the davidsonian
April 20, 2016 Vol. 108 issue 18
The Independent Student Newspaper of Davidson College since 1914
Inside NEWS Davidson Refugee Support group plans international travel in summer 2016 2 New North Carolina HB2 legislation provokes strong reactions from students 2 LIVING DAVIDSON Frolics provides campus-wide events for students 4 Jacob Hege profiles GSS professor Dr. Katie Horowitz 4 PERSPECTIVES Grace Woodward discusses the influence of fear in the Republican party 5 Grace Carr shares opinion on the modern Church 5 YOWL The Rape Awareness Committee poses for a photo after the event. Photo by Olive Daniels.
Professor hopes students will join him at Commons language table 6
Take Back the Night empowers survivors of sexual assault to share their personal stories JACOB HAYTHORN Staff Writer The night began with a packed room. Every seat and every table in the 900 Room was filled with people fitting into every possible gap around the walls and railings. The smell of pizza and the
sounds of congenial conversation and laughter gave the room a pleasant and warm sensation amidst the hustle of normal Davidson life. At 7:00 pm, there was a brief introduction and then the first story began. In the silence that followed, the room filled with a palpable energy: a silence packed with tears, love, anger, a total
YOWL writers find spiritual, financial fulfillment 6
compilation of the range of human emotions. Slowly but surely, the dam breaks as one student after another approaches the microphone and shares their story.
SPORTS Jake Sidwell shows remarkable consistency on baseball field 7
See SURVIVORS on page 3
College acquires new property at 210 Delburg Street AJ NADDAFF Senior Staff Writer In October 2014, Davidson College acquired a space unlike any other on campus: an old brick building at 210 Delburg Street. The un-renovated former textile mill with multiple massive rooms is situated directly across from the popular local restaurant Brickhouse Tavern. Property owners Bridgeport Fabrics first approached the college a couple years ago correctly assuming the school’s interest for the myriad opportunities that come with the unique space. At the recommendation of the members of the college’s leadership team, President Quillen, in consultation with the Chair of the Board of Trustees and other Trustees selected by the board chair, finalized the strategic property acquisition. “This space will further Davidson’s primary purpose by offering students, faculty, and staff more opportunities for original work and creative problem-solving in collaboration with each other and community partners—businesses, non-profits, start-ups, and potentially other educational institutions,” Quillen said. Late last month, the President’s office initiated a conversation about the new space’s use, promoting dialogue amongst a crowd of students and mainly campus community members. Davidson’s Director of Property Management, Mike Kessler, opened up the conversation
explaining the historic and architectural overview of the property. Following Kessler’s presentation, President Quillen led an open-forum dialogue asking students, faculty and staff to share their ideas for how the college might strategically leverage the property, said Hannah Levinson, the school’s first Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship. The only catch: these ideas had to be financially selfsustaining and innovative, while creatively and collaboratively embracing the open architecture and commercial zoning of the building. Ideas that arose include: the creation of a space that advances an entrepreneurial ecosystem; fabrication, maker and machining space; a place for Davidson to consistently and directly engage with the local community; and partnering with companies and community organizations. Betsy Marshall ‘16 was one of the students who attended the talk. “I’m really excited about the future of the Delburg space. I think the space will provide the college with a unique opportunity to promote community collaboration, student entrepreneurship, and possibly artistic endeavors as well,” she said. “Additionally, I’m hopeful that the space will include a cafe, lounge, library, etc. so that all Davidson students are encouraged to wander over and feel a part of these exciting ventures!” President Quillen too voiced her excitement on the space’s endless possibilities engendered
from the creative minds of the community. “The building’s location, wide open floor plan, size and versatility have already generated great ideas from our campus community, and I look forward to learning more, especially from
students, about how we can best use this space to serve our goal of educating very talented young people for lives of leadership, service, impact and global citizenship,” she said.
The 210 Delburg property sits across from the Brickhouse Tavern. Photo by Emma Johnson ‘17.
News
Page 2 April 20, 2016
Davidson Refugee Support group sends members abroad COLLEEN KARLOVICH Staff Writer The Davidson Refugee Support (DRS) group is doing more than supporting refugees in Charlotte - they are also sending students abroad to tackle problems head-on. The group has extensive summer work planned out for the next year, including a series of lectures, a trip to the Middle East, and an update to Charlotte’s refugee support system using recently awarded funds. Over the course of the semester and continuing on next year, there will be a series of lectures called the Syria Awareness Series, which focuses on recounting and explaining the situation in Syria as well as the refugee crisis. This past Monday, April 11, they had their first lecture where Dr. Miriam Cooke gave a talk on the topic of “The Syrian Revolution and the End of Ideology.” As an expert on the Middle East, Cooke gave a brief overview of the history of the conflict and today’s circumstances. Afterwards, she gave her own personal opinion on the crisis and her own perspective. In addition to the lecture series, the DRS recently won several prizes at the Ideas of March, including Audience Favorite and the Second Prize overall, winning a total of $4500. Students Aman Madan ‘19, Anmar Jeerjees ‘18, and Kerry Honan ‘17 made the pitch at the event. Their proposal had several different elements; one was focusing on English as a Second Language (ESL) tutoring, another for the community garden that they are building in Charlotte with Syrian refugees, and finally one for SAT and Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL), an English proficiency test, prep. The group was ecstatic to receive the awards, particularly their Audience Favorite award, “So we were really, really proud of what we did. And it showed that we cannot only impress judges but we can also impress the student body,”
