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Volume 120, Issue 6
November 3, 2021
Dr. González discusses representation among faculty
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Nicholas Galanin’s new installation explores Indigenous identity
The Yowl presents: Driving lessons from your favorite administrator
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Patterson Court Grapples With Past, Present S(Y)TBT Initiative Aims To Engage Greek Organizations With Their History GEORGIA HALL ‘25 (SHE/HER) STAFF WRITER
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he Patterson Court Collections Initiative is one of the latest recipients of a Stories (Yet) To Be Told grant, a program that aims to “transform spaces into sites for engagement,” according to a recent perspectives piece by Maurice Norman ‘20, Marquia Humphries ‘22, and Michaela Gibbons ‘22. According to their website, the purpose of the S(Y)TBT initiative is to “listen for stories told, untold and yet told (historical, societal, personal) of Davidson College.” Initial meetings were held in Summer 2021 and the project is now officially launched. The members of Patterson Court Council (PCC) who have chosen to take part have begun their archival research to learn more about their histories and immortalize the findings in the archives. Gibbons came up with the idea for the initiative. She essentially designed it to “equip Greek organizations on campus with the archival support necessary to collect their own stories and preserve them.” The organizations who have chosen to take part are collecting posters, emails, t-shirts, oral histories, weekly announcements, Instagram posts and whatever else they believe will reflect their organizations’ history and identity for future generations in the archives. Patterson Court Council Cooperation Not all organizations have chosen to take part in this research. The only Eating Houses involved are Turner House and Rusk House. Connor House and Warner Hall House opted out of the project. Fraternities Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE), Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji), and Alpha Phi Alpha are taking part as well as the Sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha (the AKAs). Fraternities, Phi Delta Theta, Kappa Alpha Order (KA, now disbanded), and Kappa Alpha Psi (the Nupes) have opted out. Although KA has disbanded, Gibbons believed it was important to have their history in the archives having been a pervasive influence on campus life since 1865. The Sororities Delta Sigma Theta (the Deltas) and Lambda Theta Phi and Fraternity Lambda Pi Chi expressed an interest, but their limited resources proved a challenge to find the people to dedicate the time to this research. Sigma Pi Epsilon (SPE) began the research but pulled out of the project. President of Kappa Sigma (KSig), Will Hopkins ‘23, stated the fraternity could not commit at this point but hopes the fraternity will undergo the research in the future. The idea for this project was sparked through Gibbons’s work with the S(Y)TBT in the archive. “I realized that Davidson College is doing its own reflection on their history because they are a predominantly white institution [and] looking at the impact that we have on white supremacy is integral,” said Gib-
Court party at Davidson in 1971. Image courtesy Davidson College Special Collections and Archives. bons. The project aims to create a timeline for all the different PCC organizations on campus and Gibbons is “hoping to close the gap” of our history in the process. As the Davidson campus community is reevaluating the relevance and importance of PCC organizations, the motivations for this archival project reflects the current widespread change in mindset of the student body. Gibbons is a member of Turner House, and she expressed that some members “really struggle to see where [they] fit into Patterson Court because [they] are on the outside, across the street.” Gibbons sees Turner as “a bit different to other eating houses on campus” and she was “really interested in doing a deep dive into what our history was and how Turner chose to become an eating house in 1997.” Four weeks of research, and already the findings are revealing. Ian Macel ‘24, historian for FIJI, has already uncovered a poster for a post-9/11 party where the theme was to dress as your “favorite radical faction.” Ellie Stewart ‘24, historian for Turner, discovered that the house partnered with former campus organization Davidson Cure Autism Now for a 5K run. What is most important for Stewart and Turner going forward
is to figure out “how do we address that now?” Macel volunteered as historian for FIJI as he “wanted to learn more about the history of the chapter on campus.” Macel is disappointed that other organizations chose not to take part just because they “are not interested in sharing that information with the college.” “I think it is important to know what your organization has done on campus...there are secrets in every fraternity, that’s the nature I guess...but there is also a lot of interesting campus involvement and I’m grateful for what I have been able to find in the archives,” said Macel. However, despite this need among organizations to hold themselves accountable and come to terms with their past, it appears we may not even have universal access to this problematic information across the campus community and beyond. According to Macel,“The archives give you the option to restrict certain things [...] that only a brother can see and there are certain things everyone can see.”
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Benefits Crisis Affects Davidson’s Dining Services CHARLOTTE SPEARS ‘24 (SHE/HER) SENIOR STAFF WRITER
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n September, the Davidsonian covered the national end to Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, which helped “freelancers, the self-employed, and independent contractors,” and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, which offered assistance to those those who had exhausted their state unemployment payments. Although 9 million fewer people receive unemployment checks relative to September, the nationwide labor shortage remains a challenge for employers. Davidson College has introduced new compensation packages amid worker shortages and calls by staff for improved benefits.
A new minimum wage of $15.50 per hour went into effect on October 31, 2021 for non-temporary workers at Davidson College. In addition to higher wages, the school has now announced new health and dental insurance options that will provide more choices and lower premiums for staff. The change comes after a feedback survey in 2018 told the school, “loud and clear” that benefits needed to be improved, according to Kim Ball, director of Human Resources. Ball also said that Davidson lagged behind its peer institutions in benefits. These changes come at a time when nationwide job shortages are affecting Davidson dining services. “It is impossible to find people right now,” said Pinky Varghese, Director of Dining Services. “The reason is there aren’t people available. The only condition I have right now is a background check. We don’t have the luxury of picking people from
a huge labor force, and I don’t see that in the near future.” Ball hopes the recent changes to wage and benefits “show just how much the college values the contributions of the faculty and staff.” Varghese said it is too early to expect any hiring surge from the wage increase. Despite this, Varghese said it’s a positive change. “The [wage] increase is very good,” Varghese said. “I am happy the college understood the living wage in Mecklenburg [County] and we appreciate that.” Ball also said the wage adjustments are “tangible recognitions” of the work done by College workers and their
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News
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PCC Organizations Uncover History CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
However, Macel did state he was “not trying to gatekeep anything.” When the organizations submit their findings to the archives, they will be able to enact their own restrictions. The organizations can ensure some of the findings remain private to past and present members of their group. Archivist Debbie Lee Landi noted how this is common practice to keep parts of an organization’s history private. “It’s pretty typical in archives...there are any number of reasons things are restricted,” said Landi. Gibbons confirmed that organizations have the option to keep information that may “compromise the integrity of the organizations” private, such as “initiations, rituals, and traditions that are not meant to be known/ seen by nonmembers.” Future Impacts Dean Walter Snipes is an official advisor on the Patterson Court Collections Initiative. Snipes chose to take part in the initiative as he believes it will be a unique “time capsule.” “I think that it is a great thing to do...The approach is really sharing the stories and creating a space for [organizations] to share their impact on history,” said Snipes. Snipes acknowledged the vulnerability required to participate in the project. These organizations will be solidifying their identity in the archives. According to Snipes, “for some it represents camaraderie, for some it represents sisterhood or brotherhood, some it represents power and privilege and dynamics... You are trying to capture a story for others to read [be it] good or bad,” he said. Snipes initially held back from being the official advisor until he was sure Gibbons