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Davidsonian 3-30-22

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Independent Student Journalism Since 1914

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Union Board releases the 2022 Frolics Calendar of Events

Volume 120, Issue 16

March 30, 2022

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Davidson baseball off to a record-breaking start of the season

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Noah Landau ‘25 talks making his own guitar from scratch

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The Yowl invites you to celebrate #AllinforDavidson with a unique donation

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Home Repairs Continue At The Bungalows

Property Management Addresses and Redresses Resident Concerns

HUNTER CALLAWAY ‘22 (HE/HIM) POLITICS CO-EDITOR IAN MACEL ‘24 (HE/HIM) POLITICS CO-EDITOR

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anagement at The Bungalows has continued to make progress on inspections and repairs to the property since The Davidsonian first covered this story. As of March 29th, 2022, all thirty-two units have been inspected by Mecklenburg County. Documents provided by Davidson Housing Coalition (DHC) indicated that ten of the thirty-two units have had all violations corrected. The county inspector confirmed through follow-up visits. Kathy Stilwell, Executive Director of Mosaic Development Group, had this to say about the progress of repairs: “All repairs have been completed to the satisfaction of the County with the exception of any findings from the final three unit inspections that took place today, one window replacement that is on backorder [sic] and the stairs which are being replaced as noted above.” On March 25, 2022, management updated residents on the replacement of exterior stairs at The Bungalows in a letter to residents. According to the letter, Mecklenburg County has approved the plans for replacement stairs and issued building permits for each stairway. Management has engaged a contractor to carry out the replacements; the contractor estimates that, “it will take approximately 4-5 weeks for fabrication of the replacement stairs.” Once the stairs are completed, installment will begin piecemeal. Management anticipates completing the first replacement, “beginning the week of May 9, 2022, provided there are no unforeseen delays.” Each set of stairs should take around one week to install, so management estimates, “the project to be 100% completed by the end of June 2022.” The letter ends by underscoring the importance of “completing this work as expeditiously as possible” and promising that management will coordinate the repair

schedule with each affected resident. When asked about the update, one resident answered, “it’s exciting that that’s going to get done for the people who need those stairs.” Shelli Roberts noted that the new stairs will not just benefit residents but also, “onsite staff, postal workers, delivery people, contractors, and anyone else who climbs these stairs.” “My gratitude to all parties who pushed for this to happen, and hopefully this is a sign of more good things to come for Bungalows’ residents,” she said. Although some residents have complained that the county inspector missed certain problems in their units—like malfunctioning stovetops—other residents have emphasized the limited scope of minimum housing code inspections. “Some people have blinds that are broken, or carpet that needs replacement. Neither of those things fall under the inspections done by [the county inspector] Grady Penner,” noted one anonymous resident. Eugene Bradley, the Town of Davidson’s Housing and Equity Director, also brought up the minimum housing code’s targeted scope. “I say minimum housing code, that’s really, really dealing with life safety issues, if folks are safe in their units,” he said. The minimum housing code makes no reference to some of the issues that residents complain were left unaddressed by the county inspector, like faulty stove burners or cracked blinds. One code violation found in several units was the water heater’s proximity to the wall. A resident in one of these units shared, “the water heater wasn’t up to code or didn’t fit in there, so they had to make a special cut in the wall and they filled it all in with foam.” The minimum housing code inspections were effective in fixing smaller issues residents had in their units. The Bungalows resident and DHC Board Member Carol Robinson ‘80 stated, “it wasn’t anything that I noticed that was troubling me, but they took care of those things.” Direct and prompt communications— like the stairway update—have become more common since the change in staff last

Excel Property Management oversees The Bungalows, affordable housing in the Town of Davidson. Photo by Hunter Calloway ‘22 year. The new property manager, Michael, started last July while the new maintenance technician, George, started last October. As soon as George joined The Bungalows, according to one resident, “he had to hit the ground running.” In June 2021, after a meeting with residents where their complaints were heard, DHC and Mosaic updated The Bungalow’s Resident Grievance Protocol. The new protocol consists of a written request that is sent straight to Management, while also providing an opportunity to appeal beyond the property manager to the asset manager. Executive Director of DHC Gerald Wright stated of the updated protocol that “following the written procedure and addressing it to management, that’s where a resident has the protection of knowing that it’s being seen and heard by the right people.” Overall, residents are pleased by the new staff and their commitment to The Bungalows. When inspections found small problems in the units, “sometimes he [George] would do the repair that same day.” Discussing the new staff, one resident emphasized that, “they’ve really worked hard, both of them, to get this process done.” Beyond work on the

site itself, residents have also formed positive relationships with the new on-site employees. “I like who we got in here now, I think they’re really good people.” While the new maintenance technician has diligently performed repairs throughout the inspections, some residents believe that he does not have the funding to handle every maintenance request. According to one source, “there’s only so much Michael and George can do, because of budget constraints.” Another resident echoed that concern and said that, “he [George] would like to do more, and he’s willing to do more. But he—I think that he’s being held back from being able to have the funding to do what he needs to do.” On the other hand, Wright stated that cost is not a determining factor in whether a repair is done. “When the maintenance needs come up, whether it involves repair or replacement, you just complete the job…We don’t give anyone the responsibility of saying if it’s too much, you don’t fix it.” Wright continued to explain that the money used to handle repairs comes from rent payments. “The property itself generates a fund

Past and Future Intersect at Art Department Graduate Symposium ELLIE STEVENS ‘25 (SHE/HER) STAFF WRITER

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ast Tuesday, March 22nd, Davidson’s Art Department held a grant-funded symposium entitled “Art History 2060: Imagining Our Futures to Rethink our Pasts.” This event was a long time coming, as the art department’s initial symposium was canceled due to COVID-19. The symposium was funded by a program called the C3 New Scholar Series, which “introduces graduate students from underrepresented groups to liberal arts colleges,” according to their website’s program statement. Institutions seeking new perspectives for their curriculum are provided with a connection to a recent graduate or PhD candidate from a marginalized group. The connection between the C3 Scholar Series

and Davidson has been a long one. According to Davidson Associate Professor of Art Dr. John Corso-Esquivel, the intention of this relationship is “to introduce underrepresented graduate students to small liberal arts colleges in hopes that they might choose to teach at small colleges like Davidson.” Before COVID-19, the title of the symposium was “Expanding our Vision: New Approaches in Art History.” However, when rebooting the event, the focus was shifted to futurity, according to Dr. Corso-Esquivel. With the new title, which focuses on envisioning the future to dismantle the past, the department put out a revised call for papers, yielding proposals from around the world. The prompt for these papers asked scholars to “imagine the methods we will use in 40 years (2060 CE) to historicize art, architecture, and visual culture.” The

process of developing the symposium heavily involved Davidson students, as they aided in designing the graphic website materials, and intern Kaikai Wang ’24 guided the panelists through the day’s events. The symposium events were modeled after actual scholarly events. The schedule for the symposium began at 10 a.m. on Zoom, featuring four talks with topics ranging from non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to architectural history. The event shifted to in-person at the Visual Arts Center at 2 p.m., with speakers from institutions such as Columbia University and the University of Oregon. These talks centered around the future of art, particularly pertaining to digital art, and the globalization of art. Some of the panelists talked about artificial intelligence (AI), animal studies, and digital engagement with museums.

