The Davidsonian 3/26/35

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Davidsonian For a Better Davidson.

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thedavidsonian.news Davidson faculty and students give insight into Trump’s birthright citizenship challenge.

Volume 124, Issue 6

March 26, 2025

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New York City Football Club drafts former Wildcat Nico Cavallo ‘24.

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Annabel Groseclose ‘27 highlights former Syrian prisoners’ musical connections.

DOGE’s next target: Nummit.

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Changes to the Martin Court housing lottery prompt student concerns CLAIRE IRELAND ‘28 (SHE/HER) WEBSITE DESIGNER

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ith this year’s housing lottery underway, significant changes to the process are impacting the student body. In December 2024, Davidson College’s contract with its former housing portal, The Housing Director (THD), expired—opening the door for a new system to be adopted by the Residence Life Office (RLO). This new platform is StarRez, a cloud-based residential community platform with over 1,300 organization users, including Yale University and Coastal Carolina University.

Assistant Director of Housing Operations Ashley Smith is excited about the College’s new contract. “[It] offers a lot of different portals, different resources for our students to use. So even though this is our first year, we do think it’s going to be a great tool for us to use.”

Despite dealing with a new system, similarities will be present, as THD merged with StarRez in 2022. “The company that we are with now, StarRez, they bought out The Housing Director system, so it’s all now in one big corporation,” Associate Director of Residence Life Charlene Kilpatrick explained.

A more pertinent change for Davidson students, however, is the application process for the lottery system. Notably, every student now has to fill out their own application, whereas in prior years students filled out one form as a group. This choice was made by RLO primarily so that students would not have to rely on others to fill out an important application. “What if a student forgot to put your name on the application? [Y]ou’re putting your housing in someone else’s hands,” Smith stressed.

Additionally, the timing of the lottery process has changed. “Instead of us doing it over so many variations of days and weeks, we’re slimming it down to between one to three days,” Kilpatrick said. This platform also

allows for a clearer view of what spaces are actually available during the lottery process. “[The] StarRez system is very interactive for students to be able to see all the open spaces versus how it used to look in our previous system,” she continued.

A more controversial modification to the lottery system among upperclassmen students is the inclusion of Armfield within the general Martin Court apartment housing lottery. In prior years, the Armfield lottery ran separately, as it’s the only building that houses five students per apartment. Now that it has been added to the general lottery, one problem remains: being forced to kick one roommate out in case Armfield apartments are not available.

Maya Vermeer ‘26 underwent the process with her friends last week. “You have to put in all your roommates [to the application] and then put in the person that you will kick out [of] the five-person [group] so that you can live in a four-person suite or apartment instead,” she explained.

Social dynamics are already difficult when choosing roommates, but this added tension can force friends to come to an unsettling conclusion over who should be kicked out, even if the situation never arises. In the case of Vermeer and her roommates, this feature of the application served as a roadblock in their attempt to get an Armfield apartment. “Me and four of my friends were thinking about doing it, and we ended up deciding not to,” Vermeer elaborated. “No matter who we are gonna kick out or if we got it or not, it would always be ‘that one friend was gonna be kicked out of the group,’ and that just felt terrible.”

Stella Davis ‘26 felt similarly to Vermeer.

“Overall, it’s been a lot more stressful than what I’ve heard it’s been in previous years. It’s just because they’ve changed the system, and now there’s a lot more strategy,” she stated.

“We ended up coming to the conclusion that [choosing Armfield] was too risky, because if

Armfield is now included in the Martin Court housing lottery, causing anxieties about the application process for some students. Photo from davidson.edu.

you didn’t get it, that fifth person that you were living with would [...] have to get dropped, and honestly, with the new system, there’s nowhere for that person to go.”

RLO additionally emphasized that there are many aspects that point toward a more contentious housing lottery process. Namely, the pandemic contributed to larger class sizes among the class of 2026. “Our classes have been really large in the last two years [...] it’s only a certain number of apartments on our campus. I wouldn’t say it’s more difficult just because we went to StarRez because any software would never change the occupancy that we have on campus,” Smith said.

This change in the upperclassmen lottery system can be seen as the product of an amalgamation of broader changes caused by

using a new residential platform coupled with new leadership within the RLO office. Dr. LaFarin Meriwether took over as Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life in 2025, ushering in a readiness for change within the office. However, many of these adaptations to the process have been spearheaded by Smith. For instance, Smith took the lead on developing the Wildcat Matching aspect of the housing application: “[she] started a Wildcat matching process where students are able to say ‘Hey, I’m looking for a roommate, and tell me some things about you’,” Kilpatrick said.

With so much change occuring, RLO is eager for feedback from students. “We want this to be a very good process for you all [...] so we are very much open to the feedback,” Kilpatrick concluded.

MarQuita Barker hired as new vice president for student life, dean of students BEN PEAKE ‘25 (HE/HIM) CLAIRE KELLY ‘25 (SHE/HER) CO-EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Around two months after former Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Byron McCrae parted ways with Davidson, the College has announced its new vice president for student life and dean of students. Dr. MarQuita Barker, who currently serves as vice president for student development at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, will join the Davidson community in June of 2025.

Despite having an extensive background in higher education, Barker’s path to Davidson was somewhat unorthodox.

Attending Old Dominion University (ODU) for undergrad, Barker originally wanted to study physical therapy but ended up graduating with a degree in medical technology and communications. She highlighted the perspective this created for her. “I changed my major a few times [and] I tell students that it’s okay to think you want to do one thing and then change your mind.”

Changes in major aside, Barker loved ODU and the people it introduced her to. “What I remember distinctly about my undergraduate experience was all of the out-of-classroom

mentors and support that I had.” A job in the ODU development office and her time as a residence hall advisor and peer educator got her thinking about a future in higher education.

After earning her masters in education from ODU, Barker began working at Elon University, where she eventually got her MBA. Barker believes her MBA afforded her the opportunity to become the well-rounded individual she is today. Still, even with a career path set in place, Barker knew that if she ever wanted to be president or vice president of a college, she would need a doctorate. This led her to Vanderbilt University, where she focused her doctorate research on residential colleges and their impact on students’ sense of belonging. “[My research] examined [...] if students who lived in these communities were retained at a higher rate at the institution, and if they were more satisfied with their experience,” she said. “I’m a lifelong learner, so I really loved being in school.”

Despite taking on a significant role in a new institution, Barker emphasized that she wants to take her time getting acclimated to better understand Davidson students before making any sweeping changes in the fall. “I am looking to look, listen and learn in the first 30 days or so. But what I can tell you is I love Davidson students, and I think what I’m looking forward to

bringing to the institution is a couple of things. [I am] someone who’s a staunch advocate for students. I’m going to always get student opinions, but [I’m] also [...] a strategic-level thinker, and my work with the senior team will also be really important to me,” she stated.

As a first-generation college student, Barker envisions being able to do for Davidson students what others have done for her: help navigate college life. “Not everybody understands the value of a small liberal arts school education, so we definitely need to do our work and explain to people the value of an education at a place like Davidson,” she explained. “A liberal arts education is not going to teach you what to think, but it is going to teach you how to think critically and how to ask good questions.”

She also hopes that students will engage with her rather than approach her solely as an authority figure. “You’ll see me on campus. [...] I’ll be really involved, and my goal is that all students know who I am. I think sometimes the Dean of Students Office can get a bad rap [...] but I don’t really intend to meet with the students who are in ‘trouble.’ [...] I want to meet with students who have questions, who want to make change

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News

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New dean of students aims to bring renewed enthusiasm to campus in June 2025 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

on campus,” she stated.

