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Crochet, Chumashvili, and Athey awarded $10,000 Avinger microgrants

Volume 120, Issue 7

November 10, 2021

Ross Hickman ‘22 condemns exclusionary social scene

Jazz Vocalist Carmen Bradford enchanted audience and coperformers

Whappa Happened? Semi-formal fiasco leaves Weebs hungry. The Yowl reports.

Students Take Initiative to Make Nightlife Safer BRIGID MCCARTHY ‘25 (SHE/HER) STAFF WRITER

t any college campus, women know to party with hands over the tops of their cups and utilize the buddy system. BIPOC students at predominantly white institutions (PWI’s) know to not walk home alone at night. At Davidson, it’s no different: When Armfield Courtyard (F) reopened post-COVID earlier this semester, the re-opening of an ongoing conversation about safety in the party scene was bound to follow. On Wednesday, October 27th, Alice Garner ‘24 took to Instagram to restart this conversation with her narrative, sparking familiar backlash, defensiveness, support, anger, and—from all sides—frustration. As female and BIPOC students continually struggle to feel welcomed in spaces not built for them, some students and groups on campus are leading moves toward social and legal change in lieu of overt administrative support. Garner’s exposition, titled “Why we must dissociate from Patterson Court Circle,” recounts her experience as an Asian American woman in Davidson’s predominantly white-populated Greek social space, and advocates for a more inclusive and safe environment for students to party. “F [Armfield], and all places on campus, should be a place where all people, no matter their gender, sexual identity, or race should be accepted, validated, and feel authentically themselves,” she wrote in a Google Doc linked in the bio of her personal Instagram account, an account which has since been deactivated. Michaela Gibbons ‘22 was in Connecticut when the infographic went live. As murmurs began to pop up around campus, she spurred into action from outside of the Davidson bubble, coordinating personal invitations and talking points for an emergency student body meeting. “My freshman, sophomore year, when there was public outcry around something that was happening socially on campus, students with somewhat of a social capital, or even organizations with a little bit of knowledge on this topic, would organize an open student body meeting in Hance… I see a lot of disconnect. And if we all could just get in the same room, then maybe we can actually come up with something, which is what happened,” Gibbons said. Among the ideas that came out of that meeting was a “safe space” at Armfield apartments, an apartment solely dedicated to taking a pause. Second floor F residents Sophie Danish ‘22 and Sydney Finkelstein ‘22 volunteered to host the space over the coming weekend, October 29 and 30, along with their other roommates Aislinn Whalen ‘22, Eliza Patterson ‘22, and Aria Een ‘22. Following the meeting, Gibbons also coordinated signs to hang up on lamp posts over the weekend showcasing names and numbers of safe, sober Martin Court residents to call if needed. These practices, of quiet rooms and upperclassman connections, are based on Gibbons’ experiences as a freshman. The pandemic, she says, exacerbated the divide between Arm-

Students’ thoughts on PCC organizations, sexual assault, and racism on campus, gathered via YikYak and Instagram. Collage by Brigid McCarthy ‘25. Photos by Sydney Schertz ‘24, Bailey Maierson ‘25, and Hannah Dugan ‘21. field residents and weekend visitors, and also retired what were once normal safeguards on the weekends. “A lot of these practices were lost because of COVID,” Gibbons said. Garner’s exposé follows years of discomfort from marginalized groups on campus; it’s a publication that falls in line with other awareness campaigns related to inclusion on the Davidson party scene. The “Beyond the Frats” initiative, first called “Burn Down the Frats,” was a 2019 initiative that studied the implications of a Greek-centered social scene through a viral website, spearheaded by four students in Dr. Katie Horowitz’s Gender and Sexuality Studies “Sex Radicals” course. Alexander Suarez ‘21 founded the Monuments Initiative in 2020, an exploration into the power of physical space on campus and its disproportionate allocation to predominantly-white groups. The project sparked ideas about developing Patterson Court’s accessibility to minority groups. Sound familiar? Watching the years pass, current seniors are left unsurprised at the reactivated discourse and frustrated at the lack of real progress.

“It is not a new debate that’s happening on this campus,” Patterson said. “There have very consistently been groups of people who have brought up the fact that space is allocated really disproportionately here and that there are not a lot of spaces for people of color or other marginalized folks on this campus to gather and socialize.” Although recent re-implementation and re-prioritization of safety practices remain at the forefront of the social scene, students are also critical of these present initiatives which aim to mitigate harm rather than uproot the source of danger and address “structural issues downstairs,” as Finkelstein said. The initiatives also raise potential concerns about continued student safety, with Gibbons herself admitting the simultaneous lack of and need for a vetting process, both for apartment hosts and for people on the list. Valeria Donoso ‘22, president of Students Against Sexual Violence (SASV), is trained in restorative justice; she hosted a restorative justice circle on October 28th with the Sigma Psi

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Administration Approves New Climate Action Plan GEORGIA HALL ‘25 (SHE/HER) STAFF WRITER

ith the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) concluding in Glasgow this weekend, a reevaluation of Davidson College’s rhetoric on climate change is in order. Though Davidson College continues to pursue macro, long-term institutional change, the Climate Action Plan, approved in Summer 2021, is working on the college’s new short term goals. According to a New York Times article, in 2014, the world

was on track to warm by four degrees Celsius by 2100. Due to new green energy policies, by the same estimate the planet will warm by just under three degrees Celsius by 2100. At COP26, countries are reaffirming on paper their pledge to enact policies that will limit emissions to between two and two-point four degrees celsius by 2100 to achieve carbon neutrality. However, according to the latest IPCC report from October 8, 2021, the world would need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 49% of 2017 levels by 2030 to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Despite these statistics, China, Russia, and India, some of the world’s largest polluters, are not attending COP26 in person. India even recently stated that they are pledging to reach

net-zero emissions by 2070, 20 years later than the majority of countries taking part. In light of the current climate emergency, Davidson’s Sustainability Office is working hard to make changes. In August 2021, the new Climate Action Plan for Davidson was approved by the administration. Yancey Fouché, Director of Sustainability at Davidson, said “In the original plan, the institution committed to being carbon neutral by 2050...we’ve [since] updated it.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