would tackle the project in the manner she initially intended. “PCC organizations are a presence here and their stories, they don’t need to be told per se in the sense that they do not have a platform, but I think being able to understand these stories reflects where we are as a community. They don’t make up a whole part but I think...it speaks to where we are [today].” How this project will impact the Davidson College community will only reveal itself once it has been completed. Snipes sees the impact as being incredibly varied. “If people come in with an open mind and are like ‘I wanna learn,’ then they are gonna learn stuff they do not already know. If people are gonna go ‘I want to look to see what you are doing wrong,’ then that’s the lens of which they are gonna look, and they are gonna get justification for that,” said Snipes. Kamryn Walker ‘24, historian for the AKAs, believes that making the initiative interactive and accessible is integral to raising awareness about the project so that students actually do engage with the research. “Getting the professors to talk about it...sending it to the department heads” are some of the few ways she suggested to increase engagement among the student body with this archival research. According to Stewart, there are gaps in our campus history because “there hasn’t been a consistent effort to hand things over to the archives.” Lee Landi emphasised the struggle of having to have a lot of student participation: “[campus organizations] have to organize the records and have to get the re-
Drone photo of Patterson Court circle. Photo by Hannah Dugan ‘21 cords to us.” Archival collating is not a quick process. “We have to keep pestering students” for information, said Lee Landi, who is glad that Gibbons is obtaining this information “in an organized fashion.” Landi wants to make sure “all the student groups are included” across campus; however, it is reliant on these organizations to take it upon themselves to do this research and immortalize their history in the archives. Telling Davidson’s History This student-driven initiative is integral to our community. Gibbons noted that NPHC organizations “don’t have most of their records preserved at all” and “lack the institutional visibility especially in the archives.” Walker’s comments echoed this, citing how sometimes “we [AKAs] feel like we don’t exist” and just “float around on campus...white orgs always have a voice on campus.” “[The] student body is evolving; there are different stories to be told and the AKAs is one of them...We are an old organization, over 100 years old, that started to facilitate the academic growth of African American women...These women were here at Davidson at some point and look at the impact they left,” said Walker. She “appreciates the project” as she “feels like [the AKAs] are overshadowed,” citing even last week when the AKAs put on events “to give back to the community” where few attended. Grace Hall ‘22 Patterson Court Council President and a member of Connor eating house, which is choosing not to take part, “think[s] it’s an awesome project.” “I think it is really important we engage with our history...it’s doing great work...understanding history and context is the best way to create positive change from within...I don’t know if this
is going to change how we view PCC as much as it is going to change how we act in the future,” Hall commented. Maurice Norman, digital projects fellow at Davidson College and a consultant on the initiative, noted as a Davidson Alum and Alpha Phi Alpha, understood the value of what it means to have space on campus and have the opportunity to tell an untold history of Davidson’s minority groups. Norman truly believes this is going to change how we view the PCC organization. “It is already affecting some of the members...a lot of people are uninformed about the material aspects of what a performance of whiteness looks like.” Gibbons acknowledged that already these organizations are “finding parts of their history that they are not proud of” and emphasized “that’s the point of doing this.” She believes this initiative should “build a Patterson Court Community [with] those who are willing to hold themselves accountable.” “I think it says something about the organizations who chose to do this and it speaks to them wanting to make a difference moving forward...Those who don’t take this seriously and are not interested in doing this work...I wonder how it is that they can argue that they still should have a place on Patterson Court in the future if they are unwilling to do their own historical reflection,” Gibbons said. The Patterson Court Collections Initiative is here to reframe the importance of preserving and registering our history. This project is important not necessarily to place blame, but to enable people who are members of these organizations to acknowledge the events that led to where they are today. This project has only just begun and will continue over the course of this academic year.
Employee Morale Impacted By Wage Crisis CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
COMPARING MINIMUM WAGE
North Carolina is one of the 15 states with the lowest minimum wage, equalling the federal level of $7.25. 20 15.50
15
13.69 12.00
47.6%
raise from the original pay rate
10.50
10 7.25
7.25
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dedication during difficult times. COVID-19 hit the hospitality industry hard. And, according to Varghese, when businesses began hiring as the pandemic began to subside in January, workers left Davidson for opportunities they didn’t have before. Varghese said that the campus-wide vaccine mandate was not a major reason behind workers’ decisions to leave. “Morales were definitely affected because we are losing people left, right and center,” Varghese said of the worker shortage. “It’s normal for that to happen. They are losing their companions so it makes them feel like their workload will increase. Even though we brought in help from other dining locations including Davis Café and Much Ado Catering.”
The Davidson wage increase represents a
Left: Student Employment Wanted Sign Outside Vail Commons. Photo by Sydney Schertz ‘24 Right: Davidson’s old and new minimum wage compared to US states and the federal minimum. Infographic by Brigid McCarthy ‘25
November 3, 2021
You Can’t Spell Fun Without F... Or Can You? Let’s be honest, F [Armfield] parties are not for everyone. In the spirit of advertising ways to have fun that don’t involve a trek down the hill, we have gathered three events you can enjoy this Thursday and Friday. If you would like to advertise a non-F event in a future issue, contact davidsonian@davidson.edu.
TOWN ELECTION RESULTS
Yesterday, Davidson held local elections for Mayor and Town Commission. Rusty Knox, incumbent mayor, ran unopposed and resoundingly won his race. First elected in 2017, Mayor Knox came into office on the backs of a campaign to oppose a large mixeduse development on Main Street. Two more incumbents ran in the Town Commission race: Jane Campbell and Autumn Rierson Michael. Both Commissioners first entered office in 2017 as well and just ran for their third term. Six other candidates ran for one of the commission’s five seats: Jeff Boyd, Tracy Mattison Brandon, Matthew Dellinger, Ryan
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Agenda
Takeaways
Attendance
KAIZAD IRANI ‘22 SGA CORRESPONDENT
89%
24 27
Absent (excused): Emma Melton ‘24, Sarah Baker ‘24 Absent (not excused): Israel Palencia ‘23 Late (not excused): Shreya Sharma ‘24 Mary Gorman (Consultant at Spencer Stuart) and Sarah Phillips (Vice President and General Counsel at Davidson College) Zoomed into the SGA meeting to gather feedback on what students would like to see in the College’s next President. Ensuring proper representation of minority groups, being ambitious towards new ideas, and prioritizing mental health were key themes present during the call. John Billups ‘22 asked clarification regarding Davidson’s “Presybeterian value set and its relation to academic life and the next President.” Phillips remarked that the next President must stay true to Davidson’s Statement of Purpose, but that individual religious background will not be given preference. Earlier this year, the College’s bylaws removed the requirement that the President had to be of the Presybterian faith. After hearing this, some Senators, who seemed unaware that policy change occurred, began cheering, laughing, and having side conversations during the call. Following the call, Wren Healy ‘23 expressed his disappointment at how certain Senators reacted to the news. He felt some Senators disrespected the Search Committee members present with their reactions. Healy felt they did not acknowledge the political will it took to amend the bylaws, and that the demeanor of the call shifted negatively. Angelo Dean ‘23 disagreed with Healy, expressing that they were showing their support towards the change and that their reaction was justified. A lengthy discussion erupted between Senators over respectful ways of communication and whether the reaction was inappropriate or not. No evident conclusion was reached. Grace Hall ‘22 announced a PCC town hall occurring on 11/3 regarding the safety of social events down the hill. There were talks over SGA’s response to cyberbullying on Yik Yak, with some Senators advocating for either a survey to be sent to all students regarding their view on the app or hosting a separate meeting open to all students. Discussion naturally came to a halt and SGA adjourned before providing project updates, going approximately 15 minutes past 9:00 PM.
