the davidsonian
FEBRUARY 17, 2016 VOL. 108 ISSUE 15
The Independent Student Newspaper of Davidson College since 1914
Staffing shortage ends program in Madrid AJ NADDAFF Staff Writer
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he office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs has decided to end the “Davidson in Madrid” program, according to Dr. Chris Alexander, head of Dean Rusk International Studies Program. The program was founded by Professors Patricio Boyer, Melissa González, Kyra Kietrys, Samuel Sánchez y Sánchez, Lola Santamaría, and Mary Vásquez, in the Hispanic Studies Department. The group began work in 2011 at the suggestion of Dr. Chris Alexander and Dr. Clark Ross, then Dean of Faculty. The program took two and a half years of research and preparation to hit the ground running. Kietrys, an integral member of the program’s inception and maintenance, led the first group of students in Spring 2014. While rooted in Hispanic Studies, the program was conceived
and has been sustained as a College program with the “hope that students and faculty from across the curriculum would participate in this cross-cultural immersion experience,” explained Kietrys. Uniquely tailored to meet the diverse needs and desires of students, the program provided a flexible structure. This organization allowed students to be as independent as they liked, while simultaneously fostering a connection with the Davidson community. But not until very recently had the program’s administration realized that there were questions about their ability to staff the program beyond its current year. As a result, the program will close its final chapter after this semester, drawing a curtain on a trip that has impacted the lives of many student participants. This past fall, 11 students under the leadership of González embarked on the program. The small program was “a prime example of the ways that faculty and staff at small liberal
arts colleges can create and sustain small-scale educational experiences that provide individualized support to students as they take on new challenges, fostering close faculty-student interactions and reciprocal learning,” González remarked. Currently, Dr. John Wertheimer, Professor of History, is leading four students for the program’s fifth and final semester. All past and current participants received the news in an email this January. The reason behind the closing of the program is straight-forward: there was not a plan for the staffing of the program that seemed sustainable to all of the people that needed to be involved in the decision. “Administratively, it really was about a staffing challenge,” Alexander explained. With over 150 approved study abroad programs yielding at least a 65 percent student participation rate, Davidson’s commitment to global education is apparent. Yet, this does not undermine the difficulties that can come with studying abroad. Kietrys, describing a common frustration, sadi, “Far too often, students return from abroad and ache to remember their time off campus with someone who understands them.” However, Davidson-sponsored programs are different. “No matter what path the students forge on the program, they ultimately have something in common with Davidson peers when they return to campus.” Such was the case with the Madrid program, which even gave students the opportunity to take classes taught by their Davidson professors who accompanied them. For example, Elizabeth Helzberg ’18, Political Science major and Hispanic Studies minor, embarked on the program in the fall and took a class on Spanish film with Professor González. The program is unique for many reasons, including the closeness that develops between faculty and students. “The many conversations I had with students during meals, on bus rides, and in museums, monuments, and hotel lobbies during two semesters in Madrid were many small things that added up to something much greater than what we did in the classroom,” González said. “I got to know and understand my students abroad in ways that are simply not possible on campus.” In addition, the program allowed students to
Inside NEWS Dr. Boddery discusses political implications of Supreme Court Justice’s death 4 LIVING DAVIDSON Eurydice dress rehearsal promises entertaining show 4 A Peanut Butter Hot Cocoa Recipe for cold days 4 PERSPECTIVES Three athletes argue for supporting student endeavors 5 Emma Johnson describes her transition from abroad 5 YOWL RLO replaces Myers-Briggs with Buzzfeed quizzes 6 Hillary Clinton regrets deal with Zune 6 SPORTS Shamael Chaudhry ’18 leads men’s tennis into A-10 play 7 Lacrosse looking for big year 8
See MADRID on page 3 Lucy Dempsey and Belle Raim ’16 on the 2014 program. Photo courtesy of Belle Raim.
New student-run group advocates for Charlotte refugees OLIVE DANIELS Staff Writer
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recently established organization for student civil engagement, Davidson Refugee Support (DRS) seeks to promote life skills, educational opportunities, and a broader sense of unity within the Charlotte refugee community. Founded and guided by Davidson students, DRS draws from a diverse group of student leaders to enact change in one of America’s fastest growing cities. Through the support of the Arab Studies Department Chair, Dr. Rebecca Joubin, and the Center for Civic Engagement, students have been organizing themselves into various committees within the group and coordinating weekly carpools to reach refugee communities in Charlotte. DRS’s ultimate goal, according to several of its most instrumental members, is to create lasting relationships with those refugees in need and to provide Davidson students an opportunity to get involved in a cause through which they can act directly in order to see a significant and positive change. DRS began in September as an idea discussed between Hayden Bates ‘17 and Anmar Jerjees ’18. Both Bates and Jerjees are interested in Arab Studies and the Middle East, coming from experience working abroad. Bates spent the summer of 2015 in Amman, Jordan, working with the
United Nations Refugee Agency. She discussed evant campaign. Madan was interested in gethow she was impacted by the “resiliency and ting involved in a hands-on way and helping to humanity of the Syrian individuals” whom she redirect the way refugees can be “portrayed by met. She became motivated to communicate the the Western media.” Naddaff was similarly fruscomplexity of their stories, which she believes are trated by “US perceptions of the refugee crisis often simplified by Western perceptions. abroad,” and he wanted to address the misguided Jerjees spent his summer in Bulgaria, working notions of Islamaphobia that surround the curas a translator rent crisis. in the nation’s Coming largest refugee from diverse Bates discusses how she was b a c k g r o u n d s camp. He “saw the stories” and impacted by the ‘resiliency and and cultures, the people bethese four stuhumanity of the Syrian individu- dents have hind them, and he realized that united als [whom she met].’ She bacame been back home on by their “dethe Davidson motivated to communicate the sire to help the campus, more community in complexity of their stories, which need.” While had to be done to address these organizaVKH EHOLHYHV DUH RIWHQ VLPSOLÀHG the issues than the tion is still in by Western perceptions. its nascent typical talks and panels. stages on camBoth stupus, significant dents recognized the ways in which the refugee work has been done during the last five months situation is often “misconstrued” in the US, and to seek out and mobilize student action. they wanted to take action. DRS does not have a president or elected Joining Bates and Jerjees as key leaders within officers. Instead, within the group, Bates acts DRS are Aman Madan ’19 and AJ Naddaff ’19. a “point person” for six separate committees Both students are likewise interested in Arab Event Planning, Health & Life Skills, Higher EdStudies, and they connected with Bates through ucation, Outreach & Publicity, and Sponsorship their common desires to get involved with a rel- & Fundraising. Each of these committees seeks
