The Davidsonian 2/6/2019

The

Davidsonian

Independent Student Journalism Since 1914

inside

davidsonian.com Student and Campus Police reflect upon campus bike theft

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Volume 114, Issue 13

February 6, 2019 Julia Cardwell ‘19 urges first-years disappointed by self-selection to give their houses a try

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Behind the scenes of Davidson’s sexual misconduct reporting process

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The Yowl welcomes warmer weather with an exciting style report, featuring Chacos

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Controversial Eating House Self-Selection Brings New Traditions

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CAROLINE ROY ‘20 FEATURES EDITOR

or a day characterized by tradition, this year’s self-selection introduced some big changes that affected the schedule, the toppings, and the algorithm itself. Some of these changes, like staggering mealtimes at Commons, were intended to make the day more efficient. Others, like the use of color powder instead of traditional toppings, left students with mixed feelings about the new way self selection is operated.

The morning began early as usual, with new members picked up by sophomores and escorted to their respective houses. In the past, the houses flocked to Vail Commons afterwards to eat breakfast, socialize, and bond as a house.

This year, rather than letting all four houses come to Commons at the same time, Patterson Court Council (PCC) decided to stagger the arrival times to prevent overcrowding.

Director of Dining Services Dee Phillips says that Commons during self selection is not like any regular morning—it requires some extra preparation.

“As long as we know to expect a large crowd at one time, we are able to increase staff and prepare more food,” Phillips said.

Styrofoam trays and paper cups take the place of non-disposable dining ware, and according to Phillips, the event usually goes smoothly. Her only concern is maintaining a safe environment, especially for the students who arrive rowdy or intoxicated. An email sent out the week prior to self-selection day Women in Turner and Rusk Houses celebrate self-selection, an evolving tradition. Up- detailed rules about behavior at Commons, per left courtesy Sarah Woods ‘21, upper right and bottom courtesy Rusk House.

warning against standing on tables and chairs or bringing alcohol inside.

“We are glad to serve, but cleaning up after someone that can’t hold a tray is not what we should be expected to do,” Phillips said.

Another big change to this year’s self-selection was the use of colorful powder during toppings ceremonies in place of the usual paint, chocolate syrup, mustard, and BBQ sauce.

“A lot of the toppings were seen as gross, contributing to food waste and to allergies,” said Rusk President Tatianna Travieso ‘20.

“They wanted to standardize it.”

In years prior, each house had its distinct toppings ritual, but this year the experience looked much the same for all four houses. PCC provided white T-shirts for house members to wear for the new toppings. Turner President Siân Lewis ‘20 said that the changes exempt eating houses from potential cases of hazing. In past years toppings has been exclusively done to first-years; now it includes any in the house who wishes to participate.

“It makes every house do the same thing, which lets everyone have the same experience even if you don’t get into the house you want,” Lewis said.

Warner President Rose Botaish ‘20 pointed out that while these may be big changes for upperclassmen, first-year students will not have any past experience to compare.

“All the houses have their own colors, so there’s still a unique identity for each house. I don’t think changing the mode of toppings will

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Students Create Petition for Jewish Studies Initiative

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EMMA BRENTJENS ‘21 STAFF WRITER

ast semester, the Davidson community received a shock after the doxxing of two alleged neo-Nazis on campus.

In response, many people within and outside the Davidson community started to voice concern over the college’s relative lack of courses pertaining to Jewish history and culture. A student working group comprised of 11 students, including Ellie Kincaid ‘20, Dahlia Krutkovich ‘21, and Severine Stier ‘19, wrote a petition calling on the school to offer a Jewish Studies program as “both a response to what happened last semester and a response to a greater gap at Davidson,” Krutkovich said.

The working group formed shortly after Thanksgiving break and began meeting weekly in January. “Every word was deliberated; we’ve really put time and energy and intentionality into the composition of the petition,” Stier said.

“I think one of the biggest challenges that we faced in writing the petition was trying to find a balance between emphasizing that we need a response to the Nazis and that this should be part of that response, and also not wanting to ground Jewish identity in trauma,” Kincaid said.

Krutkovich agreed that “it was hard to write.” She added: “We wanted to hit on points like the fact that this would benefit Jewish and non-Jewish students [and] that this is something that our peer institutions have. It’s a lot of points to hit in 600 words.”

The petition has received over one thousand signatures as of February 5th, but the group “never went into it with any number in mind,” Stier said. The group reported that many students conveyed that they did not realize the campus needed this initiative until they read their petition.

“We’re hoping that a Jewish Studies program would be a more expansive understanding of Jews as a living, breathing community of people with a veriegated sense of identity” Dahlia Krutkovich ‘21 In researching Davidson’s 20 peer institutions, the working group found that Davidson lags behind in Jewish Studies. For example, Williams College offers a Jewish Studies program that includes courses in religion, classics, history, and sociology, among other departments [1]. The Jewish Studies department at Colgate University offers 10 courses in Hebrew, 17 courses in Jewish Studies, and a Jewish Studies minor [2]. Similarly, Vassar College has established Jewish Studies courses, as well as classes in other departments including English, history, and religion that count toward the major [3]. According to Dr. Scott

Denham, a member of the German Studies department, “Any semester we have maybe three or four courses that would fit into a Jewish Studies curriculum, and you probably need twice or three times that many for a program to thrive.”

Denham sees Jewish Studies taking the form of an interdisciplinary program like Environmental Studies or Africana Studies. “A Jewish Studies program would need to have three new positions,” he said. He described three options for tracks of focus: literature, archaeology and the ancient world, and politics and contemporary history.

“We’re hoping that a Jewish Studies program would be a more expansive understanding of Jews as a living, breathing community of people with a variegated sense of identity,” said Krutkovich.

Davidson Students in Solidarity with Palestine (DSSP), an organization formed in 2016, is one of many student groups to support the petition. Layan Anabtawi ‘19, DSSP president, thinks that “having a good range of Jewish Studies courses is valuable for Davidson.” She expressed concern, however, that the petition is “reducing [Jewish] history to the Holocaust, which is not true. I just hope people when they read the petition don’t think ‘Oh, this is going to be a Holocaust Studies department.’”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

News

2 Bike Thief: Non-Existent or Just Sneaky?

HARRIS ROGERS ‘21 STAFF WRITER

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aving possessions stolen can be a frustrating, demoralizing experience.

This is especially true at a place like Davidson, where students demand and expect honorable conduct from their peers. Theft can be especially cumbersome when it interrupts day-to-day routine, impedes getting to class on time, or deprives easy access to campus.

Bike theft is a crime Davidson students know all too well. Unfortunately, despite the Honor Code, this type of theft is not uncommon at Davidson. According to the Davidson College Campus Police, during the 2018 calendar year there were 19 reported cases of bike theft.

Deen Haleem ’21 knows the exasperation of theft. His bike was stolen last fall and was never recovered. Initially, Haleem did not report the theft, and his bike was unregistered, making it much more difficult for Campus Police to recover when he eventually chose to report the crime. However, according to Haleem, “Campus Police were super helpful when I went.” Haleem explained that he was unaware that his bike needed to be registered.

It is a popular misconception that physical plant deals with stolen and unregistered bikes.