News

Hurt Hub Awards Avinger Impact Grants SAMANTHA EWING ‘23 (SHE/HER) SENIOR STAFF WRITER

ach year, the Hurt Hub chooses up to three students as recipients of the Avinger Impact Fund. According to the Hurt Hub website, the Avinger Impact Fund awards microgrants up to $10,000 dollars to aid students looking to advance their business ideas. Prior to this semester, the most recent recipients were awarded in Fall 2019 as COVID complications made it difficult to run the program in Fall 2020. Now, however, the Avinger Impact Fund is back and has been awarded to three students: Carson Crochet ’22, Sandro Chumashvili ’24 and Thomas Athey ’24. Funding Programs coordinator, Kevin Cook ’09 and Educational Program Manager Amy Gascon discussed the application process for the fund. “The [applicants] who are going to be stronger are the students who have really clearly identified their problem,” Cook commented. Cook and Gascon also remarked that many strong applicants are able to articulate the importance of their projects and outline tangible steps for how the funding will be used. “Thoughtfulness behind the application is important as much as anything,” Gascon said. Crochet’s idea is titled CAbuddy and was inspired by her mother who was diagnosed with a rare cancer last semester. “It’s essentially a little animal plush sent in a care package to someone and the proceeds from this box are put back into cancer research funds for under-researched but highly lethal cancers,” Crochet said. The plush is a naked mole rat, which is both hairless and resistant to cancer. Crochet also sought help from the Hurt Hub as she planned and navigated her project idea. “They were very supportive and have

given me help and mentorship in leading me through this process,” she said. Meanwhile, as a part of his company US-Georgia Wines, Chumashvili imports premium-level wines from his home country of Georgia. “Due to the wide variety of endemic grapes, Georgia is lucky to produce wines to all contingents of people, whether it is strong oak-aged dry-red, happy and summerish semi-sweet white, or many many more,” he said. Chumashvili also has connections in the New-York metropolitan area, D.C. area, and Philadelphia area, which will act as the main outposts for his business. Lastly, Portfolio Kings, which is run by Athey and two friends from his high school, is an education trade group focused on options trading and cryptocurrency investing. “Members pay a monthly subscription to have access to two courses, written guides, workshops, weekly and daily market analysis, Discord chat rooms, and all the trades and investments that we take,” Athey said. Once the recipients are awarded, the Avinger Impact fund program identifies mentors to match with them, meet with them regularly, and help them navigate their ideas. “We’re trying to put every resource we can behind them whether it’s money, skills or people—we want to make sure they feel supported as best we can,” Cook said. Each year, the program also hosts a banquet early in the spring semester to give students an opportunity to talk about the progress they’ve made. “We really just want to find ways to showcase the great works that students are doing and build awareness,” commented Cook. Though the application cycle for the Avinger Impact Fund has been completed for this year, there are several other opportunities that remain available to students through the

Carson Crochet ‘22 with a demo CAbuddy box. The final product will include a naked mole rat plush in lieu of a bulldog. Photo by Sydney Schertz ‘24. Hurt Hub. The Try It Fund application is open now and awards up to $1,000 to students looking to pursue a creative or innovative idea. Additionally, the Davidson Venture Fund awards grants of up to $25,000. Apart from these grants, the Hurt Hub also offers

courses, educational programs, and work opportunities in addition to their study spaces. “There’s so much here to take advantage of if [students] are just willing to check it out,” Cook said.

Davidson Pursues Greener Agreement with Duke Energy CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Fouché said “2050 was too far into the future” to measure climate policy changes and goals: “talking about these lofty commitments is abstract.” Long-term projects tend to suffer from “leadership transition,” according to Fouché, and meaningful change is consequently unable to take place. As a result, the new Climate Action Plan spans only 20212026. Although Davidson still has the big picture goal of carbon neutrality in 2050, the focus is on smaller scale time frames, to try to create more effective change to campus. Fouché acknowledged that even in this five-year plan, “We are making trade-offs— we have limited time and limited money.” An example of this trade-off would be individual vehicular travel. Cars are the predom-

inant mode of transportation among students and staff and consequently a large source of emissions. However, due to the lack of sufficient public transport options, Fouché and the Sustainability Office are placing attention elsewhere. While the Sustainability Office may not be thinking about vehicular travel, Fouche did add that “we are thinking about air travel.” There are “three specific categories [for reduction]: athletics air travel, education abroad air travel, and general business travel.” This reduction will manifest in multifarious ways, such as “conferences, presenting a senior thesis, or President Quillen going to give a talk” needing to take place virtually. Currently, Davidson’s only choice is to buy and use carbon credits to meet their climate reduction goal, but Fouché is still working to drastically reduce air travel. Those who will

Davidson College emissions over time. Data via Second Nature.

be directly affected by this change, Fouché said, “seem really supportive for now, [but] it may be harder when a certain person is told, ‘well you can’t take that flight.’” Members of staff will have to begin “attending conferences virtually” and sports teams will have to take less “convenient” flights to their game-day destinations, said Fouché. It will involve a heavy “self-sacrificing” element, according to Fouché as Davidson will have to change how it prioritizes flight choice from “cost and convenience” to looking at “the carbon metric.” The Climate Action Plan aims to “reduce [emissions] as much as is feasible and then offset [them].” Offsetting emissions essentially means that Davidson will be purchasing the equivalent volume of carbon credits to compensate for their air travel. Purchasing carbon credit means Davidson is allowed to emit a volume of greenhouse gases that corresponds to the number of credits bought. This is because the credit ensures that in some other way the carbon is being taken out of the atmosphere, such as by planting trees. However, this has been a hotly debated topic in the sphere of sustainability, as it leads to people not actually changing behaviours as people pay to make the problem of their emissions go away. Mainstream climate activisim proposed that society does not change as people merely pay more so their lifestyles can remain the same. The other main focus of the plan is electricity, Davidson’s biggest emitter. Davidson College purchases electricity from Duke Energy. Currently, the Sustainability office is engaging in state-level proceedings to put pressure on Duke Energy to move to a greener grid. However, Duke is not likely to move fast enough to reach the Climate Action plans goals in time. On top of engaging with Duke energy, Davidson College is partnering with Elon and Wake Forest Universities to make a virtual power purchase agreement. This new agree-

ment increases renewable energy production and will feed it into the national electricity grid. Therefore, Fouché said Davidson “will not actually be getting those electrons,” but according to the way “carbon markets and accounting works, it is a credible source of renewable energy because we are ensuring through our contract additional new renewable energy is entering the grid wherever it is cited.” Thus, Davidson college will get “renewable energy credits” in the same way one could receive a carbon credit. Therefore, the campus’s electricity will not be powered by renewable energy, but renewable energy will be entering the grid elsewhere. “Some solar panels will [also] be put on campus,” according to Fouché, so that students can see the visible change. However, North Carolina receives on average 213 sunny days per year, begging the question why more funds are not placed toward creating an entirely renewable energy powered campus if money is available to buy carbon credits to offset campus emissions. Between 2008 and 2018 Davidson College’s net greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 9.66% (see graph on left). However, a 10% drop in under 10 years is not enough if COP26 is correct in deeming current conditions a cliamte crisis. According to Fouché this plan will “easily [enable] a 50% reduction” in emissions if the projects in the sustainability office are successfully enacted in the next five years. Yet the manner in which that reduction is taking place is not necessarily self-sustaining as a large proportion of the reduction will happen through offsetting of emissions and purchasing carbon credits. According to the Princeton Review, Davidson College does not rank in the top 50 greenest colleges. Despite the importance of macro-level change, as Fouche stated, “to espouse institutional change people first have to look at their own actions to be authentic.”

