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the davidsonian

March 29, 2017 Vol. 112 Issue 17

The Independent Student Newspaper of Davidson College since 1914

Inside NEWS PCC community members discuss dissatisfaction with national survey 2 Davidson student-reporter shares her Pulitzer-funded summer experience 3 LIVING DAVIDSON News Editors Steffaney Wood and Olivia Daniels interview Quinn XCII 4 PERSPECTIVES YAF co-founders (L to R) Kenny Xu and Haley Hamblin hosted Bay Buchanan (C) as a speaker last semester. Photo courtesy of Kenny Xu

Young Americans for Freedom Expands Opportunities for Conservative Students on Campus LAURA DUNNAGAN Senior Staff Writer

ne year after receiving their charter, members of Davidson College’s Young Americans for Freedom—better known as YAF—are celebrating their progress as a student organization. This organization seeks to promote conservatism and add to the political discourse on campus. YAF is not affiliated with any political party or specific candidate; rather, it is an ideological, issue-based organization that encourages participation from students who have a wide range of opinions. Since gaining its charter, YAF has been advocating for the inclusion of conservatism in what some argue is a largely liberal dialogue at Davidson. “We’re trying to bring awareness to the idea that there’s another perspective on campus,” says Haley Hamblin ‘19, one of the co-founders of YAF. “I think often that Davidson, as evidenced by the student groups, the speakers brought in,

and by the academic departments, is left-leaning. We’re trying to show that there is another side and to provide a space for students to organize and have a space where they can discuss these things and figure out where they stand and how other opinions fit into that.” As YAF is not affiliated with a political party, their meetings, discussions, and events focus on the conservative ideology and how it can be interpreted through specific issues and policies. Hamblin comments that particularly after the election, YAF leadership had to be strict in differentiating between ideological conservatism and how conservatism is portrayed in the larger realm of politics. “We have a lot of conversations within the organization about what conservatism looks like and how it manifests itself in certain policies, and we all have different opinions about that,” comments Hamblin. “But it was difficult to separate conservatism from Trump. One thing I struggle with being more right-leaning is that a lot of people assume conservatism equals republicanism equals Trump, and that’s definitely not true.”

Kenny Xu ‘19, the other co-founder of YAF, states that the group has grown dramatically since the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year. Xu says that this growth in membership and large turnout to YAF-sponsored events has emboldened members to speak out and demonstrate the diversity of conservative opinions on campus. “YAF is trying to promote all conservative voices,” says Xu. “You can be libertarian conservative, religious conservative, nationalist conservative—we have all of them in YAF. That’s something we pride ourselves on. We have conservatives of all stripes who want a place where they can be in a community with other conservatives and can be active and expressive in their beliefs.” Additionally, Hamblin noted that conservatism, like all other political ideologies, can be assumed to be one broad consensus, and due to the small number of conservatives on campus, this

See ORGANIZATION Page 2

Kayla Edwards '20 discusses her intentions for the future of the perspectives section 3 Liu Volpe '17 reveals her transracial adoption story 5 YOWL Police Chief Sigler plans one last heist with the old gang 6 Early blooming of trees freaks out ENV professors teaching outdoor classes 6 SPORTS Jonathan Swann '18 profiles senior star point guard Jack Gibbs '17 7

2016-2017 Sustainability Co-op Members Focus on Social Justice COLLEEN KARLOVICH Staff Writer

ecently, the Sustainability Co-op on campus has undergone much revitalization. Created in 2008, this living space was originally known as the “Eco-House.” It began when a team of students and Dr. Annie Merrill, a professor of English and environmental studies, decided to create a space on campus with a clear, environmental intentionality. Over time, the faculty advisor became Dr. Fuji Lozada, a professor of anthropology and environmental studies. The ideal of an intentional living space focusing on environmental activism and advocacy has shifted over time. Today, the living space is quite different from what was envisioned in 2008. One of the biggest changes to the Eco-House was Davidson’s shift to a mandatory meal plan. Lozada explains the challenge: “When people were forced to have meal plans, that changed the way of cooperative living because so much was built around the communal dinners, all the stuff, all the drama associated with keeping a kitchen clean and that all disappeared.” As the community members of the EcoHouse adapted to continue their mission, the

students and administration decided to reinvigorate the intentional living community with a new name: the Sustainability Co-op. Sustainability encompasses three forms of engagement: social, environmental, and economic, and each comes with reactionary challenges. Yancey Fouche, Davidson’s new Director of Sustainability, describes the challenges, “So our planet has very clear capacity and thresholds beyond which we cannot extend or else we are really going to start affecting these things: the social foundations or those kinds of elements more closely associated with social justice such as reliance, voice, gender, equity, income, disparities.” By renaming the Sustainability Co-op, the team of students residing there can live intentionally with an expanded focus, rather than a sole focus on the environment. At the beginning of every school year, the new community of students, who have to apply to live in the house, sits down to create a mission of intentional community. This year, group members spoke about how they should emphasize inclusivity in their intentions.