However, this area of administration is the responsibility of Campus Police.

According to the Campus Police website “students, faculty, and staff are required to register their bikes.” Campus Police stress the importance of bike registration in order to avoid permanently losing a bike if stolen. Not only will bike registration require your bike to have a unique ID number, but it will also allow Campus Police access to the bike’s make, model, and distinguishing characteristics.

Campus Police also make it clear the best way to avoid losing your bike is to secure it properly. According to Sgt. Vanessa Benson, “Campus Police stress the need to lock your bike when it is not in use.” At the end of the day, locking your bike still provides the best protection against theft, even in a culture that relies heavily on holding yourself and others to high ethical standards.

Despite the best efforts of the Campus Police, thefts still occur. This begs the question: Are Davidson students responsible for these thefts, or are the thieves non-students coming

Illustration by Richard Farrell ‘22 onto campus?

When one considers the statistics provided by the Campus Police, it would seem a sizeable portion of the thefts are committed by students. According to Benson, of the 19 bikes reported stolen during the 2018 calendar year, “42% of these bikes were relocated by other community members.” According to one Davidson student, who has chosen to remain anonymous, he borrowed his friend’s bike, rode it, and then simply forgot to return it. According to this student, it “was missing for about a month.” The bike was eventually recovered, as it had been registered with Campus Police.

It would seem that these “relocation” thefts, totaling eight of the 19 stolen bikes, are committed without malice, in most cases accidents, and at least occasionally committed by those close to the victims of the theft. This leaves the remaining 11 unaccounted for bicycles thefts.

As of this moment, it seems impossible to ascertain whether the majority of these crimes are committed by students, or whether they are

committed by people outside of the Davidson College community. According to Benson, “It is undetermined at the time whether anything suspicious is going on regarding bike theft.”

Of the 19 bikes reported stolen during the 2018 calendar year, “42% of these bikes were relocated by other community members.”

Sgt. Vanessa Benson However, there are confirmed instances of students having bikes stolen by thieves from outside the Davidson Campus. Taryn Johnson ‘21 had her bike stolen last fall, after leaving it

outside of the Sustainability Cooperative. The bike was eventually recovered, but only after it had been used as, according to Johnson, “the getaway vehicle for larsonies,” crimes being committed off the Davidson campus. It was recovered in the yard of a Davidson community member by Campus Police after being abandoned by the thief.

While as Davidson students we all hope to live in a completely trustworthy community, and where individual property is respected, there will always be those, whether in the Davidson College community or outside of it, who are willing to violate the trust placed in them by others.

Blair Nagell ‘19, Chair of the Davidson Honor Council, reminded students that “the Code celebrates our ability as students to walk honorably all the time.” Outside of properly securing bikes and registering them with the Davidson Campus Police, the best Davidson students can hope for is that their fellow students will adhere to the commitment they pledged upon arrival at Davidson.

“What’s Next Davidson”: Town Solicits Student Help KAIZAD IRANI ‘22 STAFF WRITER

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pon returning back from winter break, Davidson students received an email from the Student Government Association (SGA) asking for student input on the Town of Davidson’s “What’s Next Davidson” initiative. Started last fall, “What’s Next Davidson” is a movement partnered with members of the Davidson community and local officials to update the town’s comprehensive plan.

A comprehensive plan is a general document that aims to inform decisions and guide policy initiatives in a community.

In the town’s case, according to the “What’s Next Davidson” website, the comprehensive plan should “help understand our historical context; identify current or anticipated issues; evaluate options for how to best proceed; and, establish a set of recommendations to accomplish our aims.” The website also states that Davidson’s current comprehensive plan is outdated, as it was last updated in 2010.

Cristina Shaul is the Communications Director for the Town of Davidson and a leading voice in “What’s Next Davidson.”

She expressed the importance of a movement like this for the Davidson community.

“We are at a crossroads,” said Shaul. “Growth is happening all around us and within Davidson, and this is our chance to examine how we want Davidson to be and look in the future. It is critical that we all work together to create a vision and a plan to guide decision-making for the future to benefit our entire community.”

“What’s Next Davidson” is split into four phases. The first phase took place during 2018 and involved preparation and

publicization. Phase two began last month and is titled “Technical Analysis.” It involves the creation of workshops and surveys to garner input from members of the community. The entire process is scheduled to finish in early 2020.

The first community-wide workshop took place on January 17th. The goal was to cover a variety of issues facing the community, such as economic growth and housing, and foster participation from members of the community using activities such as live polling, small group discussion, and interactive displays.

“Growth is happening all around us and within Davidson, and this is our chance to examine how we want Davidson to be and look in the future.”

Cristina Shaul “We had over 170 people attend the workshop in the Lilly Family Gallery and the room was full of energy,” expressed Shaul. “ People came ready to participate and they really seemed to like the interactive polling tool that showed results in the real time, as well were very eager to share their thoughts on Davidson’s future in the small group discussions.”

Shaul shared how important it is for “What’s Next Davidson” to get input from Davidson College students. SGA Town Liaison Wilson Pava ‘19 was responsible for sharing the initiative with students and trying to link the student body with the

town’s mission.

“As Town Liaison, I try to keep the SGA up to date on major things going on with town, especially if they present a clear implication for campus issues,” said Pava. “Student participation in What’s Next Davidson is a great way of influencing the town and ensuring that a student voice is a part of the permanent plan going forward.”

“Davidson College makes up about 15% of our total population, so it is very important for students to weigh in on the future of Davidson,” shared Shaul. “Some of the topics on which we’d like input are affordable housing, employment, and transportation. Students offer a unique perspective that we need to consider when creating a vision and plan for the town.”

Students can get involved by taking an online survey at www. whatsnextdavidson.com and attending a multi-day workshop on April 1st-3rd at the Davidson College Presbyterian Church.

Additionally, Pava and the SGA will be sharing more information with students as the town finishes processing the results of the survey and meetings and begin to draft the new plan.

“I have spoken with community leaders from various parts of town about specific aspects of the comprehensive plan, especially around environmental and land use questions, as part of the broader attempt to be aware of ongoing conversations outside of campus,” said Pava. “If students have any questions, they should feel free to reach out to me and I can get them in touch with the town officials in charge of the comprehensive plan as a whole or the specific sections that students have questions about.”

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February 6, 2019

First-Years Question Self-Selection Algorithm CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 change that,” Botaish said.

While many students participating in self-selection are prepared to get their first choice, this year saw a large number of people getting their second, third and even fourth choices. According to Mathematics and Computer Science professor Dr. Laurie Heyer, who helped design the algorithm alongside a team of students in a project known as PRONTO, 160 out of 199 women (80%) received their first choice house.

“The algorithm is guaranteed to produce the best possible set of assignments, based on the input data (the women’s choices) and some very basic assumptions about the ‘penalties’ for getting lower choices,” Heyer said.

She also said that for the first time ever, PCC Advisor Erica Urban could run the algorithm herself. Despite its intention to create the best possible outcome for every student, the algo-

rithm left many disappointed, frustrated, and wondering what went wrong.

Delilah Artus ‘22 said that she and her friends were hoping to join their sophomore friends in one house, but ended up getting their third choice.