said Jeerjees ’18. DRS knew that Charlotte’s refugee support group has needs, but they weren’t quite able to discern them. According to Madan ’17, they did exactly what every Davidson student would do: ask. “A lot of these organizations come in and say, we know what your needs are, we’ve worked with your type of people before, here how we are going to solve them. Our goal has always been to flip that and say, ‘We don’t know what your needs are, what are your needs, and let’s solve them together’.” The first need that the group identified was for affordable, fresh, local produce which will give families a sense of autonomy and self-reliance. With the money they received from the Ideas of March, the community garden will become a community farm. Additionally, the ESL curriculum and citizenship test training is crucial to the success of any integrated immigrant family, however it has been described as, “Choppy. It’s not consistent, we pick from here and we pick from there. There is not a solid, sustainable, or robust curriculum that we’re working with,” said Madan ‘17. With the money the received, they plan to revamp the ESL curriculum and build it from the ground up. According to Madan ’17, “We’re providing an element of Davidson academics behind that English curriculum.” In addition to the great work this semester, several students will be traveling to the Middle East this summer where they will be promoting a liberal arts education. Recently, Davidson College has joined a consortium of colleges that are now accepting Syrian refugee students whose education has been disrupted by the war. The group will be presenting to Syrian students and will be broadcasted on their social media websites, which have a following of over 300,000 people. Madan said, “We are really excited to meet all these really cool people. Because there is a disconnect between us and these students. When we
think about student refugees, we’re likely to think about people who are…homeless, no future, people that we normally wouldn’t connect with. I’m excited to dismantle that stereotype and meet with people who are really cool and really smart, and the only problems that they have is their education has been disrupted, as a result of politics through no fault of their own.” Davidson Admissions, the Administration, and the Refugee Support Group have been working tirelessly hand-in-hand to offer this oppor-
tunity to refugee students, who are qualified, to receive a Davidson education. If you would like to get involved in the work of the Davidson Refugee Support group, feel free to check out their website: davidsonrefugeesupport.org and use the “contact us” button. You can also email Anmar Jeerjees (anjeerjees@davidson. edu) or Aman Madan (ammadan@davidson.edu) to learn more about how you can become a part of the organization.
DRS team leaders pose with Dr. Rebecca Joubin at the March of Ideas event. Photo by alumna Jane Campell.
Community responds to recent controversial NC legislation MEERA NAGARAJ Staff Writer Since the passage of House Bill 2, more commonly known as the “bathroom bill” or HB2, on March 23, North Carolina has been the subject of national controversy. Cited as the one of the most anti-LGBTQ+ pieces of legislation in the nation, HB2 requires people to use the bathrooms corresponding to their biological sexes in public facilities. It also overrides several statewide antidiscrimination statutes. The bill was signed into law after a General Assembly special session met to reverse the Charlotte ordinance that expanded protections for the LGBTQ+ community in public areas. While Davidson, as a private institution, isn’t directly affected by the bill and can continue to implement gender-neutral housing initiatives, several students have expressed shock and anger over a law that is said to directly attack LGBTQ+ rights. Dylan Goodman ‘16, a campus LGBTQ+ advocate, recalled his immediate raw emotions: “I was in shock. I walked around for a bit and decided to go for a run because I was so filled with anger.” Bridget Lavender ‘18, President Emeritus of the Davidson College Democrats, agreed, adding, “It’s pretty disheartening that this happened overnight and literally undid 30 years of antidiscrimination ordinances.” Lavender also commented on the alleged baseless nature of the bill. According to Lavender, “The entire premise of the law as protecting women and children from men who might masquerade as women and go into the bathroom and then rape someone has not been supported. It is harming our LGBTQ+ youth who aren’t able to express their genders or use the bathrooms with which they are comfortable.” In a campus-wide email to address student concerns about the law, President Carol Quillen affirmed Davidson College’s commitment to tolerance and assured students to “continue to use the restrooms in which you feel most comfortable.” SGA President Ben Callinder ‘17 and Vice President Dara Ferguson ‘17, who commended
President Quillen for taking a stance, call for all Davidson students to “work for a better tomorrow and equity for all students even when our government fails to do so.” Lavender said that she understands concerns about the messages that HB2 sends. In regards to the responses of prospective students, she mentioned a grandmother who praised her grandson for removing Davidson as his top choice college in response to HB2. “I get that the bill doesn’t directly affect Davidson, but prospective students are seeing the fact that discrimination is now completely legal in North Carolina, and as a result, people have lost their jobs for being gay just a few days after the bill’s passage,” Lavender said. Commenting on the negative press surrounding Governor Pat McCrory over the last month, Elizabeth Wright ‘17, President of College Republicans, drew attention to the fact that some are taking advantage of the bill to weaken McCrory’s chance of re-election. “I think that what people have forgotten is that a few years ago McCrory vetoed Amendment One, a discriminatory law against LBGTQ+ people. His veto was ultimately overridden, but it made him very unpopular among Republican circles. He did not want to do it again at the risk of losing the Republican base.” Other students, however, felt that McCroy had a moral obligation to stand up for North Carolinians, even if he risked losing Republican support. Lavender added, “Even if he would have been overruled, he still has a responsibility to the LGBtQ+ population.” Recently, McCrory has issued an executive order restricting state employees from being fired or harassed for identifying as LGBTQ+. Many students, however, feel that the order isn’t enough to ameliorate the situation. Goodman’s says, “It’s too little, too late. You can explain it all you want, but the fact is that you passed a bill that denies safety and directly impacts all queer people, specifically those who are lacking job security in the first place and desiring a better minimum wage.” Others see an underlying profit motive guiding McCrory’s sudden change of heart. Ferguson believes that the change stems from “multimillionaire dollar industries taking their business
out of North Carolina.” “Unfortunately, it’s not an issue of rights and equal opportunity for people, but of money,” she stated. Dr. Susan Roberts, a political science professor at Davidson, also pointed out that McCrory’s executive order “does nothing to change the bulk of HB2, as it only affects state employees.” Despite the emotional responses that the bill has triggered among the Davidson community,
many students perceive this legislative decision as a call to action. Lavender hopes the bill will lead “more people to care about the local election.” In terms of supporting the LGBTQ+ community, Goodman hopes that the law “can make us all turn inwards as a campus and realize that we aren’t doing enough for queer and gender nonconforming students.”
