Students speak out against Trump administration’s new immigration policies.
3
Yassification or fratification? Anta Lo ‘27 reflects on Fiji’s 2025 transformation.
For a Better Davidson.
March 5, 2025
4 Volume 124,
Skylar Linker ‘25 paints a picture of the new Van/Every Smith Galleries exhibition.
Read all about the Yowlies—Davidson’s most prestigious awards.
4 6 8
The burden of acknowledgement: Community upset at administration’s lack of Black History Month recognition
AVA BRANCH ‘26
(SHE/HER) STAFF WRITER
As Black History Month (BHM) began on Feb. 1, students at Davidson College waited patiently to see how the institution would acknowledge and honor the occasion. As the month passed, student organizations such as the Black Student Coalition (BSC) worked tirelessly to plan events and honor Black history, including a spirit week and a gala featuring student performances and visual artwork. However, the Davidson administration remained noticeably quiet. Instead, the school’s official platforms promoted initiatives such as Body Positivity Week and National Kindness Day— two causes with incredible merit, yet ones that left many students on campus questioning where BHM fit into the institution’s priorities.
Looking through Davidson’s official social media platforms, the month of February has been filled with videos promoting random acts of kindness, a caption contest for the Davidson Journal and even photos from the first snow of the year. However, the College lacked initiative in recognizing BHM on social media. For instance, their first post of February spotlights the Katherine and Tom Belk Visual Arts Center across Main Street. For many Davidson students, the silence at the institutional level has been quite loud.
“Everyone needs to have an open discussion about Black History Month, not just us,”
Sophie Landers ‘26 said.
Despite the administration’s stated commitment to promoting Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in the College’s Statement of Purpose, many students and faculty members feel that BHM was not given the same institutional support as other campus initiatives. The lack of acknowledgment from Davidson’s official platforms raised concerns about how cultural heritage months are recognized and promoted, specifically on a broader scale.
“Obviously we make up a small demographic of the school, but I think the administration could do more to uplift us,”
Vice President of the Pi Mu Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity CJ Jenkins ‘26 stated.
While the administration has taken steps to address its historical ties to slavery, students argue that ongoing programming and communication about Black history remain limited.
James B. Duke Professor of Africana Studies Dr. Hilary Green emphasized the need for institutional engagement, citing the upcoming installation of “With These Hands,” a memorial recognizing the enslaved laborers who built Davidson, as an example.
“If students weren’t in my class, they would not know [about the memorial] [...] some of these events, including cultural heritage events, get lost [...] which affects why some students know and others don’t,” Green said.
The College unveiled its plans to
commission the memorial two years ago, along with other DEI efforts, in an email titled “Our Commitment to Education and Reconciliation” in November of 2023. Although the monument is set to be installed on campus this summer, followed by an official dedication ceremony in October, information remains concealed to the broader Davidson community.
Instead, Green has spearheaded a number of Davidson’s initiatives to redress the College’s history with slavery herself. According to Green, the campus community “shouldn’t have to rely on individual departments or organizations to do all the promotion.”
When asked about the administration’s role in promoting BHM, Dr. Chloe Poston, the College’s vice president for DEI, acknowledged concerns about communication gaps but pointed to already-existing institutional efforts. “Leveraging WildcatSync and the CSDI [Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion] newsletter creates opportunities for broader dissemination of information regarding events,” she stated. However, students have noted that while campus-wide tools such as WildcatSync and newsletters are useful in raising awareness about events, they still do not reach the wider campus community in the same manner as Davidson’s official media platforms and email communications.
In reference to promoting BHM events, Mikayla Bowens ‘27—currently serving as BSC Publicity Chair and working in the
Davidson Communications Office—remarked on her efforts throughout the month. “I make a post and sometimes it feels like, ‘Now what?’ There’s no one else helping us try to push out these events.”
Moving forward, students and faculty are calling for more intentional engagement from the administration. Suggestions include dedicated social media campaigns, greater funding for cultural events and direct administrative involvement in programming. Communication Studies Professor Issac Bailey ‘95 noted that issues such as these are “progress, not perfection” while recalling a time where he himself tried to start the first Black fraternity on Davidson’s campus. “We were trying to start it yet in terms of our really, really small numbers it was really, really hard to get it even started [...] but now so many Alpha Kappa Alphas pledged. It’s just crazy, the culture is changing,” Bailey said.
While the College has taken steps toward recognizing its historical ties to slavery, students argue that true institutional support for Black History Month—and other cultural heritage celebrations—requires active participation, not just acknowledgment. “Davidson is an institution that prides itself on its efforts to promote diversity, but I don’t see anything on campus that highlights that commitment,” Landers said.
Months from library renovation, the College prepares for move to annex
WILL CAPPS ‘27 (HE/HIM) STAFF WRITER
With construction of the George Lawrence Abernethy Library set to begin in just a few short months, students, faculty and staff are preparing for a twoyear-long transition that will include significant changes to the library’s physical collections as well as a complete renovation.
Early planning for the library renovation—Davidson’s most expensive capital improvement project to date—began over a decade ago, according to Senior Executive Director of Facilities and Engineering David Holthouser. Initially, plans were put on hold as the College weighed whether and when to relocate hundreds of thousands of physical volumes. “We had the debate on campus for a decade and really struggled with [whether to relocate],” Holthouser said.
As peer institutions began to embrace digitization (especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic), Davidson began to more seriously consider moving the majority of physical volumes off campus.
When President Doug Hicks ‘90 started his tenure in August of 2022, the library transformation became his “top priority,” according to Holthouser. “He immediately started lobbying for funding support [and] was very successful.”
