For a Better Davidson.
davidsonian.news Issue 9 Volume 123,
The Davidson College Democrats and Republicans give an election recap.
November 13, 2024
Women’s basketball defeats NCAA tournament mainstay.
The secrets of the Dace Studio in Chambers are revealed.
3 5 6
Have you seen this tree?
8
CLAIRE KELLY ‘25 (SHE/HER)
BEN PEAKE ‘25 (HE/HIM)
CO-EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
On Monday, November 4th, the Davidson College community awoke to an alarming email from President Doug Hicks ‘90 regarding the arrest of a Davidson College faculty member. “Police in the town of Mooresville have charged a College employee with one count of felony secret peeping, allegedly using a camera to secretly view one or more locations in Mooresville. Police investigators have begun reviewing images, and believe additional locations could include the Davidson College campus,” President Hicks stated over email.
Public records later revealed that the perpetrator was forty-nine-year-old Jeremy Michael Whitworth, an electrician in the Physical Plant department at Davidson who had also worked as a private electrical contractor outside of the College.
On the public police record, Whitworth’s crime incident was labeled as possession of “Pornography/Obscene Material.” Upon arrest at his home in Mooresville, police discovered and confiscated various hard drives with content that dated back nearly eighteen years. At a press conference held at the Mooresville Police Department on Thursday, November 7th, officers revealed that there are still many unknowns in the ongoing police investigation. However, there is evidence that shows illicit filming of womens’ feet and legs that occurred in public restrooms at Chick-fil-A, Target, and Walmart in Mooresville. “There literally could be dozens and dozens of victims out there that we don’t know about,” Mooresville Chief of Police Ron Campurciani stated, and he urged anyone who had worked with Whitworth to come forward.
Due to the longevity of these nefarious acts, the Davidson administration has been conducting a thorough search of the entire campus. “We continue to have a search of areas at Davidson College because there are still two-thirds of the videos that have not been approximately reviewed by the Mooresville Police at present,” President Hicks stated in an interview with The Davidsonian. “There are none that appear to have been by a secret or fixed camera. They were taken by hidden cell phones or by a GoPro with the people walking around public areas, like in front of the library or across campus.”
According to President Hicks, while footage of restrooms on campus has been found, none of it has included identifiable victims nor been because of installed cameras. “There’s no evidence or trail that suggests there were hidden cameras. We’re just ruling that out because this hit the community so hard.” Even so, many are left with lingering concerns. Mallie Roley ‘25, who participated in research at Davidson over the summer and interacted with many employees of the Davidson facilities staff, was disappointed that someone would take advantage of their
position within the community. “I was really shocked, because [Physical Plant employees are] some of the nicest and most generous people I’ve ever met, and they care so much about the students. I feel like because the community at Davidson is so close-knit it was really heartbreaking to hear about it,” she stated. “Obviously it was scary because your immediate thought, especially as a woman, is, ‘Did that happen to me? [...] Did it happen to the people I care about?’ And I’m really lucky, because I, for the most part, feel very safe on this campus, and it was heartbreaking to feel like that was taken away.”
Kyra Dalbo ‘25, a member of the women’s swimming & diving team, shared similar concerns. “All the female swimmers have mentioned our fears in the locker room. We’ve talked a lot about how we don’t want pictures of us on the internet, and we’re really scared of the possibility that we could have been in pictures from [freshman or sophomore year],” she shared over text.
Amit Markos ‘25, a member of the men’s track & field team, didn’t hold as much anxiety. “I would understand if [there were concerns], especially because our locker rooms just got redone, so [cameras] could have been put in there. [...] [But] it didn’t really have much of an effect on me.”
When asked to comment, members of the administrative and facilities staff at Davidson declined to or did not respond, including
Human Resources and Physical Plant. Chief Communications and Marketing Officer Mark Johnson stated that Davidson has advised employees not to make public statements on the matter. Despite this, President Hicks emphasized the need for transparency. “We’re asking a lot of questions about how this could have happened, how someone who was a regular employee, who did his job well, could also have this other side, and that’s upsetting and confusing,” President Hicks said. “We have a police force, but this is not typical work for [them], and so we are addressing this as directly and proactively as possible [...] We brought in communications and legal and forensics [experts], so we hope to provide clear and more complete answers [soon].”
In an email sent out to students on Thursday, November 7th, President Hicks emphasized that Whitworth is “prohibited from visiting campus.” During the aforementioned interview four days later, President Hicks stated that Whitworth “is no longer an employee at Davidson.”
President Hicks clarified that Davidson did not release the name of the perpetrator in the original November 4th email so as to not elevate Whitworth’s status on campus. “It is a police investigation, and we weren’t going to be the ones to use the name first,” he stated.
President of Student Government Association (SGA) Connor Hines ‘26 has tried to
work with the administration to best communicate students’ needs. He believed that Davidson could have updated the student body earlier than Thursday, November 7th. “There’s always a lot of considerations that they [the College administrators] have [to think about]. Legal issues aside, [...] I would have appreciated [the next] email around Wednesday. Yes, they informed us about it on Monday [...] But I think the wait until Thursday did feel a little long,” Hines stated.
SGA Vice President Maya Rajeh ‘27 still believes the Davidson administration is doing the best they can. “While it wasn’t a pleasant email to read first thing Monday morning, I think it was really good of the College to send that initial email to outline the events and provide context,” Rajeh stated over email. “Doing so sets a tone of transparency, which I know is a practice that students value from the administration. [...] I’m sure the College wanted to collect the facts before reporting back to the community, but at the same time, small updates for students can go a long way. For the future, I would urge administration to ensure that students are hearing from the College first before any external sources. That being said, I would also urge students to recognize that these are the kinds of situations that no one can really plan for, making a perfect response quite difficult.”