Barker is not the only person optimistic about her new position. Students and faculty alike are eager to see her impact on campus next fall. “We are thrilled that Dr. MarQuita Barker has agreed to join the Davidson College leadership team. She brings wise judgment and a breadth of experience as a student-affairs professional—including in a vice-presidential role at a liberal arts college.

She is well prepared and energized to help students thrive at Davidson. Dr. Barker’s

leadership style combines a strategic eye for shaping the student experience with a deep commitment to knowing and supporting each individual student,” President Doug Hicks ‘90 stated in an article published by the College.

Natalie Russell ‘25, who was a search committee member for the dean of students position, felt Barker’s enthusiasm early on.

“I am very excited about Dean Barker! She was very passionate about student life and individualized support when we talked with her. I’m eager to see how she takes some of our uniquely-Davidson cultures, such as our Honor Code, and helps them continue

to grow and thrive. Dean Barker brings wonderful experiences to our community and I’m looking forward to her leadership,” she stated.

Union Board president Davis Varnado ‘25 was also part of the search committee and felt similarly about Barker’s personality. “She was very warm, very friendly, very open.

She talked a lot about community and how she wanted to find herself in the Davidson community.” Varnado was especially excited about Barker’s willingness to be involved in all aspects of student life, whether it be attending basketball games with her kids or making appearances at events around

campus.

Outside of her new office in Chambers, students can find Barker staying active, reading a good book or simply spending quality time with her kids. Most importantly, she is eager to carry out her promise to integrate herself into the community. “I read a lot about how to be a better leader every single day. And so what I [want] from the faculty, staff and students at Davidson is for everybody to help me be a better leader.

I want to be someone who can be a role model for students and who can lead my staff effectively, and I can’t do that without the help of the community.”

First long-term Jewish Studies professors discuss their academic year

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STELLA MACKLER ‘26 (SHE/HER) SENIOR EDITORIAL ADVISOR

r. Tova Benjamin and Dr. Yaakov Lipsker arrived at Davidson in the fall of 2024. Benjamin, assistant professor of history and Russian Studies, and Lipsker, assistant professor of practice in humanities and Jewish Studies, are Davidson’s first long-term Jewish Studies hires.

Benjamin studied modern Jewish history, late imperial Russian and early Soviet history while completing her PhD at New York University (NYU). While looking for jobs, she came across an advertisement from Davidson that stood out.

“It is pretty rare to see a job for a Russianist who specializes in Jewish history,” Benjamin said. “I’m not sure I have known about a job that was specifically looking for someone with that designation so I found that really interesting and exciting to get to start a position that was asking for both of my specialties.”

A more broadly trained historian, Lipsker came to Davidson from the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS), where he received a PhD in Modern Jewish History.

“What was special for me about being at JTS was that I was able to study with my advisor, who’s a specialist in East European Jewish history, but also to take courses at places like Columbia and NYU to ground myself in the broader context of my research field,” Lipsker said. “I was very happy with the opportunity to teach Jewish Studies broadly at a place like Davidson, where there’s been a kind of grassroots effort on the part of certain students in recent years to have some sort of Jewish Studies offerings comparable to other schools.”

Benjamin and Lipsker both think a lot about the how and why that underlines their teaching at the College and what it means to be historians in the current moment.

“When you’re working on topics or subjects that are not about the U.S., there’s always this expectation that you’re going to explain why it’s interesting to people,” Benjamin said. “[...] I think it is a really good thing if I think about why this should be interesting to me, or why [people should] care about this. It forces me to think about how the subjects I study are actually attached to much bigger questions.”

In terms of his approach to teaching, Lipsker sees it as a liberatory act.

“History, and Jewish history, for me, [...] helps unshackle people from the concepts and the normative ideas that really constrain many people’s thinking,” Lipsker said.

A long time coming.

Students have been pushing the Davidson administration on and off for years to hire Jewish Studies professors and create the foundation for what could eventually become a Jewish Studies major or minor. Professors in German Studies, Religious Studies and a few other departments have integrated elements of Jewish Studies into their courses in previous years. Visiting professors have come and gone. So have Neo-Nazi students, changing faith requirements for faculty and a diversifying student body. Various departments thought about applying for a tenure track professor specializing in Jewish Studies but could not or did not make the move. Then Russia invaded Ukraine.

“When the full-scale invasion happened, I don’t remember the exact moment when I started to talk to Patricia Tilberg about it, but it was kind of this lightbulb moment, or maybe like a burning bulb that gradually lit up,” Chair & Professor of Russian Studies Dr. Amanda Ewington said.

Ewington, alongside Chair & James B. Duke Professor of History Dr. Patricia Tilburg, created Benjamin’s position, intentionally highlighting the need for expertise in Eastern European Borderlands.

“My former colleague put together this big workshop at Amherst College [...] a year after the full scale invasion, bringing together Russian studies professors from small liberal

Dr. Tova Benjamin and Dr. Yaakov Lipsker are Davidson’s first long-term Jewish Studies hires. Photos from davidson.edu and nypl.org.

arts colleges to talk about ‘What does it mean when we keep talking about decolonizing the curriculum in the context of the war in Ukraine?’ because the people who actually studied the region understood, and do understand, that this is a war of colonialism, this is an imperial war.”

Ewington had also been working for many years to re-establish a tenure track line in Russian Studies.

“There are a lot of different things that needed to be done, and this was bringing it together in a way that felt organic,” Ewington said. “It didn’t feel forced like it felt more like that aha, moment like of course this is what needs to happen. It felt significant curricularly and frankly, just at that moment.”

So she got to work.

“Part of it was doing our homework and being able to show the dean [of faculty] this is a real thing, this is a major way that people are trained in this overlap of Russian imperial history, Ukraine, which was in the job ad, and Jewish history, which was in the job ad,” Ewington said.

And that is exactly how Benjamin was trained.

“I think since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in the field of Russian Studies people have been really rethinking the way they teach Russian history and thinking about the peripheries rather than the center and approaching the empire from its peripheries,” Benjamin said. “Seeing somebody conceptualize a position in Russian history that was being thought of from the peripheries rather than from the center communicated something about how the people here imagined Russian history to be taught. And that was exactly how I had been trained in it too.”

Jewish Studies at a Presbyterian college.

Davidson’s identity as a Presbyterian college remains largely out of mind in the day-to-day lives of many students and faculty. However, it is not quite out of sight. “The Christian Commitment of the Faculty,” a subsection of the College Bylaws, holds that faculty members must “live in harmony with the Statement of Purpose of the College.” Davidson’s Statement of Purpose, following the commonly refrained commitment of preparing students for lives of leadership and service, reads: “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. The loyalty of the college thus extends beyond the Christian community to the whole of humanity and necessarily includes openness to and respect for the world’s various religious traditions. Davidson dedicates itself to the quest

for truth and encourages teachers and students to explore the whole of reality, whether physical or spiritual, with unlimited employment of their intellectual powers. At Davidson, faith and reason work together in mutual respect and benefit toward growth in learning, understanding, and wisdom.”

