Davidsonian 4-13-22 by Davidsonian

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Physics department event shoots for the stars — despite the rain

Volume 120, Issue 18

April 13, 2022

Ahead of Easter, Kaelyn McCarthy ‘25 explores her Christian faith at Davidson

Flora Konz ‘25 gives snaps to The Addams Family musical in this week’s review

The Yowl presents: Lake Campus Goose Behavior

Search Continues for New Health Educator Georgia Ringle’s Retirement Left Student Body Unsupported

ERIN MARTIN ‘23 (SHE/HER) STAFF WRITER

he Health Educator position, formerly held by Georgia Ringle, has played a prominent role in the lives of Davidson College students. The position is defined on the college website as an “inclusive resource center that focuses on preventative health and wellness on campus.” Though it has been vacant since July 1, 2021, the role of the health educator is quite extensive. They are responsible for facilitating all mental and sexual health resources, STD/STI testing, overseeing Green Dot trainings, and providing support for survivors of sexual assault. Having held the Health Educator position for 33 years, Ringle was an influential part of health education at Davidson. Her job covered an array of duties that, for the last year, have not been fulfilled. Dr. David Graham, Director of Student Health and Well-Being, explained how last year’s Health Educator search did not lead to a new hire. “We offered the position to an alum who would have been a great fit,” he says, “but it didn’t work out with her logistically and we had to wait for another hiring cycle.” Since then, the school has been looking at a new pool of candidates–Dr. Graham cites this group as being even stronger than the last. Michaela Gibbons ‘22, a member of a Title IX advocacy group on campus, shared her opinion of the prolonged hiring of a new Health Educator, as well as her experiences with Ringle. She explained the many ways in which she feels the Health Educator position has benefitted the student body. She stated that Georgia Ringle was a “safe person to talk to, and she provided the student body with the support that we needed.” Gibbons elaborated that, when one of her friends was sexually assaulted, Ringle was the first person she knew to go to. “My friend felt most comfortable talking to Georgia. She was always on call for us,” she said. Historically, the Health Educator position has bridged the gap between the Title IX office on campus and students interested in filing a

formal complaint for sexual misconduct. Another responsibility of the Health Educator is to ensure that students have access to sexual health resources such as STD and STI testing on campus. Students’ access to these testing opportunities have been reduced since Ringle’s retirement began. Gibbons touched on Davidson’s lack of sexual health support since Ringles’ retirement. “Georgia pushed to destigmatize STD and STI testing, and since she’s been gone, the availability of testing has definitely decreased,” she said. Not only does the Health Educator work closely with the Title IX office, they also lead student health advisors in trainings with incoming Davidson students about safe sex, mental health resources, and overall wellbeing. Without a Health Educator, the duties have fallen upon a few of the counselors, Dr. Jessica Groleau and Dr. Amanda Brandenburg, who work to fill the gaps in health education in between their counseling services. Graham added that these two women temporarily filling the role of health educator has led to some obstacles due to their lack of availability. Additionally, the Center for Student Health and Well-Being hired Destyn Peoples ‘21, a fellow to fulfill the duties of Health Educator Associate. The Health Educator Associate position is in charge of the Green Dot bystander program, designed to train students in the prevention of sexual misconduct. The job of Health Educator Associate does not encompass the same responsibilities as Davidson’s Health Educator, but their duties have expanded since Ringles’ retirement. When contacted for an interview, Peoples did not reply. Elizabeth Brubaker ‘23 is a student Health Advisor and shared about Ringles’ impact on the program. “There are a lot of things that Georgia always took care of that we’re a little lost on how to continue with,” she said. “While I think we’re doing pretty well putting out the same number of Health Advisor events as normal, the Health Advisors would function better with a Health Educator.” Brubaker also noted that an official leader

Davidson College’s Health Center. Photo by Sydney Schertz ‘24 of the Health Advisors has not existed since Ringle’s retirement, and the Health Advisors are eagerly awaiting a new hire. The search has taken almost a year, and the expectations of the hiring committee have expanded. Dean Byron McCrae discussed some main attributes that the search committee looked for in the candidates they have chosen thus far. “We want someone that can contribute to the community of Davidson, and someone who has a diverse skillset to be able to mentor students and connect with local community professionals,” McCrae explained. The administrators in charge of the hiring process plan to integrate student feedback into the job advertisement and allow students to be a part of the interview process. Both administrators and students feel that one of the most important qualities of the Health Educator is that they are someone who can embrace the Davidson community. The job listing on Davidson’s website states that one of the qualifications is someone who can “enhance the campus environment and

plan for the changing needs of the campus community.” Gibbons is in agreement with the administration and added that “we need someone who is accessible and representative of what the students need, someone who is willing to immerse themselves within the culture and take on the good and bad of Davidson.” As for the future of the Health Educator position, the Davidson administration hopes to have it filled soon. “We’d love to complete the search while the students are here on campus so we can host an open forum for students to get to know the candidates,” McCrae stated. “Ideally, we’ll have the position filled by July 1st of 2022.” The Office of Student Health and WellBeing recommends that students in need of urgent or serious health advising resources should contact Dr. Groleau, Dr. Brandenburg, or Peoples until the Health Educator position is filled.

Dr. Benjamin Gilmer Shares New Book with Davidson Community ANIKA BANERJEE ‘24 (SHE/HER) CO-NEWS EDITOR

r. Benjamin Gilmer ‘92 is an Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill School of Medicine, and Clinical Director of the MAHEC Rural Health Initiative and rural health fellowship. In 2018, he added ‘author’ to his curriculum vitae. On Saturday, April 9, 2022, Gilmer held a book signing on the patio behind Summit Coffee, where he introduced the Davidson community to his new book, The Other Dr. Gilmer: Two Men, a Murder, and an Unlikely Fight for Justice. This non-fiction book tells the unique story of two Dr. Gilmer’s: the author and his former colleague, whom he is not related to, Dr. Vince Gilmer. The latter was renowned for his medical skill and loved by his community, but struggled with mental illness. Dr. Vince Gilmer committed patricide and was

arrested for murder. He was sent to prison, despite the fact that he displayed numerous signs of mental illness. Dr. Benjamin Gilmer wrote his book hoping to spread awareness of discrepancies in the incarceration system that frequently sends the mentally ill to prison instead of providing assistance. Gilmer saw firsthand how Dr. Vince Gilmer was accused of being a malinger and how that preconceived notion determined the outcome of his trial. “When you see the problem of mass incarceration, especially of the mentally ill up close, it changes you forever,” Gilmer said. “I wanted to speak on Vince’s behalf, the other Dr. Gilmer so to speak […] I wanted to write the story, not because I’m a writer at all, but because I realized after the governor of Virginia rejected our clemency petition in 2018, that getting someone out of prison is all about politics.” Gilmer had dabbled with writing the book for a while, but, in 2018, he finally committed to the idea. With his busy schedule, Gilmer dedicated 5 a.m.-7 a.m. every morning to write. This

was a therapeutic practice for Gilmer: “It gave me great sort of solace, to retreat into a dark room to write and to reflect […] Our professional lives as doctors just don’t allow time for reflection.” His new project allowed him to both arrive at self discovery and dissect the story. Once the pages he wrote began to come together cohesively, he decided to get professional feedback. Soon after, Gilmer found an agent. “It is really important in the publishing industry to have a good agent,” stated Gilmer. “Once you get a publishing contract, that enables you to have more support. That focused me a little bit more and accelerated the process.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