“We really wanted students to attend all events to get a sense of what a scholarly symposium is like,” Dr. Corso-Esquivel said. The event concluded with the keynote address at 5 p.m., which was delivered by Dr. Dan-el Padilla Peralta, Associate Professor of Classics at Princeton University. Dr. Padilla is a classicist and the subject of an article written in April 2021 featured in the New York Times entitled “He Wants to Save Classics From Whiteness. Can the Field Survive?” Dr. Corso-Esquivel stated this piece prompted him to propose Dr. Padilla as the keynote speaker. He said he believed Professor Padilla would “share his thoughts on a more inclusive classicism” which would in turn “open the discussion to Art History.” Dr. Corso-Esquivel sees a lot of connections between Art History and the Classics, with


News

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Symposium Displays Graduate Student Work

Dr. Dan-el Padilla Peralta, Associate Professor of Classics at Princeton University, delivers the keynote adress for the symposium. Photo by Sydney Schertz ‘24

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 both being largely eurocentric. The keynote address analyzed several works of art as well as exhibitions and discussed the eurocentrism present in these classic pieces. Dr. Padilla noted, “greater representation of historically marginalized artists is the beginning not the end of progress.” He also conducted analyses of pieces such as Barack Obama’s White House portrait and work by Harmonia Rosales, an Afro-Cuban artist.

Following the keynote address, there was a question and answer section, which prompted questions on the elimination of classics departments within historically Black colleges and universities, as well as analyses of the portraits displayed. There was a question from a classics major at Davidson, who asked, “what am I supposed to do to justify my love for this subject?” Dr. Padilla responded with advice to be “upfront about the good and the bad.” He went on to encourage introspection, telling the audience to think about why they like the things that they like. Ultimately, he concluded that “nothing is

free from systemic examination.” In addition to the Q&A, students were able to engage with graduate panelists following their talks to ask about their graduate school experience and current research. “To me, being able to chat informally after these events can be one of the richest learning opportunities,” Dr. Corso-Esquivel said. “I think that was inspiring for students to see since this generation will be tomorrow’s museumgoers and art world leaders.”

Partnership Responds To Residents’ Experiences CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

specifically for this purpose,” he said. Some residents still believe that if the maintenance technician “had free rein and a credit card, or had the means to be able to take care of things like they should be, he would be more than willing to do it. He sees that it needs to be done.” The on-site staff did not respond to a request for comment. Several residents have also voiced concern about increases to rent at The Bungalows. Rent increased to $695 for certain units last December. One resident shared that “in the past, when they raised the rent it would be like $10 at a time. This time, it was like $25.” Another resident also upset by the increase called it “a pretty big jump after we just got through a pandemic.” Others spoke to the difficulty some residents already face in paying rent. “We’re supposed to be affordable housing, and a lot of people can’t afford the six to seven hundred dollar rent… that’s a lot of money for people on fixed incomes.” However, Robinson stated that although the rent increase was higher than she anticipated, there had been no rent increase the previous year. “It didn’t seem unfair to me at all after I understood more of what was going on with it,” she said. A commonality among all the residents we spoke to is that they like The Bungalows, and they want to keep living there. One source, however, stated that the rent increase, “makes it difficult to be able to stay in Davidson. I like Davidson, the location is good here.” Other residents have had to change units at The Bungalows to afford their new rent. One source, who is on a fixed income, “had to move from a two bedroom to a one bedroom in order to afford it.” Regardless of fluctuations in rent, Wright states, “we have taken an absolute minimal, minimal approach to increases in rent over the course of the last 20 years.” He continued to say that The Bungalows offer rent that is “upwards of $200 per month,” lower than what could be charged as affordable housing in Davidson, in accordance with DHC’s mission. DHC has also restructured its financial relationship with the Davidson Limited Partnership I (DLP), which legally owns The Bungalows. This has freed up money to use on property maintenance. In June 2021, DHC modified a loan made to DLP, extending the loan maturity date by one year to June 2022. Rent is DLP’s only income; repaying these loans thus

Bungalows property management plans a new focus and priority on residential support. Photo by Hunter Calloway ‘22 decreases the resources available for regular maintenance and incidental repairs to the property. Wright explained that, at the time of the extension, DLP had limited funds to repay its loans while also investing in unit repairs. He stated that DHC’s “long term plan is to maintain the affordability at The Bungalows” and restructuring the loans to DLP was key to that plan. The loan restructuring had two major benefits according to Wright. First, changing the property’s cash flow put DLP “in a position to then have a little bit more money to do some capital improvements.” Second, DLP avoided defaulting on its loan and preserved its credit rating. When asked whether he was content with the current relationship between DHC and residents of The Bungalows, Wright answered, “I can’t be totally happy with regards to the relationship with residents today.” He continued to say, “I can speak honestly, transparently, and with clear heart and conscience that I really believe we’ve turned the corner and we’re doing things right. I also recognize that trust hasn’t fully been restored yet. That makes me uncomfortable.” Wright ended his response by emphasizing DHC’s commitment to returning trust to its relationship with residents of The Bungalows through steady and consistent action. “We want The Bungalows to be a source of pride. We want The Bungalows to be a place that people are proud to call

home. We want The Bungalows to be a place that everyone in Davidson is proud to call our own. And we know that we’re going to get there. But it’ll just take time. And it’s going to take consistency on our part. But we’re definitely committed to that course.” Correction: In part one of this series, when discussing carpeting at The Bungalows, we stated, “the carpet in their unit, like many others, has never been changed.” In fact, all but two of the units have had flooring replacements since The Bungalows opened. According to Kathy Stilwell, “one of these units is occupied by the original resident who has resided with us for over 20 years. The second unit has only had two residents over the course of over 20 years. The current resident is a long-time resident at the property and has occupied the unit since September 2012.” Stilwell continued to say, “I have asked management to inspect the carpets in the two units that retain the original flooring and schedule replacement if the condition warrants it and the resident consents to what is required to have the work done.” This is part two of a two part series on The Bungalows. You can read the first part of the series at the Davidsonian’s website.


