9/11/19

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RLO receives a new home and Richardson Hall gets a makeover

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September 11th, 2019

Marcos Balsera ‘19 believes students miss half the picture of their Davidson education

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Volume 115, Issue 1

Lizzie Kane ‘22 examines the persistance of food insecurity at Davidson

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The Yowl reports on new “Free-Substance Housing” residence hall for freshmen

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Health Center Restructures to Meet Changing Student Needs

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KAIZAD IRANI ‘22 STAFF WRITER

his summer, the Student Counseling and Health Center rebranded and restructured — changing its name to the Center for Student Health and Well-Being and hiring several new staff members, including a therapy dog named Pepper.

“We wanted to expand our outreach and promote ourselves as a center that offers more than just basic health and counseling necessities,” said Dr. David Graham, the new Director of Student Health and Well-Being. “We were trying to be intentional in our name, and we realized that the key word we were missing was well-being.”

As part of the reorganization, Dr. Graham replaced Dr. Trish Murray, who had been the director for 11 years, and Dr. John Brunelle became the Associate Director and Clinical Director of Counseling. Additionally, the center hired three new staff members. Kathy Carstens comes from Wake Forest University and will be both the Associate Director for Student Health Services and a nurse. Gloria Fortuna ‘19, who graduated from Davidson last year, will be a Health Education Fellow and the coordinator of the Green Dot Bystander Intervention Program. Lastly, Dr. Jessica Groleau, who previously worked at UNC Charlotte, will serve as a psychologist. Furthermore, the Center for Student Health and Well-Being is looking to hire another new counselor for this year.

Dr. Groleau worked at the UNC Charlotte Counseling and Psychological Services for eight years before coming to Davidson. Although she considers herself a generalist clinician and works with a variety of students, her expertise is in trauma, sexual assault, and gender and sexual identity concerns. At UNC Pepper the therapy dog can be found in the Center for Student Health and Well-Being Charlotte, Dr. Groleau facilitated many theron Mondays and Wednesdays. Photo courtesy John Crawford ‘20 apy and support groups, including one for

sexual trauma survivors as well as a group for LGBTQ+ students.

“I approach therapy from a strengths-based and resilience-oriented perspective,” said Dr. Groleau. “I believe that students possess a wealth of knowledge to help them manage difficult life circumstances.”

“I have a lot of experience with group counseling,” she added, “and in the long-term future, I hope to implement therapy groups and/ or coping skills workshops. Ultimately, I hope students find their work with me to be an empowering experience.”

“This name change can help remind people that there is more offered than disaster prevention, that an increase in well-being is also possible.”

Jack Robinson ‘20 According to Graham, “Dr. Groleau’s extensive history working with students who experienced sexual assault and/or life trauma, along with her time working on a college campus, will definitely boost our counseling center and services we offer for students.”

One of the ways that students can get involved with the Center for Student Health and Well-Being is through the Mental Health Ambassador (MHA) program, which was created last year. The volunteer MHAs “are committed to raising awareness and implementing programming about mental health issues that are specific to the college experience,” according

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College Raises Record $106 Million in FY19, Completes Game Changers

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BEN PATE ‘22 STAFF WRITER

ue to Davidson’s commitment to fully meet the needs of students, donations and fundraising are absolutely critical to the daily functions of the college; in Davidson’s 2019 Fiscal Year, real tuition paid by students and their families covers only 58.3% of the college’s total operating costs. The rest of the budget has to come from somewhere, and Davidson’s annual fundraising campaign plays a big part in closing that gap.

Last fiscal year concluded a five-year fundraising campaign for Davidson titled “Game Changers: Inspiring Leaders to Transform the World.” In fiscal year 2019, Davidson raised $106 million, making it the most successful year in Davidson fundraising history. Included in that time frame were two particularly sizable gifts. The Duke Endowment pledged $24 million and Richard Halton ‘77 donated $25 million, both towards scholarships. Halton expressed his belief in the college, saying in a statement, “The cure for cancer, the cure for AIDS, the next Facebook, these could very well come from Davidson. I want our gift to help students take advantage of all the resources offered by the College and help make the experience more affordable for them.” Over the course of the campaign, the college hoped to raise $425 million; ultimately, the drive raised $555 million.

At the beginning of Game Changers, goals were divided into

percentages of the total money raised. For example, 50% of the money raised would go towards various scholarships, 40% towards building new facilities such as the Wall Academic Center, and 5% towards internship opportunities and preparing students to lead. This broad goal setting is intentionally opposed to the traditional strategy of smaller target goals for certain pre-planned projects.

Eileen Keeley, Vice President for College Relations, said of the campaign, “we needed to give ourselves flexibility, because we know what we need now is not what we’re going to need by the time we’re done with this campaign.” Similarly, Brad Martin, Associate Vice President for Development, added, “[Game Changers] was more focused on the goals we’re trying to achieve, and then finding the opportunities within those goals over the duration of the campaign.”

One example of the flexibility of the campaign is the new Hurt Hub for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. When the campaign started, Martin noted, the college had not even purchased the building in which the Hub is currently housed. As the idea for the space developed, flexible planning allowed the college to turn an idea into reality.

Of course, these types of impacts would not be possible without the donations from alumni and other donors. According to Martin, alumni giving accounts for over 50% of the total money raised from Game Changers. Over the course of Game Changers, 75% of alumni gave at least once, a statistic Martin describes as “off the charts” compared to other colleges and

universities. Just last year, for instance, 55.8% of Davidson alumni gave to the college, which placed it among the top rates in the country.

College faculty and staff propel this continued success too, as Keeley stated: “The president plays an important role in both vision setting and actually soliciting gifts, but we have faculty and staff who, through the relationships they’re forming with alumni or parents or donors, are inspiring people to support [student’s and faculty’s] work.”

Martin recognizes the additional importance of emphasizing student experiences: “We really try to show the impact of giving […] Students coming out and talking about the opportunities that they’ve had and what they plan to do post-Davidson — I don’t think there’s been a greater motivation for most of our donors.” Keeley adds that donors are often “so impressed by students, and are also inspired to want to do something to help make sure that Davidson can continue to attract really talented kids from all socio-economic means and make sure that Davidson prepares them to have an impact in the world.”

Keeley describes this constant willingness to give as a “culture of philanthropy” which forms from “some combination of gratitude for what they experienced and the people who made Davidson what it was for them, and the belief that their gifts can make a difference for current students and future students.”

Because of these types of success stories, which are the

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News

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Fundraising succeeds New Health Initiatives CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 purpose of the Game Changers campaign, the College is able to offer additional programs that other schools may not have access to. Martin says that because of the tremendous amount of donations to the college, “we’re able to extend what we would be able to do” on a day-to-day basis. Keeley adds that donations “allow us to have the types of programs that make Davidson distinctive.”

Keeley and Martin both say that scholarships are generally the most important area of giving because, according to Keeley, “everyone is touched by it. [Students’] friends, their teammates, their classmates, their professors who benefit from having them in the

class” and the entire Davidson community benefits from having the college in the shape it is today, which would be impossible without the generous commitment to scholarships.