News

Davidson College Hosts State-Wide Star Party

Left: Family gathered around table to learn about the event. Right: Educational programs about the importance of astronomy. Photos by Sydney Schertz ‘24

CHARLOTTE SPEARS ‘24 (SHE/HER) STAFF WRITER

n the afternoon of April 9, the Baker-Watt Science Complex hosted kids, parents, students, and professors participating in “the largest star party in the universe,” according to physics professor Dr. Kristen Thompson. The “Star Party” is a state-wide annual event to encourage young children to appreciate and enjoy science. This year, there were 35 different locations of the Star Party and Davidson was selected as one of them. Each year, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper declares April as “National STEM Education Month” to prepare young minds to learn about science, technology, engineering, and math fields. The

North Carolina Science Festival and the Star Party is a part of that initiative. According to the festival’s website, 3,500 people were expected to participate across the state. The Davidson segment of the event, organized by Dr. Thompson, prepared to hold an activities fair, a public lecture by Davidson physics professor Dr. Jason Ybarra, and public star gazing. However, the star gazing portion was canceled due to overcast clouds and cold temperatures. Hugh Perry ‘25 and Emilio Villasana ‘24 volunteered for the event and led activity stations where kids could make solar systems, read books, build rockets or color. “I really enjoy working with kids, and I thought it would be a cool opportunity because I want to teach physics in high school,” Perry said. “It’s always good to get out and be

in the community.” Villasana helped children make pinwheels to resemble a galaxy and hoped the kids had an enjoyable time “because we are always trying to get kids interested in science, and this event is a good way to do that.” Dr. Ybarra, in addition to giving a public lecture, held a station to teach kids about the James Webb Space Telescope that was recently launched into space with an infrared light detector. Jacob Parker ‘24 is an intended physics major and attended the event for amusement. “It’s fun to see kids so interested in this,” Parker said. “Science has been called the future, and seeing young kids getting excited about a black hole or the birth of the universe is very exhilarating.” Meghan Matthews from Statesville brought

her kids and their friends, ages 7 to 14, to the Star Party. “They are having a great time,” Matthew said. “They are nerds. It’s great for them. They’ve done everything here.” Dr. Thompson’s goal for hosting the event was to get kids enthusiastic about topics not typically available for them. “I want them to see how amazing all of this is and get a sense of wonder, a sense of discovery,” Dr. Thompson said. “We spend too much time these days looking down, looking at our phones, looking at our tablets, looking at our computers, and I think a lot of the appreciation for looking up has been lost. My goal is just to get people to look up, remember that the sky is there and to start to recognize that it’s something they can enjoy.”

DCI Creates New Forum for Student-Faculty Engagement ISA DEGUZMAN ‘25 (SHE/HER) STAFF WRITER

ccording to the website for the Deliberative Citizenship Initiative (DCI) on Davidson’s campus, “Most of our public discourse is plagued by toxicity and a lack of deep engagement.” While Graham Bullock, Faculty Director of the DCI and Professor of Political Science, believes that “some polarization is natural and expected […] In a pluralistic society, it’s natural to have diverse opinions,” he elaborated that the current climate of hyper-polarization, which leads to dehumanization, poses serious concerns. The DCI aims to remedy this modern issue by providing space for intentional, respectful dialogue. “The purpose of the DCI is to create spaces for Davidson students and faculty and staff and community members and alumni to come together to talk about and engage with one another on difficult but really important topics facing our society and our community,” explained Bullock. He continued: “We believe that talk is foundational, is critical to healthy communities and healthy democracies, but it’s not enough. We also need to be talking about what to do, about the common challenges facing our communities, and then to work towards doing that. And so what deliberation can do is catalyze that work, those creative solutions that may transcend where we started, where we came into the conversation And we develop new

ideas, innovative ideas that build on the best that we bring to the table.” The organization seeks to teach deliberative skills, reinforce humane instincts, and analyze the deliberative process by the guiding values of egalitarianism, open-mindedness, generosity of spirit, and community-building. Bullock points out that these goals are in line with Davidson’s institutional mission: “to help students develop humane instincts for lives of

perspectives on an issue. These topics have ranged from housing economic mobility in the Charlotte area to the future of democracy and Supreme Court reform. After the panel, participants are divided into smaller breakout rooms for further discussion, led by one or two Fellows. D teams are small groups which meet repeatedly over the course of a semester. The topics of conversation for these groups are se-

“It really helps to introduce students to what effective communication and compromise making is like, something that I think we have really lost overtime because of how little crosstalk there is sometimes between people of different opinions,” -Kevin Garcia-Galindo ‘24 leadership and service.” The crux of the DCI is the Fellows program. These groups are composed of 10-13 students, staff, alumni, and community members who participate in an intensive training in the principles and practices of deliberation and facilitating conversation. This is followed by weekly meetings, readings, and discussions over the course of year to further engage these values and skills. The Fellows are responsible for leading DCI-sponsored deliberative forums and D groups. Deliberative forums tackle current issues at both the local and national level. They begin with a panel of speakers who offer diverse

lected by the Fellows, who also facilitate the conversations. Past topics have included gun control, abortion, and college admission policies. There are two models for the D teams: multi-topic groups, which address different topics each meeting, and single-topic groups, which dig deeply into one topic over the course of several meetings. Since the start of the DCI in the fall of 2020, the participation in the D groups has grown exponentially. This past semester, over 170 people participated in the groups, comprising 17 teams. At the end of the sessions, the group articulates a statement about their agreements and disagreements, in an effort to intentionally identify their com-

monalities and differences. “It really helps to introduce students to what effective communication and compromise making is like, something that I think we have really lost overtime because of how little crosstalk there is sometimes between people of different opinions,” said Kevin Garcia-Galindo ‘24, a 2022 DCI fellow. Recently, the DCI has implemented a new format for deliberation: Commons Conversations. This structure involves Fellows leading conversation tables in Vail Commons. Up until this point, deliberations have occurred exclusively online, so these dining hall conversations represent one of the first opportunities for face-to-face deliberation. These conversations are open to any students and require no sign-up or preparation. The conversations aim to build understanding and empathy between students, as well as helping students to articulate their opinions and beliefs. Bullock sees this as a core part of a Davidson education: “That’s really the essence of a liberal arts education: understanding for ourselves, having our own autonomy to come to our own decisions on really important issues facing our society.” Garcia-Galindo reflected, “Getting to talk to them deeply about their beliefs and values during conversations that feel like they really matter has been such an inspiring opportunity for me, one that I hope to continue in the future.”