It doesn’t help that the Mooresville Police Department operates in a different jurisdiction than Davidson College, creating issues with receiving new information in a timely manner. Hines noted that Davidson can only do so much when it comes to working with the police in this scenario. “The most surprising thing is that, because this is being done by the Mooresville Police Department, and it’s in a different jurisdiction, Mooresville is actually not obligated to share anything with the College. They have been sharing some information just out of [...] transparency, but they are not required to tell the College [anything] until there’s [confirmation], which has put them [the College] in a really weird spot,” Hines added.
The Mooresville Police Department declined to disclose any further information to The Davidsonian, but Communications & Marketing Director for the Town of Mooresville Rika White disclosed that Whitworth was released over a week ago on a $10,000 bail after being taken to Iredell County Jail.
Johnson acknowledged that this is a methodical and slow process. “When you live in an era [where] information is instant, it is frustrating for folks [who want a quick resolution]. We completely understand.”
The ongoing investigation will continue for the foreseeable future. President Hicks is planning on updating the Davidson community soon. “We will communicate again, hopefully this week, with more details on the process from here. We’re not withholding anything. We are working it through, [but] we don’t want to make promises or statements about a process that hasn’t been finalized yet.”
greater empathy for as many people as possible.”
Astudent collective is taking on what they believe to be one of the most pressing issues of our time: imperialism. A combination of political education, activism, and community building, Students Against Imperialism (SAI) works to address the far-reaching impacts of the economic, militaristic, and cultural power of the United States on global communities.
SAI’s roots trace back to the fall of 2023. “Its first iteration was called Students for Ceasefire, [and it was mostly] just a group of students who wanted to see action and talk to each other about Palestine after October 7th, 2023,” Emma BegleyCollier ‘25, co-president of Students Against Imperialism, explained. “That evolved into Cats for Global Peace, which is now Students Against Imperialism, which is a name that more accurately represents what we do.”
Begley-Collier, along with Anaya Patel ‘25 and Judah Silverman ‘27, are the 2024-2025 leaders of the organization. According to Begley-Collier, one of the organization’s primary goals is to create a space for students to think about global politics before they enter positions of power. “The students who go to school here, a lot of them go into government positions. And I think one of our goals is to interrupt a process where people go into these jobs without ever thinking about imperialism.”
The hope is that SAI will leave a lasting legacy on campus. “Imperialism will continue to show up in different ways as time goes on,” SAI member AJ Jacobs ‘25 articulated. “Ideally, having a student organization that revolves around talking about and doing actionable things against imperialism will continue to sustain future student activists.”
Patel pointed out that Davidson has seen a pause in student activism. In their opinion, SAI is not about raising awareness. It is about creating an environment for activism on campus. “Without having a central organization to house any kind of leftist activism or leftist thought, it’s been kind of difficult,” Patel said. “Having something like Students Against Imperialism is important.”
One of the group’s initiatives is the Liberation Library, a weekly gathering aimed at providing sociopolitical education and awareness. Uday Ahuja ‘26, another member of SAI, explained, “We should be aware of the issues around us, but it’s also extremely important to both deepen and broaden our thinking. The Liberation Library is about fostering that
The format is straightforward: every Wednesday from 6:00PM to 7:00PM, students gather at Nummit to engage with short readings on topics such as imperialism, resistance, and oppression. Begley-Collier emphasized that no experience is necessary for these meetings.
“The people who we want to come are the people who don’t really know what imperialism means, [or] maybe are afraid to say things that might be wrong [...] but feel something when they read the news and feel a moral call to do something, [even if they don’t] know what that is,” Begley-Collier stated.
For Jacobs, the Liberation Library occupies a unique role on campus. “Regardless of major or involvement, students can come and engage in some kind of text together,” she emphasized. “It’s an opportunity to talk about global politics
through a lens that a lot of people probably aren’t going to get in class.”
In addition to a place where students can explore global politics outside the classroom, the Liberation Library also provides a sense of community. “I think we get to learn from each other in a really important way,” Jacobs said. “It has been important to build a space of commitment to each other, commitment to thinking about liberation, what it means to us, and how we envision the future.”
Silverman highlighted the group’s commitment to creating an environment that welcomes discussions about protest and change. For Silverman, this work is part of a broader campaign to build awareness and inspire action. “People find something that they feel needs to be protested, needs to be changed, that can happen through this organization [...] The idea for the organization is that there is a future [to combat harm]” Silverman said.
SAI is eager to expand the organization’s reach, and many believe that the Liberation Library is the perfect place to begin fostering important discussions. SAI member Amy Tedeschi ‘25 noted that the Liberation Library is especially valuable for students who want to expand their knowledge. “This semester, when we first started talking to more freshmen, there was just a general sentiment of, ‘I’m just not really sure what’s happening and I want to know more,’” Tedeschi said. “I think that’s kind of why we want to do things like Liberation Library, trying to have more resources for students who want to be able to learn more.”
For SAI, the future is about more than just continuing the work they’ve started: it’s about growing a community of students committed to thinking critically about the world around them and mobilizing for change. “I think a lot of what we’ve been doing has almost been a campaign for consciousness,” Silverman said. “Part of what this group really wants to do is to show people that, one, they should care, both as a student and regardless of the field they go into after Davidson, and two, that they do have power and that they do have the ability to mobilize and make an impact.”
Before I get into how the Democratic Party should move forward, I want to start this piece by saying thank you. Thank you to all of the people who showed up. To all those who canvassed, phone-banked, donated, and volunteered. I can’t say how much y’all made the fight worth it. You know who you are, and I will never forget your efforts.
With that being said, we lost. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. It wasn’t horrific in terms of the popular vote, but it was quite disturbing considering the electoral map we were left with. All the swing states went red. The Republicans will almost certainly control both the Senate and the House of Representatives. All of this is to say that we have a lot of reflection to do.
