Davidsonian
For a Better Davidson.
April 9, 2025
EMallory Kavanaugh ‘26 covers slate of controversial new North Carolina bills.
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Anaya Patel ‘25 reflects on Davidson’s history with accountability.
Communication
SAVANNAH SORAGHAN ‘27
(SHE/HER)
CAMPBELL WALKER ‘25
(SHE/HER) NEWS CO-EDITORS
very weekend, Davidson’s shuttle service, Safe Rides, transports students all over campus and the Town of Davidson to ensure they get to and from their destination safely. Despite the program’s important position on campus, the men behind the wheel, Rick Rudisill and Scott Greenwalt, have not been treated as such.
The Safe Rides program has grown since it was first implemented in 2006 by Rudisill. The College Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety at the time, Fountain Walker, first asked Rudisill to start a shuttle service for Davidson students. “I was approached by the head of police at that time because he knew I was in the fire department and I was certified to drive [large motor vehicles] in the state of North Carolina,” Rudisill said. His partner, Greenwalt, joined the team in 2019. Operating from 10 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the two have driven hundreds of students to and from events. “[One] night, I probably picked up an excess of 250 students back and forth,” Rudisill said.
The operation has since become a vital part of campus life. Many students rely on the pair’s services on nights out, as well as getting to and from the airport over longer breaks. In an anonymous feedback form about the SGA airport shuttles, one student said, “I really appreciate that it is a free service that feels safe because I’m with other Davidson students. It takes the anxiety away from Uber, especially at night.” Rudisill and Greenwalt were awarded the
Baseball continues to roll through A-10 play.
4 5 8
Pollen makes its way to campus—plug your nose, cover your eyes.
mishaps cause problems for Safe Rides drivers
Omicron Delta Kappa Community Award in 2023 for their commitment to inclusivity at Davidson through their transportation services. “Despite severe weather or the hardships these men conquer in life, Rick and Scott will always put Davidson students before themselves,” the 2023 Spring Convocation program reads.
In spite of administrative accolades and student appreciation, the Davidson administration has not made their job easy.
On March 25, Rudisill and Greenwalt reached out to the Student Government Association (SGA) about their concerns regarding funds and bathroom access.
Responsibility for the Safe Rides program and its funding is split between SGA and the Davidson Campus Police Department. “We split the cost of [van] rentals and hourly [wages] for Rick and Scott,” SGA Charters
and Bylaws Committee Chair Maureen Cavanaugh ‘27 said.
The duo also answers to Andy Kraeger, the Department of Public Safety’s administrative assistant. With oversight of the Safe Rides program split across three departments, it is easy for important information to get lost. The Senate meeting minutes, taken by Bianca Campos ‘28 from SGA’s weekly meeting on March 25, reads, “‘[There is a] lack of cooperation between departments at the school’ - referencing Dept. of Public Safety and Student Activities.”
According to Rudisill and Greenwalt, they do not have access to restrooms after midnight. Instead, they turn to a nearby gas station or the woods. “If they trust us to drive 300 students, why don’t you trust me to use the restroom?” Greenwalt said in an interview with The Davidsonian
Students and SGA members were surprised to hear negative feedback from Rudisill and Greenwalt. “It was a bit shocking to hear from them and their perspective, how they’ve been treated by the administration,” SGA Outreach Committee Chair Kate Teagarden ‘26 said, who also frequently uses Safe Rides to get to and from her off campus house.
When the College Police were asked about their treatment of the Safe Rides employees, they emphasized that the employees have access to limited spaces. “Safe Rides drivers have 24/7 access to bathrooms in the public safety offices in Tomlinson Hall. They also have access to any campus building that allows public access,” Chief of Police Julian Coaxum and Captain Laura Vanzant stated in an email. Public access ends at 5 p.m. for non-Davidson students, which means the drivers only have access to one bathroom on campus.
Rudisill and Greenwalt said they have access to the Alvarez College Union until midnight, but were not aware of their ability to access other restrooms during the rest of their shifts.
The drivers also mentioned paying out of pocket for a van decal. The decal includes the Davidson logo and the Safe Rides phone number. “I don’t believe Rick ever got reimbursed,” Greenwalt said.
When asked about this, Campus Police didn’t deem the purchase necessary. “The drivers were not asked or directed to make the decal,” Coaxum and Vanzant stated. However, students believe the decal is necessary. “Just think about it: it’s dark, there’s someone driving up in a plain, unmarked van. It’s kind of weird. And so they were like, ‘We need a sign,’”
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Potential increased federal endowment tax poses threat to Davidson resources
CLAIRE KELLY ‘25 (SHE/HER)
CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Free money, ATM, savings account—these are all terms commonly used by students when referring to Davidson College’s $1.4 billion-dollar endowment. But in reality, the endowment is far more nuanced and currently under threat by the federal government.
Davidson prides itself on being a liberal arts institution that has access to resources beyond compare, all thanks to a strong endowment. Contrary to popular belief, the endowment is not a savings account but rather money given to the school as gifts by people over time, according to a video on the College’s website.
Davidson’s endowment provides long-term support for opportunities like financial aid, scholarships, research grants and professorships. However, with a potential increase in an endowment tax looming in the House of Representatives, the plethora of opportunities that Davidson provides could all be at risk.
Davidson currently pays a 1.4% excise tax on the endowment’s net investment income due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017, passed during President Donald Trump’s first administration—a tax that only applies to private colleges and universities with endowment assets that exceed $500,000 per student. “That means that last year, Davidson paid $1.2 million in tax on our endowment.
The opportunity cost is huge; that could have paid for 15 full scholarships,” Davidson College President Doug Hicks ‘90 explained over email.
Today, in order to help reduce the national deficit, legislators in Washington have been toying with the idea of a new tax increase. At least two bills have been proposed, including Representative Troy Nehls’s (R-TX) Endowment Tax Fairness Act, which aims to raise the rate from 1.4% to 21%, matching the federal corporate income tax rate. In this case, Davidson would have to pay upwards of $18 million in taxes, compared to $1.2 million previously.
Chair and Associate Professor of Educational Studies Dr. Christopher Marsicano emphasized that it is too early to tell what the effects of a higher endowment tax could be for Davidson.
“It is hard for any institution to know exactly what’s going on with this because those who are writing tax bills and those who are thinking about this haven’t yet coalesced around specific ideas,” Marsicano said. “It is entirely possible that you will go from 1.4% to 21% [...] which is a 1500% increase. It is possible that it will be 4%, it is possible it will be doubled at 2.8%—we just don’t know yet what it’s going to be.”
In 2024, Marsicano and colleagues conducted a study for The Florida Tax Review focused on how colleges adapted to the TCJA.
“Ostensibly, the purpose of the tax was to encourage universities with large endowments to spend more of their
investment returns on tuition assistance and other financial aid. However, it may have simply been an attack on higher education as such, often seen as a liberal stronghold, revealing that the TCJA’s endowment tax is likely at least in part the result of partisan political discourse. Whatever the motive behind the tax, as a practical matter, it served as a modest revenue generator, which allowed Congress to pass more significant cuts in other areas and still comply with budget rules applicable to new tax legislation,” the study finds.
Marsicano and his colleagues found that colleges and universities, including Vassar College and Duke University, responded to the tax in different ways.
“We found in some cases that schools raised tuition. We found in some cases schools found other ways to make money,” Marsicano said. “We already have [...] isolated incidents where it looks like [colleges and universities] have operated differently.”
What remains unclear is how Davidson and other private institutions will function with their endowment taxed at a much higher rate. “When you’re talking about Davidson, you’re talking about tens of millions in the budget. So a million dollars is not something that dramatically changes the operating ability of an institution. [...] If the tax was increased to 21% or 35% or these big numbers, it would
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Rick Rudisill and Scott Greenwalt often transport students to and from Rich Circle when they call Safe Rides. Photo by Campbell Walker ‘25.
Safe Rides drivers express concerns about administrative issues
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Cavanaugh said.
Rudisill, Greenwalt and Cavanaugh all agree that many of the problems arise from communication issues. “I think their problem that they’re running into now is just all this coordination between us and the police department, and it’s just a lot of moving parts and pieces,” Cavanaugh explained.
