Issuu

Davidsonian March 31, 2021

Perspective: Seasonal Depression p. 2

COVID Care p. 2

CARE. Tent City p. 3

Q&A Davidson Community Fund p. 5

Yowl p. 6-7

How to: Self Care p. 8

Editorial note

Acknowledgments

arch marks the one year anniversary of the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the abrupt end to the spring 2020 semester. In light of a year of loss, grief, and stress, we considered what we could produce that would capture the relevant emotions and perspectives during this momentous time. We decided to focus on the broad theme of care, asking two questions: how do members of the Davidson community take care of themselves, and how do they care for those around them? In times of uncertainty, these questions are especially pressing, and we agreed that focusing on stories of support and compassion would be welcome. To answer the first question, Lyra Seaborn ‘22 offers a perspective on mental health and Nora Klein ‘24 provides advice for practicing

self-care. The second question concerns care on an interpersonal level. Find an interview with six members of the Davidson Community Fund on page five, and read about Davidson staff members providing additional care to students behind the scenes. Finally, Joe DeMartin ‘21 investigates “Tent City” on page four, detailing how the houseless population in Charlotte adapts to COVID. Writing about care inevitably raises additional questions this issue cannot fully tackle: who is providing care? Who is receiving care? Where is care not being provided? We can’t talk about care without also talking about inequality and neglect. As you reflect on these demonstrations of care, consider both the ways in which we distribute care and the gaps in our caregiving.

Ashley Ip ‘22 Lilly Nichols ‘19 Cissi Lyles ‘79 Liz Clasen-Kelly ‘00 Emily Troutman ‘23 Lyra Seaborn ‘22 Erin Papakostas ‘23 Margo Parker ‘21 Evan Bille ‘20 Martha Howland Hollis Plexico ‘24 Nada Shoreibah ‘23 Hope Anderson ‘22 Nora Klein ‘24 Idalina Pina ‘22 Richard Farrell ‘22 Isabel Padalecki ‘22 Sally Fredricks Jaelyn Taylor ‘22 Sam Anderson ‘24 Joe DeMartin ‘21 Samantha Ewing ‘23 Josie Hovis ‘23 Sebastian Sola-Sole ‘21 Katie Stewart ‘23 Sydney Schertz ‘24 Kelsey Chase ‘24 Emily Schmitt ‘23 Landin Eldridge ‘21 Cover art by Landin Eldridge ‘21 Welcome to the Un-Crumbling of Landin K. Eldridge, 2020, 60”x 40”Oil, acrylic, pastels, pen, graphite, and spray paint on canvas I first began putting this piece together in a painting class sophomore year. My parents hung it in our house and I stared at it for 2 years before deciding to make changes during quarantine. The additions are inspired by imagery from my trip to Greece with the theater department, as well as Pina Bausch’s devised dance piece Café Müller. To me, this painting is all about being separated and reunited with the people and places you care about most.

Rain, Rain, Go Away Reflections on Seasonal Depression Perspective by Lyra Seaborn ‘22 | (she/her)

t’s that time of year again: the flowers are blooming, the trees are donning their leaves, and the internet is filling with memes rejoicing in the collective return of our serotonin. Whenever I come back to campus from my residence in the heart of Texas for the start of the spring semester, I am reminded of my contempt for North Carolina winters. It’s not the slightly more intense cold that makes them unbearable – though I do loathe the cold – so much as the onslaught of rain and clouds. Each week, I huddled under blankets and monitored the weather app, anxiously awaiting the allotted 1–2 days of sunlight until March finally swept in to offer a brief respite from the gloom. I am immensely privileged to have access to heat, shelter, clothing, and rainboots – things I became even more grateful for as I watched the recent winter storm wreak unprecedented havoc on my home state from the safety and powerless-

numbing depths of my computer screen. The weather has only added to the weight of what was already a weird, frustrating, and lonely semester. Up until the last few weeks, guests were forbidden in rooms and most classes and social events were limited to Zoom or to sparse, socially-distanced and masked gatherings. Prompted to choose who from our larger friend/acquaintance groups to admit into our individual “bubbles,” many relationships withered or were put on pause. The near-constant barrage of rain and chill further restricted options to socialize by taking the added protection of the outdoors off the table. I think we can all agree that virtual club meetings, dates, and gossip sessions leave a lot to be desired. Davidson is constantly emphasizing the strength of its “community,” but that vague and mutable concept has been even harder to find and foster this year. The closest thing we have to a communal experience is probably the umbrella

en Maybe forming new relationships has be the ones more difficult than usual, but many of we’ve chosen to rely on have only been strengthened.

