to my life.
My smartphone has made me worse. It’s made me less intelligent, less present, and more miserable. I imagine it’s doing the same to plenty of others. I’m going to start taking a few days off every week. I think everyone should. Even if you don’t have a “dumb phone,” try leaving your smartphone in your room for a few hours. Go to class, walk around campus. It’s amazing how little the world changes, and how much you do.
Abby True is a French & Francophone Studies and American Studies double major from Camp Hill, PA and can be reached for comment at abtrue@davidson.edu.
Dear students, I hope you will find relevance in your education here at Davidson. Go above and beyond just getting good grades that lead to great graduate schools that then lead to profitable careers. Think about how you can make your lives matter through your contributions toward and love for your fellow human families (animals and plants included) and our fragile little Earth!
Cynthia Lawing is an Assistant Professor of the Practice in Music from Davidson, NC and can be reached for comment at cylawing@davidson.edu.
ABBY TRUE ‘25 (SHE/HER)
CYNTHIA LAWING, PROFESSOR (SHE/HER)
Sports
All Eyes on A-10 Championships for Davidson Cross Country
COLIN DECKER ‘27 (HE/HIM) SPORTS WRITER
On Saturday, October 19th, the Davidson cross country teams were off and running, with the men competing at the Upstate Invite in Spartanburg and the women at the Panorama Falls Invitational in Virginia. The men’s team took fifth place and the women’s seventh; the meets were each team’s last regular season event before the Atlantic 10 Championships on November 2nd, which will be in Mechanicsville, Virginia.
Ahead of the Upstate Invite, senior men’s runner Grahm Breiter ‘25 reflected on the season to this point. “A lot of the guys came in very prepared, which was big for us to have everyone really hammer home their summer training and keep a good mileage up. We’ve dealt with some [illnesses] and injuries, and the guys are persevering well through that, too, and hopefully [they’re] just looking [forward to] the final
couple races,” Breiter said. With the end of the cross country season fast approaching, Breiter reflected on what it means to be nearing his final cross country meet at Davidson. “I try not to think about it. I go into each race a little bit naive about what the race means, and focus on getting to the finish line and executing my plan. I’ve raced all four years here at Davidson, and [I’m] very thankful for my health to [have been] able to do that; I know a lot of my teammates have struggled with [injuries]. So I do really feel like this is my team. I want to go out and have a good couple of last races and really enjoy it and appreciate it,” Breiter stated.
Yet, there are still a few hills left to climb. Men’s Head Coach Andrew Allden summarized the season from a coach’s perspective. “We were first in our first meet, third in our second meet. We did quite well at East Carolina University’s meet: we were eight out of eighteen teams. We beat two conference teams and had a lot of PRs [personal records] there, but we’re still missing a few [runners],” Coach Allden said. Despite those missing runners, Coach Allden is optimistic that they will have almost everyone from the team’s “top line” back and running by the A-10 Championships.
On the women’s side of things, Head Coach Jen Straub shares that optimism about her team’s performance so far. “We are exactly where I predicted we would be at this point in the season, in terms of how our training has been going and how we have competed [as] of late. So I feel that based on where we were last year, we are ahead,” Coach Straub stated.
Coach Straub is most excited about her team’s “synergy” and “connectivity.” “We are acting as a team consistently, in practice and when we compete, and that’s something that’s been really fun to cultivate throughout the season,” Coach Straub said with a proud smile.
That excitement has trickled down to her team. First-year runner Clara Schad ‘28 says that the team has a collective
“positive mindset” and is “getting a little bit more ambitious.” In an interview, Schad recalled her decision to come to Davidson and how it has been paying off. “One of the reasons I chose Davidson is because I felt it was high energy and everyone was happy, excited, and pretty bubbly. I’ve been proven right, especially [through] running; you get to be pretty close with the people you’re doing your runs with, and everyone is really encouraging and everyone really likes each other. Coach Straub is a very high energy and encouraging person, so she facilitates that atmosphere,” she emphasized.
Schad is looking forward to testing herself in her first collegiate postseason. “I’m excited. I’ve heard it’s a hard course, but [...] I like a good challenge,” Schad said of the upcoming A-10 Championships venue.