The foundation for future donors is built on campus, according to Keeley. She said, “We’re really lucky that we have an extraordinarily committed alumni group, that our parents are so supportive, and that faculty and staff are completely bought in. They want Davidson to do well and they are inspiring future donors in their classes, and we do not take that for granted, because not every school is like that.”

to the Center’s website. They focus on using their knowledge about mental health to facilitate conversations with students and carry out initiatives and outreach events.

“Rebranding to the ‘Center for Student Health and Well-Being’ places more emphasis on mental well-being and general positive functioning,” said Jack Robinson ‘20, a current MHA. “I believe that many students only seek out resources when they are in desperate need, but this name change can help remind people that there is more offered than disaster prevention, that an increase in well-being is also possible.”

Robinson is happy with the progress that Davidson has made towards student health and wellness and excited for the future of the center.“Dean McCrae really wants to foster a healthy and positive environment on campus,” said Robinson. “For example, it is now possible to schedule a 30 minute ‘Walk-In Counseling Intake’ appointment online. Students, including myself, sat in on SGA committees, talked to counseling center leadership, talked to deans and did other things for years in an attempt to get this feature offered. I am thrilled that it finally came to fruition, which gives me great hope about the future of the Center for Student Health and Well-Being.”

Along with the MHA program, students can apply to be Health Advisors. These student volunteers work alongside Fortuna and Georgia Ringle, the Center’s Health Educator to implement campus-wide health education and peer support.

“The MHA and Health Advisor programs are two groups that offer lots of programming and support to students,” expressed Ringle. “It can be easy to get isolated in the center because we are busy working with students behind closed doors,” she acknowledged. “We want to increase our outreach and work more with student groups and organizations to better help serve their needs.”

Above all, Dr. Graham wants to ensure the Center continues to adapt to best meet the changing needs of the Davidson community.

“I recently met with the SGA Subcommittee for Mental Health and I am going to meet with them monthly. I will be working with them throughout the year to hear about what things we need to be doing and maintaining a proper and effective communication between us at the student body,” said Dr. Graham. “We want the community to get to know us better and we are constantly looking for more ways to give back to them.”

Campus Welcomes New RLO Offices, Dorm Renovations CAROLINE ROY ‘20 ET CETERA EDITOR This start of the school year saw several new changes to key campus buildings, including renovations in Richardson and Belk Halls and new homes for Residence Life and Catcard Services.

Over the summer, 24 new beds replaced the office space previously located in the basement of Belk. According to Director of Residence Life Walter Snipes, this construction primarily responded to a need for more housing. The move allows the college to better house a growing number of first-year students, but it also fundamentally changes the way that RLO and other organizations interact with students on campus.

“We were the business part of Belk,” Snipes said. “Now this allows Belk to be all residential, which I think really builds that level of community.”

“Davidson’s a very relational place, and we all come together to make sure we meet the needs of our students” Dean Walter Snipes The RLO office hasn’t gone far. Its new location, in the former campus laundry building, is located conveniently between Commons, Belk, and Union. Snipes said that their new workplace is the same size as the old Base Belk office, but with new furnishings and technology that strengthen their work environment. The building comes equipped with a new front desk, comfortable waiting chairs, new carpets, and spacious offices for each of the RLO staff members.

Richardson, or “Rich,” was built in 1960, making it one of the oldest dorms on campus.

This year, it also underwent drastic renovations. Rooms have been refurbished with updated furniture, and RLO helped install bigger lounges, equipped with modern, comfortable furniture, in order to provide first-year residents with a productive communal space.

“There’s a lot of great community there,” Snipes said. “We wanted to see how we could tap into those communities. The lounges now,

we believe, foster a better sense of community.”

Snipes pointed out that community spaces in Rich existed in other, equally valid ways before the updated lounges. For example, Rich residents before this year created a sense of community by using markers to write on the white wall tiles.

“The positive thing in terms of the people who used to be in Richardson was the experiences they had and the community that they built. Some people enjoyed that community and some people didn’t. I think the students who are moving in now are going to have the same level of experience.”

Liz Goei ‘23, who lives on first floor Rich this year, said that she had heard about the building prior to arriving at Davidson. “I heard that Richardson ‘builds character,” but now that it’s been redone it’s much better,” she said. According to Goei, the lounge spaces are functioning as RLO hoped.

“People who live in other dorms hang out here,” Goei said, “People are always using the lounge spaces. It’s a good community center.”

Scott Whitney ‘20, lived in Rich as a firstyear and agreed with Snipes that students in Rich enjoy their community regardless of how nice the setting.

“Rich desperately needed renovation, but I wouldn’t trade living there for anything,” Whitney said.

The CatCard Services office, previously located in Base Belk with RLO, has moved to the second floor of the Union. Manager of CatCard Services Anne Cavett thinks that this move allows better access to the entire student body compared to their previous location.

“Being in the hub of campus is really important. It’s nice to have a very visible space where people can find us,” Cavett said.

Snipes said that while RLO does work to identify student needs and plan renovations, they don’t have complete control over when and how these renovations happen. Often, RLO and Physical Plant must work alongside Business Services and other financial resources to bring changes to campus.

“I think sometimes there’s a perception that we’re really powerful, but we’re not. Davidson’s a very relational place, and we all come together to make sure we meet the needs of our students,” Snipes said.

Going forward, Snipes says he hopes to continue working with other campus organizations to improve student spaces. For example, RLO hopes to make the laundry room in Belk more accessible to students with mobility

Top: new RLO offices, located near Commons. Bottom: First year students relax in a newly refurbished Richardson lounge. Photos by John Crawford ‘20 issues. As of now, the elevator to the laundry room only operates on one side of Belk, making it difficult to access from the new rooms in Base Belk.

“We’re always looking at every residential space,” Snipes said. “The question is what can we realistically do? We don’t want to do a ren-

ovation that will negatively affect the student experience. We’re going to have conversations with Physical Plant and Business Services to determine what those needs are.”

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September 11, 2019

Davis Café Introduces Automated Ordering JOE SKOFF ‘20 STAFF WRITER

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he new kiosk ordering system at Davis Café has sent a minor quake through the student body, creating a fission between pencil and pad zealots and welcomers of the modern age.

In late June, Director of Cash Operations Mark Lewis and Davis Café Manager Michael Wilson codified the Café’s menu, and its comprehensive, customizable nature means the transition has not been without technical difficulties. “There are three separate systems all trying to communicate with each other,” said Lewis. “There are bound to be some issues.”

The kiosks use Infor, a global software company for businesses that utilizes cloud computing. Many of the system’s perceived problems are inherent to Infor’s hardware (the “add” button for removing ingredients, for instance) but some lay in menu layout decisions. Lewis and Wilson sat and pondered the big questions: what are the essential ingredients in a Wildcat Burger? How can we make language more user-friendly? And, above all, what is the simplest way to communicate an order to the user?

How effective are the kiosks right now? Students have expressed a range of reactions thus far. “I’m less inclined to eat at Union because the kiosk lines are so long,” said Marina Shallcross ‘20.