Greenwalt emphasized this issue. “[Cavanaugh will] go through [Kraeger]. [...] And it’s not [Kraeger’s] fault, but sometimes we don’t get all the information,” he said.
Rudisill and Greenwalt hope to eventually hire more drivers and get new vans. They explained that their current van can not fit a wheelchair, so unless they are given advance notice, they are not able to drive people who use wheelchairs. “Everybody who requires a wheelchair has bent over backwards to make it easy for [Rudisill] and I [...] but you just have to make sure that you can accommodate the students’ needs,” Greenwalt said.
SGA plans to collaborate with the drivers to ease administrative issues. “SGA is really wanting to increase their budget and potentially look into getting another van or more drivers and figure out a
way to make their job a little bit easier,” Teagarden said. “And also act as a liaison to make their voice heard a little bit more. Because clearly they haven’t really been heard by the administration, and if we can act as a better advocate for them, that’s what we’re trying to do.”
The drivers also suggested consolidating under one branch of the College to minimize miscommunications. “We kind of pushed the idea to SGA: if you could afford to do this, break away from the campus police, run this on your own,” Greenwalt said. “Now the biggest thing is [...] can they afford to break away because of budgets?”
Yet, no matter the difficulties, Rudisill and Greenwalt still find the job fulfilling. “We’ve never found an incident where we couldn’t work around it […] we are kind of dedicated to make sure that we’re able to accommodate the students from the Safe Rides standpoint. I mean, I would feel terrible if something happened to somebody that I could take care of,” Rudisill said.
As time goes on and Safe Rides continues to grow, SGA plans to work toward solving these issues. “[SGA will] do the best we can on our end to make sure they’re getting the respect from the school that they deserve,” Cavanaugh said.
Davidson prepares for proposed increase in endowment tax
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be surprising to me if a school could operate the way it has been operating and not make dramatic changes,” Marsicano stated.
Although most bills currently in consideration have been proposed by Republicans, Marsicano emphasized that there is support from Democrats. “This is not just a Republican plan. At the state level, Democrats have tried to tax federal endowments. While the GOP has been getting a lot of press, there [is] bipartisan support,” he emphasized.
With events such as #AllinforDavidson happening today, as well as fundraisers for the senior class gift occurring throughout the spring, Davis Varnado ‘25, one of the senior class gift chairs, emphasized that giving back to the community is crucial.
“While we have a very large endowment, we actually cannot spend most of it. We can only spend what is generated through interest each year, which is a much smaller portion of the total endowment than what most people expect. [...] It is crazy expensive to run a college, and while tuition may
be expensive and the endowment may be large, those alone are not enough to cover all the costs required to operate this incredible institution,” Varnado said.
Giving back to Davidson could potentially offset any losses from a higher endowment tax, as many funds like the Fund for Davidson, are not susceptible to the TCJA. “We need to have the Fund for Davidson [FFD], which funds more scholarships, athletics, the arts, research, internships, DEI efforts and so much more. The Fund comes exclusively from alumni and donor relations. Without the FFD, we would not have any of these programs,” Varnado said.
What is certain for the College is that if there is a higher endowment tax, students and members of the Davidson community will bear the brunt of the government’s choice.
“An increased endowment tax means less money for scholarships. More than half of Davidson College students receive financial aid, and the average aid package is more than $50,000. And we do that without loans in the aid package,” Hicks said. “The endowment tax sends money to Washington instead of sending students to college.”
First annual Diversity Week fosters fun and inclusivity
AARYA CHOWDHRY ‘28 (SHE/HER)
STAFF WRITER
BEN PEAKE ‘25 (HE/HIM)
CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Rising spring temperatures came just in time for a vibrant week of celebration put on by the Student Government Association’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee. Davidson College’s first annual “Diversity Week” featured collaborations between student leaders and 25 student organizations to discuss and celebrate diversity on campus. Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Dr. Chloe Poston emphasized that the week was a student-led initiative. “I’ve simply been advising on different events and ways to frame the week, ways to publicize the week, and also thinking about different partnerships that the Committee should consider [...] going forward,” Poston said.
DEI Committee Co-Chair Greg Coppola ‘27 estimates SGA spent about $13,000 throughout the week, most of which was spent on bringing six free food trucks to campus on Saturday. Funds were provided by partnering organizations, including the Dean of Students Office, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office, student-led organizations and academic departments. Poston confirmed that her office provided financial support to ensure that the week could be as successful as possible.
Each member of the DEI Committee took responsibility for a different day and coordinated those specific events. “We wanted to be informational, educational and increase the connections and relationships between all students on campus,” Alma Abuein ‘27, co-chair of the DEI Committee, said. Monday kicked off the festivities with
“Africa/African Diaspora Day.” The DEI Committee, in collaboration with the Davidson African Student Association, Black Student Coalition, Black Femmes, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., organized “Mapping the Motherland” in Union, asking students to identity and engage with countries in Africa and the Caribbean.
Tuesday was celebrated as “Asia Day.”
The Dean Rusk Global Corps (DRGC) and South Asian Student Association (SASA) collaborated with the DEI Committee to hold DRGC’s monthly “Tea Time.” The “April Tea Time” was centered around a discussion on the Rohingya Muslim Refugee Crisis in Bangladesh and India, while also providing students with free chai and samosas. More than a dozen students held a meaningful conversation around the history of the refugee crisis out of Myanmar and the contemporary role of the Bangladesh and Indian governments. The event was followed by a lecture from Assistant Professor of Art and Chinese Studies Dr. Yukina Zhang and Assistant Professor of Political Science Dr. Keren Zhu. While Zhang spoke on “Vogue Chang’an: Gender and Fashion in 8th Century China,” Zhu’s lecture used e-commerce Chinese fashion sales in Africa as a case study to discuss China’s Belt and Road Initiative and its impact on the Global South. In addition to these events, the DEI Committee collaborated with the Chinese Cultural Club, Pan Asian Student Association, Board Games Club, SASA and the Middle Eastern and North African Student Association to hold “Arts and Games Night.” The event featured a range of Asian arts and games, including henna, Chinese calligraphy, Middle Eastern
embroidery and Mahjong.
Lily Ogawa ‘28, a member of the DEI Committee, emphasized that the goal was to “spread cultural awareness surrounding Asian art, games and the community as a whole.”
Wednesday marked the “Latin American/ Caribbean Day.” The Delta Omega Chapter of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Alpha Gamma Chapter of Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc. and the Brazilian Student Association (BRASA) were all collaborators. They offered coffee tastings from different countries like Peru, Brazil and Cuba in the morning. In the evening, students enjoyed food from across Latin America while watching the internationally co-produced movie “Pelo Malo,” which explores racism and homophobia in Latin America, amongst many other social issues, in the Lilly Family Gallery.
Thursday was a day centered around religious celebration. The DEI Committee, UKirk (the Presbyterian Campus Ministry at Davidson College), Muslim Student Association (MSA), Jewish Student Association and the Catholic Campus Ministry started “Religious & Spiritual Life Day” by hosting an ice cream social with Whit’s ice cream. In the afternoon, students had the opportunity to engage in a meaningful Q&A with members from different religious organizations on campus during the “Hot Ones” event. The day ended with a symbol-making event encouraging discussions around faith and religion.
Vice President of MSA Rimsha Syed ‘27 described what went into making one of these days happen. “We met to discuss how to make a space that included room for getting to know people from different organizations, while also talking about how the religious and spiritual spaces we are a part of shape our experience
at Davidson,” she said. “[This day] provided an opportunity for interfaith dialogue that students hope to see more of.”
Friday was “Gender & Sexuality Identity Day” on campus. The DEI Committee, Queers & Allies (Q&A), Girls in STEM, You Are Not A Stranger Here and Students Against Sexual Violence came together to organize an arts and crafts event. Students enjoyed donuts, making their own art from scratch and creating friendship bracelets. Student organizations tied a bow on the day with a screening of the iconic “But I’m a Cheerleader” and Mandolino’s pizza.
The week ended with a “Food Truck Festival” on Saturday, which featured food trucks that served a variety of cuisines. From Felix’s Homemade Empanadas to Dumpling Girls, they took care of both students’ dietary needs and the needs of a foodie’s soul.