Here are a couple of things we shouldn’t do. First, don’t blame third parties. Even if we had acquired all of their votes, we still would have lost. Second, don’t blame white women, men of color, Muslims, or Jewish people. They don’t owe our party a dime. Every vote must be earned, regardless of race, sex, gender, sexuality, or religious affiliation. Playing the blame game only isolates people from our cause. Finally, don’t blame foreign actors or cheating. While there is a very real discussion to be had about other countries interfering in our elections, the truth is their influence is not nearly as large as presented. Frankly, we have much bigger fish to fry.
Here are things we should be doing. First, we need to keep an eye on President-elect Donald Trump every step of the way. We cannot allow him to constantly sweep bad policy under the rug. His rhetoric will be barbaric, as usual, but people respond much more to actions they don’t like rather than words. Second, we need to participate in the primaries. We can’t keep complaining about our candidates when we are the ones that pick them. Third, and I am stealing this critique from friends, we need to restructure. There is very little focus on how our state and local branches of the Democratic Party operate, and bad practices are surviving in our ignorance. Attending these local meetings
is crucial for improving. Finally, we need to work. Expecting this election season to come easy was foolish, and I hope we never make that mistake again. We need to support our candidates whenever we can, wherever we can, and however we can. That’s the motto.
Of course, asking people to do all of this without motivation isn’t viable. But that motivation can’t come from me. At the end of the day, we need to build a party, a movement, a community worth fighting for. We can’t expect the most when we give the least. I encourage everyone to think about how it would feel to finally secure a raise in the minimum wage, student loan forgiveness, climate policy, paid sick leave, public school funding, abortion rights, trans rights, workers’ rights, and human rights. That is what we are fighting for. That is what we deserve. See you all in 2026.
- Kailliou Macon-Goudeau ‘25
On behalf of the Davidson College Democrats
To my joy and every other student’s horror, President Donald J. Trump was triumphantly reelected with an unequivocal mandate from the American people to implement his glorious “Agenda 47” policy. Once again, opposing members of every faction that make up the dying Democratic Party tear into each other with the same worn-out arguments they have made for the last eight years about what went wrong. Once again, they get nowhere as they continue to lose their feel for the national pulse. The lies, distortions, and sensationalism of President Trump’s opponents failed in impressive fashion to stop his ascension. As liberal legal scholar Johnathan Turley put it, “Donald Trump just won the greatest jury verdict in American history.”
My fun and our far-left student body’s nightmare does not end here. In an era when even the constituents of the ruling party report overwhelming dissatisfaction with the state of the country, President Trump will deliver needed changes to restore confidence, “inaugurating a new era in US politics and perhaps for the world as a whole,” as political scientist Francis Fukayama put it in his eulogy for The End of History.
President Trump has already hit the ground running, recruiting brave leaders and innovators dedicated to prioritizing the millions of voters that Democrats and Republican rivals of the president have neglected for far too long. But if he and his team are to make good on the wishes of the voters, President Trump must first fight to replace the public and private officials who stand for nothing more than to undermine the will of the American people with dedicated public servants.
President Trump must take immediate steps to deliver on the most important issues of the election before Congress shifts its priorities toward reelection in 2026. This means restoring Trump era executive orders and enforcing the law against those who enter the country illegally. President Trump has and will secure our southern border and reverse the damage of illegal immigration that has upended our safety and financial well-being. Like the last Trump administration, the mere election of a president who is committed to enforcing border laws is already deterring migrant caravans, helping decrease the flow of illegal immigrants through our southern border. In other words, he has
already helped the crisis without lifting a finger or spending a dime.
A return to Trump era economic policies has investors confident in a return to growth and prosperity for stocks, bonds, and the dollar as stocks soar and companies with billions of dollars in enterprise abroad prepare to return substantial portions of their business to American shores. The preservation of Trump era tax cuts will enable unhindered innovation (just like last time), while strategic tariffs targeting predatory overseas competitors will ensure massive companies and countries stay away from American jobs and are unable to undercut American industries as they are rebuilt.
President Trump has already begun the process of taking control of our many international crises through his “peace through strength” diplomacy as he sets a new tone with world leaders. He has committed himself to appointing a federal bureaucracy that can be held accountable to the voters by restoring his 2020 “Schedule F” executive order, passing a law to stop bureaucrats from leaving the government to work at companies they regulate, and fighting for needed congressional term limits. President Trump is once again guaranteed to fill our judiciary with brilliant legal minds that defend the rule of law and American values viciously. And this is only what I could fit into the space allotted to me. It is only a minor fraction of the work your president is undertaking to prepare for his second term.
Donald Trump has already made it clear he has what it takes to rise to the many challenges ahead of him. He proved it four years ago (although people around here either forget or are ungrateful), and things are about to return to business as usual.
We are about to enter a “golden age” of American history. As this president presides over the 250th birthday celebration of the nation, we will be free–under the protection of President Trump–to acknowledge the unrivaled excellence of our past and the years of flourishment to come as a result of this, the final and most consequential chapter of the Trump era. Decades from now, we will look back at this time as the beginning of a great American revival.
- Stephen Walker ‘26
On behalf of the Davidson College Republicans
For millions of women across the country, waking up on the morning of Wednesday, November 6th to the results of the 2024 United States Presidential Election felt like entering a nightmare. The long-impending doom of the election that many of us had tried to convert into hope suddenly came crashing down like a suffocating weight on our chests. Countless feelings immediately arose in response. Perhaps the most potent emotion in those early hours was pure sadness—sadness for the continued lack of representation in our government, sadness for women who may never get to see a female president in their lifetime, sadness for those who worked tirelessly and believed so deeply in overcoming another Trump presidency.
Alongside this sadness came shock. Shock that months of seemingly powerful momentum had been squashed in such a clear defeat. Shock that an overwhelming majority of Americans voted to reinstate a man who has openly expressed disdain for democracy and targeted abhorrent comments toward women, minorities, and American communities. Shock that a white man, whose campaign relied on continuous fearmongering and polarization, received more support than an experienced Black and South Asian woman. What message does this send to younger generations?