“I can’t customize the order like I used to. There should be a comment box at the bottom of the page: a place to add special sauces or simple additions,” said Conor Huh ‘20.

Jake Myers ‘22 noted an additional concern. “While this addition in technology to the Union adds promise for the future, right now I think it’s slower and more inconvenient. Why does it time out after fifteen seconds? You’re talking to your friend, and then boom, the order’s gone.”

Some Union workers expressed their own reservations. “The new system is much slower and harder to use,” explained one cashier, who preferred to remain anonymous. “We have to go through seven pages to ring up a single order. In the old computer, everything was right there.”

The kiosks send orders instantaneously to the kitchen; the kitchen then provides another paper receipt for students to present to the cashier. The separately automated systems mean entrees and sides may appear on different screens, frustrating students and employees. Kiosks are sometimes out of order, another source of inefficiency.

Still, Wilson thinks with time, complaints students have will be addressed. “This is just a test run,” said Wilson. “When all the kinks are sorted out, ordering at the Café will be more efficient than before. The endgame is a mobile ordering app with user identification within the year.”

Emmit Sklar ‘21, Student Government Association Presi-

“When all the kinks are sorted out, order at the Café will be more efficient than before. The endgame is a mobile ordering app within the year.”

Michael Wilson, Davis Café Manager dent, has the same vision. “SGA has worked closely with the directors of Commons and Union Café for a while now. This is a long-term plan.”

The introduction of mobile ordering may alleviate issues students currently have: “If this is a transition to [mobile ordering,] then I support that,” said Sophie Sauer ‘22.

The kiosks also provide a different ordering experience, which can have its own benefits over paper and pencil.

“I like seeing everything that you can get on one screen. Instead of having separate sheets for everything, you can order from any station on one ticket,” continued Sauer.

SGA, Union Café employees, and the system’s creators — the people most acquainted with the system and its immediate

Illustration by Richard Farrell ‘22 effects — all predict a gradual increase in dining efficiency with the advent of mobile ordering. Dining services automation has not been limited to Union: Summit Outpost already adopted mobile ordering at the beginning of this year.

Union dining managers predict a decrease in total kiosks, perhaps all the way down to only two, once students are able to order directly from their phones. “When we can order from our phones, I think the system will get a lot better. For now, though, there need to be some changes,” said James Reilly ‘21.

Crime Log Time Reported 8/19/19 at 0950 hrs

Description/Location Suspicious odor of marijuana Chidsey, Dean Referral

8/25/19 at 0034 hrs

Possession of controlled substance Armfield, Dean Referral

8/26/19 at 1717 hrs

8/27/19 at 1500 hrs 9/01/19 at 0430 hrs

Unauthorized use of golf cart Watts, Further investigation/ property located

Assault on female Residence hall, prosecution declined

2nd degree rape Residence hall, Dean/ Title IV Referral

09/02/19 at 2031 hrs Larceny

misdemeanor/ breaking and entering Duke, further investigation

09/05/19 at 0834 hrs Traffic stop not yield to pedestrian at crosswalk Sloan, verbal warning

09/06/19 at 0925 hrs Larcency misdemeanor (bicycle)

Richardson, further investigation

“Please note that bicycles left on campus over the summer were collected b the blic afet office he bic cle are in the c to of the olice epartment and will be stored for an additional 30 days following receipt of this notice f o left o r bic cle on cam o er the mmer an belie e that it co l ha e been ic e b blic afet lea e to b o r office in the ba ement of omlin on e i ence all to claim o r ro ert o will be required to provide a detailed description of your bicycle and will need to provide ortin oc mentation to claim o r bic cle i e erial n mber or rcha e recei t f bic cle are not claime within the a time erio the will be onate han o a i on olle e blic afet

The

Davidsonian Staff Editors-in-Chief Senior Advisor Design Editor News Editors Perspectives Editors Arts and Culture Editors Sports Editors Photography Editor Yowl Editors Web Editor Cartoonist Et Cetera Editor Senior Copy Editor Copy Editors

Ethan Ehrenhaft ‘20, Katie Walsh ‘20 Kayla Edwards ‘20 Sebastian Sola-Sole ‘21 Hope Anderson ‘22, Jonathan Lee ‘20 Lizzie Kane ‘22 Alyssa Tirrell ‘22 Drew Eastland ‘21, Max Pearson ‘22 John Crawford ‘20 EJ Kelley ‘20, Malorie Hudson ‘22, Jake Carver ‘21 Richard Farrell ‘22 Caroline Roy ‘20 Adam Ferraz ‘20 Lindy Bustabad ‘21, Susannah Cate ‘20

Perspectives

4 Marcos Balsera ’19

Don’t Miss Half of Your Davidson Education

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hat if I told you that most students are only getting half of their Davidson education?

Although Davidson’s academic value is clear and indisputable, our Statement of Purpose suggests another goal of equal importance: (1) “to assist students in developing humane instincts and disciplined and creative minds for lives of leadership and service”; (2) “Davidson challenges students to engage in service to prepare themselves for lives of growth and giving.”

Both emphasize the institution’s commitment to preparing and supporting students in developing a socially-conscious and responsible value system rooted in our academic and student experience. Leaving Davidson without prioritizing community means choosing to receive only half of Davidson’s value, which, sadly, could be happening to a lot of students.

The residential nature of our institution, the personal connections with faculty and staff, and the liberal arts focus of our studies are aimed at educating us on the potential impact that our actions can have in the world. And the microcosm that we often refer to as the “Davidson Bubble” provides an opportunity for us to practice these humane instincts, with the support of experts that can be there to catch us and guide us.

Yet, as is exhibited in the ways in which we interact with each other, students often fail to take the risks to do so, choosing the path of least resistance. When searching for students to take positions of leadership in difficult positions, I often hear the all-too-familiar adage that change is impossible.

Although this pattern sounds theoretical, we see it on campus every day.

When asking students to support their fellow students by intervening in po-

tentially dangerous situations (think mental health, sexual misconduct, or risky behaviors regarding substance abuse), I hear my fellow classmates allude to niceties: not feeling it is their place or that they would intervene if it reached a dangerous point (a student showing extreme signs of depression or anxiety, sexual assault, or someone throwing up in their bathroom due to overintoxication).

And finally, when asked to use their privilege to promote the work of marginalized communities, or to break down the systems that oppress these same communities, we might be confronted with silence, a slew of excuses, or only voices of these same marginalized communities advocating on their own behalf.

The result is that not being a member of a group often excuses students from feeling responsible on that group’s behalf.

Allow me to preface this by saying that I do not mean to erase the work being done by some members of our community that have taken it upon themselves to embrace this part of our education wholeheartedly.

But, these individuals are by no means the majority of our student body. The end result is that the work that could be spread out amongst all our peers falls on a few. This leads to burnout, inefficacy (because one person cannot hold down the fort), and a void when that person graduates.

Think of the possible impact that 2,000 students could have if they invested in being stewards of their institutions, looking for ways to protect and promote each other.