April 13, 2022

Alumni Addresses the Wrongful Incarceration of the Mentally Ill

On Friday, April 8, Gilmer held an event in Baker-Watt Science Complex where he spoke to the Davidson student body about social justice and advocacy. He spoke to the students in the STEM and Humanities fields to show how the message in his book has interdisciplinary applications. “We all have to be advocates. We all have to be humanists. It’s not just localized to the right-brain people, it’s left-brain people, too,” said Gilmer. “It requires both hemispheres for full awareness and consciousness. Advocacy is crucial. I think that both scientists and artists join forces in this arena.” Following his presentation to the students, Gilmer was able to share the fruits of his labor this past Saturday at Main Street Books. In front of a crowded audience, he spoke of hardships of the process and the rewards that have come with it. His former colleague and mentor Dr. Trisha White, a family practice physician in Davidson, interviewed him about the bookwriting process. White, a fellow doctor, noted how Gilmer’s accomplishments can be attributed to his “reverence for life and curiosity.” He highlighted the significance of Davidson College’s role in his personal and professional career. He spoke of how curiosity was a crucial component of what he learned at Davidson the primary factor that encouraged him to write. In addition, he shared that his classes at Davidson taught him how to be a student for life. Gilmer’s former professor Dr. Julio Ramirez, the R. Stuart Dickson Professor of Psychology and the Director of the Neuroscience Program, attended the event. “I actually have flashbacks with him coming to visit me in my office, and we’d have long extensive conversations about his ideas in the office. It was an utter delight,” said Ramirez. Ramirez recalled how he was listening to an episode of NPR when a story about the book came up. He said, “It is hard to forget having a student like him […] I’m so thrilled. I can hardly wait to go buy it and read it.” Additionally, Dr. Bill Mahony, the Charles A. Dana Professor of Religion at Davidson, was one of Gilmer’s former professors and attended the event. He asked Gilmer how he was able to recount such detailed information and conversations

Dr. Benjamin Gilmer ‘92 at the Main Street book signing addressing his memoir. Photo by Sydney Schertz ‘24 from so long ago within his book. Gilmer then paused for a moment to reflect. He told the audience, “I sensed that this was a story that needed to be told. I kept a diary and many recordings which allowed me to tap into the dialogue.” Students attended the book signing as well. “I was super impressed by Dr. Gilmer’s persistence in helping the other doctor Gilmer. It was inspiring especially as he’s an alum,” said Jane Berick ’23. “This talk really inspired me to get more involved, especially with incarcerated people who do not have the same luxuries as Dr. [Vince] Gilmer in terms of a good reputation outside of prison.” Gilmer’s book is now being made into a movie. The movie will have a “deeper exploration of different components of this problem and will also look at the role of intergenerational sexu-

al abuse,” he says. Gilmer is the executive producer of the film, but there are three different companies that will be producing the film, the primary one being Concordia films. The feature film will be directed by Jennifer Fox, who won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, and her most recent film, The Tale had two Emmy nominations. Gilmer has worked to try and help free the other Dr. Gilmer, but it is still a work in progress. When people who were falsely incarcerated are freed, there is still the issue of where to place them. “We do not have the adequate facilities to take care of people with [...] mental illnesses,” said Gilmer. His mission of advocacy will never rest—Gilmore continues to seek an answer to the question he posed this past Saturday: “How can we heal crime? Because it is a system that is so sick.”

Crime Log

SEPTEMBER 23

Agenda

Takeaways

Attendance

SAMANTHA EWING ‘23 SGA CORRESPONDENT

93%

Time Reported

Description/Location

Consumption 04/02/2022 at 0035 Underage (non-student) hrs Warner, Citation/Banned from Campus

25 27

Absent unexcused: John Billups ‘22, Ben Santiago ‘22 Excused/late: Hanting Wang ‘22, Jackson Bracey ‘22, Samantha Smith ‘25, Harrison Grooms ‘25 Meeting called to order at 8:32 pm Barrett Britt ‘24, Porter Alston ‘24, Cali Koerner ‘24, Joe Claire ‘24, Tess Finke ‘24, Shawn An ‘24 gave speeches about their candidacies for the three open sophomore senate positions Candidates left the room while SGA members deliberated Tess Finke ‘24, Shawn An ‘24, and Cali Koerner ‘24 were elected Quincy Weary ‘23 proposed an SGA Co-Sponsorship with APA to fund the Minority SaPHety Net The vote passed unanimously Collin Mcquirt ‘23 presented an ATC Mid-Year request for Q&A Q&A asked for $13,855 to fund a talk with Chelsea Manning about queer aspects of government The vote passed unanimously Israel Palencia ‘23 reviewed the purpose of the SGA committees and encouraged SGA members to be proactive Israel Palencia ‘23 and Jereme Corbin ‘23 have been meeting with Richard Terry and Ann McCorvy about the recent Davidson Dining announcement Declining Balance has been discussed as an option for purchasing non-food items on campus New sophomore senators were sworn in

1. Sophomore Senator Elections 2. Co-Sponsorship with APA 3. Q&A ATC Mid-Year Request 4. Swearing in New Senators

04/02/2022 at 2032 Vandalism/Larceny Misdemeanor (Letters) hrs Flowe, Inactive 04/02/2022 at 2230 Larceny Misdemeanor (Stop Sign) hrs Ridge Road/Patterson Court, Inactive

04/09/2022 at 1430 Larceny Felony (Bicycle) Belk, Further Investigation hrs Consumption/ 04/09/2022 at 2338 Underage Simple Assault hrs

Davis, Citation for Underage Consumption/ Prosecution Declined for Simple Assault

04/10/2022 at at 1747 Extortion/Blackmail Knox, Inactive hrs 04/11/2022 hrs

at 1130 Larceny Misdemeanor (Bicycle)