March 30, 2022

Wandering Through Wonderland

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Union Board Presents Frolics 2022 Calendar of Events Saturday, April 2 Seafood and Soul Brunch

10AM, BSC House

Spring Frolics on the Lawn

1-5PM, PCC Lawn. Hosted by Union Board. Food trucks, inflatables, games, & more!

Cheeseburgers in Paradise

Friday, April 1

1-3PM, Rusk

Pura Pachanga

DIY Fanny Packs

1-3PM, PCC Lawn. Hosted by the Alpha Gamma chapter of Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc. and Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc.

4-5:30PM, Union Amphitheater. Hosted by Union Board

Acapellooza

FIJI x Turner Foam Party

4-5:30PM, FIJI Porch

1-4PM, FIJI

Battle of the Bands

NPHC Yard Show

5-8PM, Commons patio. Hosted by Union Board and WALT

3:30-5PM, Commons Patio

Day Party and Cookout

After Frolics

Frolics DJ

DJ

6-8PM, BSC House

6:30-8PM, Union Amphitheater. Hosted by Union Board

10 PM-12AM, Warner Hall House. Hosted by PCC

9-11PM, Sig Ep Lawn

11 PM-12AM, F. Hosted by Students Against Sexual Violence

FIJI Flapjacks with the Lambdas

11:30PM-2AM, BSC House

11 PM-2AM, BSC House

Connor Haus x Phi Delt 10 PM-1AM, Connor House

Pizza at F

11PM-12AM, FIJI

BSC Frolics After Dark

BSC Frolics

SAMANTHA EWING ‘22 SGA CORRESPONDENT

86%

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Absent (excused): John Billups ‘22 Absent (not excused): Shreya Sharma ‘24 and Ben Santiago ‘22

Crime Log

Agenda

Attendance

MARCH 24

Takeaways

Union Board and Patterson Court have gone all out for the first Frolics in three years due to COVID-19. Graphic courtesy Davidson College Union Board

The construction of the new football field will take place behind Irwin, Akers, and Knox dorm halls, and there will be no extra resources provided for the residents of those halls. The incoming athletic field will cause the campus to lose a total of 130 student parking spaces, but will accommodate by expanding the satellite parking lot and other free spaces. The Mock Trial Club wants to have their opening round championships to be hosted at Davidson campus, which would be the college’s first time doing so. They would require $1,000 worth of funding from the Activities Tax Council. In addition, the Hobart Park literary magazine is in need of funding because the cost of printing has increased, and there have been issues with their InDesign program. They are requesting $1,100 worth of funding from the ATC as well. Both of these grants were given. The SGA President is encouraging greater community involvement between the college and the Town of Davidson via service opportunities.

1. Construction of New Field’s Impact on Parking 2. Mock Trial Mid-Year Request 3. Presenting Committees 4. Future Steps 5. Announcements and Adjourn

Time Reported

Description/Location

03/25/2022 at 0322 hrs

Injury to Property (Sign)

03/25/2022 at 1154 hrs

Disturbance SPE, Inactive

03/26/2022 at 0001 hrs

Underage Consumption Ryburn, Dean Referral/Medic Transport

03/26/2022 at 0114 hrs

Simple Assault

03/28/2022 at 1945 hrs

Simple Assault/Assault on Female Chidsey, Dean Referral

Daley, Inactive

Chidsey, Dean Referral


Perspectives

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Finding My Truth ALICE GARNER ‘24 (SHE/HER)

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College will be the best four years of your life. Trust me, and if they’re not, you’re doing it wrong.” When going into Davidson as a first-year student, I didn’t know what to expect, but that little saying in the back of my head crawled its way to the forefront of my mind. I felt as if I had to create my best possible memories within these short four years in this little town called Davidson, North Carolina. And so I did. Despite some COVID restrictions, I tried to find ways to have fun: I went camping, to outdoor concerts, to the cross country trails on a Friday night to party, skinny dipping in Lake Norman - all of the most fun, creative, opportunities and more! But something was missing… was it the people, or was it the things I was doing that left me feeling so… unfulfilled? By the end of the first semester, I felt like everyone around me had found their “people” except for me. Over my first break back at home since starting college, my friend from home inspired me to start a YouTube channel on a whim. I love challenges, so I took this one gladly: 31 days in December, 31 vlogs. Easy, right? Throughout my time in December, I explored the world of filming, doing day-in-the-life videos, cooking, and random challenges that pushed me out of my comfort zone. By the time December came to a close, I felt sad that my YouTube channel had “come to an end.” But did it have to? Over the course of that following spring, I experienced one of the hardest semesters at Davidson. With continuing COVID restrictions, shifting friend groups, imposter syndrome, a changing

identity, and the global rise in anti-Asian hate, I felt myself spiraling inwards but completely lost for direction. Who am I as an AsianAmerican adopted woman? What is my purpose here in life? What communities do I “fit” into? Why am I never enough for one community and too much for another? Then, the summer before my second-year at Davidson, I finally took time to really sit, literally and metaphorically, in reflection. As I started to learn more about myself as a trans-national adoptee, I also began to learn more about the world of Buddhism. So, as I endured the discomfort of my yoga poses and frustration of my inability to meditate for longer than a couple of minutes, I also forced myself to face the oblivion filled with the jumbled mess of my own thoughts. Basking in its utter chaos, which I despised, I wanted to run away and escape my feelings, but I knew that the values I incorporated from my Buddhist practices would tell me to NOT run away - to sit with them and treat any thought “bad” or “good” with gentle tenderness and care. I challenged myself to remain in the present moment and to really deconstruct my past preconceived notions about the world around me, my internal biases about others and myself. Every week, I turned on the camera. But now, it wasn’t for others. It was for myself. My weekly video became a part of a 13 public video series called “Al’s Healing Diaries,” as I discovered myself in my own skin and learned how to thank myself for coming just as I am. I kept reminding myself that I am enough. I am so worthy of eternal love and respect in this world. Through this self-discovery, I became more and more comfortable in front of the camera