“I dropped the house about three hours after having been put in,” Artus said. “I think it is unfair to title the process ‘self-selection’ if people are getting their last two choices because one house needs more people than others.”

Outcry from those assigned to their third or fourth choices even prompted parents to contact the administration.

One public tweet from a Davidson parent was directed to President Carol Quillen, Urban, and The Davidsonian: “2019 self-selection failed. 8+ girls got last choice. A day that was supposed to be joyous for some was a day filled with tears. Admin blames PCC and their algorithm. Admin ignores pleas to intervene.” The Davidsonian has not been able to corroborate that the statistic referenced is factual.

Urban said that even though some girls received their last choices, the algorithm’s 80% success rate has been consistent for the past five years.

“Any changes to the algorithm or self selection process will be proposed and approved by the Eating House presidents,” she explained.

Artus says that many other girls also ended up in their third or fourth choice house. Many students speculate that this could be a result of one house having fewer members than the others and therefore needed to take in a larger number of First-year women, though this has not been confirmed by PCC. Artus suggested that this might be a larger problem that even a good algorithm can’t fix.

She said, “If not all four houses are equal, [first-years] shouldn’t have to deal with getting a house they originally didn’t want. That is a problem within the house itself.”

Momentum Mounts for Jewish Studies Program CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Anabtawi noted the need for a new tenured professor in Jewish Studies as Karl Plank, a Religion professor who teaches Modern Jewish Literature, plans to retire soon. “That’s what I’m for and that’s what DSSP is for, because we believe in representation,” she said. Anabtawi hopes “people continue pushing for [the program].”

The Black Student Coalition (BSC) is another organization in support of the petition.

Bry Reed ‘20, who has worked extensively on BSC’s Project ‘87, said that a “need for change is causing students to demand the college experience they want. The Jewish Stud-

ies petition is yet another example of students demanding the change they deserve.” Reed believes that the college, “in keeping pace with our ever-evolving world, must make the changes necessary to give students, especially the most marginalized of us, the lives we deserve.”

lez-Barcenas said that as an Africana Studies major, it is “exciting to see another group of students do the work that other students have done” in creating a new program. “Davidson will be a more inclusive and better place because of it,” she added. Syed agreed: “it’s not only going to benefit a specific group.”

“Davidson will be a more inclusive and better place because of it” Osama Syed ‘19 Itziri Gonzalez-Barcenas ‘19 and Osama Syed ‘19, the Student Government Association President and Vice President respectively, also spoke in support of the petition. Gonza-

SGA Debate

hosted by SGA and The Davidsonian

Sunday, February 10th at 8:00 PM 900 Room Refreshments will be served.

Candidates: Emmitt Sklar ‘21and Emma Lynn ‘21 Caroline Roddey ‘20 and Gina Martinez ‘20

This semester, a group of students—including some from the working group—are involved in an effort separate from the petition to “illuminate the historical context of being

Jewish at Davidson, and also more broadly Jewish life in the American South,” said Stier.

This independent study, taught by Denham, is currently titled The History of Jews and Jewishness at Davidson.

The study “is centered largely on oral histories,” said Stier. Krutkovich, who is also in the class, said, “I’m invested in the oral histories because I think we’ve lost a lot of stories.”

The group of eight students hopes to publish their final project, a written history, by May 1st. Though the deadline is ambitious, Steir is not concerned, explaining that “if this isn’t complete by May 1st, we have students here who will be able to pick it up over the coming years.”

Crime Log Time Reported

Description/Location

1/26/19 at 2230 hrs

Underage Consumption

1/26/19 at 2315 hrs

Underage Consumption

1/27/19 at 0130 hrs

Underage Consumption

1/27/19 at 0245 hrs

Underage Consumption

Canon, Dean Referral

Duke, Dean Referral

Richardson, Dean Referral/Transport

Richardson, Dean Referral

1/29/19 at 1220 hrs

Suspicious Person

2/2/19 at 0130 hrs

Hit And Run

2/2/19 at 2117 hrs

Poss. Alcohol Underage

Satellite Lot, Trespassed

Greenhouse Lot, Inactive

Kappa Sig, Dean Referral

2/2/19 at 2200 hrs

Underage Consumption Belk, Dean Referral

Perspectives

4 Emmitt Sklar ’21

Let’s provide students with affordable textbooks

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bove the smiling cardboard cutouts of Steph Curry and Davidson Grandparent mugs, the overpriced textbooks sit in the Davidson College Store.

I went over there the first week of the semester to pick up my textbooks. I have 17 books. All together, used and rented, they cost about $320.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, that is typical or even slightly cheaper than the average cost for a college student, although it varies by institution.

Like a lot of students, I went to Amazon to look for cheaper versions, but the price of textbooks and supplies on the site still adds up each semester. And, even if we (the students) resell our textbooks, very little of the initial cost comes back to us.

The Davidson College Store and other companies who buy back textbooks often do so at a significantly lower price than students originally pay.

The price of textbooks has ballooned over time, along with the other expenses that come with college. And, while there are sources of financial aid for textbooks as well as outside funding, because the price of school is already so high, the exponential increase in textbook prices has created a burden on a lot of students and their families.

Students still have to take out loans at Davidson, and those loans are put towards the essentials first, like room and board. The result: students are sometimes forced to cut textbooks that we deem non-essential or take classes

with cheaper books.

This lack of affordable textbooks can hamper the colossal blessing of a college education, especially a fantastic Davidson one.

Davidson can be better. We could have a system where the most commonly used and most expensive textbooks are available to check out to students for the semester for free.

It’s certainly a lofty-sounding goal, but one that is needed and is in our hands to accomplish.

We should identify the classes in STEM, Humanities, Arts, and other fields which frequently reuse their costly introductory textbooks and purchase them.

We should pursue sources of funding both within Davidson and outside of it. The Dean of Student’s office and the Office of the President both have budgets that they can allocate to student needs. It may be possible to secure funding through the Activities Tax Council as well. And we can work to secure funding from within Lula Bell’s.

On top of that, it may be possible to work within the new Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) grant—which is dedicated to increasing inclusivity in STEM fields—to secure funding for STEM books specifically.

Currently, at Lula Bell’s, you can check out a textbook for a fixed amount of time. This is great, but the limited checkout period makes it difficult to sustain over the course of the semester; this restriction exists because we typically don’t have multiple copies of textbooks. Multiple students, each in the same lab

science or another class, often cannot all use Lula Bell’s books to study for a test. Even with our small class sizes, this poses a problem.

If you can’t afford the textbooks for a class, you are less likely to take it. Students can be pushed out of classes which makes high cost, high reward fields even more difficult to enter.

But with an expanded number of textbooks, we can offer more students textbooks and for a semester at a time.

Imagine, if instead of going to the bookstore at the beginning of the semester, you could go

to Lula Bell’s Resource Center and check out many of your textbooks for the entire semester.

And, as long as you returned it in good condition, it wouldn’t cost you a thing. It would make Davidson more affordable for everyone.

Emmitt Sklar ’21 is a Political Science major from Brooklyn, New York. Contact him at emsklar@davidson.edu.