Belk, Inactive

Perspectives

Religious Stagnancy in Davidson

The Spiritual Detriment of a Homogenous Town KAELYN MCCARTHY ‘25 (SHE/HER)

rowing up Catholic, my faith has been closely intertwined with family and community. Every Sunday, my mom would run to each of my sibling’s bedrooms singing for us to rise and shine because it was time for Church. Although I used to dread these early morning calls, they have become some of my fondest memories. For me, Sunday Mass meant congregating outside the church to play with my friends while my parents chatted with the neighbors, followed by a

ever felt more disconnected from my faith. I spent my hour in the chapel zoned out and extremely homesick. Questions of the strength of my faith wracked my brain. Do I really value my relationship with God, or is my religion simply a vessel to connect with people in my life that I care about? My solution to the problem was to abandon my faith entirely, and “take a break from God.” These efforts lasted about a month until I could not ignore the spiritual void in my life. After extensive research to find some other Catholic space, I came to the conclusion that without access to a car, I was not going to find another Catholic Church within a reasonable distance. My backup plan was what

All it takes is one walk through Main Street on a Sunday morning to experience the crowds of locals bustling out of the various Methodist, Presbyterian, and Baptist churches scattered through town. family brunch of pancakes and scrambled eggs. I honestly had not considered how beginning my first year of college at Davidson would impact my spiritual life. However, I quickly discovered that the South is a combination of sweet tea, southern drawls, and Protestantism. All it takes is one walk through Main Street on a Sunday morning to experience the crowds of locals bustling out of the various Methodist, Presbyterian, and Baptist churches scattered through town. At the start of the year, I began attending Catholic Mass at the Lingle Chapel on Sunday evenings. I think my initial intention was to find a piece of home at school and feel a sense of connection to my family some 800 miles away. After nearly two months of this routine, I do not think I have

I fondly, and perhaps sacrilegiously, refer to as “Church hopping”, where each Sunday, I would attend a different church on Main Street until I found one that felt like home. Let’s call it speed dating with God. I have now settled down at the Davidson United Methodist Church (DUMC), and grown comfortable with my label as a nondenominational Christian. My rather anticlimactic spiritual journey over the course of this year has caused me to consider the accessibility of worship for people of all religious backgrounds on campus and in the surrounding communities. I have always had my set of personal qualms with the Catholic Church, so it was not especially tragic to have to explore other options, and there were clearly plenty to be found. Though I was able to commit to DUMC, my

interest had been piqued as to other spaces of worship available to non-Christians. Within the town of Davidson, the Temple Kol Tikvah is the only Jewish synagogue and non-Christian sacred space in the area. For Buddhists, the nearest temple is 17 miles away. Finding a mosque would require an 8-mile venture into Mooresville, and the Hindu temple is even further away in the city of Charlotte. Of course, Davidson College offers spaces on campus for private worship, but the sense of community that I find invaluable to my religious experience is sorely lacking. For many, religion serves as a crucial part of forming social connections and fostering a safe environment where one can experience a sense of belonging and validation in their worship. Even apart from a specific practice, spirituality provides the foundation for meditation and self-reflection. To have a place, separate from the stresses and anxieties of daily life, is incredibly beneficial to one’s mental health and well-being. Also, research has shown that spirituality can function as a positive coping mechanism and reduce suicide rates. The scarcity of non-Western places of worship is a frequently overlooked drawback of living in Davidson and other predominantly white, Christian areas. Hopefully, as time goes on, these areas can diversify and enjoy a more full spiritual experience. Kaelyn McCarthy ‘25 (she/her) is an intended economics major from Portsmouth, RI. Kaelyn can be reached for comment at kamccarthy@davidson.edu.

The Plight of the Academic Youth Why are Young People Ignored by Academe? DAVID SOWINSKI ‘25 (HE/THEY) PERSPECTIVES EDITOR

y great love of learning was the primary factor in my decision to attend a prestigious liberal arts institution. For some time now, it has been my goal to spend my career in academia, expanding my knowledge and understanding of the structures we live in, and those which led to their establishment. After eight months in college, however, I have found myself contemplating a conundrum that faces young people in academia: we are expected to resolve the problems of our forebears, but are paid little heed by them, who deem us unwise. It was a lecture I recently attended that solidified my thoughts on the matter. In it, the lecturer (rather hypocritically) criticized elite institutions of higher education—such as Davidson College—by claiming that they are not just and offer little to the betterment of society. Therein lies the conundrum. Society has been flawed by those who came before us, yet we are the ones being lectured on how it is flawed. Students across the country have recognized a number of these flaws and made efforts to rectify them, yet when they do, the very same who lectured us condemn us as hot-headed radicals without the knowledge or experience to speak on such things. Indeed, at that vain lecture, the lecturer was asked what he thought young people have to offer to scholarly and societal discourses, if not wisdom. He replied that we possess an open-mindedness which is lost over time. While I can agree that oftentimes we are more

receptive to new ideas and ways of thinking than our elders, the thoughts we form with this virtue are pointless when they fall on deaf ears. As it appears, then, young academics develop progressive worldviews, are stomped on by their older counterparts, and grow to become the stompers themselves. For people like me, who wish to pursue academic study beyond college, the stagnancy that persists at the higher levels of education is a discouraging prospect. Learning is my pas-

would not soon abandon my place at Davidson College, despite the fact that my enrollment here places me—in Lordean terms—inside the master’s house and arms me with the master’s tools. I know the same to be true for many others, and it seems unfair to demand that they forgo a hard-earned position on the grounds that they are complicit in the faults of the erring higher education system. The stakes of this problem are exacerbated when applied to the state of our current

Society has been flawed by those who came before us, yet we are the ones being lectured on how it is flawed. sion, and the education system seems at this point to be the best way of going about pursuing it. I, of course, desire to see it improved, but it has been well-devised to resist change due to its exclusivity and hierarchical nature. Its impregnability is reinforced by the fact that education is the principal weapon against inequity and the systems that uphold it. Audre Lorde once wrote that you cannot dismantle the master’s house with the master’s tools, essentially denouncing the notion of taking down an institutionalized system from the inside; though, in a country where education is so valued and commodified, it seems to me impossible to challenge it from an external position. Moreover, as a student who is underprivileged in more ways than one, it has taken hard work on my part and the generosity of more privileged persons to get to where I am now. I

political representation. The point of higher education seems nullified when one considers that the majority of U.S. senators and representatives are senior citizens, an age at which open-mindedness has apparently expired. Wisdom is revered as a virtue of the elderly, but what is its price if it comes at the expense of the ability to consider perspectives and avenues foreign to one’s own? If these are the people dictating policy in this country, it is no wonder that change is so slowly and painstakingly achieved. In order to begin to resolve the plight of the academic youth, it is necessary to clarify that this line of thought operates under the assumption that the young cannot be wise and the old cannot be open-minded. I personally know of a handful of elderly professors at this school who are more open-minded than some of my peers. Conversely, I know some of my peers

who have displayed a greater degree of wisdom than many adults. The view that young people cannot be wise is a chief reason for their not being taken seriously in most academic environments. Such a view is born of the common assumption that wisdom is inseparable from age, when, in fact, experience is the far more pertinent factor. Some people my age have had more defining experiences than some people decades older, or are simply graced with wisdom beyond their years—a phenomenon which, despite being a cliché, I believe applies to a select few. Returning to the Pharisaic lecturer who inspired this piece of writing, I make the claim that the problem with the higher education system is best approached from the vantage point of changing one’s perception of wisdom. Today, open-mindedness and wisdom exist in something of a binary that is both counterproductive and counterintuitive. As are all binaries that sustain problematic societal structures, this one is best broken. Only when young people are free to conduct studies, make conjectures, and engage earnestly in relevant discourses can we take strides to better the world through academic pursuit. David Sowinski ‘25 (he/they) is an intended history major from Chicago, IL. David can be reached for comment at dasowinski@davidson.edu.