and started exploring the world of social justice activism through my videos. I vulnerably shared my lived experience as an Asianadoptee in a YouTube video, documenting my experiences with marginalization and microaggressions. Despite being at times exhausting to talk about, these videos became my solace, my safe space, where I could talk on camera and truly express myself, my virtues, my truth. No one could take that away from me. Entering my third semester at Davidson as a second-year, I came prepared with more tactics to ground me, center me in a world where I previously felt so lost. Yoga, meditation, touching my feet to the rich soil, and taking in the wonder of our mother Earth helped me come back to this very present moment. As I continued my activism work through my Africana & Hispanic studies, Student Initiative of Academic Diversity, Honor Council, STRIDE, and PASA, I also became more comfortable with the discomfort, with challenging the dominant paradigm and exposing systems in place that harm marginalized students. As I used my platform on YouTube and Instagram, I spoke out about my trauma experienced at Davidson, revealing these dominating forces for what they are: hierarchies rooted in racism, homophobia and marginalization. Too soon, the cyberbullying began: “Alice doesn’t deserve to be in this institution.” “She always finds things to complain about.” “I miss the old Alice.” I felt destroyed, invalidated, and completely violated. Even though I “knew” what to expect as an activist, the entire campus felt like it was crumbling in against me. However, I knew by sitting in my feelings, it would make me stronger. And so I did. Instead of fleeing, I sat in this extreme

discomfort and nurtured myself back to health. Over the winter break, I continued to confront myself— my fears, my trauma, my feelings, and everything in between. In a YouTube video called “Dear Davidson Activists,” I recounted my experiences thus far as an activist in hopes that it would serve as a constant beacon of light for those who have come before me and those to come. As I grew to understand the fragile balance between the importance of activism work and my own mental health, I realized that by curating a podcast, it could function as an outlet for me to continue without fear of constant bullying. We, the marginalized community at Davidson, have every right and deserve to be heard. So often we are denied a platform to share our truths, or if we do share, the privileged community finds every way to destroy us, invalidate us, and project their insecurities upon us. As I’ve navigated my semesters thus far at Davidson, I reflect back upon the person I was, “so long ago,” and the person I am now. I don’t have a concrete answer to who I am, what I want to be, or where I want to go in life, but I have learned to ground myself and meet myself whenever I am in this very present moment. I have learned how to accept myself in all forms and seasons of life, because every person I become is valid. I learned how to come into my empowered being. I have found my truth. Alice Garner (she/her) is an Africana Studies Major and Hispanics Studies Minor from Norwich, Vermont. Alice can be reached for comment at algarner@davidson.edu.

From the Archives A View from Davidson’s Campus During COVID-19 The cessation of the mask mandate in public, indoor spaces beginning this past Friday, March 25, is a huge step toward prepandemic normalcy after two years living with COVID-19. It is worthwhile to look back to when COVID-19 first came to Davidson College in order to be grateful for the progress made and to encourage us to fully restore the richness of close-knit community on campus after years of restrictions. Hannah Mallard ‘21 provides a perspective necessary for hindsight through this account of her experience as an international student living on campus at the start of quarantine in April 2020. This article was originally published April 11, 2020.

HANNAH MALLARD ‘21 (SHE/HER)

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avidson was my first choice for college because of its community. For me, going to college in the U.S. meant being halfway across the world from home, so having a small, tight-knit community was what I sought the most. Davidson’s campus has served as a second home because I can only return to Tokyo twice a year. But with COVID-19 here, and most of the community gone, Davidson’s campus has become a shell of what it usually means to me—it is now a house and no longer a home.

This is not to say that I do not appreciate the college’s efforts nor the staff’s individual efforts to accommodate the students who have to stay on campus. Contrarily, I am very impressed with the way the college handled this situation, and I am so grateful that students continue to have access to dining services, postal services, and academic buildings. Yet, I still miss Davidson being Davidson. It is not the same walking into Union, void of my peers and the staff who feel like family; sitting in an empty classroom in Wall with my classmates and professors on my screen; being six feet apart from everyone in Commons, and walking around campus constantly reminded of all canceled events— from fundraising events, to Frolics, to beach week, to this summer’s Davidson Research Initiative project. I had erroneously thought that a silver lining to staying on campus would be some normalcy while transitioning to COVID-19 adjustments. However, with the usual population of over 2000 students having dwindled to around 100, there is no semblance of normalcy, and I miss my second home.

For questions or comments, reach out to Perspectives Editor David Sowinski ‘25 (he/ they) at dasowinski@davidson.edu.

The

Davidsonian Editors-in-Chief News Editors Features Editor Senior Political Correspondent Perspectives Editor Arts and Culture Editor Sports Editor Living Davidson Editor Yowl Editors Photographer Web Editor Cartoonist Multimedia Editor Social Media Manager Business Manager Design Editors

Staff

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

The Davidsonian is currently recruiting new writers to join its staff! Email Brigid McCarthy at brmccarthy@davidson.edu or Katie Stewart at kastewart@davidson.edu for more information on how to put your own pen to paper.


Sports

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Davidson Baseball’s 2022 Campaign Off to Fast Start

Parker Nolan ‘22 avoids a tag in Davidson’s 11-4 win over William & Mary on March 15th. Photo Credit Tim Cowie, DavidsonPhotos.com CAMERON KRAKOWIAK ‘24 (HE/HIM) have positioned themselves well heading into Atlantic-10 play. SPORTS WRITER The pitching has been top-tier. The avidson baseball has been off to a team posts 8th in the nation in ERA, 7th in record start this season, going 19-4. strikeouts per nine innings and 3rd in walks/ Heading into Tuesday night, the ‘Cats hits per inning pitched. DeVos, who led the had won 11 out of their last 12 games and A-10 in saves last year, has been fantastic in have not lost a series so far this season. Led a different role this season: the number-one by weekend starters Nolan DeVos ‘23, Blake starter. DeVos has won A-10 pitcher of the Hely ‘22, and Ryan Fezcko ‘24, and aided by week twice so far and, before Friday’s start sluggers Trevor Candelaria ‘22, Ryan Wilson vs UNCG, he had only given up two runs all ‘24, and Michael Carico ‘24, the Wildcats season. Pitching to the tune of a 1.50 ERA and