The Davidson College Store houses textbooks for students as well as other college merchandise. Photo by Elayna Daniels ‘21

Julia Cardwell ’19

We should trust the algorithm

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et’s turn back time to January 30th, 2016, around 6:15am. I was a first year—youthful, bullish, not yet beaten down by the continuous walks up and down the hill and the copious B-pluses that never seem to tip the scale to an A—and I picked up the phone to call my mom (as I did for all major and minor turns in the road we call life).

“They’re coming, Mom! They’re almost here!” My mom’s voice, confused and groggy, takes a concerned tone. “Who’s coming? Are you in some sort of trouble?” In her dazed state, she’s forgotten that this day has been all I can talk about since returning to Davidson for the start of my second semester— Self-Selection morning.

My friends and I stood in the hall watching our First Belk hallmates get picked up by their respective houses. I closed my eyes and wished for my first choice, and I got it. I was officially a Turner Frog. I donned my new self-selection t-shirt and joined my fellow frogs where we ran, screaming, to the house.

As I ran, I had no idea where this community would lead me.

Eventually I became house manager, then secretary, and eventually president of Turner House.

This year’s self-selection played out a little differently for some people. I had heard rumors that Turner wasn’t as popular

this year—as goes the ebb and flow of Eating House popularity. No house stays on the top, or the bottom for that matter, for long. Through my four years, I’ve seen houses rise and fall in popularity due to complex mechanisms that I still don’t understand. This year, like every year, I’ve also heard insidious stereotyping of the houses—Turner included. There’s no need to rehash those stereotypes here because I don’t care to add any undue credence to them. It’s unfortunate and frustrating to hear that these stereotypes continue to persist and grow. I take these judgements personally because they, in absolutely no way, represent my experience in Turner, and I’m sure this rings true for members of other houses as well. If you’re helping to spread these assumptions, stop. Nobody has anything to gain.

These stereotypes are doing nothing but challenging the notion of acceptance that the idea of “self-selecting” is based on. I challenge you all, no matter the house you’re in, to question them. Don’t allow them to inform your experience in your house. Give your new house a chance. An Eating House is simply the sum of its members—a temporary representation of some section of the student body. Its membership is impermanent, turning over completely every four years. An Eating House doesn’t hold any intrinsic value except the value that its members give it by working to make it what they want it to be.

The

Davidsonian Staff

Editors in Chief News Editors Perspectives Editors Arts and Culture Editors Sports Editors Photography Editor Yowl Editors Design Editor Web Editor Art Editor Features Editor Copy Editors

Olivia Daniels ‘19, Laura Dunnagan ‘19 Hope Anderson ‘22, Emma Pettit ‘20 Raven Hudson ‘21, Lizzie Kane ‘22 Alyssa Tirrell ‘22, Lucas Weals ‘19 Drew Eastland ‘21, Max Pearson ‘22 Elayna Daniels ‘21 Malorie Hudson ‘22, EJ Kelley ‘20 Sebastian Sola-Sole ‘21 Jake Carver ‘21 Richard Farrell ‘22 Caroline Roy ‘20 Sarah Austin ‘21, Lindy Bustabad ‘21, Susannah Cate ‘20, Adam Ferraz ‘20, Yashi Gunawardena ‘19

An algorithm ultimately decides what house you’re in. But you decide what that house means to you. What you put in is what you get out. Call me a sentimental senior (I’ve been crying about graduation a lot), but this self-selection, I couldn’t help but think back on my past four years at Davidson. I feel truly lucky to have been able to call Turner home for all of them. I strongly believe that my experience in Turner was so great because I put in the work to make it great. I worked to change things I didn’t like and to foster the things I did. Don’t dismiss your house, but also don’t assume things will change just because you want them to. Sometimes we have to work for what we want.

I’m not going to tell you that it doesn’t matter what house you’re in. I’m not going to tell you not to be upset if you didn’t get your first pick. But you all have a choice—make the change you want to see in your house. Get involved, be active. Make the house what you want it to be. And remember that the algorithm didn’t fail you, and you should be conscious not to fail the algorithm.

Julia Cardwell ‘19 is an Environmental Studies major from Chevy Chase, Maryland. Contact her at jucardwell@davidson. edu.

Sports

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First-Year Athletes to Watch: Spring Edition DREW EASTLAND ‘21 SPORTS EDITROR, ANDREW ERLER ‘22, & BEN CUTNER ‘22 SPORTS STAFF WRITERS Men’s Track and Field: Paul Mullinax Paul Mullinax joins the Wildcats’ track and field team as a shotput and discus thrower from Athens, Georgia. He has been throwing since seventh grade. At Athens Academy, he was a Georgia State Champion. Mullinax selected Davidson for its welcoming atmosphere and strong track and field program which will pit him against some of the best athletes in the country. This season, he hopes to constantly improve throughout the year, and he wants to help bring the team an Atlantic 10 championship. His ambitions don’t stop there; he believes the team, with an influx of talented first-years coupled with experienced upperclassmen, can reach the NCAA Regionals.

Women’s Track and Field: Anna Davis This year, Davidson Women’s Track and Field adds Anna Davis, a Georgia State Champ for both the 100m and 300m hurdles. Davis went to Tallulah Falls School where she was the school’s first state champion. Davis has been running track for seven years and loves how it is an individual sport through which she can still become close with her teammates.

This season, Davis hopes to be competitive at the A-10 championship meet and wants to bond with her team.

Lacrosse: Hayden Callahan Hayden Callahan won three lacrosse state championships and four cross country state championships in high school, and she looks to continue winning at Davidson. She has been nominated for a variety of on and off the field awards, and was a 2018 All-American athlete. “I would [like] to get consistent play-

ing time…that is my highest goal,” Callahan commented. “Usually defenders are much bigger than me, but [I] compensate that with my speed and communication.”

Women’s Tennis: Elizabeth Truluck Since age seven, Elizabeth Truluck has dominated on the tennis court. College tennis has always been a goal for her, and her coaches encouraged her on that path. Truluck’s main objectives for her first season are to feature in both singles and doubles matches. She hopes to play almost all matches by senior year.

“People are focusing more on playing [in college],” Truluck said. “[I’m] becoming more of a team player and getting a good feel of what it is like to be on a team because I haven’t really [in high school].”

Golf: Viraj Garewal Ranked second in North Carolina and 37th nationally in high school, Viraj Garewal

comes to Davidson as one of the top junior golfers in the country. Viraj has a long list of top 5 finishes in AJGA tournaments, including a win in the 2016 Judie Oppenheimer Memorial Junior and qualified twice for the USGA Junior Championship. Viraj espoused a “do your job” mentality, and spoke highly of the team’s chemistry and the leadership of Coach Tim Straub.

Baseball: Trevor Candelaria Trevor Candelaria played high school baseball for Montverde Academy in Florida.

During Candelaria’s senior year, Montverde was ranked second in the nation and finished with a 25-0 record. Candelaria has excellent bat speed and makes consistent hard contact at the plate. In the outfield, he can throw in the low 90s. Candelaria has a chance to make a big impact as a first-year and to contribute to future postseason appearances.