Hicks secured $25 million in funding from Bob Abernethy, son of longtime Davidson professor George Abernethy, for whom the library will be named. The Duke Endowment gave an additional $60 million gift, the largest single donation in the College’s history. Davidson hired Minneapolis-based MSR Design to lead the overhaul.
“It’s gold-standard, well-thought-out,” according to Dana Professor of German Studies Dr. Scott Denham, who has spent years helping to plan for the renovation. “From start to finish, [the planning] really couldn’t be any better, and one confirmation of that is how fast the funding is coming in,” he said. Months away from the transition, those plans are now nearing completion.
Preparations in E.H. Little Library include removing unused and outdated materials from the current collection and preparing to transfer everything else to a new annex located off the cross country trails, which is scheduled to be completed this summer.
For more than a year, faculty and librarians have worked to determine which materials should be transferred in hard copy to the annex, with a focus on reviewing outdated materials on the underutilized second floor that is organized under the Dewey Decimal system.
In 2009, the library began a yearslong process of organizing its collection under the Library of Congress system. As part of this conversion, any book checked out from the Dewey Decimal organization on the second floor over the last 16 years has been reclassified under the Library of Congress system upon its return to the library, according to Assistant Director of Collections and Discovery James Simon, who is leading efforts to update the library’s collections.
“The bulk of the 174,000 volumes upstairs have not circulated in more than 15 years,” Simon said. Citing records dating back to 1993, nearly half of that collection has no
Davidson prepares for library renovations in late 2025
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record of circulation whatsoever. “Some of them you open up and the cover is just cracking,” Simon continued. While some materials will be removed from the collection, the decision to discard books is not taken lightly. “We are being very careful, but the job of librarians is to look at the collection over time and make sure it stays relevant,” Simon said. “We’re really not touching anything on the [basement] floor.” Simon did note that some books have recently been discarded due to mold.
Faculty have been asked “dozens of times” over the past 16 months to weigh in on which older books should be kept, according to Denham.
Apart from long overdue updates to the physical collection, library staff have also made plans to ensure access to key services during the renovation, including the Writing Center, the Center for Teaching and Learning and the Academic Access and Disability Resources Office. All will continue to operate normally, borrowing space in other academic buildings.
While the interim phase will present challenges, Library Director Lisa Forrest is confident that library programming will continue to operate smoothly. “The library will be there on day one when [students] come to campus. It may not be the library that everybody remembers, but it will be the same level of services. The Lilly Family Gallery will become the center of these temporary facilities and will be fitted with new rugs and furniture, a café area, laptop checkout and printers. Books will be available within a few hours, thanks to twice-daily shuttles between the new annex and Lilly Family Gallery. “The team is still here on campus. We’re ready to support students,” Forrest said.
Dedicated 24/7 study spaces will also be available in Chambers and the Tomlinson Hall conference room, where many of the library’s study carrels will be moved.
While the new library will house some books, about half will remain in the annex permanently. Moving forward, many new materials will be available electronically thanks to the
library’s “E-preferred” acquisition process, but books will remain featured on every floor of the library. Staff are aiming to curate “a modern-day collection” that better aligns with curricular needs.
Taken together, the construction of the annex and updates to an outdated physical collection will allow the new library to dedicate more space to students. New additions will include “expanded spaces for students to work, quiet study rooms [and] a great classroom,” Forrest explained.
The top floor will house a new staff and faculty scholarship suite alongside silent reading rooms for students. “When you go up to the new fourth floor, that’s where our new café will be,” Forrest added. Other additions include an outdoor
classroom, “Art Yard” and meditation space.
Just months away from E.H. Little closing its doors, Forrest is excited about the “vibrant” new library awaiting students on the other side of the two-year construction. The library’s purpose will evolve from book storage to curiosity-driven collaboration, and library staff emphasize that the changes are something to celebrate.
“There are places around the world right now where libraries are shutting down, and we are going to have this hundred-million-dollar project,” Forrest said. “How lucky are we.”
Wildfires break out across the Carolinas
Parts of the second floor of the library are closed for renovations. Photo from Claire Kelly ‘25.
Campus rally draws attention to immigrant justice issues
CLYDE DWYER ‘25 (HE/HIM) PHOTOGRAPHER
The chant “No hate! No fear! Immigrants are welcome here!” echoed across Chambers Lawn on Feb. 27 as nearly one hundred student and faculty voices cut through the silence that typically envelopes Davidson’s campus during Common Hour. Holding signs reading “No Human is Illegal” and “United for Immigrant Justice,” the crowd marched around Chambers in a demonstration of solidarity.
“Say it once, say it twice, we will not put up with ICE!” The rally was organized by Xaris Trigueros ‘28 and Liz Corral ‘28, co-founders of Immigrant Justice Support, in response to recent Trump administration immigration policies and to bring awareness to the experiences of students affected by these changes. For the co-founders, the issue of immigrant justice is deeply personal. Trigueros’ family originates from Honduras and Guatemala, and Corral’s family comes from Mexico; her father recently became a naturalized U.S. citizen. They felt compelled to organize a rally due to a lack of conversation on campus surrounding immigrant justice.
“Seeing protests at home in Dallas inspired us to do something here,” Trigueros said. “I saw the goal as starting conversations, making people see us and not letting us go unnoticed. The other goal, too, was community.”
Similarly, Corral pointed to anti-ICE, pro-immigrant protests in her hometown of Los Angeles as a source of inspiration.
“Being from LA and feeling like I couldn’t be there was really frustrating,” Corral said. “We wanted to create a community we felt was lacking. We realized that as students, we had more power than we thought we did, and we felt like if people who had generally more power than us weren’t doing anything, then it was our turn to take action.”
