The Davidsonian 11-30-22

The

Davidsonian

davidsonian.com Issue 10 Volume 121,

Ellie Stewart ‘24 discusses exclusive language applied to the Club Q shooting

2 4 7 8 inside

SOFIA B. CIMBALLA ‘26 (SHE/HER) STAFF WRITER

The whimsical, woodsy, “stick sculpture,” more officially known as the “Common Ground” sculpture, will no longer occupy its space (situated between the library and Chambers) on campus when students return for the spring semester. Patrick Dougherty, an American environmental artist, designed the sculpture with ephemerality and impermanence at the forefront of his mind. The sculpture’s materials reflect his intention for the sculpture to exist as a work of art with a limited time period.

From the very beginning, community was the foundation for the sculpture. Lia Newman, the director and curator of the Davidson College Van Every/Smith Art Galleries, explained the history of the sculpture’s creation.

“We approached Marcy and Steve Sands ’68 about funding some short term, temporary projects. We weren’t sure which artists we would approach yet, or what we might commission, but the idea was to bring in something that would allow the community, students, faculty and staff to work together with an artist to build something. We knew it wouldn’t necessarily be here forever, but we could bring it here to say something specific in the moment,” said Newman.

The assembly of the sculpture on campus involved the artist, Patrick Dougherty, his son Sam, and one-hundred plus community volunteers in different roles. It was unveiled on February 21, 2020, a few weeks before the college—and the entire world—plummeted into pandemic isolation.

“I think in a lot of ways, it became even more important that we had this time together. It’s one of the last things that I remember about being on campus, that it was like 100-something volunteers working together for three weeks,” Newman reflected.

Newman also explained how this art connected Davidson College and the Town of Davidson during the pandemic. “It became a little refuge for people. I had people all through the pandemic saying: ‘Before this, I didn’t come on campus that much. But now the campus feels really open to me, and it’s become sort of a community park, where I walk my dog or take my kids to play.’ And so I think it became very integrated into the community.”

The space will take on a new meaning after the removal of the sculpture. Newman explained how this is a part of Dougherty’s artistic ethos: “This is the lifecycle of the work. It’s material that doesn’t last forever. It’s not bronze, it’s not steel.”

Losing the piece represents a new cycle for Davidson’s

campus, a physical representation of one more aspect of pandemic-era life that is no longer.

“Common Ground” is part of a recent expansion and emphasis on the campus sculpture collection. Sarah Willoughby ‘25, a student intern at the Davidson College Van Every/Smith Art Galleries, explained, “The Davidson College Art Galleries have been putting a huge emphasis on the sculpture program in recent years [...] The sculptures are so essential to the campus. They add color beyond the traditional red brick that is the norm on campus, but also take art from out of the VAC across main street and diffuse them within the campus.”

She also touched on her love of the “Common Ground” sculpture. “Contrasted to all of the other sculptures we have on campus, Common Ground is incredibly natural and organic

[. . .] It almost seems like another building on campus, but contrasts against the red brick and geometry of the other buildings on campus.”

Before the sculpture is removed over winter break, the gallery interns are hoping to bid it farewell with a commemorative event on December 5 for Davidson’s community. Newman emphasized the importance of student interaction and involvement with art on Davidson’s campus: “We view students as being the owners and the ambassadors of these works.”

Even if the sculpture will no longer physically exist, it leaves a legacy that reflects the capacity for art and nature to build community especially during challenging times.

STELLA MACKLER ‘26 (SHE/HER) STAFF WRITER

The 2022 midterm elections resulted in record youth voter turnout at the national level, with 27% of voters aged 18-29 voting. This statistic falls second only to the 2018 turnout, with 31% of voters aged 18-29 participating in the midterm elections.

North Carolina has yet to release demographic voter data, which will reveal trends in voter age, among other characteristics. Despite the growing number of young people participating in elections across the country, the trend is less apparent in Davidson.

Issac Bailey, the James K. Batten Professor of Public Policy, brought the topic into his classroom.

“In class I was asking students whether or not they voted,” Bailey said. “In all of my classes it was actually a very small response.”

When asked what may have contributed to lower student turnout compared to 2018, Bailey’s initial response was straightforward.

“Trump is no longer in office,” Bailey said. “Whether or not you love him or hate him, his presence has generated a lot of activity for young voters and older voters.”

Jack Magner ‘23 is the president of the Center for Political Engagement, a student organization that “encourages responsible discourse and facilitates direct participation in the political process on Davidson’s campus.” He attributes possibly lower turnout to unintentionally poor planning from the college.

“[Wildcat Weekend] was on the very last weekend of early voting,” Magner said. “That can definitely help students who need that ride from their parents, but also there’s so many things that you have to do, events to attend, that take away from your ability to vote.”

Magner noted how remnants of Davidson’s COVID policies have also affected students’ ability to register to vote.

“When I was a freshman, everyone would go into a central location during freshman orientation to get their CatCard and then their mail key,” Magner said. “Then there would be a voter registration booth right next to that. So you could just get registered at your Davidson address as soon as you walked on campus. But this year, freshmen picked up their CatCard in their car as they got to campus, so it’s much more decentralized.”

Changes in the district’s early voting and election day polling places may have also contributed to lower student participation in the 2022 midterms.

“In 2020, it used to be that our Election Day voting location was Davidson Town Hall,” Magner said. “So, probably a 10 minute walk at most for students. Then I think two weeks before Election Day in 2020, it was switched to [Davidson’s] K-8 [School] which really is still not a crazy walk, but students

Jeopardy! champ Amy Schneider visits campus and runs a trivia game

Theatre Department rings in the holiday season with Christmas at Pemberley

All The Yowl wants for Chrismas is their reader’s joy ... and a new Apple Watch

Sunset over the Common Ground Sculture on campus. Photo by Eli Naughton ‘26

Christmas in Davidson

December 1, 2, and 3 from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

EMILY HAZIM ‘26 (SHE/HER) STAFF WRITER

Established in 1988, Christmas in Davidson is a three-day long festive event. Organized by town officials, the event gathers people throughout the Davidson community to celebrate the holiday season. A number of local businesses and organizations sponsor the occasion, some of which serve as food and merchandise vendors as well.

This year, Christmas in Davidson will take place on December 1, 2, and 3, sponsored by Copeland Richards: Attorneys at Law, Allegacy Federal Credit Union, the Cannon School, The Sarver Group, Davidson Gardens, the Julie Jones Team at EXP Realty, Kindred, Whit’s Frozen Custard, Homewood Suites, Baybridge Management Inc., and Carburritos in Davidson.