Sports

Women’s Tennis Team 2022 Spring Season Update

FRANNY SHEA ‘23 SPORTS WRITER

avidson women’s tennis concluded their regular season with an impressive 11-7 record last Sunday, April 10. That afternoon, the Wildcats lost a close 3-4 match overall to the Fordham Rams, a fellow Atlantic 10 foe, to end their regular season campaign. Despite the close loss to Fordham on Sunday, the women’s tennis team has enjoyed an impressive regular season filled with winning streaks and gritty upsets. As a collective, the women’s tennis team started to find their form when they beat Appalachian State 4-2 in Boone, North Carolina, on February 12. Beating the Mountaineers on their home courts was a considerable feat for the Wildcats, considering the Mountaineers wicked fast courts and rowdy fans. The ‘Cats gained confidence from this spirited win and went on to win seven consecutive matches. After beating Appalachian State, the ‘Cats enjoyed three undefeated weekends, most notably beating Richmond and Elon. Both Elon and Richmond have defeated Davidson handily the past few seasons, so the wins in the 2022 season were a sign of improvement and new freshman talent for the ‘Cats. The 4-3 victory against Richmond felt especially sweet for the ‘Cats, given that Richmond beat Davidson in the Atlantic 10 tournament in 2021. The ‘Cat’s aggressive doubles play, and deep singles lineup have made the Wildcats

a hard team to beat throughout the season. Coaches Susanne Depka and Kelly Larkin emphasize the importance of playing fearlessly on the doubles court. This tactic has proven successful as the ‘Cats have won 14 out of 18 doubles points this season. The success on the doubles court is followed by six singles players who have all individually been consistent with getting a win for the Wildcats. For most of the year, the singles lineup has consisted of upperclassmen students and freshman standout Kavya Patel ‘25. Patel has won an impressive, twelve singles matches and has lost only two. The Georgia native’s consistent style and mental toughness have been crucial for the ‘Cats success this spring season. The combination of the courageous team effort in doubles play, and the stingy singles play throughout the lineup has proven successful in the regular season. The ‘Cats now have their sights set on the Atlantic 10 conference tournament in Orlando, Florida, from April 27 through April 31. The next few weeks for the ‘Cats will be filled with focused practices, lifts, and conditioning to ensure they will be ready to compete at their best come Wednesday, April 27. After the two-week match break, the ‘Cats will look to take confidence from their successful regular season and hone in on their team motto: “focus on the controllable.” If the ‘Cats continue with their outstanding doubles play and tenacity in singles play, the women’s tennis team will be in the conversation for the Atlantic 10 conference title.

Top: Emma Heidershcheit ‘23 celebrates a point versus Fordham. Bottom: Franny Shea ‘23 returns a serve against Fordham. Photo courtesy of Tim Cowie, Davidson Sports and Information

Player Profile: Pitcher Nolan Devos ‘23 Throws Curveball this Season SPENCER WOLFF ‘25 SPORTS WRITER

s springtime is in full swing, so is the baseball season. The Davidson baseball team has been very hot lately. Their record is currently 24-6, with a 5-1 record in A-10 play, and is only one of two teams in the nation, along with #1 Tennessee, to have 20 wins on their home field this season. A major portion of the success has come from Davidson’s pitching, especially the team’s #1 starter, Nolan DeVos ‘23. As of April 11, DeVos, in 8 starts, has an ERA of 1.96, a WHIP (walks plus hits per innings pitched) of

0.96, and a win-loss record of 5-1. About his season so far, DeVos said that “it’s been going really well. Last year I was a closer, and this season, I’ve transitioned to a starter, which has been exciting for me. I’ve been able to throw more and help the team more at the beginning of games and the middle of games.” He also said that “everyone is getting hot at the right time, it’s exciting entering conference play, and we’ve been doing really well.” DeVos’ move to a starter was due to the team needing spots to fill, as the team had injuries at the starting position last season. About this, DeVos commented that “those players moved to the bullpen, and I got to move into that starter role, and I kind of wanted to do that when I got here at Davidson. I was used to

being a closer, usually having a one-run game, so knowing the pressure at the end of the game has helped as a starter because there are definitely some nerves on the first pitch. I just have to go out there, deal with that pressure, and just keep playing.” Davidson had a tremendous non-conference portion of the season, going 19-5, including beating Bryant, who was #22 at the time of the series. In a game against Bryant, DeVos pitched 8 innings, giving up 3 hits and no runs. On what he and the team can take from the non-conference schedule as they go into A-10 play, DeVos said “I gotta keep doing what I’ve been doing, and that’s basically attack every batter, keep throwing the ball in the zone, keep challenging hitters with offspeed pitchers,

Nolan Devos ‘23 throws an offspeed pitch. Photo courtesy of Tim Cowie, Davidson Sports and Information

and trust my defense and whoever is catching me behind the plate. It makes it easier when the catchers are as strong as they have been.” DeVos also put an emphasis on the importance of the conference schedule. “Every game means the same, but the conference games count to get into the tournament, so everyone’s a little on edge for a little bit.” Last week, on April 5, USA Baseball named DeVos to the 44th Golden Spikes Award midseason watch list, a list of the top 45 amateur players currently in the country. About this honor, DeVos said that “It meant a lot to me. I’ve always tried to have high expectations for myself, which can be a good and a bad thing. That was definitely something that I was going for this year, I want to be the best in our conference, and nationally, I want to put myself up there with them. From that [the award], our team gets recognized. We have a lot of hitters doing really well, a lot of hitters doing really well, and that helps us and helps me out. It’s a cool award to be a part of.” This comes after winning two A-10 Pitcher of the Week awards and being named to the A-10 First Team last season. As conference play continues, DeVos says that the team hopes to continue what they’ve been doing. “We’ve got a couple more road trips, and VCU was our first true road test, and they’ve traditionally been a powerhouse of the A-10, and to go up there and win two out of three was awesome for us. We’ve had a lot more confidence this season, and to keep attacking every weekend, we hope to sweep, and that will put us in a great position come A-10 Tournament time. We hope to be a 1-seed, and to stick with what we’ve been doing, keep everyone loose, and play the game how we do.” Davidson Baseball has had a record start to the season, and DeVos, a large component of this team’s success, hopes to continue contributing in his way as the team gets closer to the A-10 Tournament.