In a time when DEI policies and their validity are being questioned, Poston and the DEI Committee remained steadfast in their commitment to Diversity Week. “[The Committee] said it’s incredibly important that we celebrate the diversity in our community and highlight the rich cultural tapestry that we have on our campus,” Poston said. “Whether those are people with differences in race or ethnicity, gender, ability or sexual orientation, it’s important for us to make sure that everyone can recognize that these people are part of our community here and to recognize some of the amazing strengths that they bring to us.”
“I think the really awesome thing about Diversity Week as a whole is that we wanted to kind of take [the national political environment] out of the picture,” Coppola said. “I think the work we actually do truly fosters community.”
The potential increase in federal endowment tax could have significant implications on Davidson’s funding. Photo by Claire Kelly ‘25.
North Carolina Republicans propose slate of controversial bills
MALLORY KAVANAUGH ‘26 (SHE/HER) STAFF WRITER
Aflurry of bills proposed in recent weeks by North Carolina Republicans in the state legislature seek to shape the future of public conversation around LGBTQIA+ identities in the state. Three bills—Senate Bill 516 (SB 516), House Bill 595 (HB 595) and House Bill 636 (HB 636)—address a range of issues from transgender rights to material allowed in public libraries to an expansion of the Parent’s Bill of Rights.
Introduced on March 25, SB 516 would restrict transgender people’s ability to use public bathrooms and prevent them from amending legal documents to reflect their preferred gender identity. This would prevent anyone from seeking gender changes to their birth certificate and driver’s license, even those who present a court order recognizing that they have undergone a sex change.
Hannah Knoll ‘25, a transgender woman, expressed concerns about her ability to obtain documents that reflect her preferred gender. “It’s going to make my life a lot worse,” she expressed. By blocking the ability to amend IDs, this bill complicates the ability of transgender people to apply for jobs or receive government services without facing confusion or humiliation. To some students, the bill is a common-sense policy meant to protect women. “I see it more as a safety concern,” Cynthia Huang ‘25, president of Davidson College’s Young Americans for Freedom chapter, said. “I imagine that parents have probably
advocated the furthest [for this bill], especially in public schools and that sort of setting [...] I think nowadays, there’s so many unisex bathrooms or private bathrooms. It’s not really discriminatory. It’s more just for safety.”
HB 595, proposed on April 1, builds on the 2023 Parent’s Bill of Rights, which prohibited discussion of gender and sexual health in the classroom through the third grade, rolled back vaccine requirements and mandated that parents have the ability to view classroom materials.
HB 595 would extend restrictions on discussions of gender identity or sexual health through the sixth grade and would only permit such content in seventh through twelfth grade with parental permission. It would allow more opportunities for objections to classroom materials and would criminalize librarians that break the guidelines set out by the Parent’s Bill of Rights.
“There can be conflicts between a student’s home environment and how they wish to express themselves at school, so certain provisions of HB 595 can pose challenges to broader school goals of creating safe learning environments for all students, regardless of their background and identity,” Visiting Assistant Professor of Educational Studies Alexandria Marsicovetere said.
Others are encouraged by the devolution of some educational authority to parents. “The schools and the government, whether they’re public or private, [are] serving the parents and their children,” Huang said. “I’m glad that education is being taken down to the local level right now, just because, at the end, the parents are responsible for the kids.”
The last of these bills, House Bill 636, would extend book bans and establish a database for materials rejected for use in public schools. Additionally, it allows parents to pursue legal action against schools that violate the Parent’s Bill of Rights.
Marsicovetere notes that vague language in HB 595 and HB 636 may prompt schools to preemptively remove material to avoid legal penalties. “Fear of litigation and legal penalties may motivate schools to remove certain materials from their libraries and curriculum, even if those materials hold academic merit.”
Associate Professor of Political Science Dr. Melody CrowderMeyer argues these bills are reflective of an emboldened Republican Party pushing further to the right. Due to their significant majority in the state legislature—which CrowderMeyer argues can be traced back to decades of gerrymandering campaigns—Republicans can pass policy without Democratic support.
“Republicans in the state legislature can make policy on the basis of what they think will be popular with Republican primary voters as opposed to on the basis of what they think will be popular with a sort of average general election voter in a North Carolina election,” Crowder-Meyer said.
Griffin List case advances to North Carolina Supreme Court
AIDAN MARKS ‘27 (HE/HIM) POLITICS EDITOR
The North Carolina Supreme Court on Monday, April 7 temporarily blocked an Appeals Court ruling that would have thrown out over 65,000 votes unless voters submitted necessary proof of identity to the North Carolina State Board of Elections within 15 days.
The Court’s two-sentence order is the latest update in a hotly-contested legal battle following incumbent Democrat Allison Riggs’s 734-vote victory over Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin in the November election for state Supreme Court Justice. According to a spokesperson for Mecklenburg
County, over 3,000 contested votes lacked required information as of Tuesday, April 8. Up to 106 of those votes were cast by Davidson students.
Following the November election, 60,273 votes were compiled on what is often referred to as the “Griffin List.” Due to a clerical error, faulty registration forms did not require voters to submit their driver’s license or social security number, which Griffin argues is grounds for invalidation.
“I emailed the NC Board of Elections in January, and they responded asking for proof of an NC driver’s license, which I do not have and is not a requirement to vote. I am planning on submitting my social security number as a form of verification, but the Board of Elections should have been much more transparent on
Lifestyle
Q: I’m afraid my best friends and I will drift apart over the summer. How do I make sure that that doesn’t happen? Dear
That’s such a real and valid fear—especially when you’ve formed close friendships that are a big part of your everyday life. When summer break rolls around and everyone scatters to different places, it’s totally normal to worry about growing distant. But the fact that you’re already thinking about this shows just how much your friendships mean to you, and that’s a good sign you’ll find ways to keep those bonds strong.
Staying connected might take a little more effort during the summer, but it’s definitely doable. One of the easiest ways to stay in touch is by keeping your group chat active. It doesn’t have to be deep or serious all the time— send funny TikToks, random thoughts, updates about your day or inside jokes. That kind of casual, consistent communication helps things feel normal even when you’re far apart.
You can also plan regular FaceTime or video call catchups—maybe even make it a weekly or biweekly thing. Think of it like a virtual hangout, where you can all share what you’ve been up to, talk about summer plans or just chill and laugh together. You could even have themed nights like movie watch parties or game nights. Plan ahead for in-person hangouts, if you can. Summer tends to fly by, and it’s easy to let weeks slip away without
what is needed from me and how I can verify my voting registration,” CPE Speakership Chair Garratt Rothberg ‘27, who is on the Griffin List, said in an email inquiry.
When The Davidsonian covered the lawsuit in February, Associate Professor of Political Science Dr. Andrew O’Geen said the case may reverberate beyond North Carolina. “One of the reasons that people file lawsuits is to resolve a particular dispute. But another reason they file lawsuits is to set precedents, to send signals to try to influence broader policy.”
If upheld by the Supreme Court, the case may embolden efforts to overturn election results. “If an argument says that voters whose information is incorrectly entered into the database are purged from the voter rolls, even though they provided that information [...]
seeing each other if you don’t put something on the calendar. Try to schedule a few days to hang out, whatever that means for your group. And if visits aren’t possible, you could still plan something fun for right after summer ends. Having something to look forward to can help keep everyone excited and connected.
My biggest piece of advice: be honest with your friends. If you’re feeling anxious about drifting apart, share that with them. Chances are, they might be feeling the same way and will be relieved to hear that you care enough to bring it up. That kind of honesty can strengthen your bond and lead to a conversation where you all agree on how you want to stay in touch. Even just knowing that everyone’s on the same page can ease a lot of those fears. And finally, remember to stay in touch with intention. You don’t have to talk every single day—that’s not realistic, and it’s okay to have space. But maybe set a personal goal to check in at least once every week or two. Even a quick “thinking of you” text can go a long way in showing someone you care.
Friendships do take effort to maintain, but they’re worth it—and if you and your friends are willing to put in a little time and care, your bond can stay strong no matter where summer takes you.