Protests rally in downtown Charlotte in opposition to HB2. Photo courtesy of Liberty News.
News Survivors confide in audience Continued from Page 1 Monday night, April 18, students and faculty from every grade and department came out to Take Back the Night. Organized by the Rape Awareness Committee (RAC), Take Back the Night is an event giving a voice to those willing to share their stories of sexual assault, whether they are a first or second hand survivor. Adopted as early as the 1970’s, women’s rights groups across Europe and the United States have organized everything from marches to candle light vigils under the name, “Take Back the Night.” The official Take Back the Night organization (TBTN) has advocated against what their website labels as an ongoing epidemic of sexual violence. TBTN participants have organized activities tackling a wide swath of issues ranging from domestic violence to porn and media portrayals of women. Since the late 1990s, TBTN events have shifted away from the large demonstrations to be more locally focused events at places like college campuses, women’s shelters, and clinics. At Davidson, Take Back the Night takes on a slightly different face. The first campus TBTN event was organized several years ago by the RAC. According to RAC president Ashley Frye ‘19, “Our job is just to make Davidson campus aware of what consent is, and why it’s important. Our main goal is to get out the idea that consent is good, and also to make people aware of the policies of Davidson regarding sexual assault.” With regards to TBTN at Davidson, RAC Vice President Conor Hussey ‘18 said, “The way Davidson does [TBTN] is pretty unique compared with the way other college campuses do this.” In contrast to the vigils or screenings of most TBTN events, the Davidson event is structured around an open microphone. “[Our event is] a forum and a space where anyone can get up and take the [microphone] as a primary survivor or as a secondary survivor to share their stories of sexual assault,” said Hussey. For Frye, “It all goes back to thinking about all of this in a qualitative way not a quantitative one, it’s not just data and numbers… It’s important to hear real stories; you see these people, you know these people and that can be super powerful.”
Gloria Fortuna ‘19 recites an anonymous submission.. Photo by Olive Daniels. While the evening was clearly a great step forward in the healing process for many in the room, most of the stories raised questions and concerns for the existing culture of rape and sexual assault on Davidson’s campus. Some students expressed frustration with the administration’s handling of sexual assault cases while others conveyed anger at the ways that our campus culture perpetrates silence and isolation when responding to issues of sexual assault and rape. For Hussey, engaging this larger dialogue is essential to the goals of the RAC. He said, “On a base line, our mission is to start conversation and raise awareness around issues of consent.”
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Davidsonian.com
crime log Time Reported
Description / Location
4/12/16 at 0118 hrs
Injury to Real Property (Window) at BSC. Further Investigation.
4/13/16 at 1301 hrs
Larceny Misdemeanor (Tools) at Martin Science. Prosecution Declined.
4/14/16 at 1545 hrs
Larceny Misdemeanor (Bicycle) at Little. Further Investigation.
4/14/16 at 1842 hrs
ABC Law Violation at SAE. Prosecution Declined.
4/15/16 at 1857 hrs
Underage Consumption at PDT. Dean Referral/Medic Transport.
4/15/16 at 1956 hrs
Injury to Personal Property (Vehicle) at Armfield PVA. Further Investigation.
4/15/16 at 2116 hrs
Miscellaneous-Suspicious Person at Physical Plant. Inactive.
4/15/16 at 2201 hrs
Injury to Personal Property/Injury to Real Property (Door Handle/Chair) at Flowe. Further Investigation.
4/16/16 at 0214 hrs
Injury to Real Property (Corkboard/ Exit Sign at Chidsey. Further Investigation.
4/16/16 at 1915 hrs
Underage Consumption at Chidsey. Dean Referral/Medic Transport.
4/16/16 at 2238 hrs
Impaired Driving DWI/Driving While License Revoked at Smith House. Clear by Arrest.
4/17/16 at 0113 hrs
Underage Consumption at Chidsey. Dean Referral/Medic Transport.
4/17/16 at 0156 hrs
Underage Consumption at Chidsey. Prosecution Declined.
4/17/16 at 0146 hrs
Underage Consumption at Watts. Dean Referral/Medic Transport.
4/18/16 at 1711 hrs
Larceny Misdemeanor (Money) at Watts. Further Investigation.
4/16/16 at 0218 hrs
Underage Consumption at Chidsey. Dean Referral.