ness of my dorm room. And yet, as well-provided as I am to survive the weather, I relate to the memes that reflect the heft and eventual remission of seasonal depression. Being able to exercise outdoors or simply sit in the sun for a while has been essential in maintaining my mental health, especially when each of my four courses are conducted via Zoom, and I otherwise spend nearly all my waking hours staring into the

of suffering and pining. Yet we’ve continued to do our best to cope, whether that means establishing a weekly dinner with close contacts or hanging out over FaceTime or turning off our cameras and mics in the middle of class for a brief crying session. Student organizations have devised creative ways to remain active and even grow while keeping members safe. Maybe forming new relationships has been more difficult than usual, but many of the ones we’ve chosen to rely on have only been

strengthened. Of course, the cycling of the seasons is necessary for life. And the pandemic poses a very real threat that necessitated many of the isolating measures of January and February. But as vaccine clinics and wildflowers sprout, I rejoice in the prospect of summer. The sporadic visits of the sun signal more than an influx of mood-boosting vitamin D. They open the door for a wider range of (still-masked, still-distanced) events, from picnics to walks to just laying out and sweating over a great conversation. When we feel less confined and more energized, we can better maintain connection and care for one another.

COVID CARE IN OUR COMMUNITY by Samantha Ewing ‘23 | (she/her)

With the emergence of COVID-19, Davidson College had to make many adjustments in preparation for safely housing students on campus this year. Every COVID-related email, student housed in the quarantine facilities, and meal provided for the student body has had a hard-working team of people behind it. During these unprecedented times, several members of our community have stepped up and gone above and beyond in taking care of us.

Sally Fredricks

ally Fredricks works in the Chaplain’s Office, where her number one priority is to connect with students. “I’m a person that likes to go to lunch with students, so I’ve had to figure out a different way to connect,” she said. In order to adjust to the challenges that COVID has brought, she has resorted to Zoom to make these connections as well as to handle the programming she would normally work with in person. In addition to her normal duties in the Chaplain’s Office, Sally also began to volunteer with meal deliveries for students in quarantine. “It’s a gift to be able to do it because we felt helpless — it was something with my hands and my

Cissi Lyles ‘79

nother member of our community that has been working to provide for our community is Cissi Lyles ‘79. Lyles is a Davidson alum and started working at Davidson a few years after she graduated. She is now the manager of The Guest House. However, her responsibilities look very different now than they have in previous years. “When Guest House was closed last March as it became more apparent that this was longer term than a couple of weeks, I was put on some projects to figure out how students could return to campus safely,” Lyles said. Each day Lyles has been working to secure quarantine housing and ensure that students in quarantine are having

their needs met. For instance, Lyles’s office works to provide students with towels, cleaning supplies, mail, and any academic resources they may need during their stay. Her office also coordinates meal deliveries, factoring in dietary restrictions and preferences. Additionally, Lyles has been assisting with Microfridge setups in the rooms so that students can save their leftovers. Lyles remarked that she regularly calls students to let them know that someone cares. “When you’re in really stale environments, a small thing can make a lot of difference,” she said.

Lilly Nichols ‘19

illy Nichols ‘19 is also a Davidson alum, and she began working at the Health Center when she saw the needs that arose as Davidson was navigating how to safely have students back on campus. Each day Nichols works both with crisis management for students who are heading into quarantine as well as management and well-being for students who are already in the quarantine system. On an average day, Nichols starts her routine by checking to see if there are new positive tests before coordinating quarantine move-ins. Once positive testing students are contact-traced, Nichols gives them an orientation where she introduces them to the quarantine space and discusses resources available to them. As Nichols describes it, she provides “non-medical sup-

feet that I could do,” Fredricks said. Most days, Fredricks, along with a team of volunteers, loads up food from the Commons dock, drives the meals to the quarantine facilities, and delivers them to students. Before the volunteers arrive to pick up the food, the Commons workers package the meals and label them by floor. “They did a beautiful job of having meals put together according to dietary restrictions,” said Fredricks. She also remarked, “I can’t imagine functioning without a caring community.” With the new challenges that have come with navigating the pandemic, Sally Fredricks is one of the many members of our community that has been stepping up to take care of us.

port for students who are in quarantine and isolation.” This role includes directing students towards academic and mental health resources, retrieving forgotten items, and helping students celebrate birthdays and holidays. Nichols had just returned from working abroad with infectious diseases and maternal health in East Africa when she decided to come work at Davidson. “The reason why I was inspired to do it was because I knew this community so well,” she said. When she made the decision to begin her work here, she was eager to share her perspective as a recent student with the hope of providing a voice for current students.

Mar tha Howland

artha Howland has been taking care of our com munity by cleaning 3rd Wall and Martin Science. Howland worked part time at Davidson from 2008 to 2010, then began working full time in the Dana Science Building. Since then, she has been moved to Wall and has held the position she has now for four years. On an average day, Howland comes into work early in the morning to clean classrooms and study rooms before students arrive. As students and professors filter in and out, Howland also recleans used spaces and objects so that they are sanitized for the next person. “I’ll keep my hands clean, I’ll wear my mask, and I’ll clean everything I can to keep everybody healthy,” she said. Howland’s daily duties have become more involved this year as she works to san-

itize extra spaces and clean rooms multiple times in order to keep our community safe. Howland also brings light into our community by leaving encouraging sticky notes on office doors. It began with a sticky note system she devised so that she would know when professors used the spaces so she could reclean them as needed. However, she began including sticky notes with positive messages such as “Have a great day!” In return, professors started leaving encouraging sticky notes as well. “We were each trying to lift each other up during the beginning of the trying time of COVID,” Howland said. Howland has gone above and beyond not only ensuring that we have clean spaces to work and study, but also spreading positivity in our community.