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to provide refugees in Charlotte with the tools to create and build upon their new lives in the U.S. Events are coordinated by DRS to bring members of the refugee community closer together; for example, DRS coordinated a Thanksgiving dinner for the refugees in November and a Valentine’s Day event in Charlotte, coordinated by Ashley Frye ‘19. One of their main tenets is not to decide what the refugees’ needs are, but instead, to work with them on an individual level and then help provide the tools necessary to move forward – be it in terms of educational assistance (e.g. ESL classes) or health and life skill management in a new country. Madan believes that this type of leadership structure makes DRS “more action-oriented” and ensures that each member holds a critical role. Currently, DRS coordinates weekly shuttles to Charlotte, where student volunteers work one-on-one with refugees and offer educational tutoring. Bates discusses the weekly commitment of the volunteers as “the most valuable thing we can do [in the community].” By creating stability and consistency in volunteer-refugee relationships, Bates believes that the group can have its largest impact. She also emphasizes the importance of ESL classes, SAT and TOEFL prep, and
See REFUGEE on page 2
News
Page 2 February 17, 2016
Dr. Scott Boddery assesses the impact of Justice Scalia’s death KATE MCNAUGHTON Co-News Editor On February 13, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia unexpectedly passed away. He served for nearly 30 years, and his originalist interpretation of the Constitution inspired a movement of legal thinkers. The Davidsonian spoke to Dr. Scott Boddery, Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science, about the repercussions of Scalia’s death. Dr. Boddery’s research focuses on empirical legal studies, judicial politics, presidential politics and American legal institutions. What effects will Scalia’s death have on the 2016 presidential race? So Scalia’s death is a game changer for the Court. There’s no way to underscore that enough. Regarding the presidential election, though, obviously the Republican candidates are going to be really jumping at this as a talking point. Really, it’s only going to effect the election if the Senate doesn’t confirm whatever nominee President Obama puts forward. That’s the only way that it really becomes crucial. If they obstruct, then the 2016 Presidential election becomes a referendum on the Supreme Court because it was an untimely death in the sense that he passed away under a democratic President. It changes the status quo of the Court dramatically, from a 5-4 conservative to a 4-5 liberal. Scalia, for the important, hot button issues, was a slam-dunk conservative. In 1986, when President Ronald Regan nominated Scalia to the Supreme Court, the nomination was considered by the Senate for 85 days and eventually approved by a tally of 98-0. Is such unanimity typical? It generally is. It’s not always 98-0 or 97-0. There are often some holdouts. But I think the Court has become increasingly politicized, as of late, especially the nominee right after Scalia, Robert Bork. It was a very contentious vetting process for the Senate, and they ended up forcing a vote and he was not confirmed. The Senate turned him down. It’s interesting because the similarities between Scalia and Bork’s jurisprudence are almost identical, but Scalia was approved unanimously and Bork was kicked out. The reason was that the seat that was in play was considered to be a swing seat. If you can get a swing seat that more reliably goes one way or the other, that’s what you’re really looking for. His name has now become a verb—you can be ‘borked’ as a judge. What influence did Scalia have on the Supreme Court? How did his originalist views affect the climate of the Court? He started the cottage industry with his original jurisprudence. The Federalist Society, which basically mirrors his ideology, was started in 1982. It was nonexistent before this. He’s remarkably consistent in applying that originalist thought into his case opinions. Of course, you can pick out opinions here and there where he’ll sway from that line of thought. But he was tremendously influential. As a conservative, Scalia balanced the dynamic between a four-member liberal wing, four-member conservative wing, and one
moderate Justice. What repercussions will his death have for future decisions by the Supreme Court, particularly in regard to the six big cases—abortion, contraception, unions, voting rights, affirmative action, and immigration— on the Court’s docket this term? Affirmative action is probably still going to be decided this term, only because Elena Kagan recused herself. So that brought the Justices down to eight before his death. Now, of those remaining eight, it was probably a 5-3 [decision], and now that he’s gone, it’s a 4-3 because she’s still recused. So that case can still be decided and have good law come from it—good law meaning established precedent. The others, though, because of a 4-4 tie, there are two ways to look at it. In the past, it’s been treated either as a 4-4 tie that affirms the lower court’s decision because it will just be two concurring opinions – neither one outweighs the other – or they reschedule for the next term. So you’ll see this in the past where a Justice suddenly has a become extremely ill and rather than risk a potential tie, they’ll reschedule arguments for the next term. I think that’s the way it’s probably going to go. But if you think about it, if they reschedule the remaining cases that are probably going to result in a tie and the Senate obstructs filling the open seat, then the Court is going to be halfway through it’s term next year. So just logistically, this is really a nightmare for the Court. Potentially, they are going to be stuck with 4-4 ties, which is the remainder of this Court term and half of the next Court term.
long paper trails with all of the decisions they’ve written [that] it takes a while to vet potential nominees. I can just imagine what they’re going through right now to find a well qualified candidate. The ideal situation is for President Obama to put forth someone whose integrity can’t be questioned. If that’s the case and the Senate is still obstructing, then there will be political consequences at the ballot box for the Senate. None of the last 12 successful Supreme Court nominees waited longer than 100 days for a confirmation vote. President Obama does not leave office for 339 days. What repercussions will this standstill have on the political climate of the country? We just haven’t seen it before because of the untimely death under an ideologically opposite Commander-in-Chief. It’s going to be interesting to see this play out because I don’t think there’s anything illegal of the Senate behavior to obstruct if they’re doing it within the rules of the Senate. Again, the only repercussion that can come from that is with public opinion of the Senate and in the ballot box. The latest Republican argument is that it has been “standard practice” for 80 years not to confirm a Supreme Court nominee in an election year. Is this true? No. But, to be fair, there should be an asterisk next to my answer. All of the previous nomination proceedings and vetting processes started before the last year. So the vacancy hasn’t happened in the final year, but Justices have been confirmed in the final year.