living davidson
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April 20, 2016
Spring Frolics offers weekend of campus-wide entertainment
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MARY SCARRONE STAFF WRITER
he tradition of Spring Frolics at Davidson is one that is eagerly anticipated and awaited. This past weekend offered students the opportunity to celebrate and enjoy themselves before the dreaded week of final exams. Spring Frolics, like many of Davidson’s traditions, provides students with a sense of camaraderie. Andrew Burton ’17 described the tradition of Frolics as “good vibrations”. When asked why Frolics is so popular with students Burton explained, “the combination of beautiful weather and end of year/graduation stress just ignites something within the student body.” Malia Dickson ’18 agreed, saying “I think that as the weather gets nice towards the end of the spring and finals begin to loom in the horizon, people really look forward to one last weekend of fun before the year comes to a close.” Hannah Jung ’18 described Frolics “as one of the last weekends of the year, starting at noon on Friday... [when] students [start to] go down the hill to go to different parties and concerts, and have a great time with friends.” “The weather is warm and classes are coming to an end. It is one of my favorite weekends at Davidson.” It is hard to disagree with Jung—the combination of themed parties, concerts, moon bounces and water slides, and of course free food, ensure that Davidson students have to opportunity to
take a break from schoolwork. What are some highlights of the weekend? Jung said, “My favorite part was after classes Friday because Warner had a cookout with Kappa Sig and it was nice to relax early on Friday.” “My favorite part about Frolics was probably the Ripe concert,” Quin Brown ’18 said. Dickson’s favorite moment of the weekend also took place at the Ripe Concert; she happily recalled “The band Ripe was playing at SAE and the last song that they played was ‘Stacy’s Mom’, and I just remember happily belting out the words and jumping around with everyone else in that moment.” Alternatively, Burton said that Catfish Disco’s performance was his favorite part of the entire weekend. “[On] Friday afternoon Catfish Disco played an unreal set, and it was really nice seeing such a variety of people there,” he explained. “It’s just a time of letting loose and having fun with your friends, no matter what your favorite part is” Dickson explained when asked about all of the different events of Frolics. Although virtually every student asked had a different favorite event of the weekend, many students agreed with Burton, for they were happy to see a large portion of the student body participating. “Frolics is a blast because the entire campus as well as alumni are all hanging out in a central area,” Brown reinforced. He added, “It’s amazing because it brings the campus together as a whole.” Another common opinion was that the sunny weather of this year’s Frolics made it even
more popular than last year’s Frolics. “I thought Frolics was better this year when compared to last just because we had good weather…so all of the blowup things and free food were outside,” Brown commented. “Last year due to rain, Frolics just didn’t have the same umph,” Burton said. “I’m glad to say that for me, 2016 was a complete return to form. Everyone I’ve talked to seems to share that opinion,” he confirmed. So, what exactly do Davidson students spend their time doing during Frolics? “As a member of Union Board, I would say that I spent the majority of my time this year setting up/working Frolics on Saturday, but other than that I tend to flit from
one place to another around the court just socializing with people and dancing,” Dickson stated. Burton explained, “During the afternoon I mostly hung around the events on Patterson Court.” “Between five and six I go get food and take a nap” he added. “Around eight or so is when I re-emerge from the dead and the night party begins, which usually involves me randomly running into people I haven’t seen in a while,” Burton joked. Jung stated, “I spent most of my Frolics with friends or at my eating house.” Also a fan of the necessary Frolics late-afternoon nap, “And sleeping” she added with a laugh.
Students enjoying Frolics on PCC Lawn. Photo by Mary Scarrone.
Dr. Katie Horowitz talks GSS, Cleveland, and settling into Davidson
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JACOB HEGE STAFF WRITER
his past Thursday I got the chance to sit down with one of my favorite professors here at Davidson, Dr. Katie Horowitz. Over a couple of iced coffees from Dunkin Donuts we talked all about her life, education, and career. She grew up in the same house in Cleveland, Ohio her entire life until moving out for college at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. Katie has worked at Davidson College the past two years, and has just been hired for another two years as a visiting assistant professor of the Gender and Sexuality Studies Department. Below are some of the highlights from my discussion with this incredible professor. Jacob Hege: What was your favorite part of college? Katie Horowitz: All of it? I loved college, man. I was a dance major in college and we had so many opportunities to choreograph and perform. One thing I loved about Wesleyan was that the theatre kids were campus celebrities. No one was really interested in the jocks, there just weren’t that many of them. People that were most widely known and recognizable were the theatre, dance, and music majors, so that was kind of fun to be in that position because I was a
nerd my whole life and suddenly I was cool because I went to puppet parties. I also loved how political Wesleyan was. JH: So you said you were a dance major… KH: And a French major! JH: How did you end up in Gender and Sexuality with a double major in Dance and French? KH: What’s actually really bizarre is that I wasn’t a Women’s Studies major in college because I was very much a feminist and had always been interested in women’s issues and I think I just sort of ended up taking the path of least resistance in college. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, but I happened to take a dance class and a French class my first semester of college and both of professors in those classes invited me to open houses for the major and I ended up going to those and was like, ‘Hey, there’s pizza and the people seem nice. Alright, I’ll do this!’ And then, in terms of how I got to GSS, after college I had a brief stint working in fashion and then I moved back to Cleveland working at an abortion clinic for a couple of years, which was my feminist utopia. The women I worked with there are incredible. I knew that I wanted to go to grad school – I had a sense for a very long time that I wanted to be a professor. At the time, there weren’t really any PHD programs in gender studies, so I went to an interdisciplinary
THE CHEW
2.6
Bircher Muesli Mary Porter Adapted from Deliciouslyella.com
A creamy and delicious easyto-make breakfast! Courtesy Photo
humanities program and I focused my work on queer and feminist studies. JH: How did you get to Davidson? KH: I spent several years as an adjunct at a small Catholic college in Cleveland and was applying to a full-time job the whole time, which is pretty hard to come by these days. I applied to this job at Davidson to be the visiting assistant profess of GSS, and I was a finalist for it, but Harlan Weaver ended up getting it. But then the head of the writing program emailed me about this other job and I applied for that and here I am! I love Davidson, I am really thrilled that I got that and that I’m here! JH: What is your favorite thing about teaching at Davidson? KH: The students here are so wonderfully earnest and engaged, at least the students that I’ve had. I get so excited to go to class everyday because I know that there’s going to be good conversation, and if there’s not a good conversation then that’ just a fluke and the next time it’s going to be better. It’s such a joyful experience for me to teach at a place where students are so invested in their education and intellectually curious that they want to talk about things outside of class because they are interested. JH: How has your impression of Davidson
changed over the course of two years? KH: I don’t know if my impression of it has changed so much… I took the job because I would have taken any job that was offered to me and now that I’m here this is a dream job. I love the liberal arts, I love Davidson, I love the students here, so it’s not just any job to me anymore. One thing that I do really love about being here that I didn’t expect is that I actually really enjoy being in the south, which might seem bizarre that a queer professor of gender studies would love the south, especially given what’s going on in North Carolina right now, but I really like being able to teach what I teach here because I think the stakes are higher. I think that the information and ideas I have to impart on students are not already widely accepted or widely known here, and I feel like I can be more of a change agent and help students to become more effective change agents in the south than in some other places. I have taken three class with Dr. Horowitz so far and can confidently say that her teaching and guidance has made a lasting impression on me. Her courses have been some of my favorite classes. If you are interested in taking a course with Dr. Horowitz, check out the Fall 2016 and Spring 2017 course selections!