During the three-day long holiday extravaganza, the Town invites individuals from all around Davidson to engage in different activities such as the Main Street Light Show, the Baby Reindeer Feeding, Photos with Mrs. Claus, and more. The schedule also includes performances by students from many of Davidson’s local schools, including one from Davidson College’s very own acapella group,

the Delilahs. The third day of festivities also brings the 40th Annual North Mecklenburg Holiday Parade. Beloved holiday figures are showcased and travel two miles from Davidson’s Main Street to the intersection of North Main Street and Catawba Avenue in Cornelius.

Though the immediate Davidson community may be small, Christmas in Davidson attracts

Amanda Preston Sloan, communications director for the Town of Davidson, shared the difficulties COVID-19 brought for the celebration. “The town was forced to scale things back extensively during the COVID-19 pandemic, and as it’s been possible, the Town has been carefully building the Christmas in Davidson footprint so that everyone can be safe and have a great time,” explained Sloan.

local businesses, and being able to showcase them during many of our major events is such a highlight,” said Sloan. “Davidson has such a great sense of community and is smaller than many of our neighboring towns, and you can also feel that charm in how we approach events like Christmas in Davidson.”

As the two biggest town-organized events of the year, Christmas in Davidson and the Annual North Mecklenburg Holiday Parade are both significant to the community. “Events like Christmas in Davidson hold importance [...] because they allow folks from all across town to come together to help kick off the holiday season,” Sloan explained, also adding that “[...] it really embraces Davidson’s smalltown feel that the residents love, while also welcoming visitors to come in and support Davidson’s local shops and restaurants.”

nearly 30,000 visitors annually. This creates opportunities for economic growth amongst Davidson’s local businesses and allows residents of all ages and backgrounds to connect through participation in different events.

While the town of Davidson is already made special through its wide range of offerings— from a dinner at Kindred to a day spent on Lake Norman—hosting events such as Christmas in Davidson adds an extra layer of individuality. “Davidson already has such unique and vibrant

Sloan and her fellow Davidson town officials believe that Christmas in Davidson poses the perfect opportunity for members of the community to focus on spending time with each other. “It brings so many folks into the same space to celebrate the start of the holiday season together, and that will always have real value,” she said.

Youth Turnout Helped Sway Midterms in Democrats Favor

campaign, the former North Carolina State Representative for district 98, which includes Davidson.

don’t pass by it.”

Magner also discussed the change in election day voting locations.

“Our early voting location for the past couple election cycles has been Cornelius Town Hall, and I would say it’s not very accessible for Davidson students,” Magner said. “It’s like a 45 minute walk if you want to try to walk it, and there aren’t sidewalks the whole way. You basically need to have a car, if you want to vote early.”

Naomi Janis ‘26 cast her ballot during early voting at Cornelius Town Hall. While she was there, she was approached by a volunteer who appeared to be from the Christy Clark

“She had handouts talking about which candidates were Democrats and she gave us sample ballots,” Janis said. “I ended up talking to her and she spoke about how there was a low turnout of Davidson students and she thinks it was because there used to be an early voting location on Main Street but now the only place to go is Cornelius Town Hall.”

According to Janis, the volunteer also touched on the significance of Davidson students in Clark’s previous campaign in 2018.

“She was talking about how in the past, when Clark won, she won because there was

a really large turn [out] of Davidson students, and that wasn’t happening this year,” Janis said. The Christy Clark campaign did not

are not as diverse. Those kinds of differences actually affect our priorities and principles. It is unwise for students to leave these massive

Issac Bailey

respond to a request for comment.

“The younger generation is living in a really diverse society right now,” Bailey said. “There are other generations, like mine and older, we

to

decisions up

folks who do not share their reality.”

“It is unwise for students to leave these massive decisions up to folks who do not share their reality.”

-Professor

Christmas trees lined up during the 2021 Chistmas in Davidson celebration. Photo courtesy Visit Lake Norman

Though the immediate Davidson community may be small, Christmas in Davidson attracts nearly 30,000 visitors annually. This creates opportunities for economic growth amongst Davidson’s local businesses and allows residents of all ages and backgrounds to connect through participation in different events.

STAFF WRITER

Who is … Amy Schneider?

Accumulating almost $1.4 million after forty consecutive Jeopardy games, Schneider is both the most successful woman and transgender contestant ever to win the contest. She not only holds a plethora of knowledge pertaining to trivia, but also on how to persevere and stay true to yourself; all of which—thanks to Union Board—she shared with Davidson students earlier this month.

During her talk on the evening of the 14, Schneider began by describing her past and how this led to her interest in Jeopardy!

“I was an abandoned theater kid, basically,” she said with a chuckle. “I played the trumpet and I did a lot of plays, like Shakespeare. I think this was the most helpful for Jeopardy in terms of being comfortable on stage and not being bothered by there being an audience. But I think being in the marching band maybe helped me with my buzzer timing…”

While Schneider also mentions that she played sports as a kid, she admits that this in no way influenced her quick reaction time on television. “I was terrible at all of them,” she laughed, adding that the buzzer is something you only know you are good at once you try it.

However, Schneider explained that before airing on the show, she had to overcome many hardships all within a short time frame. Now, whenever Schneider encounters challenges, she faces them with the knowledge that they may lead to something great in the end…like becoming a Jeopardy! star.

“2016 was quite a year. In twelve months, I lost my marriage, job, father, and gender,” Schneider stated. “It definitely is one of those things I can look back on now when times are hard. Not only did I get through that, but I came out of it much better.”

The process to get on the show requires a lot of waiting, according to Schneider.

First, prospective contestants need to take an online test with fifty questions in a fifteenminute timeframe. The show then takes a random sampling of people who get above a certain score to an in-person audition with

another round of testing. Next, they play mock games, which determines who is fast at answering questions, as well as who is entertaining enough to watch on television.

They give contestants a time period of up to a year and a half of waiting for a phone call. If no call comes the Jeopardy! team encourages contestants to do the process all over again.

For Schneider, she had to go through the process three or four times before finally getting a call. And once on the show, it still requires a lot of time and effort. “They tape five episodes in a day,” she says. “They are long days. You get there at 7:30 in the morning and need to bring three outfits… It’s usually done by 6:00 p.m.”

In terms of Schneider’s actual success on the show, she explains that while she is technically “good” at trivia, she really is better at Jeopardy! She admits that compared to those who regularly attend national trivia conventions, she is a “notch below.”

“Jeopardy! tries to make each clue not so much a trivia question to answer, but a puzzle to solve,” she explains. “That is what makes it enjoyable. It’s not just about knowing stuff,

but about finding clues and hints.”

At the end of the talk, students Uday Ahuja ‘26, Jaime Felipe ‘23, and Ava Kleckner ‘25— winners of Union Board’s Nummit Trivia Night the week prior—were able to compete in a mock Jeopardy! game hosted by Schnieder herself.