November 10, 2021

Ongoing Conversation Examines Sexual Safety and Racial Inclusion CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the Upsilon Mu chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority Inc., and the Alpha Gamma chapter of Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc., and has plans to host restorative justice circles with IFC fraternities in the spring. She spoke on the need to amplify established resources equipped to handle high-stress situations and discussions. “I don’t support the whole safe spaces on campus… none of these people are screened or vetted for,” said Donoso. “These people aren’t trained to support survivors. And if a survivor comes to them with an experience, a survivor is expecting a certain response. And [...] if you don’t have that response, it’s going to do more harm than good.” Donoso has been involved with SASV since her freshman year, and spoke parallel to Alice on her identity as a woman of color at Davidson, and her personal frustration with fluctuating interest in justice for sexual violence. “It’s a very white-oriented conversation that

people have been having. People are just focusing on the fact that this isn’t a safe space [in terms of] sexual violence.... But BIPOC’s don’t feel safe in these spaces at all. Like, even if I know for sure no one’s gonna assault me, I still don’t feel safe or welcomed in these spaces,” she said, before adding “It’s so gaslighting to see people all of a sudden caring so much about sexual violence when there wasn’t any of this attention on us before. And it makes me feel like I was crazy the whole time.” Patterson Court Council (PCC) is responding to these conversations with initiatives of their own, from working with the Title IX office and the Student Life Office to implement educational programming for first-year PCC members to uplifting SASV programs and resources within their own organizations. They also hosted an open forum the Wednesday after Gibbons’ emergency student body meeting. Amid conversation about the Greek presence at Armfield, PCC President Grace Hall ‘22 maintains Armfield’s neutrality due to its location off the Court and stresses PCC’s limited power to enact structural change.

“Most community questions [at the meeting] were about Armfield (F) and safety concerns students have about that space. We need to keep in mind that Armfield (F) is not under the jurisdiction of PCC,” said Hall. “While PCC is happy to host and be a part of these conversations, ultimately we cannot structurally change the way RLO policies work, like the lottery process.” What’s next? Gibbons knows of a fellow senior, Yunah Han ‘22, who is working with SASV to develop and circulate a petition to increase financial support for Davidson’s Title IX office. “If two-thirds of the student body wants something, the Board of Trustees has to do it. So, we can get two-thirds of the student body to sign this petition, we can start… strengthening our Title IX office,” Gibbons said. “We’re hoping that some money is going to start moving around through this petition… I’m hoping that since there is a huge push for money to be moved around that ultimately is going to make a difference, because every decision with the administration is a business decision, you have

to present it to them financially.” In reflecting on the impacts of their actions, Garner and Gibbons know just as there is a ways to go, there’s potential for change—but only if students realize that they’re the catalysts. “Davidson prides itself on being better than this… it’s been disappointing and disheartening to see that we’re really not better. And if we want to be better then we need to do something,” Gibbons said. “A lot of students on campus don’t feel supported by other students. You know, we’re all unsupported by the administration, let’s be honest, they’re not doing a lot. So we need to start helping and caring for each other. Because otherwise, we’re gonna have people fall through the cracks.” “I wasn’t expecting PCC to shut down because of that [the exposé]. I’m not naive… I wanted to bring awareness and create conversation. And so I think that was what I did,” Garner said. “I truly do believe Davidson can become a better place.”

Crime Log

October Venmo Scam Shakes Students

Time Reported

Description/Location

11/04/2021 at 22:51 hrs Larceny Misdemeanor (Part from Vehicle) Martin Court, Inactive

11/05/2021 at 13:47 hrs Traffic Offense-Run a Red Light

Main St at Concord Rd, Citation

11/07/2021 at 01:55 hrs Larceny Felony (Purse) Davis, Prosecution Declined

Three students this semester have been the targets of fraud involving the Venmo app. Photo by Sydney Schertz ‘24.

NOVEMBER 4 KAIZAD IRANI ‘22 SGA CORRESPONDENT

Takeaways Attendance

n the month of October, multiple Davidson students were targeted by a financial scam conducted using the popular money sharing app, Venmo. According to messages sent in the Davidson Central Patio chat, a man approached students on campus and asked to borrow their phone to make a call. When the students obliged, the man used their Venmo app to send himself large sums of money. The total amount of money stolen through these scams is still under investigation by campus police. According to Chief Julian Coaxum, one attempt was unsuccessful by the scammer, and one attempt to steal over $1,000 was reversed by the student’s financial institution. Police are currently aware of three students who have been targeted. One incident occurred on the main campus, one on the sidewalk near T&I, and one on the street by the VAC. The first instance of scamming took place around 4 PM on October 17. The second two were reported within an hour of each other on October 28. “Once we were made aware of the two additional incidents, it became a pattern and not an isolated incident,” said Chief Coaxum. Davidson campus police sent out a safety alert email to students at 4:15 on October 28, roughly an hour after the third scam was reported. The initial alert was followed up with an email containing tips on securing one’s Venmo account. The email recommended students set

their Venmo transactions to private to reduce the chance of being identified as a potential target. This can be done by going to Venmo settings and clicking on the privacy tab, then changing default privacy settings to private. It is also advised to change all past transactions to private. The most effective way to secure a Venmo account and protect oneself from scammers is to turn on biometric/PIN authentication. This option requires either a PIN number, Face ID, or a fingerprint in order to access the user’s Venmo account. To turn this on, students can go to settings and click on the Face ID and PIN tab under the security section. When asked how students can protect themselves from this scam, Chief Coaxum’s response was simple: don’t let anyone you don’t know touch your phone. If you’re approached by someone asking to use your phone, he suggests you “use the speakerphone setting and hold the phone in your hand.” Lastly, if you do find yourself a victim of a scam, don’t hesitate to report the incident to the nearest law enforcement agency, as well as your financial institution. Many banks have policies in place to help stop transactions or recover lost funds. Awareness and caution are crucial in preventing these scams. In a community like Davidson that values integrity and trust, it is natural that students would be willing to let a stranger borrow their phone. Proper security measures can help ensure that your good deed doesn’t hurt you in the end.

Agenda

MCKINLEY LETTRE ‘24 (SHE/HER) STAFF WRITER

63%

17 OR 27

Absent (excused): John Billups, Ben Santiago, Yunah Han, Quincy Weary, Ronan Towell, Nasir Jean Paul, Emma Melton, Ruby Zhou, Grace Hall, and Collin McGuirt Correction: Last week, Israel Palencia ‘23 was incorrectly listed as an unexcused absense. He was present during the meeting.