While today’s statement of purpose promotes inclusivity, that has not always been the case. Davidson did not offer tenure to non-Christian faculty until 1977. When asked about how the College’s affiliation with the Church guides hiring practices today, Dean of Faculty Dr. Shelley Rigger had this to say: “If a job candidate or someone I’ve made an offer to wants to talk about the Statement of Purpose, the way that we talk about it is in terms of what being associated with a particular religious tradition allows us to do. We’re not asking people to hold a truth statement. We’re asking people to be able to be in a community where particular values are upheld. The virtue of the Reformed Tradition, the specific tradition that Davidson is part of, is that it is an open-minded tradition.”

Neither Benjamin nor Lipsker said they felt an influence from the College’s religious affiliation at any point during either of their hiring processes. On the contrary, Benjamin saw what she described as a dedication to academic freedom at Davidson that made it stand out from other institutions.

“There’s a lot of ways where I think the institution is working very hard to try and preserve that commitment to academic freedom and also to preserve faculty autonomy,” Benjamin said. “I think those things are really important if we care about the education that students are getting, and if we care about the university as a place where they get to ask hard questions and hear hard answers.”

Now and into the future.

As Benjamin and Lipsker finish their first year of teaching at Davidson, Ewington highlighted the timing.

“I am grateful that we as a college showed a commitment a long time in the making, an overdue commitment,” Ewington said. “I feel a little corny, but I am so grateful for Dr. Benjamin’s presence and Dr. Lipsker being here right now. It feels like a much overdue fortuitous injection of people who know things.”

Rigger echoed Ewington’s gratitude.

“I feel incredibly lucky that we were able to hire two people who,between them, can really cover a very large span of what students are hoping to learn in the field of Jewish Studies.”

Benjamin and Lipsker have many ideas and plans for their future at Davidson, and appear clear-eyed in their place here.

“I think history can be liberatory, not just for Jews obviously, but for anyone who is trying to have a more nuanced understanding of the Jewish past,” Lipsker said. “I think that is critical at a moment where the president of the United States is invoking Jewishness and Jewish safety or Jewish concerns as a way of boxing in what can and cannot be said, researched, thought about in a context of the university, which is precisely the place where those questions need to be thought about in a measured way. From that perspective, Jewish Studies and Jewish history is more important than ever.”

For a more detailed exploration of the history of Judaism and Jewish Studies at Davidson, visit https://digitalprojects. davidson.edu/jewishidentity/.

Politics

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Birthright citizenship challenge heads to Supreme Court

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MALLORY KAVANAUGH ‘26 (SHE/HER) STAFF WRITER AIDAN MARKS ‘27 (HE/HIM) POLITICS EDITOR

he question of whether individuals born in the United States are automatically guaranteed citizenship has rarely been disputed. Recently, however, the issue has been thrust into the spotlight after the Trump administration signed a day-one executive order to end birthright citizenship after Feb. 19. The issue has now made its way to the Supreme Court, prompting questions about the constitutionality and implications of a possible reversal.

The legal battle began when federal district judges in Washington state, Maryland and Massachusetts issued preliminary injunctions that prevent the government from implementing Trump’s executive order.

Then, on March 13, Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris urged the Supreme Court to partially block those injunctions by limiting them to the individual plaintiffs identified in the three cases. SCOTUSblog reports that Harris argued “the federal government should be able to take ‘internal steps to implement’ the executive order while the litigation continues, even if it cannot enforce it.”

Most legal scholars agree that the arguments against birthright citizenship face a steep challenge in court. Associate Professor of Political Science Dr. Andrew O’Geen believes the constitutionality of birthright citizenship may not be the primary focus of the case. Rather, the Supreme Court may be more interested in the constitutionality of injunctions, or the ability of district judges to temporarily pause the implementation of a policy nationwide.

“I think the underlying question of the validity of [the injunction] process is really the crux of this case and this particular issue. There are justices on the Supreme Court who have expressed some suspicion about whether this is an appropriate thing for federal judges to do,” O’Geen said.

President of the Davidson College Republicans Stephen Walker ‘26 and political science major Mary Molloy Blackstock ‘26 are students in O’Geen’s Civil Liberties course, which covers constitutional amendments in chronological order. “It’s a class that I enjoy teaching quite a bit, in part because it’s relevant to what’s going on in the world,” O’Geen said. “Just read the news and you can see how important a lot of this stuff is.”

The Trump administration is aiming to end birthright citizenship, which is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. Photo from CNN.

The course focuses on the development of civil liberties throughout U.S. history. “We’ve looked at how civil liberties have been conceived of in the past through reading old Supreme Court opinions and then [looked] at their development over time, how they’ve been expanded or limited more as the members of the court change,” Walker said.

Particular emphasis is placed on the 14th Amendment, which concerns citizenship, equal protection and due process.

“The second half of the semester is focused on the 14th Amendment,” O’Geen said. “We actually don’t spend a ton of time on birthright citizenship [...] It was sort of this thing that everyone kind of took for granted.”

Blackstock thinks the Trump administration’s decision to bring the birthright citizenship case before the Supreme Court—even if only to challenge injunctions—is still problematic.

“I think that this attempt to end birthright citizenship is a really blatant abuse of executive orders and executive power, which is very indicative, I think, of his respect for the Constitution and respect for limits on his power, as well as respect for checks and balances. Because the way I view it, it is sort of a challenge, a test of loyalty to the conservative justices, his appointees, on

Lifestyle Q: How do I decide who to ask to be my advisor?

Q: How do I ask a professor to be my advisor?

Dear Reader, This is a big decision, but thankfully we go to Davidson and I can think of very few ways to go wrong with this choice.

Unlike large research universities, Davidson emphasizes close professor-student relationships, which makes finding an advisor a lot easier!

You probably already know a lot of professors in your major personally, so start by considering professors whose classes you’ve enjoyed. Think about who has been engaging, supportive or even inspiring in the classroom. Something to consider is what kind of mentorship you need and want. Do you want an advisor who will provide clear guidance and structure or would you prefer a more hands-off approach?

Some professors are more focused on academic advising, while a lot will want to get to know you personally as well.

If you’re unsure, it could be beneficial to talk to other students in your major who have already declared. They may have valuable advice to give and perspectives on which professors are most supportive.

I’m a psychology and English double major, so I only had to ask someone to be my advisor for my English major. I think it’s important to ask in person! Especially considering we go to Davidson and all professors have office hours! If you don’t know the office hours of the professor you want to ask, shoot them an email to see when they could meet, but I

the Supreme Court,” Blackstock said.

Walker believes the Trump administration’s controversial legal challenges are part of an appeal to Trump’s base. “My impression of the legal challenges is, there was a lot of popular support [...] within his voter base to address some issues that might not be clearly answered by the way some of these laws are written.”

O’Geen sees the administration’s challenge as an example of Trump’s approach to wielding executive power. “[Trump] sees the judiciary in exactly the same way as he sees everything else, which is as part of a larger transaction that he can either win or lose.”

Throughout the semester, O’Geen has tried to emphasize to his students the significance of the Court’s actions. “In the past, presidents have [...] understood that part of their role is to make sure that this system has a certain amount of legitimacy and a certain amount of credibility,” O’Geen said.

“When the president of the United States, who is the most powerful person in the country and most visible person in the country, undermines that credibility, it damages the system.”

think it’s still worth it to go in person.

If you’re feeling especially nervous (which I totally understand), I highly recommend asking them if they are taking advisees before you ask if they’ll be your advisor. That way, if they say no, they aren’t saying no to you (and you can pretend you were just asking because you were interested and not because you wanted them to be your advisor, which is totally believable).

When you meet, be prepared to talk about your academic interests, goals and the kind of advising relationship you’re looking for. You can also ask how they approach advising and what they expect from their advisees.