See LIVING Page 2

This year's Sustainability Co-op residents have centered their mission around inclusivity and social justice projects. Photo courtesy of Jon White

news

Page 2 March 29, 2017

Controversial Patterson Court Council Survey Evokes Strong Reactions from the Student Body EMMA PETTIT Staff Writer

n conjunction with the Student Activities Office, Erica Urban—Patterson Court Council Advisor—recently sent out a survey to all PCC members. The survey is designed to gain feedback on the culture of being in a fraternity, eating house, or sorority. Urban explained, “About every five years, the PCC Advisor and their respective office have completed a community wide survey. The last survey was completed in 2011. This year the Student Activities Office partnered with Dyad Strategies LLC., to administer the community wide survey.” The responses will provide insight on both the personal and collective experience of participating in Greek Life at Davidson and nationwide. Urban explains, “The three main objects of the community survey were to gain a perspective on the elements of community within each organization, the PCC community’s threshold of hazing actions, and the PCC community’s attitudes towards sexual misconduct.” The eating house introduction to the survey states, “Eating houses will gain a better understanding of sisterhood and organizational behavior within their organizations,” and participants “may gain greater self-awareness regarding concepts about sisterhood and organizational behavior.” The questions are mostly statements with which participants determine their degree of agreement. Many questions are ethical or social questions, including: “It is okay to spread rumors to defend those you care about;” “People cannot be blamed for doing things that are technically wrong when everyone else is doing it too;” and “Most of the people in my fraternity expect to ‘hook up’ at our social events.”

Some questions—“If needed, I would conceal information from the public that could be damaging to my organization,” for example—ask whether participants would lie or withhold facts about their organization to protect its reputation. Elia Ramirez ‘19, a member of Warner Hall House, said, “I really love PCC, my eating house, this school, but was disappointed, and frankly pretty shocked, when those PCC surveys came out. Mostly because I found a lot of the questions to be really inappropriate.” She and others find these questions inapplicable and engineered to make the organizations look bad. Cameron C h e uv ront ‘18, a member of Phi Delta Theta, said, “I honestly don’t think these scenarios are applicable to Davidson. I don’t get why they would even ask if I agree that ‘some people have to be treated roughly because they lack feelings that can be hurt.’” Most controversially, the survey asks, “Reflecting back to your experience as a new member of your organization, please indicate the MAXIMUM level of required or expected behavior you would have tolerated before leaving the group.” Responses include, “Public acts of buffoonery, such as showing up to a party wearing a diaper or being made to wear ridiculous clothing to class;” “Handcuffed or tied to a building or

structure; or being isolated in a small space for excessive periods of time, or isolated in an otherwise uncomfortable or unpleasant manner (excessive heat or cold, loud music, bad smell, etc.);” “Subjected to physical violence, including being paddled, punched, kicked or struck with any object;” and “Made to perform sexual acts, such as the ‘elephant walk’ or simulated sex with another person.” Each question is mandatory to proceed to the next page. Ramirez reacted to the survey as a whole, stating, “As a psych major at Davidson, the actual survey was p o o r l y written. The questions were Members of PCC were incentivized to complete l e a d i n g the survey with a monetary award to the organiquestions, zation that had the highest rate of participation. d o u b l e - Advertisement courtesy of Emma Pettit barreled, Urban, the strong language is not a reflection of multi-faceted, and a lot of the views of PCC. If not reflective of Davidson, though, many them either had nothing to do students wonder why PCC members are involved with the actual in this survey. Helen Webster ’18, President of Warner Hall eating house experience, or explained, “The survey had good intentions to were impossible gauge campus thoughts on controversial issues, to answer via an online survey where the answers but used language that put people off and rewere ‘strongly agree, agree, neither agree nor dis- duced its effectiveness.” Many say that more communication between agree, disagree, strongly disagree.’ I just worry that the data that will come out of that survey will PCC organizations and the administration could be biased and not accurately represent the feel- have ensured a smoother survey process. In the future, these organizations and the administraings on campus.” Urban sought to clarify that this is a national tion intend to work together to improve campus survey, that all pieces do not reflect the David- culture. As of Monday, March 27, around 5pm, 30% son PCC experience, and that the questions on hazing and sexual assault are meant to gauge the of PCC members had completed the survey. The community view on those issues. According to survey closes this weekend.