1. Presidential Search Committee Feedback 2. Gallery Response 3. Project Planning 4. Announcements
November 4-5, 2021 Traditional Series: Kruger Brothers
Blanket Bundtlet Bash
Duke Family Performance Hall 7:30PM Thursday November 4th
900 Room 8PM-10PM Friday November 5th
The Music Department is bringing the Kruger Brothers, a band who makes music in the spirit of traditional Appalaichan music, to Davidson. Tickets are free for students and available at the Union ticket desk.
In preparation for the colder weather, Union Board is offering the opportunity to make a blanket (no sewing required). All participants will be given a free bundt cake to enjoy as well.
Pharaoh’s Ball
Lilly Gallery 10PM-1AM Friday November 5th The Tau Omicron chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity is putting on the Pharaoh’s Ball this Friday! A portion of the proceeds go to supporting Second Harvest Food Bank. Buy tickets ($10) in Union from 10AM to 4:30PM until Friday, November 5th.
Fay, Tim Neal, and Dan Ryan. Incumbents Campbell and Rierson Michael won re-election, finishing first and second in the polls respectively. Dellinger and Mattison Brandon were also elected to the Town Commission, finishing third and fourth respectively. After his unsuccessful run in 2017, Fay earned the last seat on the Commission. The NC State Board of Elections reported unnofficial results as of 10pm 11/02 (right). Due to the wide margin between Fay and Ryan, the outcome of the election is not expected to change.
Preliminary election results via NC State Board of elections
Crime Log
Time Reported
Description/Location
10/24/2021 at 2314 hrs
Injury to Real Property (AC Unit)
10/25/2021 at 1700 hrs
Careless and Reckless Driving
10/27/2021 at 1338 hrs
Larceny Felony (Purse)
10/28/2021 at 1436 hrs
Attempted to Obtain Property by False Pretenses
10/29/2021 at 2228 hrs
Underage Consumption
10/30/2021 at 0115 hrs
Underage Consumption
10/31/2021 at 2314 hrs
Underage Consumption
Ryburn, Further Investigation
Patterson Court, Clear by Citation
Near Practice Soccer Field, Inactive
VAC Lot, Further Investigation
Chidsey, Dean Referral
Richardson, Dean Referral/Medic Transport
Davis, Dean Referral
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Perspectives
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Unpacking CatCard Access to Residence Halls
COVID Era Restriction Has Overstayed Its Welcome SAMANTHA EWING ‘23 (SHE/HER) PERSPECTIVES COLUMNIST AND SENIOR STAFF WRITER
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pon my arrival at Davidson in Fall 2020, the college had restricted CatCard access to college dorms: students’ CatCards could only be used to access the dorms they were currently living in. At the time, this rule seemed fair to me—prior to the release of any type of COVID vaccine, we were tasked with protecting ourselves and others from the virus as we tried to navigate returning to campus in person. However, under our current circumstances, this rule doesn’t seem to make sense anymore. First of all, if this restriction is still in place to reduce the spread of COVID, it is inconsistent with the rest of the college’s COVID policies. With a 99% vaccination rate among the student body, we were notified that Armfield courtyard would be opened as a gathering space for students two weeks into the semester. As a result, every weekend hundreds of students gather both in and outdoors.This poses much more of a risk to the spread of COVID than on-campus students having access to multiple residence halls. If the school is ready to allow large indoor and outdoor gatherings to resume, where does the hesitation to allow us access to other dorms come from? Additionally, the lack of CatCard access to all dorms does
not conform to the pattern of the other COVID rules related to residence halls. For instance, unlike the past two semesters, we no longer have limitations on the amount of guests we are allowed to host in our rooms; other on-campus students are allowed to visit our dorms without even having to wear masks in the halls or bathrooms. With all of that said, restricted residence hall access doesn’t make sense as an act of protection against COVID. I also fail to see how this restriction makes our residence halls any safer regarding non-COVID related concerns. For instance, if a non-student were to attempt to gain access to a resident hall, more students having card access would not increase their likelihood of succeeding. The doors to these residence halls would be opened with the same frequency, since residents would need to open the doors for their friends if their guests do not have CatCard access themselves. Ergo, lifting the CatCard restriction for students to enter all residence halls would not increase or affect the risk of non-students entering the dorms. I think that the justification for this restriction being out of concern for the safety of Davidson students begs the question of what safety means. I would go as far as to argue that student card access to all dorms makes campus an even safer place. To pose a hypothetical, if I was leaving a study session in an academic building late at night and noticed someone who appeared to be a non-student following me, not only would I have nowhere immediate and safe to turn, but I would also have no
choice but to lead them back to my dorm, revealing where I live. In this instance, having CatCard access to other residence halls could aid or prevent an otherwise dangerous situation. Lastly, I think that restoring this CatCard access could help foster a sense of trust between students and the administration. As a student, the fact that most other COVID restrictions have been lifted leads me to question whether the administration doesn’t trust us as a student body to use this CatCard access responsibly. Every student on this campus underwent some form of Honor Code signing ceremony. In fact, I specifically remember the Honor Code and general culture of trust on campus being heavily marketed to me when I was a prospective student. I would hope that if we can be expected to uphold this honor code in other areas of campus life that the college would also trust us with this card access, especially since it was offered to us less than two years ago. Going forward, I hope the school will consider returning CatCard access to all residence halls for students living on campus, as this gesture would make campus a safer and more trusting place. Samantha Ewing (she/her) is an English major from Atlanta, Georgia. She can be reached for comment at saewing@davidson.edu
“If the school is ready to allow large indoor and outdoor gatherings to resume, where does the hesitancy to allow us access to other dorms come from?”