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striking out 61 in just 36 innings is third in all of NCAA Division I baseball. DeVos talks about the adjustment he had to make from closer to starter: “When you’re starting, you’re gonna put a lot of effort into that one day, but it kind of starts on your off days, where you got to get your lift in, making sure you’re getting a lot of sleep [...] and just manage myself during the week and say that by Friday night, I’m ready to go and be the best I can be.” DeVos was modest in his response to the team’s great start, crediting his teammates: “We’re really deep off the board in every position. And I think it’s definitely attributed to all the work guys put in before, especially this winter, and coming back early this spring and kind of grinding every game. And I felt like every time we stepped on the field, you know, we did every game, we’ve come back and you know, we play a full nine.” Carico has been tearing it up recently, winning two Atlantic-10 player of the week awards. Facing UNCG this past weekend he went 10/14 with a 1.893 OPS. Head Coach Rucker Taylor has mentioned in the past how much Carico has grown. Carico batted .219 last year with only 16 hits in 29 games played in 2021. In seven less games this season, he has 39 hits with a .476 average–2nd in the nation. Carico attributes his performance to the hard work he “put in this fall.” Carico continued, “I don’t know if many people know, but I had surgery in the summer. And this fall, it was all about just rethinking and trying to remodel my swing [...] all I worked on, was really just working on the

mechanics [...] And by doing that, I am really just being able to change my approach and my swing, and I gained a lot more confidence in myself, and then it helps me to the success that I’ve had so far this year.” Wilson, who has also won two A-10 player of the week awards this season, spoke about who has been his favorite player to watch this season: “100% Carico. Rico has been amazing this year. I feel like everyone on the team would say that. Every time he’s up you expect him to hit a double and laser a ball to the fence.” Wilson also spoke about preparation this season, which has helped him and his teammates: “We will always go and watch the starter for the next day, like a day or two in advance and we’re trying to figure out what the pitcher is trying to do.” While Carico claims the “pitching has carried us a little bit so far,” the ‘Cats offense behind Wilson, Carico, and veterans Candelaria and Parker Nolan ‘22 have maintained their great play. Shortstop Jacob Hinderleider ‘23 has outperformed his previous self as well offensively, with a .300 point OPS increase compared to his previous two seasons. Overall, the ‘Cats have the highest OBP and second highest SLG% in the A-10. This Friday, the Wildcats open conference play against Richmond at Wilson Field. Richmond is 2nd overall in the A10 so far with a 12-8 record. Ryan Wilson summed up how the ‘Cats can continue their success: “As long as we continue to do the little stuff right. I feel like we can win a lot of ball games in the conference.”

Reflecting and Looking Ahead: A Q&A With Coach Bob McKillop ANDREW ELKADI ‘23 (HE/HIM) SPORTS CO-EDITOR

I sat down with men’s basketball Head Coach Bob McKillop following the conclusion of the 2021-22 season which ended with an NCAA Tournament appearance. Andrew ElKadi ‘23 (AE): First off, congratulations on an amazing season. As a fan, it was so fun to see how well the team gelled, especially offensively. What was the biggest reason why your team was able to perform as well as they did? Bob McKillop (BM): I think because of how hard they worked, how much they embraced the system and embraced each other. And they had fun in practice. AE: Was there a particular moment this season when you thought to yourself, “wow, this group is special?” BM: There was a knock on the door consistently. We beat Delaware, and I thought, “wow, they have a chance to be pretty good.” Then we came back from losing to New Mexico State, having a record of 1-2, and beat Penn and East Carolina. And I said, “Hmm, we’ve come back from adversity.” And, of course, beating Alabama. Going up to St. Joe’s in our first conference game and beating them kind of opened our eyes to the conference. So there was a constant knock on the door that we could be special.

AE: You’ve been at the helm of this program for 33 years and seen dozens of players and teams come and go. How will this team in particular stick out in your memory?

willingness to do whatever it takes to help our team is going to be the defining aspect of Sam, and he understands what that responsibility means as he enters his junior year.

BM: I never will compare one team to another team. But I will say this about this team: they maximize their ability. They got every ounce of success, enjoyment, [and] togetherness that they could have gotten. I’ve said this to many in the aftermath of [the loss to] Michigan State, “we may have run out of time in that game, but we never ran out of heart.” And that’s a memory that will be with me forever.

AE: Grant Huffman [‘24] proved this season that he can both score the ball and cause problems for opposing offenses with his defensive play. How do you expect his role on this team to change next year with the departure of starting guard Michael Jones [‘22]?

AE: I want to look ahead to next year. There are a handful of notable departures, including Luka Brajkovic’s [‘22] interior presence. How do you envision that hole being filled next season? BM: There’s a presence that Luka had besides the interior presence. Luka became a stretch forward, as well as a post up player. He became a guy that we would go to, to start games, to finish games. We had the utmost confidence in Luka’s ability to perform both at the offensive end and the defensive end. He’s received a lot of acclaim for what he’s done offensively, but some of the individual matchups that he had defensively were extraordinary. I thought he was sensational. His growth as a player was equally extraordinary.

AE: It was evident that the team had an impressive chemistry on the court. In what ways did this chemistry among your players manifest itself off the court this season?

AE: And you could see that as the season went on. Sam Mennenga [‘24] showed us flashes this year of the great offensive player that he can be, and he seemed to gain confidence down the stretch this season. How crucial is this offseason for him as he prepares to take on a bigger role next season with Luka gone?

BM: The way they hung out together, the way they bonded—in social environments [and] walking through campus. The way they drove each other around. The way they hung out and ate meals together [and watched] games together. Just watching them as they were on road trips, you could see there was this sense of brotherhood, that they had this sense of togetherness that was pretty special.