Women’s Lacrosse Seeking A-10 Success, Hardware

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SAM THOMAS ‘20 SENIOR SPORTS WRITER

Weekly Sports Update

fter upsetting VCU in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 tournament a season ago, Davidson Lacrosse is looking to put together another strong season. The ‘Cats’ performance a season ago coupled with the loss of only four seniors from last year earned them a preseason ranking of fourth in the A-10. However, the team believes that there is no ceiling for its success. a solid performance in goal.

“Without a doubt, my goal for this season is winning the A-10 tournament,” noted senior midfielder Sarah Kopp. “For me, a successful senior campaign would include taking down UMass and going home in April with a championship trophy.”

UMass ranks second in the A-10 preseason standings after finishing runners-up to Richmond a year ago. Both Richmond, who is the preseason favorite to win the conference, and UMass are perennial powerhouse programs. UMass typically loads its non-conference schedule with a multitude of teams from power five conferences so as to prep their historically balanced offensive attack with defensive tactics. Meanwhile, Richmond’s squad relied heavily on their defensive prowess last season to grind out close games, especially in conference play.

Kopp’s work to improve the ‘Cats’ ability in the midfield should provide ample support on both fronts. She said, “I’m hoping to make a big contribution on the draw, and I am also working to improve my ability on the offensive end.”

Draws are the battles for the ball in neutral territory at the start of each half and after a goal.

By winning those at a higher rate, Davidson will earn extra possessions and have a greater chance of setting the tone of the game. Draws are pivotal in high profile matches, such as those conference matchups against UMass and Richmond on March 22nd and April 12th respectively.

Other key matchups this season include back-

to-back non-conference games against Duke in Durham and William and Mary at Davidson on March 11th and March 14th. These games will act as an opportunity for the ‘Cats to play up to teams that are typically on the national radar and can be a boost of confidence before conference play.

“A succesful senior campaign would include taking down UMass and going home in April with a championship trophy.”

Sarah Kopp ‘19 Though the top six teams qualify for the conference tournament, the ‘Cats will be gunning for one of the top two seeds during the regular season so as to secure a first round bye. Last season, the bye proved to be advantageous as both Richmond and UMass took advantage of the additional rest and preparation time to make it to the final. The secret will be the team’s consistency.

“We had a tendency to either be on a roll or in our heads,” noted Kopp about the previous season. “This year, I am hoping to see more consistency and the ability to bounce back quicker from mistakes.”

All in all, there is a lot to be excited about for this upcoming season and beyond. The team’s experience in the A-10 tournament a season ago has helped the team mature and gave them invaluable experience. The ‘Cats open up their season on the road against Winthrop on February 10th and open up their home schedule with senior day against Furman on February 16th at Richardson Stadium.

After a successful fall season and winter preseason training, this spring has all of the makings to be what Kopp and the rest of the team hopes will be the best season that this senior class and general lacrosse program have ever had.

Top: Senior Sarah Kopp controls the ball Wth a nifty cradle; this Season Kopp will play a pivotal role in the team’s success.

Bottom: The team huddles togther during a game; the ‘Cats return all but for players for their 2019 campagin.

Photos courtesy of Gavin McFarland; Davidson Sports and Information

Game of the Week Basketball (W) This Saturday the ‘Cats host the St. Bonaventure Bonnies at Baker Arena. The game starts at 12:00 pm this Saturday.

Riding a three game winning streak, the women’s hoops team is lead by Justine Lyon ‘19 (13.3 points per game) and Katie Tuner ‘21 (13.0 points per game). The team has a .78 home winning percentage and will look to improve this mark on Saturday. Their opponents, the Bonnies, hold a 4-4 conference mark; however they have also won three straight games. Let’s be sure to fill Baker this Saturday afternoon to cheer on our

Wildcat Statistics: Lacrosse Returning 2018 Leading Scorers Player

Olivia Carey ‘21 Sarah Kopp ‘19 Sophia Sgroi ‘19 Shayne Antolini ‘20 Shannon Blee ‘20

G

A

Pts

18 30 23 8 30

23 3 9 23 0

41 33 32 31 30

Arts and Culture

6

Watson Walls

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OWEN KEEFER ‘20 ART CORRESPONDENT

ext time you are in your room, look at the color on your wall. If you’re lucky, you might be greeted with a light blue, but chances are a dull beige stares right back at you. Though color neutrality allows for more decoration and personalization, it can get tiring when the entire campus is built from red brick and gray paint. The Watson Walls project set out to break this monotony by collaborating with student artists and visionaries to create murals that not only shined with color, but exemplified the values of the space they occupied.

The second floor of the Watson Life Science Building houses both the Computer Science and the Health and Human Values departments, two disciplines that encompass separate principles. The challenge of the Watson Walls project was to reconcile these differences into a single, comprehensive design.

I was fortunate enough to be on the team of muralists and I found that the brainstorming phase was perhaps the most difficult for me. Davidson, as a liberal arts institution, is a place of multiple disciplines and a variety of interests, and synthesizing all these interests into a singular image is complex. Luckily, visual art is a powerful, adaptable medium that allows for interpretation.

For inspiration, I turned to perhaps one of the most recognized art pieces in the Western canon: Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam. While it could be labeled as a lack of creativity to adapt a pre-existing work, one of the most important aspects of art for me is accessibility. When people look at a lot of contemporary art today, they dismiss it as pure nonsense because they don’t recognize any form, structure, or symbolism in the abstraction. I hoped to create a piece that people could instantly react to, whether through the bright colors or by recognizing the referenced work.

Any form of public art belongs to the people who look at it, because without them, it wouldn’t exist.

Public art isn’t meant to be hung in a museum—it’s meant to connect to people who walk by it. I hoped for my mural to be a piece that anyone could look at and admire, as well as generally brighten up the walls of the building. Even if the mural isn’t examined closely, it nevertheless adds a splash of color to separate Watson from any other hallway on campus.

On the left side, Adam’s hand takes a low-polygonal structure, representing the Computer Science department through the concept of digital design and computer modeling. The hand on the right begins with a normal bodily structure, but slowly breaks down into anatomical parts as a nod to the the Health and Human Values field. The disciplines collide in the center, with the sphere split into two parts: the continuation of the polygonal, computer method on the left, and a form reminiscent of a cell on the right. Overall, the mural shows how differing fields of study—computer science, health and human values, and the humanities—can all come together and create some-

Owen Keefer ‘20 at work on a mural in the Watson Life Science Building. Photo courtesy of the artist thing beyond what they could do on their own.

Painting the mural was an arduous process—the wall is nearly twenty-five feet in length— and it took me well over thirty hours to finish. But with the support of Davidson Arts and Creative Engagement, it was an utterly enjoyable undertaking.

One of the most frequent questions I got about the mural was not about the painting itself, but rather, “Wait, you’re not getting paid to do this?” Well, no, and while there are a lot of problems with the art industry and payment only given in exposure, it never bothered me (after all, I accepted the commission knowing that would be the case).

Watson Walls was a way for me to pursue my passion for art in a place where opportunities for such large-scale expression are often limited. It was also a way for me to leave a longstanding mark on Davidson’s campus, and to hopefully make it a little bit more beautiful. It’s really exciting, especially in a traditionally academic space, to be able to transform sterile, white walls into colorful, almost playful, surfaces.

If you walk past my mural, one thing you won’t see is a signature. While that is partially due to my shoddy handwriting and the fact that the mural would look worse with the inclusion of my scrawled-on name, there is another reason why I choose to leave the mural unsigned.