It is frustrating to accept that Donald Trump’s campaign, fueled by hatred, underlined by claims of treason from “the enemy within,” and backed by billionaires who want to hold monopoly over American
industries, defeated the immense feeling of hope and unity that the Harris campaign tried to create. But, unfortunately, it’s not surprising. We find ourselves, yet again, in a position of jeopardy and under the control of an administration that has been built through the normalization of hate, division, and control over women and minorities. We do not claim that this result is due to a rigged election or voter fraud, but rather a loss of understanding, compassion, and perspective.
We have heard again and again, “the fight is not over” and “the sun will shine again.”
We have been here before. Since hearing the results, many of us have felt shameful naivete, helplessness, and disillusionment.
We have often found it difficult to articulate our feelings throughout this election and express the magnitude of the consequences we are facing.
This election has led to a collective realization that the dissonance we call out on a national scale as subtle misogyny pervades Davidson’s campus as well. This awareness has created a unique contrast between accepting the sympathy that some men have to offer while also acknowledging their unconscious complacency. Even in what often feels like a liberal bubble, where many share similar political values and beliefs, this disconnect is revealed in small comments that are often dismissed as “humor.” Amidst the grief and loss that was felt after the election, we were forced to hear men make jokes about supporting Trump and being happy that he won. Someone even joked about how unlucky it is to have a uterus. Looking around the room during these jokes, who was really laughing?
Our silence clashed with the echo of male laughter. It became clear that a barrier exists
Our Honor Code is most respected when there are tangible effects on the campus community. Someone can confidently leave their laptop unattended in the library because, as a rule, there is tangible value in the student body respecting each other’s belongings. Nobody seeks to label themselves as “honorable” for not stealing; rather, we all hold an interest in stigmatizing theft and creating communal assurance that our belongings are safe.
Approaching the Honor Code through the recognition of a student’s self-interest is more effective in building a community of trust than citing a deeply self-congratulatory “This is the right thing to do!” Sacrificing our short-term personal interests that might be achieved by stealing, cheating, or lying are contrary to our greater community interests of trust and academic authenticity. However, framing any of this as “honorable” steers us away from fully embracing what self-interest has to offer our community.
The Honor Code is often worshiped by alumni and faculty for its golden age of harsher punishments and greater respect that is now long gone. However, if the Honor Code is characteristically punitive, why should it be revered more than any other law?
The value that comes with intellectual vulnerability, which supports students sharing our authentic and incomplete understanding of things, is still alive on campus. Yet it is shadowed by common feelings of pressure to earn high grades that many opportunities beyond Davidson seem to demand. This pressure may be misplaced, as the average GPA of a graduating senior is 3.7–roughly an A-. Still, compulsively wanting these higher grades is often due to important obligations to scholarships, family, and social pressure that may have been less relevant to the mostly affluent Davidson students of forty years ago. In this way, intellectual vulnerability may have troves to offer in the way of personal development. This vulnerability might also fall short of supporting the mission of pursuing opportunities that make college justifiable for many of us. The “good ol’
between sympathy from men who value women in their lives and the empathy that comes from experiencing life as a woman. Our unfortunate reality is being revealed to us, as those who veiled their hate and prejudice are now emboldened to express it. Over the past few days, the phrase “your body, my choice” has gained traction on social media, popularized through alt-right podcasts and showing up as comments on womens’ posts. We have noticed that this hate speech has shifted from circulating mostly on extremist forums to mainstream platforms. It is difficult to negate the correlation between the Trump administration and the rise of public antagonism, targeting groups based on race and sex.
So, how do we move forward? Many of us do not feel ready for another Trump presidency. The frightening possibility of mass deportations, higher tariffs, and increased censorship looms over us. The uncertainty of our future is more striking now than ever: our next leader is anti-gun restrictions, a climate denier, and a danger to the Department of Education. Facing these unprecedented threats to our rights and freedoms seems exhausting. We, of course, must continue to grieve and heal, but we cannot resign. Now is when we continue to study, work, and act. Now is when we sound the alarm and motivate each other. Now is when we find community and rebuild our strength. Now is when we get out and do the work. Because if not now, when?
days” of the Honor Code may have just stemmed from very privileged students embracing elitism for something that was far less challenging back then compared to now.
So, if the Honor Code shouldn’t be about honor, if it might be elitist, if there might be understandable reasons to break it, and if Davidson might not be unique in failing to cultivate respect for academic sanctity–where does that leave us?
The need for some kind of reminder to act ethically certainly remains. Davidson is a stressful place and decisions that don’t actually reflect our deeper interests are easy to make when the intellectual vulnerability feels highstakes. Talking about this openly is made difficult (perhaps to a fault) because of our duty to report others in violation of the Honor Code and the confidentiality associated with Honor Code hearings. However, my discussions with professors have revealed that cheating, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, has markedly increased. With this in mind, if we are to see the benefits of participating in an ethical community, then support from faculty that addresses rampant cheating will be necessary. Particularly in respect to assignment and course design, constructing work in which learning priorities cannot be met by tools like ChatGPT or Chegg would be more effective than deterring cheating with secretive Honor Council hearings.
With many of us on track to be in charge of or responsible for other people one day as clinicians, scientists, scholars, and leaders, we should train ourselves as a community to answer high ethical stakes. Reframing the Honor Code as guided by self-interest and fully understanding how it impacts the community is necessary for rebirthing it in Davidson’s current academic landscape. Additionally, understanding and respecting why we choose to come together as students and professors is paramount to finding a consistent and effective lens to view the Honor Code. We have a precious opportunity at Davidson to learn alongside people with deep and valuable experiences. Our personal interests will align with those in our community if we work toward supporting each other to authentically represent ourselves in class and to make the most of everyone’s time here.
The Honor Council has already gone in this direction by
Regan Harvey ‘27 is an intended Political Science major and Educational Studies minor from Jackson, WY and can be reached for comment at reharvey@davidson.edu.