In Perspective with Ross: Dr. Melissa González
On Equitable Representation in Academia MELISSA GONZÁLEZ (SHE/HER) AND ROSS HICKMAN (THEY/THEM) PERSPECTIVES EDITOR Ross Hickman: What would your vision of the ideal academy look like, both in terms of forming a robust and inclusive faculty as well as an engaged student body? In what ways does Davidson live up to that vision, and how might we improve now and in the future? Melissa González: Wow, it is both fun and daunting to envision an ideal academy. I dislike setting anybody up to want the unattainable, so I will imagine a better academy, rather than an ideal academy, and one that can only exist in a better world, a more just world. This better academy would not require taking on any debt to attend. It would have inclusive pedagogies in all classes, which would come in a variety of formats, including lots of intimate seminars with project-based learning and addressing multiple modes of literacy, and students would understand their role as producers of knowledge alongside their teachers. Students would learn how to be teachers, and teachers would know how to be students; everybody would understand themselves as researchers of themselves and the world around them. There would be neither over- or under-representation of racialized groups in the Davidson community; we would represent the diversity of the United States and the world instead of having the numbers and hierarchies we have now. Davidson today does not have numbers of Black, Latinx, and foreign-born students that match national demographics. Ending demographic under- and over-representation would not erase the histories of exclusions and inequalities in access to education that have existed since the first universities were founded toward the end of the 17th century, in what came
to be called the United States, but it would be part of any better academy. Hickman: What has been your experience with the faculty hiring process at Davidson College, including its ways of recruiting, retaining, and releasing professors? González: Davidson has hiring processes that are very similar to those of our peer institutions, other selective and predominantly white small liberal arts colleges. I have seen, in the past eleven years, both Davidson and some (notably not all!) peer institutions rethinking faculty hiring to make it less biased and more successful at ending under-representation among faculty, which is quite dire across higher education. For example, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, only “5 percent [of full-time faculty, including both Visiting faculty and tenure-line faculty] were Asian/Pacific Islander females; and 3 percent each were Black males, Black females, Hispanic males, and Hispanic females.” New policies and programs, such as the Equity Advising Program and the student-led Student Initiative for Academic Diversity (SIAD), are leading us in a better direction. They are also not enough to really solve the problem of under-representation. Hickman: Have you noticed discrepancies in how the college has decided to retain and/ or tenure certain kinds of faculty over others? Are there specific factors that you see playing a role in those decisions (e.g. hierarchies between departments; race, gender, and sexuality; subjects of scholarly inquiry)? González: Over the years, I have tried to gather data, both qualitative and quantitative, that would show discrepancies if they were there.
One problem is that some of this data is not accessible, because of policies and practices that are definitely not unique to Davidson, but common in higher ed. I do advocate for gathering and examining past data in new ways if we want to really transform our hiring practices for the future. Working with incomplete data, I have concluded that the biases and traditional practices of the academy at large are reflected here, as one would expect. It is well established that various forms of bias impact the outcomes of national faculty searches. This problem is well-established as a common one; what we need are uncommon solutions that go beyond the growing list of best practices for hiring a more diverse faculty. This need comes up against long traditions of very idiosyncratic faculty hiring practices, which certainly have changed, but not enough to move the needle—not surprisingly, since there were no significant numbers of white women and BIPOC faculty for the majority of the university’s existence. For example, the Gender & Sexuality Studies Department, established with a major in 2012, gets some of its funding from an endowment made by the wonderful Professor Emerita Sally G. McMillen, the first woman to be tenured in the History Department, which happened only 28 years ago. Hickman: How might you clarify the process, including its deficiencies, for students, faculty, or staff who haven’t been as involved or aware of what goes into hiring and keeping faculty? González: Part of the problem is that it is just impossible to explain, much less clarify, the labyrinthine processes of faculty hiring in this brief response. It’s a long and complex process, and understanding the ways that traditions and biases, many of which are not under conscious control, inhibit the goals of hiring a
more diverse faculty, requires significant background reading. If you want to learn about the nuts and bolts, the best thing is to volunteer for a search committee, which any faculty can do via the Equity Advising Program, whereas students can participate by working for SIAD. I think that, while some faculty would consider it a too-radical idea, intentionally involving staff in faculty searches could be part of an innovative plan to transform faculty hiring. And we also need to think about making hiring more equitable at Davidson as a whole, across all hiring, not just faculty hiring, in order to realize our broader goals of making the institution more just. Hickman: Do you have any recommendations for actions, collaborations, or other meaningful things students can do beyond keeping the conversation going? González: Learning about and getting involved in SIAD is probably the most impactful way students can get involved. Almost every new faculty member we recruit tells me, unprompted, that SIAD was the best part of their hiring experience, or even what made them feel certain they could work here as a teacher-scholar who is under-represented in the academy at large. Beyond that, arming yourself with data about faculty under-representation across higher education and learning about bias in hiring and recruitment practices will help students make stronger arguments when they advocate for hiring more diverse faculty. Melissa Gonzalez (she/her) is Chair of Gender & Sexuality Studies, Associate Professor of Hispanic Studies, and Core Faculty in Latin American Studies. She can be reached for comment at megonzalez@davidson.edu.