Along the same lines as to why I didn’t mind not being paid, I don’t really consider myself the owner of the mural. I received so much support from everyone else—in terms of the space, paying for supplies, the wonderful snacks I ate late at night— that it seems wrong for me to claim the piece for myself. The very purpose of the project was for the community, not for the individual artist, and I think the mural should reflect that.

The painting is no more valuable than the dry-erase marks that

splatter the Richardson hallways; they are both expressions of student creativity, community, and innovation. Murals, street art, graffiti—really any form of public art—belong to the people who look at it, because without them, it wouldn’t exist.

When we start to forget the notion of beauty, we allow our spaces—and ourselves—to be controlled by cold, calculated budgets. Whatever is the cheapest option, for them, is the best option. But if we start to think about why we enjoy certain spaces, or why we take pleasure in looking at certain things, we can make more conscious decisions about what we want to do with the place where we live.

Painting and color infuence our perception of a space, even if it is unconscious. The trim of the ceiling or the hue of the floor tiles have a profound impact on our mood, whether we realize it or not. The only way we reclaim the beauty of our spaces is by understanding precisely what makes them beautiful and opposing any development that disregards this beauty.

The Watson Walls project pursues the noble goal of enlivening our spaces regardless of cost, and I hope that Davidson continues to undertake similar initiatives in the future.

And while I could only speak for myself, I’d like to acknowledge my fellow artists: Judson Womack ‘18, Chloe Pitkoff ‘21, Mariana Crespo ‘20, and Yasemin Tekgurler ‘19 also worked tirelessly on this project, and without the help of Rebecca Pempek ‘20 and Sherry Nelson, who were the impetus behind the entire project, the creation of the murals would not have been possible either.

Owen Keefer ‘20 is an Art History major from Spartanburg, SC. He can be reached for comment at owkeefer@davidson. edu.

Documentary Trending HENRY STOCKWELL ‘19 FILM CRITIC In anticipation of the Oscars coming up later this month, Davidsonian contributor Henry Stockwell will be writing about some of his favorite films of 2018 over the course of the next few weeks.

I

n the absence of Game of Thrones, and with no other television series assuming the Breaking Bad mantle of total pop culture dominance, 2018 was an opportunity for movies to reestablish their position as top dog in America’s entertainment industry. On the whole, filmmakers delivered on the opportunity. But in a year that gave us massive financial hits in the form of Marvel’s best film (the commercial and critical juggernaut that is Black Panther), the most expensive meme ever made (A Star Is Born), the most important rustic-white-people-sweater collection of all time (A Quiet Place), and the worst movie to be nominated for Best Picture in any Davidson student’s lifetime (Quite Problematic

Queen Porn—er, Bohemian Rhapsody), the trend in popular filmmaking about which I’m most excited is our collective re-embracing of the commercially viable documentary.

Director Bing Liu’s debut effort, Minding the Gap, was both my favorite film of 2018 and my biggest please-don’t-snub-this movie heading into Oscar nominations. I saw Minding the Gap for the first time at the Full Frame festival in Durham last spring—if you were there, and you weren’t crying, and you didn’t join the five minute-long standing ovation that happened after the last frame, I openly hate you and privately suspect you’re a piece of advanced artificial intelligence that’s been programmed only 90 percent correctly.

(Describing the experience of being at a film festival screening where the movie kills is basically impossible to do without rampant use of clichés. I’m not sorry about it.)

Minding is ostensibly a skateboarding movie. Really, skateboarding is the vehicle through which Liu tells the stories of three young men from his hometown of Rockford, Illinois, each of whom are the products of households

plagued by domestic violence. Liu’s movie is an editing tour de force. Like a good skater on fresh, sloped blacktop, Minding drives downhill with steadily increasing pace, weaving together narratives of staggering emotional weight in a way best described as organic. A true vérité filmmaker, Liu avoids condemning his subjects, even when they do or say horrible things. Instead, we’re in the hands of an artist whose technical achievement creates a sense of profound and sincere commitment to the lives of the people he’s depicting. Minding the Gap pushes the limits of the extent to which crafting a quality film can be considered an act of moral goodness. Get yourself a Hulu free trial and watch this thing.

Joining Minding in the Best Documentary category is Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi’s Free Solo. Following up his excellent 2015 feature, Meru, Chin and Vasarhelyi’s new film delivers some of the most breathtaking footage of last year. Free Solo tracks climber Alex Honnold’s attempt to climb Yosemite’s El Capitan, the most intimidating sheer rock face in the climbing world

(and your Mac desktop background), without a rope. The shots featuring ropeless Honnold alone on El Cap are enough to make this more than worth the watch—but Chin and Vasarhelyi are filmmakers, not cinematographers, and they make audiences reckon with the ramifications of the camera’s role in Honnold’s quest.

Free Solo is currently running on a second IMAX release, and I’d highly, highly recommend driving to the AMC at Northlake mall to see it in its largest possible format.

If you like Minding the Gap, try Hoop Dreams (Steve James, 1994, iTunes or Prime Video). If you’re digging on Free Solo, you’re going to want to hunker down and binge on: Meru (Jimmy Chin, 2015, Netflix and iTunes), The Dawn Wall (Josh Lowell, 2018, iTunes and Prime Video), Momentum Generation (Jeff and Michael Zimbalist, 2018, HBO), and Grizzly Man (Werner Herzog, 2005, iTunes, Prime Video, and Hulu).

Henry Stockwell ‘19 is an English major from Virginia Beach, VA. He can be reached for comment at hestockwell@davidson.edu.

Et Cetera I

7

A Call to Action: Why the Davidson Sexual Misconduct Policy Must Change Personal Essay Alex Aiello ’21

n the wake of the #MeToo movement, the Kavanaugh hearing, and the television documentary Surviving R. Kelly, I believe it is my duty to come forward and tell the truth about what happened to me early last semester.

I was raped.

At orientation and during health courses, we are taught that “no means no,” but for some reason, my no did not mean no on the night of my rape. We are also taught that consent cannot be given by someone who is drunk, and my alcohol intake made me unable to consent.

I knew then and I know now that what happened to me was rape and that it was wrong.

Because of my desire for justice, I decided to file a formal complaint and go through the Davidson sexual misconduct process in hopes that my perpetrator would be removed from campus, or at the minimum receive some sort of consequence that would convey to him the weight of his actions. After receiving no apology or acknowledgement that he had done something wrong and facing his lack of care for the pain he had caused me, I realized this was someone that neither I nor any other student should be in the company of at Davidson.

I filed my complaint less than two weeks after the incident occurred. It was processed by early in the fall semester, yet I did not receive a decision until five days before returning to Davidson for the spring semester. It was unfair to me to have to worry about my case over the holidays and have less than a week to prepare to come back to Davidson once the decision was released.

As a whole, I found that the process of investigation and gathering of evidence was not conducive to the needs of survivors. My interviews were held in a public space with windows, not giving me the privacy I needed when talking about my trauma. On one occasion, when I had to go to this space for a class, I walked past a room in which I saw my assaulter and the investigators reviewing the materials of the case. This was an extremely triggering experience that could have easily been avoided by either conducting interviews in a room without windows or warning me not to be in this space at that time.