Materials
Directions
Measuring cups and spoons 1 large bowl
Ingredients
1. Start by slicing up the banana, then place the slices in a mixing bowl with the almond milk and raspberries 2. Mash the ingredients together with a fork. 3. Add in the oats, seeds, chia seeds, yout sweetener of choice, and cacao nibs (optional) and stir together. 4. Place the bowl in the fridge and allow it to thicken overnight.
1 cup of oats 1 ripe banana 1 and a 1/2 cups of almond milk 2 tablespoons of maple syrup or honey 1 tablespoon of chia seeds Handful of sunflower seeds Want your favorite recipe feaHandful of pumpkin seeds tured? Email editor Mary Porter 1/4 cup of raspberries at 1/4 cup of blueberries maporter@davidson.edu to get involved! Handful of cacao nibs (optional)
perspectives
page 5
Fear cannot define the Republican Party GRACE WOODWARD
A
Pew Research Poll, released in August of 2010 found that 55 percent of Americans “do not know very much” about Islam while 25 percent “know nothing at all.” Despite this lack of knowledge 38 percent of Americans have an “unfavorable” view of Islam and 35 percent believe that Islam “is more likely to encourage violence than other [religions].”* I will be the first to admit that I don’t know as much about Islam as I should. However, it is overwhelmingly obvious that Islam is a religion of peace which like every world religion contains small population of fundamentalists and extremists. As a Christian I have a strong disdain for people who use the Bible to commit acts of hate and discrimination, while representing only a very small portion of Christians. It’s confusing and upsetting that I share the identity “Christian” with members of the Westboro Baptist Church and the Klu Klux Klan, even though my interpretation of Christianity is completely the opposite of theirs. The Republican Party is approaching a watershed moment. We have candidates running for the highest office in the land who are promoting hate and fear. Ted Cruz, a sup-
posed crusader of religious freedom, said on Tuesday March 22nd, “We need to empower law enforcement to patrol and secure Muslim neighborhoods before they become radicalized.” Donald Trump has called for a unilateral ban on Muslims. Candidates like Donald Trump and Ted Cruz chose to focus on a topic that American know very little about to shape the conversation in their favor and engage in a “Consistent Fight Against Radical Islam.” I am shocked that people calling themselves members of the Republican Party, the party of individual liberty, small government, and the Constitution are supporting a candidate who blatantly rejects these core tenets in favor of xenophobia and bigotry. President George W. Bush remarked in
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April 20, 2016
the fall of 2002, “Some of the comments that have been uttered about Islam do not reflect the sentiments of my government or the sentiments of most Americans. Islam, as practiced by the vast majority of people, is a peaceful religion, a religion that respects others. Ours is a country based upon tolerance and we welcome people of all faiths in America.”** Candidates are so desperate to win the nomination that they are playing to the most vulnerable parts of us, the parts that fear anything different from ourselves, the parts that idealize a skewed idea of the past, the parts that lose common sense in favor of conformity. We need to be critical of our candidates. If we stop holding our candidates for president up to the standards of our party, then we risk leaving our country in the hands of someone very dangerous.
I cannot, and will not, support a candidate for President of the United States who proposes a universal ban on a religious group, be it Muslims, Jews, Christians, or anyone else, no matter how temporary, and who wants to further fragment the citizens of the United States. A president needs to bring people together, to unite our country, and to fight for the wellbeing of our citizens. No one who advocates building a wall or shutting down the border is ready for that job. I will not lose my common sense in favor of staying loyal to a party who puts forth a candidate who is in direct contradiction with the party’s tenants. Do not allow yourself to be manipulated into believing something you know is wrong, I sure won’t.
but their leaders lack strategy. Without strategy, how to accomplish the mission is muddled and ineffective. Churches should strive to become neighborhood activity centers that embrace the community’s needs, for example by having preschools associated with them, as some churches already do. In order to succeed, the Church must have a larger mission also, like improving education and working towards world peace. Churches must leave time for ritual but can’t depend on ritual alone to support themselves. Churches with innovative strategies will have the freedom to evolve with the times and better relate to their members. Churches should value experimentation. Traditional churches rarely experiment and therefore become stagnant. Raising the value of experimentation accelerates change and flexibility. Churches willing to take risks will connect with their community and have the courage to stop experiments when they do not yield results. Churches should seek to provide a tailored experience
but not a tailored message. Churches that hold their message sacred but tailor the experience to a constantly changing culture will be more effective. We might wonder if it really matters that people don’t go to church anymore. Going to Church does not make you a good Christian, and there are countless examples of people who attend church but do not live good Christian lives and vice versa. But attending church does play an important role in the lives of many. It is a time to reflect, go outside of yourself, and give thanks to God and your neighbors. Given that the Church can still play and important role in our lives, how do we bring it back? Should we seek to make all churches like Rick Warren’s Evangelical Christian mega church with weekly attendance averaging 20,000 people? I don’t think so. It is hard to ignore the criticism that mega churches promote a diluted (and even secular) religious message. Yet it is also clear that mega churches have become successful by being willing to be different and aspiring to fulfill community needs. As Matthew Turner asserts in his “10 Ideas for Saving America’s Dying Church,” getting caught up in creating a “cool” experience that loses the beauty of humanity we should be celebrating is a risk. But it is a risk we need to take if we want to revitalize our religious communities.