The rally was structured as both a march and an open forum for storytelling, intended for students from different backgrounds to share their personal experiences and stories. Alex Marron ‘27 initially attended the rally as a photographer and did not plan to speak, but she was moved by the powerful testimonies of other students.
“They gave everyone a platform or outlet to share their stories and experiences. By the first or second story, I was like ‘Wow this is incredible,’” Marron, whose father immigrated from Mexico as a teenager, stated. “It takes a lot of courage for people to organize something like this, and I’m very proud of
the students who did that, and also for the people who were able to share their stories.”
Gael Sifuentes ‘28 praised the speakers for their vulnerability and honesty and appreciated how the organizers had fostered a safe space. Born in Torreón, Mexico, Sifuentes recognized the importance of advocating for immigrant rights in a space like Davidson, where more than 50 percent of the student body is white and may not have connections to immigration issues.
“There are these cases with some people whose parents are deported and they don’t see them for years,” Sifuentes said. “Since Davidson is a PWI [predominantly white institution], sometimes those kinds of topics are swept under the rug.”
Sifuentes recounted how personal the issue of immigration justice is to him and his family. “When me and my family went through the process of getting our visas and coming here, we had to renew constantly and my mom wasn’t able to do so. So we were split for a little while,” Sifuentes said.
In an interview following the event, Trigueros and Corral offered clear guidance to students not directly impacted by
Lifestyle
Q: I’m a freshman in an eating house and I’m a little nervous about Big/Little. Everyone I’ve met has been super sweet but I don’t feel like I know any of them too well. Any advice?
Dear Reader,
It’s totally understandable to be nervous! Big/Little can definitely feel like a lot of pressure, but try to remember that it’s supposed to be fun. If everyone you have met has been sweet so far, I’m sure that you can’t go wrong!
As far as advice goes, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Even if you don’t have a coffee chat with someone, you can still talk to them and they can still be your Big. Until the form is submitted, it’s not too late to meet your future Big.
During coffee chats just be yourself; don’t try to perform or try to make them like you. You’ll want a big who you can be yourself around, even if that means sitting through a few awkward coffee chats to find that person.
Since you feel like you don’t know any of the people you’ve met super well, you should ask around! Ask sophomores who you do know well or other freshmen who may know any potential Bigs.
It may sound cheesy, but trust the process. Things have a way of working themselves out a lot of the time, and chances are, you’ll get a Big who will adore and cherish you.
I will say, as a sophomore, I’m nervous too. At the end of
the day, everyone just wants to find someone who wants them back and fits into their family.
I’m not sure how comforting this will be but there are all kinds of Big/Little relationships on this campus. Some are super close and the best of friends, some have a family dinner once a month, while others see each other only a couple times a semester at big events like crush or formal. If you end up not liking your Big, no big deal! You aren’t going to be forced into being their best friend, and you can still be close with any of the other sophomores in your house.
Big/Little is supposed to be something that integrates you into your house and makes you feel welcome and like you belong. But also, it’s important to remember that it’s all fake (none of us are actually related), so don’t put too much pressure on yourself.
Most of all, enjoy Big/Little week! It’s a week full of gifts, surprises and suspense so soak it all up. Pretty soon you might find yourself with a Little of your own. No matter what happens, you’ll find your people—through Big/Little or naturally over time.
Wishing you a fun and stress-free Big/Little experience, Annabel Groseclose ‘27
immigration policies. “The main part is educating yourself,” Corral explained. “Regardless of how you look or where you came from, be emotionally and empathetically open.”
Beyond the support of their peers, students appreciated that faculty also attended the rally. Marron saw two of her professors at the rally, and Sifuentes also saw his faculty mentor. Associate Professor of Hispanic Studies Dr. Melissa González, attended the rally and felt compelled to speak on the topic of immigration justice.
“There’s something very powerful in the human performance of putting our bodies together, walking, chanting and [bringing] voices together to just express some feelings,” González said of the rally. “I know that the main organizers who took the lead were learning from upper class students who have previously organized activist events, but they were also doing this work that’s totally new to them and I was really inspired by the firstyears participating.”
A.J. Jacobs ‘25, a senior involved with Students Against Imperialism (SAI), supported Trigueros and Corral as they planned the rally. SAI hosts weekly Liberation Library events where students read and discuss “areas of active imperial violence around the world,” as stated on the SAI Instagram, and Jacobs recently invited Trigueros and Corral to join.
“This was their thing, so I was just kind of supporting them through it,” Jacobs said. “What I really appreciated about the way that they planned it, is that they thoughtfully wanted it also to be a space for storytelling,”
Jacobs also noted the frustration of some speakers. “‘Why is Davidson being so silent? Why is the administration not addressing how this might be affecting students?’” Jacobs said, referencing some of the questions among students at the rally. González acknowledged the complex landscape institutions must navigate in response to political issues, citing the college’s Statement of Purpose. “We recognize the dignity and worth of every person. We work to instill humane instincts in our students. At the same time, all these changes are happening,” González said. “I’m much more interested in what we as a community can do.”
Trigueros and Corral made clear that the rally is only the beginning of a larger ongoing dialogue around immigrant justice on campus.
“When we kept reiterating that this was the start of the conversation, we meant it,” Corral said, noting how they hope to connect with local advocacy groups like Carolina Migrant Network. “This wasn’t a one-time thing.”
Students march across campus in solidarity with immigrants across the U.S. Photo from Alex Marron ‘27.
Looking for advice? We’re all ears! Scan the QR code above!