If they say yes, great! If they’re unable to take you on, don’t take it personally. Instead, ask if they can recommend another professor who might be a good fit. Professors are usually happy to help you find the right mentor.

With the right advisor, you’ll have a valuable academic partner throughout your college experience. And remember, the worst-case scenario is that they say no. In that case, they weren’t the right person for you anyway and you can move on to bigger and better things!

Wishing you the best of luck, Annabel Groseclose ‘27

Looking for advice? We’re all ears!

Scan the QR code above!

Perspectives

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Davidson men’s basketball: Please make me care again

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AIDAN DIGGS ‘26 (HE/HIM)

he spring before I arrived at Davidson, I watched our men’s basketball team suffer a heartbreaking loss at the hands of Michigan State in the first round of the 2022 NCAA tournament. I took this loss with some reserved optimism. I hoped that I would be able to see at least one tournament appearance in my four upcoming years at Davidson. My junior year has now passed and no signs point toward the team achieving a tournament appearance, barring a miracle conference title run. Don’t get me wrong, I’m just as excited as the next guy for the multi-million dollar NIL package that Stephen Curry ‘10 and new program General Manager Austin Buntz will bring in. However, I can’t help but notice the immense apathy among the student body for our men’s basketball team. I understand that our new eightfigure fund will keep the team’s staff around for at least another year. However, the current coaching staff has done very little to show me that they should stick around.

Following Bob McKillop’s retirement in 2022, the team has regressed substantially. Under Bob McKillop, Davidson’s average standing in KenPom, a predictive basketball metric, was 69th out of 364 teams. In the past three years under Matt McKillop, the team sits at 137th after our 146th place finish this year. 146th place in KenPom puts us behind programs like Seattle University, Cal State Northridge, Illinois State, UNC Greensboro and the lowly NC State Wolfpack. This is quite the fall from grace for a program where a top 60 finish was quite common. Since Matt McKillop’s promotion to head coach, the Wildcats have lost thirteen games where they have been leading at halftime. Moreover, the Wildcats are 5-17 in games decided by one possession since the 2022-23 season.

This pattern is a clear example of poor late-game management from the coaching staff. In a time when the Atlantic 10 feels more top heavy, the days of receiving an at-large bid in the Big Dance feel further away than ever. This means Davidson’s only way to get to the NCAA tournament is through winning the A-10 conference, a feat that currently seems far-fetched.

With the dawn of this new era of Davidson basketball, I’m hoping there can be some sort of movement among the student body to care about our team again. It’s disappointing to see a mostly-empty Belk Arena during a Saturday noon tipoff. But frankly, how can you blame the students when there has been very little to look forward to regarding the men’s basketball program? When the performance on the court isn’t what students expect, the majority have no desire to show up. It feels like we’ve lost our way as a program and nobody wants to take accountability.

Students won’t care about the team if they are constantly being let down by poor performances from the squad on top of the poor coaching. I want a reason to care about Davidson basketball, a feeling I am sure many share. Some of my most influential memories are directly related to college basketball. I want Davidson to be a part of those memories. Whether it was being up by 17 against La Salle only to lose by three or losing to Saint Louis on a Robbie Avila buzzer beater, all the team has given me is bad memories. Hearing stories from my friends in the grades above me about their trips to Greenville, South Carolina to watch Davidson play Michigan State in the 2022 tournament gives me a false sense of nostalgia for a time that I wasn’t even around to experience. I can only hope for some sort of positive movement or revitalization surrounding the men’s basketball team that could unite the campus and bring the hype back.

Thanks to the size of the College and our collective priorities, Davidson does close-knit better than any other “big” schools.

We rally together in our classes, communal endeavors, clubs, fraternities, sororities and eating houses. It saddens me that we cannot rally together around our basketball program, the focal point of Davidson athletics. For 40 minutes, our students could file into Section 30, elbow to elbow, voices uniting with alumni spanning generations, all united by a common goal: cheering on a win.

I suppose I should not limit myself to expect growth in the men’s basketball program solely in the four years that I am at Davidson. Perhaps we will turn into a perennial powerhouse

who consistently gets five-star recruits. Or maybe another March Madness run reminiscent of 2008 is in our future. In the current moment, though, none of this seems possible. I truly hope I am proven wrong, and while the new changes coming to the program excite me, they don’t outweigh my disappointment in the team’s current state.

The 2021-2022 Davidson Wildcats cheer on their teammates. Photo from Davidson College.

Aidan Diggs ‘26 is a political science major from Matthews, NC and can be reached for comment at aidiggs@davidson.edu.

Will Davidson live up to its purpose?

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CLYDE DWYER ‘25 (HE/HIM)

avidson College prides itself on fostering an environment where “faith and reason work together,” where students and scholars pursue truth without fear and where the dignity of every individual is upheld.

These principles are enshrined in our Statement of Purpose, oft-cited by President Doug Hicks in campus-wide emails, which emphasizes our commitment to “diversity,” “free inquiry” and “preparing graduates for leadership.” But although these values are referenced in glossy brochures and strategic plans, we must ask ourselves: what do they actually mean in practice—especially when the very idea of higher education is under attack?

What does “leadership” look like in a moment when students are being arrested, detained and deported for engaging in political activism on college campuses?

Across the country, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), under the Trump administration’s direction, has escalated its efforts to suppress political dissent by targeting non-citizen students, particularly those who have spoken out against Israel’s genocide in Gaza. However, it’s important not to confuse the issue: what’s happening at colleges across the country isn’t about antisemitism or trans rights or whatever culture war issue the Trump administration cites for their aggression. It is about the First Amendment and this president’s willingness to use his power to weaken our constitutional protections.

Take Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at Columbia University and a legal permanent resident of the United States. Khalil, a prominent organizer of pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia, was forcibly taken from his pregnant wife in an ICE raid and remains imprisoned in Louisiana without formal charges or due process. The State Department has claimed, without evidence, that Khalil “led activities aligned to Hamas.” In reality, Khalil’s “crime” was participating in peaceful protests on behalf of Palestinian human rights—protests that were publicly organized, legally permitted, and protected by the First Amendment. There has been no conviction, no trial, and no legal basis for Khalil’s continued detention. His case is not only a grave violation of civil liberties but a clear example of how immigration enforcement is being weaponized to stifle political dissent.

Another target of the Trump administration is Momodou Taal, a Cornell graduate student and U.S. dual citizen. Taal is known for his outspoken advocacy for Palestinian freedom and has been involved in campus protests and legal actions defending students’ First Amendment rights. After speaking out, ICE ordered him to appear in court and surrender to their custody. Like Khalil, he hasn’t been charged with a crime. ICE’s actions appear to be purely political retaliation.

These are not isolated incidents. As previously stated, the current administration is weaponizing immigration status to stifle dissent and intimidate students whose speech the Trump administration disagrees with.

The implications of this strategy are deeply chilling. International and undocumented

students—many of whom chose to attend institutions like Davidson because of the College’s professed commitment to moral courage and intellectual freedom—are now made to fear that a protest sign, a social media post or even attending a teach-in could cost them their visa, their degree or their freedom.

The Trump administration’s assault on free speech extends to academic institutions.

Recently, Columbia agreed to a series of concessions in exchange for the potential restoration of $400 million in federal funding.

These concessions include adopting a formal definition of antisemitism, creating a new internal security force with arrest powers and placing the Middle Eastern, South Asian and African Studies Department under “academic receivership.”