For example, in a party of 50 people with two very drunk individuals engaging in potentially dangerous steps that might end in some sort of non-consensual act, the responsibility is on the entire 50 to intervene and check in on them. This takes

courage, a certain degree of risk-taking, and a whole lot of empathy.

But aren’t we being trained and educated on the ways that we can courageously take leadership roles and risks for what we believe is right? And more importantly, are we not being asked to develop this empathy for human beings regardless of our level of connection with them?

Some of you reading might argue that you don’t have the training or courage to step up. That is okay. Students around us are already providing leadership opportunities, trainings, and workshops to help develop our commitment to mutual responsibility.

We can learn from those that know what to do, ask for their help, and then take it upon ourselves to then take on the work next time. Conducting personal research, academic inquiry, and fostering personal relationships with others enable us to see beyond our own personal spheres.

The problem is that we have become so comfortable being comfortable, discussing theoretical solutions to real problems while too afraid to act or too disengaged to show up.

Here is my ask: fight past the apathy and fear of a lower GPA (because, yes, this might be time-consuming) and engage in the other half of your education, which is to develop those “humane instincts.” Think bigger about the communities you are responsible for and be creative about the ways in which you serve them.

Marcos Balsera ’19 was a political science major from Miami, Florida. Contact him at mabalsera@davidson.edu.

Hope Anderson ’22

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ou know those extra bed pieces? The ones meant for lofting your bed, or making a headboard, or even tacking on as a sort of footboard if you’re feeling particularly creative?

Well, last week I learned two things: they’re called bed ends, and they’re no longer in firstyear dorms.

According to Walter Snipes, Director of Residence Life, most upperclassmen still have bed ends in their rooms (at least for now). Yet as a sophomore living in Belk, I too unfortunately don’t have access to this simple, versatile, and powerful tool. I’m still not sure whether or not this is intentional; all I know is they’re missing.

I miss my bed ends, and only in their endangerment do I truly realize their contribution to this campus. I am thus calling to keep the bed ends before they disappear forever and this article serves as the only record of their existence.

I proudly call fourth Belk home. Did I have a great room selection lottery time? No. Do I have access to a kitchen? Also no. But is my room a more interesting shape than yours? Unless we’re hallmates, probably.

In short, living in a refurbished attic means my bed is tucked into a corner such that my window doubles as my headboard. And, as my mother pointed out when she first walked into my room, “That’s terrifying.” As much as I love back support, falling from Davidson College’s largest and most centrally located residence hall is not how I envision myself leaving this world.

While my bed/window situation is rather unique, the most obvious and universal argument in favor of bed ends is simply the ability to loft your bed — either lofted to the middle height or to the full height — and thus maximize your storage and/or floor space.

As much Marie Kondo as I watch, I’m still working on those minimalism skills. Without the assortment of boxes and miscellaneous containers under my bed, I genuinely don’t know where I would have stored some of my belongings last year.

I was fortunate enough to live in a large-ish freshman room, but some of my friends needed to loft their beds fully, moving their desk and dresser underneath, to have any sort of floor space. Lofting their beds made the rooms feel less cramped and overall more livable.

Besides creating floor and storage space,

Is this the end of the bed ends?

bed ends (specifically used as headboards) also provide underappreciated draping possibilities: hat rack, coat rack, scarf rack, tote bag rack, banana rack, lone orange on the top of one bed post...Where else am I supposed to wrap my fairy lights, RLO? There are also purely sentimental arguments in favor of keeping the bed ends. Lofting your bed is a great roommate bonding experience.

There is nothing like some physical labor and joint problem-solving to kick off a great friendship.

Additionally, lofted beds are a source of joy.

My life is made better by watching my dear friend fling herself onto her mid-lofted bed because she refuses to buy an ottoman. Until I buy my tiny home, when else can I sleep 10 thrilling feet off the ground?

I feel obligated to mention that I understand that of all the things I could have written a Perspectives piece on, I am grateful that a lack of bed ends is what I have to complain about. I’m just genuinely confused as to why they are disappearing.

I see so many advantages in keeping the bed ends and so few in getting rid of them. Please tell me if there is a silent, bed-end-hating majority on campus that I am simply unaware of.

Regardless, if you don’t like your bed ends, just give them to your favorite freshman to show him/her what he/she has been missing.

Or better yet, help out a bed-end-obsessed sophomore who is scared of heights. (I feel obligated to note that RLO has told me trading bed ends is not condoned.)

College is about learning new things, like how to use that rubber mallet. College is about newfound freedom, like the freedom to sleep at one of three heights off the ground. And in all seriousness, college is too often about finding some much needed rest.

While bed ends are a rather trivial topic, sleep is not, and we all deserve a living and sleeping space in which we feel comfortable.

For me, bed ends play a small part in creating that comfort. I hope they continue to do so for students in the years to come.

Hope Anderson ’22 is a biology major from Carrboro, North Carolina and current co-New Editor of The Davidsonian. Contact her at hbanderson@davidson.edu.

Richard Farrell ‘22

Sports

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First-Year Athletes to Watch in Fall 2019 AIDAN COPELAND ‘21 SPORTS WRITER With each new year comes a fresh start. We say goodbye to the soon-to-be college grads that have poured their hearts and souls onto the field (or court). They have put four years of dedication and effort into their respective sports, and as sad as we are to say goodbye, we are equally excited to welcome first-year athletes into our community. The beginning of the new school year is the perfect time to get an inside look into the future of Davidson sports.

Women’s Soccer: Sophia Caruso ‘23 The women’s soccer team has struggled in recent years. Finishing 2-14-1 in the last two seasons, it seems as if the only way to go is up.

There is hope in the air with some promising first-year athletes. One highly recruited athlete joining the team is Sophia Caruso from Pasadena, CA. As a freshman at Marlborough High School, Caruso was awarded the Sunshine League MVP, and went on to win two Golden Boot Awards. Caruso participated in the ECNL (Elite Clubs National League) Nationals from 2015 to 2017 and the US Soccer Development Academy Nationals in 2018. Caruso received several offers from teams within the Power Five conferences. However, after visiting Davidson, Caruso knew she had found her new home: “After I visited campus and spoke with

Coach Denton, I knew Davidson was where I belonged. I was looking for a small classroom environment, and I loved the beautiful campus. I was hopeful that I could contribute on the soccer field right away as a freshman.” Indeed she did contribute. Caruso scored in her first collegiate game against Gardner-Webb on August 22 (Davidson went on to win 3-2) and assisted a goal against Mercer on September 1.

Volleyball: Anela Davis ‘23 The women’s volleyball team finished just one game away from 500 (12-13) in the last season. Despite the improvement over the years, the season ended on a sour note, losing five straight; all five losses came against in-conference teams. However, with some new faces on the team this year, things are looking up. One of these newcomers is Anela Davis from Jacksonville Beach, FL. Davis played varsity all four years in high school and helped her team win regional titles in both 2017 and 2018. She made the All-First Coast Second Team as a senior, finishing with 255 kills, 99 blocks and 35 aces. Davis made her first appearance against NCAT (North Carolina A&T) on August 31 and also played against Elon on September 7.