BM: Sam had great support from his teammates. Sam had great investment by his assistant coaches to help them take that step forward. He scratched the surface this year. He is not the kind of guy that’s going to be fat and happy, but one that is going to pursue excellence. He’s learned that. He adapted from being a go-to guy as a high school player to a role player as a college player. I think his

BM: Grant had a terrific year. His opportunity to step into the starting lineup when Foster was out with an injury gave him a shot of confidence, a boost of confidence, and he fully capitalized upon it. As I watched him work on his ability to score with so many extra hours of time invested by him, I’m certain that that’s going to be another step forward that he’ll take this year. He’ll become a consistent shooter and a threat at putting it on the floor, catching it, or putting it on the floor and pulling it up and shooting. So I think that’s going to be an addition to his development as he goes into his junior year. AE: You mentioned Foster Loyer [‘24], who performed incredibly in his first year playing big minutes at the college level. How much does his return next season give you confidence that your team can repeat the level of success that they had this season? BM: Foster will undoubtedly have his fingerprints all over our team next year. Extraordinary leader and performer, and I think the comfort level and confidence factor that he now has, after one year here at Davidson, is going to be a big, big plus for our program. AE: Hyunjung Lee [‘23] is a name that has been tossed around alongside the letters NBA in recent months. How do you expect he will handle the pressure that comes along with being a pro prospect with having just one more season to show the scouts what he has? BM: Well, he’s had extraordinary pressure throughout his first three years here. The

pressure of being the face of Korean basketball in the United States will never leave. So that [was] one of the things that he dealt with this year, and he’s going to continue to deal with that. When you’re the face of your country, that creates significant pressure at an unparalleled level as compared to the NBA. AE: Davidson will have a new Atlantic 10 foe next year. How will the conference evolve with the addition of Loyola Chicago? BM: A great addition to our conference. A step in the right direction for our conference to continue to build itself into a top level conference. It’s a conference that showed progress this year, with some of the teams that had been dormant all of a sudden becoming alive and a threat [to win] games. Loyola is another team that has a chance to be a champion in this conference. AE: I saw an eye-opening statistic a couple of weeks ago: starting with the group that came in prior to the 1994-95 season, every four-year Davidson basketball player has played in the NCAA Tournament. How has your program been able to maintain this level of success for so long? BM: Well, I’ve been fortunate to have players who get better and better as they go through the Davidson experience, as well as the fortune of having assistant coaches who create an environment of learning and growth and progress for each guy that comes here. So, they leave here, not just a different player, but they leave here a different man after four years. AE: One must have an incredible joy for coaching to do it as long as you have, but have you at any point stopped and thought about how much longer you want to keep going? BM [smiling]: This is the fiftieth, five zero, year that I’ve coached. The joy that I had this year was absolutely extraordinary. I continue to see myself adapting and changing, and I feel very lucky that I’m in a position where I can continue to learn in a profession that I’ve done for 50 years.


Arts and Culture

6

Body in Time:

A Look at Sophia Beall’s Senior Art Exhibit

Sophia Beall’s exhibition, Body in Time. The sculptures from left to right: “Lips,” “Brain,” “Eyes,” and “Limbs.” Photo by Campbell Walker ‘25

SOPHIA BEALL ‘22 (SHE/HER) The following passage is Sophia Beall’s artist statement about her senior exhibition on display in the Van Every/Smith Gallery from March 25-29.

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t is not through movement, but through time, that my sculptures come to life. I began this series with the intention of exploring the nature of our society’s intimate relationship with technology, and the evolution of machines to become extensions of our being. With technology having infiltrated every aspect of our lives, our appetite for immediacy continues to grow stronger than ever, slowly eradicating the once-clear distinction between human and machine. Our sense of self bleeds beyond the borders of our physical bodies, seeping into the screens, appliances, and vehicles that surround our every move. With this in mind, I started creating kinetic sculptures inspired by the idea of the human body as a machine.

However, the absence of a predictable path within my sculptures exposes their imperfections, resulting in an entity that more closely resembles the liveliness and spontaneity of a body than the efficiency of a machine. The technical flaws then become crucial to the visual and conceptual success of the sculpture, unraveling perceptions of bodily autonomy and exposing the human body for what it really is—a faulty contraption that relies solely on the circumstances of place, time, and chance for continued existence. As my sculptures grew in their accumulation of bodily features and idiosyncratic motions, their presence delved deeper into the realm of the uncanny and further from the predictability of the machine. A motorized hum descends into tired creaks and groans, and smooth silicone surfaces grow muddled with soot and tears. Their gradual wear and tear consciously mimics the signs of an aging body, and with each cycle of movement they complete, my sculptures establish a set interval of time, or lifespan—thus introducing themes of birth, aging, death, and decomposition.

The presence of the audience breathes life into these forms, as each piece requires the action of an outside hand in order to perform. This necessary tactile engagement—coupled with the sense of heightened awareness of one’s own physical body when surrounded by large-scale works—invites an opportunity for recognition of the sculptures as fellow living beings. Composed of discarded found objects and skin-like silicone, my artworks are experiences that mimic the chaos, trauma, and tension of a human life. Sophia Beall ‘2022 (she/her) is a studio art major from Greenville, SC. She can be reached for comment at sobeall@ davidson.edu. More information about her previous works can be found on her artist website at https://sites.google.com/view/ sophiabeallartlinks/home. A video of her exhibit in action can be found on the online publication.

Starting From Scratch: An Interview with Noah Landau CAMPBELL WALKER ‘25 (SHE/HER) Arts and Culture editor Campbell Walker ‘25 interviews Noah Landau ‘25 about his self-built guitar. Campbell: What inspired you to build your own guitar? Noah: I’ve always wanted to play guitar, but for the longest time I never did. Eventually, I was like, “You know what? What’s stopping me from taking lessons?” I started taking lessons, and I got a guitar from my dad’s best friend. It wasn’t the best, but it was a good starter guitar. I decided that it’d be really cool if I built my own guitar. I had taken a woodworking class in high school, but I had no other experience. In the past, the teacher had built guitars, and he got this brand new CNC machine, which uses input files to cut, shape, and contour the material. I was actually the first person to use the machine to build a guitar. We ended up working together to build it. Campbell: What was the process of building the guitar? Noah: Because of the CNC machine, I had to learn how to program, and we got some CNC files. I learned how to actually make the guitar body and neck in the files, and then tweak them to match my preferences when I was building the guitar. I had to learn which tools and woods to use, like hardwoods versus softwoods, from scratch. Campbell: What was the most challenging part of the process? Noah: It took me a year and a half to build the whole guitar, and I would say that for about six months I was just sanding the guitar. You would think that was the most difficult process, but no, that was just tedious. The hardest thing was definitely the fret work on the guitar because it has to be super precise. Typically you would go to a luthier who builds guitars to help with the fret work, but I was too ambitious and thought I could do it myself.