“It was a dream come true to meet somebody as iconic as Amy Schneider, and getting to play Jeopardy! with my friends was just the cherry on top of the cake,” Ahuja says.

While Schneider is currently working on writing a book, she considers her real “job” to be giving talks to younger generations. She specifically advises her audience on how to accept both others and themselves.

“We are all sinners,” she said. “On the one hand, that’s a bummer. But the flipside of it is that it’s about not judging other people for their failures and their flaws… We all make mistakes… we all do bad things. I use this to remind me not to be too judgemental.”

BELLA ANDJELKOVIC ‘26 (SHE/HER)

Nummit trivia winners playing a game of Jeopardy! at the event (left) and Amy Schneider on stage during her visit (right). Photo courtesy Bella Andjelkovic ‘26

Perspectives

“We” vs “You”

Inclusive messages cannot be made with exclusive language

ELLIE STEWART ‘24 (THEY/SHE)

On the night of Saturday November 19 in Colorado Springs, a person with a gun entered Club Q and killed Raymond Green Vance (he/him), Kelly Loving (she/ her), Daniel Aston (he/him), Derrick Rump (he/him), and Ashley Paugh (she/her), as well as injuring 18 others. Club Q is an 18+ LGBTQ+ nightclub, and the shooting itself happened on the eve of Transgender Day of Remembrance, just minutes before midnight. The nightclub planned to host a drag brunch and drag show on Sunday, November 20th to honor the day of remembrance, but it is now closed until further notice.

In the wake of this horrific event, many organizations, schools, churches, businesses, and more put out messages of support and allyship to their communities. These messages often read like the following:

“[Organization name] grieves the terrible loss of life in Colorado Springs at Club Q and we stand with the LGBTQ community and offer our love and support”;

“We stand with our LGBTQ+ siblings in anguish, confusion, and despair”;

“As we seek justice for this unimaginable act, we must do more to protect the LGBTQ community and stand firm against discrimination and hate in every form.”

In each statement here, the use of “we” and “our’’ implies exclusion. “We stand with the LGBTQ community,” “our LGBTQ+

siblings,” “we must do more.”

These messages of support, inclusion, care for the victims, and disgust for the hate that fueled these actions, are messages that I want to believe are from a good place. However, they are underlined with the certainty that we are not the LGBTQ+ community. We are not the people being harmed here. We are the supporters, not the supported. We are not queer.

This subtle framing of what are supposed to be messages of support transforms them in my

and include LGBTQ+ people in their communities. Far from it. I wish for there to be more spaces that are openly affirming to queer and questioning people, more stores that happily display pride flags and feature LGBTQ+ creators, more churches that have queer leaders, more professors who can hang up pictures of their partners without fearing or trying to anticipate the reactions of others. However, these aforementioned efforts to support the LGBTQ+ community often happen only in the aftermath of terrible

is used in that example is to write directly to LGBTQ+ people. A message along the lines of “Our organization values all voices and experiences, and to members of our community affected by this horrific act, you have support here,” clearly states the organization’s support without drawing a distinction between community members and LGBTQ+ people. By using “you” to represent the queer community and those affected by the shooting, an organization can speak directly to the people most affected instead of

mind from affirming statements to vaguely uncomfortable obligations before carrying on with business as usual. At one extreme, some churches seem desperate to publicize their affirming nature, calling out to the LGBTQ+ community that surely, they must know that they’re welcome in the church’s space. Instead of altering their actions and practices to draw in LGBTQ+ people in their day to day operations, organizations wait until there’s an incident (in this case, a brutal hate crime) and act in reaction to draw in as much of the harmed community as possible.

To be as clear as possible, I’m not trying to shame organizations that affirm queerness

Ethiopia’s Silent Genocide: Part II

WAITHIRA ‘24 (HE/HIM)

Part I of Ethiopia’s Silent Genocide focused on understanding the Tigray War’s causes. I chronologically ex plained the events leading to the crisis. I described the regional party system in Ethio pia, the rise of Prime Minister Abiy, and the perceived neglect of Tigrayans to contextu alize events leading to the war. In this part, I will focus on the conflict itself, the impact of the war, and the efforts to bring peace to Tigray, Ethiopia.

The Conflict: When COVID struck, Ethiopia decided to postpone elections. TPLF officials saw this as an attempt by Prime Minister Abiy to consolidate power. The TPLF officials incit ed Tigrayans, who then defied the government to hold a referendum seeking an election. The Tigray region held an election hugely favored by Tigrayans, but the other regions heavily op posed it. Holding the elections was against the Central Government’s directive and insubor dinate to the Ethiopian constitution. However, the main trigger of the war was the attack on the main Ethiopian National Defense Force base in Mekelle, Tigray, and other Ethiopian military bases in the region. Prime Minister Abiy declared war on Tigray on November 3, 2020.

Abiy reached out to the Eritrean govern ment for help to suppress the war, and the Eritrean government responded by mobiliz

ing its military to attack Tigrayans from the northern front. Ethiopia also received military equipment from the United Arab Emirates. While the Ethiopian government referred to its retaliation as a “law and order operation,” the operation has lasted for over two years and has resulted in many casualties. In addition to military actions, the federal government shut down Internet access, financial services, and relief aid to Tigray.

Impact: Wars are devastating no matter where they happen. The Tigray crisis has been ruinous to the Tigrayan people of Ethiopia. Displaced persons have given stories of civil ian massacres and widespread sexual violence in places controlled by Tigrayan forces. An estimated 600,000 people have died because of war-related violence and famine by late 2022. The ethnic-based targeting, commis sioning of mass atrocities, and encouragement of violence by Ethiopia’s highest office holder, fueled by the dehumanization of the Tigrayan civilian population and amplification of hate speech on social media, point to genocide in Tigray, Ethiopia.

Moreover, famine has still been affecting the horn of Africa. East African countries are recovering from the worst locust invasion in 25 years, and war has curtailed food relief ef forts. According to the United Nations, around five million people in Tigray suffer from se vere famine. The blockage of the region and destruction of infrastructure has made the transportation of necessities like food and

events instead of proactive efforts to be more affirming, care for more people, and create spaces where all voices can be heard. Organizations that say “we want you here” often appear to draw queer people in not for the LGBTQ+ person’s benefit, but so that the organization can prove their inclusivity.

There are many ways to put out messages of support without excluding the LGBTQ+ community. One is to clarify who exactly is included in the “we.” For example, a school administrator writing on behalf of both LGBTQ+ administrators and their allies could send a message of support to students and faculty. Another option that

using “we” to set them further apart.

Wishing peace to everyone affected by the violence at Club Q on November 19th, change to the world that caused it, and thoughtfulness to those who hold positions of power and influence to make a difference in the wake of these events.