Mayor Rusty Knox attended meeting to discuss ways to improve the relationship between the College and the town of Davidson SGA brainstormed ways for students to volunteer in the town, possibly through Ada Jenkins The representatives on the “Student Wages” project are meeting with the Department of Human Resources to learn more about student compensation The representatives on the “Student Health” project reported that Center for Student Health and WellBeing hired an additional full-time counselor who will begin work next semester In addition, trained UNC Charlotte students may offer virtual counseling services at Davidson SGA will likely post an Instagram survey to learn more about whether students prefer virtual or in-person counseling appointments Approved a $400 budget for Danimation Club Discussed a possible $15,000 budget for a 20th anniversary celebration for the Alvarez College Union Will vote next meeting

1. Discussion with Mayor of Davidson 2. Project Updates 3. ATC Budgets 4. Announcements

Perspectives

Civil Discourse and Cancel Culture at Davidson

Why are we so quick to disparage and disengage? SAMANTHA EWING ‘23 (SHE/HER) PERSPECTIVES COLUMNIST

ne thing I noticed about Davidson even as a prospective student is the passion that fuels the student body. Not everyone is necessarily passionate about the same causes, but the overarching culture on campus seems to be caring and eager to make an impact. However, I think that sometimes this notion of passion can be taken too far when we assume that, merely because we feel strongly about something, we’re always correct. The negative impact I’ve witnessed as a result is the perpetuation of cancel culture among us as a community. I first noticed cancel culture at Davidson as a new student last year. Of course, there was a high volume of emotional intensity that accompanied the 2020 presidential election, but I couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease around the comments I overheard from my peers. Anyone who raised questions about the “correct” belief to have was immediately silenced by backlash from their peers or fear of social exclusion. Though the circumstances are different now, this dynamic is still overwhelmingly present on campus. Currently, the most obvious outlet for isolating our peers is through the social media application Yik Yak. As though slander through other channels is not harmful enough, the anonymous nature of Yik Yak has provided us with the unique platform to say hurtful things with absolutely no accountability. Recent discussions about the current and future status of Pat-

terson Court are telling about how we as a student body tend to react less than thoughtfully to ideas we disagree with. It takes an exceptional amount of cowardice to spit venom behind the protection of a screen with no name attached. As a community, we need to recognize that cancel culture harms us as a whole both intellectually and emotionally. Cancel culture is unproductive as it inhibits civil discourse. When our first response to new perspectives is to stifle them, we also rob ourselves of new information. Even if a new idea goes against popular opinion, we owe it to ourselves to at least consider the message. Regardless of whether or not we agree at the end of the day, we will become more well-rounded individuals by working to understand other beliefs. For instance, if the addition of new information is compelling enough to alter our conclusions, then we arrive at a new and better-informed opinion. Meanwhile, if we still find ourselves with the same stances after processing new ideas, then we become more solidified and confident in how we already think. Thus, the consideration of new perspectives can only strengthen us as intellectuals. This dynamic goes both ways. If the desired effect is to help someone else understand why their opinion might not be widely accepted, ostracizing them will not encourage them to reconsider their views. You simply won’t see any genuine contemplation or change in the people around you if your first response to conflicting ideas is to cancel them. Not only do you deprive them of a chance to grow in their understanding of the issue, creating an atmosphere where they are excluded from the social scene at Davidson is incredibly hurtful and would be damaging to anyone’s mental health. The inclination to silence

conflicting views is a reflection of the fact that we prioritize our own sense of comfort over fostering a well-informed perspective and, even still, keeping an open mind. For a small school with such a strongly advertised sense of community, we should be more intentional about how we treat others, even if they have different thoughts or opinions. Rather than giving in to the impulse to reject what we disagree with, we should work to foster an environment that promotes more open and honest conversation. By listening and engaging in civil conversations and debates on relevant issues, we can all grow together in our beliefs. This is not to say that problematic behavior should be excused or tolerated—another critical aspect of a strong community is holding each other accountable for harmful language and actions. However, it makes me sad to see my peers ostracised just for voicing new ideas, especially when the sense of community at Davidson is a compelling factor that draws new students to campus every year. Our community will be better off if we are more intentional about fostering healthy conversations around important issues. Not only can we grow intellectually by digesting other perspectives—we can also help others do the same. Samantha Ewing ‘23 (she/her) is an English major and communications minor from Atlanta, Georgia. Samantha can be reached for comment at saewing@davidson.edu.

Editorial: Exclusion, Harm, and Disillusionment at Davidson ROSS HICKMAN ‘22 (THEY/THEM) PERSPECTIVES EDITOR

“

Homophobia doesn’t exist at Davidson— being gay is normal now.” “We can’t do anything about the fact that more Black people don’t want to come here and don’t want to join the fraternities and eating houses.” “I’ve never thought about what it’s like to be trans at Davidson. Wow.” “Even if we did get rid of fraternities and eating houses, the problems of racism, homophobia, sexism, and transphobia would still be there. So I don’t think we should get rid of the institutions.” All of the above are paraphrased quotations from Davidson students I know and have, at various points, trusted. Each, in my mind, is the product of a dangerously mistaken approach to identity politics within our vaguely liberal cultural atmosphere. A truly liberal atmosphere would support openness—not only to people with different stories and viewpoints, but also to the prospect of changing one’s opinions, one’s involvements, and ultimately oneself. At present, Davidson is and does none of these things collectively. In this editorial, I do not pretend to speak for everyone on this campus. Mostly, I speak for myself. Take my personal narrative for what you will. Neither do I pretend that I am in any way a neutral observer of the various phenomena of the politics of identity and inclusion on campus. I am a white person who is deeply familiar with how white people from many different backgrounds speak about gender, race, and sexuality on this campus specifically and in the world more broadly. We must elevate other standpoints—especially from Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color (BIPOC)—on the failures of our social systems at Davidson. I can attest that many of the BIPOC members of our campus are exhausted and do not have the emotional or intellectual

energy to write about this issue in this paper. So, for now, I am speaking from and to the white people at Davidson for how we have utterly failed to make this campus a safe and fun place for queer people, trans people, women, and others who do not fit our campus’s distinct ideals of gender and sexual expression. Let us return to the early part of the spring semester in 2019. This moment was another in a long set of perennial confirmations that I do not belong in the system of social organizations in their current iterations on campus. Identifying at the time as a queer cisgender man, there was no possibility of my joining Turner House along with every last member of my group of friends. In the words of a prominent Turner member, “No man will ever join Turner.” Their loss. Come fall of 2019, after I had come out as a non-binary trans person, members of Turner practically flocked to invite me to join the house. To say the least, I was confused. In the spring, I had been an unwelcome threat to the culture of the institution. In the fall, I was to be a cherished initiate in the rites of this newly open and accepting queer community. I felt then, as now, the gnawing, agonizing, dulling realization that our social world at Davidson is predicated on ways of cisgender and heterosexual living to which I will never have experiential or relational connection. Now, as then, I know so many people—of all different gender and sexual identities and expressions—who fall, hard and fast, through the gaping cracks of our social institutions at Davidson. When people experience sexual assault, homophobic situations, and transphobic pressures, students and administrators look on with pity, disbelief, and embarrassment. But, given the laissez-faire approach to safety on campus, Davidson is merely embarrassed that we get caught, not that we are active participants in the harm being inflicted on queer, trans, and female students. Underneath this reaction of embarrassment, the confidence with which many ‘liberal’ white people reject the possibility of Davidson having cultures of