White House aides have stated that the President will pick a nominee “in due time,” and that he will select a sitting judge who has had bipartisan support in the past and could overcome the Republican opposition. Do you have any hypotheses about whom Obama will select? I don’t. I think there are always a lot of names thrown out there. The most intriguing one to me is Sri Srinivasan. He’s an Indian-American and he is on the D.C. Circuit. The D.C. Circuit is a finishing school for the Supreme Court. If you look at Supreme Court Justices who also served on the D.C. Circuit, you’ll be astounded at the number. That’s why when there’s an empty seat there, filling those vacancies are often hotly contested, too, because they see it as a stepping-stone to the Supreme Court. So if you had to classify him, he is mildly liberal but relatively moderate. The Senate not so long ago confirmed him by 97-0 and he has clerked for conservative Republican Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. So if you’re looking for someone who has a bipartisan mind, there you have it. He seems to be the perfect solution, but then again I haven’t done an exhaustive search. His credentials are spotless. Senators have the choice to vote yes or no to any nominee, as well as the option to refrain from voting at all. Do you believe that choosing not to vote is a disservice to Americans who value the democratic ideals of this country? I think that ‘s a fair statement. For high-profile decisions, such as this, the folks who elected their representative deserve to see some sort of behavior in Washington, D.C.
How realistic are the chances that a new Justice will not be approved by the time the next President takes the oath? Does the Senate, which is majority Republican, have the authority to block the democratic process? They definitely have the authority to turn down a nominee that the President puts forward; that’s certainly within their right. Whether or not they do that for political reasons and obstruct to essentially gamble and hope for a Republican getting elected, that’s a different question. I wouldn’t put it past either Republican or Democratic Senators if the roles were reversed. They can only work with the rules in front of them, and one of those rules is called the Thurmond Rule. It applies to vacancies that occur within the last six months of a presidential term. To employ the Thurmond Rule, that’s not until the end of this term, right? I think the best avenue is to nominate a centrist and Photo of Justice Scalia courtesy of CNN.com. Read their article here: http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/16/politics/ a well-qualified one. The antonin-scalia-autopsy-death-conspiracy-theories/ problem is that some of these Justices have such
Refugee Support focuses on education and community Continued from Page 1 citizenship test prep, coordinated by the Higher Education Committee, as extremely important in allowing refugees to regain the tools they need to advance their agency in their new home. However, DRS and its influence is not limited to the Charlotte area. This summer, a group of DRS members including Bates, Naddaff, and Madan will be traveling to Jordan. While abroad in the Middle East, they plan to “find and work with NGOs [such as EducationUSA] and institutions of higher education in the region” to identify Syrian refugees or young people whose educations have been interrupted by political conflict or civil war in their home nations. Their goal is
to assist these people in applying to be students non-profit organization has over 50 partnering at Davidson. Naddaff states that by “working on US schools committed to taking in Syrian stuoutreach with Davidson Admissions,” they hope dents who are displaced by war; furthermore, afto establish a filiation would way to test refuallow Davidson gees on their to extend op[...] Student volunteers work one- portunities to own abilities. However, for and on-one with refugees and offer amorelargerdiverse now, their first priority is eseducational tutoring. Bates dis- group of stutablishing Daparticucusses the weekly commitment dents, vidson’s affililarly those who ation with the of the volunteers as “the most have been disInternational enfranchised valuable thing we can do [in the by political Institute of Education. This in their community].” events independent, Levant home-
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lands. Additionally, the DRS representatives hope to communicate the meaning and benefits of a liberal arts education to refugees. For the remainder of the semester, DRS plans to continue its weekly trips to Charlotte and work in conjunction with the city’s Refugee Support Services. DRS is also in the process of creating a blog to share refugee stories in order to educate a wider audience about the realities of their situations. While the blog is still, according to Madan, in its “formative stages,” the group is also developing a website which will hopefully be finished within the next month. Until the website is live, official information and updates can be found on the DRS Facebook page.
News
Madrid program cancelled after a two-year run Continued from Page 1
istration’s decision. Some of them even wrote letters to the President and the Deans,” Kietrys said. travel around a country rich with Mediterranean “I was touched by this confirmation that program influence and unique cultural traditions. Includ- had such a profound impact on the students that ing orientation week, weekend trips, and even they were moved to action. I’m proud that the day trips, Helzberg’s group traveled to Bilbao, San students took the initiative to voice their opinSebastián, Segovia, Aranjuez, Córdoba, Sevilla ions.” and Granada. On how the administration and department “Overall, I enjoyed my experience. The pro- handled the announcement, there is mixed stugram gave me the opportunity to explore differ- dent opinion. One student, who chose to remain ent parts of the world and expand my horizons anonymous, said the explanation was vague. Dr. while improving my Spanish at the same time. I Kietrys sent an email to students who have parenjoyed being able to visit almost every region in ticipated, citing “extenuating circumstances” beSpain,” Helzberg said. hind the program’s cancellation. Isabel Ballester ’18 originally applied for Ballester, on the other hand, believes “the dethe fall 2015 semester but “fell in love with the partment did [the] best they could to communicity” upon arcate with the sturival and dedents about the cided to stay transition.” throughout Overall , I enjoyed my experience. She recognizthe Spring sees the difficulty The program gave me the oppor- of announcing mester as well. Given the tunity to explore different parts such an ostensipositive imunforeseen of the world and expand my hori- bly pact of the decision and the program, it zons while improving my Spanish tireless behindis no surthe-scenes effort at the same time. I enjoyed being put into attempts prise that its cancellation able to visit almost every region to preserve the garnered a program. “They of Spain.” obviously didn’t negative reaction from want to scare us, both faculty considering that and students - Elizabeth Helzberg ’18 we were already involved. almost a week “I think into the program. the overall student reaction is frustrated. I won’t Professors like Dr. Kietrys really put up a fight speak for my peers, but I know that I am upset for and did a lot of behind the scenes work that was sure,” Ballester commented. not asked of her. ” The Hispanic Studies department and various Alexander further commented about how diffaculty have voiced similar exasperation about ficult the decision was, knowing “all the fine peothe decision. Some even questioned why the ple who invested a tremendous amount of time, program was not put on hiatus instead of being energy, and dedication to this project,” he said. terminated. When asked about other opportunities to study “Former participants from departments in Spain, he mentioned the Cadiz trip, though he across campus have approached my colleagues understands that spending several weeks in the and me to express their dismay over the admin-
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Davidsonian.com
crime log Time Reported
Description / Location
2/08/16 at 1446 hrs
Miscellaneous-Suspicious Person at B. Inactive.