Ellie Stewart ‘24 (they/she) is a communication studies major and gender and sexuality studies minor from Memphis, TN. Ellie can be reached for comment at elstewart1@davidson.edu.

medication extremely hard, leading to many casualties. Military officers have also de stroyed farms and livestock, further worsening the situation.

The conflict has also engendered a refugee crisis. Again, the numbers do not look good. There are over 2.6 million internally displaced people (IDPs), over 240,000 returnees, and more than 97,000 refugees & asylum-seek ers in the Afar, Amhara, and Tigray Regions. The need for humanitarian aid to this affect ed population has skyrocketed as demand for food and other critically needed services has severely increased. While many refugees are settling in Eastern Sudan, the lack of essential services and humanitarian aid has followed the refugees. In addition, limited water supply and impeded access to health services have plagued Tigray and the refugee camps in Su dan. In all this, the risk for COVID infections among refugees has increased, adding unwel come complexities to the humanitarian crisis in Tigray.

Is it the end of the war? Last month, the African Union convened in South Africa to discuss the Tigray Crisis. After a week of me diated talks, a peace deal was reached. The peace deal was centered around the permanent cessation of hostilities, the disarmament of the TPLF of civilian population, and humanitar ian access for refugees. The central govern ment also agreed to conduct a comprehensive Transitional Justice policy that will go beyond criminal accountability to set up measurable

standards for reconciliation, reparation, and memorialization of the conflict.

While the peace deal moves the country in the right direction, there are concerns that it was a decisive win for the Ethiopian govern ment, making it hard for the Tigrayan leaders to sell it to their people. Also, Eritrea, which has been a prominent player in the war, was not included in the peace deal, dimming the chances of a sustained solution to the crisis. Eritrea saw the war as an opportunity to gain regional superiority at Ethiopian expense. Whether Eritrea will agree to withdraw its military from Tigray is a concern at the top of everybody’s mind.

With a Transitional Justice Toolkit, all that remains is an unwavering commitment by the leadership to end the war. There is a need for the Ethiopian federal government to do its ut most to work with Tigrayans to gain their trust and rebuild Tigray. The federal government should meet Tigrayan welfare needs, end the war, and sustain peace. On a larger note, na tional reconciliation efforts should be geared toward healing a country that has become hugely divided and economically devastated by the war.

Samuel Waithira (he/him) is an economics major and intended applied math minor from Nairobi, Kenya. Samuel can be reached for comment at sawaithira@davidson.edu.

SAMUEL

Shedding light on a humanitarian crisis

I wish for there to be more spaces that are openly affirming to queer and questioning people, more stores that happily display pride flags and feature LGBTQ+ creators, more churches that have queer leaders, more professors who can hang up pictures of their partners...

Swim & Dive Propelled by Talented Freshmen and Strong Leadership

BILAL RAZZAK ‘25 (HE/HIM) SPORTS WRITER

Davidson Swim & Dive has always been a staple in the college’s rich history of Division I athletics. During the program’s tenure, they’ve been able to battle with some of the nation’s most competitive programs. In the 2022-2023 sea son, they hope to continue this tradition.

At their opener against Queens University on October 1, the ‘Cats were able to showcase their remarkable work ethic and talent. On the men’s side, newcomer Dylan Felt ‘26 was able to make an immediate impact, winning first place in the 500 free (4:32.18) and the 1000 free (9:28.47). These victories would be impressive for anyone, but his status as a freshman makes them even more spectacular. On the women’s side, veteran Shelby Stanley ‘23 shined, placing first in the following events: 100 fly (57.05), 200 fly (2:07.40), and 200 IM (2:09.32). Stanley holds the school record for each of these events. Alongside Stanley, Kate Pottle ‘23 (500 free, 5:05.54) and Cynthia Huang ‘26 (200 back, 2:07.53) also won their respective events, showcasing their grit and determination in a tough season opener.

After this impressive initial showcase, the Wildcats have continued to shine. Against their longtime rival University of Richmond, our swimmers did well, winning 12 events. Once again, Stanley and Felt impressed, both winning 2 events each. In addition, Abby

Francis ‘23 also won 2 events. The following Wildcats also won their respective events: Anna Newman ‘25, Rani Greer ‘25, Pottle, Annica Valmassei ‘25, Fletcher Smith ‘26, and Miles Charles ‘25. After their showing at Richmond, the teams competed against a variety of other schools. During their matchup with Gardener Webb, Davidson dominated. On the men’s side, they posted a score of 190-104. On the women’s side, they won in convincing fashion: 241-51.

Moving on to the Bucknell meet, the teams were determined to make some noise. On the first day, Felt impressed by winning the 500 free. The divers were also extremely successful, with James Gourlay ‘26 and Ben Cutforth ‘24 securing first and second place respectively in the 3-meter competition. On the second day, wins came from Stanley, Felt, and Gourlay. Capping off an extremely successful weekend for the freshman star, Felt won the 1,650 free on the third and final day.

Examining the future of the team, the swimmers hope to continue their recent success. Cutforth commented on the season so far: “The season has been a lot of fun. It’s been a blast integrating the new freshmen into our team culture. This year especially I think we are really harnessing the team spirit especially well, during practice and at meets. The hype and attitude we have been bringing has really paid off with some fast times and solid dives.”

In the same way, Guil Ware ‘25 gave his thoughts on the new freshmen: “The freshmen

have done a fantastic job buying into the team culture both in and out of the pool. I think that the team really welcomed them when they first arrived on campus and the veterans made the effort to connect with them. Moving forward, it’s important for our older swimmers to continue to lead by example and show the freshmen the ropes, while also making sure the freshmen know that they have a voice and feel heard in the team.”

Looking ahead, the teams are looking to get even better, hoping to make a big splash at the A-10 Conference Championships this year. Jeremy Kemp ‘25 talked about his hopes for the rest of the season, saying, “Although

conference is just over two months away, there is still a lot more work we are planning to put into this season. On the 28th of December, the team is heading to Fort Lauderdale for a training camp before we get back to campus. This is something we didn’t get last year because of COVID, so I really think it’ll give us a little extra as we head into conference.

On top of that, if we continue riding this wave through our dual meets in January/February, there is good reason to get really excited for what we’ll achieve at conference.” Just like Kemp, we here at Davidson are excited to see where this team goes in the spring.

Early Season Update with Head Coach Matt McKillop

VARUN MAHESHWARI ‘23 (HE/HIM) SPORTS CO-EDITOR

Varun Maheshwari (VM): So I guess my first question is, we’re 6-1. We’re a very different team from last year. Can you sort of talk about this year’s squad? And the differences that you face as a first year head coach?