It’s hard not to see Columbia’s decision as anything other than a capitulation. As reported in The New York Times, Todd Wolfson, president of the American Association of University Professors, described the move as the “greatest incursion into academic freedom and free speech” since 1950s McCarthyism.

Trump allies and followers are relishing the moment and celebrating the descent into unconstitutional authoritarianism.

“Columbia is folding and the other universities will follow suit,” conservative activist Christopher Rufo told The New York Times. Rufo, a staunch enemy of diversity, equity and inclusion programs, said in the same article, “This is only the beginning.”

Vice President JD Vance, a Yale Law graduate, has gone further, calling universities “the enemy.” The administration has already threatened the University of Pennsylvania

with the loss of $175 million in funding over its support of a transgender athlete on the women’s swim team. It is not just hundreds of millions in funding at stake—it is the autonomy of institutions that have long been incubators of free thought, democratic values and social critique.

The implications for colleges like Davidson are clear. If a powerhouse like Columbia—with a multi-billion dollar endowment, access to some of the nation’s greatest legal minds and a storied history of activism—can be forced into compliance, what are smaller institutions like Davidson meant to do? What safeguards are in place for students and scholars, especially those who are international, undocumented or politically outspoken? Can we live up to our Statement of Purpose, even if it means defying the current government?

Clyde Dwyer is a PPE and East Asian studies double major from Brooklyn, NY and can be reach for comment at cldwyer@ davidson.edu.

Sports

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Star defender Nico Cavallo ’24 kicks off his professional career Former Wildcat joins New York City FC and makes his MLS debut ALEX THOLE ‘28 (HE/HIM) SPORTS WRITER

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en’s Soccer Head Coach Mike Babst was still filling out his first recruiting class in December of 2019. His first season at the helm was a disappointment for the Wildcats, whose campaign ended in the first round of the Atlantic 10 (A-10) tournament, capping off a 4-11-2 record. Babst received a tip from a friend, a Division III soccer coach in Richmond, Virginia, about a youth club team for Babst to scout potential recruits.

The Richmond Strikers usually fall below Davidson’s recruiting radar, but Babst took his friend’s advice. At the showcase, Babst found two defenders he instantly fell in love with: Nico Cavallo ‘24 and Trey Gardiner ‘24. Until then, neither Cavallo nor Gardiner had received a Division I offer, and Cavallo

action, Cavallo substituted into a 0-0 game in the 29th minute. The ‘Cats gave up a goal in the 75th minute, but Babst was extremely pleased with the play of his freshman defender. “He’s approaching 55 minutes,” the athletic trainer informed Babst near the end of the match.

“Well, he looks fine to me,” Babst remarked.

The eventual 0-1 loss was disappointing but represented Cavallo and Davidson’s ability to compete with the best of the best. Days later, Davidson beat Wofford College 3-2 for their first win of the season. Cavallo played all 90 minutes against the Terriers. In the remaining six matches of the season, Cavallo did not come out of a match once.

Cavallo’s sophomore season went similarly to his first. He started all 17 of his appearances and played a pivotal role in Davidson’s 9-72 record, racking up a team high five assists.

A standout season made one thing clear for Cavallo: he could make a career out of soccer.

After his sophomore year, Babst and Cavallo

five of nine in conference. Cavallo was named a captain and led a back line that, for much of the season, was ranked top ten nationally in goals against average and second in the A-10 in total goals allowed. Cavallo even scored his first collegiate goal, coming in a 3-1 win over Furman. By the end of his career at Davidson, Cavallo tallied 58 appearances, 56 starts and 4,744 minutes played, cementing his legacy among the great defenders in Wildcat history.

Throughout the year, Babst and Cavallo worked to find the right fit for the start of Cavallo’s post-Davidson career and, after some searching, a list of three lead candidates surfaced: University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), University of Notre Dame and Georgetown University. Babst felt that those programs in particular would put Cavallo in the best position to showcase his abilities and improve in certain areas, especially as an attacker.

It was no surprise that Cavallo stood out to UCLA Men’s Soccer Head Coach Ryan Jorden, who viewed him as a player with professional potential. “He has a very good athletic skill set and good technical qualities,” Jorden said. “We identified those pretty quickly and felt like he would be a player that could thrive in an environment like UCLA.” Jorden also praised Cavallo’s character. “He’s an incredible human being. He’s everything you’d look for in a guy who has a really positive attitude on a daily basis and comes in looking to learn and grow.” By the summer of 2024, Cavallo was a Bruin.

That fall, Cavallo started all 19 matches for UCLA, playing the full 90 minutes in 15 of those appearances and totalling more minutes

career, the time spent at UCLA paid dividends for Cavallo. “We spent a lot of time working really hard on aspects of his game to try to refine some things so that he could help us be successful, but secondarily to showcase the qualities that he has,” Jorden noted. At the season’s end, it became evident that Cavallo would play professionally the following season.

On Dec. 19, 2024, Cavallo was selected 88th out of 90 draftees by the New York City Football Club in the third round of the 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft.

Cavallo was the last of five players selected by the club, meaning it would be an uphill battle to make the first team that competes in the MLS season. A short preseason would likely determine who would make the final cut.

When Cavallo was one of two drafted players to be signed to the first team in February, Babst wasn’t surprised. “I watched all his preseason games and he looked very good,” Babst said. “He just did what he’s always done. He stepped in and more than belonged.”

Just one day after signing Cavallo to his first MLS contract, New York City FC played Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami, also known as Inter Miami, for their first regular season match of 2025. Inter Miami has achieved international recognition since Lionel Messi joined the club in 2023. Back in Davidson, Babst and his team got together hoping to see their former teammate make his MLS debut.

“We knew that there was a good chance he was going to get on,” Babst remarked. In the 69th minute, they got their wish. Cavallo substituted into the match and played the remaining 21 minutes, marking his first appearance as a

Nico Cavallo ’24 sprints past his opponents while playing for Davidson. Photo from Tim Cowie. wasn’t planning on playing soccer in college.

Up against the recruitment deadline, Babst and his staff began aggressively pursuing the pair of defenders. Within a day of each other, Cavallo and Gardiner committed to be Davidson Wildcats.

At the beginning of a new season in the fall of 2020, Babst watched from the sidelines as his team practiced for the first time. It was the beginning of year two for Babst at Davidson, and delays from the COVID-19 pandemic left him figuring out his team later than expected.

As Babst prowled the sidelines, one player in particular stood out: first-year Nico Cavallo.

Babst was amazed by Cavallo’s ability to get up and down the field. Turning to his assistant, Babst claimed, “I think Nico can be a pro.”

Despite their promising start, COVID-19 would put a pause on their success: the NCAA soccer season was postponed from the fall to the spring. On Feb. 10, Cavallo finally made his collegiate debut at home against Liberty University. Despite an 0-1 loss, Cavallo played all 90 minutes of the match. The next game on the schedule featured a daunting opponent: No. 3 ranked Wake Forest. Leading up to the contest, however, Cavallo was exposed to the coronavirus and entered COVID-19 protocols.

There was still hope that Cavallo would be ready by March 1 for a chance to compete against the Demon Deacons. He was cleared to play, but would face a minutes restriction to avoid overexertion. Limited to 55 minutes of

agreed that the next step for Cavallo’s growth would be to play semi-professionally in the summer. One of Davidson’s assistant coaches connected Cavallo to the Long Island Rough Riders, one of the top teams in the United Soccer League (USL) and a pre-professional developmental soccer league. The team was composed of top players around the country from major conferences, including the Big Ten and the Atlantic Coast Conference. It quickly became clear, though, that Cavallo was up to the challenge, starting every match of the season and performing well. The summer season confirmed to Cavallo that he belonged among the premier players nationwide.