Arts and Culture

The Addams Family

Much-Needed Comedic Relief FLORA KONZ ‘25 (SHE/HER)

ver the weekend, Davidson music and theatre students performed in the spring musical, The Addams Family. The show featured Tim Schietroma ‘25 as the flamboyant patriach Gomez Addams, Maddy Wolfenbarger ‘22 as the elegant and protective Morticia Addams, Zoe Bock ‘22 as the in-love Wednesday Addams, Breanna Suarez ‘25 as little sister Pugsley Addams, David Kilde ‘25 as the narrating Uncle Fester Addams, and Florence Cuomo ‘23 as the drug-dealing grandma. The “normal” Beineke family featured Hollis Plexico ‘24 as the happy-golucky mother Alice, Joseph Santi-Unger ‘23 as the father Mal, and Jacob Schorsch ‘25 as Wednesday’s love interest, Lucas. The first act opened with the audience snapping their fingers, followed by the iconic opening song “When You’re an Addams.” Ancestors and the rest of the cast began to

comment: when Alice Beineke inquired about a “little girls’ room,” he nonchalantly replied, “we had to let them go.” Lines such as this one kept the audience in suspense and made for an enthralling performance. The chaos of this scene laid a foundation for the rest of the show, introducing a mix of complicated storylines. The show took on deeper meanings of love and loyalty as it progressed through the first act, and the seriousness of the relationship between Wednesday and Lucas was revealed. Gomez had a personal crisis of guilt when deciding between lying to his wife or keeping his promise to Wednesday about her secret engagement. Pugsley, too, was no longer messing with everyone, and instead wondered “what if Wednesday never tortured me anymore?” The first act ended with a dinner setting akin to that of painter Michelangelo’s Last Supper, with Gomez stating, “this is where salvation resides.” Morticia, sensing Gomez’s dishonesty, demanded that they play “Full Disclosure,” a game in which players

The Addams and Beineke families at dinner, playing “Full Disclosure,” in the final scene of Act I. Photo credit Chris Record walk onstage, interacting with one another and introducing their individual characters through individual verses. As the family began to talk, Wednesday revealed that her “friend” Lucas and his family were coming over for dinner, foreshadowing a night full of chaotic attempts at normalcy. From the start of the show, it was clear that it would be filled with humorous subtleties that took the already engaging show to the next level. Wednesday walked on stage wearing a bright yellow dress covered in white hearts to meet Lucas and his parents, which was a stark juxtaposition to her usual dark gray dress. Funnily enough, Alice took off her coat to reveal a dress of the same color, right as Morticia made a comment about her distaste for bright colors. Another notable moment was the butler, Lurch, attempting to describe his name. He tried different methods of lurch-ing, making the audience laugh at the ambiguity of the word ‘lurch.’ During the same scene, Pugsley walked in the door decked out in Girl Scout gear, supposedly coming from “bible study,” and collected donations from the Beinekes for purposes that she refused to disclose. Fester, for his own interpretation of what was perceived as “normal” in this family, strolled in shouting, “are you ready for some football?” The scene wouldn’t be complete without Gomez making a witty, yet slightly disturbing

drink from the “sacred chalice” and tell their deepest secrets. The set and dialogue seemed to foreshadow the troublesome events about to occur, particularly since the audience knew that Pugsley had poisoned the common chalice in hopes of Wednesday drinking it and disclosing that she no longer loved Lucas. During Fester’s turn, the moonlight sonata began to play in the background as he confessed his love for the moon. This continued the cheesiness that his character portrayed in between scenes of the show, breaking up otherwise tense moments. At the end of act one, Alice accidentally drank the poison instead of Wednesday, releasing her dark side. She confessed to her husband, Mal, that the spark between them was gone. Finally, Wednesday gave in and told Morticia that she and Lucas were engaged. The ancestors created a storm, locking everyone inside the house for the night to resolve all of their problems. Act II opened with fighting amongst the couples. Wednesday wanted to run away, and Lucas wanted her to be more rational, while Morticia was mad at Gomez for betraying and lying to her. However, of course, an element of humor was used to lighten the mood: it appeared that Morticia and Gomez were unsure whose mother was the grandma. Furthermore, Alice seemed to have lost her natural ability to make rhyming poetry on the spot. She took on the “full disclosure” rule to the extent that she

The cast of The Addams Family strikes a pose. Photo credit Chris Record told her husband, Mal, “you wanna act like a tool? Go sleep in the shed.” Fester took on his role of cheesiness and comedy by going outside to ‘meet’ the moon, where three of the ancestors danced about his love, followed by a shadow puppet show of Fester going up to and interacting with the moon. This scene transitioned into a similarly loving scene between Gomez and Wednesday, in which she expressed her love and anger for Lucas’ leaving her, and he advised her to not give up, stating that “love conquers all.” Naturally, when Lucas came back, Wednesday tested his love for her, and they made up. Mal and Alice agreed to be ‘crazy’ again, and the two couples danced in celebration of the reconciliation. Likewise, when Gomez ran after Morticia who was leaving for Paris, she agreed to tango with him as part of his efforts to win back her love and trust. During the sensual song, “Tango De Amor,” she whipped off her long skirt, and the strong dancing skills of the whole cast were revealed. Even Lurch went through growth when he finally showed his voice and sang as one would expect from a supposedly dead butler: deeply, loudly, and droning. The show ended with a finale

is “remarkably intense.” He noted how “threehour rehearsals five days a week, and an additional four-hour rehearsal a week as well, certainly did take over [his] life.” However, he conceded that, “with any show, it’s the little moments between scenes” that made the entire process “a blast.” He said that his favorite song was “Not Today,” also known as Gomez’s crisis song when choosing between his wife and daughter, because crisis is “always the most fun thing” to portray in a show. His favorite scene is when he greets the Beineke family because he has “a great monologue with joke after joke.” Finally, he commented on how he hopes the show impacted the Davidson community: “I hope this show, above all else, gave the [Davidson] community an opportunity to come together and laugh. I’m so glad that the first show coming out of COVID was a show as uplifting and funny as this, and I’m honored [to] have had the opportunity to play a part like Gomez in my first year here.”

Gomez (Tim Schietroma ‘25) is “trapped” between his wife, Morticia (Maddy Wolfenbarger ‘22), and his daughter, Wednesday (Zoe Bock ‘22). Photo credit Chris Record song entitled “Move Toward the Darkness,” encouraging all to look into their dark side and feel all emotions. Tim Schietroma ‘25, who played Gomez, spoke on his experience being part of the show. He said that the first phrase that comes to mind when thinking about his experience

Flora Konz ‘25 (she/her) is an intended English major from Asheville, NC. She can be reached for comment at flkonz@davidson.edu.