harm is astounding. Their vague liberalness is based not on their own experiences, many of which are traumatic as well; but rather on the promise, the bright and beckoning and false sheen of optimism, that Davidson offers people to somehow, someday, make it back into the fold. At Davidson, this cruel optimism—theorist Lauren Berlant’s notion that American society is built on the illusory and unfulfilled expectations of happiness derived from social and institutional arrangements like marriage, property ownership, etc.—will, I think, eventually catch up with everyone invested in such illusions. White people at Davidson have an extreme sense of entitlement—to space, to happiness, to connection, to success. And when some of us realize that we will not be getting all of what we feel entitled to, we taste the sourness of jealousy, anger, and resentment of the better-off. None of us is entitled to perfection, but I believe all of us are entitled to a realistic and measurable degree of access to grounding and satisfying relationships, institutions, and other social commitments. Rather than imagining what this looks like in the abstract, we must acknowledge that the cruelty of Davidson’s particular liberal optimism is playing out right now, for so many. The experience of disillusionment is excruciating. How can a student who feels utterly unfulfilled and unmoored at Davidson go through the motions of smiling and laughing with their apparently more stable friends? I’ve had a lot of conversations at Davidson. Few have been productive, much less imaginative. When excluded people express their dissatisfaction, the more included are often so nonplussed with how to react to an unflinching account of life at Davidson that they shut all the way down, recommend going to the health center for counseling, or deny and gaslight these exclusive realities. All the therapeutic re-narrativization in the world won’t change the structural reasons for the social and relational failures that play a part in the devastating mental health crises on our campus. Becom-

ing more resilient people is important for any life situation, but we must stop prioritizing and valorizing resilience instead of changing the structures that make resilience necessary for surviving this school. All of this is to say that people at Davidson College have, indeed, failed so many of their supposed community members over the course of our history. Those who have kept up with student projects like Burn Down the Frats, Stories (Yet) to Be Told, and the Monuments Initiative know this well. For people like me who feel a strong sense of regret and pain with regard to our social and emotional lives at Davidson, we are beyond our wit’s end. If we are to live up to our liberal ideals of diversity and inclusion in any significant way, we must disestablish the fraternities and eating houses at the college. These institutions are not only harmful and exclusive; they are also mediocre and unsatisfying for many of their current members. From sexual assault to racial inequities to homophobic and transphobic cultures, the complacency and complicity of these current institutions is profound. Why on earth can we not imagine better alternatives? In addition to providing space for existing social organizations and affinity groups who need physical places to be in community, we must imagine and implement new spaces that allow people to find themselves and each other lovingly and anew. If we cannot commit ourselves to change, I find it hard to hold onto hope, much less any kind of optimism, for this college. Regardless, we have, of course, to try to keep hoping. We muster so much patience and capaciousness for the promises of the future, but from my point of view, many of our engines are running on fumes. Ross Hickman ‘22 (they/them) is a history and gender & sexuality studies double major from Winston-Salem, NC. Ross can be reached for comment at rohickman@davidson.edu.

Sports

Player Spotlight: Aleia Gisolfi-McCready

SPENCER WOLFF ‘25 (HE/HIM) SPORTS WRITER

his season, the Davidson women’s soccer team had a less than ideal fall campaign, resulting in a record of 4 wins, 10 losses, and 4 ties, going 0-7-3 within A-10 play. While the season did not turn out favourably for the Wildcats, there were definitely some bright spots, including Aleia Gisolfi-McCready ‘25, who was named an all A-10 rookie in her first season as a Wildcat. About this honor, Gisolfi-McCready said, “I was honestly shocked. I was very humbled by that, and my teammates were incredibly supportive and hyped me up. I was extremely grateful for my teammates.” About the way the season went, Gisolfi-McCready stated that “Team-wise, it did not go as well as we hoped, but individually, I grew as a player, which was really fun, and I learned that helped me to become better on the field, so while we did not do as well as we hoped, I feel that for me, the season went well. Our record was not a representation of the level of play. We played so much better than our record indicated. We never got blown out, and it was frustrating that we were playing well and our record didn’t show it.” While the team’s record was not reflective of their true gameplay level, as they were in every game, the team hopes to build off what they did this season and turn it into victories next season. This is Gisolfi-McCready’s first season and first academic year at Davidson, which she decided to come to for a number of reasons. “I committed [to Davidson] for soccer in junior year, right

when COVID happened. I had been talking with Coach Denton for about a year. I came to campus, and I immediately loved it and felt at home, which I didn’t feel at other schools. Coach Denton was very transparent with me when it came to playing time and it was refreshing. The coaching staff cares about the players individually and because of the academics, I think that I will have more opportunities here coming out of it compared to somewhere else.” She also commented on her experience so far at Davidson. “I absolutely love my classes and professors. There is so much room for help and the professors are really open. I absolutely love my roommate. I wish the soccer season went better, but otherwise, it has turned out well, and I think I’m incredibly blessed to play soccer, run track, and have incredible friends.” In addition to playing soccer in the fall, Gisolfi-McCready runs track in the winter and spring athletic seasons. As she is a freshman, Gisolfi-McCready is not dwelling on this season. Rather, she is looking forward to the next three seasons as a Wildcat. “I expect us to have our heads in the game again, and I hope to be a part of the A-10 playoffs next year. I think that this was just a blip in our journey as a team, and I think that we are going to come back, push harder, and compete better as a team.” To Gisolfi-McCready, this season was just a starting point and she hopes to build off her performance and the women’s soccer team this season to be more competitive and victorious in the next three.

Aleia Gisolfi-McCready ‘25 dribbles down the sideline. Photos courtesy Tim Cowie.

Player Spotlight: Hyunjung Lee

Hyunjung Lee ‘23 shoots a three-point shot in the game against Ferrum College. Photo courtesy Tim Cowie.

BILAL RAZZAK ‘25 (HE/HIM) SPORTS WRITER

s the 2021 year and fall sports start to wrap up, Davidson’s winter sports look to start their campaigns. As one of Davidson’s prized gems, the basketball team is gearing up for yet another successful season. However, with the departure of Kellan Grady—one of Davidson’s star players—to the University of Kentucky, junior prodigy Hyun-Jung Lee ‘23 looks to move into more of a leadership role.

Growing up in South Korea, Lee comes from a basketball family. His mother, Sung Jung-a, won a silver medal, representing South Korea in the 1984 olympics. Furthermore, both his father and sister are extremely accomplished players in their own right. However, Lee is only the fourth player from South Korea to play NCAA Division 1 basketball. While Lee comes from an accomplished family, he has had no trouble making a name for himself: quickly establishing himself as one of the most pivotal players on the team, perhaps even one in the program’s long history. As a freshman, Lee shined. Boasting an Atlantic-10 All Rookie Selection, it was clear from the start that Lee had an extremely bright future ahead of him. Appearing in 28 total games, Lee recorded his first-ever double-double in Wildcats’ win against Coppin State, racking up 17 points and 10 rebounds. Despite the COVID outbreak, Lee only improved. In his sophomore year, Lee started in all 22 games. He led the team in three-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage; he finished second in both scoring and assists. However, despite all this, he reached an even greater milestone: becoming the first Wildcat to average 50% from the field (99-195), 40% from the three point line (53-120), and 90% at the free throw line within a season. He was only the 11th NCAA Division 1 basketball player to do this since 1992—a career-defining moment so far.