While their impact has been immense, Fredricks, Lyles, Nichols, and Howland are just a few of the members of our community that are working to take care of us; it is impossible to truly credit everyone that has been serving our community and detail all of their hard work in one article. The Davidson community has gone above and beyond in their efforts to provide for the student body during these times, and we are immensely lucky to have these people on our campus.

Uncovering the Nuance Underlying Charlotte’s Most Prominent Homless Encampment

he COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed our perception of home. Working from home, stay-at-home orders — home was where many of us felt safe in a world gripped by a deadly disease. But what about those who had no home to lock down in, no home where they could feel safe? Homlessness beset the city of Charlotte long before the COVID-19 pandemic, but COVID hasn’t improved the situation. According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing and Homelessness Dashboard, there are currently 3,456 people experiencing homelessness. This number is a nearly 40% increase from 2,490 people in March of last year. While Black/African American folks constitute 31% of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg population, they make up over three quarters of the people experiencing homelessness. While these statistics and data provide important context in and of themselves, they don’t tell a complete story. Liz Clasen-Kelly ‘00, a Davidson religion major, has worked for over 20 years to combat homelessness in Charlotte. She currently works for an organization called Roof Above. Clasen-Kelly started her work with the homeless community in Charlotte in 1997 when she interned at Charlotte’s Urban Ministry Center — an organization now merged with Roof Above — through Davidson’s Chaplain’s Office. She recalled that the experience was revelatory: “I had never worked with people experiencing homelessness. And it was a very profound experience in terms of finding my own humanity, experiencing such a range of human emotion.” Twenty-four years later, Clasen-Kelly found Charlotte’s most prominent homeless encampment right outside her door. Tent City was in Char-

by Joe DeMartin ‘21 | (she/her) lotte’s North End on 12th Street right outside of the Urban Ministry Center. But where did it come from? Beginning last March, COVID-19 closures and restrictions presented Charlotte’s homeless communities with intense uncertainty. The instability inherent in a global pandemic is compounded when one also has nowhere to shelter in place. Even if space in shelters was available, Clasen-Kelly explained, “We also saw people fearful of coming into shelters, due to the pandemic […] And in many ways that was a rational fear. There never was a COVID outbreak in the encampment. But I think every single congregate living place in town, all of the shelters, had an outbreak, at least at one point last year.” Additionally, many people experiencing homelessness faced difficulties with mobility, as the stay-at-home order reduced the availability of public transportation. Evan Bille ‘20 is a Davidson Impact Fellow working with Clasen-Kelly at Roof Above. He works the front doors of the Urban Ministry Center engaging with those experiencing homelessness who come for basic needs like showers, public internet connection, or mail services. He explains that “People were afraid that they wouldn’t have access to their services [...] people were afraid that they wouldn’t be able to get to our campuses. And so that’s why they moved.” Along with COVID-19 restrictions came CDC guidelines for police departments. As Bille explains, “The CDC issued guidance that said that clearing of homeless encampments would potentially cause greater community spread. So the directive that was sent out to law enforcement and city governments across the country was that you do not clear tent encampments during this pandemic.” Because Charlotte Police largely followed these guidelines, an encamp-

ment as large as Tent City was able to form in an extremely visible space. Tent City does not have a monocausal explanation. It represented a confluence of several factors: a slight reduction in shelter capacity, fear of catching COVID in shelters, public transportation insecurity, and CDC order restricting the clearing of tent encampments. COVID did not create a crisis of homelessness; it made it more visible. So often during this pandemic we have the tendency to use COVID as a one-sizefits-all explanation. It’s clean. It’s neat. COVID provides an easy explanation that requires no reflection on and no interrogation of structural issues plaguing our society. COVID has created problems to be sure. But it also acts as a magnifying glass, enlarging our society’s failures, making them more visible. I think Tent City illustrates this problem in a profound way, but it also illustrates the solution: community. Once Tent City was established, Clasen-Kelly, Bille, and Roof Above faced a decision: how could they best provide resources for these people in need? What drove their strategy now was relying on a key aspect of their mission: formation of community. Their engagement team would normally search out and travel to these encampments, but this one came to them. They met the community where they were, formed relationships with the residents, helped some of them find more stable housing options, and overall treated people as people. Roof Above intentionally chooses to call people experiencing homelessness their “neighbor.” “Homelessness is so linked with this inability to recognize our neighbor, and the fullness of their humanity,” Clasen-Kelly commented to me. Homelesness not a problem that can be solved with stats or data alone. It requires lis-