Campbell: Who did you build the guitar for? Was it intended to be a gift, or did you always plan on keeping it? Noah: My dad jokingly asked me how much I would sell it for, and I told him that I would never sell it for anything. Literal blood, sweat and tears went into that guitar. I even engraved my name onto the headstock. The guitar is like my baby. I’m not getting rid of it, and hopefully I’ll be able to pass it down to my kids. Campbell: What are you focusing on now? Are you planning any similar projects? Noah: A friend of mine is a Chinese international student, and he cooks the most amazing Chinese food for me. Over winter break, I went back home and showed the current woodworking students at my high school my guitar, and my old teacher taught me how to make chopsticks. I’m hoping to make him a handmade pair of chopsticks and engrave his name into it. Campbell: If somebody wanted to build their own guitar, what advice would you give them? Noah: Definitely do your research. You have to study how the tools work and what materials you need. You need to know all of that before you build something as ambitious as a guitar. If your measurements are even a centimeter off, it’s not an instrument anymore. It’s that precise. Definitely do the research and find someone that knows how to build guitars to assist you. I would also recommend asking people who have played guitar for a while what their guitar preferences are. I’ve only been playing guitar for about three years, so I’m still in the beginner stages. I didn’t really know what I was looking for, or what I wanted in my own custom guitar. By asking around, talking to people, and doing research, I tailored it down to what I wanted. There are aspects of my guitar that you will not find on any other guitar because it’s custom to exactly what I wanted.

Noah Landau’s guitar: “The Noahcaster”. Photo credit Noah Landau Campbell Walker ‘25 (she/her) is an intended neuroscience major from Dallas, TX. She can be reached for comment at cawalker1@davidson.edu.


Living Davidson would you like to share your class year, pronouns and major? Shreya: I am a sophomore in the class of 2024, my pronouns are she/her/hers, and I am an intended psych major on the pre-med track. Sahana: What has been your journey with dance thus far?

SAHANA ATHREYA (SHE/HER) ‘25 STAFF WRITER 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 Sahana: Today I’m joined by the lovely Shreya Sharma, who’ll be talking about her experience learning Haitian dance for the first time. Shreya,

#Throwback

Shreya: I’ve grown up dancing for a really long time, and have grown up doing a lot of cultural dances, specifically Indian classical dance, Bharatnatyam and Indian folk dance, Bhangra. I knew that at some point I wanted to take a class that let me learn new dance forms because that’s always been really exciting for me, and also just incorporate dance into my everyday life at Davidson, which, without a class, wasn’t going to be regularly incorporated. And so I signed up for the Haitian dance class, which was so incredible. We started dancing twice a week, and I absolutely loved it. It was so cool to be in a place that allowed me to move my body and reground myself emotionally and physically. Sahana: How would you say Haitian dance is different from the Indian dances you’ve grown up learning? Shreya: They’re both very cultural in the sense that there’s a strong tie to social movements that have gone on within their respective cultures. Also, there’s virtually no separation from the music; that’s something I see in a lot of cultural dances; the dance is very much a part of the music and they interact together and can’t interact without each other. I guess differences between

From the Archives: March 10, 1944

#Throwback highlights content from the Davidson College Archives and Special Collections. This week, read excerpts from an article written this month 78 years ago. Its “pre-war” language is reminiscent of today’s “pre-COVID” speech. “Davidson College presented its annual stunt night Friday, March 3 in chambers auditorium before a pre-war sized audience of students, air crew members, and townspeople.... Watts Dormitory took second place with an act demonstrating the Davidson campus of today. Impersonations of Major Marth, Sergeant Burton, Pete Whittle, Dr. M. E. Sentelle, ‘Cash’ Jackson, and Sleepy were given.... The first act of the evening was given by Georgia dormitory. It consisted of a humourous soap opera act of ‘Life in Georgia Dormitory’ by Artie Berry on his clarinet.” “Then Warley, Hawn, and Warren of the air corps gave a take-off on the officers of the 24th C. T. D.... Air cadet Pee Gee O’Neil then performed some sleight-of-hand tricks using thimbles, coins, and balls. The closing stunt consisted of hill-billy music presented by Charlie Delaney and his boys. Some of the numbers were ‘Talking Blues,’ sung by Ken Barber, ‘Home on the Range,’ and ‘Hoe Down,’ featuring Charlie Delaney and his fiddle.” The full transcribed article can be found on the college archives’ website.

7 them are just in the steps. My body is forced to move in such different ways for Haitian dance than it is for any of my Indian dances. It’s really interesting to watch my body unlearn traditional movements. Dr. [Dasha] Chapman [visiting assistant professor of dance] always mentions that there are certain moves that I do like an Indian classical dancer. It’s hard to separate that because it’s just so ingrained in my muscles and it’s cool because I end up performing some sort of fusion of the two. Sahana: Has dance affected other areas of your life? Shreya: Yeah, definitely. Last semester, one of my friends passed away, and it was extremely hard to go to any class. When I emailed Dr. Chapman, I said, “I don’t know how long it’s going to take me to come back to class,” and she said, “I think you should try to come. I think you might find that it’s actually really freeing.” The first couple of dance classes almost breathed life back into me; I just felt so much more grounded. And I felt so much more like I was in my physical body, whereas during all other parts of the day, I just felt so disconnected from anything physical in my life. So that was really incredible. And I think I’ve since then really accepted dance as a real escape from everything that’s happening, and also something that grounds me. It both lets me escape from my body and also rejoin it.

QUEER

Corner

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

A vacancy on the Supreme Court is always a crucial moment in the American political realm. As the ruling judicial body in the U.S., the makeup of the Supreme Court is highly influential on the lives of everyone living in this country. With the resignation of Justice Stephen Breyer and the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, many marginalized populations look on with hopeful anticipation for the future of the Court. Throughout the confirmation hearings this past week, senators have pressed Jackson about her views on LGBTQ+-related issues, particularly transness in schools and sports, but Jackson has stood her ground and demonstrated impressive discretion. When asked by Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) to define “woman,” Jackson responded that she is not a biologist and that her job is to interpret the law, not define issues. Senator Blackburn also brought into question Jackson’s perspective on trans athletes, like swimmer Nia Thomas from the University of Pennsylvania who has become a point of conversation for far-right politicians. Senator Blackburn asked Jackson what message Thomas’ swim career sends, and Jackson responded that she was unsure of the message but aware that these questions may come to court, careful not to compromise the integrity of the law through her interpretation. Questions like Blackburn’s illustrate the hostility towards the LGBTQ+ community and the willingness of such politicians to bend the word of law to fit their anti-LGBTQ goals. It is essential that the Supreme Court vacancy is filled by a judge who will fight for the rights of all Americans, regardless of identity. The Court needs a strong voice like Jackson’s, especially as conservatives outnumber liberals five to three. To voice your support for Jackson, call or write to your senators. You can find their contact information at www.senate.gov.