Evie Mount-Cors ‘27 is an intended Political Science and French & Francophone Studies double major from Carrboro, NC and can be reached for comment at evmountcors@ davidson.edu.
making the discipline aspect of the Honor Code more transparent. To rebuild an effective Honor Code though Davidson must commit to exploring the implications that “honor” holds for our community today, and how useful those implications actually are in supporting our student body.
Acknowledgements: Thank you to Professors Melissa González, Patricio Boyer, Nicole Snyder, Randy Ingram, Sally Bullock, and Scott Denham for their help in developing and exploring these ideas over the past year.
Katriel Sander ‘27 is an intended Public Health major and German Studies minor from Flat Rock, NC and can be reached for comment at kasander@davidson.edu.
After a roller-coaster 2023-24 season, the Davidson women’s basketball team was looking to get back to their winning ways. On Tuesday, November 5th, the ‘Cats–led by Gayle Fulks in her eighth season as head coach–welcomed the Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) Eagles into Belk Arena for the inaugural tip-off. Davidson would be challenged early. The Eagles have been to the NCAA tournament seven years in a row. Despite their opponent’s clear prestige and excellence, the team, in the words of Coach Fulks, “[wasn’t] going to take no for an answer.”
The first quarter began with strong defense from both sides: with 4:57 left to go, Davidson had only scored five points to FGCU’s six. From that moment on, however, the shots began to fall. Forward Millie Prior ‘25 made her presence known on both ends of the court with eight points and two blocks at the end of the first. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, the first quarter also marked the beginning of foul trouble that would plague them throughout the rest of the half. Davidson committed eight fouls in the first, and they finished the quarter down 14-22.
Both offenses stalled in the second quarter, largely due to strong defensive performances from the two teams. Davidson went from 54.5% shooting accuracy in the first quarter to 14.3% in the second quarter. The Eagles followed a similar pattern, falling from 53.3% to 15.8%. Davidson’s post defense remained stout, with Prior picking up a third block and forward Candice Lienafa ‘28 adding two of her own. As a team, the ‘Cats racked up seven blocks in the first half (easily outpacing FGCU, who had zero). Guard Katie Donovan ‘27 led the scoring in the second quarter with seven out of Davidson’s nine total points. After a defense-heavy quarter, the first half ended with the Wildcats down 23-31. Each team’s offensive slump immediately ended when the second half began. Through six minutes in the third quarter,
ADavidson was shooting 100% from the floor, and guard Kyra Bruyndoncx ‘28 had connected on the team’s first three-pointer of the game. The fouling from the first half cooled off by this point, and Davidson remained within reach of the -
mained unguardable in the post, adding eight more points for the ‘Cats. Despite Davidson’s surging offense, FGCU got back in rhythm and shot 53.8% from the field for the quarter, hitting one three of their own. This trend was prevalent throughout the game: Davidson would inch closer, then the Eagles would again pull away. However, Coach Fulks urged
her players to be resilient, reminding them in the huddle to “stay steady and keep fighting.”
In the fourth quarter, Davidson scored five quick points to cut the lead to three (46-49), forcing a timeout from FGCU. The timeout couldn’t stall Davidson’s surge, as just seconds later guard Issy Morgan ‘25 scored a layup to bring them within one. The two teams battled back and forth, each hitting big-time shot after big-time shot. With just over three minutes left in the game, Donovan’s layups on back-toback possessions put Davidson up one. The Eagles tied the score with a free throw but missed the second that would’ve put them ahead. As the clock winded down, guard Mallorie Haines ‘25 connected on her second three-pointer of the quarter and put Davidson up 57-54. The defense just had to hold. With forty seconds left, FGCU went to the free throw line and made both shots, knocking the Wildcats’ lead back down to a single point. After a pair of missed free throws by Davidson, the Eagles called timeout to set up one final play. Consistent with the night’s theme, Davidson’s stout defense forced a bad shot, and they escaped with a narrow 57-56 win. Prior led the ‘Cats in scoring with eighteen points on the night. She also added another block in the second half, bringing her total to four. After the game, Coach Fulks praised her performance. “Millie is the best defensive player I’ve ever coached. She was involved in almost every single key moment of [the] game, and [I’m] incredibly proud of her for battling through the whole game,” she stated.
Coach Fulks elaborated on the importance of this win for the ‘Cats but urged people to look ahead to the rest of the season. “This was a huge win, but we’ve got a very tough nonconference schedule. And with as young of a team as we have, I think there’s a lot of upside as the season goes along. My hope is that we’re playing our best basketball in February and March this year.”
The Wildcats lost 53-56 to High Point on Sunday, November 10th. They are in Ohio today, November 13th, to face Cincinnati.
pair of quarterfinal Atlantic 10 (A-10) playoff exits concluded the 2024 Davidson women’s and men’s soccer seasons. The women, seeded eighth in the conference, suffered a 2-0 defeat to No. 1 Saint Louis on Saturday, November 2nd. The seventh-seeded men were handed a 1-0 loss from No. 2 Dayton on Friday, November 8th.
For the women, it was a largely successful season despite the loss. The ‘Cats finished with an 8-8-3 record overall and were 4-5-1 in the A-10. This was a vast improvement from 2023, when Head Coach Riley Piechnick’s group ended 4-11-2 overall and 1-7-2 in conference play. A noticeable difference between this season and the last occurred at home. When playing at Alumni Soccer Stadium this year, Davidson was 6-1-3, as opposed to 1-6-1 a year ago. “After last year we made some changes and to see that translate into results this year is super rewarding for the team,” Coach Piechnick commented. “We were able to jump seven spots [in the A-10], which is pretty incredible.”
The ‘Cats won critical games toward the end of the season to qualify for the conference tournament, including one against George Washington (GW) on October 20th. Forward Aleia Gisolfi-McCready ‘25 put away two second half goals in just under seven minutes to help give Davidson a decisive 4-0 victory over the Revolutionaries. “I think GW was one of my favorite games to play in,” Gisolfi-McCready said. “We stepped up as a team and we scored goals this year.”