However, while Lee’s basketball accolades are impressive, his most admirable trait is his attitude towards the next season. When asked about his A-10 First Team Preseason Selection, Lee said, “It’s a big honor, but it’s also big motivation. Now, I have to prove that I am a first team player.” Lee’s comments highlighted not only his humble side, but also the importance he places on working and improving. Furthermore, when asked about his new role as a leader, Lee remarked on both the challenges and the highlights: “My freshman year and my sophomore year we had Kellan [Grady ‘21] and other great leaders, so I didn’t really have to be a leader. Right now, as an upperclassmen, I know the system very well; we also have a bunch of new guys coming in. Also, as a foreigner, sometimes it’s hard to communicate well, but I’m still trying to do my best. We also have a lot of international guys. So, as a team, I think we’re improving and our communication is going well so far, both on and off the court.” Once again, Lee’s comments highlight his maturity, approaching team leadership in a realistic yet hopeful manner. When asked about his goals for next season, Lee was quick to point out March Madness. As a team, it’s extremely important that they all work together to reach this goal. Currently, Lee is projected to go either late first-round or early second-round in the NBA draft. However, as he pointed out, much of that is subject to change based on what happens this junior season. In this way, Lee pointed out the importance of focusing on the here and now: “All my focus right now is on Davidson basketball. Here and now, I’m trying to get this team right, helping them make it to March Madness. That’s my only focus right now.”

Arts and Culture

Artificial Rock #119: A Microcosm of the Universe FLORA KONZ ‘25 (SHE/HER)

wo weeks ago, Davidson’s art department dedicated Zhan Wang’s Artificial Rock #119 with a ceremony at Wall Terrace. Cort Savage, chair of the Art Department and a sculptor himself, introduced the piece as a work of art that “you will never fully see.” The ancient scholar and garden rocks of China’s Han dynasty inspired Artificial Rock #119, embodying mountains, openness, and a site for contemplation of eternal wisdom. The sculpture maintains a contemporary, polished, and cracking stainless steel surface that “references a state of constant change” and “ephemeral flux,” said Savage. The form is defined and comprehensible, but as the viewer and light shift, the sculpture transforms into “ever greater complexity.”

Sculpted by Beijing-based photographer, video artist, and sculptor Zhan Wang, Artificial Rock #119 embodies an evolution of Wang’s stainless steel city-scapes. Through his art, Wang shows the danger of destroying the continuity of tradition. By creating a facsimile through this sculpture, Wang continues contemplating and examining the loss of tradition. The pieces of the Artificial Rock series were made by moving stainless steel sheets onto garden and scholars’ rocks to cast copies of the original objects in an empty form. Rosaline Kyo, Assistant Professor of Art and Chinese studies, elaborated on Wang’s choice of creating casts of these rocks: they belong to an almost 2000-year-old Chinese tradition that involved collecting special rocks to embellish gardens. They were appreciated for their “unusual, strange, and interesting” characteristics. Kyo described how the perforated surfaces of Artificial Rock #119 suggest age and antiquity, and the overlapping layers and planes imply depth of field so the viewer is looking at a “microcosm of a universe.” This effect encourages the viewer to see the natural world from multiple perspectives and contemplate how local action can have a global impact. The presence of this sculpture on campus is significant for its message about climate change and its creation by a Chinese artist. As Davidson’s President, Carol Quillen, explained, it “invites us to perceive the world around us in new ways,” bringing these “new categories of perception to the fields of inquiry in which we are engaged.” Through this piece, the Davidson community is “constantly challenged and provided with opportunities to reframe what we’ve inherited.” The sculpture was installed in honor of Siri and J. Gill Holland Sr., Professor Emeritus of English, who, Quillen stated, taught inspirational-

President Carol Quillen speaking at the dedication. Image courtesy Chris Record. ly and with the creativity Davidson strives for; hopefully, this work of art will “provoke something like that creativity and inspiration” at Davidson. With this sculpture’s presence, the idea of remaining static “ceases to be a possibility,” according to Savage. This piece parallels Davidson’s goal of engaging intersecting disciplines, throwing ourselves into them with “unbound creativity” and the “joyful intellectual curiosity of a child.” It encourages Davidson community members to encounter their own biases and to search both the external world and our internal selves. “Artificial Rock #119 is Davidson College,” Savage explained; it challenges us with infinite uncertainties to reveal a universe of infinite possibilities. Speakers also included art history major Sarah Zhang ‘23, who sees the sculpture as a “gesture of solidarity” toward the Asian and Asian-American community following the “hateful and racist rhetoric’’ scapegoating Asians and Asian-Americans for the COVID-19 pandemic. Zhang explained how the sculpture can’t represent the whole of these communities, but its in-

stallation on campus is, at the very least, “one step forward.” It’s a promise by the College to “appreciate diverse cultures and their heritage, [pushing] us outside of the Europe and Eurocentric view and inviting us to reflect on our own biases.” Artificial Rock #119 reminds Davidson of the Asian and Asian-American experiences that have been “erased, suppressed, and synthesized” into a model that can “calibrate” under the Western “gaze.” The surface of the sculpture shows a “distorted and amalgamated” world, contributing to the sculpture’s acknowledgment of the differences between us and inviting us to confront a culture different from the United States. Zhang concluded by saying how the sculpture offers a moment of “reflection,” reminding viewers to “scrutinize” their presence in the “world of nature, recognize the intersectionality of [their] identities, and introspect about their experiences.” Flora Konz ‘25 (she/her) is an undeclared major from Asheville, NC. She can be reached for comment at flkonz@davidson. edu.

Carmen Bradford Performs with Davidson Jazz Ensemble

Carmen Bradford performs with the Jazz Ensemble. Image courtesy Awais Abid ‘24.

IAN MACEL ‘24 (HE/HIM)

n Saturday, October 23rd, jazz vocalist Carmen Bradford performed with the Davidson College Jazz Ensemble. The concert setlist was a demanding 13 songs, ranging from Big Band Swing tunes to an intimate piano-vocal ballad that I had the honor of joining Bradford—Mrs. Carmen, as she told us to call her—in performing. Following the 13 programmed songs, she and Davidson College Piano teacher Lovell Bradford (no relation)

performed an eye-watering encore of “What a Wonderful World.”