Matt McKillop (MM): Like you said, we did lose quite a bit. And I, myself and our staff, believe that we had all of the right pieces returning to be a successful team. And, you know, we’ve shown that at times, so far, our record would indicate that as well. But we felt that the right pieces would quickly fit offensively. And I think we’ve seen the results of that. And our players all fit our system. They have skill, they have intelligence, they know how to play.

I think one thing that maybe took for granted as a staff and as a team, throughout the summer and throughout the fall was the defensive detail that a veteran like Luka Brajkovic [‘22] or a veteran like Michael Jones [‘22], or a veteran like, [Hyunjung] Lee [‘22] and Nelson Boachie-Yiadom [‘22] brought to our team every single day. And I think we’ve seen that the biggest weakness we’ve had is pieces of our defense. And it has yet to become a habit that it becomes over the course of a career, over the course of an entire season, playing together. Often offense is the first thing for Davidson basketball, that we want to get everybody comfortable with and acclimated to. And while we did spend quite a bit of time on defense, I think there were some things that we thought would work because they worked with last year’s team that maybe aren’t working quite as well. And that’s a dayto-day thing. That is a work in progress. And

I think it’s getting better. It’s gotten better [...] the second half yesterday against San Francisco was maybe the best we’ve been.

VM: I feel like rebounds have been a problem this season. Especially losing Luka. Right?

MM: Yeah and we’ve played some teams that are really good offensive rebounders, which is no excuse. But, you know, you’re looking at the KenPom statistics and like, “Well, how do we manage to play all these good offensive rebounding teams, the first three weeks of the season, when we’re a new group getting together and we’re not quite the defensive rebounding team that we’re known for being?” You mentioned Luka, but you know, for us to be a good rebounding team, it takes every single person doing their job. And if sometimes there’s a longer bounce, sometimes there’s a bad bounce, but you typically wouldn’t battle those battles when it’s a 50-50 ball, if you’re in the right place, and you’re doing the right thing. And too often, we have four guys or even three guys doing it and we need all five guys doing it. Old Dominion had a very strong offensive rebounding team. And they did not go as aggressively to the offensive glass in the second half of our game against them, because we did such a good job hitting them in boxing out in that first half. So we’re making steps in the right direction.

VM: Can you just talk about like his [Reed Bailey ‘26] role right now? What is his sort of projection for this season as a first-year and our three star best recruit?

MM: Yeah, I wouldn’t compare him to Luka, he’s, he’s big, and he’s long, and that’s maybe the comparison that can easily be drawn. But he’s very versatile. And I think that is that has been seen numerous times throughout the season. He’s athletic, he’s a very good finisher, he can handle the basketball, he can pass the basketball. So he’s incredibly versatile. Peyton Aldridge ‘18 was A-10 Player of the Year; one of the best players in the history of our program, if we were to compare read to somebody, I would probably put them more in the category of Peyton as versatile for me to complete the perimeter, more so than Luka.

But he’s been our go-to guy at times. We

played games over the summer in Europe; two close scrimmages. We saw pretty early on what Reed would be capable of. I think yesterday [SF game] was a great matchup for him. And we knew that defensively he would be able to match up with his man one-on-one very well, and the same thing on the offensive end. But we’ve given some different assignments to Reed because of his athleticism and his length, because he’s smart enough to understand it. So it’s not just the scoring that maybe you see that we get excited about. It’s the way he can hedge ball screens and recover from ball screens, which is something that we’ve always struggled with defensively.

VM: A big part of our team right now, obviously, it’s our captain Foster Loyer ‘24. His workload has seemed to be a lot. I just wanted to kind of give you the floor to talk about Foster’s workload and what you expect from him this season.

MM: Yeah, I mean, when you’re as good as Foster, we need you on the court as much as possible. And you know, we have a plan to sub in and out for everybody when we go into a game, but then somebody picks up a foul, and the plan changes immediately. We don’t want to be playing Foster, 37 minutes a game, every single game, we have at times gone deeper into our bench. But we have to be doing that more often. The challenge is Foster is tough as nails, and he’s really good. And he doesn’t like coming out of the game. So when he’s on the court, great things happen. But we do have other players that can help us be really successful.

VM: Charlotte on Tuesday, and then you have Delaware on Saturday. What do we look to expect? We have a big rivalry against them. We beat Delaware last year, but they’re always a good team. So what do we expect coming forward?

MM: We believe those are the ones that can define our season and show us that we can be road warriors and help us build confidence towards the Atlantic-10.

This interview has been shortened for print publication. The unabridged version of the conversation can be found on our website.

Reed

Abby Francis ‘23 swims in a meet against Gardner-Webb on November 5. Photo Courtesy Tim Cowie/DavidsonPhotos.com

Arts and Culture

Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley Celebrates Love, Family, and the Holiday Spirit

The Theatre Department’s recent production of Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley returned to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and offered a glimpse into the beloved Bennet sisters’ lives two years after the novel’s conclusion. Lizzy (Laura Lillian Baggett ‘26) and Darcy (Baris Kalaycioglu ‘26) are happily married and are hosting Christmas at the Pemberley estate, Jane (Meredith Iodice ‘23) and Bingley (Nathan Salley ‘23) are expecting their first child, Kitty is living in London with her aunt and uncle, and Lydia (Samantha Smith ‘25) is struggling in her relationship with Wickham. As for Mary (Olivia Rittenhouse ‘24), the often-forgotten middle sister? She still lives a simple, solitary, and relatively small life, but wants to start changing that narrative.

While Mary might seem overlooked in Pride and Prejudice, Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley tells a different story. Each sister is important, but the play foregrounds Mary’s experience and finally allows her to shine. It emphasizes her ambitions—traveling, learning, and playing the piano—rather than making her the insignificant middle sister, as Pride and Prejudice tends to do. In doing so, Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley reveals that Mary’s dreams are just as worthy as her sisters’, even if they conflict with the era’s expectations for women.

At the beginning of the play, Mary seems unexcited about love, insisting that she would rather lead an interesting, intellectual life than marry an idiotic man. But that starts to change when she meets the newest addition to the Bennet family Christmas: Lord Arthur DeBourgh (Spencer Hawkins ‘23). Like Mary, Arthur is committed to his studies. He spends most of his time reading and is a true intellectual.

Yet while Arthur and Mary seem like a good match from the outside, some factors interfere. Lydia and Wickham’s relationship is rocky, so in her characteristically coquettish manner, she starts flirting with Arthur. In fact, she even writes him a love letter, but after some confusion, it ends up in the wrong hands. Eventually, Mary and Arthur realize their compatibility. Both are unfamiliar with the feeling of falling in love, only recognizing their emotions after talking with their family and friends.