The

Yowl

Irreverent student journalism since 2004. Castigat Ridendo Mores.

inside

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WALT, KSig Bring Together Campus with Peace, Love, Music Page Most Diverse Group of White People EVER

Davidson Prospie Reports That Request for Donations to Davidson Attached to Regular Decision Email Page No Free Lunch

Matthews Center Grand Reopening Celebrated by Group Masturbation to Jeff Bezos Page Put Ur Back into It

An Ephemeral Night in Paris

ou are walking through Commons. It is a Francophone themed dinner, and a certain je ne sais quoi is in the air. You make eye contact with—or rather he makes eye contact with you—a slice of coconut pie placed delicately by the dessert table.

“Salut tout le monde,” you whisper (Editor’s note: that means “Well hello there” for all you non-French speakers and also to French speakers, apologies for the Google Translate). You decide you want to take him home with you, home to your Commons table. Once you both are settled, you decide to split a bottle of Cheerwine to set the mood. (We Googled it, Cheerwine is also an aphrodisiac). Once you get talking, you realize just how dense he is, in every sense of the word. He can barely hold a conversation. L u c k i l y, that is exactly what you are looking for on a night like tonight. His thiccness hits a certain spot deep in your abdomen, sating a hunger you didn’t know you had be-

Issueseses Issue

March 30, 2022

fore grasping his girth in your hands. No strings attached, just a little fun. Once you really dig in, you are introduced to how sweet he is. Every inch is full and rich and sugary. With every moment you spend together, you wish you had another moment more. But sure enough, you soon reach the end, or should I say crust, of your time together. A tear rolls down your cheek onto your off-white plastic Commons plate. You left said plate spotless–not a morsel went unexplored by your tongue. You took his pleasure for yourself, leaving nothing to be enjoyed by the food slurry that awaits discarded food at the end of the plate conveyor belt. Standing there, watching the last vestige of y o u r sweet treat tryst trundle along o n greasy b l u e slats, you sigh. Yet another reminder of the ephemerality of life. “Maybe I’ll see you next year,” you whisper to no one, or maybe everyone, but the Commons nightlife drowns out any hope of being heard.

A

Aw! Grandma Delivers Basket to Grandchild on Big/Little Day Page Seance Required

Can Women Play Music? We’ll Find Out with Landmark Female Performers at Battle of the Bands Page My Money’s on No

The Elusive Dr. Staff

Davidsonian reader recently came to me asking if we could do an issue on a less satirical, more helpful note. And because we are a satire paper of the people, instead of top tier comedy, this article of the Yowl is directed at all students yet to figure out Web Tree. This anonymous Davidsonian reader wanted to use the Yowl as a mouthpiece to recommend Dr. Stephen Staff. As many of you young WebTree acolytes may already be aware, Dr. Staff is a little bit of an academic superhero–wherever a department is in need of an expert on anything ranging from Digital Studies 210 “Data Culture” to Classics 260, “To Be Determined,” (offered TR from 12:15-1:30 for interested readers), you know exactly who they’re gonna call. *Cue “I’m Holding Out for a Hero”* Davidson’s very own S. Staff has been teaching here since what feels like the creation of Web Tree. A polling was done by students who have signed up for a

class of his, and the number one word used was “ubiquitous.” Tapping into my journalistic roots, I knew the best place to continue my research on Dr. Staff was the World Wide Web. More specifically, a platform where truth reigns supreme, RateMyProfessor.com. An anonymous blog post from 2019 by a student who took Math 160 wrote, “Dr. S. Staff is hands down the best professor that taught at Davidson! DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT leave Davidson without taking Dr. Staff. He was able to not only teach me Spanish but also Calculus, Genetics, and Religious Studies. I am now able to teach Calculus in Spanish. The secret??

Office hours! Those multiple degrees really do come in handy.” Dr. Staff rolls in with a high rating of 4.4 out of 5 on RateMyProfessor.com. Another Humester from 2012 describes Dr. Staff as “definitely a can’tmiss professor.” Dr. S. Staff has been described by friends and family as multifaceted and adaptable, yet mysteriously elusive. His daughter describes the dark side of his generous versatility. “Daddy wants to be everywhere at once, but he ends up being nowhere at all.” Profound words from the child of Dr. Staff that we all could learn from. S. Staff did not reply for comment.

A Lesson in Reciprocity (wink wink)

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t’s finally that time of year, when you’re so dead inside you can’t die any more. The too cool for school attitude starts seeping in. The days are longer, your classmates are hornier, and the end is nigh. But then the audacity strikes—Davidson asks you to donate money. The Fund for Davidson campaign asks students to reward the college in return for everything they’ve done for us throughout the year: a shortened spring semester; more post-Commons shits; and the dismissal of overall student wellbeing and health. Still, I think they should be rewarded. After all, Davidson has been/ will be instrumental in getting all of us from the middle of nowhere to the outskirts of somewhere. But how does one balance supporting an institution which has plagued its students with irreversible psychological damage with also acknowledging the oppor-

The

Yowl

WRITERS Sky God Josie God Emma God

tunities it has provided them? By donating 69 cents, that’s how. It’s a win-win for all, really. Davidson accepts donations of every size and Daddy won’t

even notice a mere 69 cents missing from his multi-million dollar portfolio. If everyone donates, which everyone can, Davidson can boast their high donor numbers, and

maybe they’ll be more incentivized to actually listen to the student body. With everyone being listed as donors, students will practically be unstoppable. Want chicken parm everyday? Threaten to withdraw your donation. For those feeling feisty but not yet bold enough to fully stick it to the man, donating 69 cents is a great way to diss the school while also still being eligible to reap their full benefits. All in all, donating 69 cents is the best way to go. Starting this Wednesday, March 30, I challenge every faithful Yowl reader to donate 69 cents to The Fund for Davidson. I did so earlier this year and you should too.

Above: Summary of one faithful student’s giving back to O Davidson.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Decision to not allow dining dollars for non-food items. No other joke. That is the punchline.” --Davidson Dining

Chronic Illness

Have you recently been diagnosed with a chronic illness that is generally stigmatized by broader society? Based on personal experience, we say, make jokes! Jokes are so funny and make you relatable and hilarious to others, even as they view your body as festering garbage. Be the funniest festering garbage they’ve ever seen! Be the best filth imaginable!

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


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