Sports
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A Successful Fall Season for the Women’s Tennis Team
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CENZO ROSSI ‘22 (HE/HIM) SPORTS WRITER
he women’s tennis team has had a strong fall campaign through their first three tournaments. In their first collegiate tournament at Charleston Southern, Daniela Porges ‘25 and Linden Patterson ‘25 demonstrated their ability to be big presences on the team. Patterson got her first win against Campbell’s Anna-Marie Kopecka in a three-set battle. Porges dominated fellow Charleston Southern freshman Amila Jusufbegvic 6-1, 6-1. Porges continued her promising start at Georgia Southern, downing Mercer 6-2, 6-1 and Kennesaw State 6-1, 6-1 on Court 5. However, doubles dominance was a theme at Georgia Southern. The duo of Kavya Patel ‘25 and Josie Schaffer ‘23 downed Georgia State 7-6 and North Florida 6-1. The freshman pairing of Porges and Patterson also proved deadly, beating Georgia State 6-3 and UT-Chattanooga 6-1 in consecutive days. The freshmen theme continued in the 20-team ITA Regionals field in mid-late October. Patel squeaked out a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (3) victory against NC Central, while Porges dismantled Charleston Southern 6-4, 6-0. Schaffer and Mira Gladstone ‘22 have spoken highly of the freshmen Patel, Patterson, and Porges. Schaffer says that they are “so talented” and “fit into the team so well.” Gladstone indicates the first years are “very competitive.” After all, they were four-star recruits according to Tennis Recruiting Network. The only team member playing in the A1 section of the draw, Schaffer was the twenty-sixth rated player in the stacked competition. Although she narrowly lost to Clemson’s Ali DeSpain, she gave a good account of herself in a tough field. This positive performance piggybacks off of last season’s First Team All A-10 campaign. Appearing in 21 out of 24 tournaments in the shortened 2021 season, Schaffer won nine doubles matches and led the team with nine singles triumphs. All of her matches were played on the prestigious Court 1. Schaffer dubs her playstyle as “aggressive,” as she loves coming to the net, forcing her opponents into difficult decisions. Schaffer’s mindset is just as good as her aggressive playstyle. Per Head Coach Susanne Depka, Schaffer excels when facing adversity, focusing on the “challenge” of playing difficult opponents rather than the “negatives.” This season, Schaffer is improving her play along the baseline, helping her eliminate mistakes and control points without the approach of coming forward. As a unit, the women’s tennis team is very close. Part of which stems from the adversity they have faced. For example, the COVID shortened 2021 schedule proved challenging for the Wildcats. Finishing 6-15, they lost their final seven consecutive regular-season contests. Even the
fall season has been filled with ups and downs. Despite impressive singles and doubles victories, certain players were sick during the first two tournaments, thus not allowing the Wildcats to trot out a full-strength team. Although coach Depka doesn’t like to use missing players as excuses, absences at the Georgia Southern Fall Shootout were “tough to overcome.” The story of Emma Heiderscheit ‘23 encapsulates the atmosphere of the program. Competing in zero tournaments last season, Heiderscheit recently recorded a doubles win with Franny Shea ‘23 at Georgia Southern. Her return is met with jubilation from Schaffer, indicating the junior is “working so hard every single day” to feature regularly. Schaffer’s excitement for Heiderscheit embodies the spirit of the women’s tennis program. Unique to other college teams, Schaffer described how “all of us are on that court cheering,” motivating each player to the fullest. Liz Truluck ‘22 added, “We have each other’s backs which is a great feeling.” Going forward, the team will undoubtedly improve. One player praised for strides: Victoria Anyanwu ‘24. After playing only two singles matches and ten doubles matches last season, she spent most of the summer practicing at Davidson. According to Coach Depka, Anyanwu is more “confident” and “comfortable” on the court. That confidence bore out in the ITA Regionals, losing a three-set encounter to USC’s Kendall Couch. In addition to Anyanwu, Gladstone and Shea are important this year. In 2021, Gladstone took home seven singles victories, mostly from Court 3, and won a team-high 11 doubles matches. Appearing in twenty-one singles and doubles matches last Spring, Shea looks to improve on her six singles and five doubles wins. Coach Depka hints that Shea has “worked hard on quite a few things,” so more wins will follow. One must not forget Liz Truluck ‘22, who formed a mean doubles partnership with Schaffer in 2021, winning four of seven matches. In a COVID shortened 2021 season, Richmond eliminated Davidson in the second-round of the A-10 tournament. Although the Spring season has not begun, there is no reason why the Wildcats cannot advance further. A large factor: mentality. Coach Depka has expressed the importance of “work[ing] through mentalities” that every match offers. Whether that means facing a difficult opponent, making serves in tense moments, or decreasing unforced errors. Truluck echoed a similar message, stating the players are continuously “improving our mentality and mindsets in matches.” If the team takes each game as they come, with the talent infusion of Porges, Patterson, and Patel, and the returning regulars Schaffer, Gladstone, and Shea, success will come to Ridge Road.
The
Davidsonian Staff Editors-in-Chief News Editors Features Editor Senior Political Correspondent Perspectives Editor Arts and Culture Editor Sports Editor Living Davidson Editor Yowl Editors Photographer Web Editor Cartoonist Senior Copy Editors Multimedia Editor Social Media Manager Business Manager Design Editors
Hope Anderson ‘22, Nada Shoreibah ‘23 Katie Stewart ‘23, Erin Papakostas ‘23 Ben Pate ‘22 Hunter Callaway ‘22 Ross Hickman ‘22 Julieta Lessne ‘24 Varun Maheshwari ‘23 Nora Klein ‘24 Josie Hovis ‘23, Emma Begley-Collier ‘25 Sydney Schertz ‘24 Ben Gordon-Sniffen ‘23 Richard Farrell ‘22 Grace Hwang ‘24, Brigid McCarthy ‘25 Jared Herr ‘22 Hailey Tsuda ‘24 Landon Schabes ‘22 Bailey Maierson ‘25, Brigid McCarthy ‘25 Isabelle Easter ‘25
Men’s Basketball Preview: Exciting Start for Red-Hot ‘Cats
Mike Jones ‘22 and Hyunjung Lee ‘23 pose for media day. Photo courtesy Tim Cowie.
VICTOR TAYLOR ‘24 (HE/HIM) SPORTS WRITER
A
s the leaves change and the temperature gets cooler in Davidson, that can only mean one thing: basketball season is near. With the team’s exhibition game coming Wednesday, November 3rd, and the first official contest being played Tuesday, November 9th, the men’s basketball team is ready to kick off the season. The team is predicted to finish 6th in the Atlantic 10 by media members, and Ken Pomeroy has ranked the squad at 91st in the country using his statistical analysis system. These rankings seem to indicate that the general public believes Davidson to be a pretty good team, but not one that will make the tournament as an atlarge team. However, the team has a lot of upside, and it would not be a surprise to see this group make the top four in the Atlantic-10 once again. The team kicked off their season on Saturday, with the annual Red/Black scrimmage; the first time the team has played in front of a sizable amount of fans in over a year and a half. The Black team took home the win in open play, 37-19, and a lot of questions about the team were answered. With Kellan Grady ‘21, Carter Collins ‘21, and Bates Jones ‘21 having graduated, many wondered how the ‘Cats will replace the trio’s leadership and scoring ability. Enter Hyunjung Lee ‘23 and Luka Brajkovic ‘22. The two are the top returning scorers last year, and both have put in the work to advance their games even further this summer. “I’ve gotten stronger both physically and mentally,” said Lee. “If I make a bad play or miss a shot my mentality is just to focus on the next play no matter what.” Brajkovic was not able to suit up for the Red/Black game, but Lee, along with Sam Mennenga ‘23, led scorers with 12 points a piece for the Black team on Saturday. Lee showed that he was not just an outside threat as many people have painted him to be, putting the ball on the floor and getting to his spots, both inside and outside the arc. Another standout was Foster Loyer ‘23, the Michigan State transfer who led the Red team with 7 points, but also shined in the second session where the teams went through different end of half and game scenarios. Loyer said that “it was great to finally put on the Davidson uniform,” and
that he was “excited to keep building up towards the regular season next week.” Another question coming into the year was what the four member freshman class would bring to the table for Davidson. Des Watson ‘25, Styrmir Thrastarson ‘25 and Chris Ford ‘25 all logged extensive minutes during the scrimmage and looked good against their teammates, even if some typical freshman mistakes were mixed in. Thrastarson, from Iceland, said in regards to the transition from European basketball to the college experience, that he “struggled a little bit in the beginning with the pace, which is much quicker here than in Iceland,” but that he’s settled in and doing much better now. Watson and Ford both showed their talent, Watson with a few difficult pull-up jumpers and Ford with some determined play at the forward spot despite his relatively short stature compared to his matchups, Nelson Boachie-Yiadom ‘22 and David Kristensen ‘23. The ‘Cats should feel confident in their ability to go deep in the rotation with the way the newcomers are playing. Not only are the players excited, but the coaching staff is too. Associate Head Coach Matt McKillop ‘06 has a really good feeling about this team. “It’s exciting cause we have a lot of pieces and a lot of versatility, our newcomers give us new things that we don’t have from our returners, but we have the experience and leadership that our returners give us,” said McKillop. As for someone he thinks deserves a little more buzz than he has gotten? “Mike Jones. Toughness, intelligence on the court allow him to compete at the highest level. Exceptional cutter.” There are still questions about this team that will need to be answered during the regular season, but the outlook regarding Davidson Men’s Basketball should be bright. If Lee and Brajkovic make their next steps concrete on the court and the additions of Loyer, Watson, Ford and Thrastarson make an impact, the ‘Cats will be in the mix for a tournament appearance with their deadly outside shooting and an offense that Coach Bob McKillop has developed to be both unique and effective.