2/08/16 at 1649 hrs
Larceny Misdemeanor (Medication) at Union. Leads Exhausted.
2/12/16 at 2230 hrs
Trespass-2nd Degree at Armfield. Clear by Arrest.
2/14/16 at 2059 hrs
Larceny Felony (Backpack) at Vail Commons. Further Investigation.
summer is not the same experience as spending a semester or a full year in Madrid. Nevertheless, this option is available for students interested, and the study abroad staff is very skilled in helping students find non-Davidson Spain programs, he explained. The fight for a different structured Davidson in Madrid program is not completely over, though the decision to terminate the current program after this semester is definite. The International Education Committee would be willing to look at a proposal in the future for a version of a program in Madrid that did not face staffing issues. Meanwhile, Kietrys is cautiously developing different program structures to propose to colleagues, then to administration, while acknowledging that she cannot invest the two-and-a-half year time commitment that it previously took to get the program running without receiving administrative confirmation in advance. When asked how she feels being one one of the last people to attend the program, Ballester
said, “My overall feeling is thankfulness. I really benefitted from being abroad this year, especially with Professor and the support of the program. Obviously, I’m very saddened by the fact that it’s over, but I also know that there are other ways to be abroad in Spain for future students.”
Upcoming Deadlines Dean Rusk Summer Travel Grants Deadline Feb. 19, 5 p.m. Abernethy Grants Deadline Feb. 19, 5 p.m. Kemp Scholars Program Deadline Feb. 19, 5 p.m. Charles E. Lloyd Writing Award Deadline Feb. 23 Open to sophomores, juniors and seniors Students may submit up to 2500 words of prose R. Windley Hall Writing Award Deadline Feb. 23 2SHQ WR ÀUVW \HDU VWXGHQWV Students may submit up to 2500 words of prose or eight single-spaced pages of poetry Center for Civic Engagement Summer Grants Deadline Feb. 26 For domestic and international service projects DavidsonIE Internship Program Deadline Feb. 26 Opened to all students, including graduating seniors &KDSODLQ·V 2IÀFH 6XPPHU Grants Deadline March 11
living davidson
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February 17, 2016
Dress rehearsal of “Eurydice” proves to be promising
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COLLEEN KARLOVICH STAFF WRITER
he Davidson community is in for a treat this week, as the first Theatre Department performance of the 2016, “Eurydice,” opens today. It will run through Sunday, February 21. “Eurydice,” written by Sarah Ruhl, is a heart-wrenching tale of a heroine named Eurydice, who is played by Savannah Deal ‘18. The young, love-struck bride falls to her death on her wedding day; wrought with sorrow, her husband Orpheus (Cy Ferguson ‘16), a dreamyeyed musician, embarks on a mission to find his wife. During her adventure in the Underworld, Eurydice is introduced to the Stones: the Big Stone (America Bautista-Barcenas ’18), the Little Stone (Clarise Ballesteros ’16), and the Loud Stone (Sophie McHugh ’18). Eurydice is also reunited with her departed father (Collin Epstein ’18), who acts as her caring and patient guide as she navigates her new surroundings. Later, she meets the Lord of the Underworld (Ryan Rotella ’17), a slimy man who wished to marry Eurydice prior to his death. This performance is filled with laughter and joy, but also features several moments of despair and longing. Matthew Schlerf ’16, the director, has worked tirelessly on the play for over a year, perfecting each scene and scrutinizing every line delivered by the cast. Schlerf ’s hard work is evidenced throughout the performance, and his creative use of light and space provokes and intrigues audience members. Additionally, Chris Timmons designed an excellent stage set. The performance as a whole was a stellar showcase of emotion and energy.
Lewis’s economic literacy meets McKay’s humor in “The Big Short”
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ERIN GOLDEN STAFF WRITER
ichael Lewis and Adam McKay were an unlikely duo, much like the characters in “The Big Short.” Michael Lewis is a well-respected financial journalist and economist. Although an entertaining and compelling writer, in no way is he a comedy writer. However, Adam McKay, famous for “Step Brothers”, “Taladega Nights”, “Anchorman”, and other comedies featuring Will Ferrel, is well known for his humor. So how did this duo become yin and yang? Upon inspection, it is clear that McKay could have gone with a Bennett Miller approach, who directed Lewis’ book “Moneyball.” Miller made “Moneyball” as an inspirational sports movie, giving comedian, Jonah Hill, the opportunity to explore a more serious acting career. Yet McKay chose to leave the inspirational and more serious movie structure behind and capitalize on the absurdity of his characters. Such a decision is ev-
idenced by both Christian Bale’s eccentric and shabby character as well as the brilliant editing that went into creating the explanations for the complicated 2007 economic crisis. When McKay decided to take on this ambitious project he visited a bond-trading company to get firsthand experience of what he was going to portray in his film. He commented that there was displacement between big time financial practices and the average person noting, “I feel there’s a giant gap between the professionals and experts, and average people. Average people feel they’re too dumb, or banking is boring.” So in order to define the complicated terminology that Lewis poses in his book, McKay uses comedic and playful analogies. Such an editing technique is brilliant, and helps to explain the technical jargon in a memorable way. While other Wall Street movies focus on the lavish lifestyles of business tycoons (e.g. “The Wolf of Wall Street”), “The Big Short” finds a happy medium between entertaining audience
members with that same sort of disillusioning image of an investment banker while simultaneously educating the audience on what sparked the financial crisis. Take for example, Margot Robbie (who played Naomi in “The Wolf of Wall Street”) in a bubbling bathtub talking about a boring top-
ic—Mortgage Back Securities (MBS). McKay has said repeatedly he does what needs to get done to tell the story. Therefore, if the most effective way to educate audience members is to add humorous twists, so be it, as long as the message gets across in a relatively universal manner.