With the meet in Mechanicsville a few weeks away, Coach Allden is relying on his experience to get his athletes through the finish line. For Coach Allden, the most important thing at this point in the season is “building confidence in [the runners] and building confidence in the training system that we use.”
As the sick and injured athletes return for the men’s team, he is hopeful that his team will “peak” at the A-10 Championships.
In Coach Straub’s thirty-three years of coaching experience, she has learned that this point in the season is a crucial time for the team, and the most important thing they can do is to “trust in their training and block out the surrounding noise. I’ve just learned that we need to focus on what we’re doing as a team. We can’t get really caught up in what the other teams are doing from a distance because we can only control ourselves. [If we] continue to do what we’re doing to the best of our ability, [then] whatever happens at the A-10 Championships will be the direct result of that.”
Davidson Basketball Coaches Preview Season at Press Conferences
PEAKE ‘25 (HE/HIM) CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Basketball season is here! On October 15th, the Davidson athletic department hosted their annual basketball media luncheon inside Game Changers Field House. Outside media and select members of the Davidson community were invited to the introductory press conferences of both women’s basketball Head Coach Gayle Fulks and men’s basketball Head Coach Matt McKillop ‘06. Players from both teams were also in attendance, purposefully spread throughout the audience so they could field questions from and converse with attendees.
Following a brief lunch and introductory remarks, Coach Fulks took to the podium. After their 2023-2024 season was derailed and subsequently canceled by injuries, Coach Fulks and her squad are out to prove themselves this year. “When you have to go through hard things, you get better, you get tougher,” Coach Fulks reflected. “What I was really proud of about last year’s team is that no one was pointing the finger anywhere. [...] We’re gonna get through this together. And I think it made everyone excited to play. I think there’s an ‘unfinished business’ mantra, [especially for the seniors].”
It seems like the larger basketball world is eager for the return of the women’s team too. This season, Davidson will have five nationally-televised conference games. Out of every non-Power Four team, only Creighton has more. “We’ve got more than UConn [University of Connecticut],” Coach Fulks exclaimed. “People want to watch this team [...] this is a team, a program, a brand that is gaining national traction.”
A lot of the team’s confidence can be attributed to the high level of player retention, for which Coach Fulks credits Davidson College’s infrastructure and academic excellence.
She was also quick to mention that her squad was in the top twenty-five nationally for team GPA: “we’re getting it done on and off the court.”
The talent on the Davidson women’s basketball team won’t surprise anyone this year, and they’ve been projected to finish fourth in the Atlantic 10. With a difficult nonconference slate that includes teams like Florida Gulf Coast, who have played in nine of the last ten NCAA tournaments, Virginia Tech, and NC State, they’ve built a schedule that makes an at-large bid to March Madness possible. In her opening remarks, Coach Fulks stated that she is leading one of the most cohesive units in the entire country. Her hope, aside from winning, is that students and the local community can be there for the ride. “We’ve got to continue to promote [these] games. We’ve got to get out into the clubs on campus, [in the] community. [...] we’ve got to continue to engage as much as we can. And we’re hoping that with success and with fun, the students [will] follow.”
After Coach Fulks answered some questions, it was Coach McKillop’s turn. Once at the podium, he was quick to praise Coach Fulks and lament the fact that he can’t have star guard Issy Morgan ‘25 on his team, eliciting laughter from the crowd. Coach McKillop then broke down what his team had been up to. “We attacked the offseason in the spring, we had a very productive summer, and [we’ve been] very excited and optimistic of where we’ve been so far with our practices,” Coach McKillop detailed.
For men’s basketball, last season was defined by missed opportunities. Coach McKillop explained that the team had “fifteen games that were decided by five points or less or [went to] overtime, and [we] lost eleven of them.” He also bemoaned the loss of David Skogman ‘24, Davidson’s leading scorer and three-point shooter, to an injury last season. In his
absence, however, they grew to be a very good defensive team. “We had our best defensive numbers that we’ve had since [...] Steph Curry [‘10] was here, and so much of that was due to Reed Bailey [‘26], Sean Logan [‘26] and their defensive versatility.”