The ‘Cats netted twenty-six goals this year, a team record. Contributing to nine of those goals, with five off her own foot, was Ohio State transfer and forward Dakota Lyons ‘26. Lyons netted the second of two goals scored in the crucial regular season finale win against Rhode Island (URI).
For Lyons, her first season as a Wildcat meant more than soccer. “I lost my love of the game before coming here and this season has really taught me to find that again, and that was a very special thing. I hope to never lose it, and in this environment I don’t think I will. Just being a part of [this] family is so sacred,” Lyons said.
Gisolfi-McCready echoed that sentiment. “For the first time in my four years at Davidson, I felt like part of a team and part of a family. This season meant the world to me.”
The emphasis that Coach Piechnick is placing on the team atmosphere is clear. “A program only goes as far as the culture, and the culture of this program is in a really great place,” she stated. It will be exciting to see how the ‘Cats take the next step forward in 2025, and Coach Piechnick believes that next season could be special. “This year we took it week by week. I think next year we can start to look at the bigger picture. We’re going to have a good goal: make the playoffs and get some different results.”
The men took a step back this season after a conference semifinal appearance in 2023. The ‘Cats finished 6-7-5 overall and 4-4-0 in the A-10 this year after being 10-5-1 overall and 5-4-0 in the A-10 a season ago. In some ways, though, the losses this season may pay dividends for the ‘Cats going forward. “We learned how to take pride [in] and understand how hard it is to win a game,” remarked midfielder Noah Louzan ‘27.
Like the women’s team, the men’s soccer team also closed out the regular season against URI. Louzan’s goal in the final few minutes broke the 1-1 tie to give Davidson the victory. Despite his clutch performance against URI, Louzan tabbed the September 21st 2-0 victory against Saint Joseph’s as the team’s defining moment. “Up to that point we had not gotten the results that we wanted, but coming out of there with our first conference win propelled us forward and laid the groundwork for more [success].”
On the other hand, forward Vincent Bennage ‘25 cited a loss as the critical moment that shaped the season. “La Salle at home was a difficult game. Conditions were unfavorable for us, but it reinforced how difficult it is to win a college game.” The ‘Cats fell short in that match, losing 1-3. Prior to the quarterfinal matchup with Dayton, Bennage credited the team’s mindset. “Everybody is really embracing it,” Bennage acknowledged. “The opportunity we have to play in the tournament is another opportunity to show everyone how close we’ve gotten to the team that we can be.” Davidson lost 1-5 at home to the Flyers on October 26th, and while a devastating goal with about three minutes left in the 0-1 playoff game sunk the team’s conference title hopes, the more competitive score is indicative of the strides made since that initial contest.
Make no mistake, the ‘Cats will be back and ready to roll next season. “We’ve come out of our losses, wins, and ties stronger than we were before,” Louzan asserted. “I would truly describe this team as a family and it is a wonderful locker room to be in.”
like the Student Government Association Hot Wings Challenge and a performance by Davidson’s student improv group OOPS! Toward the end of the school year, all four of Davidson’s a cappella groups have their own performances, which students always look forward to.
Every Thursday, Davidson students flock to the 900 Room in the Alvarez College Union to see all forms of entertainment. Whether it’s a thrilling performance from one of the many student bands or a showcase for one of Davidson’s a cappella groups, there’s always something happening here. One of the most popular events in the 900 Room is Live Thursday, a fun and energetic break from schoolwork as the week comes to a close. As Kathleen Degnan ‘27 put it, “I enjoy Live Thursday because it’s cool to see student groups perform and it’s nice to have something to look forward to on Thursdays to help everyone get through the week.”
Each rendition brings something new for students to enjoy, with a bag of free popcorn or a beverage as a bonus, if they care to indulge. Some of this year’s highlights have included events
Spectators and performers alike view Live Thursday as a great way to spend a late night. “I love Live Thursday! At least from a musician’s perspective, it’s an ideal venue both in terms of the coziness of the 900 Room and the great work that Ryan Clark and the Tech Services [do]. Being able to play there for my peers has been one of the definite highlights of my year by far,” Fool’s Errand guitarist Jayson Rivera ‘27 said.
Fool’s Errand, this past week’s Live Thursday feature, is one of Davidson’s student bands. The group classifies themselves as “classic/yacht rock,”according to band member Rivera. Their electric performance was the highlight of many people’s week. They played an hour-long set consisting of hits like “Year of the Cat” by Al Stewart and “You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon that had everyone on their feet dancing until the end of the performance.
Two attendees were seen leaving the show in an exceptional mood following the set. “I thought the performance was amazing and I particularly loved ‘Year of the Cat.’ As such a big fan of the song it was incredible to see it finally brought to life at Davidson. I thought the guitar solos were a really nice touch and a good change to shorten the song. I thought Fool’s Errand really did the song justice, and I can’t wait to see what else they bring to live music at Davidson,” Harris Huber ‘27 said. Attendee David Yoon ‘27 was so starstruck by the end of the performance that he was at a loss for words. “Wow, that was awesome,” he succinctly stated at the end of the show. The performance was a huge success and many students showed up to support their friends and peers in the band. In addition to the performers, there are many factors that play a role in the success of Live Thursday. Hajar Hussein ‘27 is in charge of orchestrating the Live Thursday events and how they operate. “[I] wanted a say in what was done and to slowly expand what Live Thursday entailed I really enjoyed some of
the bands and a cappella last year. I found it so fun to show out with friends, grab a sweet treat and enjoy the show,” she stated when discussing why she took the position.