The Republican Party is approaching a watershed moment. We have candidates running for the highest office in the land who are promoting hate and fear.
Grace Woodward `18 is a Sociology major, Economics minor from Arlington, Virginia. Contact her at grwoodward@davidson.edu *http://www.pewforum.org/2010/09/28/us-religious-knowledge-survey-who-knowswhat-about-religion/ **http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives. gov/infocus/ramadan/islam.html
Rethinking the modern church GRACE CARR
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here are three elements to society: business, government, and social institutions – of which the Church is one. While new products cause business to change quickly, few forces prompt government and churches to do so; they blunder on and often seem to be slowly dying. In my opinion, the Church in America is on the decline. Every year, roughly 3 million former churchgoers join the religiously unaffiliated. Estimates suggest roughly 10,000 churches will close this year, with many failing churches being converted for commercial use. It seems to me that the Church is dying, but it will never fully die and can be revived. There are many reasons why the Church is suffering. Some individuals may become atheists in response to the hateful acts they see committed in the name of faith. Islamic extremists are attacking practically all areas of the globe and ISIS activities are increasing. Since the Crusades, Holy Wars fought in the name of religion have influenced opinions about the value of religion compared to the blood spilled in its name. In my opinion, millennials and generation z-ers have become independent to the point of cockiness; they have taken Emerson’s self-reliance too literally and too far – they feel they no longer need God and credit only themselves for their successes. Maybe we feel that
church has become passé- bogged down by uninspiring sermons. In our fast paced lives, it can be hard to prioritize time for church. The Catholic Church’s history of scandals and its attempts to cover them up have also contributed to a growing distrust of the Church as an institution. Many churches are unwilling to accept the growth of technology. They need to adapt to modern technology and integrate the way we socialize with the way we worship. If they fail to do so that will contribute to the existing apathy and atheism among our generation. The Church is both a community for its members and an institution in society. In my opinion, churches organize too much around ritual, and thus their attempts to stay relevant fail. When a pastor delivers sermons on Sundays, and presides over baptisms, weddings, and funerals he visibly engages in ritual activity. But this strategy by itself is not enough to engage community members. Many churches have a clear mission
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Many churches are unwilling to accept the growth of technology. They need to adapt to modern technology and integrate the way we socialize with the way we worship.
Grace Carr ‘16 is an English major from Bethesda, Maryland. Contact her at grcarr@ davidson.edu
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The Family issue Catfish Disco Sounds Better On Vinyl
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Angsty Cricket Struggles To Differentiate Own Sad, Lonely Chirps From Other Sad, Lonely Chirps
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Meet The Library Carrel That Is Assigned To No Man
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Davidson Students Beyond Excited To Hear Two Favorite Matt and Kim Songs Page 3
Prospective Student Living In Fear Of Being Reprimanded For Skirt Just Above Fingertip Length
Professor At Commons Language Table Looks Up Hopefully Noting a student walking within a five foot radius of his Commons table, Russian Studies professor Anton Guryev looked up hopefully in anticipation that the freshman in question would join him. However, when the student turned out to be merely passing by on the way to sit at a further table with his friends, Guryev reportedly wiped his face of all lingering optimism and returned to picking at his brisket basket. “I don’t get it, I just don’t get it,” reported the baffled Guryev, “I schedule the weekly Russian Studies luncheon during Common Hour so that people will be able to show up, and still no one ever has!” The professor has prepared topics about Russian history, current events, and language for roundtable discussion for years. “I’d also be down for just a casual conversation,” Guryev continued. “No pressure! As the wise Pietrov once put it, Без кота мышам раздолье! (when the cat
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I Had A Good One Earlier
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Hogwarts Acceptance Letter Lost In Clutter Inbox
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New Facebook Feature Lets You Know How Your Aunt’s Divorce Is Going
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Your Davidson Honor Section
Editors: Paul Henderson Sophie “Better Late Than Never” McHugh Writers: Ani Macklendun Logyn “Yowl Man” Morrys
Note: The Yowl is a satirical supplement to The Davidsonian. Hence, nothing in it should be taken as truth. Word.
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“I don’t get it, I just don’t get it. I schedule the weekly Russian studies luncheon during Common Hour so people will be able to show up, and still no one ever has!” is away, the mice will play!)” Although Guryev has been the sole tenant of the table since 2012, he insists that he’s making headway in recruiting company. “The other day one of my students glanced at me, to which I responded ‘привет!’ He muttered a quick ‘preevet’ and scurried off. But he’ll be back. Oh, he’ll be back.” Guryev has employed many tactics throughout his run at manning the table, including keeping a cheerful disposition and smiling at passers by. “Sometimes when I’m feeling especially down I’ll glance at my phone. But I always snap back out of it. It’s just like the old adage says, Бог троицу любит! (God likes trinity!)” No matter the result, onlookers remain impressed by Guryev’s persistence. “Gotta hand it to the guy,” remarked Russian Studies major Judy Shire, “He doesn’t give up. If I were stuck watching people pass me by for the garbage disposal week after week, I’d go nuts.” True to form, Guryev remains resilient, hopeful, and sane. “People are curious about Russian studies, I just know it, I just feel it. As the great proverb goes, Артельный горшок гуще кипи! (an artel’s pot boils denser!)” At press time, Guryev had moved the Russian Studies table closer to the tray conveyer belt in an attempt to “get closer to where all the action is.”