Throughout Coach McKillop’s remarks, physicality and other synonyms were mentioned multiple times. “We have a lot of visitors come and observe our practices, and [one of] the most common things we hear them say after being in our gym is that our team is incredibly physical.” Men’s basketball has worked through a lot of different lineups in the lead up to the regular season, including a jumbo lineup with Bailey guarding wings and perimeter players. “We have the skill, the versatility, and the toughness that will allow us to have a lot of these different [lineup] options,” Coach McKillop shared. While the defense is coming together nicely, Davidson will have to improve offensively in order to make real strides in the A-10. Last season, Davidson shot a dismal 31.4% from three, good for 302nd out of 351 teams in Division I. Coach McKillop has attempted to address this issue with his transfer and freshman classes, although he made it clear that overall team shooting has improved.
Men’s basketball is projected to finish twelfth in the Atlantic 10 based on the preseason poll, but Coach McKillop isn’t deterred. “Everybody feels great on October 15th, we are undefeated right now, [and] our coaches and players are very, very excited and encouraged at the direction that they’re heading in.”
Men’s basketball opens their season at home against William Peace University on November 4th, while the women take on Florida Gulf Coast University at home the following night.
Grahm Breiter ’25 striding to a personal best. Photo by Tim Cowie.
Arts and Entertainment
Philippe Giraudo’s Art Taught to Davidson Community
JUDAH SILVERMAN ‘27
STAFF WRITER
On Tuesday, October 15th, students and professors from the Davidson College French and Francophone Studies and Arab Studies Departments came together at Studio Elie. Just a ten minute bike ride from Davidson’s campus, Studio Elie is run by Elie Bou Zeidan, a local Lebanese artist. One can find Zeidan in the studio teaching community members how to make rich oil and acrylic paintings or making his own art, which he describes as “a mix [of]” Realistic and Impressionist art.
That Tuesday evening also included a unique collaboration: the Davidson Arts Across the Curriculum Enrichment Fund (DACE) sponsored an event to bring French Artist Philippe Giraudo’s work to Studio Elie and have students produce works inspired by Giraudo’s pieces.
Based in the beautiful region of Provence in Southern France, Giraudo’s work depicts the relationship between humanity and the natural resources of this area, self-describing himself as Post-Impressionist. However, his work goes beyond the canvas, as he makes “small little inventions here and there, as well
OTTATI ‘27
Are college students too old to be putting on talent shows? With its annual HART fundraiser, Warner Hall Eating House answers this question with a decisive “NO!” On Tuesday, October 15th, the outside of Nummit transformed into a cordoned off stage, complete with twinkling lights and an audience packed onto picnic tables and blankets despite the cold weather. There was a $7 entrance fee, the proceeds of which benefitted RAIN Carolina and Mwandi Mission Hospital.
Annalee Stuardi-Drumm ‘27, one of three Warner Hall service chairs, explained the significance of HART. “We put it on in order to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS, which is Warner’s service focus,” she said. “HART itself stands for ‘HIV AIDS Relief Talent Show.’”
Despite the laid-back nature of the event, Hart required months of planning in order to be successful. Stuardi-Drumm mentioned that the key to their success was Madeline O’Leary ‘27. “We could not have done any of the planning without [her] help, she was the chair for the [HART Planning Committee].
as tables and objects in the house. I built my home with my own two hands and [the] help of my sons.”
Chair and Professor of Arab Studies Dr. Rebecca Joubin spearheaded the event, making it possible for Giraudo’s work to come to Studio Elie. “[I] visited Philippe Giraudo’s studio in France during the summer of 2023 when I was in transit and was very impressed by all the original artwork capturing the beauty of Provence,” she explained when recounting her first meeting with Giraudo.
Impressed with Giraudo’s work and his deep humility, she connected with Giraudo’s son to organize a workshop. Dr. Joubin envisioned this workshop as something that could nurture the cultural understandings of aspiring Francophone and Arabic speakers.
Dr. Joubin saw potential in the cross-cultural exchanges by exposing the community of Davidson to Giraudo’s work through Zeidan. On the eve of the workshop, students and professors from the French and Francophone Studies and Arab Studies Departments came together to engage with Giraudo’s art under Zeidan’s guidance. Later in the week, students from an after-school French Club also got to create with Zeidan thanks to the coordination efforts of Dr. Joubin and Studio Elie.