Illustrations by Hollis Plexico ‘24

tening to stories and engaging in our community. In addition to forming a community in Tent City, Roof Above partnered with grassroots organizations like Feed the Movement Charlotte to educate the broader Charlotte community about the tent encampment with FAQs posted on their website. Then suddenly, after nearly a year of hard work, Mecklenburg County issued an abatement order which ordered residents of Tent City to clear the area. “It was very shocking,” Clasen-Kelly recalled. She remembered thinking that it was “not feasible that people would leave and that would happen humanely in a supportive way within 72 hours.” Bille remembered hearing about it on the 6:00 news: “There was a sense of shock, but then the next step was every single person showing up to work the next day ready to do their job.” The residents of Tent City were moved to temporary housing in hotels for 90 days — we’re about halfway through that window now. With the help of county, city, and non-governmental and grassroots organizations, the process went relatively smoothly. But that temporary housing means that the work is not done providing for our neighbors. According to Clasen-Kelly Davidson students have an obligation to act: “You can’t untangle the realities of homelessness and the realities of prosperity. So you really can’t untangle the realities of Davidson and the realities of homelessness. The more you do this work, the more you recognize the connectedness of these experiences, and the connectedness of humanity.” Bille encourages students to “understand and learn about the groups who are already on the ground doing work, and who are connected to the linear community.” Provide folks who need resources with resources. Feed the Movement Charlotte, for example, is experiencing an extraordinary lack of resources and facing extraordinary need. Clasen-Kelly made it clear that the situation is urgent: “It’s so critical that we don’t relax, that we don’t use language like ‘return to the normal,’ because we can’t go back to accepting the reality of homelessness. The outrage that the community felt over this last year, we have to carry that forward and create lasting, impactful housing solutions.”

Q&A

Davidson Community Fund This interview was conducted with six members of the Davidson Community Fund, Isabel Padalecki (she/ they) ‘22, Margo Parker (they/them) ‘21, Emily Troutman (she/her) ‘23, Ashley Ip (she/her) ‘22, Idalina Pina (she/they) ‘22, Jaelyn Taylor (she/ they) ‘22. The Davidson Community Fund is a wealth redistribution network that works in Davidson and Charlotte.

Idalina Pina ‘22 | (she/they)

Isabel Padalecki | (she/they) ‘22

Interview by Josie Hovis ‘23 | she/her Josie Hovis: What is the Davidson Community Fund? Community Fund: We are a group of about twelve people. Most of us are current Davidson students, but we have one alum. We are all engaged in the local area and we do wealth redistribution work in Charlotte and Davidson. While we are informed by the principles and believe in mutual aid, our actions are more directed toward wealth redistribution, especially considering the amount of wealth concentrated in the town of Davidson and the College. The decision not to define ourselves as mutual aid was important because we didn’t want to misrepresent ourselves. Most of us live here and we have been building relationships with organizations here, but we did not immediately have that. A lot of people recognize the term mutual aid faster than the term wealth redistribution, but shifting toward wealth redistribution was ultimately important in reflecting our relationship with the area. A big part of mutual aid is community. As college students, many of us come from privilege and we want to recognize that, considering we are students at a very wealthy institution. We are also in this constellation of mutual aid groups in Charlotte, and we are in community with groups that we would define as doing

Jaelyn Taylor ‘22 | (she/they)

Emily Troutman ‘23 | (she/her)

Ashley Ip ‘22 | (she/her)

Margo Parker ‘21 | (they/them) more traditional mutual aid, groups like Feed the Movement and Charlotte Uprising, but we are trying to attend to the specific

class consciousness needs of mutual aid through our wealth redistribution work. JH: Can you talk a little bit about the origins of the Davidson Community Fund? Who was involved with the startup, what was the catalyst, and what challenges might you have faced? CF: The origins of this specific group (as defined by the Instagram account and this specific group of people) arose on campus with students and other Davidson community members at the end of the 2020 school year while most other students had gone home. That group of people started the initiative along with people who were at home who helped make graphics and do fundraising remotely, and who helped in evaluating changing goals and how to be in community remotely. We also want to state that we did not invent this community of people that we are in connection with and send funds to — all of the fundraising on Instagram that we do has been done by Black trans femmes in Charlotte. Our origins were from people who were around Charlotte like Margo [Parker] who were doing direct grocery deliveries, but then we started on Instagram and tried to capitalize on the moment of people wanting to redistribute their money, so it came together quickly. JH: How has your work been received? What reactions have you gotten from Davidson students? How do you see your work received in the larger Davidson/Charlotte community? CF: Before we became officially a fund, we were just a working collective in the Charlotte area trying to work for any emergencies that came up with our community members, and we would go to our Instagram pages and crowd fund for that specifically. Then, in the early days, just after graduation and before the DCF was fully formed, we [on the Young Democratic Socialists for America Instagram page] created a bingo for graduating Davidson students for how they could spend the refund of the Davidson deposit. The bingo got a lot of attention, and a lot of people sent Isabel money, which made us realize that there was a lot of wealth at Davidson and we wanted to capitalize on that. However, there was also a lot of backlash from Davidson students against the following 4th of July bingo (which had also been posted in the class of 2021 Facebook page). Davidson students thought we were jumping down their throats and making them send money, and people felt that we were coming for their lives. It came down to people asking us, ‘Who are we to judge and tell people what their privilege is or isn’t?’ but that wasn’t what we were doing. We didn’t name or tag anyone; we just said, ‘Evaluate yourselves: look at the bingo card and see if maybe you need to send some money.’ The anger we received highlights how privilege is not really approached at Davidson. There’s always a vigil around the flag-