Perspectives
The great yassification of Fiji: A fraternity’s unexpected expansion
Something about Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji) feels different this year. Historically one of the smaller fraternities on campus, and not quite like the rest of Davidson’s Greek Life, Fiji has suddenly found itself at the center of campus conversations. I see Fiji as a fraternity that has always had its own niche: a little nerdier, less traditional and built around a more easygoing sense of brotherhood. Their new pledge class is one of the largest they have had in recent years, and they even had to turn people away during rush. As we watch them frolic around Patterson Court, one thing is clear: this is Fiji’s yassification.
I see yassification as a slightly airbrushed version of something familiar, the same core with better packaging. There’s increased visibility and buzz and suddenly everyone swears they knew it was cool before it was cool. I don’t believe Fiji has necessarily changed, but the way people perceive them certainly has. More students wanted to rush, Ryburn has been more crowded on the weekends and their name comes up in conversation more than it used to.
So what drew people to Fiji this year? A lot of it comes down to the fact that Fiji does not fit the traditional fraternity image. Stereotypical “frattiness” tends to be associated with tradition, exclusivity and a structured social hierarchy. Fiji has always had a slightly different approach, with a reputation for being more flexible in their social scene and recruitment style. That difference is part of their draw. This year, instead of struggling to fill a pledge class, Fiji had more interest than they could take on. According to one of Fiji’s rush chairs, Harrison Bachrack ‘27, this interest was a major shift from past years. “Last semester, people kept saying, ‘Oh yeah, Fiji is so back,’” he recalled. With an increase in numbers came changes to the way their recruitment process operated. In past years, anyone who wanted a bid could realistically get one. This time, though,
My friend is one of the most accomplished people I know. Recently, I had a conversation with her in which, amid tears, she shared that she felt like a failed daughter, friend, and student. We had barely seen each other the week before and were comparing our calendars to find a time to hang out or get a meal. We struggled to find one hour to spend together within the next five days. I shared that I was disappointed, not at her or myself, but rather at the fact that we exist in an environment where finding time for our friendship was so difficult. Talking about our various engagements opened up a conversation about the pressure she feels to achieve and prove herself in all sectors of her life. Prioritizing one of these sectors led her to fall behind in another, creating a vicious cycle in which she felt like she could never do enough.
I relate to this friend deeply. I have felt an underlying pressure to constantly be achieving throughout my time at Davidson, and finally, years of fatigue from this pressure culminated into an intense sense of burnout. During the spring of my junior year, I wasn’t engaged in my classes, I stopped showing up to my involvements and I gave up on taking care of myself. While I would hate to relive this period of my life, I am extremely grateful for the ways it pushed me to question my perfectionistic tendencies.
the rush chairs had to make decisions. “We’ve never really had to turn people away before,” Bachrack admitted. “This time, we knew that a lot of these guys were also going to end up in other frats, so we were able to narrow it down that way.”
The surge in interest this year raises an interesting question: does Fiji’s recent growth mean they’re stepping into a new level of popularity or are they starting to resemble a more traditional fraternity? Some argue that their larger presence on campus is simply a reflection of changing student interest. Others see this change as a shift toward a more conventional Greek Life experience. “There’s definitely more interest, and people are talking about us in a new way, but we also don’t want to lose who we are,” Bachrack said. “I think it’s pretty obvious to everyone that we’re not the most fratty. We want to be very philanthropic and brotherhood-focused.”
As their numbers increase, they face the challenge of maintaining what sets them apart. Can a fraternity nearly double in size and still operate the same way? Henry Wilcox ‘26, current president and previous rush chair of Fiji, has seen this shift firsthand.
“Way more people were involved in the rush process than in years past. It wasn’t just the rush chairs and the president. More of the house was involved in recruiting.” Even with this growth, Wilcox doesn’t believe Fiji’s core identity has changed. “There is something stagnant about the personality, there’s a brand that’s been built.”
That brand, whether you call it yassification or just the natural result of growth, has undeniably strengthened. Fiji’s newfound social presence on campus isn’t just about perception. A larger membership means more influence, organization and, inevitably, more responsibility. This growth doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve been fully yassified or fratified, but it does mean they’re operating on a different scale than before.
Growth is exciting, but figuring out how to expand without losing their identity is its own challenge.
Perfectionism, as I understand it in its most basic sense, is the inability to accept anything less than perfection. Perfectionists set high standards for themselves, and, oftentimes, they are able to meet most of these expectations. At the same time, perfectionists often feel a sense of worthlessness and low self-esteem if they fail or make mistakes. It feels sort of silly to be defining perfectionism because, chances are, you or someone you know may have acted like a perfectionist at some point in your life. During my time at Davidson, I have become more and more aware of the impact perfectionism has on myself, my friends, and my classmates. I have made a sincere effort to unlearn perfectionistic tendencies, although I’m not sure if I have made much progress. Does that mean I’m being a perfectionist about trying not to be a perfectionist? Maybe!
The Davidson environment, at times, can often foster and even encourage perfectionism. Because of the lofty expectations set for “high-achieving” and “elite” students, Davidson students tend to struggle to prioritize their health over assignments and extracurriculars. When a student feels behind or has a large assignment coming up, sleep and time with friends are often the first to go. And this is the norm. Students readily accept that their success in a class must come at the cost of their mental and physical health. When doing well in a class becomes unbearably stressful, students stop enjoying the
“We’ve grown more than we ever have in my living memory,” Wilcox stated. The fraternity’s new size has already forced them to adjust internally, and even simple operations like organizing meals have become more complicated. Still, Bachrack believes that Fiji hasn’t really changed at its core. “Same people. Same vibe. Everyone’s still kind of a nerd at the end of the day,” he declared. Whether this shift was intentional or just a natural progression, one thing is clear— Fiji is evolving. What’s next? Fiji: The Franchise. Will they keep this momentum going or will they, like all great empires, one day fly too close to the sun?