For many students, the event broadened their perspectives in a constructive manner. “I think events like these push people out of their comfort zones - not only academically but also in an extracurricular sense. It’s easy to ignore aspects of learning that are typically associated with art when you’re a college student focused on good grades in generally objective classes,” Kiera Sanders ‘28, a student taking Elementary Arabic I, described. For Giraudo and Zeidan, the workshop accomplished their goals of exploring new perspectives. “I hope students [...] learn to open their eyes, work very hard, [and] use their art to make themselves [...] [and] others happy,” Giraudo stated. “The human connection is very important in art.”
Zeidan finds beauty in how he and Giraudo have similar lifestyles and work and yet produce very different art. He found a sense of accomplishment in the workshop’s success, and he hopes for “all the world to be inspired by art, whether [it be] from the USA or wherever.”
The workshop culminated in an exhibition hosted at Studio Elie on the evening of Friday the 18th. Zeidan’s, Giraudo’s, and students’ art were all put on display. For students, it was a
special moment. Elie Jerjees ‘28 had his work displayed and was amazed after “seeing my art being exhibited alongside professional artists.”
The constructive and enriching environment produced by this workshop fostered an attractive place to create. “Although I
have never painted before, I was treated like I was an artist within the community,” Jerjees explained.
This workshop connected artists, cultures, and students across schools, languages, departments, and oceans. The works produced at this event stand as a testament to the power cross-cultural collaboration holds.
Judah Silverman ‘27 is a History major and Middle East Studies minor from Tucson, AZ and can be reached for comment at jusilverman@davidson.edu.
Students Shine at HART Fundraiser
The service chairs reached out to her all the way back in August to get the ball rolling in terms of what HART is and where we wanted to have HART, just getting the logistics ironed out.”
O’Leary herself felt that the event was a success. “I personally had a really good time [...] A lot of the Warner seniors came up to me and said they had a really good time. And we also raised a lot of money, which counts as making it the most successful, in my opinion,” she said.
As for the venue, the HART Planning Committee wanted to shake things up after holding the event in the 900 Room the year before.
“We decided to do it at Nummit; we collaborated with Brigid [McCarthy ‘25] at Nummit, who is [...] in charge of events and outreach at Nummit for this year,” Stuardi-Drumm explained.
Despite chilly temperatures, the committee’s gamble paid off. “It was a super successful event. We had a huge turnout, over $2000 [was raised], [we] sold all of our t-shirts, and sold over two hundred tickets.”
O’Leary was in charge of reaching out to students who might have been interested in performing. One of them was Jayson Rivera ‘27, known for being part of the band Fool’s Errand on campus. “I performed an acoustic set with some friends from my band and some friends outside of [it]. Madeline reached out to us, [and] at first she was looking to get Fool’s Errand to play, but the tech and the vibe didn’t really work for a show like that,” he explained.
“The atmosphere was different from what our band usually brings, it was more low-key but still super fun.” Rivera truly felt that everyone was there because they really cared about the event and “what it was rallying around.”
Rivera’s wasn’t the only musical group to perform for the large crowd. Both The Nuances and Davidson Delilahs, two separate a cappella groups on campus, performed short sets. William Lowance ‘27, a member of The Nuances, enjoyed getting to take part in the event. “It was the first time we officially performed as a group this year with new members and everything, so it was a really cool and
new experience [...] everyone in the crowd was super supportive and into it [...] I didn’t know anything about HART before, but it ended up being a great time,” he commented. Their group sang two songs: ‘Wings’ by Birdie and ‘Castle on the Hill’ by Ed Sheeran, both of which were received with excited applause from the audience. Later on in the event, the Delilahs had the crowd singing along to ‘Set Fire to the Rain’ by Adele and ‘Good Luck Babe!’ by Chappell Roan.
In addition to singing, students showed off other talents throughout the night. Oops! Improv Comedy performed a mime sketch that ended with five of the members getting pied in the face. Gianna Crawford ‘25 and Mike Hodgson ‘25 had a surprise performance that consisted of an elaborate dance complete with costumes. At one point, Crawford was even flipped upside down.
One standout performance was an Irish dance duet performed by Brendan Amann ‘27 and Phoebe Olszowka ‘25. Halfway through, each of them donned a pair of sunglasses and switched the music from classical Irish dance to ‘Timber’ by Pitbull.