Following the concert, Bradford came to Mandolino’s with the Jazz Ensemble and the Jazz vocal group After Hours. She shared stories, telling us about her encounters with jazz greats Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie. She also showered us with compliments, ranging from how well we played to the charm of the ensemble. At the concert, she said to the audience,“your children are so cute, and I’m so proud of how good they sound.” As soon as Bradford arrived to our rehearsal on Friday after-

noon before the concert, not only was her strength as a singer obvious, but also her kindness and understanding. She gave us tips and advice, but was never condescending. She told the rhythm section (drums, bass, piano, and guitar) to listen to each other and focus on becoming a more cohesive unit. For me as a pianist, I learned how to accompany a singer. Bradford and I played “The Man I Love” by George Gershwin together as a piano-vocal duet. The night before the concert I got to have a one-on-one rehearsal with Mrs. Carmen. The song I had spent weeks practicing came to life when she sang it. I was nervous the week of the concert—I thought I would be tense and shaky performing on stage with her—but it was ultimately the most comfortable I felt during the show. Bradford sang right next to the piano while we performed “The Man I Love” together, and she would communicate with me without saying a word. She’d look at me and smile, or widen her eyes, or nod her head and I’d understand exactly what she was telling me to do; hold this note, slow down, speed up and take it away for the final arpeggio to end the song. I must have spent 10 hours that week practicing for a 3-minute song. Nonetheless, all the work we put in was worth it; it was the best concert of my life and a thrilling experience for the entire ensemble. Since the night of the performance, I’ve been thinking about something Bradford reminded us of during the concert: she told us to have fun. At some points in rehearsal, I felt like I was trying too hard and was reading music, not making it. She reminded me why we were all there, on the stage, in Duke Family Performance Hall. We were there to have fun and make music, and I’ll be incredibly grateful for the opportunity to play with Carmen Bradford for a long time to come. Ian Macel ‘24 (he/him) is a political science major from Chevy Chase, MD and can be reached for comment at iamacel@davidson.edu

Kavi Ghandi As it stands right now, our mission, [which] I think I can quote directly, is to build patient advocacy, sustain research, and raise awareness to eventually find a cure or develop therapies and treatments for mucolipidosis, which is also known as I-cell disease. Q: What kind of fundraising events have you done in the past? A: Back before I was born, they did annual fundraiser functions where they had raffles and just small ways to raise money like that, and then back in 2011 we started doing golf tournaments for a couple of years. Then we started doing 5K runs, and those have kind of been our biggest fundraising events, helping us raise up to $60,000. We also have smaller-scale fundraising, like selling T-shirts. We’ve actually also fundraised a lot through other families who are somehow affected by the disease, who will rally up their friends and people in their community and raise money; that’s also been a really powerful way to do fundraising [because it] kind of branched out in different areas of the country and the world.

SAHANA ATHREYA ‘25 (SHE/HER)

We Are Wildcats is a human-interest column that aims to share the extraordinary within the ordinary at Davidson College and to showcase the inspiring things that make each and every Wildcat unique. If you wish to be featured or know someone whose story needs to be heard, please feel free to contact saathreya@davidson.edu! Stay tuned for future stories! This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Q: What is your name, class year and major? A: My name is Kavi Gandhi, I’m a member of the class of 2025 and I’m not too sure about my prospective major, but I’ll say potentially a double major in Biology and Public Health. Q: You and your parents operate the Yash Gandhi Foundation. Would you like to tell us more about its origin story and your mission? A: My parents started the Yash Gandhi Foundation back in 2001 after they got my brother’s diagnosis for a rare genetic disease called mucolipidosis II. It’s a terminal condition that has no cure, so they set out to find ways to raise money that they could then contribute to research efforts into the disease.

Q: A quote on your website said that it was because of the Yash Gandhi Foundation that there has been a renaissance in I-cell research, with more research in the last three years than in the last thirty years. Do you want to elaborate on what research you did and how your foundation helped with this ‘renaissance?’ A: Yes, absolutely! So the advancement in our research over the past couple of years has been really, really exciting. Since the disease is so rare it took a while to actually understand the way it just functions in the body, its pathology, and what causes it. So at the forefront, that’s what a lot of the research was; that work began in the 1980s and kind of went through the mid 2000s. We’re at a point now where researchers are comfortable with understanding how it operates in the body and what causes it at a biological level. There’s really been this big shift towards developing some kind of viable therapy or treatment for the disease, and we’ve also funded some of the early stages of that. I guess most of those early stages were spent on understanding how the disease works, but at the tail end there was the beginning of pivoting towards developing some kind of treatment, which we’re still really far from. But the fact that they’re starting to look at that is really promising. Q: I believe you interned at the Greenwood Genetic Center last summer. Do you want to tell us what your experience was like?

A: The Greenwood Genetic Center is one of the research institutions that we’ve been partnered with from the beginning. We’ve given research grants to them every year for a pretty long time now, and since this field is so small and the disease is so rare, they’re one of the most significant research institutions looking at the disease right now. I got a chance to spend seven weeks in their labs in South Carolina and witness firsthand the kind of research that they’re doing. In the beginning, I spent a lot of time reading through some of the literature of the disease research. I had a really thick binder of scientific articles that I went through in a couple weeks and then spent a lot of time shadowing their labs. They have an aquaculture facility, where they house a lot of zebrafish with different genetic diseases. They look specifically at mucolipidosis as well. They’re able to do a lot of genotypic work in those fish and look at embryonic development which is super cool; it’s a really valuable research organism. That experience was so impactful because I had spent so long on the fundraising side of what we do and just saying, “Oh yeah, we give our money to research into institutions,” but not really knowing what that meant. The time I spent there really allowed me to see the full circle of what it meant to be working in a research institution and what actually happened there, so that was remarkable. Q: How can members of the Davidson community support the Yash Gandhi Foundation? A: So I’ve talked a couple times about just how rare I-cell disease is, so one of the things we really champion is this idea of just raising awareness. Follow us on social media, and if you are compelled by our story, sharing it with someone you love can be a really, really big step. Of course, donations are very much appreciated. We donate 100% of every dollar raised directly to research. Q: How has working for this foundation impacted you? A: One thing I always love to talk about is the impact that the whole community of I-cell families has had on me. We did five 5K fundraisers before COVID hit and every year we had families from across the country join us. It’s so cool to meet people who you might have never met in person before, but feel like you share some kind of special connection [with]; that’s always been something that’s really important to me. This is not just for me, but for those families as well. They’ve been a huge part of this, and that community is something that is really special.

Campus Events: November 11th-15th Live Thursday: A Capella Night Thursday 10 PM; 900 Room RUF Friendsgiving Friday 5:30 PM; 900 Room Symphony Orchestra: Fall Concert Friday 7:30 PM; Duke Family Performance Hall International Festival Saturday 12 PM; Union Atrium Fall Fest Saturday 1 PM; Old Tennis Court Lawns Red and Black Ball Saturday 8PM; Lilly Family Gallery Chidsey Leadership Lecture: Indigenous Education and Resilience Monday 6:30 PM; Lilly Family Gallery

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

TH WIDAVID SOWINSKI ‘25 & ANAYA PATEL ‘25

ransgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is coming up next week, on November 20th. TDOR is observed annually to honor transgender people whose lives have been lost due to violence, hate, and transphobia. This day was founded in 1999 to memorialize the murder of the Black, transgender woman Rita Hester. TDOR is one day a year, but it’s important to be cognizant of the oppression transgender people, notably trans people of color, face on a day-to-day basis. Here at Davidson, the trans and gender non-conforming community is very small and has few tailored resources, even within the broader queer community. While all LGBTQ+ communities face identity-based struggles, transgender persons have historically been the victims of extreme violence, discrimination, and disparities in essential services like health care, housing, and education. TDOR is not only a day to remember those who have lost their lives but also for cisgender people of all sexual orientations to reflect on how they can play their part in fostering environments where trans people feel safe. Here at Davidson, we encourage students to respect pronouns, disabuse themselves of the notion that gender is immutable, and attend events open to them with the goal of learning more about trans communities, among other things. At Davidson’s doorstep, Charlotte ranks second for the deadliest cities for transgender and gender non-conforming people. On this upcoming Transgender Day of Remembrance, take time to confront this information, and consider what you can do to make your community and adjacent communities safer for all people. If you are able to donate, here are some great options: National Center for Transgender Equality Charlotte Pride Charlotte Black Pride Transcend Charlotte Tranzmission Equality NC