When Arthur and Mary finally decide to pursue each other, they face even more hurdles. They attempt the traditional courtship process, complete with superficial compliments and saccharine love notes; however, this doesn’t fit the quirky, intellectual nature of their relationship. A practical issue arises

too: just before Arthur confesses his feelings to Mary, his cousin Lady Anne DeBourgh (Zayna Abuhakema ‘24) arrives at Pemberley and announces that they are engaged. Their relationship is not one of love—instead, Anne wants to get married to stay at the DeBourgh estate—but the announcement still upsets Mary. While romance once felt possible, it now seems out of reach.

Before the play ends, though, there’s a Christmas miracle. Without revealing too many details, each sister has a happy ending, concluding Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley on a positive note.

While Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley had a fun plot, the actors and production added extra energy. The set was incredibly detailed, complete with period-appropriate furniture, art, and decor. There were chandeliers scattered above the audience, drawing the audience into the performance. And though Christmas trees were uncommon in early 1800s England, one still managed to make an appearance onstage. Lizzy was excited about the tree—she had read about the German tradition and thought it would fit perfectly at Pemberley—but

everyone else seemed perplexed. Whenever a character entered the stage for the first time, they commented confusedly on the tree, creating a running joke throughout the play.

Each actor was committed to their role, making the play particularly engaging. For one, they all maintained British accents throughout the production. They also learned their character’s quirks—for instance, Olivia Rittenhouse ‘24 perfectly portrayed Mary’s witty, serious nature and Laura Lillian Baggett ‘26 represented Lizzy’s spirited, intelligent attitude well.

As the holidays start to approach, stories about friendship, family, and tradition feel particularly comforting. Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley matched these qualifications and felt cozy, spirited, and fun, making it the perfect holiday production!

Madeline Richard ‘26 (she/her) is an English major from Baltimore, MD. She can be reached for comment at marichard@ davidson.edu.

Stringbang Bill and the Belles Travels from Jackson City to Perform in Second Installation of Traditional Series

On Friday, November 11, the Duke Family Performance Hall was once again brimming with residents from the Town of Davidson, as well as a few students, for the second installation of this year’s Traditional Series. On the stage was Bill and the Belles, a string band out of Johnson City, Tennessee. The quartet included Kris Truelsen on the guitar, Kaila Yeagle on the fiddle, Aidan VanSuetendael on the banjo, and Andrew Small on the bass. The group had a silly feel to them when they walked on stage. Truelsen, “Bill” of the belles, filled the transitions between songs with his witty humor.

They opened with a song called “Wild Horse,” and I was immediately drawn in by the way they moved on stage. Yeagle and VanSuetendael instinctively moved in towards the mic to harmonize with Truelsen and back out again. All the while, Yeagle’s harmony on the fiddle rang out to complement VanStuetendael’s picking and Small on the bass. It was clear to the audience how much fun they were having on stage.

Truelsen joked about the dismal nature of many of their songs before launching into a tune titled, “Happy Again (I’ll Never Be),” which had a lively tune that contrasted the story of heartbreak it told. It was released as a single in March of 2021, almost a year after the first COVID-19 lockdown. Yeagle lamented the pandemic’s interference with live music, noting how weird it was to not be able to play with Truelsen after they’d been playing together for so long. The pandemic also interrupted their television show Farm and Fun Time that they had recently established on regional PBS stations in North Carolina and Tennessee with Radio Bristol. They explained that the show was a callback to a program of the same name from the 1940s and 1950s that played a big role in the early careers of performers, including The Stanley Brothers and The Blue Sky Boys. Farm and Fun Time is now broadcasting again with music from Bill and the Belles as well as other bluegrass and string bands.

As the show continued, the band played many songs from their most recent record, including “Taking Back My Yesterday,” “The Corn Shuckin’ Song,” and “Sobbin’ the Blues.” They also played some music in smaller groups. At one point, Truelsen and Yeagle played the song they played upon reuniting for the first time after a period of COVID

lockdowns. Yeagle described the emotion of playing together for the first time in a while. Yeagle, a professor at East Tennessee State University, began playing the fiddle growing up in Alaska, and she has continued her career playing in the band while researching Appalachian Studies with a focus on women who were central to the roots of old-time and country music.

Immediately after the show, the artists met members of the audience outside the auditorium. I asked Yeagle after the show how she ended up playing with this group. All of the musicians came from such different backgrounds and regions, so I was curious how they crossed paths. She responded that “the music world is small.” She and Truelsen started the band about seven years ago and picked up bassist Andrew Small in the northeast. Later, VanSuetendale, who is from Nashville, was recruited to the band because, as Yeagle put it, “there aren’t very many great banjo players out there.”

There were quite a few members of the audience who asked for pictures and engaged in conversation. This is a band who loves their music and those who’ll listen. They ended the concert with an announcement that Bill and the Belles have a new record coming out in April of 2023. The next installation of this year’s Traditional Series will be on February 23, when Breabach, a Celtic band from Scotland, will be performing in Duke Performance Hall.

Katherine Marshall ‘26 (she/her) is an undeclared major from Atlanta, GA. She can be reached for comment at kamarshall@davidson.edu

MADELINE RICHARD ‘26 (SHE/HER)

The cast of Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley strike a pose on stage. Photo by Chris Record

Bill and the Belles. Photo credit billandthebelles.com

KATHERINE MARSHALL ‘26 (SHE/HER)

Living Davidson

Tell me about your Thanksgiving Break, and I’ll predict your Spring Semester

I’m sure there’s a lot on all of your minds—finals, how it somehow keeps getting dark earlier and earlier, how you’re going to handle spending a month with no homework (I mean, what are you even going to do?). But worry not! I am here to tell you exactly how your spring semester is going to go based completely on the events of your Thanksgiving, so at least you can get that off your mind.

Let’s start at the beginning—how’d you get to and from campus?

A - You drove yourself—you figured you would brave the parking lots when you got back to campus, and I admire you for it.

B - Train. They may not be the most pre dictable, but hey! You made it back.

C - Caught a ride with a friend/parent.

D - Plane.

How much did you help with preparing for the dinner?

A - You definitely helped, even if it wasn’t super voluntary. What? You felt like you deserved to sleep in.

B - A TON. You even woke up early to get a head start.

C - …You were busy with other things, ok?

D - Your family didn’t host so you weren’t stuck dusting lamps for two hours. Lucky.

Mostly A’s:

Your spring semester is going to involve lots of new people and opportunities, but (and this is the important part!) wait for them to come to you. I promise—slid ing into their YikYak dm’s is the worst idea you’ve ever had. Please stop.

Mostly C’s:

You are in for the semester of a lifetime. It could be good, could be bad, but it’s definite ly not going to be boring!

What excited you most about break?