Courtesy Photo
THE CHEW 2.1
Materials
Peanut Butter Hot Cocoa
Measuring cups and spoons 1 medium pot
Mary Porter Adapted from Bychefchloe.com
Ingredients
Directions (Serves 2) 1. Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan. 2. Heat over medium and stir frequently until all of the chocolate chips are melted and the mixture is smooth. 3. Remove from heat and serve.
2 cups of non-dairy milk 1/2 cup of semisweet chocolate chips 1 Tblsp. of peanut butter or Want your favorite recipe featured? almond butter Email editor Mary Porter at 1 Tblsp. of sugar
Warm up during the winter season with this vegan treat!
maporter@davidson.edu to get involved!
Courtesy Photo
perspectives Creating a culture of support !"##"!$%"&'()$*%'+,,"$-.#,/%#$0$ !"##"!$&".
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he men’s basketball team took to the court last Wednesday night to take on conference foe LaSalle. On most game nights, students, faculty, and citizens of Davidson flock to Belk Arena to get a peek at the team that Stephen Curry took to the Elite 8. They come to watch the team that won the regular season title in their first season in the Atlantic 10 Conference and repeatedly dominated the SoCon. On this night, however, attendance was low, especially student attendance. The energy level in Belk Arena was noticeably down throughout the game, a fact that Coach McKillop and his players commented on after the game. That night, men’s basketball experienced what most students, athletes, and non-athletes alike, experience throughout their Davidson careers. While the men’s basketball team’s concerns are understandable, the reactions from players, staff, students, and townspeople were difficult to swallow especially considering the team consistently has about 4,200 fans a night. The lack of student support at Wednesday night’s game only brings to light a growing issue. What the men’s team experienced happens on a wider scale and on a more consistent basis for the rest of the student body. As seniors on three different women’s athletic teams--Basketball, Volleyball and Field Hockey-we have a unique perspective regarding campus support. All Davidson sports teams made a huge adjustment last year, working hard to raise their level of play to compete in the A-10. We appreciate any and all support, and feed off of the energy from everyone in attendance. We love rep-
resenting this school through athletics, but often feel disconnected from the rest of the Davidson community. Women’s basketball is constantly compared to the level and style of men’s: by nature, women’s basketball is less likely to make ESPN’s Top 10 plays, but the players demonstrate passion and camaraderie on every drive. In this season’s home game against George Washington, the top team in the conference, the GW fans far outnumbered the Davidson fans. Although low student and fan turnout is normal, moments like this are difficult especially on Davidson’s home court. Volleyball advertises the first home game of the season as “800 Fan Night”, hoping to spike interest and encourage students to come to more games throughout the season. This night is usually a huge success, but once the match ends, that level of fan turnout is rarely seen again until the next match where free food or shirts are given out to students. Even when those promotions occur, most students come for the first of up to five games, enjoy the free goodies, and then leave. The energy level in the gym then plummets as the team watches a mass of students exit just as the match is heating up. Although home games normally offer the hosting team an advantage, this is not the case for most Davidson sports teams other than men’s basketball. Regardless of whether our teams have had successful or difficult seasons (when we need
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support most!) turnout has remained constantly low. Fans could have a large role in the success of our athletic teams, creating energy and intimidating the opponent any time a Davidson team earns a point, scores a goal, wins a race, or makes a basket. This past season’s field hockey game against Richmond was one of the team’s proudest moments. With a turnout of almost twice the normal crowd, the energy felt electric and the team successfully transferred it onto the field, becoming the number one seed in the A-10 after an exhilarating overtime win. This was one of their six home games this season, the other thirteen were on the road, which made for a brutal travel schedule. After a grueling weekend of travel, the team pulled up to Baker late Sunday night to find five guys standing outside to welcome them home. The boys sported homemade signs that read “DCFH Stop Stealing Our Hearts” and “We Love DCFH.” Their support brought quite a few players to tears: after two games, two nights in two hotels, and an eight hour bus ride, the team would normally feel fairly disconnected from the Davidson community. However, knowing that DCFH had unconditional support meant so much to them. On the other hand, It’s not uncommon to hear students ask where the field is or not know what field hockey is in general. This disconnect further emphasizes the lack of support for the various student groups and organizations on campus. The problem of weak support does not just affect the athletic community. Other students
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Page 5 February 17, 2016
work hard to represent Davidson on the stage acting in plays or musicals, at research symposiums presenting their ground-breaking studies, in peaceful protests advocating for the values they stand for, or at VAC art galleries displaying their senior art shows, and rarely experience support from students outside of their friend groups. Davidson prides itself on being a supportive and caring community of bright young minds. We are not asking students to attend every athletic competition, talk in the 900 Room, or event in the Lilly Gallery. We know that there is not enough time in a student’s schedule to attend every event that goes on throughout the year. We do believe, however, that if every person put forth a conscious effort to show more respect for their fellow students’ hard work, in whatever capacity it may be, the Davidson community could become a more unified body. If we change our mindset to start focusing on how we can best support our peers, especially those whose work often goes unrecognized, we can continue to build our community into a more cognizant and considerate environment that appreciates each other’s unique gifts. Working to create such a culture could help Davidson become a place where not only the men’s basketball team feels supported, but all athletes, artists, musicians, dancers, activists, and academic scholars can also shine in the spotlight. Hannah Early `16 is a Religion and Political Science double major from Huntersville, North Carolina. Contact her at haearly@davidson.edu Melissa Funsten `16 is a Psychology major and Environmental Studies minor from Raleigh, North Carolina. Contact her at mefunsten@davidson.edu Hannah Rau `16 is a Biology major and Hispanic Studies minor from Palos Verdes Estates,California. Contact her at harau@davidson.edu
Trying to come home: Learning how to do Davidson again %**"$HI!#,I#
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was not ready for my first day of classes this semester – I was still waiting on two textbooks to come in, I only had a one-subject notebook for all four of my classes, and I was almost late to class because I could not find the room in Chambers. I am in my third year here – I should have figured this out by now! But being abroad in the fall last semester turned me around in ways I did not expect. Change has always been hard for me; when I get comfortable and settled in a place I want to stay there, and big moves and alterations in landscape and people always leave me disconcerted for a few weeks afterwards until I settle down once more. Of course, it was wonderful to see my friends at Davidson, but after that first week all I wanted was to go back to Panama. I missed everything about it: the weather, the food, the people, the field trips, and the free time. And this