Golf: Brian Garrett ‘23 The men’s golf team will try to make history once again after winning their first conference tournament title in 50 years in 2018. And

there are some newcomers who are looking to make positive contributions one of whom is Brian Garrett from San Antonio, TX. Brian was a three-time team MVP for St. Mary’s Hall high school and was First-Team All-State as a senior. Brian was also the 2018 San Antonio Junior Champion and has recorded three AJGA (American Junior Golf Association) Top 20 finishes.

Volleyball: Madeline Wynn ‘23 Another bright spot on the women’s volleyball team is Madeline Wynn from Savannah, GA. Wynn played three years of varsity volleyball for Savannah Country Day School, and made a semi-finals appearance in 2017. Wynn was named team captain for her senior year and was named All-City and team MVP twice.

She finished with 272 kills and 163 blocks as a senior. Wynn has had a major impact on team performance. In just six games played, she already has 35 kills. Despite some early struggles (record of 2-4), the women’s volleyball team looks to turn things around against Presbyterian on Friday.

Golf: Ethan Hall ‘23 Another new face on the team this year is Ethan Hall from Morehead City, NC. Ethan was the 12th ranked junior golfer in the state of North Carolina and was the 2018 North Carolina 3A state individual champion. He

was also first-team all-conference in his senior year and was team captain of his high school. Both first-years said the adjustment to college golf is challenging, but are very excited for the beginning of the season and a chance to make an impact on the team. Davidson hosts the first tournament of the season at River Run Country Club on September 23.

Women’s Soccer: Hailey Braemer ‘23 Hailey Braemer is another first-year athlete who has made a positive impact on the team’s performance. She was the captain of her high school soccer team in Nashville, TN, where she was also THSSCA (Tennessee High School Soccer Coaches Association) all-state from her sophomore to senior year. She helped her team go to their first state semi-finals appearance in her freshman year and then to the state finals as a sophomore. She was named as team captain in her junior year (and onto her senior year) and won league MVP as a senior.

Braemer has already established herself as a game-changer: she scored her first collegiate goal in a win against Winthrop on August 25, and has three shots on goal for the season.

With the help of promising young players, this year’s team is looking to put the past behind them. We’re only six games into the season, and this team has more wins than all of last season.

New Men’s Soccer Coach Faces Uphill Battle

A

MAX PEARSON ‘22 & DREW EASTLAND ‘21 SPORTS EDITORS

Weekly Sports Update

tale of two seasons. In the 2018-19 A-10 regular season, Davidson Men’s Soccer was a force to be reckoned with. A solid group of returners mixed with exciting new freshmen made for fast, high-scoring games and a good atmosphere in Alumni Stadium. On paper, this year’s team is shaping up in much the same way, with only one regular starter graduating and a talented cohort of freshmen joining the ‘Cats should be poised to dominate the A-10 once again.

This season marks a new era in Davidson Men’s Soccer, with the addition of Head Coach Mike Babst. Following six successful years of coaching at UChicago, Babst gradually made the transition to Davidson in the spring semester.

Davidson’s former Coach Matt Spear (‘93) moved on to the Richmond Kickers semi-professional team following an extremely successful campaign.

Babst’s soccer career started as an assistant at the University of South Carolina. He then became an assistant at Northwestern from 2012 until 2013.

Babst’s first head coaching stint came at the University of Chicago. At Chicago, Babst led

New Men’s Soccer Head Coach Mike Babst observes players at practice. Babst takes over a team coming off a hot 2018 seson, and has big shoes to fill. Before joining Davidson Babst coached at UChicago. Photo by John Crawford ‘20 his Division III squad to two national semi-final apperancees. He attained a record of 8723-12.

So far, Babst’s Division III success hasn’t translated into Division I. Only a few games into the regular season,

Babst’s new regime is visible all over the pitch. Most noticeably, the traditional 4-4-1-1 formation has been replaced with a more modern variation of 3-5-2. Such a drastic change may take some time for players to get used to, but in the first game of the regular season it

Game of the Week: Football After completing their first winning season in over a decade, the ‘Cats are off to a red hot 2-0 start. This Saturday the team faces West Virgina Wesleyan at Richardson Stadium at 7:00 pm. Join your friends in the bleachers to support the Wildcats, or catch the game from an endzone view while enjoying dinner at Union. Coach Scott Abell is looking to redefine the culture of Davidson football, and with a record of 8-5 through thirteen games he’s proving even a small school can succeed in a large roster sport.

seemed to work well. The ‘Cats looked solid in defense against Wake Tech, and only conceded a goal as a result of an uncharacteristic defensive miscommunication.

This formation creates a lot of stability in the center of defense while allowing wingbacks to get forward and be more creative.

The result against Wake Tech was not impressive, however, there were good signs throughout. Davidson dominated shooting and corner statistics and were by far the better team overall. Wake Tech was not a good match for a Davidson team that will thrive against more equally matched opponents. The Eagles were able to close ranks and get bodies behind the ball. In a game against more adept opponents, Davidson’s new style of high tempo, expansive soccer will cause defenses a lot of problems.

In the first three games of the season, the ‘Cats have not shown the same consistency in front of goal that they displayed for much of last season.

The team is in the midst of a long four game road trip, and won’t take the pitch at Alumi Stadium again until September 21st against St. Louis.

Although Babst has ventured into rocky waters, there is still plenty of time to right the ship before running the Davidson soccer team aground.

Wildcat Statistics: Soccer (W) Player Sabine Chandler ‘20 Sophia Caruso ‘23 Michele Manceaux ‘20 Hailey Braemer ‘23 Gretchen Pearson ‘21 Kendall Bushick ‘22 Seeley Yoo ‘20

G 2 1 1 1 1 1 1

Sh 5 4 11 7 7 6 4

Sh% .400 .250 .091 .143 .143 .167 .250

Arts and Culture

6

Art to Save the Internet OWEN KEEFER ‘20 ARTS CORRESPONDENT

O

nce a year, the Van Every/Smith galleries exhibit the studio work of one Davidson professor to showcase the talent that we have hidden in the faculty. This year, the exhibition includes the digital works of professors Joelle Dietrick and Owen Mundy–a pair who have worked together since meeting in 2006 at the University of California, San Diego. This exhibition focuses on global trade and explores how digital technology influences consumer culture.

The center of the exhibition displays The Speed of Thinking, a mobile game that examines the relationship between transnational trade and global warming through a building block simulation. The player controls the movement of a large cargo ship while shipping containers fall from the sky, in hopes of catching all the containers to build a massive structure reaching into the sky. As you stack the blocks higher and higher, the blocks shift in hue to create an intricate framework that looks like a futuristic rainbow. All the while, a stream of complicated jargon scrolls down the right hand side of the screen, detailing the costs of the traded products in each shipping container. The interplay between the casual fun of stacking blocks atop one another and the complex information about transnational business culminates in an intriguing mode of thinking about global issues. The relatively easy gameplay allows the player to stack the blocks for as long as they desire, but this naive fantasy is ruined once the game overloads and crashes, a reminder of the overwhelming scale that comes with analyzing complex global systems.