pole, but when it comes down to doing the work, the talk is not matching the walk. A lot of students like to call out Davidson the institution as not putting in the work, and they’re right, but that’s where the point stops, and people don’t want to do any introspection. The bingo card showed how very insecure people are of their privilege here; it’s easy to call out the institution and your peers, but it’s hard to call out yourself. It also showed that people will lash out because you hit upon something they know is true. It was shocking that our Facebook post could have such a reaction. It made people aware of their privilege here and they felt guilty, which came out as people getting really, really angry about it. However, we were still shocked by the amount of money we have been able to raise from this community; to imagine that this many people have put the trust in us to support our work and wealth redistribution is amazing, and we have had a positive reaction from the community. JH: How do you see your work intersecting with the work of other orgs in the area, such as Charlotte Uprising? CF: An important part of our work is intergenerational organizing and the mentorship that other people have provided to us. The QTIPOC Survival Fund[which works to directly distribute aid to queer folks in the Piedmont area] helped us to rework our system of monthly fundraising so that we could be more sustainable and avoid burnout; at one point we took two weeks off to just totally restructure and they supported us in that. We provide wealth redistribution while many other organizations do a lot of other important work in the area, and we rely on them, especially considering that they have been doing the work [of mutual aid and community support] longer than us. Despite the public niches of each individual group working in the Charlotte area, there is a lot more overlap between each group than what might seem apparent at first glance. Feed the Movement stands out because it does way more than just food justice: they have been providing hotel rooms throughout the winter, they have been putting up bail funds, and helping people get furniture; their elastic funding helps them do that. Their mutual aid is amazing and they don’t get as much attention for it. The organizers of Feed the Movement are Nada Merghani and Tati Marquez, and they have been working extremely hard. Tiz Gordiano and Sharon Holland of QTIPOC Survival Fund; glo merriweather; Ash Williams of Charlotte Uprising; and Mykah Johnson, Rahrah Taylor, Jayla Ware who work alongside Charlotte Uprising also deserve recognition and have helped our group take shape. JH: Can you talk more about the nitty gritty of how the fund operates? What is the role of monthly supporters, how do you get funds to those who

need it, and how do you manage stress in high-need times (although arguably there is always a high need)? CF: Right now, we operate on a monthly basis, which means we distribute money every month, and we made this change from distributing on an emergency basis. We have sustainers, who commit to a certain amount of money, whom we Venmo request about every month.We distribute the second to last weekend of the month so that people have money to pay bills at the beginning of the month. When people ask how they can help we refer them to a Google form [to be a monthly sustainer] on our Instagram — it’s very easy, you just fill out your name, your Venmo, and how much you want to donate. At the end of each month, we go through the Venmo requests, collect the money and evenly divide our total funds by eight. Then, we send the money to our eight community members.We just onboarded four new folks, so we are playing around with new roles, and we are excited to have new hands on deck. We are twelve people who wear a lot of different hats, which comes with a lot of opportunities for burnout, so we check each other a lot as a group; we interfere when we feel like someone is doing too much or crossing boundaries when it comes to labor, and everybody here has definitely been checked at least once. JH: What would you ask those reading this article to do in order to best support your work? CF: Become a monthly sustainer! It is such a good way to consistently commit yourself to redistributing your work on a regular basis. You decide what you are capable of giving. It provides people with a boost for those big bills at the beginning of the month, and it is such a good way to get involved. It is super easy: the Google form is on our page, and we are always checking DMs on our page if anyone has any questions. If you have leadership in on-campus organizations, hit us up, we will gladly take your organization’s money and in return give a talk or an EDU event. Be present. Re-share graphics! They reach. The greater the reach, the greater we are able to help folks meet their needs. We had to scale back from a lot of the emergency fundraising we did because it burnt us out, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t emergencies, and saturation on Instagram is a real problem. Don’t look for our Venmo on every graphic — donate directly to Black trans women! Just donate to them! We are not some authority! Just send them your money! We aren’t the cops. You don’t have to ask us any questions. Send us your checks and keep it moving.