Students Rally for Carolina Inn Name Change After UNC Loss Following the lead of other academic institutions removing controversial names from their buildings, many Davidson College students have now claimed that the Carolina Inn’s name is a scarring reminder of the North Carolina Tar Heels’ brutal loss in the NCAA championship final. “Every day I walk to the CVS, I have to relive the emotional roller coaster of that day,” says Kenneth Sparro ‘16, a teary-eyed Sociology major. “I shouldn’t have to remember how annoying it was to see my friends at Villanova celebrating on Facebook. And yet every time I walk by that godforsaken, bigoted, hateful building, I am reminded of my tragic loss.” A number of North Carolina residents like Sparro have taken to activism, vowing to picket outside President Carol Quillen’s house until the name of Carolina Inn is altered. They have also called for a severe change in the vocabulary used around campus, discouraging the use of words like “championship,” “Tar Heel,” “basket,” “ball,” “Every time I see that build“game,” and “win” in public conversations. ing’s quaint porch nestled in “It is an injustice,” said the shade of the rustling trees protestor Dominic Hutchins at a recent gathering, “that for all I can hear is the sound of a the past few weeks the Davidbuzzer going off and the swish son College has done nothing to right this wrong. Never of a net.” once have they even considered that we may be offended by having to walk past that vile building. Every time I see that building’s quaint porch nestled in the shade of the trees all I can hear is the sound of a buzzer going off and the swish of a net.” Some have even pushed to change the name of Davidson College itself, as it is another reminder that Wildcats Men’s Basketball did not make it to the tournament this year. “I think maintaining the name ‘Davidson’ is the true crime here. Maybe we should change our name to Duke or Kentucky,” offered Angie Newman ‘18. “People would just get confused and then I wouldn’t have to remember what losing feels like. If we stay on top of things and change our name regularly enough, we can pretend we win the March Madness tournament every single year!””
Writing For the Yowl Offers Sense of Fulfillment, Numerous Perks and Rewards A recent report has revealed that contributors to the Davidsonian humor section, The Yowl, tend to experience numerous advantages in life, including a sense of fulfillment they thought previously unobtainable. “I never thought writing for The Yowl would amount to much of anything, I was just doing it because I needed something to do,” commented one Yowl contributor following the release of the report. “But then it started: the little nods of approval in the hallway, the occasional comment that I was being funnier than usual. Then I got a call that my parents were getting back together. Cool!” On the whole, writers for The Yowl reported regularly experiencing euphoric sensations of joy, while others found that their minds had reached a higher plane of consciousness. Other Yowl contributors reported that many more people seemed to know their name than they had previously thought, and that stray twenty dollar bills would occasionally be left in their
“I can’t handle all this pussy I’m getting!” remarked one Yowl contributor.
carrel or backpack. “Honestly, its been great,” remarked another Yowl contributor. “After I wrote my first article I immediately noticed a change. And now, well, I can’t handle all this p#$$y I’m getting!” Yowl writers also commented on how great writing for the paper looks on their resume, reporting on the audible “oohs” and “ahhs” interviewers involuntarily let loose after seeing The Yowl listed under their extracurricular activities. “On one of my phone interviews I casually mentioned to the interviewer that I wrote for the Yowl from time to time,” reported another writer. “My comment was followed with several long moments of silence. I thought I could hear him weeping on the other end of the receiver. The interviewer went on to inform me that he had been overcome with joy, and offered me a job forever. He yelled that part. He also kept calling me ‘son’ after that.”w
sports
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For Sidwell, baseball runs in his blood IAN ROBERTSON Staff Writer
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iven the relatively low success rate, which typically peaks somewhere between 30 and 40% of a starting player’s at-bats, hitting a baseball may be one of sport’s greatest challenges. Yet Jake Sidwell ’17 has shown rare consistency in what is an elusive art for many, leading the Cats’ with a .337 batting average through 36 games this season. Evidently, the culmination of such success has been a long, arduous process that began long before Sidwell entered college. Like many successful athletes, he became acquainted with the sport extremely early, noting, “I’ve been playing baseball since I could walk.” For him, baseball runs in his blood. His dad
played, was a coach at UCF, and an MLB scout. While it was actually his Mom who taught him how to swing, both his parents ingrained in him the idea to always “remember who you represent,” Sidwell said. He acknowledged that “knowing that God blessed me with the ability and opportunities to play” is something he’s taken to heart his entire life, both on and off the field. Such a value speaks to the humble and hardworking way Sidwell approaches the game and his career at Davidson, never taking anything for granted. Alongside his parents, his high school teammates influenced that approach, as he learned from four seniors who have gone on to play baseball professionally. In following their lead, Sidwell was willing to do whatever he needed to in order to fulfill his dream of playing college ball.
Sidwell has improved each season since coming to Davidson after being selected in the MLB draft out of high school. Photo by Emma Johnson.
Since fulfilling that dream, Sidwell has not looked back. Currently a junior, the highlights of his career at Davidson have been numerous and rewarding, beginning his freshman year when the Cats’ finished 2nd in their last year in the SoCon after being picked 9th in the preseason polls. While Sidwell didn’t play much during his freshman year, he acknowledged that “it was amazing being around a bunch of guys who competed and played well together.” From last year’s squad, in which Sidwell played a more significant role, he recounted Lee Miller ’16’s go-ahead home run against George Washington in the Conference Tournament as a particularly memorable moment. He concluded by reiterating, “everyone takes pride in the team and plays for each other, rather than themselves. It is something that is definitely special about Davidson Baseball. It’s like a family.” In preparing for the Conference Tournament, such selflessness and dedication will prove crucial in making the Cats’ season as memorable and successful as the previous two. As the team’s catcher, Sidwell must play more of a leadership role than most. Thus far, Sidwell and the rest of the Davidson squad have posted a 19-17 record, having most recently finished a three-game stretch against A-10 foe Richmond in which the Cats’ recorded a convincing 14-2 win while falling just a run short in each of the other two games. After finishing 3rd in the tournament after last year’s inaugural season in the A-10, Sidwell stated pointedly that, “Ultimately our goal is to win in the A-10 every year. Individually, I just want to look back at the end of it all and have no regrets as far as putting in the work and just knowing that there was nothing else I could’ve done to be the best player and teammate that I could be.” Evidently, such a praiseworthy approach has not gone without concrete success. If others on the team echo a similar mindset, it is likely the Cats’ 2nd season in the A-10 will be their most fulfilling yet.