"The questions were leading questions, double-barreled, multi-faceted, and a lot of them either had nothing to do with the actual eating house experience or were impossible to answer via an online survey...I just worry that the data that will come out of that survey will be biased and not accurately represent the feelings on campus."

Living Community's Mission Determined by Residents' Values Continued from Page 1 This year, the group’s mission statement is as follows: “The sustainability co-op is a campus home for all who seek justice, environmental stewardship, and community. As residents, our mission is to not only act in ways to engage the 10 students living in the house but also, students, faculty, and staff on campus, town and city folks, neighboring schools, and more to tackle issues of environmental, social, and economic sustainability. The house is a physical space that is unique to anything else on Davidson College campus and we strive to make it a welcoming place where diverse individuals and groups can come together to cultivate trust while challenging each other.”

Evidently, this mission has manifested itself in social justice initiatives, including focuses on racial injustice, immigration policies, and LGBTQ+ advocacy. Fouche commented, “Frankly, I don’t see it as a trend, I see it as a, in light of anything going on in our world right now, social justice is kind of the hot topic….I see it as an area of interest of the residents this year. I think even….the folks who are going to be in there next year, and I think they are going to bring ten different interests and perspectives on environmental issues and sustainability and all of that. So, I think the flavor of the house will vary from year to year.” Whether this theme of action will continue for next year’s residents depends on which issues the incoming students are passionate about. Each year, the Sustainability Co-op actively

engages its previous residents to maximize the experience of the new residents and make the organization as productive and creative as possible. Tony Solis ’19, a current resident of the Sustainability Co-op, said, “The Sustainability Co-op focuses on sustainable living as defined by the house members. It does not have to be one thing or another. It could be several and it certainly isn’t exclusively for social justice or about being ecofriendly. Both are important, but house members get to decide what to prioritize.” However, as with any living space, residents bring differing opinions, ideas, and best practices for utilizing the Sustainability Co-op’s resources. Resident Jon White ’19 describes the challenges that the team has faced in working together. “I think we all came in with very different ideas of what we wanted the house to be, how we want-

ed to use the house, and we’re all very gung-ho about putting those ideas forward, but ultimately we ran into conflict within our own schedules, other people’s schedules and the inherent issue of people wanting to use the house and devote time and money in one way where other people had different priorities.” The residents of the Sustainability Co-op have chosen to make a space on campus in which diverse opinions are not only present but welcome. The shift in title from Eco-House to Sustainability Co-op only opens the door to possibilities for change. As this year’s residents live out their mission in the final weeks of the semester, they wish the best to the future residents and hope that they too can foster a space for community and justice.

Organization Seeks to Facilitate Discussion of Conservative Ideology Continued from Page 1 assumption has previously gone unchallenged. “There is a diversity of conservative opinions. [But] because conservatism on campus is small, it is hard to see different kinds of conservatism. We have people that support Trump; we have people that are against Trump; and we have people that are moderate,” says Hamblin. “Regarding perception on campus, if one individual in YAF is very vocal, that opinion is usually attributed to all of YAF, and that’s a fallacy.” YAF not only encourages a diversity of conservative opinion; the organization has seen an increase of non-conservative student membership, as well, particularly since the election. Jonathan Swann ‘18 identifies as politically liberal, yet joined YAF after the election as an opportunity to engage in discussions that would challenge his beliefs. After meeting with individual members of YAF who voted for Trump,

Swann decided to attend YAF meetings. “I feel like people aren’t trying to engage with the other side, especially with the political hyperpolarization,” says Swann. “I went to YAF meetings, to a pro-life speaker YAF sponsored who talked about abortion, and I joined the YAF Speaker Committee. The opportunity to bring conservative speakers to campus to talk about issues is really important, especially in regards to college campuses being liberal spaces where conservative ideas are suppressed.” Swann says that although he disagrees with much of the conservative ideology, he appreciates YAF’s mission and learns from their discussions and events. “I think it’s important to listen and respect conservative viewpoints, even if you do disagree,” says Swann. “I’m really glad to be part of YAF even though I’m a liberal...listening and talking to them has been really great.” Wilson Pava ‘19 is another liberal student who joined YAF post-election to engage with