Living Davidson

What Type of Zombie Are You?

With the Humans Versus Zombies game raging around campus, we know what question is plaguing you: If you were a zombie, what would you be like? Take this short quiz to find out! QUIZ CREATED BY ZOMBIE ‘24 (SHE/HER) You, too, could create really cool quizzes like this one. Email noklein@davidson.edu if you’re interested!

How much do you know about zombies? A - I’ve beaten Plants vs. Zombies twice B - I could win a Nummit trivia on zombies C - I eat brainz D - I watched World War Z once at a sleepover Mostly A’s: Pete Rock You’re not afraid to take matters into your own hands. Being Patient Zero has only made you more confident in your zombie-infecting abilities. With your bike, you’re nearly an unstoppable force. Your main goal is to infect as many humans as you can to get them to join your cause while doing as little running around as possible. Just remember: it’s okay to be alone sometimes too.

Why do you watch zombie movies? A - Zombies are cool B - To make fun of them C - The gore D - Who watches zombie movies?? What’s your favorite season? A - Summer B - Spring C - Fall D - Winter

Mostly B’s: Solo Scavenger You mistakenly joined the game without your friends because you forgot to remind them to sign up, and all the bloodthirsty people in the GroupMe scare you. You set off to patrol campus on your own, nabbing stragglers trying to avoid dorm row. You’re successful, but does it matter if no one is there to cheer you on? Having support will help you in the long run.

Mostly C’s: Chambers-Obsessed Just admit it, you enjoy the power trip you get as you watch your peers sprint out of Chambers towards their dorms. You like having plans that have a high chance of success, and you find power in a group. One day, you hope to have an infection rate as high as Andrew Rice, at whatever cost. Realize that the path that is easy is not always the one that’s right.

The Davidsonian is currently recruiting new writers to join its staff! Email brmccarthy@davidson.edu or kastewart@davidson.edu for more information.

The

Davidsonian 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 Multimedia Editor Social Media Manager Business Manager Design Editors Copy Editor

Staff

Brigid McCarthy ‘25, Katie Stewart ‘23 Anika Banerjee ‘24, Georgia Hall ‘25 Samantha Ewing ‘23 Ian Macel ‘24, Bilal Razzak ‘25 David Sowinski ‘25 Campbell Walker ‘25 Andrew ElKadi ‘23, Varun Maheshwari ‘23 Nora Klein ‘24 Emma Begley-Collier ‘25, Josie Hovis ‘23 Bailey Maierson ‘25, Sydney Schertz ‘24 Ben Gordon-Sniffen ‘23 Richard Farrell ‘22 Bailey Maierson ‘25 Sahana Athreya ‘25, Hailey Tsuda ‘24 Landon Schabes ‘22 Isabelle Easter ‘25, Bailey Maierson ‘25 Anaya Patel ‘25

QUEER

Corner

Which color speaks to you? A - Green B - Yellow C - School bus yellow D - Dandelion yellow How skilled are you at running? A - I prefer to bike B - Are you kidding? I’m a track star C - Sometimes I break into a light jog when I’m late for class D - Running is the highest form of torture Mostly D’s: Never Responds in the GroupMe You realized that you actually weren’t looking forward to bunkering in Chambers all day and living in fear of people with yellow pieces of fabric wrapped around their wrists. Since you couldn’t opt out of the game, you took Dr. Van Nostrand’s advice and stood outside, waiting for an overly-excited zombie to find you. You don’t even know where you put the yellow bandana, and you can’t wait for the game to be over so your phone will stop blowing up with GroupMe notifications telling you to sit outside Commons for two hours. Here’s a reminder that it’s fun to be excited about things sometimes.

H WIT DAVID SOWINSKI (HE/THEY) ‘25 & ANAYA PATEL (SHE/THEY) ‘25

This past weekend, Queers & Allies (Q&A) and Rusk Eating House, in collaboration with the Center for Diversity and Inclusion and the Center for Civic Engagement, hosted the first Q&A Drag Show since the beginning of the pandemic. The show featured seven professional drag performers—some queens traveling all the way from Atlanta—as well as five student performers. As one of the biggest queer events held on Davidson’s campus, the importance of the drag show cannot be understated. For one, it offers a space for queer and trans students to be unabashedly themselves. Amelio Aragona (he/they) ‘25, whose drag persona is Miss Tuchuv Grey, noted the freeing nature of drag. “Drag is one of the most affirming activities you can do as a TGNC [Trans/Gender Non-Conforming] student because it fulfills a visceral part of you that never feels comfortable in everyday space.” Drag also pays homage to a tradition that dates back decades. Historically, it has been a form of art, self-expression, and rebellion. The opportunity for Davidson’s queer and trans students to be able to attend this event on campus is incredibly meaningful, and one of the few things the college has done right by the LGBTQ+ community. “It was ineffable, an instinctual moment where I felt completely at ease,” Amelio commented. Amelio summed up his statement with, “IT WAS SO FUN!!!!!!”

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inside

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Leaked From GroupMe That Ultimate Zombie Resurrection Will be Jesus on Easter Page Atheists Immune

Already concerned about Nummit’s radical moves towards sustainability, including their use of agave straws as well as their newfound affinity towards alternative milks, the College was destined to stop Nummit’s procurement of “Max’s Quesadillas for the People” before they imposed their radical tree-hugger policies on yet another facet of the Davidson culinary scene. One Davidson official noted that the College was interested in much more “gradual” and “sensible” approaches to impending climate doom. This official used Commons’s brief respite from the use of their usual dishware in favor of Styrofoam plates and plastic utensils as an example of the College’s innovative approaches to grave climate-related issues such as water scarcity. Instead of letting Nummit ruin this student-run solution to the absence of Union’s beloved quesadillas, the College intends to implement a “Quesadillas for Cops” model that will satisfy both the students’ desire for quesadillas as well as the College’s budget for next year’s clandestine police force. When asked about this decision, the

Flu Outbreak in the Hurt Hub From Lack of Handwashing Page Capitalist Success Stops for Nothing and No One

“Quesadillas for Cops”

AVIDSON, NC ̶ Last week, The Yowl reported on Nummit’s attempts to bribe Max S. into turning his “Quesadillas For The People” business over to them in an effort to monopolize the industry. This Yowl headline attracted not only the attention of students caught in up in the latest post-Frolics quesadilla politik, but also that of the Davidson College administration. As a result, the College acted quickly to halt the Nummit deal in favor of their own plan.