Furthermore, they asked questions that felt disrespectful to survivors and irrelevant to the investigation, like those regarding the validity of my panic attack following the assault and my reasons for not wanting to have sex that night. These investigators are only required to have one annual training session. Why is this acceptable? Perhaps additional training would allow for interviews that better respect and consider the needs of survivors.

Both “the respondent,” the term used for my assaulter and “the complainant,” or the survivor, are allowed to have advisors, people who can attend meetings and offer support and guidance throughout the investigation. Lawyers are permitted to be advisors, but I was told that the respondent hiring a lawyer was not a cause for worry because the school’s process is very different than a criminal investigation that deals with the law. Most lawyers, I was told, are not familiar with our school’s internal procedures and do more harm than good. However, upon further research, I found that several law firms specialize in “Title IX” investigations to protect the rights of those accused of rape. If I had known this information, I would have hired a lawyer to help me tell my story in the best way to get justice.

The excruciating process culminated in a less than two page letter via email that stated that the respondent was found “not responsible.”

There was nothing more I could do.

The Davidson I thought I enrolled in was a place that would never condone the violation of another’s vulnerable body. However, this decision seemed to do just that. It conveyed the message that if a male student continues to pursue sex with a student, who has consistently said “no,” and accomplishes his goal while she was under the influence, it is totally acceptable.

The investigators submit an investigation packet to the Davidson Sexual Misconduct Board, a group of faculty and administration who deliberate and make a decision regarding each case. In my eyes, the Board saw this case as a matter of “he said, she said” in who they would choose to believe. The Board chose to believe him over me. To be found responsible, the Board members must find a 51% chance that sexual misconduct occurred. How can I possibly prove that I was drunk enough to be incapacitated? What more did the Board need to hear, other than that I was drunk and that I said no, for me to prove that I was raped?

How much evidence will it take for the Davidson administration to stop protecting rapists?

I am now expected to continue my education at Davidson, while my assaulter is allowed to continue with his education as well. I really do enjoy my classes and my professors, but I cannot reach the full potential I want to reach at Davidson with the constant fear of seeing him in the hallways of Chambers, at the gym, or when simply trying to have dinner at Commons. I can’t enjoy many social activities because I know he will be there. Instead, I confine myself to my room, my only safe space

on campus. The constant scanning, heightened anxiety, and fear is exhausting. I cannot go anywhere on campus without this incident and the fact that Davidson chose him over me looming in my mind.

Just as there are problems with the sexual misconduct process at Davidson, there are additional problems in the follow-up and support services offered to survivors. With the emotional trauma that comes from not only rape but also being confronted with my abuser almost every day, I need to be in counseling to cope with my PTSD symptoms. After being told by a Davidson therapist that there was no blame in the situation, that “rapist” is a strong word, and that the most important issue was uncovering why I invited my rapist to my room, I realized the inadequacy of the Davidson therapists to deal with sexual assault.

There is no on-campus therapist that specializes in sexual assault, despite 1 in 4 college women being assaulted each year. While there are great counselors on staff, none specialize

people, not just white women.

I struggle to contend with the fact that I will have to repair the damage done to me by another person. I am responsible for my own recovery, but there should be consequences for the one who pushed me down to begin with, the one that gave me the scars that will never fully fade away. Just as I will forever be burdened with this experience, my assaulter should be forever burdened with the weight of his actions and its impact on me.

I write to break the Davidson bubble, to force us, as a community, to understand that these issues are real and happen on campus.

I don’t expect sexual assault to be eradicated from Davidson College, because I know it is the result of deep-seated structural problems in our country. However, Davidson College’s administration does have a choice in how it chooses to deal with these incidents. While new legislation under the Trump administration will change the procedures of the sexual misconduct investigation nationally to favor

in sexual healing or survivorship, which are complex and difficult issues. When I brought up this issue, I was told by a staff member that there is neither the space in the health center nor the resources to accommodate an additional counselor who can specifically address the needs of survivors. However, if there is enough space on campus for rapists to walk free and enough resources to give rapists an education at Davidson, I am sure there is enough space and resources for a counselor for survivors.

There is no legal, spacial or financial reason that a counselor for survivors cannot be added to the staff on campus. With the prevalence of sexual assault among college females, I am not making a polite request; I am demanding what is a necessity.

In writing this, I want to acknowledge my privilege as a white female who was assaulted in a way that is considered rape under NC law. I acknowledge that many women of color and non-straight cisgender people experience similar assaults but are treated differently by law enforcement, administration and the general population. I advocate for changes in the sexual misconduct policy at Davidson for all

the rights of the accused and will make the process even more triggering for survivors, Davidson should do everything in its power to be mindful of survivors’ needs on this campus.

I don’t discourage anyone from reporting their assaults and filing complaints. Davidson’s administration needs to know about these incidents and justice should be had.

What must change is the system of power implemented by Davidson staff that perpetuates rape culture and creates space for rapists, pushing survivors to the corners of campus to endure the pain alone.

Students, I challenge you to stand with me and other survivors against this administration, advocating for a campus that welcomes those who deserve to be welcomed and eliminates those who put others in danger. With friends and peers, we need to promote a community that respects boundaries and supports one another in times of need. To the administration and staff, I call for a reconsideration of what you deem enough evidence for rape and a greater concern for the needs of survivors.

My interviews were held in a public space with windows, not giving me the privacy I needed when talking about my trauma. On one occasion, when I had to go to this space for a class, I walked past a room in which I saw my assaulter and the investigators reviewing the materials of the case.

Day 1

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Flannery RokebyJackson ‘19 I get a lot of my clothes from second-hand shops.

I always find the coolest items there. I’m trying to be more sustainable in my clothing choices, and thrift shopping helps me go back to my Asheville roots. I like to try and wear one fun/exciting thing that I can pair with more basic stuff just to keep things interesting. I like to think my style stemmed from the time I found a jean jacket with a horse painted on the back; ever since then I’ve tried to be more confident in wearing and styling fun pieces.

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The

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inside

Irreverent student journalism since 2004. Castigat Ridendo Mores.

The Foot Shaming Issue dåvidsoonian.com Febuary 6, 2091 Meet The Communicable Diseases of Your New Eating House Page H1N1

First-Year Males Petition Davidson to Return to Male-Only Enrollment after Losing Sleep from Sisterhood Chants Page 1971

First-Year Women Turned Neo-Luddites March on T&I Offices With Pitchforks Following Algorithm Fiasco Page 1810

You’re the Only One of Your Friend Group Who Hasn’t Founded a Startup: A Guide to Coping With Your Inadequacy

Campus Unsure If Local Sophomore Loitering F is Drunk or Just Obnoxious All The Time Page Pong Anyone?

Huh, Junior Who Now Speaks Nine Languages Must Have Actually Changed While Abroad

Up close look at the “Strat Star” in action. Tune in next week for toe-grooming advice.

Style Trends for the Spring (And Every Other F*cking Season) Include Black Yoga Pants, Frat T-Shirt, Chacos, and More!