students across the political aisle. “I was pleasantly surprised by the wide range of the political spectrum that’s represented,” says Pava. “I think YAF is a good place for debate and discussion, even if the organization can be alienating.” Pava expressed disapproval of some YAF events, specifically the “March Liberal Madness” bracket, which calls attention to liberal extremism. He notes that these events do not represent the views of all YAF members. The broad range of ideologies, both conservative and otherwise, help YAF members push their boundaries and connect with students through political engagement. “We can have these argumentative, passionate debates, then come back and really be friends,” says Xu. “We’re trying to encourage a mentality, not just among YAF [members] but among the campus, to embrace that kind of ideal. Naturally, that’s a long process, and that’s something we’re fighting for—we’re fighting for a culture we be-

lieve will foster the best intellectual discourse.” “Part of higher education is being challenged,” says Hamblin. “We often come from communities that are similar to our beliefs, places that are pretty homogeneous, so coming to college is one of the first times a lot of people experience a heterogeneous environment. YAF’s goal is to push back against the Davidson echo chamber and allow different voices and opinions to be shared in a way that’s respectful. Often we want to see changes, we just disagree on how that change should happen. The opinions of all sides are valid, and it’s important to recognize that.” YAF’s previous events have included hosting speakers—such as Bay Buchanan—, writing appreciation cards to veterans, and commemorating 9/11. On April 11, the organization will host its next event; a student panel that will focus on what boundaries, if any, should exist in free speech.

news

Page 3

Pulitzer Grant Recipient Reflects crime log on Her Experience as a Journalist Time Reported 03/24/17 at 2100 hrs Abroad in Pakistan IKRA JAVED Guest Contributor Ikra Javed ‘18 is an Economics and History interdisciplinary major from Charlotte, NC. During the summer of 2016, Javed received a Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting grant through Davidson College. Javed studied the notion of the “third gender” in Pakistan, as well as those who identify as such; she spent months conducting interviews and collecting survey data. Her final project was entitled “More than Makeup: Transgender Transparency in Pakistan.” Below, she describes her experience as an international journalist.

n its hottest and holiest month of the year, the city of Lahore, Pakistan, blazed with street vendors, car honks, shawarmas.... and transvestites on the streets? My earliest, and really only, memory of these individuals before last summer is when I was young, maybe eleven or twelve years of age. I was visiting Pakistan, playing cricket with my cousins within the gated home of my grandparents when I saw a person with a black scarf and bright red lipstick between the cracks of the black gate bars. She was asking for money. My cousins told me to stay away from him and that he was a hijra. Little did I know that ten years later, I would be back in Lahore, doing the exact opposite of what my cousins had told me to do. This past summer, I flew halfway across the world as a journalist reporting on Pakistan’s “transgender” community, and I never really quite flew back [mentally]. The work I did this summer is a living project. I am still writing articles, and I am still contextualizing my experience. Pakistan is one of only nine countries in the world to legally recognize a "third gender." The concept of a "third gender" connotes something different in each of these nine countries. In Thailand, for example, the "third gender" is referring to kathoeys, their "ladyboys." In Germany, the discussion arose over intersex persons or an "indeterminate" sex. For India and Pakistan, the "third gender" is specifically referring to hijras. In Pakistan, hijras are generally synonymous with khawaja siras, which is loosely translated as transwomen. However, I have also seen them called intersex persons, eunuchs, transvestites, gays...you name it. So who are they? That is exactly what I proposed to explore. I went to understand khawaja sira identity and realities, but I think I learned more about my own identity and reality. I will not get into intricacies, but I dedicate a whole article to exploring the gender and cultural aspects of hijra identity. I gave a lengthy explanation and concluded with a whopping “it depends on who you ask, really.” So one plane ticket, two train tickets, twenty hours of interviews and fifty liters of sweat later, I arrived at the same conclusion that was my original point of inquiry. But I lived through so much more. First, I would like to mainstream the term khawaja siras, so I do not have to go through the laborious task of giving a paragraph explanation of the cultural lifestyles, regional roots, and historical richness that forms their identity. Take hummus, for example. Describing hummus as a chickpea paste might be somewhat accurate, but it does not hit the nail on the head the way the word "hummus" does. Hummus is hummus, and we know what it is now because we have seen, felt, smelt, and eaten hummus. The Arabic word has entered English vocabulary. Khawaja sira has not, so I always have to go through a lengthy explanation to even get to a place where I can start delving into deeper conversations about the stories and lived realities of these people. Second, I would also like to mainstream the idea that the colonial legacy lives on throughout the rest of the world. The impact of colonialism was everywhere in Pakistan, but I have only recently started articulating it that way. I am currently taking “Islam in the Modern Age” with Dr. Zamir, and it is helping me contextualize some of what I saw this summer but could not articulate at the moment. Looking back, colonial consequences were