Amann explained what led to the performance. “I recently started [dancing] at a new school [...] in Cornelius, so that helped me get the courage to do it on stage. And Madeleine asked me if I wanted to do HART and that there would be another dancer, [who] ended
up being Phoebe.” He added that HART was “a lot of fun [...] It was raining a little bit so Phoebe and I were kind of worried about slipping, but everyone there was so supportive.” When asked if he’d be willing to perform an Irish dance again for the Davidson community, Amann merely responded with a raised eyebrow.
The final act was a performance by members of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity to ‘Pretty Boy Swag’ by Soulja Boy. Halfway through, the music was paused so that they could ask if any girls in the audience wanted to take part in the performance. Some audience members embraced the possibility of an up close and personal dance from the fraternity brothers. The dance moves were family-friendly, but the performers ensured that each participant received special attention.
The night closed with a final thank you from those who organized the event. In addition to raising money for a good cause, the occasion was also a fun (and sometimes silly) way for Davidson students to show off their talents. And if you missed it, don’t worry! HART will be back next year, with hopefully even more Irish dancing.
Clara Ottati ‘27 is an English major from Chicago, IL and can be reached for comment at clottati@davidson.edu.
Students at the workshop. Photo by Judah Silverman ‘27.
Students at the workshop. Photo by Judah Silverman ‘27.
Band performing at HART. Photo by Annalee Stuardi-Drumm ‘27.
The crowd at HART. Photo by Madeline O’Leary ‘27.
Living Davidson
Crossword Breakfast Food
Crosswords by Victor Fleming ‘73
ANSWERS TO PREVIOUS CROSSWORD: AFTER 69-ACROSS
Crime Log
Time Reported Description/Location
10/19/24, 01:00 hrs
10/19/24, 02:08 hrs
Alcohol Offenses: Consume by Person Under 21 Richardson, Further Investigation
Alcohol Offenses: Consume by Person Under 21 Duke, Further Investigation
SGA Updates
Executive Updates:
SGA President Connor Hines and SGA Vice President Maya Rajeh presented to the Board of Trustees last week. Hines and Rajeh provided updates from the student body to the Campus Life and Student Experience Committee, and Hines presented at the October 18th plenary session.
Food and Housing:
The group met with Dean McQuillan-Krepps, the interim director of residence life, and discussed housing concerns and the possibility of expanding community access hours. Discussed a waste audit event with a student from the Sustainability Office.
Accessibility and Student Affairs:
The committee began planning Thanksgiving break airport shuttles for students, with more information to come. Discussed the possibility of connecting with the Davidson Disability Alliance about a sign-making event. Exploring ways to generate more student input, will collaborate with the Campus Outreach Committee.
Community Committee:
The committee reached out to PCC with Code of Responsibility updates. Met with Dean Harris to follow up on last Tuesday’s presentation to the SGA.
Other Updates:
The SGA wants to hear from students about their thoughts regarding on-campus resources for mental health. If you would be interested in taking part in one of these conversations, email sga@davidson.edu.
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Undervalued Student Abroad Shares Plea for Recognition
As a current student abroad, I am appalled by the lack of credit I am receiving for my daring choice to leave for an entire semester. After all, only a select few students at Davidson make the difficult decision to go abroad in the fall of their junior year.
Not only are my Instagram stories getting fewer than twelve likes each, but my peers at Davidson actively leave comments such as, “Wow, that is gorgeous” and “It looks incredible there.” Instead, I implore those at Davidson to understand the courage it takes to use my iPhone camera to capture a cityscape in such an effortless manner. A simple “You are so brave” would suffice when scrolling through images of pristine beaches and colorful sunsets.
My classmates back in North Carolina also make an active effort to flaunt their presence at Davidson, which is offensive to every student that has chosen to go abroad. Having fun on campus mocks the grueling work and self-growth I am being forced to do in an unfamiliar place. Navigating my pass/fail classes while also learning to use public transportation to get to the club
LWhen Band Backs into Car Before Show at KPub It’s an Accident but When I Do It, It’s a DUI??? Page Double Standard
is an exhausting routine that you could not begin to understand.