Hello Fellow Wild-Kitties! It is your first-ever seasonal style guide produced by The Yowl. (No this isn’t a reach, stop asking). We want to make Davidson College No. 1 on US News’ College Rankings For Stylish Ass Bitches. We want this campus to pop off with fleekness.

We have style recommendations that are SO unique, any passing by co-Target shopper will know you are from the campus of Davidson College of Design. Whether you are trying to get a look so good to achieve enough insta likes that mirror first tier campus celebrity level, or trying to catch the eye of that Armfield resident who spends a suspicious amount of time in the Base Belk lab, we have the inside tips on the top trends of the season.

First Look: The Srat Star Black Yoga Pants, Frat T-Shirt, and Chacos. Your K-Sig-dating eating house sisters will NEVER see your SAE inspired outfit coming. Accompany this outfit with the following accessories: Hydroflask water bottle with TWO Post Malone stickers.

Second Look: The Bookstore Bittie Monday: White Davidson tee. Tuesday: Red Davidson tee. Wednesday: Grey Davidson tee. Thursday: Black Davidson tee. Friday: Disgusting orange Davidson tee that the bookstore was selling last Spring (seriously guys, wtf). Accompany this outfit with the following accessories: Hydroflask water bottle with THREE Davidson College stickers.

Third Look: The ‘Just Outside of Boston’ Betch 40 degrees? It’s shorts and a t-shirt season. In fact, go shoeless too just to let ‘em know. Sunbathe on Chambers lawn just so everyone gets it––you’re a badass. Wear a Tom Brady jersey so people know you don’t give a shit if they hate you. Accompany this outfit with the following accessories: Hydroflask water bottle with FOUR Dunkin Donuts stickers.

LOOKS 4-100 CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

TOMLINSON –– Expressing sheer bewilderment at the fact that their good pal, who by all measures was a patently average human being for the first two and a half years they had known him, repeatedly demonstrated the ability to speak in seemingly innumerable tongues, the friend group of Carson O’Carroll ‘20 collectively agreed that their formerly undistinguished suitemate must have, like, literally been changed by his abroad experience.

“I didn’t believe him at first when he got back from Rome and started texting us all about how he ‘seriously changed a lot from his time in Europe,’” mimicked Sam Rodriguez ‘20, who has been roommates with O’Carroll since freshman year and appeared palpably insecure when describing how he initially disregarded, and even scoffed at, the claims of his now awe-inspiring friend. “I mean who could’ve seen this coming?,”a visibly baffled Rodriguez continued.

Indeed, who could have anticipated O’Carroll’s abroad-induced metamorphosis from an unassuming, scrawny white male to a quasi-divine linguistic savant? Certainly not the rest of he and Rodriguez’s friend group, it turns out.

Said Jason Wu ‘20, who lives with Rodriguez and O’Carroll in Tomlinson, “I was totally shocked. I mean Carson’s a great guy and a chiller and all that, but he was never, like, particularly talented at anything. But I mean, holy shit. Nine fucking languages. I’m still trying to figure out how the hell this happened,” admitted a noticeably astonished Wu. Sources close to the friend group tell The Yowl that Wu, who plays three instruments, is on the Track & Field team, has great fashion sense, and is generally seen as objectively the coolest member of their squad, has become threatened by O’Carroll’s newfound abilities, fearing that his status may be undermined by this insurgent master of worldly speech.

When asked about O’Carroll’s sudden acquisition of wide-ranging linguistic expertise, Dr. Marie LeBlanc of the French and Francophone Studies Department noted that O’Carroll was “nothing special, a solid B-student” in her French 201 class last Spring, adding that she was “completely taken aback” when she first heard of his fluency, not only in French, but also in Italian, German, Spanish, Dutch, Danish, Portuguese, Polish, and Ancient Greek.

At press time, students who felt like they really gained a better understanding of themselves through their extensive European travels and even went as far to try some new foods were reportedly feeling very insecure upon hearing of O’Carroll’s envious transformation.

15 Things To Do In the Nummit Bathroom That Aren’t Taking A Rushed Dump (Number 8 Will Surprise You!) 1. Organize a conference call with a future employer (they don’t have to know your pants aren’t on. That’s knowledge that you can enjoy).

2. Make loud wailing moaning sounds.

3. Have yourself a quaint and quirky toilet themed wedding 4. Have yourself a quaint and quirky orgy 5. Host a semi-formal for your respective Eating House or Fraternity. Some of you are “trashier” than others.

6. Colonize the whole space to yourself, take like a 45 minute power-nap, really spread out all of your shit. This is your world we’re just living in it. (This goes out to you, the person who takes a whole Nummit booth to them-

The

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selves without a friendly soul in sight).

7. Have a class held in the nummit bathroom. Plenty of space in their for your verbal vomiting.

8. Smear avocado all over the floor. Roll in it. Cover yourself in the good, good green.

9. Want an alternative place to showcase your recent indie EP album? Debut in Davidson College’s premiere music venu. Really stick it to the man.

10. Find that Lake Norman isn’t yielding the kind of interesting microbes and wildlife you’ve been asked to study for (insert stem class). Use some choice samples of this vast landscape to discover some cool new strain of mono.

Weekly General Horoscope Regardless of Sign

The sun is out! The stars say that the Phi Delt who lives next to you is now officially allowed to wear his multiple sleeveless muscle tanks. Anticipate an onslaught of allergies and a plague of weather that’s too warm for the winter wardrobe you’ve yet to change out (Expect to make an anxious plea to your mom this weekend to “please just send me my summer shorts. I’m not going to get Pneumonia. Stop slut shaming me, Karen!”) Now that cuffing season has come to an abrupt, blue-balled close, expect to spend Februrary 14th hunched over some internet porn in your sweat pants with the glaze of salt and vinegar chips (no one is kissing you anyways) and loneliness hanging on you like bad cologne. Spring is just around the corner and it’s time to pretend like you aren’t terribly pale and sick looking.

11. Just like idk, have a quickie?

12. Bounce house!

13. If you think the Union and New Dorm gyms are a little too public, use this ample, bouncy space to do that weird, over the top HIIT workout video you’re too embarrassed to pull of in the public eye.

14. We know a lot of you wildcats have a weird thing for ultimate frisbee. Maybe hide that hobby by practicing in this large, confined bathroom. (You’re trash!)

15. Use the private room to have yourself a really romantic first date. Nothing says good first impressions than the lingering smell of a coffee-induced dump and an ample amount of ammonia.

16. Did you just make like a really socially awkward joke in your feeble attempt to court the nummit barista who you kinda got a crush on? Have yourself a good emotional cringe cry in Nummit’s sound-proof “what the fuck did I just say?” room.

17. The Nummit bathroom is a really good place to quarantine yourself from your disease-ridden roommate.

18. We suggest a silent contemplation of the meaning of existence. Let your thoughts echo in the vast emptiness of the Nummit bathroom. It’s like a sensory deprivation tank you can shit in.

WRITERS

THE BOX

Greggy Headlines Satire Sarah Humor Harry Mike ‘Next Andy Samberg’ Samberg

Quote of the Week: “I’m off the fucking grid, man.”

- Local Late-Capitalist

Note: The Yowl is a satirical supplement to The Davidsonian. Hence, nothing in it should be taken as truth. We don’t make the news, we fake the news™.