everywhere. I learned there is an “old Lahore” and a “new Lahore.” The new Lahore is the more modern city with malls and movie theaters. I saw my uncle wear a collared shirt and pants to work everyday. I asked why. It is because salwar kameez (traditional attire) is not as professional. I spent many of my days at the office of Naz Pakistan, a non-governmental organization, doing interviews. One day, I was chatting with a friend; she told me how she was stopped by the police the night before, but they let her go when she spoke a few words in English. Another friend complained about the overpricing of a popular new breakfast restaurant that served toast and eggs. I asked why, and she said because it had an English name. These anecdotes paint a larger picture that fits with what I have been learning in my class. During the colonial period, influential writer and politician Thomas Babington Macaulay, involved in British India, wrote, “A single shelf of European books is worth the whole literature of India and Arabia.” The West was best. Islamic scholar Seyyed Vali Reza Nasr writes, “The postcolonial Muslim state therefore emerged in the mold of the colonial one—developmentoriented in aim, hostile to Islam, and modernizing and westernizing in practice” [1]. The Pakistan I saw fit into Nasr’s narrative. Journalism is all about stories. While I published articles only on the stories of khawaja siras, I lived through another one still unfolding: the story of Pakistan itself. Then mid-August came. A long summer had passed. I packed my bags and left Lahore, but I do not feel like I ever really did. I am still piecing together parts of my experience. And the more I learn, the more pieces I have. [1] Nasr, S.V.R. . "European Colonialism and the Emergence of Modern Muslim States." In The Oxford History of Islam., ed. by John L. Esposito. Oxford Islamic Studies Online, http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/book/islam-9780195107999/islam9780195107999-chapter-13.

For more of Javed’s articles from her summer reporting, check out this link: http://pulitzercenter. org/projects/more-makeup-transgender-transparency-pakistan

03/27/17 at 2103 hrs 03/24/17 at 2219 hrs 03/24/17 at 2145 hrs

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Description / Location

Simple Assault at North Side of Campus Criminal Prosecution Declined Underage Consumption at Baker Further Investigation Indecent Exposure/2nd Degree Trespass at Baker Clear by Arrest Disorderly Conduct at Baker Further Investigation

03/24/17 at 2223 hrs

Underage Consumption at Wall Prosecution Declined

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Underage Consumption (student and non-student) at Knobloch Prosecution Declined/Dean Refer-

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Underage Consumption at Patterson Court Dean Referral/Medic Transport

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Reckless Driving/Driving with Open Container at Glasgow Street Dean Referral

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Larceny Misdemeanor (Laptop) at Library Further Investigation

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Underage Possession at Duke Dean Referral

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2nd Degree Forcible Sexual Offense at North Side of Campus Criminal Prosecution Declined

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Larceny Felony (Laptop) at Knobloch Further Investigation

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Larceny Misdemeanor (Bicycle) at Wall Further Investigation

living davidson

Page 4

March 29, 2017

An Interview with Quinn XCII before His Set OLIVIA DANIELS AND STEFFANEY WOOD NEWS EDITORS

uinn XCII opened for Lil’ Yachty during the Union Board’s annual spring concert. We met with him prior to his performance to discuss the inspiration for his music as well as his beginnings. What follows is a light edited transcript from our interview with him: Q: Can you explain the significance of the numbers at the end of your name? A: Yeah, XCII is just Roman numeral for ninety-two, the year I was born. That’s it. Q: How are we supposed to pronounce it? A: Just “Quinn ninety-two.” To elaborate on the story behind the name, it’s a tricky name to get down, everyone asks if [it should be pronounced] “Quincy” or “Quinn X-CI-I.” But, it’s just Quinn ninety-two. There are pros and cons. Q: Because we are in a college setting and college students often feel there’s a conflict between pursuing what they love—such as, music or arts—and something that will provide them with financial security, can you speak about that from personal experience? A: I went to Michigan State and was studying advertising. My parents, as many parents would, were a little hesitant when they found out that I was doing music on the side. They really wanted me to graduate first and have a degree to fall back on, and then go after music. They were totally supportive but also realistic about the situation. They knew that [success] was a long shot in some ways, and there are no promises that stuff like this will work out. I will say though, if you are super passionate about it, totally go for it because I think life, in general, is too short to not pursue your dreams. I know it

sounds so cliché, but it really is true. For me, I didn’t want to live my life thinking twenty years from now I may think, “Why did I not go after that opportunity?” Hopefully, I will have no regrets by that time, but it certainly is a risk. Q: Having attended college, what is the difference between performing in a college setting and other venues? Do you prefer one?

everyone loving each other. I think artists who speak on political stuff, while it’s inspiring and great and the industry needs people like that, I just want to make my music positive so everyone can relate to [it]. There are definitely artists who touch on those subjects, but I don’t think that’s the kind of music that I’m interested in. Definitely positivity in general is a huge focal point in the stuff that I make.