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Our Yowl Correspondent Reports From: A Dark Hole in the Ground

fter hearing so much about the place for so many years, it’s hard to approach a Dark Hole in the Ground with fresh eyes. One can’t help comparing it to all those on-screen appearances: Alice in Wonderland, Holes, Sadaam Heusein’s capture video. Now several eons old, a Dark Hole in the Ground is smaller and rounder than I imagined, with a graying wisp of grass hanging at its entrance, but you can still make out something of its former charm in the sulfer smell that meets you as you

Through all this, D.H. remains unmoved. The world has changed, and that’s fine with him. He’s seen it change before. crawl inside. Without asking me if I want anything to drink, a Dark Hole in the Ground gives me a puddle of water, which in my nervousness I walk right through. D.H. doesn’t mention it, and I’m reminded of what Katherine Hepburn once said about his manners: “He had a kind of old world charm, which of course made all us girls absolutely gooey-eyed for him. But Hole

was never interested in us in that way.” Though the rumor has never been confirmed, many suspect that a Hole in the Ground maintained a long-term affair with a Ditch by the Road, who enjoyed a celebrated career of its own (Fargo, Blood Simple, Sadaam’s retreat from Kuwait). Their secrecy was of course warranted in an era of Hollywood when to be found in a hole-on-hole relationship could spell the

Adrift at Davidson

I lost my Catcard Friday night and destroyed my iPhone on Saturday. I was somewhat expecting this; my Catcard never stays in my pocket, and my screen has had a certain mosaic quality for months. I’ve always been able to find my Catcard by diligently retracing my steps, but it finally escaped my grasp. Likewise, this last drop dealt the final blow to my phone. I could tell that it was devastating just by its sound against the cold bathroom floor. Now, my phone is perpetually restarting, lighting up just long enough to rekindle hope before fizzling out again. I know that a lot of people aren’t having the best time at Davidson, but Jesus. You don’t know what I have been through these past few days. Honestly, I took them for granted; swiping into buildings is cumbersome, and everyone wants to spend less time on their phone. However, the humble Catcard and common iPhone are the Davidson student’s keys to campus. The iPhone offers a few tools that every Davidsonian needs, such as the symptom tracker, online ordering options, and Outlook for iOS. This truth was emphatically driven home this weekend.

For forty-eight hours, I was adrift in a sea of red bricks and locked buildings. I couldn’t access my own dorm, and there was no calling for help without my phone. I would meekly loiter outside of Chidsey, trying to spot my unwitting savior entering or exiting the building. People hanging out in the lobby were usually too busy to notice—I couldn’t bring myself to bang on the door, anyways. The slightly chilly March weather got old fast, but I dreamt of GayGayle at Catcard Services to take my mind off of my suffering. I couldn’t even turn to Commons to ease my pains; without a Catcard or a green symptom tracker, I had no access to the flatbread pizzas that I knew would fix the cracks in my heart. I was forced to subsist off of $9.50 meal swipes at Davis Cafe, and I still had to sneak into Union behind someone with a Catcard. Talk about imposter syndrome—I might as well have been a prospective student. Hold your phone tight and hold your Catcard tighter, from a student who learned the hard way. On the bright side, my screen time is way down.

end of a leading hole’s career. It was Ditch that got D.H. interested in meditation, and in later life the two were often pictured together near the caves of Gharapuri. Hepburn and Ditch have been gone for several years now, and I’m hoping to ask Ground how it feels to have outlived so many of his friends, but my question is met by a distant scurrying noise followed by a clang. Everyone warned me he might

be this way: recent interviews have been filled with similar outbursts. Last May, Hole got in hot water when, asked about his thoughts on the presidential election, he made an insensitive dripping noise. Some have argued that it’s unfair to expect a Dark Hole in the Ground to meet our modern standards of discourse — after all, we must remember that Hole was formed in an era when it was still acceptable to refer to velociraptors “featherbacks.” But admiration is the vanishing twin of resentment; the bigger the admiration, the bigger the feast. Today the same friends of mine who used to smear themselves in dirt on Halloween so they’d look like D.H. now run him through the mud on Twitter. Through all this, D.H. remains unmoved. The world has changed, and that’s fine with him. He’s seen it change before. There have been talks of an Alice in Wonderland 2: Madder & Hatterer, but in this new era of safety, most studios view it as a liability to have Dark Holes lying around on set. In all likelihood he’ll be buried soon, just like Ditch, whom the road crews filled up last June. Though he’d never say so, I’ve overstayed my welcome. I thank him for the puddle and crawl out. As the exit becomes visible, I hear him begin to meditate. “Om,” he says. “Om.”

Davidson College Decides Town of Davidson Too Independent

Disclaimer: this article is not intended to incite any more Nummit-Davidson Dining beef. We understand that #1, there are much bigger fish to fry in the scheme of things, and #2, it has just devolved into a large ball of blech that we are not trying to add to. It’s just good humor, god dammit. In light of the recent, totally peaceful and mutual, transfer of power, The Yowl reports on some changes to expect around town next year: 1. The Pickled Peach will be now known as Commons Soups and Salads. Despite operating perfectly fine before, D*vidson D*ning hopes to bring some much anticipated changes to this high-stress low-speed joint, including running out of vegetarian options thirty minutes after lunch starts and serving chicken with every single fucking dish. Don’t worry, the College reassured students in a statement that Commons Soups and Salads will continue serving both pickles and peaches, because that’s definitely the point. 2. Commons Market 2.0, previously known as the Town of Davidson Farmers Market, is