A - Getting to see your hometown friends and visiting all your favorite local spots!

B - Seeing your family, of course. And your pet. Maybe your pet and then your family.

C - Eating food not made in Commons and getting to shower without shoes. You are no longer taking anything for granted.

D - A break from the stress that has been plaguing you nonstop since you got back from fall break. And really now that you’re thinking about it, since you arrived at school…and now you can’t really remember the last time you weren’t stressed???

And how’d that dinner go?

A - You ate your weight in mashed potatoes, and really, what more can you ask for?

B - It was truly the best. You just love spending time with your fam ily.

C - Family turmoil, screaming matches, and tears before pie. Just another holiday.

D - I mean, it was dinner? There’s not that much more to say.

Finally, we can close it out on a classic: Pick your favorite side dish!

A - Roasted vegetables.

B - Mac and cheese.

C - Cranberry sauce.

D - Rolls/Biscuits.

Mostly B’s:

You’re going to have a semes ter of relaxation. Try to get a headstart and relax a bit right now, huh? I can literally feel the tension in your shoulders through the newspaper.

Mostly D’s:

Your semester is going to be full of growth and change. Maybe it’s an increase in emotional ma turity, or maybe you get a plant. Who’s to say?

WITH Queer Holiday Films

Davidsonian

Staff

Brigid McCarthy ‘25, Katie Stewart ‘23

Georgia Hall ‘25

Nada Shoreibah‘23

Gray Eisler ‘24, Bilal Razzak ‘25

David Sowinski ‘25

Campbell Walker ‘25

Andrew ElKadi ‘23, Varun Maheshwari ‘23

Nora Klein ‘24

Josie Hovis ‘23, Skylar Linker ‘25

Bailey Maierson ‘25

Ben Gordon-Sniffen ‘23

Sahana Athreya ‘25

Sierra Brown ‘25

Isabelle Easter ‘25, Bailey Maierson ‘25

Anaya Patel ‘25

‘25

DAVID SOWINSKI (HE/THEY)

& ANAYA PATEL (ANY PRONOUNS)

‘25

‘Tis the season, gays and theys! As the stress of finals starts, don’t forget that in a few short weeks, you’ll have time for hot chocolate, gingerbread cookies, and nothing but movies. We know how difficult it can be to pick something to watch, so we’ve put together a list of movies that celebrate queerness, or that queers have come to celebrate.

Set in 1950s New York, Carol puts Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara opposite each other as lovers swept up in a Christmastime affair. The sultry vibes, beautiful performances, and cozy visuals of Carol are perfect for a night spent curled up in a blanket.

Released just last year, The Bitch Who Stole Christmas is a holiday movie star ring RuPaul, along with twenty other RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants. It follows a fashion journalist who must weather a winter ball and save Christmas. If you want a colorful, hilarious, draggy movie to watch this season, watch The Bitch Who Stole Christmas.

While also debatably a Halloween movie, The Nightmare Before Christmas also boasts unmistakable Christmas spirit. Its iconic characters, unforgettable soundtrack, and ghoulish aesthetic have attracted queer audiences for decades.

For an amazing cast, check out Happiest Season, a holiday rom-com starring Kristen Stewart, Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza, and Dan Levy. Abby, who has yet to come out to her conservative parents, brings her girlfriend home from Christmas before all hell breaks loose.

In the traditional queer spirit, consider watching the 1963 “Christmas Special” of The Judy Garland Show. In the special, Judy welcomes you as guests into her holiday home where you meet her family and friends Jack Jones and Mel Tormé. From “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” to “Deck the Halls,” Judy and her friends serenade you with classic holiday and musical theatre tunes.

We know—all of these are Christmas movies. Far be it from us to be Chris tionormative, but we do live in the U.S., where the only holiday movies made are Christmas ones. Nevertheless, there are fun and cozy vibes to go around with these classics even if you don’t celebrate.

Happy Holidays!

Yowl The

Irreverent student journalism since 2004. Castigat Ridendo Mores.

yowl.com/c-u-never-jozee

Commons Closed, Union Locked Over Break, But Library Still With 24-Hour CatCard Access

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November 30, 2022

The Bless This Is Finally Over Issue

Davidson

Mental Health Counselors to be Replaced by “A Charlie Brown Christ mas” Album Page Linus & Lucy

Santa’s Coming—I’m Ready, Are You?

As we watch the world burn, engulfed by egre gious humanitarian crises across the globe, the creeping effects of climate change, poverty, and hunger, one Davidson student had a lot to say about her Christmas list this year. Sally Potts, ‘24, “doesn’t want to sound gauche,” but “could really use a new Apple watch,” among many other hot new items that are hitting the metaphorical shelves this year. The Yowl™ was lucky enough to get to sit down with Potts and hear about her rationale on what makes it on her list and what doesn’t.

“It really just comes down to if a particular item has that ‘oomph,’” Potts said, looking up from her 6-page Google doc titled “X-MAS LIST!! <3 <3” where she has catego rized her wants for the season. When pushed on what exact ly “oomph” means, Potts said, “You know, that ‘je ne sais quoi.’ That ‘mmmmm, yum.’” We at The Yowl™ can trans late “je ne sais quoi” to “that which cannot be expressed,” but we have no idea what “mmmmm, yum” is supposed to mean.

“It really just comes down to, should I ask Daddy to spend money on this thing? Yes or no? It’s a pretty simple ques tion,” Potts elaborated. Thank you for this clarification, Sally.

After caught by a Yowl™ correspondent copying and past ing links from Chanel into her Google doc during a poli sci lecture, Potts confessed that working on this Christmas list has really turned into a full-time job, and she spends essentially every second, including during class, scouring the Internet for what she doesn’t yet know that she needs. We’re lucky to have gotten a little sneak peak at what’s “je ne sais quoi”ing it for her this year, organized by category, of course:

Stocking stuffers–send to Santa (wink!): Urban Outfitters Mercury Retrograde Candle Set, $40

• Urban Outfitters Ritual Candle Set, $30

• La Mer, the Revitalizing Hydrating Serum, $255 Clothes–comfy and cozy:

• Glossier Original Pink Hoodie, $55 (steal!) Ugg Fluff Momma Sugar Boot, $220 - We at The Yowl™ would like to note that you could pick up a cheaper version of this boot style at mascotapparel. com or from your local high school’s theater depart ment, which recently did Beauty and the Beast

• Palace of Peacocks Black Pashmina Shawl, $2,299 (time taken to craft: 9 months)

Clothes–elegant:

• Cartier ring, $1080

• Prada Technical Voile Sunray Pleat Midi-Dress, size 38, $5,900

Clothes–just for fun: Horse and Carriage Leather Tech Gloves, Color: Sad dle, $150

Tech:

• Apple Watch Ultra: Titanium Case with Starlight Al pine Loop, $799

Bettering myself:

• Peloton Bike, $1,145 (sale!)