The inconsiderate actions of those still at Davidson are not only affecting me. My roommate, another Davidson student, burst into tears yesterday after being sent a thoughtless Snapchat picture of the corner of a Sprite can from a classmate back home. “It just doesn’t taste the same here,” she bawled as we boarded our plane to yet another country for the weekend.
I would also encourage those at Davidson to consider that some of us are being forced to scrape by with a weekly budget of only $350 USD to spend on beer (yes, we have to convert another thing you are privileged enough to not think about)! At Davidson, warm Keystones are free.
So please, be conscientious of what you are sending to students abroad. And if you want to go the extra mile, take a moment to brighten our day by asking, “How are you?” in a way that implies what we have been up to is a lot cooler. Some perspective would really benefit most of you, and we are happy to share.
Choose Your Own Adventure to KPub
et’s start with the backstory. You’re a member of every single student band on campus because everyone wants to be in a band until they realize they actually need someone who can play an instrument and commit several hours to learning the most basic dad music, so they have to split you between every group. But you’ve been so busy practicing that you completely forgot to tell your friend that the event was happening. Finally, you get the chance to see your friend, so you:
A) Tell them all the details they need to know about the event, including the time, location, shuttles being offered, theme, and forms of monetary payment the bar accepts. Go to Paragraph 1.
B) Tell them to just walk to KPub, it’ll be fine and they’ll figure out everything eventually. Go to Paragraph 2.
[1] Unfortunately for your friend, your brain is so jumbled from the horrors of being an academic weapon combined with the racket of your student band that you forget to mention any remotely helpful information to them. Go to Paragraph 2.
[2] Role-reversal: now you’re the friend. You start making your way to KPub by walking on the railroad tracks to avoid getting mowed down on the highway. It’s pitch-black and with your flashlight you can only see a few feet in front you. There are cotton stalks taking over the railroad tracks and you can hear rustling in the brush all around you. You:
A) Think to yourself that you’re literally in a horror movie and turn back around before you get murdered. Go to Paragraph 3.
B) Eh, it’s Davidson. Even though you’re on a scary railroad track leading to a dark abyss, you’ll probably be fine. The red eyes following you in bushes are probably just those of an overfed raccoon who’s too big to fit himself in the storm drain. Go to Paragraph 4.
WRITERS Gyatt Rustic Kitchen
[3] You try to turn around only to have a trio of angry skunks magically appear behind you. Already ashamed of your lack of showering from your degrading mental health, you know you cannot get further in the dumps by smelling like skunk. You run for what feels like miles on end until they finally stop chasing you. Go to Paragraph 4.
[4] You’ve been repeatedly checking your GPS, which somehow still says you’re the exact same distance away from KPub than when you started. Though your spirits may be low, you finally see a traffic light and the glow of a singular building through the treeline. All you have left to do is cross the highway. You:
A) Carefully step through the patch of cotton stalks and other miscellaneous plants, avoiding getting struck by thorns and stepping into holes. When you finally get to the edge of the road, you calmly look both ways and cross the street like a normal person. Go to Paragraph 5.
B) You’ve been walking for miles and now have a small forest in front of you and you’re fucking over it. You plow through the thorny and pokey bushes and when you finally get to the road, you tuck and run across the street to avoid getting hit by a car. As you walk across the gravel parking lot, a random townie stares at you, completely baffled as to how this random child just ran across the road and into a bar. Go to Paragraph 5.
[5] Congratulations, you have finally made it to KPub! Now stand there in a crowd full of sweaty people you only somewhat like, just like you would at any other campus party, except here you have to pay for your beer.
Unsatisfied with the choose your own adventure story? Jokes on you, this was a metaphor for the lack of free will. Maybe think critically next time.
QUOTE OF THE
WEEK
The Midterm Issue
Susty Coop Band Outdoes Impact of Susty Coop the Building in a Single Night Page #ReviveSusty
School Announces Plan to Increase the Size of the Silent 500 by 7% Next Year Page Mo’ Money
Halloween Horror: Lab Rats in Knit Hats Haunting the Dorms?