For now, I’ll just sit back and watch the yassification—or fratification—unfold.
Anta Lo ‘27 is a psychology major from Winston-Salem, NC and can be reached for comment at anlo@davidson.edu.
content. Learning becomes a means to an end rather than something that enriches their lives and develops them as people. Time for rest and leisure in the Davidson lifestyle is scarce. There seems to be an underlying expectation that unless someone has another commitment, they should use as much time as possible for studying. Every hour of the day must be filled. Downtime is lost time. A day without homework is a day wasted. Even when a student chooses to spend time with friends or do an activity apart from work, their workload continues to exist in the back of their mind. Their thoughts are constantly cluttered with their to-do list. Back in my junior year when I started to take action against my own perfectionistic tendencies, I felt a constant nagging in the back of my mind. Occasionally choosing friends over assignments and taking time to cook and exercise resulted in constantly having to remind myself that these seemingly simple and insignificant practices were crucial to my well-being.
I want to be clear that I think setting goals and working hard are extremely valuable practices. I think my peers and classmates at Davidson are brilliant, and I admire their skills and talents. At the same time, when their achievements come at an extreme cost to themselves or others, I don’t think it’s worth admiration. These practices are only beneficial in moderation. While many in the Davidson community pride themselves on pushing to better
themselves, it can at times feel like overkill as students strive to involve themselves in everything they possibly can. Students are undoubtedly impacted by high expectations set by professors and the competitive nature of the job market. But, ultimately, students are the ones who push for the perfect grade or perfect resume. This means that we have the autonomy to choose what we prioritize. I don’t have to get an A. My friend doesn’t have to get an A. You have intrinsic worth apart from grades and accomplishments. We have the power to remind our friends of this and keep them accountable for taking care of themselves. It’s alright to prioritize rest, health, and friends. Getting a B or a C in a class is worth your well-being. It shouldn’t be controversial to say that.
Miriam Smith ‘25 is a language and migration studies major from Hendersonville, NC and can be reached for comment at mismith@davidson.edu.
ANTA LO ‘27 (SHE/HER)
MIRIAM SMITH ‘25 (SHE/HER)
Sports
Davidson baseball eyes A-10 success after competitive season start
MASON MAYNARD ‘28 (HE/HIM) SPORTS WRITER
After a 24-28 season last year, the Davidson baseball team returned with a vengeance, ready to take the Atlantic 10 (A-10) by storm. The Wildcats began their season hosting Bryant University in a three-game series, ending in one win, one loss and one cancelled game due to poor field conditions. The series provided a glimpse into what to expect from the Davidson baseball team this season. “We pitched really well. We had clutch contributions from a variety of individuals,” said Head Coach Rucker Taylor, who is entering his seventh season leading the team. “I didn’t think we played great defense and we struck out too much offensively with runners on. We need to get better in those areas.” Taylor’s critique of the team’s performance against Bryant is evidence of the lofty expectations he has placed on them.
Shortstop Eli Putnam ‘25 expressed his excitement over the team’s start. “We have a really, really good offense this year, and it hasn’t quite clicked yet but I think without a doubt that will come with time.” Putnam takes the season game by game. “The areas where we were concerned have been better than expected and the areas that we were expecting to be really good have been worse than expected,” he said. As one of four captains, alongside Wilson Perkins ‘26, Landon Reeves ‘25 and Matt Weber ‘25, Putnam recognizes that the title is both a call to responsibility and a celebration of past efforts.
Weber echoed Putnam’s sentiments about their role. “Don’t try to become this person that you aren’t,” Weber said. Weber looks forward to helping the team in any way he can and seeing the ways the team adapts to challenges off the field and in the classroom.
“Being challenged in all facets at Davidson is something special,” Weber stated.
“It’s just getting in the ebbs and flows of baseball. Hitting and pitching are both going to come together later in the season,” Perkins, one of the ‘Cats’ pitchers, stated when reflecting on the two-game series against Bryant. “There’s no better group than what we have this year.” Perkins looks to replicate and grow from his performance last season. “I feel like this year is a good opportunity for me to really show what I’ve developed thus far.”
For first baseman Reeves, this season is about leading however he can, with the ultimate goal of winning games. Reeves expressed his optimism with the team’s pitching so far. “The most exciting thing so far has been our starting pitching and how much they’ve done. [They’re] putting us in good positions to win games and giving us good starts.”
Regarding the lineup, Reeves expressed his excitement about the younger guys mixing in, giving credit to freshmen catcher Will Brooks ‘28 and outfielder Jamie Daly ‘28.
Taylor shared a similar sentiment, reinforcing that neither coaches nor the players are worried about their freshmen class. “We’ll have some new guys contribute immediately [...] and we’ll have some that can use this year to prepare for bigger roles later in the season or next year.”
The more experienced players expressed their desire to help their younger teammates learn the game through experiences both in practice and in game. “There are able to be some younger guys that are actually leading at times, and that’s big when you’re trying to be a good team, to have guys that aren’t afraid and want to compete and win games,” Putnam stated, satisfied with the younger players’ performances and excited for them to flourish into well-rounded baseball players.
tremendous. The group has taken ownership of this team, and [it] has been fulfilling to see growth from so many as a result,“ Taylor said.