David Parrott Sportsmanship Award
The David Parrott Sportsmanship Award recognizes Davidson College students for their outstanding commitment to the development of strong moral character through athletic participation and leadership in the Campus Recreation program at Davidson. The award was established by Dr. Larry H. Parrott, Class of 1956, in memory of his son David who passed away at the age of 16 from leukemia. Students are nominated by their peers and finalists are selected following interviews with the Campus Recreation staff. This year’s recipient is Jessie Walter. Jessie is a senior, Chemistry Major from Rockford, Illinois. Jessie is extremely active in Campus Recreation, serving in leadership roles for Women’s Club Ultimate and Club Tennis while also participating in various intramural sports. Her commitment to sportsmanship and character both on and off the field demonstrates a leader who successfully combines athletic skill with exemplary sportsmanship and fair play. Jessie will receive a $1000 scholarship and have her name engraved on a trophy in Baker Sports Complex.
Hornets ride surprise success into playoff series with Miami PHILLIP BADER Guest Writer
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he Charlotte Hornets were not supposed to be in this position. After a disappointing 2014-15 season, the team spent most of last offseason making moves that were confusing at best, seemingly locking the team into extended mediocrity, anathema in the modern NBA. They traded Lance Stephenson, their splash free agent signing of the past offseason, to the Clippers in exchange for the bloated contacts of Spencer Hawes and Matt Barnes (whom the team soon traded to Memphis). They then traded Noah Vonleh, their first round pick in the 2014 draft, to the Trailblazers, getting Nicholas Batum in return. While Hawes and Batum are both serviceable to good players, neither of them are leading a team to a championship anytime soon. As for the latest draft, when the team picked Frank Kaminsky out of Wisconsin, people were surprised, especially with Justice Winslow still on the board. People thought Kaminsky, while versatile offensively, to be too slow and unathletic to play capable defense in the NBA. Then, piling on top of all that, the team lost star wing player Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, one of the best perimeter defenders in the league, to a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Needless to say, expectations were low. The general consensus was that Charlotte would be lucky to make the playoffs, and would more likely top out around ninth or tenth place in the Eastern Conference. However, nobody told the Hornets all this. With their role players stepping up, and some significant improvement from their stars, the team had a remarkably strong 2015-2016 season, finishing sixth in the conference, yet with the same record (48-34) as the third seeded Miami Heat. Head Coach Steve Clifford retooled the entire offense, utilizing the three-point shooting of Batum, Hawes, Kaminsky, and free agent signee Jeremy Lin, a skill the team had been lacking in recent years. The loss of Kidd-Gilchrist, as much as it hurt their defense, actually opened up the
offense, giving the team better spacing for Al Jefferson and Kaminsky to work on their postups. MKG has never exactly been a shooter, and replacing him in the starting lineup with Batum or Courtney Lee gave the team another reliable three point threat on offense. The biggest boost, however, came from Kemba Walker’s dramatic leap forward in his own shooting. Walker has always had the handles and toughness requisite for being an NBA starting point guard, but his three-point shooting, a vital skill in the modern NBA, was always just a little subpar. Not awful, but not good enough to the point where opponents felt the need to constantly respect it. In years past, defenders would just always go under picks designed to free Walker up, secure in the knowledge that giving up a window for an open three was an acceptable risk. This year, however, Walker changed all that, improving his three-point percentage from 30% to 37%. He’s never going to be Stephen Curry (who is?), but 37% is still a good enough number that teams has to regard him as a legitimate threat. As a result, defenders have to fight to fight over picks, giving both Walker and the roll man much more space to navigate and attack. Yet for all their surprising success so far, there is still basketball to be played. The Hornets first round playoff opponent is the aforementioned Miami Heat, their division rival. Although Charlotte has recently found success playing smallball, three point-heavy sort of basketball popular in the modern NBA, Miami is where that formula was created, though the Heat no longer play that style, and are one of the worst-shooting teams in the league. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, during the reign of LeBron in Miami, first realized the kind of offense he could generate when playing LeBron at the four, and he has been tinkering and mastering that style ever since. The Heat have a great defense anchored by league-leading shot blocker Hassan Whiteside, and supported by Luol Deng and Justice Winslow on the wings. On offense, they rely on smart cuts, crafty drives by Goran Dragic, and the pick and roll threat of Whiteside diving to the rim, not to
The Hornets’ strong play this season has led to a revitalized Time Warner Cable Arena for many home games this season. Photo by Jason Feldman. mention the always dangerous Dwyane Wade. Although Wade is certainly past his prime, he is not a three time champ for nothing, and has a vast arsenal of veteran moves and guile to fool any defender. In Game 1 on Sunday, the Heat blew the Hornets out of the building, winning 123-91 in an ugly rout. If Charlotte wants to advance to the second round after that unsatisfying opener, they will have to rely on their guard and wing play. They don’t have a big man athletic or physical enough to present a challenge to Whiteside, and so will be unable to find much support there. They are also smaller at almost every position than the
Heat, so rebounding will also be tough. Their path to success lies instead on relying on Batum and Walker hitting their shots and making plays for the rest of the offense, while also letting their bench take a healthy share of the load. Charlotte is miles deeper than Miami, and the story of this series might be how the second units for each team fare. While Charlotte should certainly be proud of the season they have had thus far, the story does not stop there. Teams don’t play simply to surpass expectations or make the playoffs, they play to win it all. While winning the Finals is still a ways away, the journey starts with their play in this series.
THE DAVIDSONIAN
Sidwell shines both at and behind the plate See Page 7
Jake Sidwell ’17 Photo by Emma Johnson
April 20, 2016