Arts and Culture
6
Dreaming in English — Relearning from the Land
Julia Conley ‘23 (left) and Claire Begalla ‘24 (right) assemble beds for the ongoing performative installation, Dreaming in English.
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ISABEL SMITH ‘24 (SHE/HER) STAFF WRITER
icholas Galanin did not begin his talk at Davidson College with esoteric and abstract metaphors, but rather with a collection of photographs from his life in his hometown of Sitka, Alaska — images of fishing, various projects he’s working on, like a dugout canoe he is carving with his uncle and cousin, the community, and wildlife. By beginning with these pictures, he underscored how one’s practice of art exists in the everyday and is tied to our connection to the earth: a profound reminder. Galanin, a Tlingit and Unangax Indigenous artist, creates art that pulls from both contemporary Western art and Indigenous art practices. His exhibition, Dreaming in English, is available for view in the Van Every/Smith Galleries from now until December 9, 2021. The artist talk was October 20th, where Galanin joined us via Zoom to speak with Lia Newman, the curator of the Van Every/Smith Galleries, Dr. Rose Stremlau, a Davidson history professor specializing in the Indigenous South, and Catawba artist and storyteller Deslesslin “Roo” George-Warren. Galanin emphasized the Indigenous relationship to the land and how imperative it is to care for land in the same way as art, language, and culture. Acknowledging the land is understanding the process of surviving. European colonialism creates a strict linear narrative of time and separates people from their link to the earth. Galanin rejects both of these ideas. He believes in a “muscle memory of harvesting the land,” a memory of ancestors, and the “deep connections of joy that pass through us as part of a continuum,” which all fight together to be seen and heard and trusted. Dreaming in English is borne from those memories and relationships. When you walk into the Dreaming in English exhibition, the first thing you notice are the beds sitting in the center of the room. I work for the gallery. I watch visitors come in and out of the exhibition, and they ask me, “are the beds a part of it or are you just storing them here?” These reactions to the seemingly awkward staging of the beds mirrors their purpose. They
earth wars” to eradicate Indigenous peoples from North and South Carolina. William Lee Davidson II, who would later found Davidson, almost certainly participated in these attacks, as most white men with property of the time did. Ongoing research suggests that Davidson’s founding families were also directly involved in land fraud against the Catawba people. This desire to force out Native peoples only intensified in the infamous Jacksonian era, culminating in the Indian Removal Act and Trail of Tears. Andrew Jackson became the first Presbyterian president in 1829, and in 1837, Davidson College, a Presbyterian school, was established. In 1840, South Carolina ratified the fraudulent Treaty of Nation Ford with the Catawba, through which they ceded their remaining land in the Carolinas. During the 1850s, the presidential house of Davidson was situated on the land where the Visual Arts Center is currently located. Enslaved people worked in that house; they labored on that land. Though Davidson can never rectify these evils, working in community with the Catawba nation is progress. This work will manifest through Galanin’s outdoor installation, “Unshadowed Land,” which will be located on the lawn of the Visual Arts Center—ground tainted with memories of injustice and harm. It is a place corrupted by the forced removal of Indigenous people and enslavement of Native Africans. Their shadows haunt Davidson, and this project will serve as a rebirth of the land, unearthing its buried history and bringing it back to its pre-colonization roots. So what will “Unshadowed Land” entail? It is a long-term project which begins this fall. A silhouette of the statue of Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square, Washington D.C. will be mapped out and dug into the ground, connoting his burial. This excavation will create a space for traditional Catawba corn to be planted there next spring. George-Warren said this project is a direct reference to resilience: the fight for subsistence rights, clean water, access to land, and food sovereignty. George-Warren, whose Instagram bio calls themself a “queer catawba guy getting angry and making stuff,” explained the significance of Catawba corn. The Catawba people cultivated it for thousands of years; It formed the basis of their diet and acted almost as “their language,” George-Warren said. The seeds were lost to time due to colonization and forced assimilation, but, after a lot of searching, were reintroduced in 2018. Their recovery helped revive knowledge about how Catawba ancestors grew corn and lived on the land. Catawba corn does not require irrigation. Rainwater is sufficient: “the land itself takes care of it.” Next fall, the Davidson College community will work in partnership with the Catawba Nation to harvest the corn together and return some of the corn to them, supporting the aims of the Catawba’s seed reclamation and food autonomy. The panelists of the artist talk were asked about their hopes for this project. George-Warren expressed goals of creating a healthier, mutually beneficial relationship between the Catawba and Davidson. They talked about the recent popularity of the “landback” campaign, which seeks to bring control of the land back to Indigenous peoples; according to LANDBACK, it is reclaiming all that has been stolen and moving towards Indigenous liberation. George-Warren explained that the objective is not just a physical transfer of land and property titles, but also a reevaluation of how we as people engage with the land. It is being one with the land; it is growing food sustainably; it is listening to the land, relearning from it. Though it is impossible to state just how much has been taken from Native peoples, as George-Warren said, there is a responsibility to “reweave what
What could they have been thinking about? Did they dream in their native language, or were they now being forced to speak, and even to dream, in English? represent the “forced removal and relocation of Indigenous children from the reservation into residential ‘schools’” which imposed assimilation and “[eradicated] both culture and spirit,” explained Newman. The beds are symbols of the isolation these children likely felt, especially at night; during the artist talk, Galanin contemplated their experience of staring at the ceiling on stiff beds in the evenings, ripped from their families. What could they have been thinking about? Did they dream in their native language, or were they now being forced to speak, and even to dream, in English? These violent histories are not separate from Davidson College. Dr. Stremlau focuses on the Indigenous South, as well as gender and sexuality, families and kinship, and sexual violence in American History. During the artist talk, she outlined Davidson’s relationship to enslavement and the colonization of the Carolinas. She explained that throughout the 18th century, the American colonies orchestrated “a series of brutal scorched
is left into a basket that can hold future generations.” Galanin’s project, in collaboration with the Catawba people and Davidson, is environmental activism, a celebration of Indigenous resilience, and respect and kinship with the land that sustains all of us. It’s dreaming in English as a consequence of everything that’s been taken and everything that’s been lost. Information on how to get involved will be available soon on the Van Every/Smith Gallery website and Instagram. In the fall semester of 2022 and the spring of 2023, students will be able to take courses that engage with this project in several departments, including Environmental Studies and History. Isabel Smith ‘24 (she/her) is an undecided major from St. Augustine, Florida. She can be reached for comment at issmith@ davidson.edu.