Since the series tie against Bryant, the baseball team has lost a game to both Gardner-Webb University and Wofford College, lost a three-game series against Bucknell University 1-2 and won a three-game series against Lafayette College 2-1. On March 4, Davidson lost a game on the road against the University of South Carolina. The team heads into a threegame series against Clemson University 4-7 overall. The coaches and players work game by game—no opponent more important than another. As Perkins said, “the most important game is the next one or the one you’re currently playing.”
Under the leadership of Taylor and the four captains, the team is ready to flourish. “Our leadership this year has been
Swimming and diving teams make a splash at A-10 championships
BRENNAN BAZANT ‘26 (SHE/HER) SPORTS WRITER
The Davidson men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams finished off their season with a strong showing at the A-10 conference championships, which took place from Feb. 19-Feb. 22 in Hampton, VA. Davidson was among the eight men’s and eleven women’s teams chosen to compete in the tournament and made great use of the opportunity.
For the women’s team, Anna Newman ‘25 took bronze in the 100-meter breaststroke, Ginny Thorsen ‘28 took bronze in the 200-meter freestyle, Elle Jacobsen ‘27 took bronze in the 1-meter dive and Annica Valmassei ‘25 took gold in the 3-meter dive. By the end of her season, Valmassei felt that she had come “full circle,” as she earned the same placements on the 1-meter and 3-meter as she did in her freshman year. Valmassei, along with the team’s nine other seniors, focused on competing well at conference, supporting one another and enjoying the end of their last season together. In addition to the senior class’s contributions, the underclassmen stepped up to help solidify a successful end to the 2024-2025 season. “All of the freshmen really stepped up and were open to doing anything the coaches asked of them,” Valmassei said, specifically calling
Thorsen “a big contributor to conference.”
The men’s team similarly boasted a number of impressive performances. Jeremy Kemp
into each day and each session,” Felt said. Felt, who competed in the 2024 Olympic trials last summer, delivered truly exceptional setting relays, Felt set an A-10 record in the 200-meter free, and he won gold in
Miles Charles ‘25 and Schou) and 800-meter free relay (Felt, Mitch McLain ‘27, Fletcher Smith ‘26 and Matthew Shnowske ‘28).
Felt described the uniqueness of winning a medal alongside his teammates, saying that the 800-meter free relay was “the coolest experience [he’s] had on a relay.” This impressive performance, among the others, comes off a season full of consistent growth.
“We really rode a wave of momentum going
Standings Update
the 500-meter free, 200-meter free and
The ‘Cats found success this season both in and out of the pool: team culture is an integral part of both teams and is what largely gave them success in the championships. Felt feels the dynamic is largely thanks to team captains Kemp and Guil Ware ’25. “Those two guys are the most selfless people on the pool deck. It doesn’t matter if they have a race coming up, if they need a rest, they’re going to be up on their feet cheering for the
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entire team [...] they don’t care about what they have to do as long as they can pump up younger guys,” Felt said.
Strong leadership and the close-knit bonds within the men’s team have not only fueled a history of successful seasons but also created lasting memories that extend far beyond the pool. Felt still remembers the first gold medal he won at Davidson. “The entire team stormed behind the blocks and waited for me to get out and they were all hugging me and cheering me on,” he said. On the women’s side, an extremely important piece of their team culture comes from Coach Greg Ferruci, who won the A-10 Women’s Diving Coach of the Year award this year. “Greg is one of the best people around. He cares about us more as people and how we’re doing emotionally than as athletes. [...] The growth mindset and care he has for everyone changes the dynamic,” Valmassei said. When asked about the award, Ferruci described it as a surprise, but gave all the credit to “our girls who had a strong presence on the pool deck this year at conference.”
After a successful season, the ‘Cats now look ahead to next year, where they will be joined by a large freshman class. Since Ferruci joined the team in 2018, he has watched the team grow in numbers and talent. “The women have continued to raise the bar and set a higher standard for future
Jeremy Kemp ‘25 finishes strong in the 200-meter backstroke. Photo from Tim Cowie.
Michael O’Shaughnessy ‘26 and Jamie Daly ‘28 motivate one another during series against Lafayette. Photo from Tim Cowie.
Arts and Entertainment 6
Student talent shines in the Gamut Showcase
JOSIE SWAIN ‘27
(SHE/HER)
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT CO-EDITOR
On Feb. 28 and March 1, the Gamut Dance Company brought their year of hard work to the Duke Family Performance Hall. The performance was a dance lover’s dream, with everything from a country tap dance routine with Kenny Chesney music in the background to an experimental modern piece with glow-in-the-dark animal heads.
Ally Creswell ‘27 performed in the showcase and has been preparing, along with her fellow company members, for the show since September of this academic year. A lot of time and effort goes into making this performance a reality. “Members are required to take two technique classes a week for the duration of the school year in order to perform,” Creswell stated. Due to her and her fellow dancers’ extensive practice schedule, Creswell shared that they are “a very tight-
knit company by the end of the year.” This closeness, she continued, made this year’s showcase especially bittersweet. “This year the showcase was so special because of the strong senior presence in the company. Almost half the company graduates in the spring.”
Their already extensive practice schedule ramps up during show week.
“Show week consists of one day of tech rehearsal, two dress rehearsals, then it’s time for opening night,” Creswell shared. “The DFPH [Duke Family Performance Hall] dressing room becomes a mess of costumes and makeup bags, and this year we couldn’t seem to escape the sound of the ‘Wicked’ soundtrack,” she shared when painting a picture of the fun and chaos that surrounds opening week. All of the hard work during the year goes into this singular, showstopping weekend. Creswell even recalled being told by an upperclassman in the fall that “the Gamut Showcase is our Super Bowl.”