Wishing you an incredible summer, Annabel Groseclose ‘27
That sets a precedent for other actors [...] to say, like, oh, this flew in North Carolina. Maybe it can fly here,” O’Geen said in February. Center for Political Engagement President Sophia Ludt ‘25 echoed O’Geen’s sentiment. “If the case continues to be upheld, the precedent will enable losing candidates to challenge votes even after multiple recounts and certifications. This action jeopardizes the integrity of elections and silences the voices of those who voted correctly with proper identification. We are not talking about fraudulent voters; we are talking about voters who followed all of the rules,” Ludt said in an email inquiry.
Perspectives 4
“With what is Davidson College apologizing?”: A critique of Davidson’s racial reckoning
ANAYA PATEL ‘25 (ANY PRONOUNS)
Throughout my four years at Davidson College, I have been closely involved with Davidson’s public history efforts. Since co-founding the Historical Campus Tour on colonialism, enslavement and white supremacy in 2023, I have gained an intimate understanding of the College’s patterns of narrative control. On paper, the College is taking the ethical and progressive steps toward equity and racial justice: constructing a memorial to the enslaved people who built Davidson’s campus, hiring new Africana studies professors and turning Beaver Dam Plantation into an educational center. However, there is a logic guiding the decisions about reparative actions: these measures make no structural changes to the College’s operations, and no money leaves the College’s ecosystem.
In imagining pathways to justice and repair, I continuously look to Panashe Chigumadzi, an Africana historian and journalist who reminds us of what reparations require. In her 2023 essay “With What Are You Apologizing?” Chigumadzi grounds reparative action in the reality that “transatlantic slavery is the material and metaphysical womb of the modern world.” Because everything in existence was built and has been sustained by colonialism and slavery, it follows that any redress for harm would be empty without a transformation of those very structures and systems, an end to this modern world. Chigumadzi fixes her analysis in the African philosophy of Ubuntu, a framework that demands costly forgiveness. “You cannot receive forgiveness without giving something up as an act of your contrition,” she writes. If slavery is the womb that birthed this college, its repair must be costly, material and transformative. Over the past few years, however, I have witnessed the Davidson College administration attempt to control its institutional narrative in order to maintain its authority, wealth and whiteness.
Davidson College was founded in 1837 through the ethnic cleansing of the Catawba Nation and with wealth generated from the subjugation and enslavement of Africans. The College has been the most forthcoming about its history of slavery, materially and metaphorically represented in the campus bricks constructed by enslaved people. However, in emphasizing this history only in the College’s origins, this narrative displaces how enslavement and white supremacy have sustained the College through its entirety. There is no better example of this than the impact of Maxwell Chambers, an enslaver and participant in the transtlantic slave trade, whose wealth was necessary for the College to remain open during the Civil War and to begin to expand its endowment.
I arrived on campus in 2021 with some of this historical knowledge. Like many students, I had watched Carol Quillen’s apology video, read through the Commission’s report, and was appreciative of Davidson’s transparency—not every university, let alone a small liberal arts college, takes ownership of its violent histories. It was not until I moved into Davidson’s dorms that I realized how much hunting was required to find this history. The Disorienting Davidson Tour, created by HD Mellin ‘20 and Tian Yi ‘18, in addition to James B. Duke Professor of Africana Studies Dr. Hilary Green’s course Race and Campus History would eventually ground my knowledge in Davidson’s entanglement with racial capitalism and white supremacy—a relationship that connects together centuries
of exploitation and expropriation.
During the summer of 2023, Lauren Collver ‘25 and I founded and designed the Davidson College Historical Campus Tour, a project intended to spread knowledge about our campus history and tie Davidson’s past to its contemporary operations. Soon after planning began, we were approached by Associate Chaplain Daniel Heath, whose support from the Davidson Forum allowed for the tour to develop and for tour guides to be paid. Nevertheless, the tour program has remained almost completely student-run. The guided walking tour takes participants from the decimation of the Catawba Nation and forced labor of enslaved Africans to racial violence of the 20th and 21st centuries, such as racialized halftime performances at football shows that featured Black children or the Lost Cause nostalgia that remained alive on campus for over 100 years after the Civil War. White supremacy did not end with the abolition of slavery, with the Civil War or with racial integration. It has merely been replicated and reproduced.
After sending the first draft of the tour script to President Doug Hicks’s ‘90 office in October 2023, and after every college vice president took a pilot tour, we heard nothing from the administration for months—not until the day before our first public tour in February 2024. While some of their edits provided additional context, the administration’s comments were largely disapproving. They made clear a desire to maintain authority over knowledge production, frame racial violence as a symptom of a bygone era and obscure the College’s relationship with white supremacy. Over the past two years, I have only been confirmed in this suspicion.
The administration initially claimed that our scholarship was difficult to “fact-check,” as we cite secondary sources that discuss colonialism and enslavement on campus, sources they deemed “interpretative.” This criticism was only directed toward student and faculty research, such as HD Mellin’s student thesis Beneath the Bricks. The administration found no issue with our citations of nonpeer-reviewed reports from the institution itself. By drawing this double standard, the Davidson administration proved the limits of its own institutional reckoning: knowledge is only valid if the administration maintains the authority to make that validation.
In their edits, the administration also critiqued the tour’s lack of recognition of “the college’s” initiatives. The script’s discussion of Dr. Green’s report on Chambers was not enough—they wanted it to be clear that “the college” commissioned the report, as if Dr. Green or even we as students were in fact not part of “the college.” Beyond defining who can and cannot claim to be part of “the college,” the very assumption that the administration should be applauded at all comes into question. Why should we celebrate the administration for raising the minimum pay to $13.50 only in October 2021, when generations of families have been staff for Davidson College since emancipation? Why should we deem the College progressive for hiring four more Africana Studies faculty in 2023 when demands for an Africana Studies department are rooted in the 1980s? Why did histories of racial violence and exploitation only become important to the institution in 2017 when the Commission on Race and Slavery was founded? Did the College only realize that mass murder, enslavement and exploitation were wrong within the past decade? The answer here is not that Davidson’s past actions were contradictory to its mission, or that the College has had a few bad actors.
In reality, Davidson’s actions over time have remained in line with the College’s origins of colonialism and enslavement. Institutions make choices that seem progressive when there is no other option, when it’s too difficult to keep the skeletons in the closet, and when transparency is both financially beneficial and allows Davidson to keep pace with competitor institutions that are all reckoning together. In the administration’s request for more praise in the tour script and their attempt to balance every negative harm with a positive step, they affirmed a belief that the College should be commended for their work without making sacrifices to their land or wealth.
A brief glance at the “Post-Commission Initiatives and Progress” page on Davidson’s website plainly shows that no money has left the College and that all steps toward equity and racial justice have only been in service of the people of Davidson College. For example, initiatives to hire new faculty members or increase diversity, equity and inclusivity programming—while important for creating an inclusive campus culture—do not redistribute any money away from College itself. These steps work to also increase the College’s prestige without forcing the institution to make any structural changes. The upcoming monument “With These Hands: A Memorial to the Enslaved and Exploited” was estimated to cost $4 million, money that could have been put directly into the hands of descendant community members, but the construction of a monument is seen as a necessary measure for institutions of higher education. This step is costly, but is it forgiveness? A monument is not necessarily in service of members of Davidson’s descendant community or even members of West Davidson. It is an art piece that will sit on Davidson’s land, for its students, faculty and staff to solemnly digest and reflect without promising meaningful repair. If justice is assumed to equal the severity of harm, the College makes clear their belief that awareness through art and education is equal to that of theft, bondage and death.
Simultaneous to Davidson’s institutional initiatives that claim pillars of equity and justice, the administration’s narrative control has attempted to displace contemporary racial violence. In adapting our in-person guided walking tour to a virtual interface, the language of our initial script was heavily sanitized. Though a virtual tour required a shorter and less dense script, all decisions of what to cut and what to keep hold political weight. The edits from the virtual script erased most modern instances of racial violence, removing history after the 1980s unless it had a positive spin. For example, the editors replaced information about KKK and Confederate imagery in Kappa Alpha spaces with an anecdote about Mike Malloy ‘70, a story that applauds a Davidson fraternity for their solidarity with an African American student. Though an important act of resistance, this was a singular and rare moment of white student support within the backdrop of decades of white supremacist activity within fraternity spaces.