Hussein also has the exciting task of determining which groups get to perform in the coveted Union space. In addition to previously beloved performances, she wanted to incorporate some new acts to offer all different forms of entertainment. “The a cappella groups and ‘Rocky Horror [Picture Show]’ are [extremely popular] so I invited them to perform again. But things like the Hot Ones challenge and the art symposium we have in collaboration with Davidson Arts and Creative Engagement at the end of the semester are new and fun things that people might want to see! So we experiment with that.” Live Thursday is a great way for students to show up and support their friends and peers while also having a good time. If you have a free Thursday night, Live Thursday is a great way to socialize in a non-academic environment that gives you a break from the Davidson workload.
Will Lowance ‘27 is an undecided major from Atlanta, GA and can be reached for comment at wilowance@davidson.edu.
Tucked away in the basement of the Chambers Building sits the small but mighty Davidson Arts and Creative Engagement (DACE) Studio. Colloquially known as the DACE Space, one can find endless tools for artistic projects. Rose Cecchi ‘27, the sponsorship manager for DACE, describes the space as an “open to all art studio on campus where students can sew, paint, craft, collage, and so much more.” DACE follows a mission that believes that “the arts play a vital role in nurturing creativity, collaboration, innovation, and learning” and wishes to preserve this pursuit of the arts at Davidson.
On a campus with an intense academic focus, a space like DACE provides opportunity for students, no matter their artistic level, to find creativity in their day-to-day life. Cameron Unice ‘27 is a frequent visitor of the studio. “I first went just to make a cute birthday card for a friend. I’ll go back every now and then just to do [a] little, silly project. It’s a really welcoming space and they have so many tools, it’s nice to just chill out in there.”
One of the most important aspects of this
space is that there are no rules; no one is grading you or judging you for what you make and everything is done naturally. This openness allows for a diverse array of students to feel welcomed, which Savannah Soraghan ‘27, one of the studio’s program managers, specifically appreciates. “I think one of my favorite things about it is all the amazing people I’ve met,” she stated. “We’ve all been able to bond over a shared love of art and crafting.”
Soraghan’s love of the arts and involvement in the studio inspired her to pursue this role. “I first applied to the job last semester because I was always in there. Now, working there gives me time every week designated to making art and creating community.” One of Soraghan’s favorite parts of the job is introducing new people to the space. “It’s really rewarding to have someone come into the space who has never been there before and showing them how things work [...] [It] gives me a chance to help further this artistic community.”
Cecchi echoed this sentiment. She mentioned that she “hold[s] office hours in DACE where new people can come by the studio and [she] can help them on whatever project they are working on.” This sense of support and community is a key aspect of DACE and part of the reason why students revisit it.
While Cecchi works for DACE, she continues to utilize the space for her own enjoyment as well. “DACE’s mission of making art accessible to the student body is so important,” she explained. “For me, art helps me take a break from my work and [allows me to] be creative.” In fostering such a comforting atmosphere, it’s no surprise that many of DACE’s frequenters apply to be fellows to help the studio and its mission thrive.
In addition to being a low-pressure environment for individual expression, DACE also provides a great tool for students who need help on various projects. Susanna Payne ‘27 first discovered DACE when working on a final for her anthropology course during her first year. “I created a board game and
Students work hard on art projects in the DACE Studio. Photo from the DACE Instagram.
I used spray adhesive and other materials from DACE for it. [The DACE employees] were super helpful and taught me how to do everything.”
Abigail Przynosch ‘27, a member of Davidson’s Mindfulness Club, thinks the space is fantastic for the mental health of students. “Mindfulness Club has hosted [a rock painting] event in [the] DACE Space [...]. It was just a way to encourage students to take time to be mindful with themselves in a creative way. We left the rocks around campus afterwards for other students to enjoy.”
With Davidson’s rigorous courses and workload, taking individual time to better one’s mental health is paramount. According to the United Kingdom’s Mental Health Foundation, art engagement “alleviates anxiety, depression, and stress,” all of which college students experience at high rates. The employees at DACE know the importance of artistic expression when it comes to mental health, which is why they encourage all students to come, no matter their artistic level.
The DACE Space offers students a wide variety of opportunities not only to explore their artistic interests but also to take a break from the chaos of college life. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the
DACE Studio as well as the wide array of opportunities that DACE offers students, such as art grants and fellowships. So, if you have the chance, go to the north basement of Chambers and unleash your inner creativity in the DACE Studio.
Clara Ottati ‘27 is an English and History major from Chicago, IL and can be reached for comment at clottati@davidson.edu.
Josie Swain ‘27 is an English major from Atlanta, GA and can be reached for comment at joswain@davidson.edu.
in Nova Scotia 4 Emmy winner Reiner 5 Blood type, for short
Trac II alternative
Work with mail 8 Child’s closetful 9 “It’s been real!” 10 Tag on damaged mdse. 11 See 69-Across 12 The ___ Ness monster 13 Art Deco icon
18 “Don’t Know Why” singer Jones
22 Inseparable friends, in modern lingo
25 Rush order
27 D.C.’s ___ Stadium
29 Rabbit in “Bambi”
30 “___ Pop” (Seuss book)
31 Genesis vessel
33 Marshal under Napoleon
34 Rep.’s opponent
38 Adriatic Sea country (abbr.)
39 Beluga or shad yield
40 See 75-Across
42 “The Simpsons” bartender
43 Alliance with HQ in Brussels
46 Apple variety, for short
49 Absalom’s half-sister
53 “Awesome!”
54 After-dinner Thanksgiving table sight?
56 See 28-Across
58 Carbonated drinks
59 El ___ (city on the Rio Grande)
60 Aleutian Island
62 “Hamlet” fivesome
63 Scand. country
64 Fit of shivering, in dialect
65 Conclusion, in Germany
68 “___ the record reflect ...”
70 Chomped
Time Reported Description/Location
11/07/24, 00:15 hrs
11/09/24, 02:48 hrs
Offenses Against The Public Safety: Giving False Fire Alarms; Molesting Fire Extinguishing System Little, Inactive
Alcohol Offenses: Consume by Person Under 21 Chidsey, Inactive
This Thursday, November 14th, the SGA Common Ground Representative and Vice President for DEI Dr. Chloe Poston will be hosting an open table at Nummit. As a token of appreciation, a free drink from Nummit will be provided.