no longer your favorite place to shop for local fruits and veggies from independent farmers, but will now sell meat and produce from the factory farm D*vidson D*ning recently opened on the Davidson Ecological Preserve. You can still buy your kale and apples from us, so it’s basically the same thing, right? 3. DCPC no longer stands for the Davidson College Presbyterian Church, but rather Dining Commons Pasta & Cheese. That’s right — the inside of the space is now a fully renovated Italian and French combination restaurant and world market (think Eataly meets Wegmans meets Paris). According to representatives from the school, the biggest tourist attraction north of South of the Border “is a great financial asset to the school. People leave Dining Commons Pasta and Cheese with full bellies and smiles on their faces, so it’s a win-win”. D*vidson D*ning has not responded to criticisms from the Chaplains office about “changing the culture of a space important to the campus community beyond its financial value on paper.”

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

Remembering Returning to Davidson

I was driving to visit Davidson after being away for so much time which if not for “time” everything would happen all at once and then I’d be there now and here too. Anyway, I was passed by a group of photons who weren’t carrying any luggage as they were traveling light. None-the-less they obeyed the speed limit of 186,000 miles/sec because, as everyone knows, that’s not just a good idea; it’s the law! I stopped for a spot of tea and the waitress asked with a smile if the glass was half full or half empty? Being an engineer I just said it’s twice as big as needed. I wasn’t too optimistic since that was the last of the boiled water and it would be mist. I told her I had been to the Air and Space Museum but didn’t see a thing. She asked if I heard about the neutron getting arrested. She thought it was outrageous that he wasn’t charged. It was getting late and I realized that Newton’s law on inertia wasn’t gaining any momentum so I decided to be on my way. I had to see my Chemist friend who was sick. The doctors couldn’t seem to Helium or Curium and I didn’t want them to Barium before I tried my fungi medicine. I’d have to grow it at Davidson and needed as much mushroom as possible. I turned the radio on but found the frequency so modulated it Hertz. It said that Oxygen and Magnesium had gotten together. OMG! Well, I finally arrived and saw immediately that entropy wasn’t what it used to be. I just have a few words of wisdom to impart: first, a day without sunshine is like . . . well, night. Second, get out there and remember: if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the precipitate. May the mass times acceleration be with you as you start over which brings me back to time which was covered in the first sentence. Gadolinium LutetiumCarbonPotassium. Clill Bark, Class of ‘69

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Your Horoscope from a Whore-eh-nope

Aries: Shiiiiit, girl! This is your time to shine! We are in your season and you should be feeling ready to pull on some thigh-high heels and step on some throats. I personally volunteer my throat for said stepping. Taurus: That PCC meal is going to hit you different today, and not in a good way. Go grab some sushi from Union, because somehow that is less sus. Gemini: You’re going to want to stick your foot in something today, but seriously just don’t. Take a walk and stare at CQ’s house, dreaming of how to dismantle the racial capitalist system. There are more important things, boo. Cancer: You are in the prime of your life. While everyone around you is dying of burnout, you find yourself painlessly floating, above it all. Does it have anything to do with the fact that you are in your senior spring with a cushy job lined up for next year? Definitely not. Leo: Bruh literally stfu about how your arm hurts. We get it, you got vaccinated. Are we happy about it? Of course. Do we need to hear about it every moment of the day? No. Except actually if you could go complain like right next to an administrator then maybe they would get the memo that the reason that there are still vaccination slots is that everyone already got it. Virgo: Something is telling you to go to the

open mic Live Thursday this week and show off your hidden talent. Lean into it. We have a feeling that it will be wonderful, or terrible, but either way, highly entertaining. Libra: Libra? I’ve never even seen her! Jesus Christ, I need a new script writer for my brain. You do too, probably. Scorpio: Oh my lord would you just keep it in your pants for like 0.5 seconds, it’s not even summer yet and you’re already out here in a bikini tanning like how extra can you...be... okay wait....yeah no actually the lesbian in me is completely okay with this, keep it up. Sagittarius: What can I say, you’re positively secret society material. Constantly raising the bar for all of us and doing it flawlessly. I’d say I’m surprised but I know who you are...or do I? Capricorn: Oh, boy. You’re in for some exciting/heart-wrenching/jaw-dropping news soon. Make sure you have your mailbox key handy. Aquarius: Tastes like a pencil. Feels like cement. Looks like ur mom. What am I? The point of this riddle is for you to look within and do some solid reflection. You need to consider the lobster, but also a lot of the other sea creatures, within your soul. Pisces: LMAO girl you have the heart to show up here? You already know it’s a shit show! There ain’t no hope! But you’re sweet for trying. Better luck next time and all that jazz.

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(Lifetime Req.)

The

Yowl

OUR WRITERS

STRESSOR OF THE WEEK

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Clill Bark ‘69 anKNEE CAPlan Hazelnut Stew Unnamed Higher Power

Having to juggle your Cat Card, symptom tracker, and name sticker when you go get tested at Baker. It’s just too much.