The subtitle of the tour itself was also changed from “Davidson’s Legacy of Colonialism, Slavery, and White Supremacy” to “Race, Slavery, and Segregation.” In changing the title, the College disconnects slavery from contemporary manifestations of white supremacy. “Segregation” specifically denotes a Jim Crow era squarely in the past. This obfuscation is present across the administration’s operations. Despite staff from the Office of Admission & Financial Aid claiming appreciation for the tour and requesting to collaborate, they required us to
change the language on our flyer if we wanted to promote the program to prospective students. One admission officer wrote to us in an email, “while we want to be as transparent as possible, we simply can’t have the triggering words ‘colonialism, slavery, and white supremacy’ cycling through our lobby.” It has been almost two years since we began designing this tour, and longer since I started to observe Davidson’s work to repair. To quote Chigumadzi, I ask, “with what is Davidson apologizing?” Chigumadzi reminds us that forgiveness must be material, yet Davidson’s initiatives only work to grow the College’s financial, social and political investments. The administration holds a tight grip on its institutional narrative because they know it is cheaper to obscure the College’s ongoing relationship with white supremacy than sacrifice any of their land or wealth. They deeply understand that, once you start pulling the strings of history, the alleged values of the institution become increasingly hollow. What’s left is the web of exploitation and dispossession that binds the College together. You realize that the Honor Council was founded the same year that the College began talks of racial integration. You learn that the College laundry service, which only ended in 2015, was not created for student convenience but as a way to control entrepreneurship of the town’s Black laundresses and delivery men. You draw lines between the beautification of the College’s greenway on Griffith Street to the displacement of Black residents. You come to the conclusion that promises of racial justice are not just empty but smoke and mirrors intended to keep you disillusioned and docile, to convince you that Davidson is doing the most they possibly can—that is, they are doing everything possible within the limits that maintain Davidson’s wealth and whiteness.
With what is Davidson apologizing? Can their apology ever be meaningful if the structure and logics of the institution remain the same? Repair requires a radical reimagination of what exists and what can be. An educational institution like Davidson does not have to prioritize the accumulation of capital. It does not have to serve only its students, faculty, and staff. It does not have to only pay employees the minimum wage to live. What would it look like for Davidson to redistribute wealth and land to the communities it has harmed without any strings attached? To open its borders in alignment with the belief that every person deserves education? To prioritize care and liberation as core values instead of competition and prestige?
I write this article not to be ungrateful or accusatory. The administration’s decisions mirror the strategies of every institution of higher education, which simultaneously builds and has been built by systems of oppression. To echo Chigumadzi, justice demands that we ask the impossible of the institution and the impossible of ourselves. True justice and repair mean the end of the modern world, and we should not accept anything less.
Anaya Patel ‘25 is an Africana studies and anthropology double major from San Antonio, TX and can be reached for comment at anpatel@davidson.edu.
Sports
Top-ranked baseball ‘Cats stay strong in conference play
ALEX THOLE ‘28 (HE/HIM) SPORTS WRITER
Davidson College baseball is off to a hot start in 2025 as the ‘Cats continue to win in the Atlantic 10 (A-10), currently sitting atop the conference leaderboard at 9-3, with an overall 14-17 record. Approaching the halfway point of conference play, the ‘Cats hold a one game lead over George Mason University and the University of Rhode Island, who are tied for second place at 8-4.
Head Coach Rucker Taylor is pleased with his team’s improvements this season—after starting 2-6, Davidson has gone 12-11 since the beginning of March. “We’ve played better over the past month,” Taylor commented. “Particularly our infield defense [is playing better], and offensively we’re driving the ball more.” Three of those eleven losses came at the hands of the No. 4 ranked team in the country, Clemson University, along with other major conference opponents, including the University of South Carolina, North Carolina State University (NC State) and Duke University. “I think that group of teams helped our hitters a lot and was a good thing for us. The Clemson weekend was really the first time the group was away together for an extended period. It was good to be together as a group. Playing in a great environment like that was a good thing for us,” Taylor said.
Eli Putnam ‘25 has excelled this season, leading the ‘Cats in at-bats (125), runs (38), hits (47) and homeruns (11). While no players could be reached for comment, Student Manager Gabe Mervis was impressed with Putnam’s stats so far. “Eli has been absolutely outstanding.” On March 25, Putnam was named USA Baseball’s Golden Spikes Award Week 6 Player of the Week for his performances against NC State and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Putnam racked up four hits in five at-bats in each of Davdson’s three games against VCU and totaled ten runs, fourteen runs batted in (RBI) and five home runs. Putnam was also named A-10 Player of the Week
and Perfect Game’s Player of the Week. Putnam is not the only Wildcat to turn in outstanding conference performances. Michael O’Shaughnessy ‘26 hit four home runs over three games against the University of Dayton on March 28-29, earning Davidson back-to-back A-10 Player of the Week honors.
Partially responsible for the ‘Cats turnaround in March was the return of Anthony Torreso ‘26. After missing all of 2024 and the beginning of 2025 due to injury, Torreso has been stellar since getting back to the diamond on March 12, leading Davidson in batting average (.394), slugging percentage (.818) and on-base percentage (.571).
Davidson has also received support from its freshman class. Pitcher Jacob Vokal ‘28 earned A-10 Rookie of the Week honors for his starts on the mound against South Carolina and Clemson on March 4 and March 9, striking out three batters, allowing three hits and giving up just one run earned in a combined six innings pitched. Jamie Daly ‘28 ranks second on the team in hits and home runs and fourth in batting average. Daly earned A-10 Rookie of the Week honors after driving in four runs
and homering once in three games against the University of Massachusetts Amherst, giving the ‘Cats consecutive rookie honors. “It’s been exciting to see the impact our freshmen are making,” Mervis said. “It has been really awesome to watch our young guys play with a lot of energy and confidence on the field.”
With twenty-two games remaining and eighteen conference contests left on the schedule, much of the season remains in front of the ‘Cats. This season features a larger conference slate than past years, increasing conference games from twenty-four to thirty and ensuring that each A-10 team will face all but one conference opponent. “The new format means a little more travel for us and a little more playing in not ideal baseball weather,” Taylor said. “I do like that you see most of the teams in the conference as opposed to missing several each year.” Davidson will look to capture its first regular season conference title since 2022 and its first A-10 Baseball Championship since 2017. Taylor likes what he’s seen in his team thus far. “Similar to most years, we want to be as good as this specific group can be. We’re not a finished product at this point. I think we can have growth in several areas, and if we can stay healthy and get a few injured guys back, I think we have a chance to finish the second half of the season in a great spot.”
Mervis senses an opportunity for success in the latter stages of the season. “We have a lot of confidence in the depth and talent on this roster, and with that comes some big goals—not just for regular season success, but for making a run in the postseason. To get there, staying healthy and making sure everyone’s ready when their number is called will be key. College baseball is a long season, and anything can happen on any given day. The main thing for us is to keep showing up with confidence, trust each other and take it one day at a time.”
Unfortunately, the ‘Cats lost their matchup against North Carolina A&T State University on April 8, 5-7. They look to redeem themselves against Saint Louis University on April 11.
Club Crew makes triumphant return to campus
Davidson students reestablish team culture, finding quick success
MASON MAYNARD ‘28 (HE/HIM) SPORTS WRITER
After a three-season competitive hiatus, Davidson Club Crew has returned to the water with a new formula for club sport success. The team kicked off their season at the Clemson Sprints Regatta on March 29, competing for the first time since November of 2021.
Rowing closely with Clemson University, Auburn University and the College of Charleston, the ‘Cats placed second in the Men’s Single Sculls and Men’s Double Sculls. In the Women’s Novice 4+ and 8+, the ‘Cats placed third. “It was a learning experience,” Co-President Aidan Marks ‘27 remarked. “A lot of us on the team had never gone to a regatta before.” “I was honestly just proud [of our performance],” Co-President Annabel Groseclose ’27 said.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Club Crew claimed to be among the most popular club sports at Davidson. Returning from a significant lull in membership, Marks and Groseclose look to rebuild crew, growing
membership and competitive involvement while maintaining a welcoming environment for all participants.
“A lot of people come into college burnt out from their high school teams,” Marks said. “We wanted to make sure that we’re really just a platform for people who still love rowing to continue being involved in the sport.”