The final room of the exhibition displays a

browser extension game, Tally, that the pair have been working on for the past few years.

Much like The Speed of Thinking, Tally aims at providing its audience with a fun, casual experience while also communicating ideas about modern digital technology. In an age of online trackers and targeted advertisements, the internet is littered with corporations trying to influence your behavior. Tally is a game that helps block these sinister motives and make the internet a safer, more private place for you.

As you browse the internet, Tally, the titular, pink blob, will help you find “product monsters” when she detects that the web page is tracking your preferences. The monsters transform everyday products into scary beasts, a reminder that you are constantly being watched underneath the smooth interface of the internet. Tally gives internet surfers the opportunity to play with the data that advertisers try to use against you and reclaim the right of online privacy.

I was lucky enough to work with Dietrick and Mundy over this past summer to help develop Tally. With my background in digital art, my job was mainly to brainstorm and illustrate the product monsters that you would encounter throughout the game. I had to transform everyday products into frightening cartoons, complete with a short wiggle animation. One of the main challenges that came with designing the monsters in such a minimalistic style was making sure each monster remained an emblem of its categorization.

With 698 different product monsters to create, finding a way for each monster to be individually unique was tricky, especially when some of the categories overlap so closely.

Perhaps the most loaded, and difficult, product monster ended up being the politics monster. In a game that is already heavily critical

Professors Joelle Dietrick and Owen Mundy’s Tally, on exhibition in the Van Every/Smith Galleries. Photo by John Crawford ‘20. of advertising companies and corporate powerhouses, the very act of creating a depiction of politics could be a political statement inand of itself, so finding the right balance to keep the intent of the game focused on privacy rather than partisan politics was crucial. Instead of treading into new territory, I returned to the core philosophy behind Tally–advertisements.

I replaced the two-headed beast with a mobile phone screen which displays the newly introduced “Political Ad” icon, a regulation passed last year by the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA). The new guidelines stipulate that any advertisement online that expressly advocates for a specific candidate or platform must include the political ad icon to indicate to the target audience that the ad is attempting to persuade the viewer. I felt that the political ad icon served almost as a microcosm for the en-

tire game–a reminder that nearly all the advertisements you see online are tailored towards you through data trackers and algorithms.

All the work I was able to do on Tally would not have been possible without Joelle Dietrick and Owen Mundy for granting me this opportunity, and I am excited to see the game launch in the upcoming year. I’d also like to give a shoutout to Rebecca Cobo ‘21, who was my fellow intern this summer and produced some amazing work. Tally pursues the noble goal of keeping everyone’s data private and spreading awareness of the dangers of advertising corporations, all the while providing a fun and entertaining experience for its players.

Owen Keefer ‘20 is an Art History Major and Studio Art Minor from Spartanburg, NC. He can be reached for comment at owkeefer@ davidson.edu

“I wouldn’t say I’m an Artist but...” Elsa Conklin’22

P

hotography has always been a significant part of my life. It started with my Nintendo DSi – I would walk around on family trips and take pictures just like any other tourist, but on a .3 megapixel camera.

I originally started with just taking portraits of friends.Out of all types of photography, I am most passionate about portraiture; I love having the power to make someone feel good

about themselves, as well as capturing important moments in peoples’ lives and between other people. I want to capture not just faces, but people, personalities, emotions.

Photography is so intriguing to me because each photographer brings their own style to it and the photos show their own individual eye for art – two people can look at the exact same thing with the exact same camera and end up

When I was studying in Spain this summer, I took my camera with me everywhere, including Sevilla. I love the contrast, from the old cathedral in the foreground to the trees and river in the distance. It symbolizes a broader contrast between the old and the new in this beautiful city. Photography helps me feel more grounded in my experiences, and helps me capture moments clearer than my eyes can see.

with two entirely different images. I’m always working on developing my own eye and editing style, and through that I have experienced a lot of self-growth. Every time I do a shoot I learn something new. There’s something really powerful in that idea that I’m constantly growing and changing as a photographer.

So, here at Davidson, I like to take pictures whenever I can. With my personal growth

I love utilizing nature in my photography, especially within my portraits. Some of my favorite places to shoot are on the water, and the location of this shot is a really cool state park in Washington called Deception Pass State Park. I think it’s important to combine where the subject feels comfortable with something I feel that complements them and their personality.

in photography, I’m able to see the tangible changes and growth in my work, whereas that growth is often more difficult to see in other parts of my life. Photography helps me stay grounded, while at the same time is something that empowers and grows alongside me.

Elsa Conklin ’22 is an intended Hispanic Studies and History double major from Seattle, Washington. Email: elconklin@davidson.

Another fun fact about me is that I foster kittens for a nearby shelter when I’m home in Washington. I’m passionate about this because I love both cats and photography and get to combine the two for a good cause this way. With every litter we foster, I take pictures of each kitten, and these photos eventually go up on the animal shelter website. No one can resist a kitten with a headshot, so these photos help the kittens get adopted into happy homes.

Et Cetera

7

For Whom Lula Bell’s Tolls

Survey Proves Food Insecurity is Still a Problem on Campus LIZZIE KANE ‘22 PERSPECTIVES EDITOR

I

n 2016, the Dean of Students’ office conducted a survey to assess food insecurity, amongst other needs, on campus. Questions like, “Are you aware that food insecurity can be a challenge for some students at Davidson?” and “While a student at Davidson, has there ever been a time when you did not have enough food?” were asked. Although some questions were leading and not especially useful, these questions and others established that there were Davidson College students who were food insecure.

27% of respondents were found to not have had enough food at some point in their collegiate career. 38.16% answered that they knew another student who had not had enough food on campus. 919 total students responded to the survey.

A year after the survey, Lula Bell’s Resource Center was founded. A main feature of Lula Bell’s is their food pantry. Students are permitted to pick up perishable and non-perishable goods once a week during the school year.

In an effort to further tackle the issue of food insecurity, the 2017-2018 student government worked with Director of Auxiliary Services Richard Terry to develop the meal swipe donation program. It was to be overseen and administered by the manager of Lula Bell’s.

Each Reading Day, students can donate meal swipes from their own plan to go to this program for students in need. The donations are capped at 200 swipes—as Dining Services accounts for unused swipes in their budget each year—and the donated swipes are used the following semester. Through a form on Wildcat Sync, students who are on only one meal plan (and not in a Greek organization or eating house) can request 10 additional meal swipes to be added to their plan after a certain point in each semester. November 1st is the request date in the fall, and two weeks after spring break in the spring. There is no human interaction throughout the request process so as to avoid students feeling stigmatized and self-conscious.

However, when I decided to look into the finer details of the meal swipe donation program, I realized it was not functioning to the best of its ability. Students on campus are still food insecure.

Through talking with employees from Dining Services, Auxiliary Services, and Lula Bell’s, it was clear no one was keeping track of the effectiveness of the program.

Former Director of Dining Services Dee Phillips changed the cap for the donated swipes from 300 to 200 in 2019, but Terry does not know why.