Seniors in the company who have done the show for the past four years reflected on their time. “It feels bittersweet because I’ve been involved in Gamut since my first year at Davidson and a lot of the members are really dedicated to it, which you can tell based on how much work we all put into making the show happen,” Alumni and Public Relations Chair Luna Noguchi ‘25 shared. “I feel really proud of us as a group and I think it went really well.”
Former Tech Director Milena Barrera ‘25, who choreographed the dance Remember When this year, felt grateful to have been a part of such a tight-knit group. “Of course, saying goodbye not only to my dance career but these people I’ve been dancing for so long with in Gamut is sad, but I find it really fulfilling to have created movement over the years that I can say I’m proud of. I can confidently say that Gamut has brought me some of my best friends who I know will be in my life past Davidson.”
The company’s hard work did not go overlooked, as the performance was a smash hit with audience members. Julia Richards ‘27 was amazed by the technicality of the dancers. “I was so impressed at all the skills that brought this show to life, it is so impressive that our classmates are able to put
this much hard work and detail into a show outside of regular college programming,” Richards stated.
First time Gamut attendee Brant Simmons ‘28 was equally delighted. “I went on Saturday night and was very impressed by all the artistry and hard work everyone involved poured in.”
The performance also gave audience members exposure to forms of dance they may have never seen before. “I was exposed to new styles of dance and their pieces were thought provoking, entertaining and beautiful,” Richards gushed. Simmons mirrored this sentiment. “There were various types of dances and emotions throughout; some dances were intense and experimental, others wholesome, and others lively and fun! [I] loved the variety, as well as the songs they danced to!”
Josie Swain ‘27 is an English major from Atlanta, GA and can be reached for comment at joswain@davidson.edu.
Sarah Willoughby ‘25 curates “Material and Imaginative Worlds”
SKYLAR LINKER ‘25 (SHE/HER) THE YOWL CO-EDITOR
Situated across the hall from Elizabeth Bradford’s solo exhibition, “Warp Weft Water Weeds,” is “Material and Imaginative Worlds: Landscapes from the Davidson College Collection,” curated by Student Galleries Intern Sarah Willoughby ‘25. While originally tasked with creating an exhibition complimentary to Bradford’s using works already acquired by Davidson, Willoughby wanted to go above and beyond. Her curation provides a wonderful survey of art ranging from 18th and 19th century romanticized landscapes to more contemporary abstract works. She features vibrant artworks reminiscent of Bradford’s work alongside monochrome pieces, which still strike the viewer by drawing their eye to the rhythm and movement within the work itself. Even the physical placement of the art on the wall seems specifically tuned to the viewer. For anyone who steps foot into the exhibition space, one thing is clear: Willoughby’s magic is at hand.
Director and Curator of the Van Every/ Smith Galleries Lia Newman, who entrusted Willoughby with this exhibition, had both high expectations and high praise for her work. “Having collaborated with Sarah for four years, I was confident she would bring dedication, curiosity and a fresh perspective to curating the exhibition [...] it was wonderful to see her truly make it her own,” she expressed via email.
Other gallery attendees had similar praise for Willoughby’s curation of the exhibition. Mallory Kavanaugh ‘26 appreciated the wide arrange of landscapes included. “I really liked seeing the different styles and I think it really speaks to Sarah’s talent as a curator, just how she made it all seem so fluid.”
Similarly, Lia Dougherty ‘25 appreciated how Willoughby interrogated traditional explorations of landscape. “I really liked how Sarah expanded the definition of what we might consider a landscape in conjunction with Elizabeth Bradford’s landscape exhibition across the hall,” she said. Willoughby agreed to take part in a brief interview about her work. The following interview transcript was lightly edited for clarity.
Q: Could you please give an introduction to yourself?
Willoughby: I’m Sarah Willoughby. I’m a senior art history major and religious studies minor from Greensboro, North Carolina.
Q: How did you get started working with the Galleries?
Willoughby: My freshman fall, I was looking for a work study job and found [it]—I did a little bit of art docent [trained volunteer for art museums] and was very involved in my studio art program in high school—so it seemed like a good fit. I got hired and I have been here ever since.
Q: What previous curatorial experience do you have?
Willoughby: If you’re an intern [for the Galleries], you can curate across campus in
Cunningham, Wall and Chambers—those are normally student curated. But also, last summer I worked at the Asheville Art Museum. As a curatorial intern there, we made a big digital exhibition on a singular artist, Douglas Ellington. It was very different from this experience because it was me honing in on and researching one artist and making an exhibition from that versus this was so many different artists trying to pull something together.
I had curated for Cunningham twice. I did one freshman year that was called “Living Ghosts” in conjunction with the theatre department’s show “Drowning Girls.” We
used double exposure photography because we thought the ghostly images tied in with the show and we used quotations from the actual show. My sophomore year, I curated another show in conjunction with Sarah Zhang [‘23], who graduated, called “Pious Performance.” It was about how different people perform their faith and how that’s captured. We have a lot of Roger Manleys [‘74, photographer] that explore religious performance in the American South and we also had indigenous artists [featured].
Q: What made you interested in curating this exhibition?
Willoughby: Lia [Newman] asked me to curate it. She knows I’m really interested in curating and that’s what I hope to do as a future career. She has just been really great [at] giving me opportunities to do that and to
have stuff on my resume. I was really excited when I saw this with Bradford because her work is very vibrant [...] even though hers are landscapes, it still kind of challenges what a landscape is in a way because they’re so zoomed in, it’s very up close and personal [and] she talks a lot about how it feels like you’re in that bush, so it was inspiring to make a landscape show off of [that].