Top: Artist Nicholas Galanin. This image was taken by Ben Huff for the New York Times. Middle: Installation view of Nicholas Galanin’s exhibition, Dreaming in English Bottom: The beds as part of the ongoing performative installation, Dreaming in English. Image by Bailey Maierson ‘25.
Living Davidson
Across 1 Revelation responses 5 Features of some jeans 9 In ___ (hurriedly) 14 Stamford’s state (abbr.) 15 Army group 16 Fibber’s admission 17 Introducer of programs 19 John (‘83), who scored 2,483 points as a Davidson cager, or his brother, Greg, ;73 20 Start of a quotation by Frederick Buechner 22 Tip on a Ticonderoga No. 2 23 “Slippery when ___” 24 Guy’s partner 27 “Braveheart” star Gibson 28 Bro and sis 31 Add bubbles to 33 “Can” opener? 35 What Wildcat sluggers try not to make at Wilson Field 37 Bell sound 38 Part 2 of the quotation 41 Frisbee maker 44 Duet plus one 45 Kind of flute or sax 49 Belt lines 51 Catch a glimpse of 53 Little Library Outreach Specialist Hicks 54 “Well, ___ be!” 55 What profs have at some schools (but not at Davidson) 57 Gymnastics legend Olga 59 End of the quotation 62 Austere 65 Luka Brakjovic, for one 66 Hawk’s home 67 “___ about the eleventh day of last month ...” 68 Last word in auctioneering?
BELIEVE IT OR NOT
Crosswords by Victor Fleming ‘73
69 See fit 70 Blossom support 71 Ovid’s existence Down 1 Kind of Awards 2 Award’s recipient 3 One-season plants 4 Elitists 5 Rampages 6 Ancient Andean 7 Boat’s departure site 8 Cover by scattering 9 Like the most current of software, say 10 Avoiding the draft? 11 Address for an ROTC officer? 12 ___ Talk 13 Ice cream maker Joseph 18 Beehive State natives 21 Service spot? 24 Moo goo ___ pan 25 Cash dispenser, briefly 26 Veltri who directs Davidson’s AP Summer Institute 29 Arrest, slangily 30 Agitates 32 Ostrichlike bird 34 Big name in pet foods 36 Barber’s scissors sound 39 Available 40 Came about, shapewise 41 “All Quiet on the Western Front” conflict (abbr.) 42 Nickname for many a Harold 43 Be laid up, say 46 Instinctual desires 47 Makes tighter 48 When a football may be snapped 50 Diego or Antonio preceder 52 Pretty tasteless food 56 Houston’s pro athletes, casually 58 Breadth of ability
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Flora and Fauna Carving a pumpkin is great fun…at home. At college, you receive the rude awakening that reminds you how gross pumpkin guts actually are. When Halloween is over, disposing of them is not easy. You can instead combine the fun of pumpkin carving with plants to create a “pumpkin flower pot.” As opposed to buying carving tools that will only be put to use once a year, you can use a kitchen knife to cut a good sized hole in the top of the pumpkin. Scoop out the seeds, and there is your pot! Then, you simply fill it with soil, and plant your seeds, flowers, or succulent. Additionally, packing the inner pumpkin with soil removes the odor of rotting pumpkin that would come from a typical carved pumpkin. The beauty of this is that as the pumpkin decomposes, it will fertilize the soil and help nourish your plant. Then, you will no longer have to scoop a rotten pumpkin into the garbage. You can have
59 Morally smug sort 60 Launched, as an email note 61 Alto woodwind 62 Unhappy 63 Kick-off aid in Richardson Stadium 64 Jackie O.’s second spouse
How to Make The Most Out of Fall ow can you have the perfect fall? For me, at least, North Carolina fall has so far been lacking some of the classic aspects that are typically associated with autumn. First, the weather has been sweltering, rainy, or randomly really cold, and there have only been a few days with sun and a chilly breeze. Second, the trees are only beginning to change colors! And last, the food on campus is not exactly catered to fit the vibe of the season. However, none of these factors have to curb your ability to bring fall to you! Utilizing the four F’s of fall, you can capture the essence of autumn while being crafty and resourceful.
Last Week’s Answers:
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ANIKA BANERJEE ‘24 (SHE/HER)
it as room decor, and once you are ready, you can plant it outside in the community garden! Fragrance For this step, you can really embrace the beauty of the nature around campus. As you walk to class or venture into the wooded areas by campus, collect some dried leaves, flower petals, wood chips, and pinecones. You can choose the gorgeous red and yellow leaves around campus to capture the fall colors too. Choose your favorite essential oil scents, mix with water, and spray your gatherings. Then, you must remove the water from the items, whilst locking in the smell. For the leaves, you can place them in between heavy books. For the wood chips and pinecones, you can bake them in an oven; if you do not have access to one, you can simply dry them with a hairdryer. Drop all of your dried materials into a bowl, toss with a little more essential oil, and let the scent seep into your room. Friend Foliage F-otos Fall’s name is pretty self explanatory, so let’s take advantage of that! As the leaves fall, nature paints a perfect backdrop for photos with your friends. It’ll be a great chance to make happy memories with your favorite people or document your perfect fall outfit (a touch of plaid with neutral tones, or draw on reds, oranges, browns, and yellow shades). Lake Campus or little corners of main campus that have dense tree populations are great spots to gather with your friends and snap a couple pictures. Now, if you really want to
Josh’s Farmers Market in Mooresville. Photo by Anika Banerjee ‘24. spice up your room with these pictures, follow that same tip above and compress leaves in between books. Then, print your pictures, and attach the crisped leaves to the edges of your picture to make fun fall frames. Food (and Farmer’s Markets!) Last but most certainly not least: food. Fall is all about the flavors—pumpkin, cinnamon, apple, nutmeg, maple…YUM! One of the best parts about fall is how farmer’s markets gather all of the freshest produce and use fall flavors to make some delectable treats. Some classics to make or buy include apple cider, pumpkin bread, pecan pie, and more! Stop by the farmer’s market on Main Street, LKN Farmer’s
Market, or The Bradford Market on Saturday mornings to indulge in some fall treats and have fun walking with your friends in the fall weather. Additionally, you can use the innards from the pumpkin pot to make roasted pumpkin seeds in either an oven or an air fryer, or use the pulp to make pumpkin butter or pie. There are endless ways to make fall come to you. This can apply to your home or to your dorm room; wherever you might be experiencing fall, there are always activities you can do. Using your creative mind will even foster a better mindset for work and other school-related endeavors. With these tips, I hope you too can have a fun, fantastic, and fruitful fall!