Photo courtesy of Quinn XCII/Instagram A: I don’t know if I prefer one. The college setting is always more of a party atmosphere, and there’s not as much pressure I guess you could say, because everyone there just wants to have a good time. And college, in general, is just a fun atmosphere. At least in my opinion it’s laid back. Comparing it to another venue, it is more hyper. In some ways, it could also be the opposite. You just have to feel out the crowd. Q: Shifting the conversation to the national stage in terms of politics, we live in a polarized nation right now. What role do you think music plays in general, and specifically yours, in that context? A: I don’t speak on too many political subjects...it can get kind of controversial. I want to keep my fans intact and [promote]

Q: What other themes would you say are in your music? A: Well, it’s about not taking things too seriously; it’s happiness. It’s also heartbreak and emotion. I think what’s cool about my [music] is that it touches on a lot of subjects—the good stuff and the bad stuff—and I spin it in a way that it sounds happy. The melodies and the songs feel good but I can still speak on things that aren’t necessarily happy to sing about. At the end of the day, I like the music to sound good enough so you can sing a lyric, and even if it’s not about a happy story, it still feels good. Q: Does the performer that you’re opening with or performing with have any impact on the material you choose to perform?

A: I don’t think so. I think Lil Yachty is awesome. He’s a total character and brings excitement to music in this day and age. I think our music is totally different…which creates a cool show. Q: Whom else are you touring with? What does the rest of your tour schedule look like? A: I’m finishing up the end of my tour, and I’m on the East coast currently. I have about five or six more shows left, and I’m headlining all of those shows. Q: What’s the coolest thing that’s happened to you on tour? A: I don’t know, honestly. A lot of people ask me that. I love sightseeing and going to different cities and other places I probably wouldn’t be able to see if I wasn’t doing music full time. So, whenever we go to cities, I like to roam around. Definitely, the best part [of being on tour] is getting to meet fans and see people face-to-face. Q: As a young up-and-coming artist, what would you say about the role of social media in your career? A: I think it’s so big. Social media in this day and age is so important, whether it’s by a musician or a company or a student. You can use it to your advantage in so many ways. For me, I always want to interact with people and promote my stuff online to the masses. It helps so much. It’s a great tool to use to expand your fan base. Q: Who are the major influences on your music and why? A: I grew up listening to Motown music, actually. You might not think that listening to my music. But, Michael Jackson and… Kid Cudi…Chance the Rapper are major influences of mine. I could tell you 5,000 people. I like to take influence from a lot of other genres and melt it into my own music because I love so much different stuff.

Group Faculty Exhibition Featuring Works by Tyler Starr, Joelle Dietrick and Katie St. Clair Photos Courtesy of Davidson College Art Galleries

Tyler Starr. “Redress Papers: Descry,” 2016. Photogravure. 15” x 22”. The exhibit, featuring work from three different studio art faculty members, will be on view from March 26 to April 14, 2017. Media included: digital media, printmaking, and painting.

perspectives

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March 29, 2017

A Perspective on Perspectives KAYLA EDWARDS

t some point during my college search process, I learned that the most relevant information about a school’s student body could be found in the student newspaper. So, shortly after committing to Davidson, I read every Davidsonian perspectives piece available online. While my obsessive consumption of articles was, in part, a way of reducing stress related to moving to a new state and attending a new school, the perspectives pieces were also an interesting insight into what people at Davidson cared about. In many ways, the arguments in theseperspectives shaped several of my initial interests and opinions on campus. John-Michael Murphy’s “#DavidsonPresidentsSoWhite” taught me to be aware and critical of institutional bylaws and administrative changes. Santiago Navia’s “Revisting the past: Davidson and coed eating houses” taught me to question aspects of campus social life that seem unchangeable.