longing, this intense nostalgia, made me question what exactly I was doing here at Davidson at all – a scary question to try and answer or even think about too deeply. So, instead of dwelling too much, I threw myself into the other commitments I found myself responsible for seeing through, and hoped that I would soon settle into my usual Davidson rhythm. I did settle down a bit, going from class to class, learning and absorbing and stretching my mind. I enjoy my classes: they challenge me and encourage me to think harder and more critically as I delve into the Environmental Studies major. But that “thinking harder” part means busy nights, non-existent weekends, and daily stress – the parts that all of us know good and well by now are just part of the typical Davidson experience. Throughout this first month of school, all I thought about were ways to not be here. I basically wanted to escape from everything at Davidson. A few days after I realized that I was longing to escape, I got a letter from my friend who lives in Atlanta. I had written to him earlier about my lack of enthusiasm for the workload and intensity of the upcoming semester, and how it was making me want to be anywhere but Davidson. He
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replied with something that struck me square on: “In reality, where we are is what matters now, and how we maximize the present dictates where we go in the future.” It was after reading these words that it first hit me how backwards my thinking had been during these first few weeks. No matter how much reminiscing I did about Panama, it would not change the fact that I am enrolled in the Spring 2016 semester at Davidson, and I will be here for its entirety regardless of how much I want to go lay on the beach. How would I enjoy my one semester as a junior at Davidson if I pretended for the entire time that I was not even here? What if I missed out on fun and engaging opportunities at Davidson because I spent the whole semester wallowing in what I no longer have? Panama will still be there this summer, two years from now, or anytime I want to return, but my time as a Davidson student only lasts so long. Soon enough I will be reminiscing with similar nostalgia about Davidson. This is not to say that I am discounting the importance of my study abroad experience. What is important now, I think, is to figure out how to continue to think critically about what I learned
abroad and how I can apply that knowledge to my work here. And with that, embrace the idea that the work I do here at Davidson can be just as important and meaningful as the work I did abroad. At any stage of your life, I think my friend’s words can be applied to how you are living in this world. This is the present, and if you spend your time now stuck in the past, you will never move forward, and if you are always thinking about the future you will never get the choice to enjoy what you already have. If I could not learn to love my life at Davidson while I am here, how will I settle in at any place I go from here? If I approach every place as if it is a stepping stone to somewhere else, somewhere better, then I may never find what I am looking for. So where do I go from here? I can try my best to minimize the stress I have from schoolwork, but I think that there are other ways to make my Davidson experience memorable. I just have to be here to find them. Emma Johnson `17 is an Environmental Studies major from Washington, D.C.. Contact her at emjohnson@davidson.edu
THE LAID BACK HANG OUT ISSUE Everyone Interesting Either Dead or Speaks French
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Student Reports to Honor Council After Failing to Properly Cite Doodle
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Vom Van is on its Way, But Has to Make Stops at Fuel Pizza, Ryburn, Walmart, Ohio
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Nation’s Recovering Amnesiacs Pretty Upset About This 9/11 Business Page 8
Hollywood Axes “Cleveland Has Fallen”
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Hillary Campaign Regretting Zune Sponsorship
RLO Considers Using Buzzfeed Quizzes to Pair Roommates
As the presidential race kicks into even higher gear, the Hillary Clinton campaign has come to regret acquiring a sponsorship from the Microsoft Zune. The sponsorship, reportedly sought out by Hillary after hearing complaints that she needs to be more relatable, has much of Hillary’s campaign staff in a stressful place. “We told her that we needed to seem cool, that we should try to find a way to let the younger generation of voters know that we understand their concerns,” said senior staffer Jenny B. Carthy. “We tried having Hillary use Snapchat, we tried having her dance, we even tried having her say words like ‘chilling.’ None of it worked. And then we hear that she had gone off and talked to the Zune people without even consulting us.”
At last Thursday’s sparsely attended SGA meeting, RLO announced that it is considering a partnership with Buzzfeed aimed at developing a more effective system for pairing incoming first years with their roommates. Citing problems with the ever-controversial Myers-Briggs test, area coordinator Emmaline Gulian explained the reasoning behind the proposition: “Placing people together based on four arbitrary criterion just isn’t working out anymore,” stated Gulian, referencing the measurements of extraversion/introversion, sensing/intuition, thinking/feeling, and judgement/perception. “That’s why I’m all for launching the new initiative, which will pair people based on results from a plethora of Buzzfeed personality quizzes.” The new assessment would take into account results from quizzes such as ‘How Well Do You Really Know Season 6 of Friends?’, ‘What Emoji Are You Based on The Color of Your Bra?’ And ‘Which Iconic ‘00s Teen Movie Do You Actually Belong In?’ Responses to the new assessment “If only we had taken a have been generally positive. Sophomore Jim Hurley commented, “My ‘Which Font Are You’ quiz, roommate and I don’t get along at then RLO would have known all, even though we’re both ENTJ’s. If only we had taken the ‘Which Font better to place my roommate Are You’ quiz, then RLO would have -who is clearly a Comic Sansknown better than to place Louis – who is clearly a Comic Sans – with a with a Century Gothic like Century Gothic like myself.” myself.” Research indicates that the questions posed in Buzzfeed quizzes are actually much more suited to the task of roommate assignment than those associated with Myers-Briggs. “MB asks things like how punctual you are, where you stand at parties, and whether or not you obey laws,” explained Psychology major Alyssa Katz ‘15. “With Buzzfeed, there’s a lot more variety. Some quizzes ask you to choose your favorite picture of Kanye West. Others question what matters most to you: family, adventure, memes, et cetera. One guessed my favorite color based off of my astrological sign, and it was right! When it comes down to something as important as who you’re living with for an entire year, it’s important to ask the questions that matter.” Sources say that if this initiative goes well, the college may integrate Buzzfeedtype programs into other aspects of Davidson culture. Rumored projects include restructring State of the Campus speeches to be presented in list format, lecturing students solely through #relatable videos, and going paperless.