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The Cult of Richardson: Homogenous or Diverse?

t has often been said of the Freshman dorms, “Belk is always the party dorm” or “Little? They’re always just a little bit crazy” or even “Oh yeah, Watts doesn’t actually exist.” But the statements on Belk, Little, and Watts—with the exception of the last, Watts truly is not a place rooted in this reality—are fluid and highly generalized; it is not so in Richardson. “Every year, Rich is the ‘cult’ dorm.” Yes, no further investigation required to validate Rich’s ‘cult’ status, but I wanted to dive deeper into this obvious plot by RLO to fill Rich with rarae aves every year. What makes Rich tic? Is this cult one of a consistent belief system, which upon its leader’s death will become an official tax-exempt religion in the eyes of the United States Federal Government? Or might Rich be more than the monolithic cult that many Davidson students describe? To complete my research, I compelled my contact inside RLO—meaning I took him up to the dome of Chambers and dangled him over its edge by his shirt collar (A surefire way to persuade anyone to your own thinking: he complied in seconds)—to place me inside this community for a single academic year. If anyone doesn’t believe that I actually am an undercover agent and have no idea what I am talking about, just come knock on my door in May. I currently live on the second floor in room 213 just across from the water fountain and water-bottle filler. (These words have been redacted as they would reveal incriminating information about the author. All Yowl writers are protected by their 1st and 5th Amendment rights.) So here are my findings: Richardson Hall seems to have been divided into three spheres of influence; certain unpredictable actors

The Straight Issue

November 10, 2021

cross the boundaries of these spheres quite often, but overall, I have found the resistive force of these boundaries to be quite powerful. The first sphere is marked out by the first floor alone. This community’s residents lack any definition or understanding of sleep. At any given hour of the night, at least one poor soul will be in 1st Rich lounge, grinding out homework or watching early-2000’s era Disney movies or furiously crafting the next day’s floor-wide poll on the whiteboard. Moreover, because of RLO’s unjust conversion of every floor’s lounge (except 1st’s) into a triple dorm room, this sphere’s residents originally held a superiority complex over every other floor because they controlled the only lounge left in Rich. However, soon enough that superiority was wounded first by the discovery of a hidden treasure: the forgotten lounge in Base Rich and second by the ruthless invasion of their space by other Rich floors’ residents.

Anyways, I mentioned earlier how the resistive force of these boundaries is extremely powerful in Rich; well, that may be mostly true, but the boundary between the first and second spheres is less restrictive than the boundaries between Rich’s final sphere and the previous two. So much less restrictive that only a brave soul would ever venture up another flight of stairs to reach the 3rd or 4th floors of Richardson. Here, you may find a team of savage flickerball players, most of whom do actually live elsewhere, all of whom could have played Division-Two college sports. Perhaps, you see this sphere’s residents on the town for a night down the hill; do not expect to see them return as a group. By the end of the night, they may not be quite sure where they in fact live.

I even wonder sometimes if 3rd and 4th Rich happen to be populated by Steve Mirabello, First-Year Class President, and all his many shadow voters. I would never level any such serious accusation of political fraud unless I truly were skeptical that any community could support a campaign so lacking in creativity that it adopted the slogan ‘Believe in Steve.’ Unfortunately, my evidence of this last sphere’s characteristics is purely external in nature, for I too fear what might happen if I were to ascend into the heavens of mystery that are 3rd and 4th Richardson. I rather prefer being the mysterious undercover investigator to some common ghost applicant.

The second sphere is quite odd. These residents live on both 2nd Rich and Base Rich; however, I have yet to understand how these physically-disconnected communities have forged such an intense bond. I suspect romantic interests abound, providing a convenient excuse not to engage in ‘hallcest,’ which is a much greater sin than ‘buildingcest.’ Anyways, whatever the origin of this bond, these people have some very odd habits. ‘That’s what she said’ jokes are a forced staple; their Flickerball team was named with an indecipherable acronym (Richardson PFDRP? What in Will E. Wildcat’s good name does that stand for?!); and strangely these floors are nearly devoid of Humsters! There are one or two token Humsters on 2nd and Base Rich, but I was under the impression that they were everywhere, all the time, inescapable, inevitable, Thanos, … I think I lost my train of thought.

Warner Hall Detox: Pay $1,100 a Semester, 0 Meals a Week!

s you may already be partially aware thanks to YikYak, the Warner credit card was lost at semi formal over the weekend. While many Warner members remain extremely concerned as to where daddy’s *ahem* their money has gone, we here at the Yowl wanted to get the facts of the matter. We sat down with senior weeb Mary Jo von Ballet, who gave us her eyewitness account: “I remember that I was up at the bar ordering another round of vodka sprites for my girlies and me on the Warner tab. The bartender was about to close out the tab, and I had my hands full with drinks. That’s when I called Sarah Ann’s boyfriend over to handle closing out the tab--he’s an econ major. So yeah, he apparent-

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ly had the credit card last but he says he gave it to his buddy Brad to hang on to, but Brad was so shitfaced he called his girlfriend Carol Quillen in bed that night so he doesn’t remember a thing, so, long story short, we’re actual poor people now.”

regular dues to help regain the funds we lost with the credit card, but now, instead of the house having to pay for food, members will just gather together at meal times to complain about how bloated they feel and discuss which Chloe Ting workout is their personal favorite.”

Despite this tragic tale, Warner Hall is full of many bright minds, ready to tackle this sort of issue. Almost immediately, treasurer Nancy Greenwood figured out a way to recoup the losses.

This business model is guaranteed to be a success: all of the cachet of being randomly assigned to the house, and none of the need to provide any real goods or services.

“I asked myself, how much of this food is really being eaten, anyway? And members are always complaining about it. So we designed the Warner Hall Detox: you still pay your

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Go Annie!” - Sebi Sola-Sole (we miss u)

This financial drought also necessitates a reworking of Warner’s philanthropy. “We’re fine with cutting out the food aspect of the house, but you will have to pry my Warner house shot glass from my cold, dead hands,” giggled von

Ballet. In order to afford the alcohol budget, this year’s Red and Black Ball will no longer benefit HIV/AIDS awareness, but will now raise awareness to can someone please get this blonde chick a goddamn Truly. This article was made possible by the considerable efforts of a Warner weeb.

W a p p a Hoppa!

Woke, Broke, Bespoke Woke: Davidson has a podcast studio and all-gender bathrooms Broke: They are both relegated to Chambers basement where good, normal kids will never have to see them Bespoke: I now know how to use the podcast studio and am undergoing a gender crisis

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