“

Emily Rapport’s “‘Overcommitted’, or experiential learner?” taught me to expect to learn some of the most valuable lessons outside of the classroom. The value of these thoughts and insights increased when they were shared—creating the possibility for campus-wide or even national conversations about issues facing this community. Now, as an actual student on our campus, I still believe in the immense opportunities for conversation created through the Davidsonian, but increasingly value the representation of diverse voices in the perspectives section. I hesitate to solely call for greater “diversity” in the Davidsonian because the term “diverse” on Davidson’s campus generally connotes racial

and, maybe more recently, political representation. Simply asking for more racial or political inclusion in the perspectives section ignores the ability of perspectives to highlight individual, nuanced thoughts and experiences that transcend these identities. Instead, I would suggest that as a campus we highlight voices that may not be the loudest in organization meetings or on the Facebook page. If there is value in sharing student thoughts and insights, that value is diminished when voices from various parts of Davidson are left out of conversations, when things are left unsaid, or when we refuse to engage. My belief in the value of these insights and conversations led me to recently accept the

I believe any work I do through the Davidsonian to be futile if it does not intentionally bring people into conversastions.

position as editor of the perspectives section. However, I believe any work I do through the Davidsonian to be futile if it does not intentionally bring people into conversations. My primary goal for the perspective sections is to help facilitate conversations that cause critical engagement in our community. That being said, in my new role, I would ask that if you have a perspective that you want to share with the Davidson community please reach out to me at kaedwards@davidson.edu. If you’re unsure about writing publicly or want more guidance on specifically writing a perspective piece, we can set up a time to talk over coffee. It is through this exchange of ideas that energy and innovation are brought to Davidson. Question why we do things. Question your friends. Start writing.

Kayla Edwards '20 is an undeclared student from Davidsonville, Maryland. Contact her at kaedwards@davidson. edu.

Hey, My Name is Liu Ann Volpe and I'm Adopted. LIU VOLPE

six-month-old baby with a furrowed brow stares out of the 3x4 photo. She’s underweight and barely has hair. The hair that she does have stands up at odd angles as black clumps, because her head has recently been shaved. A shaved head protects her from lice and is more manageable. She looks more like a punk rock baby than an orphan. This is her first photo. On December 17th, 1995, a couple returned from a journey that so many other American families have made. This couple is my parents, and I am that six-month-old baby in the photo. This is my story, a story about

transnational and transracial adoption. This is why my first name is a Chinese surname. This is why my last name is Italian. This is why my parents are white. This is who I am. I grew up in a predominantly white suburban neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where I attended a majority white K-12 private school for girls. My dad has deep Philadelphian Italian roots, and my mom was raised Methodist in the small North Carolina town of Greenville. My entire family is white. Though it was my parents’ hope that I would not lose connection to my Chinese heritage from the get-go, growing up I seldom identified with nor did I readily own my Asianness. In retrospect, I would say that my disinterest in and refusal to accept my Chinese and Asian-American identity was due to the fact that I grew up in what I would consider to be a white, liberal community. Rarely did I feel out of place and I was fortunate enough to avoid experiencing overt racism. Blending in was easy. This, I believe, was ought to the many families in my area who had adopted children from China and to the fairly open-minded residential and academic communities to which I belonged. I was also an extremely active child, who would not sit still and behave in Chinese language school or the Chinese painting classes that my parents signed me up for. To put it simply, my parents put a lot of effort into affording me opportunities to reconnect with Chinese culture, which I am grateful for, but I was a kid. I much preferred to run and play outside with my friends. Regrettably, I did not understand the importance of their efforts until much, much later. In her sociology thesis, “Adopting an Identity: A Study of Identity in Transracially Transnationally Adopted Girls from China Raised in White American Families,” Davidson alum and fellow Chinese-American adoptee, Hannah Sachs interviewed a Chinese-American

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adoptee named Kara. Kara recalls a time when she was walking down her middle school hallway and heard one of her peers remark that “the Chinese girl wouldn’t move faster.” But it did not register with Kara that it was she to whom the comment referred. In many ways, I can relate to Kara. There are several experiences in my life that I can confidently point to and say that those were the moments that I was shaken and forced to recognize my Asianness, Chineseness, or “otherness.” Most of these points occurred when I was very young. I would receive questions from people who did not know my family, and sometimes purely out of curiosity people would ask me about where I was from, “what I was,” meaning what was my racial and ethnic makeup, or why my parents were my parents. However, most recently, over last semester a good friend and I were having a coffee. He told me, sort of off a whim that “someone was like 'oh yeah, that girl Liu who acts white.'” This comment took me aback. I thought to myself, "Me? Acting white? Who said this?" After composing my thoughts, I replied to my friend that the individual who made this comment most likely did not know me, but if they did then maybe the comment wasn’t entirely groundless. I was after all raised in a white household and attended a majority white school. I was raised eating collard greens and black-eyed peas on New Years and spoke English at home. I do not have nor should I be expected to have the same experiences as other AAPI individuals who were raised with AAPI parents (AAPI stands for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders). I was socialized in a specific way. If I were to respond to the person who accused me of “acting white,” I would tell them that I am not trying to be something I am not. I am simply being what I am. Throughout my life I have had to straddle a line of being Asian but also having a white