Hipster Always Wearing Beanie: Douche or Hosting Voldemort?
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Chapstick Use Skyrockets After Chapstick Company Puts a Little Cocaine in There
Page All-nighter
Guy Steals Girlfriend’s Shirt in Twist of Fate Page 3
This is a Safe Space
THE DAVIDSONIAN
This Issue Brought to You By: A General Lack of Enthusiasm
“I love my Zune. Way cool,” Hillary tweeted on Saturday evening. “Nothing like taking a load off on the campaign trail by listening to some tunes, Zune style!” Despite the complaints from her campaign staff that say the Zune is the least hip and relatable product in existence, Hillary does not appear to regret the Zune-Hillary partnership. “I love my Zune. Way cool,” tweeted Hillary on Saturday evening. “Nothing like taking a load off on the campaign trail by listening to some of my favorite tunes, Zune style!” According to Hillary’s staff, this is not the first time she has tried to acquire a remarkably un-hip partnership during her campaign for the presidency. In 2008, for instance, Hillary reportedly attempted to wear her Walkman on stage during a debate, but she was spotted beforehand and disarmed before permanent damage could be done to her public image. Additionally, a few years later rumors swirled that Hillary was attempting to negotiate a partnership with a typewriter manufacturer, though none were currently in existence. “Hillary loves her Zune,” former President Bill Clinton chimed in during an interview last week, “loves that thing. Of course, I’ve had an iPhone for eight years, but I’m just gonna let her continue to listen to those Lil’ Bow Wow tracks she loves so much. No point in ruining a good thing.”
Pope Francis and Russian Patriarch Kirill Set Up on Blind Date: It Goes ‘Meh’
Your Davidson Honor Section
Editors: Paul Henderson Sophie “No Show” McHugh Writers: Hannah Leeburmin Ayala (you had such potential) Santos? Anna Marie Scoccibimindiopolis Note: The Yowl is a satirical supplement to The Davidsonian. Hence, nothing in it should be taken as truth. Word.
In a historic event, Pope Francis was introduced to Russian Patriarch Kirill on a date at a local Mexican restaurant. The head of the Catholic Church’s friends set him up after tiring of his complaints that he was “single and ready to mingle”. “I was just like, ‘Holy cow,’” the Pope’s good friend Stefani Germanotta recalled. “Francis is such a great guy, but he’d been out of the game for a long time. And then I remembered this awesome Russian dude that’d be a perfect match. So, I figured I might as well set them up.” The Pope bravely agreed to the date and decided to pick up the Russian Patriarch at around 7 p.m. on February 14. Initial greetings were reportedly awkward. After a halfway enthusiastic hug on Kirill’s front steps, the ride to the restaurant was mostly silent apart from the Pope’s occasional whistles. Upon arrival and taking their seats, an unpleasant conversation followed in which the Pope took issue with Kirill’s affinity for Ben Carson. At one point in the meal, the Patriarch was unsure of the date and considered faking food
“Initial greetings were reportedly awkward. After a halfway enthusiastic hug on Kirill’s front steps, the ride to the restaurant was mostly silent apart from the Pope’s occasional whistles.”
poisoning in order to to escape the scene. “I’m not giving up on love,” he said afterwards, “but I was pretty disappointed… I mean, Taco Bell? That’s more TexMex than anything.” The Patriarch reportedly went to the ladies room to powder his nose and received a pep talk from his girlfriends via cellular phone. When he returned, the date took a turn for the better. The two religious figureheads discussed the struggles of being so important, laughing over times they slept through their alarms Sunday mornings and recalling their weekly chats with Jesus. “It was cute for a little while there,” said cashier Connie Batter. “Once they found what they had in common, which didn’t seem to be much, they started smiling for once.” All in all, the date lasted 14 minutes, and both parties appeared to have had a decent time. “I don’t know if this will go anywhere, but I think I’m finally ready to get back out there and move past Sharon,” the Pope said.