BRAAIIINS Issue

April 13, 2022

Study Shows Drag Show Is Coolest Thing to Happen at Davidson Page Even Football Bros Showed Up

aforementioned Davidson official urged those of us who are skeptical to think of this like Reagan’s legendary Iran-Contra affair, but instead of the US selling weapons to Iran in order to fund fascist death squads in Nicaragua, Davidson will be using the proceeds from their newly acquired quesadilla operation to fund Davidson’s next Delta Force. Said Davidson official made sure to note that since the Delta COVID variant is now behind us, the College is unsure as to what to call next year’s privatized police presence on campus and has urged us all to “stay tuned.” One student expressed excitement over this newly proposed “Quesadillas for Cops” model, saying that instead of having to rely on the singular Union option for quesadillas, students would now have the choice of getting their quesadillas from Nummit whenever they were feeling inclined to save the polar bears, or from the College’s new police-forward model whenever they wanted to support public safety on campus. Another student expressed concern that Qdoba was being left out of the College’s latest quesadilla controversies and is encouraging folks to make sure the faux-Mexican chain’s voice is being included in these conversations. In the meantime, be sure to get out and enjoy your very own hot and ready quesadilla before the politics of cheesestuffed tortillas at Davidson College gets heated again.

Time Check: We Are 3.5 Weeks from Graduation Page I Just Made a Senior Feel Physically Nauseous

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ling to prospective employers that you might email, “Yeah, this chick fucks, but she’s also a fucking girlboss.” Here are a few templates thrown together entirely by a phenomenal Yowl staff writer (“Sky God”) that we encourage you to copy and paste straight into your own account.

he Addams Family has caused a bit of drama in Davidson paradise with its deviation from the original storyline, corny musical numbers, and the reminder that everyone is deserving of equal access to healthcare. The Yowl investigated the overall post-show reception and this is what people had to say.

Aura G. ‘23, who chose not to have her last name revealed, loved the snazzy music and feisty political jests, but was made uncomfortable by Morticia and Wednesday’s complex relationship. “Nothing hurts more than being reminded you have a traumatizing mother and seeing it come to life on stage,” she said with a single tear rolling down her face. Katie Kweef ‘24 had a different opinion on the matter. “After the show,” Kweef explained, “I immediately called Linda [her mother]. I finally came to understand the root of all my mommy issues. The show made me realize what all my years of therapy couldn’t.” The Yowl tried to reach out to Davidson’s mental health counselors for comment, but they were too overwhelmed with cases to see the perfor-

Josie Hovis (she/any) Davidson College ‘23 | Estudios Latinoamericanos | [Bass Dyke] | [Chief of Staff & Senior Editor of The Yowl] [1/2 of America’s hottest couple] | [Another Accomplishment]

Standard:

Educational for the Boomers:

Josie Hovis (she/any) B.A. Latin American Studies Davidson College 2023

Josie Hovis (she/her/hers/he/ him/his/they/them/zie/zim/zir, and more) B.A. Latin American Studies Davidson College 2023

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Fruity:

WRITERS Skylark Max Flavor Star Player #13 Star Player #13 Groupie

Page Matthews Career Center Success Story

A Night at the Theatre mance. Others, however, took issue with the show’s open political stances. “I hate it when shows set in present day reflect the current sociopolitical environment,” remarked townie Phil Lashio ‘63. “Actors and playwrights are thinking too critically these days,” Lashio’s wife, Felicia ‘09, chimed in. After telling his wife not to interrupt him, Lashio revealed, “I was troubled by the growing liberalism in Texas which is why I moved back to Davidson where people are more performative and return to their gentrified neighborhoods after a long day of social media protesting.” Students were upset by the progressive political humor as well. Scotty Tapper ‘22, President of the Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) organization, said that by putting on the show, the college is “demonstrating its commitment to freedom of speech” which is at odds with YAF’s “uninformed political viewpoints.” Chad Stogie ‘23 had a more logical approach to the matter. “Generally speaking, I don’t believe all humans are deserving of basic dignity

Email Signatures That Reflect the Real You

re you a junior who somehow has made it through years of Davidson pre-professional indoctrination without taking the time to Google how to put an auto-generated email signature at the bottom of every Outlook email, but because your first year friends seem to be more professional than you are you finally succumbed to the pressure and decided to embark on the surely life-changing communication overhaul? If so, this article is for you. Here at the Yowl, we are dedicated to making sure that you settle on an email signature that is flirty and fun enough to reflect your lighthearted undergrad demeanor while signal-

Fauci Invites Dr. Van Norstrand to CDC Conference

Josie Hovis (She/Any!) B.A. Latin American Studies Davidson College 2023 Inspirational: Josie Hovis (she/any) B.A. Latin American Studies Davidson College 2023 “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose” – Dr. Seuss

and respect,” he eloquently explained. “When seeing your ideas being ridiculed on stage through song and dance in a fun, light-hearted manner, it can be quite debilitating.” Another student, D1 3’9” wrestler Finn Ischer ‘25, simply said, “[Expletive]” when asked about the performance. In summation, some theater-goers questioned if the ticket cost was worth revealing their own personal biases and respective unresolved trauma, while others had themselves a very good time. Considering the multiple sold-out shows, roaring laughter, and standing ovations, though, it’s safe to say that The Addams Family was indeed a success.

Timely Goose Warning

he Yowl interviewed Julian Coaxum on the recent experiences with rogue goose behavior. According to the Davidson Biology Department, geese are one of the species with the most human contact, and as a result, have begun adopting human-like behaviors. The geese at Lake Campus have been reported as intentionally finding cigarette butts and moving them into the lake, which Dr. Staff here at Davidson says is an example of geese littering. Goose behavior also includes ripping out more grass than they can eat, which studies show is a reproduction of human deforestation.

Chad Chadler, a frat participant of K-Sig, reported that “this bitch-ass goose came out of nowhere and pecked my PBR out of my hand. If he wants alc he could’ve just asked to be next in line for the keg stand. There’s no way he’s getting a bid next year after this.” It is the best approach to give the goose a wide berth, and if that is not possible, Dr. Staff recommends drop-kicking the geese as far as possible.

How Bandanas Are the Crucial Anti-Pandemic Tool We Missed

The Yowl has conducted a content analysis on news headlines and Zombie vs. Human GroupMe discourse about why students seem to take the fake zombie outbreak much more seriously than the real dangers of COVID-19. We discovered that the main difference between the two pandemics is the way in which bandanas played a role. In our lab analysis, we found that, critically, bandana face-coverings were demonized by COVID authorities, while bandanas have been embraced as a tool for tribe identification and sense of community throughout the campus zombie outbreak. If we had only recognized the power of bandanas at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we here at the Yowl are 99% sure that all of America would have banded together in varying shades of bandana print to defeat [jargon word for illness].

Note: The Yowl is a satirical supplement to The Davidsonian. Hence, nothing in it should be taken as truth.