Terry has the number of swipes donated and used each semester, but has no way to tell whether or not Taylor Brendle, the former manager of Lula Bell’s, has distributed all of the donated meal swipes.

Brendle told me she had handed out (online) all of the swipes for the 2018 spring semester, but vast quantities went unswiped. The next semester, all of the swipes were not given out and rolled over into the following year.

To be more specific, in the fall of 2017, 261 meals were donated for the spring of 2018.

Fast forward through that spring, only 52 meals were used. The same lack of use happened in the fall of 2018: 260 swipes were donated the previous spring and 94 meals were used in the fall. In the past, students with unused donated meal swipes lost them after the semester ended. Manager of CatCard Services Anne Cavett told me that this rule changed (at least for this last year): students were allowed to keep their extra meal swipes from the fall of 2018 and have them roll over to the spring.

After talking with the various departments,

Siân Lewis ‘20 (left) and Caroline Roy ‘20 (right) explore food options in Lula Bell’s pantry.

I was confused. Was there not a need from the has signs on Reading Day, and “word of mouth student body for the amount of meal swipes is pretty effective as well.” being donated? Was only being able to use the During my whole first year at Davidson, I donated swipes at Commons a barrier? Did saw a poster advertising the program once. It students simply not know about the program? was in a corner of Wall, easily lost in the wide I decided to conduct my own survey—with array of scientific posters around it. the generous help of Associate Vice President As for word of mouth, in this day and age? for Planning and Institutional Research Linda That seems pretty pathetic to me and has provLeFauve—to try to get some answers to my en to be ineffective. If that is an effort to avoid questions. stigma, there are other ways around that.

In total, I had 311 survey respondents from The program could be advertised to all firstthe whole student body. A seemingly low years during orientation; the program could be number compared to the almost entire 2,000 listed on the Lula Bell’s posters that are hung student population, but it didn’t matter. From in residence halls; there could be a type of my survey, there was clear proof that students were still food insecure, as well as proof that a significant portion did not even know the meal swipe donation program existed.

63 people responded that their meal plan has included fewer meals than they generally need.

Another option for the answer to the question of whether or not a student’s meal plan was “open house” at Lula Bell’s that all students “adequate” was “about the right number” of are invited to at the beginning of the year to meals; this answer leaves room for students better educate them on all the resources offrom that category to also be food insecure. fered at the center. (I have to credit that last Asked the reason why they don’t participate idea to a survey respondent.) in the full, 21 meals per week, meal plan, the Also, Davidson’s website page for Lula highest response, 92 people, answered “I can Bell’s does not mention the meal swipe donalower costs to me/my family if I opt for fewer tion program at all. meals.”

The lack of advertising is one of the main Moving into the part of the survey about the problems with the meal swipe donation proLula Bell’s food options, only 13 respondents gram, but there are others. had gotten extra meal swipes through Lula Students should be able to use extra swipes Bell’s. That could be viewed as a positive out- at the Union because it has later and more flexcome or a negative outcome. The next ques- ible hours. According to Terry, swipes cannot tion made me think negative. be used there because “the volume there can 146 respondents said that they did not know be so difficult to manage at peak times.” Also about the meal swipe donation program. That they believe a student in need would be served is close to half of the students who took the best at Commons where “balanced options are survey. available and they can enjoy an all-you-canThe final question on the survey read: “Last eat atmosphere.” year, there were more donated meal swipes Students would be better off if they could available through Lula Bell’s than there were check how many meals are left in their block student requests for them. If you were to guess, plan to know if they need extra swipes instead what might be some of the reasons?” 255 re- of guessing or running out first. Additionally, spondents said they believed that students do this would help students better understand not know that they can get additional meal how many meals they need so that they don’t swipes. 55 people said they thought there ar- waste donated meal swipes. That being said, en’t that many students in need of more meals there should be smaller packages of swipes ofthan the meal plan they already have. fered. Packages of three might be all someone The mystery remains unsolved, but a lot of needs at the end of the semester. evidence points to a lack of advertising that Students could be more inclined to donate the meal swipe donation program exists. dining dollars instead of meal swipes. I know Asked how the program is advertised, Bren- that as a first-year I, along with many of my dle told me that social media posts are made, friends, had significantly more dining dollars posters are put up around campus, Commons than I needed. Davidson could possibly use

Photo by John Crawford ‘20 data to determine an amount of meal swipes that could be put into Lula Bell’s budget.

Dining Services already has to calculate how many meal swipes they anticipate won’t be used during the year when they are requesting the money for their budget.

To be clear, Lula Bell’s is a phenomenal resource that has done a lot of good on campus.

According to Director of Civic Engagement and Bonner Scholars Kristin Booher, the follow-up survey that was done in the spring of 2018 found that the number of students “experiencing an inadequate food supply three or more times during the year” fell by greater

There was clear proof that students were still food insecure, as well as proof that a significant portion did not even know the meal swipe donation program existed. than 10 percent between the 2016 and 2018 surveys; that was before the meal swipe donation program was even around.

Booher told me this too: “One question asked, if someone hadn’t been to Lula Bell’s, why they hadn’t visited, and more than 50% said because they didn’t need to but then the next largest percentage (around 25%) said it’s because they didn’t know about it. So, last year there was a bigger push to get the word out and let students know what resources are available.” She said there was “a large increase in traffic” as a result.

This year, another survey will be conducted, as the center has been around for two years.

While I was happy to hear that another survey would assess the programming and resources at Lula Bell’s, I have already found ample evidence of ways in which the center is not functioning as well as it could be.

The meal swipe donation program has helped students, but it is not helping as many students as it could be. I believe the first step in adapting the program is to go hog wild in advertising; it should not be a hidden gem for needy students to find.

While I have analyzed a lot of aspects of the meal swipe donation program, there is more research to be done. It is a complex program due to the lack of cohesion in the departments that make it operate. So let’s all sit down together and make sure we are doing our best to ensure that Davidson College students are not going hungry.

The

Yowl

Irreverent student journalism since 2004. Castigat Ridendo Mores.

inside

dåvidsoniån.com

The Davidsonian Suspected of Quarter-Life Crisis as Rumors of Podcast Surface Page 17 (Sorry Ethan)

The Welcome Back Issue

September 11, 2019

Honor Council Forced to Expel First-Year Caught Taking Shortcut Across Patterson Court During Cake Race Page 1.7

Meet the First-Year Who Transferred to UNC after Ice Cream Social Failed to Provide Mint Chip (His Favorite!)

Page 71

Changing Times: 85 Early Signees Receive First-Ever Honor Code Signing Bonus During Orientation Page $17,000

School Assures Student Body that Honor Code “Definitely Still a Thing Here” After Nummit Trivia Team Caught Cheating Page 170

Davidson in Despair: Campus Stricken with Grief Following College’s Drop in U.S. News & World Rankings

Above: Well, we suppose his quote kind of says it all. Go off, bronze king. Speak your truth.