For club rowers like Akeelah Romeo ‘28, the balance between relaxation and competition is ideal. “The general vibe of Club Crew is mostly relaxed until we’re ready to work. Everyone is super hardworking and we all want to get our times down.” Cara Richards ‘28 echoed Romeo: “Club Crew is very relaxed—nothing super competitive. It’s really calming, actually.”
Romeo’s evaluation of Club Crew’s atmosphere compliments Marks and Groseclose’s vision for the club. For those that lack experience but want to get involved in rowing, Club Crew provides the ideal environment. “We all get along really well and we row really well together,” Richards said.
The responsibilities of running a club sport team can be heavy. “Annabel and I have learned a lot about how to liaise with administrators,
Standings Update
how to figure out trailer certification, boater’s education, how to get boats repaired, register for regattas and complete all these tasks” Marks said. “I have a lot of respect for people who run club sports at Davidson. It’s not an easy process.”
Marks and Groseclose have successfully taken up this responsibility, leading a team that aspires to return to regular competition. However, these responsibilities also fall on the members. When the team was unsure how they would transport boats to their regattas, Soren Timura ‘25 volunteered to get certified to drive a trailer so the team could travel to Clemson.
Romeo shared some of her responsibilities: “I’ve learned a lot about the mechanics of the boat and I’ve been helping out a lot with tool work.”
Hoping to reclaim its throne as a popular club sport, Club Crew functions as a microcosm of the greater Davidson experience. “Club sports provide students with an opportunity to engage in organized athletics while developing leadership skills and fostering a passion for competition,” Assistant Director of Physical Education & Campus Recreation Allen Sutton
Baseball Standings
said. “Davidson’s Club Crew team plays a vital role in shaping the culture of club sports by promoting teamwork, discipline and camaraderie among its members.”
The future of Club Crew lies in the hands of the present-day members. “We’re rebuilding toward what Club Crew used to be on campus. There’s something really unique about crew—it draws in a mix of people who want a challenge, a team, and to have some fun. We may not be the loudest group on campus, but we have pride in what we do. I’d love to see our presence grow again—not just in numbers, but in how people perceive us as a tight-knit, driven and welcoming team,” Groseclose said. “In crew, you’re coming together for a shared endeavor,” Marks said. “When you’re on the water together, you’re rowing in sync, you have this very clear shared objective and you need to be working together with everybody. It’s a pretty special experience.” The ‘Cats look forward to their next regatta at the North Carolina Rowing Championships in
Michael O’Shaughnessy ‘26 hits a home run against Dayton on March 29. Photo by Tim Cowie.
Arts and Entertainment 6
Gold medalist Laurie Hernandez speaks at Davidson
ANNA FARMER ‘27 (SHE/HER) PERSPECTIVES CO-EDITOR
Not many people can say they have competed in the Olympic Games. Only one person can say they were the youngest gymnast on the U.S. women’s gymnastics team in the 2016 Summer Games. During her visit to Davidson on April 1, 24-year-old Laurie Hernandez, Olympic gold and silver medalist, winner of “Dancing with the Stars” and The New York Times best-selling author, proved that while she does indeed have incredible abilities, she is more than just her accomplishments, something many Davidson students can relate to.
Faculty, staff and Davidson community members eagerly awaited Hernandez’s arrival in a darkened Duke Family Performance Hall. Union Board Speakers Chair Emma Busch ‘27 introduced the highly-anticipated speaker, but still, for a few moments after, the stage lay empty. Just as whispers turned to murmurs, Hernandez peeked her head out from behind the curtain and ran onto the stage. Throughout her TED talk-style conversation, Hernandez walked the audience through her life and her experiences with mental health as an elite gymnast, during which her knack for performance shined through.
A current drama major and creative writing minor at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Hernandez engaged the audience with her quick wit and her ability to reference popular memes and trends. “Mama a girl behind you,” Hernandez said in her opening remarks, referring to a trending video among social media platforms such as TikTok. The majority of Hernadez’s talk focused on her journey growing up in the world of elite athletics, though she also dove into life post-gymnastics as a dedicated student and lover of writing and literature. “Am I gonna say it? Yeah, I’m gonna say it. I read so much Wattpad growing up,” Hernandez replied when asked about her favorite childhood book series. This comment about Wattpad, known to be an online hub of fanfiction and young adult romance, sparked a ripple of laughter and applause from the crowd.
Prior to the main event, Union Board members dined with Hernandez at the Nancy Blackwell Alumni House on Main Street. Alex Marron ‘27, Union Board publicity chair, was among this group of students. “I think the best part was getting
to talk with her one-on-one and just seeing how down-to-earth she is and willing to meet everyone and share her experiences,” Marron shared.
Busch, who organized the event, also appreciated Hernandez’s ability to easily connect with Davidson students. “I felt like Laurie meshed really well and her energy was [a] Davidson student [vibe].”
Despite being a well-known figure nationwide, Hernandez aimed to connect with Davidson through a student perspective.
“One of the most exciting things about being able to speak at different colleges is talking to people around a similar age range and being able to connect with people, even though our life paths may look very different,” Hernandez shared.
Though Hernandez cultivated a light-hearted atmosphere with the audience during the talk, she also addressed more serious topics and aspects of her life story, which included mental health struggles as a young, female athlete.
“The most important thing is that people know that they’re not alone and that whether it’s going to the Olympics or going to college or being a theater major or a writer or whatever it is, all of that comes with its own set of struggles. And the entire point is to normalize that and to make new friends along the way. And I feel your college has done a great job at that,” Hernadez said.
Following the talk, a Q&A session moderated by Amaya Daniel ‘25 allowed audience members to engage directly with Hernandez. Daniel, an accomplished athlete on the Davidson
TCollege women’s swimming and diving team, described the atmosphere cultivated by Hernandez throughout the Q&A. “I think my interview was really comfortable with her. Before I went on the stage, me, her and Emma had a dance party to get rid of nerves […] which was really fun. I appreciated being able to bounce ideas off her beforehand at the dinner and the banter between the two of us on the stage. I didn’t feel afraid to ask a question [because] she was so real and honest and down to earth.”
As a college student herself, Hernandez gave various snippets of advice to Davidson students throughout the Q&A. “If you give 110% every single day, you’ll be burnt out by Thursday and then you have nothing to give and you’re gonna have to crash and sleep it out for the rest of the weekend and attempt to pick yourself up by Monday and then give 110%. That’s not working smart. It’s not,” Hernandez explained. However, college-aged students were not the only recipients of Hernandez’s advice. Among the crowd sat young girls from the Town of Davidson, eagerly waiting to ask questions. “It was really sweet to see local young girls in particular from gymnastics studios nearby come and get really excited to meet Laurie,” Assistant Director of Student Activities Candace Mulherin remarked.
Busch also noticed the excitement of younger members of the audience. “The little girls who were sitting in the front row [...] actually might have been the top moment for me because I think a lot of them are gymnasts too, and it was just really cool to have a whole range of people there.”
When answering these girls’ questions, Hernandez ensured they were heard, making clear eye contact and speaking in a gentle tone. “There might come a point in time where you might start to realize you’re just a little different from everybody around you, and sometimes it feels a little lonely. And I’m here to tell you, there’s nothing wrong with being different,” Hernandez shared with one young girl in the crowd in response to a question.
“So you could take it as an analogy, my story. Sometimes it’s not always about being the best at some things. Sometimes just being there is actually enough,” Hernandez concluded.
Anna Farmer ‘27 is an environmental science major from Falmouth, ME and can be reached for comment at anfarmer@ davidson.edu.
Student talent shines in The Outsider
he Outsider , not to be confused with S. E. Hinton’s novel The Outsiders , is a political comedy written by New York playwright Paul Slade Smith. Don’t let the political aspect scare you, though. The show does not mock specific political groups, nor does it inspire pessimism. Anyone can go see this show to have some great laughs, enjoy the top-notch acting and feel a little bit better about the modern world.
Roughly ten years after its Broadway premiere, Davidson is showing The Outsider in the Barber Theater until April 13. While the show does not contain any legible references to contemporary partisan discourse, it arrives on campus at a timely moment when laughter is sometimes needed to withstand politics.