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Carol Quillen Legs Longer Than the Time It’ll Take to Have a President of Color at Davidson Page Maybe With New Bylaws
The CQ/Admin Slander Issue
November 3, 2021
Catch Her at F: CQ Side-Steps More Than The F*cking Temptations
[Insert Headline About 3.8 Percent Increase In Tuition]
Investigation Finds CQ Holds Davidson’s Highest Yakarma Score
Page Sorry To Bother You
Page $72 K???
Page Mole
Glad To Finally Have A History Professor Who Can Provide Students with A NonElite View of History Page Viva la Revolucion
Driving 101: CQ’s Steps for Success The Reformed Reformed Tradition Pantheon
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ello students! You may think of driving as a means to an end, or even a waste of precious study time. However, I assure you that time spent behind the wheel is just as valuable as the many nights you spend carelling. Here are tricks I, Carol Quillin, have composed to help all you burgeoning Mario Andretti’s out there. Buy a luxury car with autopilot features and see a specialty mechanic to have said features uninstalled/ gutted from the vehicle. This helps you ride in style while maintaining your practical understanding of “how the other half lives.” Completely obscure the rearview mirror, backup camera, and wing mirrors. A good president can determine the location of other vehicles based on intuition alone. These observational “aids” are extraneous; utilize this space for sticky notes of appointment reminders (only betas use Outlook calendar). Sand down the tread on all four tires. Those GoodYears should be so smooth you can see your face in them. This forces you to A) awaken your animalistic reflexes (critical to establishing alpha-like dominance during Board of Directors meetings) and B) strengthen forearm muscles by white-knuckling the wheel; can’t let those tires get away from you! Forearms are a crucial muscle group to exercise as they prevent hand gesture fatigue. No legitimate president would fall victim to arm cramps during the big “welcome to campus” speech. Using the blinker is a sign of weakness. You are
Moses, and you must part the Red Sea of drivers in order to bring about the Exodus of Davidson students from intellectual infancy to the Mount Sinai of corporate America. The warning lights on the dashboard are symbolic of your intrepid adventures, reminders of the physical paths you’ve undertaken to reach where you are today. When your car thinks it’s time for an oil change, reflect on your past journeys with gratitude as you plunge a screwdriver into that little, yellow, oil lamp light which dares to question your authority. YOU ARE CAROL QUILLEN AND ONLY YOU WILL DECIDE WHEN THE OIL NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. Finally, park up your stallion with gusto. Your parking job is your signature. I opt for the old Winning Scrabble Answer©, which involves positioning the car diagonally with all 4 wheels askew, but the options are truly limitless! My past mentors have coined the “Upsidedownsie” (completely inverting the car via industrial crane to flip the vehicle), and “The Tonka” (parking a construction vehicle perpendicularly across 5-6 spaces). We will delve into the art of the parking signature in my WRI101 class next semester! I hope these little tid-bits from your Auntie Carol inspire your young minds. I’ll see you Wildcats on the roads soon. Kachow!
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ast week, President Carol Quillen, Chair of the Board of Trustees Alison Hall Mauzé, and College Chaplain Rob Spach hosted the Presbyterian Heritage Town Hall in the Richardson Football Stadium. From this reporter’s vantage point, Quillen and Mauzé were wearing the same sunglasses and Tory Burch tunic. Spach forgot his bifocals at the potluck lunch/prayer circle beforehand, and he asked his grandson to use those young legs to run up to his office to retrieve his spares. President Quillen, in her opening remarks, noted that she is “frankly nauseous” at the prospect of Davidson College remaining affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. Spach concurred, remarking, “The College remains as committed as ever to the Reformed Tradition, which ever since the jolly and ever capacious John Calvin has been devoted to accepting people of any creed, religion, God, kink, or suspicion under the umbrella of Reform and Liberalism.” Spach went on to list a good handful of these gods, goddesses, and non-binary godx that the Reformed and Liberal Presbyterianism has encountered and embraced: Satan Lil Nas X Backup dancer 4 in the Montero music video Da Baby’s moral conscience The Geico Gecko Dionysus Tilda Swinton as the White Witch in Narnia Tilda Swinton as an amalgam of British characters Mary Poppins in the animated parts Oscar Wilde’s lover, Alfred Douglas The third that Wilde and Douglas sometimes invited if Tuesday got too artsy for art’s sake Lindsey Lohan dancing on that boat Lady Gaga Moira Rose Sid from Ice Age John Marshall “Jack” “Flood” Beyoncé Mrs. Puff when she gets heated Rest assured, reader, that Chairperson Mauzé was taking notes for her next calculated email to the student body. And stay tuned for next week’s sermon at DCPC on Tilda Swinton as the messiah.
Carol Quillen Working The Sandwich Bar: Commune-Style Living?
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t’s been a long day. Hungry, you make your way to Commons and b-line to the sandwich station. Hastily you point at your desired toppings. But the person making your sandwich looks oddly familiar. The same face that gave you your “Welcome to Davidson” speech is now making your ham and cheese. Could that be The President Carol Quillen? And it is, right before your eyes is President Quillen cosplaying as a commoner. At first, you think, “Wow! Look how downto-earth and in-touch CQ is with the 99%. ” There she is, not afraid to get a little Chipotle mayo on the hands, gloved of course. But President Quillen is not the only Davidson higher-up to take on the sandwich station. In fact, the whole college faculty and staff re-
The
Yowl
ceived an email asking for them to take on a Commons shift. CQ’s stint in Commons is not an internship to broaden her array of skills in case the post-sabbatical professorship doesn’t work out. Rather, Davidson College’s food-service staff shortage has reached a state of utter desperation to the point where Carol herself has braved the Commons assembly line. Of course, this stage of desperation hasn’t reached the point of actually making Common’s foodservice position desirable, with basic amenities like pay meeting/exceeding the Davidson area’s livable wage, increased salaries for legacy workers, and more flexible hours. No, Davidson stakeholders would rather roll up their sleeves and take on a shift
QUOTE OF THE WEEK AA Batteries “Everyone puts their Eeemma strap on one leg at a George Michael time.” From Last Christmas - Humble Lesbian WRITERS
themselves rather than risk profit margins by providing a desirable wage. In fact, the willingness of Davidson-higher ups to take on manual labor is borderline full-circle: protecting that one billion dollar endowment to the point of equally distributing labor. The 1% is pushing cutthroat capitalism so hard that it is walking the line of commune-style living. Now if only Davidson could finally stop flirting with Marxism/edging socialism/teasing collective
ownership and go all the way with prioritizing people over endowment.
CQ’s America vs. Biden’s America
Similarities: - Class traitors - Tweet effectively in response to crises; e.g. Nummit and stock market - Like every third student on campus, pretty much from Delaware - Disliked by leftists and Republicans Differences: N/A
Note: The Yowl is a satirical supplement to The Davidsonian. Hence, nothing in it should be taken as truth.