The following fall, Cavallo, a preseason all-conference selection, turned in another phenomenal season for the ‘Cats. His durability and consistency once again proved indispensable, starting every match of the season and logging 90 minutes of action 13 times. By the end of his junior year, it was time for Cavallo to think about a future after Davidson. “We got together before his senior year and recognized that he was going to get his Davidson degree, and that then the best thing for him would be to go to another program, get a scholarship and play in a different environment,” Babst said. Before that, though, Cavallo still had a senior season to play. In 2023, Davidson had its best season with Cavallo yet, winning 10 of 16 matches and

Nico Cavallo ’24 subs into the game against Inter Miami, making his MLS debut just one day after signing with New York City FC. Photo from nycfc.com on the season than any other Bruin in 2024.

Cavallo was named All-Big Ten Second Team—one of three Bruins to receive Big Ten postseason honors. UCLA finished the season 7-6-6 overall and 3-4-3 in the Big Ten conference. UCLA fell to the University of Michigan in the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament in a penalty shootout and suffered a first-round loss in the NCAA tournament to the University of California Santa Barbara.

Although it was a disappointing end to his

Men’s Baseball Standings Team

Standings Update

Davidson Richmond George Mason Rhode Island Saint Louis Fordham George Washington Saint Joseph’s UMass Dayton St. Bonaventure

W

L

STK PCT

5 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 1

1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 5

W3 W1 L1 L2 L1 L1 W2 W1 W1 W1 W1

.833 .667 .667 .667 .667 .667 .500 .500 .333 .333 .167

professional player and competing against one the sport’s legends. “It was kind of amazing to see him on the field with Messi,” Babst said. Cavallo has appeared in three of New York City FC’s five matches so far this season, starting one of those appearances and totalling 51 minutes of play time. “I think every program talks about producing pros, but I really believe that something we all take such pride in is that he’s the type of pro that comes from Davidson,” Babst said.

Arts and Entertainment 6 Emma Kitchin ‘25 visits Davidson’s past in The Ghost of Old Chambers

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JOSIE SWAIN ‘27 (SHE/HER) ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT CO-EDITOR

n 1921, Davidson’s old Chambers Building erupted into flames. In her play, The Ghost of Old Chambers, Emma Kitchin ‘25 invites viewers to imagine what led up to that event with a play involving love, family and queer identity.

The protagonist, Lucas, is a young student at Davidson College in the 1920s struggling with expressions of their gender and sexual identities while surrounded by a culture of both homophobia and transphobia. At the end of the play, Lucas emerges as Lucy out of the ashes of the old Chambers Building and accepts herself and the person she has always been inside.

Kitchin’s playwriting journey began in a Davidson classroom.

“I took a course called Production Dramaturgy with the Theatre Department and my professor, Dr. Sharon Green, took us to the library archives. It was there that I learned about the Chambers fire in 1921,” she recalled.

The mystery of the event intrigued her, leading to the creation of an original story. “No one knew who started the fire and I became invested in figuring out why. Along the way, I started to learn a lot about what campus life was like here during the 1920s and felt inspired to use it.”

Kitchin’s Playwriting 201 course with Associate Professor of Theatre Mark Sutch helped her shape the story into something real. “After some encouragement from my peers, I asked our new professor, Dr. James Webb, to help me hone and develop the piece into a finished product through an independent study the next semester.” From that work, The Ghost of Old Chambers came to be.

While writing, Kitchin tied her own personal experiences into the storyline of the Chambers fire. “Around that time, I had begun dating one of my closest friends and she had recently come out to me as a trans woman,” she shared. “I still had feelings for her despite this change and felt a lot of emotions going through that process with her. Since I already had a fascinating setting for a love story, I decided to merge these two events and create The Ghost of Old Chambers.”

Kitchin was thrilled to see her story come to life on stage in the C. Shaw Smith 900 Room. “I’ve been working on this show for almost 3 years now, so to see these characters that have

lived in my head for so long finally be given personality, flair and humor was astounding.”

Because of her experience writing plays and working with her peers in theater settings, Kitchin has developed a deeper appreciation for the art form. “Theater continues to baffle me as the one art form that requires the heart of a playwright, the brain of a director and the living, breathing bodies of actors in front of you to exist. It is a feat of humanity and I am honored to have contributed to it through this piece which means so much to me,” she shared.

Old Chambers Building prior to the 1921 fire. Photo from the Davidson College archives.

Kitchin, however, would not have had success without her thespians. Sophia Schur ‘27 starred as Lucas/Lucy in the production and found value working in a student-run production. “Putting on a completely student-run and written production was a lot of work but ended up being really cool,” she stated. “I feel like the audiences were keeping up with what we were trying to say; being able to hear people laughing and gasping at the moments we had worked so hard on was especially rewarding.”

Playing a character who struggles with questions about their sexuality and gender identity during an intolerant period was an aspect that Schur found worthwhile. “The Ghost of Old Chambers touches on issues that are increasingly pertinent [...] and I hope that our production dismantled the idea of transness being new or trendy,” Schur shared.

The play was positively received by audience members.

Junah Jeong ‘27 was impressed by the acting performances.

“The play featured very strong female leads who drew me into the narrative. Both characters were able to explore the complexities of queer identity while interacting seamlessly with one another.”

Anna Farmer ‘27 mirrored this sentiment as she shared, “I was so impressed by Sophia and the rest of the casts’ commitment to their characters.”

Farmer went on to describe the importance of giving a platform to plays covering LGBTQIA+ stories in our community. “The storyline was incredibly moving. It is so important to share stories such as these—ones that otherwise might go untold.”

When thinking about Davidson and its history, minority groups such as the LGBTQIA+ community usually get overlooked, placing a significant emphasis on the subject matter of the production. “When thinking about Davidson’s history as an institution that welcomed women only around 50 years [ago], performances such as this that address gender in such a thought-provoking way become all the more important,” Farmer emphasized.

Kitchin hopes that her play resonates with the community, especially those who can personally relate to the main character. “[I hope that] the queer or questioning students who saw the show know they are loved and never alone—that they have the company of all the queer people who came before them, even those who walked these very grounds,” she stated.

Kitchin also hopes to generate more widespread acceptance for the LGBTQIA+ community. “I want my parents and any others who were raised in a community where gender and sexuality were not allowed breath and space to see that queer people have always been here, living and working and loving right alongside everyone else,” she stated. “I want anyone with political or legislative power to witness a love that eclipses labels or understanding and see it for what it truly is: love.

Nothing more and nothing less.”

Josie Swain ‘27 is an English major from Atlanta, GA and can be reached for comment at joswain@davidson.edu.

Former Syrian prisoners bring songs of resistance to Davidson ANNABEL GROSECLOSE ‘27 (SHE/HER) LIFESTYLE EDITOR

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powerful testament to resilience and survival came to Davidson College this March, as a group of former Syrian political prisoners-turned-musicians took center stage. From March 16 to 21, four of these musicians—survivors of Syria’s infamous Sednaya Prison—shared their harrowing yet inspiring journey through an art exhibition and live concert, shedding light on the hidden cultural resistance forged in one of the world’s most brutal detention centers.