The whole two-hour show takes place inside the Vermont governor’s office—a massive set designed by Chair of Theatre Anita Tripathi. “There was not an inch of unused space,” audience member Will Connley ‘25 stated. “This [the theatre department] is the department of collaboration [...] Even the stage managers and crew found a role inside the play,” he added, referencing a scene transition during which the stage manager and crew redecorate the stage in uniforms that establish them as characters in the play.
In the opening scene, audience members see campaign pollster Paige Caldwell, played by Isabella McCormick ‘25, and Chief of Staff Dave Riley, played by Hays Craig ‘28, discussing a bizarre and challenging scenario: Vermont Governor Larry Clarke and his entire staff are navigating a sex scandal in their office. In this moment, they discuss Clarke’s replacement, Lieutenant Governor Ned Newley, who Riley describes as brilliant, though lacking in confidence. As they exit the office, we see Ned Newley, played by Walker Hansen ‘25, enter stealthily in a sequence of physical comedy. He has no reason to sneak in, and he ungracefully trips on a rug before being startled by a painting. Onlookers also meet the new temporary assistant, Louise Peakes, played by Samantha Smith ‘25. Louise is an outgoing, yet muddled, woman who has never managed to keep a job for longer than a day. Her jumbled energy mixes with Riley’s stress to provide a comedic dynamic that is palpable whenever the two are onstage together.
The story really begins with the arrival of Martha Vance, played by Emma Walsh ‘27.
According to Newley, Vance was political advisor to “forty-four of the last forty-five presidents,” and now she is here to turn him into a political star. She thinks that what the country needs is an “outsider” who regular people can relate to, and she believes she has found the perfect candidate in Ned.
In this show, Craig plays the “straight man,” a more composed foil to the over-
the-top comedic characters surrounding him. “I did a lot of theatre in high school, and then I was also in a Directing I [theatre class] scene,” Craig said. “I was looking for more acting opportunities here and thought a non-polarizing political comedy would be very interesting.” Though he is an intended chemistry major on the pre-med track, Craig is very interested in the theatre department. “I’m in Acting I right now and I am planning to do more productions in the future.”
Being the department’s fourth and final production of the year, The Outsider was a farewell to the Davidson stage for three of the show’s stars: Smith, Hansen and McCormick. The seniors all agreed that they are happy to be ending their Davidson careers with this performance. “I’m really grateful I get to end with such a high-energy show that’s also very grounded in life and has a lot of levity in it,” Smith said.
Smith and Hansen both plan to pursue a Master of Fine Arts and a career in acting. “I just wanna be involved in theatre in some way. I’ll take any sort of job, administrative or whatever. I have a history degree, so maybe I could even do dramaturgy or archive work,” Hansen stated.
In the fall, McCormick will be teaching English at a school in Spain while applying to law school. While she does not plan to continue any theatre education, she emphasized that she would still like to participate in communitylevel theatre. “It will always be part of my life,” she said. “I feel incomplete without being in a show.”
Throughout their work for The Outsider, the actors developed fond memories. Smith recounted a story from April Fool’s Day: “We all had to crowd around one of our actors after rehearsal because his friends were hiding in the bushes and were pieing him after rehearsal ended. And so we all huddled around him and he had to run for his life after rehearsal, so that was a lot of fun to witness.”
While these seniors may be departing, they emphasized that the theatre department is
always looking for more thespians. “Get on the all-theatre email list and don’t be afraid to pay a visit to the professors and learn about what you can look out for [...] There are always lower-stakes opportunities needing actors,” Smith said.
By the show’s end, audience members will have had a well-deserved break from taking politics seriously, as you are reminded of the importance of being earnest, a theme that would make Oscar Wilde cheer from his grave. In these trying times, one of the best things students can do is look to the arts to seek levity and community. If it’s not too late, do yourself a favor and go see The Outsider
Jamey Davis ‘28 is a theater major from Roanoke, VA and can be reached for comment at jadavis@davidson.edu.
Amaya Daniel ‘25 interviews Laurie Hernandez during her talk at Davidson on April 1. Photo by Anna Farmer ‘27.
Walker Hansen ‘25, Samantha Smith ‘25 and Hays Craig ‘28 pose for pictures as their characters in The Outsider. Photo from the Davidson College Theatre Instagram account.
Student actors on stage perform on opening night of The Outsider Photo from the Davidson College Theatre Instagram account.
JAMEY DAVIS ‘28 (HE/HIM) STAFF WRITER
Living Davidson
Crossword These Days
Crosswords by Victor Fleming ‘73
5 Orangutan, e.g.
6 “Saturday Night ___”
7 Acorn, e.g.
8 Longtime Senator Hatch
9 Gardner of “The Night of the Igua na”
10 Teaser’s result in a salon 11 To the sheltered side
12 Not fat 13 Cellar door device 19 “Okey-dokey”
21 Ability to grip the road
25 “The Deer Hunter” actor Robert De ___
27 They’re not quite octaves
29 Pt. of NBC
30 Smoker’s residue 32 Dismissive exclamation
33 Donut center
34 Counterfeiter chaser
35 Skater Thomas
36 Diner appliance
38 Laundry need
42 Frosty’s makeup
45 Falling in with
49 ___ the doorbell
51 Worked really hard
53 Slangy denial
55 Put back on the skillet
56 1950’s Sen. Kefauver
57 Touched down
58 Old Italian “lettuce”
59 Break-___ point
61 Airborne pest
62 Missile storage building
65 Classic start 66 Keg outlet
ANSWERS TO PREVIOUS CROSSWORD: GRAPEVINE STUFF
Crime Log
04/06/25, 00:05 hrs
Alcohol Offenses: Consume by Person Under 21 PCC #5, Inactive
SGA Updates
Community Committee:
Welcomed seven new members to our meeting last week and are continuing outreach efforts. Meeting with Title IX Coordinator Carley Dix this week to discuss the age of consent. Working to schedule a coffee chat with Mak Tompkins, Dean Shawn McQuillan-Krepps and Dean Angela Harris.
Campus Outreach:
Discussed media plans for next year and brainstormed video ideas, including study space highlights. Considering an SGA study break event. Reviewing the spring survey. Designing an SGA Linktree and compiling said links. Meeting with Dr. Stacy Reimer to discuss a joint calendar.
Charters and Bylaws:
April break shuttles are scheduled and signups are going out on Thursday, April 10. Lampus shuttles were a success on Saturday, and the next round is scheduled for Saturday, May 3.
Elections Council:
SGA President: Connor Hines ‘26 / SGA Vice President: Harry Carter ‘28 / Student Solicitors: Greer Levy ‘26 and John Endres ‘26 / Honor Council Representatives: Abigail Benko ‘27, Silas Garrett ‘27, Samantha Flum ‘27, Anna Mathy ‘26, Charlie Rhein ‘26
Other Updates:
President Doug Hicks ‘90 visited the SGA on Tuesday, April 8 to share information and answer questions from the Senate and students in attendance. The Elections Council will conduct a runoff election on Wednesday, April 16 for first-year Honor Council positions.
IYowl The
Irreverent student journalism since 2004. Castigat Ridendo Mores.
yowl.com/moreradioslander The Embezzlement Issue
Professor band somehow always available during daytime.
Page No Office Hours?
On-campus Wattpad views spike by 1800% after Laurie Hernandez talk.
Page Find that Fan Fiction
April 9, 2025
Girl needing sweet treat blissfully unaware she is low on dining dollars.
Page Commons Market Crash
Amount of pollen on campus outnumbers students 10:1
t’s official, folks: The zombie outbreak triggered by Dr. Vavis Darnado’s disastrous hunt for an anti-aging miracle drug won’t be stealing the spotlight today because something far more sinister is at play. Sure, the undead are shambling across the quad, mindlessly hunting for brains (as if there’s any intellectual life to be found here). But let’s shift our focus onto the REAL threat the yellow menaces that’ve been wreaking havoc on our sinuses, sapping our motivation and testing the limits of our will to live. Yes, I’m talking about those little yellow devils who seem to multiply by the second, speak in chaotic gibberish and leave destruction in their wake…
Minions?
No. Pollen.