Exclusive: Bronze Wildcat Statue Furious with Young Upstart Lux’s Inclusion on Union Cafe’s Digital Ordering Gizmos Amidst the return to campus, most students have been absolutely thrilled with innovative updates made to the Alvarez Student Union (commonly referred to as Knobloch Campus Center, or “Knobs”).

Josh Hunter ‘20 summarized the level of campus enthusiasm to The Yowl, stating, “The long lines at the kiosks have really helped foster a great social scene, and the overall fitness of the student body has increased from the amount of sprinting back to tables to retrieve Cat Cards.”

However, one specific member of the Davidson community has recently come forward in solitude to discuss a grave injustice that plagues the new devices. Summoned by a smidgen of dark magic during the last full moon, The Yowl was able to bring bronze statue Will E. Wildcat to life for an exclusive interview allowed to last exactly 66 minutes before unwanted consequences would occur.

Will E. was excited to be able to have a voice once again. He eagerly explained that his last sit-down interview involved “a secret the class of (19) ‘23 would never tell.” Animated yet austere, he told us tails of years gone by and his resentment of the ever-continuous renditions

of himself. “When did traditions become a bad thing?” he exclaimed.

His disappointment was expressed most vividly when discussing the status of home football games and the lack of spirit among the students. “Back in my day, the school would have real wildcats caged at the games. Talk about a roaring stadium, am I right? Your friends wouldn’t be able to handle that kind of thing, if you know what I mean.” We didn’t.

However, the feeling of admiration for days long gone was not shared when discussing Davidson’s standing mascot, Lux. When The Yowl showed Will E. photos of the new screens at Union, Will E. was not pleased. “This kid has been around for what, a year? And gets to be the face of nutrition at this school? Absurdity!”

Will E. claimed to have had suspicions that this would happen. “The world is so obsessed with technology these days. Now Lux will permanently act as a metaphor for this generation always being on their gadgets. I miss the days when students had to physically hunt for their food on this campus.”

Davidson College has come under fire for various campus renovations that have taken place over the past few years. Highly respected college review blog, U.S. News’ Best Colleges List, has defamed the once ambitious students of the small-town, big-dreams college. Students were immediately alerted of the rankings drop thanks to the SSAFER alert system. The Yowl has conducted an extensive investigation to determine the causes of such a grave travesty.

An anonymous source from U.S. News & World has given The Yowl the inside scoop on the “scandals” that have tarnished Davidson’s ranking compared to other colleges and universities within the United States.

“Usually schools such as Princeton and Harvard DO NOT move their Residence Life Offices into a convenient location; they believe these kinds of departments belong in the dampened basement of a dorm building built half a century ago. The recent switch was not appreciated,” the source explained.

The source went on to elaborate on other changes in the Davidson community. “The destruction of walkways and roping off entire sidewalks, while allegedly done in the name of modernizing the college’s oldest dorm, leaves Chidsey residents soaked in sweat during class after making roundabout treks in the beaming sun while navigating their way to Chambers.”

US News & World also took issue with the so-called “productive dialogue” between SGA and administrators that led to a “more equitable” write-up system that no longer includes fines. Said one rankings expert, “We believe that top-ten institutions should follow the archaic standards of discipline and teach students the hazards of drinking by burdening them with financial debt. It’s a shame to see a once-esteemed college fall victim to the immorality of modern times.”

Several students speculated that the majority of the damage to the college’s reputation is due to changes in the Student Union. “My freshman social life was birthed in the Union Station. I’m not saying the loss of our beloved snack shoppe is the cause of the ranking drop… but when Davidson was #10, Union Station was more than just a fond memory,” remarked David Tenor ‘20.

Sammie Seltzer ‘21 expressed worries to The Yowl, exclaiming, “First there’s a national White Claw shortage, and now we’ve fallen in the rankings?

Literally why am I even at this school?”

At press time, officials from U.S. News & World Report informed Davidson alumni far and wide that the school may no longer be colloquially referred to as “the Harvard of the South.” To this, we at The Yowl say fine. Screw it.

“Cornell of the South” sounds way cooler anyways. U.S. News can take their rankings and shove it.

Free-Substance Housing: Inside Davidson’s Newest First-Year Residential Community CANNON — For the 22 first-year students who recently settled into their rooms on fifth Cannon, the hall is more than just a new home.

The testing ground for a revolutionary new first-year living community, fifth Cannon has been designated by RLO as a “Free-Substance Hall.” The fledgling living experience was an immensely popular option among members of the Class of 2023 in their summer housing survey.

The Residence Life section of Davidson’s website clearly outlines the mission of the college’s newest thematic hall, as well as its standards. The page reads: “We offer free substances for those students who wish to participate in a visionary, newage residential community. Students living in these communities agree to safely consume al-

The

Yowl

cohol on their floor and learn to properly manage the effects of such substances on the hall.

Failure to uphold the expectations will likely result in relocation to another assignment.”

Davidson has long offered first-year students the option to live on a substance-free hall. Many students over the years have thoroughly enjoyed these communities, prompting college officials to look for more ways to create similar experiences for students.

“The Free-Substance Hall is an attempt to provide a space for those students wishing to partake in rather frequent alcohol consumption in their first year at Davidson,” explained trustee Tom Collins ’76. “We are thrilled to provide each member of the hall with a 12pack each week, for no charge, in order to ensure that they can thrive in this environment.”

WRITERS Chuckie C Henry D. Thoreau Hopefully you, dear reader, next week!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK “I heard any freshman who starts writing for this page is literally guaranteed to become Editor within 6 months.”

–– Rumor Mill (seriously tho)

Students living on fifth Cannon may also request a weekly delivery of White Claw, as opposed to beer, in an effort to better cater to the preferences of Generation Z. “It’s the least we can do to make sure our students are enjoying their time on campus!,” remarked RLO staffer Jonathan Daniels.

Outspoken critic of campus social life Teresa Dawson ’20 spoke in supportive terms when asked about ‘Keystown,’ as the hall has become colloquially known.

“I think it’s absolutely phenomenal,” remarked Dawson, “This is an important step in addressing many of the problematic issues with Davidson’s drinking culture. Increasing crackdowns of Court and apartment spaces have pushed students who wish to consume alcohol to do so in secret, isolated pregame

settings in residence halls, further fostering dangerous tendencies. This newfound embrace of a drunk-positive culture by RLO is groundbreaking and will help normalize safer habits in our community, and I for one am here for it.”

At press time, Kevin Teeter ‘23 and Nick Livingston ‘23, a roommate pair who mistakenly selected Free-Substance Housing instead of Substance-Free Housing in a June housing survey, were seen moving a 48-inch plasma TV into Cannon 506. Sources tell The Yowl that the purchase was financed by a small but wildly profitable racketeering operation involving the pair’s sale of their unwanted alcohol to fellow first-years living on the lower floors of Cannon.

WWE Wrestler or Union Cafe Menu Item?

1) The Colorado Grinder 2) Buff. Chick.

3) Wildcat Burger 4) The Hulke Hoagie 5) Mike Quackingbush 6) Veggie Du Jour Check back next week for the answers!

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