The event was spearheaded by Assistant Professor of Arab Studies Dr. Eylaf Bader Eddin, who has dedicated years to researching the music created in Syrian prisons. “This is more than a musical performance, it’s an act of remembrance, resistance and recognition of voices that were meant to be silenced. We gather here to witness humanity and the untold realities of one of the darkest realities of our time,” he commented.

Sednaya Prison, described by Amnesty International as a ‘Human Slaughterhouse,’ is notorious for its systematic torture and inhumane conditions. Prisoners there, many held without trial, resorted to artistic expression to endure the horrors around them. Among these was a group of musicians who, against all odds, crafted makeshift instruments from whatever materials they could find—food scraps, clothing threads and even parts of their own cells.

Bader Eddin’s ARB 336: Arab Life and Politics Through Film course was invited to help recreate some of the instruments these prisoners crafted while incarcerated. “This

project significantly expanded my knowledge of Syrian history, culture and the intersection of art and politics. It also gave me a handson understanding of how music and art can act as forms of resistance, even in the most oppressive environments,” Emma McDonnell ‘27, a student in the class explained. “Individual voices and artistic pursuits often get lost in the broader narratives of historical atrocities. Still, by sharing their music and stories with us, these musicians ensured people remember.”

Survivors of the Sednaya Prison perform in the Lilly Family Gallery. Photo by Annabel Groseclose ‘27.

Bader Eddin commented on the bravery of these prisoners. “Even from the depth of this brutality, music emerged against all odds.

Prisoners found ways to compose, to sing, to count out fleeting moments of humanity.

These songs were not just melodies, they were weapons of the fearless and instruments of resilience for those who refused to be broken.”

The highlight of the week was a live concert, featuring performances by four former Syrian prisoners: Faraj Bayrakdar, Asaad Shlash, Hassan Abd Rahman, and Haitham al-Katreb, all of whom were imprisoned for being part of the communist party. The four musicians were joined by two Davidson students, Idil Ira ‘26 and Majeed Abugideiri ‘25. The event was

interpreted by Bader Eddin and Nadya Fransis.

“O Mother,” one of the ten songs on the setlist, was written by Bayrakdar in 1987 for his mother while he was in prison. “Unfortunately, I was in solitary confinement for 6 years and was unable to see her. After those 6 years, I was finally able to give her this song,” he explained.

Another performed song, “Weary,” was written by Shlash, a music professor in Syria, for a fellow prisoner with cancer who died a few months after he was liberated because he was terminally ill. “I put the music to this song and the lyrics for our friend.”

Bayrakdar reflected on his time in prison and the life he has built since. “The worst phase of my life could be that I spent fourteen years as a political detainee in a Syrian prison. As for the best phase of my life, it could be that I published fourteen books. No doubt that our presence here today is the biggest feeling of freedom.”

Music played a crucial role in preserving their spirits. Hassan Abd Rahman, who spent eight years in Sednaya Prison, recounted how he refined his skills while incarcerated. “Before being detained in the Syrian prisons, I had

certain knowledge about music, and I was so lucky that in prison I met my professor [Asaad Shlash] who taught me more and more. I grew my knowledge of music inside the prison. It’s now been 25 years that I’ve lived in France.”

Shlash described the ingenuity required to keep music alive in a place where instruments were forbidden. “In order to keep it for later, we had to make the neck and body of the instruments detachable.” He recounted how they built their first instrument after three months of detention using materials such as nylon from socks.

“I used to play this particular instrument for months in the toilet under the sink for the other prisoners because the cell where I was being detained was too small. In the morning, I used to get up and sit outside the toilet and play some beautiful songs for my friends.”

This event brought these men together with the students who recreated their experiences, reconstructing the makeshift instruments they once played in prison. “It was very touching for me to see this young generation of brilliant students of Davidson College participating in and engaging in this project, and remaking all of our memories and instruments like we did in Sednaya,” al-Katreb shared. “I’m impressed by the atmosphere I’ve witnessed in the past three days at Davidson.”

The music these men played in prison was not just entertainment: it was an act of defiance, a means of survival and a source of hope. As Shlash put it, “I take advantage of this event to express appreciation for life lived out of prison with the help of music.”

Syrian prisoners had to make instruments out of food scraps and other materials. Photo from the Davidson College Instagram.

Annabel Groseclose ‘27 is an English major from Saratoga, NY and can be reached for comment at angroseclose@davison.edu.

Living Davidson

Crossword Grapevine Stuff Across 1 ___ above the rest 5 Green fruits 10 Pops’ partners 14 Misplace 15 Have ___ for news 16 “What’s the big ___?”

17 Start of a quip 19 Suffragette Lucretia 20 Gym equipment 21 Code inventor 22 Maniacal 23 “The Haj” author Leon 25 Part 2 of the quip 31 Audible cries 34 Not rented 35 Before, in odes 36 Black road-making gunk 37 Sketching tools 39 “We ___ to please!”

40 Cry after an epiphany 41 Poe’s middle name 42 Part of aka 43 Part 3 of the quip 47 Payment voucher 48 Ornamental headdress 52 Minor role 55 Ability to read and write 57 Part of an eye 58 End of the quip 60 Band of gold 61 “What would you do if ___ out of tune” (Beatles lyric) 62 Moon over Milano 63 Soften 64 Los ___, Calif.

65 Major poetic effort

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Crosswords by Victor Fleming ‘73

Down 1 “I was home watching TV,” e.g.

2 “Over There” composer 3 Computerphiles 4 Brew packets 5 Soup kitchen needs 6 IOC part (abbr.)

7 Mineral hardness scale inventor Friedrich 8 That girl, in Tijuana 9 Song list 10 Cocktail made with champagne 11 Limburger cheese feature 12 1986 World Series winners 13 Fill to the gills 18 Janet of Clinton’s Cabinet 21 Atomizer outputs 23 Data path to a satellite 24 Cambodian monetary unit 26 Naturally illuminated 27 Old Peruvian 28 Flippered swimmer 29 Part of an eye 30 Disney clownfish 31 Stick with a knife 32 Honolulu’s island 33 Annoying child 37 Prefix for logical 38 Regarding grades K-12 42 In general 44 Reign of glaciers 45 Dog collar attachments 46 Wedding cake feature 49 Stem the flow of 50 “Money-saving,” in product names 51 Pianist Hess and others 52 Heal 53 Name in running apparel 54 Department selling ties 55 Exam for an atty. wannabe 56 “Pay ___ mind!”

58 Little dance 59 SALT signer

ANSWERS TO PREVIOUS CROSSWORD: GOLFER’S VOCAB

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Crime Log Time Reported 03/21/25, 15:05 hrs

Description/Location Larceny Offenses: Misdemeanor Larceny Belk, Further Investigation

SGA Updates Food and Housing:

Applications for the Green Fund have been extended to April 6. Email sustainaibility@davidson.edu with any questions.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

The Committee, in collaboration with student groups, will be hosting Diversity Week, a week-long series of programming from March 31 to April 5. Be on the lookout for a schedule of events and information on the SGA Instagram.

Campus Outreach:

The Outreach Committee has sent out the Spring Survey. Findings from this survey will be shared with the Board of Trustees at their upcoming meeting.

A Media Request form has also been added to the SGA WildcatSync for any organization looking to amplify messages or events. All student organizations have been rechartered for the next academic year, with the final four bills presented at Tuesday’s (3/25) meeting.

Other Updates:

The Board of Trustees will be coming to campus on April 2 and 3. SGA will be hosting a conversation with President Hicks on April 3 at 7:00 p.m. in the 900 Room. Dinner will be provided. SGA will begin planning our summer storage program and shuttles to Lampus.