I think my first instinct was that landscapes are kind of boring. [...] But then through researching different artists and Lia encouraging me to not just do works like the Barbizons [19th century landscape paintings] [...] [she encouraged] me to look outside of
what [was] picked as landscape works. So Kate WalkingStick [Cherokee landscape painter] and Katie’s [St. Clair, Assistant Professor of Art] piece challenged that and I was interested in how I saw landscape more as a medium after that.
Q: What do you want viewers to take away from the exhibition?
Willoughby: I really want people to think, ‘Who is included and excluded from these spaces?’ I think that’s really important. I know a lot of artists talk about this. Barbizon works were seen as the height of the landscape, but who was left out of that narrative? Also, in light of environmental issues, no landscape is devoid of humans, there’s human impact everywhere. I think it’s interesting to think [about] who’s touched the landscape and who might be left out of things. I want you to question that when you look at landscapes moving forward.
Q: Do you have a dream show or exhibition that you would like to do?
Willoughby: I’m writing my thesis on folk art; more specifically, Southern folk art, so I’m interested in that genre as a whole, but I’m also interested in textiles, so maybe a folk art textile show, like quilts. I love Gee’s Bend Quiltmakers [African American female quilters from Gee’s Bend, Alabama]. I also love more contemporary artists like Diedrick Brackens and Sarah-Joy Ford. They use the ancestry of quilts to make new things. I think there is a lot going on with quilts right now in the art world, but bringing together the old folk art aspect with the contemporary world would be interesting.
Willoughby’s curation will be on view in the Edward M. Smith Gallery located inside the Katherine and Tom Belk Visual Arts Center until Saturday, March 8. Those unable to visit the Galleries in person can view Willoughby’s exhibition virtually through the Galleries’ Matterport site.
Skylar Linker ‘25 is a sociology major from Dallas, TX and can be reached for comment at sklinker@davidson.edu.
Laura Aycock ‘28 dances to “Sweet Dreams” by the Eurythmics during the showcase. Photo from Kaspars Golos ‘27.
Gamut dancers pose on the Duke Family Performance Hall stage. Photo from Kaspars Golos ‘27.
Two of the pieces that are on display in Willoughby’s gallery. Photo from the Davidson Art Galleries Instagram.
“La Mare aux Viperes en Forêt de Fontainebleau” by Théodore Rousseau is one of the pieces displayed in the gallery. Photo from the Davidson Art Galleries Instagram.
Time Reported Description/Location 02/28/25, 14:30 hrs The Davidsonian Announcements
Check out our website: thedavidsonian.news and be on the lookout for our new podcast, featuring host Colin Decker ‘27 and President Doug Hicks ‘90 as our first guest!
Congratulations to The Davidsonian staff for winning ‘Best of Show - Newspaper’ at the North Carolina College Media Association 2024 Statewide College Media Awards!
Congratulations to News Co-Editor Savannah Soraghan ‘27 and Politics Editor Aidan Marks ‘27 for receiving an ‘Honorable Mention’ in the Feature Writing Category for their story, “Davidson Professors Reflect on the Mark Robinson Scandal.”
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Wellness Wendy to sell zyns and other nicotine products post-spring break. Page Dining Dollars
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The First Annual Yowlies
he Yowl writers attended the Oscars this year after receiving the nomination for our work on writing the film “Conclave,” which we intended to be a comedy. We’re confused by its reception. Anyhow, at the Oscars we were inspired to celebrate the past year with our own awards.
Welcome to the first annual Yowlies…
The Yowlie for least accessible basement goes to… Turner!
The Yowlie for the least accessible house to brothers goes to… KSig!
The Yowlie for best performance by an actor/ actress goes to… You when you told your professor that you did the reading!
The Yowlie for best bathroom on campus goes to… The second libs bathroom!
The Yowlie for best adapted screenplay goes to… ChatGPT!
The Yowlie for most space used per joke goes to… This article!
The Yowlie for “Nobody does it like Sig Nu!” goes to… Rusk x WALT Battle of the Beats!
The Yowlie for most annoying emails goes to… People who hit reply all!
The Yowlie for the event with the highest Fiji attendance goes to… How to Talk to Girls!
The Yowlie for the laziest The Yowl goes to… Us when we do issues with only pictures and lists!
March 5, 2025
Man embarrassed to wear Davidson red baseball hat in fear that it looks like Trump hat. Page Just Love Ball
The Yowlie for most messed up orders goes to… Nummit when they gave me a latte with whipped cream instead of a hot chocolate!
The Yowlie for the least secret society goes to... The organizations you can see book a hall on the EMS system!
The Going on Break Early Issue
Reverse intervention planned as a single person plans to tell friend group their main problems. Page First-Year Friend Fight
Can’t campaign for Honor Council?
We’ll campaign for your rival and get them disqualified. Page Toxic Positivity
Mandatory reading for Coach Matt McKillop over spring break
The Hurt Hub is pleased to announce two Innovation in Basketball courses will be taught by Coach Matt McKillop: - How to Fool Students with a Good Record by Playing a Nonconference Schedule not Ranked Top 300 in the Nation - How to Get a Storied Program Ranked Below Three Different UNC System Schools (including UNC Wilmington and UNC Greensboro) in Offical NCAA Rankings
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WRITERS Three Editor Stooges: Curly Larry Moe
INCIDENT OF THE WEEK
This incident is still under active investigation by The Davidsonian. This space will be locked from The Yowl access until it concludes.
“I can’t wait to go to the same place to drink the same cider and talk to the same people!” - Student excited about the possibilities that come with an eating house crush event at Nummit
Note: The Yowl is a satirical supplement to The Davidsonian Hence, nothing in it should be taken as truth.