The latest environmental data—gathered through the highly scientific method of walking outside and immediately regretting it—reveals that pollen now outnumbers students on campus by a ratio of 10:1. And unlike students, who are generally discouraged from reproducing in public, pollen seems to thrive on spectacle. Coating every surface with a thin yellow layer of smug, plant-based fertility, these trees flash their pollen at us like the frat bros who, freshly buzzed, continue their mission to parade their shaved heads around—signaling a victory we never agreed to.
Physical Plant workers have officially confirmed campus-wide defeat. “We’ve stopped using leaf blowers,” one employee, with their voice trembling and eyes glazed over, said. “We’re just… gently fanning things now.” Their attempts to clean surfaces have devolved into performance art. One janitor reportedly mopped the same yellowed square in Union for four consecutive hours, only to watch it
25-hour Senate speech almost surpasses record for time wasted in Libs chatting.
Page “Locked In”
re-pollinate mid-swipe. When asked for a comment, she blinked slowly and whispered, “It’s breathing.”
Meanwhile, the college administration is undeterred, especially with admitted students touring campus, and remain committed to “embracing diversity.” A rally has been scheduled to “honor the pollen’s differences,” complete with biodegradable confetti and a speech from President Doug Hicks ‘90 titled “Achoo: A Reflection.”
In a commendable display of half-hearted initiative, a campus-wide wellness email urged students to “seek shelter in community,” which appears to have manifested as seven undergrads piling into the Union vending machine. None have emerged. The SGA responded by reelecting their president unopposed—after all, he did bring Chick-fil-A to campus. Is there hope? Probably not. But there is a new student organization called P.A.I.N.—Pollen Allergy Is Noteworthy—who meet weekly in the only pollen-free space on campus: the dusty, forgotten shelves in the library basement. They’ve started designing “I SURVIVED THE DAVIDSON SPRING” t-shirts, but don’t get too excited—ATC can only fund “I SURVIVED THE DAVIDSON SPRING FROLICS” shirts, according to their bylaws. So, unless you’re Union Board, the tees are strictly DIY.
And still, despite all these efforts, the pollen falls. Steady. Relentless. Unimpressed by your GPA or the fact that your allergies will have you looking like a swollen tomato in your formal pictures. This is not a season. It is a reckoning.
As of now, Davidson remains open. The campus stands. The Wildcat statue acquires a thin yellow mustache. And somewhere, deep in the Arboretum, a tree laughs.
Genetic experiments that brought back the dire wolf may be used to bring back Lux
This past week, a genetics startup company, Colossal Biosciences, claims to have created the first de-extinct organism, the dire wolf. Dire wolves have been absent from the North American continent for around ten thousand years until two cubs were born using genome editing from a grey wolf and a nearly complete dire wolf genome. This genetic feat is a miracle of modern-day science, and the push to de-extinct other species is already in talks.
Davidson College’s genetics department is rumored to have already begun research into bringing back one of the crucial megafauna of the Davidson ecosystem: Lux. The old mascot went extinct almost one year ago due to drastic environmental changes, one of which being a new basketball coach who is said to have slowly destroyed the successful infrastructure in the area and an increase in predators like the MSBG and peepers.
A genomics major is spearheading this effort through an independent study with professor El Bejjani. The experimentation is taking place in Base Wall next to the cocaine rats. The same technology that was used for the scrapped “Barney” reboot is being used for this mascot regeneration. The researchers have targeted certain genetic sequences that distinguish a mascot’s phenotypical form from each other. This new Lux—though it will not retain the previous Lux’s memories—will be identical to Beta Lux, as researchers have named it.
We won’t see Roary and the new Lux duel it out until Lux undergoes proper training and rehabilitation to soothe possible aggressive errors in the gene-encoding phase. Lux will be equipped with formal training in multiple martial arts disciplines, mastering these sacred arts to reassume power.
See you soon, Lux! Xx <3
WRITERS
Ed, Ed, Ed & Ed Maoowy Mr. Zombie
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“That is a shawty bae slay move”
- Self-titled “Lover of Humanity” (average political science major)
Who did financial crime better: WALT or Games Club?
Page 5,000 Boxes of Pizza vs. Boat
DGlowing review of friend group
Instagram written by others in friend group.
Page 5 Stars
I’ve got a sinking feeling about the ATC budget
espite growing campus concerns about finances, WALT doesn’t seem worried about staying afloat. WALT Co-President and ATC Vice Chair Alan Sputnik ‘26 spent $250 of student-funded ATC money on a boat that doesn’t work and can’t float for a darty on Saturday (condolences if you also weren’t invited). Unlike the series of Appalachiathemed events last week, a whopping generously-estimated five people, all notably WALT adjacent, showed up to the broken-down boat which sat parked outside Nummit. “Apparently, the charms of poverty stop there,” one anonymous boat dartygoer explained. The stunt has raised questions about WALT funding, with #DefundWALT trending on Yik Yak and Beezle, the local underground Davidson College-specific social media platform. Student Activities representatives, who approved the boat purchase, were confused about Sputnik’s intent. “When Alan originally pitched the idea, I thought he was speaking in a broad, abstract metaphor about student life that I really personally connected with. I didn’t think he was actually going to buy a random boat—but I would let him do it again.” Sputnik’s position on both WALT and ATC is a cause for concern among the
Ostudent body. Many may consider this to be a textbook example of a conflict of interest and a “pretty egregious flaunting of embezzlement.” However, the man in charge occasionally hits play on a DJ set while shirtless, so we need to give him even more money! Several club audits were done to expand WALT’s budget, as we desperately need to give them more money to teach a set of six students how to play a bass over pop songs and call it house music. Nonetheless, students spoke very highly of Sputnik’s campus presence. “It was his idea to get a cage and have people stand inside it doing the frat flick for hours on end. This great idea can only come from a magical man. I can’t wait to see how else he will expand our minds in the future. The boat is just the beginning,” one WALT goon, with the radio station’s logo tattooed on their forehead, said. The Yowl editors attempted to conduct an interview with Sputnik but were intercepted and told to beat it by two large Italian men who said they work in the garbage industry. This comes in the wake of the body of an old ATC member being found in the cement during the Watts elevator construction.
Students want higher tuition
n November 18, 2024, students at Davidson College received a familiar email in their inboxes:
A message announcing higher tuition costs going into the next academic year. This declaration shook members of the Davidson community, with many expressing their disappointment that the Board of Trustees didn’t raise tuition even higher.
There is a shared concern that Davidson is not overcharging enough for basic services.
“I think Davidson needs a higher price tag to remain competitive with other colleges,” one student said. “Northwestern costs $94,878 without aid now. Our inability to keep up with these numbers is upsetting. It shows that we’ve really fallen behind.”
Students not on financial aid reflected a similar dissatisfaction. “How else am I supposed to flex that my parents are part of the 1%?” Thadeous Williamson III, a junior in SAE, questioned.
When asked for comment, administration provided a statement claiming that they are working hard to keep Davidson out of reach for lower to middle-class students while still maintaining a generous and inclusive exterior, and that we should expect greater numbers with even vaguer justification next year.
“The tuition raise does not affect our
financial aid policy at all,” a staff member from the Office of Admission & Financial Aid, who wishes to remain anonymous, stated. “Because the number is so high to begin with, it really doesn’t matter because any little crumb we give to these students will look like a lot of money and we’ll still seem generous or whatever, even if we’re actually giving them nothing.”
Director of Supplementary Assistance Dick Yorkipoo also weighed in on how Davidson can continue to bleed students dry through meal plans. “Two words: curing food insecurity on campus,” he said, holding up four fingers. “All we have to say is that we’re trying to force students to get the All-Access Unlimited Meal Plan, even though we’re discouraging food at eating houses and frats and raising the cost of food at Union and the Wildcat Den. We’re also keeping the amount of dining dollars the same, significantly lowering the buying power of each dining dollar. These silly little art majors will never see it coming.” It seems the large outcry has made its way to the administration, as word on the street says leaders are currently drafting a second tuition raise email that will be released on the Friday of Frolics weekend at 5:01 p.m., so no financial aid officers will be available to answer the few students who are checking their emails.
INCIDENT OF THE WEEK
Man had a dream that a complete stranger announced his Africana Studies minor through a thirst trap on Instagram. He hopes it comes true.
Note: The Yowl is a satirical supplement to The Davidsonian Hence, nothing in it should be taken as truth.