In a chilling twist just in time for Spooky Season, Davidson’s biology lab rats—those poor souls subjected to various scientific horrors—have officially graduated from science experiments to dorm room companions. But here’s the kicker: some of these rats now sport mandatory knit hats... to keep their dissected brains from, well, spilling out. Yes, you read that right. As if it wasn’t Halloween-y enough having drugged-up rats roaming the halls of your residence, they’re now accessorizing in cozy, handcrafted beanies from Share-A-Square. According to biology students, these tiny woolen accessories with frog, mushroom, and every other Turner-themed pattern are essential to keep the “surgical alterations” intact. Because nothing says “cuddly pet” like a rodent fresh from dissection, right?
However, the Residence Life Office (RLO) seems blissfully unaware of this rat race. Sources confirmed that when complaints first trickled in about students taking home their drug-addled, brain-exposed pets for some late-night bonding, RLO chalked it up to yet another The Yowl joke.
“We figured it was just some weird satire
about overworked pre-meds that didn’t really make sense,” one RLO staffer remarked, nervously adjusting their glasses. But it’s not. Oh no, Davidson—this is very real. And what better time for this creepy campus critter takeover than the lead-up to Halloween? Picture it: you’re studying late at night only to spot a rat wearing a tiny hat scurrying under your bed, high out of its mind on experimental stimulants, probably solving math equations you can’t even comprehend.
Yet, despite the growing evidence (ratsized hats popping up on Etsy, anyone?), RLO remains steadfast in its belief that this is all one big practical joke. “Come on now,” said one RLO coordinator. “Surely we would know if drugged, surgically-modified rats were living in dorms. That’s just absurd and weird. Stop interviewing me for this stuff.”
Well Davidson, enjoy your Halloween season with your new... companions. And if you hear scurrying in the walls at night, don’t worry—it’s probably just one of your neighbor’s neuro-enhanced, knitcapped lab rats.
Recapping the 2024 Phi-Eu Hall Debate
The Phi-Eu debate is a time-honored Davidson tradition, only endured once in a student’s tenure. However, if you missed two hours of the most insufferable people on campus trying not to insult each other, fear not! Our diligent reporters faithfully captured the entire experience for your enjoyment.
4:57: Audience takes their seats, simultaneously realizing they should’ve brought a picnic blanket
• 4:58: Republicans confuse Phi-Eu for a frat, show up in pledge-tok attire
• 4:59: Democrats wrap up their satanic abortion ritual in the back room, emerge onto the deck of Philanthropic Hall
• 5:00: Economics portion of the debate begins
• 5:01: Crowd realizes they should’ve showed up later
• 5:10: Econ majors simultaneously furrow brows in confusion
• 5:14: Several people sheepishly google what GDP stands for
• 5:18: Nearby squirrel can’t take it anymore, attacks onlooker
• 5:25: First audience discussion begins, prompting everyone to turn to their friends and reaffirm they all vote for the same party
• 5:35: Immigration portion begins
• 5:38: Republicans realize too late that living in Dubai is not a relatable experience
• 5:48: Republicans write my jokes for me, admit Trump isn’t the answer to immigration
5:56: Mike Hodgson cements his place as everyone’s favorite person on campus
• 6:15: Abortion portion begins
• 6:16: Spectators breathe a collective sigh of relief when they realize two women are debating now
• 6:18: Hearing a pro-life argument while seeing a hat with AR-15s on it serves as a reminder that fact is often stranger than fiction
• 6:24: Every woman in attendance collectively wishes they had a tomato to throw
• 6:37: A very confused Uber Eats driver drops off my Taco Bell
• 6:40: “Don’t Say Gay” bill portion begins
• 6:44: The existential dread of realizing the election is around the corner sets in
• 6:45: You know I’ve heard Canada’s a great place to live
• 6:51: Somewhere out there Socrates is rolling in his grave
• 6:55: Canada isn’t far enough
• 7:00: Entire campus agrees to get drunk and forget this
“Yeah, we shouldn’t make this form a hyperlink, and lets make only five numbering options for a question with six options. Maybe follow that up by including the question as an answer option too!”
- Union Board for some reason
Things I Observed at the Career Fair
- A stack of fifty untouched resumes that you brought get thrown out
- One freshman hired on the spot for the Sheriff’s Office
- Five Evil Corporation merch handouts
- Zero hiring of international students (RIP)
- Three made-up job titles to hide being a spy for the State Department
Note: The Yowl is a satirical supplement to The Davidsonian Hence, nothing in it should be taken as truth.