Food and Housing:
Organized a community event in partnership with the Community Committee, RLO, and the Dean of Students Office to educate students on community access.
Accessibility and Student Affairs:
Discussed the need for more accessible hygiene products in bathrooms. Looked into campus partners that can assist in this endeavor Thanksgiving airport shuttle sign-ups are open! Check your student email for more information.
Community Committee:
The Code of Responsibility event occurred last week and had a great turnout! The committee will be meeting with Mak Tompkins and Dean McQuillan-Krepps this week.
Other Updates:
Leland M. Park Director of the Davidson College Library Lisa Forrest visited SGA on Tuesday, November 12th, to provide updates on the Library Renovation Project. The Senate and those in attendance will have the chance to ask questions.
Irreverent student journalism since 2004. Castigat Ridendo Mores.
yowl.com/itsonlywednesday:( The Unwanted Perspectives Issue
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ate in the evening this past Monday, local snitch Anita Taka Boutit confirmed to The Yowl field journalists the presence of a horse in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) basement. Up until now, reports of the horse had been denied.
The horse is said to be a cremello quarter horse stallion, weighing approximately six hundred pounds and standing fifteen hands tall. The details of its capture are unknown. Local horse experts are estimating the horse to be three years of age, determining that the stallion has most likely been in captivity for no less than two months.
When inspected through a conveniently placed storm drain, the captive horse was
Dear AskYowl,
seen applying fresh coats of paint to the SAE lifeguard chair, like when zoos give elephants paint as an enrichment activity and the tour guide tries to make it sound interesting when really it’s just a longer, drier hippo that sucks at painting making a fool of itself.
A heavy metal chain appears to be wrapped around the horse’s neck, restraining it to a small, roughly 4x4 space, which is not suitable for a horse. Besides that, the basement has been kept in surprisingly sanitary condition.
We the people call for the release of this horse into protective custody immediately. SAE brothers have yet to comment on the matter.
I woke up the morning of November 6th saying “what the h*ck” like many others. This was immediately followed by a “h*ck me.” Unfortunately, the outcome of this election has put me between a rock and a hard place, but I have decided to remain strong and enact a policy of disciplined silence by not posting my Halloweekend pictures.
I know I’m already a week late, but I lost my phone in SAE and had to wait for my need for the internet to overpower my dignity to retrieve it. Only then did I realize that I had not been added to the weekend shared album and had to wait another few days for iCloud to function, and even longer for the 1340+ photos to be visible and accessible. By that point, Election Day was upon us.
In any other circumstance, I would not have hesitated to post my curated collection of three costumes across ten images with a witty caption underneath. Is it insensitive to post these now, in the wake of the tragedy and a somewhat serious and saddened Instagram climate? Do I trade in my iCarly-inspired costume post for an “I Can’t Believe This Happened” story graphic? Constantly questioning and appreciative of all advice!
Yours truly,
TheFightTakesAwhile
As two people who can barely send out an email every week, there’s no way we can continue this advice column. So, we’re outsourcing it to our similarly burnt out readers—that means you! Please use the blank space below to write your own advice to TheFightTakesAwhile so we can claim it as our own later. Thanks, the editors.
P.S. Please write us stuff.
WRITERS
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genuinely and truly believe that the small tree on the outskirts of the Old Tennis Court Lawn, right next to the small stretch of brick on the path up the hill was placed there overnight. The first time I had ever seen this tree was last night. It was not here when I walked to class yesterday. I believe the school has placed this tree here randomly and assumed we would not know. This is a ludicrous conspiracy, but I swear I’ve never seen it.
This tree looks like the Charlie Brown Christmas tree. It has no leaves on it at all. It has barely any bark on it or any personality to it. I surely would have noticed such an unremarkable tree. Who looked at this and went, “Yeah we need to put that there?” The tree isn’t even the same kind as the ones surrounding it. It’s like the school thought there weren’t real dendrology enthusiasts in our midst that would pick up on this. All of the other trees in the area have leaves. Not this one. I tried to point this out to my roommate on the way to class today and he said I was being crazy and that this was here the entire time. I think I’m being gaslighted by a tree. It is so comically out of place that it must have been put there by some conspiracy to get a reaction.
The tree is literally sitting in the corner of the field. I don’t understand why it is here. If you push it, it wobbles as though it does not have strong roots, but it clearly has been rooted into the ground recently. I know this sounds
like the rambling of someone who hasn’t slept enough, but I swear this has been bothering me for an entire day. I cannot recall this tree ever being here and I’ve had at least one person agree with me on that.
I was walking home last night and it just emerged from the fog. This thing looks more like a lamp post than an actual tree. It looks like someone tried to draw a tree from memory and forgot what they look like or where they should go on pathways. I wouldn’t be this critical if I weren’t this confused. Look at the attached photo. It is just there by itself. Why? I feel like I’m going crazy. Surely more than two people are stupefied by this.
It’s impossible to explain this verbally when it is a physical phenomenon you need to stand next to in order to confirm you haven’t seen it before. I need confirmation from other people that they haven’t seen this tree before either. Put down your newspaper right now and walk to the Old Tennis Court Lawn and look at it while facing the OLAS x PASA house. I need to know if you’re used to seeing this. Is this the Mandela Effect in action?
Fill out the form below and drop it off at The Davidsonian office for feedback. Do you recall this tree ever being here before? Am I just going crazy?
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Are you part white?” “13%.”
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Ranking WildcatSync Events From Most Misleading to Least Misleading
- Sex & Candy: I got in trouble for public indecency; wish I known beforehand - Oops!: Pretty sure they’re doing this on purpose
- Happy Hooker Hour: Same problem as Sex & Candy
Note: The Yowl is a satirical supplement to The Davidsonian Hence, nothing in it should be taken as truth.