How I Have Coped with the Fact that I Hate my Little but All Pairings Were Final

For all of you people in eating houses, you may have had that terrible shiver go up your spine when you considered the prospect of being paired with someone you absolutely can’t stand. Well, that terrible fate has befallen me. My Little has proven to be just the most annoying and worst person possible. After the first delivery, which had all of her favorite snacks in it, she posted on her Instagram story, “Jeez, who was this lamo who thinks I eat? Summer 2021 is almost here!” I found this to be very hurtful, considering I actually do eat. For the second delivery, I got a bunch of SAE pledges to strip for her, considering she had listed “sex” as one of her hobbies on the questionaire. However, she apparently flipped out when the first shirt came off and thought I hired real strippers (how that mistake could be made with barely post-pubescent pasty white boys half-heartedly twerking is beyond me), and she took that as an opportunity to go up and grind on the men, grabbing them and saying “yeah, you’re all my bitches now!” Anyway, I think I’m going to fake having a close contact and go into quarantine for 14 days because even the depression of total isolation will be better than having to meet her in real life for Big-Little reveal.

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

Take some small steps. Wash your face. Drink some water.

HOW TO SELF CARE

It’s okay if you’re not wildly productive. Even doing small things to take care of yourself or your space can be surprisingly therapeutic, and on some days it might be all you’re capable of doing. Don’t compare your self-care to anyone else’s or to what you feel like you should be doing — guilty is the opposite of what you should be feeling when practicing self-care. In fact, take the time to be immensely proud of yourself for taking those small steps. We don’t acknowledge enough how much effort it takes sometimes to take care of ourselves.

Eat healthily! (But also eat what makes you happy.)

Limiting consumption of concentrated sugars, alcohol, and caffeine limits those spikes and drops in your blood sugar and, consequently, your mood. Eating a balanced diet and foods high in fibers, omega-3s, vitamin D, and selenium are good ways to make sure you’re keeping your body healthy and happy. However, there’s no harm in also enjoying a bowl of ice cream or your favorite coffee when you’re in the mood for it!

Feeling burnt out and overwhelmed? Especially with the pandemic still going on, it’s probably time for you to indulge in some self-care activities to lighten a little bit of your load. One of the most important things to remember when embarking on this journey is that self-care looks different for everyone. This “how to” isn’t a step-by-step guide; it’s a list of options that you should consider to see if they’ll help you!

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Or make some alone time!

It’s equally as important to also make time for yourself, whatever that looks like for you. Hopefully you can find a good balance between social interaction and quiet time spent in your own space. Again, that balance will be different for everyone!

It can be hard sometimes with pandemic rules surrounding you, but try to increase the time you spend in social circles. There are lots of clubs operating on campus, or you could make a point to get dinner regularly with your friends or catch up with people from class. Talking to people helps reduce stress and gives you potential outlets for pentup emotions.

Even though TikTok is tempting, put your phone away. Spending mindless time on technology is often detrimental to your overall well-being, and spending some time with yourself, while potentially scary, is also an excellent way to practice self-care. Also, editing who you follow on social media could be a way of practicing self-care — only expose yourself to positive things or accounts that make you and others happy!

by Nora Klein ‘24 | (she/her)

Illustrations by Richard Farrell ‘22

Partake in some social activities.

Unplug for a little bit.

Find a creative outlet.

A self-care night could look like baking, cooking, drawing, writing, dancing, or painting for you! There are endless possibilities when it comes to creativity, and for some people it’s the perfect way to take a breather and release anything that’s been detrimental to your health lately.

Be active.

Aside from helping your physical well-being, being active increases the flow of endorphins, dopamine, adrenaline in your brain, which are all chemicals that make you happier and reduce anxiety.

Make sure you’re getting enough sleep.

Even though it’s hard sometimes, prioritize your own sleep, whether that means going to bed early, waking up late, or taking naps. Getting the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep a night helps you function better physically and mentally, and it’s a great form of self-care!

Find some way to relax.

Set aside some time to clean your space.

Maybe you move your things into piles instead of having things spread all over your room. Maybe you dedicate time to make your bed every morning. Maybe you deep clean your entire room because that’s what helps you think best. There are so many versions of cleaning and tidying. It doesn’t have to be anyone’s version of perfect, but it’ll give you a rush to have completed some small task to neaten your space.

Relaxation is a crucial element to self-care, especially since school is often a space that doesn’t allow for much relaxation. It could take the form of setting aside time to watch a movie, taking a bath or shower, reading a book, or maybe listening to a podcast.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Self-care is hard sometimes, and asking people to support you is always a good idea, whether it’s your friends, the health counselors, your family, or someone else you feel comfortable around. It really does take a village.

Self-care is about learning the things you can do to make you a better version of yourself. Do things simply because they make you feel good. Prioritize yourself! You have so many people who believe in you; make yourself one of them.