sports
Page 7 Davidsonian.com
Chaudhry leads experienced returning tennis squad EMMA JOHNSON Staff Writer
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ou might think from looking at the men’s tennis roster this year that not much has changed since last year. In a way, that is true, as the team did not lose any seniors; yet many other aspects of the team have continued to improve. Shamael Chaudhry ’18 notices these changes, he himself evolving considerably as a player in only his second year with the Wildcats. Chaudhry hopes to see this growth, both personal and collective, continue throughout the rest of his Davidson career. The Wildcats have not had the strongest start to the season in their out-of-conference games, starting with three losses in a row. It was not until the second match of their doubleheader on February 6 that the ‘Cats finally broke free for their first win of the season, against North Carolina A&T. With only 20 minutes between their match against UNCG and the one against NC A&T, the team had just enough time to eat and get a small warm-up in before hitting the court, but they came out with the energy they needed to win. “We motivate each other when we are struggling,” Chaudhry told me, and this motivation and support helped the Wildcats come back onto the court to earn the win. The three doubles positions all netted victories, with scores of 6-0, 6-0 and 6-1. In singles, Chaudhry, Artem Khrapko ’18, Jordan Hart ’17, David Hager ’17, and Jack Riazzi ’17 each picked up a win to complete the 6-1 win against A&T. This turnaround in the doubleheader represents a larger movement by the players to keep honing their skills so that with each game they are able to come onto the court with improved chances to win. This evolution, says Chaudhry, has been occurring since he came to Davidson,
as he works to become a stronger and more active player than he was before he came to Davidson. “As I am smaller, I try to use my speed and be more aggressive on the court and play more at the net,” he explained. As a team, the Wildcats are working on a better balance in practice so they can be better prepared and relaxed for games. With each match, with each round of tight competition, the Wildcats learn how to continue improving their game and build their strength as one cohesive team. This past weekend, the ‘Cats hosted two matches, including their first game against an A-10 opponent, Richmond, the number one team in the conference last year. On Saturday, the team had a strong showing against Wingate, sweeping the Bulldogs, 7-0, marking six straight wins that the Wildcats have had over them. Sunday, however, the ‘Cats faced tougher competition against the Spiders. The Wildcats struggled in doubles but fought hard in the singles games. Davidson’s three points were from Khrapko, J.B. Gough ’17 and Riazzi, who each won their third straight singles matches. With the narrow loss to a high-powered opponent, Davidson fell to 2-4 overall. As the team moves forward with the rest of the season, they specifically hope to excel in the rest of their A-10 matches, all of which are ex- Chaudhry occupies the top singles position for a squad that has stayed in tact completely from pected to be tight competition. “We are trying to last year. Photo by Shea Parikh. improve and practice starting now so that we can be ready for the championship,” Chaudhry said. Wildcats have nine matches in March, and will ample for the other members of the team. He is Individually, Chaudhry wants to improve his be travelling to schools from Miami to Philadel- working now to try and set that precedent for the rank as a player in the A-10. “I want to be the phia, so balancing schoolwork, games and travel future. “I am trying to be more positive now and A-10 Player of the Year, as well as improve on will test how well the ‘Cats can come out onto the understand the capabilities of everyone on the my record, especially at the end of the season,” court as well as into the classroom each day. team,” he said. he explained, adding that he wants to “maintain Everyone on the team continues to be motiThe growth of the men’s tennis team will not my game for the A-10 championships.” Each stop at the end of this season, as its athletes contin- vated moving forward despite the rough start to player needs to be in top form for the conference ue to learn more and practice harder. Chaudhry the season, and we can expect to see some strong championships in order for the team to put up a hopes to lead the team up until his graduation play and well-fought matches in A-10 play as the strong fight, but this is easier said than done.. The two years down the road, setting a strong ex- season goes on.
Lacrosse begins season looking for complete performances BENSON KLINGLER Staff Writer
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his season Lacrosse looks to improve on a respectable showing in their first year in the Atlantic 10 Conference. After finishing 3-5 in A-10 play last year, the team will set its goals higher this season. “We want to win more A-10 games this year and make a run at the A-10 championship,” said captain Holly Thomas ‘16. Coach Kim Wayne highlighted how leaving the Big South Conference and joining the Atlantic 10 has benefited the program. “The competition is much tougher, which means we are
focusing on recruiting bigger, faster, and stronger players,” Wayne said. Stiffer competition has allowed the program to improve and become more competitive nationally. The team will have to fill the gap created by the graduation of the highly successful trio of Emily Rademacher ‘15, Emily Cooke ‘15 and Katy Boyle ‘15 from last year’s squad. Cooke graduated as the program’s all-time leader in assists, and was second all-time in career points. Rademacher was another program great, graduating second in all-time draw controls and top-ten in points. There are big shoes to fill. Captain Emma Sissman ’16 is confident that this year’s team will be able to adapt. “It is going
to be up to the new freshmen to fill their roles, but everyone on the team must also adjust and step up as leaders,” she said. “The freshmen add a sense of eagerness and a willingness to learn that pushes our team to get better on and off the field,” added Nicole Pettiglio ’17. Sarah Kopp ’19 is a freshman to look out for, as her style of play and hustle will be key in replacing last season’s seniors. Last year the team struggled to be consistent throughout the entire game and will look to improve in that area. Even though the team performed better at home than on the road, Wayne is confident that the team is ready to play in any venue. “Playing for 60 minutes will be the key to
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our success this year no matter where the game is being held,” Wayne said. The team will hope to avoid close losses like it had in the game against Richmond last season, where an overtime goal gave the Spiders the win. If the team can remain consistent throughout the entire game this year, it should be able to build on the successes of last season. Thomas is confident in the team’s depth and experience overall. “Our team has great depth at the midfield position and experience all over the field,” she said. “We have two solid midfield lines that are able to play both ends of the field equally,” Thomas added. Even though some key attackers graduated, the defense has remained intact and will look to improve this year. The team will get to face off against A-10 foe Richmond again on April 17 at Richardson Stadium. “The Richmond game will be on senior day this season, so coming out strong and proving that we can play will be important to the seniors and the whole team,” said Sissman, who anticipates that the Spiders game will be one of the biggest matchups this year. The April 30 game against UMass will also be a huge game since the Minutewomen have won the conference consistently. “I believe with our team’s depth and work ethic, we could give UMass a run for their money this season,” Sissman said. The team opened the season against Virginia Tech in nonconference action last week, where they lost in a close 9-8 matchup. The Wildcats jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the first half, only to lose in the last minute of the game. Despite the result, the game has the team excited for the remainder of the season. “Virginia Tech is a highly competitive ACC team, and a one-point loss to them has set the tone of how hard we will work this season,” Pettiglio said. The team’s next game will be against Kennesaw State on February 20 in Kennesaw, Georgia, where they will look to get their first win of the season. Conference play begins April 1 at home against La Salle. If the team can remain healthy, avoid injuries and continue working hard in practice, don’t be surprised to see the Wildcats making a run for the Atlantic 10 Championship come May.
THE DAVIDSONIAN
Chaudhry among full returning tennis squad See Page 7
Shamael Chaudhry ’18 Photo by Shea Parikh
February 17, 2016