• Sam Harris, Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality With out Religion, $14.95

Miscellaneous:

• Chloe Purse Alphabet Clutch, $940 World peace.

Despite all of the hard work that she has been putting into this wishlist, Potts was frank: “I love all this stuff, but I’d trade the whole list for my parents to get me just a nose job in stead.”

Davidson College students were recent ly shocked to learn that WALT 1610, the campus “radio station,” was actu ally just a livestream. Listeners who finally got around to tuning in to a student radio show were confused when they first realized they need ed to find a radio somewhere nearly 20 years after they stopped being relevant. Even more shockingly, once a radio had been found, the tones of the same 15 indie bands that character ize WALT playlists were nowhere to be found. After checking the entire dial, there was no stu dent music show to be found. Apparently the so-called “radio station” for Davidson is only found on a live stream on the website. If this unconfirmed reporting is true, this means that the student radio is really just more of a Spotify listening party than a radio station. When asked if this had always been the case, members of WALT only opted to promote their incredibly niche personal radio show, which took place at the most outlandish timeslot seemingly possi ble. Our unnamed source said: “I don’t know if that’s always been the case, but I know you can

use that method to listen to my disco themed show at 2am on Tuesday nights.”

Beyond lying about being an actual radio, there is a second bombshell we’ve uncovered on WALT: there’s nobody actually named Walt in the club. It is yet unknown why a “radio station” would be named like a person, let alone one with such a distinctly old-timey name. The exact origins of WALT radio is lost to time: some say the station was running before the college was even founded. Nevertheless, no one knows why this “radio station” is an inter net stream with a human name. Signs point less to WALT being a student radio club, and instead show that being a Walter is a mindset and a state of being.

We here at the Yowl™ sincerely apologize that this report comes incredibly late into the semester. Like most students on campus, we told our friend we would try to find their radio show and tune in and then immediately forgot to do so. This had not been previously reported as we (apparently like most people followed by WALT on the Spotify friends activity page) completely forgot to listen to some one else play music they like and instead listened to our personal Spotify playlists.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

What To Do When Both Your Roommates Have New Boyfriends

So, two of your closest friends have started engaging in illicit activities with members of the opposite sex. Bummer. Really, huge disappoint ment. Because, no matter what they say and how much they may claim to love you, they’re going to be spending more and more time with their new beloved. And, the thing is, you would too if you were getting into a relation ship. But you’re not. You’re alone in your room, listening to their giggles and what sounds like mediocre sex through the walls. Well, dear reader, I have some advice to make this transition and time a little less strenuous and a little more fun:

• Become the new boyfriend’s ultimate bully. The best way to show domi nance and superiority when a new person enters your life by way of a friend is to make sure they know who is in charge. Tips for bullying:

◊ Come up with a terrible and humiliating nickname. Hopefully some thing their mom once called them.

◊ Point out their deficiencies, especially when it comes to their lacking sense of humor.

◊ Imply that your friend has divulged every secret about their sex life.

◊ Dominance isn’t just important in the bedroom - it’s essential to boy friend–roommate pairings.

• Cry anytime your roommate asks if he can come over. This cockblocking device both makes you look sympathetic and recenters your roommate’s at tention to you (where it belongs). My best advice is to have the tears pool in your eyes and then slowly blink them out, so they trickle down your cheek in a dramatic, neo-noir-esque way.

• Cook really stinky food anytime he’s over. If, somehow, the scoundrel does manage to weasel his way into your apartment, start whipping up some of the stinkiest stuff you can find. Nothing kills the mood like a bad smell.

Examples:

◊ Roasting Brussel sprouts and/or broccoli

◊ Microwave a few eggs

◊ Burn some of your own hair over a candle flame

• Date his best friend and make your roommate doubt her own relationship by proving that yours is so much better. This is a bit more manipulative than our previous points and might cause a true rift between you and your roommate, but if you’re willing to risk it all, it’s a surefire way to break them up. The only downside to this tactic is that you will have to feign interest in the boyfriend’s best friend. This is also risky and you must have superb acting skills.

• Claim to be allergic to his cologne, preventing him from coming over ever. Of course this guy wears cologne, but use that to your advantage! Claim to be allergic and sneeze aggressively anytime he is near. He may stop wearing said cologne, but you can keep up the act and just sneeze and cough all the time, no matter what. You may be able to advance this point by claiming to be allergic to his dander as if he is a certain breed of dog.

Dear reader, I sympathize with you. Having both your roommates paired up is no fun. Ultimately, these suggestions cannot mask that sadness, but you know what can? A vibrator.

Game Time! How Well Do You Really Know Us?

Jozee has provided the Yowl with a stable source of satire for the last four years now so it only makes sense to test your knowledge of her since she knows the ins and outs of all of you. The following is a list of fun facts that may or may not be true about Jozee. To make things more difficult, and definitely not because I couldn’t remember that many facts about her, I’ve thrown some other options into the mix. In the brackets next to each fact, put a J for Jozee, T for The Other Editor I Didn’t Know Existed, B for Both, or X for neither for who you think the fact correlates with. Check your answers by emailing us at douglashicks@davidson.edu.

[ ] Is a self-identified man-hating dyke [ ] Is not a dyke but might be after watching Love is Blind [ ] Good at fingering…the bass guitar [ ] Turned down an internship for SNL [ ] Acts old as shit [ ] Is old as shit [ ] Has geographical ties to a former sex cult that now makes silverware [ ] Met the Secretary for the U.S. Department of Commerce while

I’m Ready to Hit the Market

— Jozee

wearing a beer stained crop top

[ ] Lost $100 in Dogecoin

[ ] Doesn’t believe in free speech and is constantly censoring the other editor

[ ] Queer awakening was Roxanne from A Goofy Movie

[ ] Doesn’t know the difference between Whataburger and In-N-Out

[ ] Played hooky in middle school by crawling through a fence

[ ] Falsely believes kombucha is good

[ ] Was recently banned from Twitter for posting thirsty tweets about Elon Musk

Hello, faithful readers. One of the things I was promised upon joining as editor was the chance of finding a significant other; that has yet to happen. As a matter of fact, I have been single for 1 year, 10 months, and 28 days, including the end date. (They broke up with me on their birthday that’s how I know, not because it still haunts me to this day or anything like that.) Anyhoo, I am back on the market. I have no standards and will literally take anyone. Let me know if you have any suggestions.

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

Tip: If He Can Still Buy You Vending Ma chine Snacks with Dining Dollars in the Last Weeks of Finals, He’s a Keeper

“Blessed and grateful. And out of here.”