The

Yowl

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

inside

Breaking Belk exit sign even funnier the 163rd time.

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Nummit article guy forced to order increasingly elaborate lattes as a form of hazing.

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Senior clearly developing crush to avoid job applications.

Page Worried About the Wrong Rejection

A bettor’s guide to March Madness

or basketball fans and gambling degenerates alike, March Madness is one of the best times of the year. We’re already through the first weekend, but there are still plenty of opportunities to hurl violent obscenities toward college students. To help you decide which future accountant you place your mortgage on, we’ve curated a list of five fades sure to stoke your addiction.

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March 26, 2025

Florida: The SEC champs were popular picks to go all the way entering the tournament, but a shaky performance against UConn should cast doubt on their chances to cut down the nets. They also have the toughest path among 1 seeds to the Final Four, going through Maryland and likely Texas Tech.

St. John’s: Rick Pitino has once again completed a miraculous program turnaround and now has his eyes on a third natty. The Johnnies have plenty of “aura” and play a gritty, physical style of basketball not seen in Madison Square

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Garden this century, but unfortunately they lost to Arkansas last round and are already out.

Carolina Hurricanes: The ‘Canes have recovered admirably from the disaster that was the Mikko Rantanen deal, including a recent eight-game win streak. Carolina has a deep rotation with balanced scoring and their signature airtight defense that seems ready to cure their postseason woes, but they play ice hockey and not basketball.

Chappell Roan: Last year’s ‘Best New Artist’ at the GRAMMYs is perfectly poised to avoid a sophomore slump. Her ambitious shift to country is off to a good start with the recent release of her single “The Giver” to critical and commercial acclaim. Unfortunately, she can’t run a pick and roll to save her life.

Davidson: They did not make the tournament. Further analysis can be found in Perspectives and complaints can be forwarded to aidiggs@davidson.edu.

DOGE to attack Nummit next

he political scene today is harrowing, with mass firings and budget cuts across the board.

College students are entering a harsh world, with grants and federal jobs becoming inaccessible. It is no exaggeration to say that higher education is up against an all-time threat. Worst of all, one more sacred institution of college life is about to be attacked: Nummit.

Reports are coming out of Washington that DOGE is planning mass firings at Nummit. This comes in the wake of four baristas taking 30 minutes to make one tea.

It was reported by an innocent Nummit-goer that the drink was an iced London Fog. A drink that only requires milk and cold tea they pour from a jug. The line at Nummit was apparently “non-existent.” The baristas would apparently complete one step in the drink-making process and then talk about “God knows what, probably tattoos and Hozier,” then finish another step before repeating the two-step process again. Adding to the lack of efficiency is the fact that each barista rotates which step of the process they’re on, as none of them can do tasks without their work bestie alongside them.

After tuition cost, Nummit is the largest money maker for Davidson’s campus. DOGE finds it completely unacceptable to spend all this extra money on baristas slowly making drinks when they could be maximizing profits.

Intermittent cartoon

Man listens to Chappell Roan’s “The Giver” and thinks he’s good at sex.

Page Na Na Na Na Na

The Something Issue

“No” and five Perspective: Why other phrases to you should go to Frat tell lost families on Formal with me. campus to drive down admissions. Page They’re Solid Page Got ‘Em Guys

WALT worries about potential budget cuts coming to the Activities Tax Council

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ith Columbia University giving into the demands of the Trump administration in return for federal grant money, WALT President Ima Radio-Rebel ‘26 has been preparing for budget cuts from the Activities Tax Council (ATC) in the event that Davidson does not acquiesce. “WALT is really worried about what our parties might look like without our expansive budget,” they vulnerably shared via secret radio wavelengths. “I mean, we just bought a boat [Editors’ Note: They actually did]. How am I supposed to have skin-to-skin contact with wet frat bros?”

A few days after Trump’s announcement, WALT ceased all potential aquatic activities and has been looking for other ways to save money. However, The Yowl recently discovered Radio-Rebel’s secret ploy: steal money from other student organizations. Due to Radio-Rebel’s recent social climb, which has literally included climbing into eating house enclosures, the club has already been able to solidify its power on campus, which they hope will result in future financial gain. Although it’s currently unclear what changes they will be making, Radio-Rebel suggested students

should be waiting with bated breath. “I have spoken to the Board of Trustees and they have scheduled an Outlook invite for Howard Stern and Joe Rogan and will be meeting with them shortly in order to figure out what to do,” their secretary told The Yowl through interpretive dance.

Radio-Rebel—whose identity has long remained a mystery on campus—has struggled with their recent stardom. In order to get their budget back and keep their name concealed, they announced in an interview with The Yowl that they were willing to do whatever it takes. “I considered giving a member of the ATC fellatio […] But it went no further than that, and I never thought about it again.

Although, there were all those summers at Bible camp... but that’s a story for a different time,” Radio-Rebel stated while licking their lips. This statement was met with praise from the Davidson community, especially the ATC, who commended them for their willingness to get their hands dirty and their knees bruised.

Who knows which ATC committe member will eventually succumb to the overwhelming desire to recieve a blowjob from Radio-Rebel?

Davidson leaks tuition increase plans via text

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he world found out shortly before 2 p.m. ET on March 26 that Davidson College was increasing tuition again.

I, however, knew two hours before the email exploded that the increase might be coming because the College’s secretary of endowment defense had texted me the financial aid plan via Signal. The plan included precise information about financial aid packages, targets and timing.

I received a request via Signal to join the group chat. It was labeled “Davidson Aid PC small group”. The points of contact for each area of the school endowment were then included on the Signal group. I could not believe that the endowment-security leadership of Davidson College would communicate on Signal about imminent tuition increase plans. I also could not believe that the College’s defense advisor to the president would be so reckless as to include the editor-in-chief of The Yowl in such discussions with senior Davidson officials.

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This mishap is sadly reminiscent of another security leak that occurred almost two years ago by the school administration, when blueprints to Libs were leaked to a Discord group chat by a disgruntled Libs ant. There was also the leak that claimed Dean Snipes was paying English majors to play The New York Times games for him. This trend of security breaches has led the student body to distrust the administration’s ability to maintain student security.

Many students ask what’s next. Will Chief of Police Julian Coaxum accidentally release the names of undercover cops in the MSBG on his Tinder!? Will Angie Dewberry drop financial fundings of Nicaraguan Contra groups in course listings?

How should Davidson protect against these security risks? The Yowl suggests a more authoritative push and an increase in surveillance. How else can we combat people who leak conversations through ill intent or stupidity?

Big / Little reveal causes NC fire

embers of an unnamed eating house are under investigation after their family revealed a party contributed to statewide wildfires in North Carolina. The theme of “Where There’s Smoke” turned out to not be about the inhalation of marijuana, but instead about lighting an active fire on the Patterson Court lawn. Attempts to remove the entire campus tree infrastructure for a football stadium were futile, as the fire quickly upped in intensity upon absorbing the chemicals that make up the turf of the field hockey stadium.

The

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WRITERS

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

POTENTIAL INCIDENT OF THE WEEK

Birthday Boy Maowwy Insect June Mr. Sportz Jr.

“What does your husband think about you doing comedy?”

- Man in KSig to a Professional Comedian

First year mistakenly believes Humans v.

Zombies began this week; starts chasing random people wearing yellow around campus.

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

Hence, nothing in it should be taken as truth.