family. When I was growing up, I knew I was not white but I certainly did not see myself as Asian. I felt like I did not have a full or guaranteed membership to either group. However, when I came to Davidson College, I experienced some sort of racial awakening. My suppression or apathy toward my Asian heritage lifted. I joined the Asian Awareness Cultural Association (ACAA) and became acquainted with and have made life-long friendships with people who also identify as AAPI and/or who were not born in this country. After I joined ACAA, I have attended AAPI conferences such as SERCAAL and ECAASU that discuss AAPI issues, giving me an opportunity to connect and learn with others like me. During the most recent ECAASU conference, there was even an adoptee caucus, where I met fellow Asian-American adoptees. At this point in my life, I do not shy away when I say that I’m adopted or that I’m from China, and that, yes, I’m a product of China’s infamous One Child Policy. It is tiresome to explain to people who I am, why I like this type of clothing, why I majored in English, or why I eat certain foods, and it’s frustrating to have people make assumptions and put me into a convenient, little box without even trying to get to know me. I suppose that’s natural for everyone to do to some extent. When I was contacted to write a perspective for the Davidsonian, in all honesty, I was nervous at first to share something so personal. But I am using this perspective as an opportunity to finally tell my story to the Davidson College community, so that when I graduate this spring, I will feel as though I left Davidson as my truest self.

Liu Volpe '17 is an English major from Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. Contact her at livolpe@davidson.edu.

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New Research Proves That Telling Women You’re “Really Fast at Running” Still Works Breaking new ground in the ever-evolving field of courtship, experts at the Knoxville Institute of Romantic Sociology have released findings of a new study. The results indicate that telling women that “you’re super fast at running” has a 100 percent success rate when it comes to romantic success. “We are very excited by these findings, as they confirm the ongoing reliability of a method of relationship-building that is typically associated with the elementary school setting,” stated Katherine Romnlin, an ethnoromance sociologist at the Institute. The study compared many different methods of approaching and talking to women. Some approaches, such as being confident, treating people with respect, and telling corny pickup lines, also had a positive response from the women participating, but no other method was as consistently reliable and successful as was telling them how fast you are at running.

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“The women rated us on a scale ranging from ‘weird creep’ to ‘sure I’d give him a shot.’ All women randomly selected to participate in the study assigned the latter rating to every participant who began a conversation with ‘my 100-meter sprint is under ten seconds.” One of the members of the group approaching the women discussed the study with us. “It was a typical laboratory experiment in a mock party setting. Factors such as music, inebriation, and level of attractiveness were controlled for. Participants were assigned to approach women in various manners, entering with a compliment, offering them a beer, and so on. The women then rated us on a scale ranging from “weird creep’ to ‘sure I’d give him a shot”. All women randomly selected to participate in the study assigned the latter rating to every participant who began a conversation with “my 100-meter sprint is under ten seconds,” or a similar preset line. Preliminary qualitative research has indicated that Institute’s findings don’t just apply in laboratory settings-- they’re valid in real life as well. “A lot of guys would come up to me and tell me about their successful jobs and their work with charity or whatever. I just wasn’t interested,” Davidson local Amanda Houghenkess admitted. “But one time I overheard a guy say that he once ran a six-minute mile in high school and I was like, ‘Who is he?’ We dated for 3 years. So I’m not surprised at all by these findings.” “Oh, it totally works,” agreed Peter Donanue ‘17, single. “It’s like, my first move. Unfortunately, I’m very slow at running, so the girls tend to catch on pretty quick.”

Dabbing 14 Year-old at Lil Yachty Concert Definitely Getting a Bid in Four Years Multiple sources from within the mosh pit last Friday have confirmed that local high school freshman Timmy Collins is a near lock to receive a bid from Sigma Phi Epsilon in four years. Witnesses tell The Yowl that Collins was seen dabbing repeatedly and proclaiming “it’s lit” without even the slightest voice crack, all the while exuding a patently frat vibe that was palpable to all in attendance. Said current SPE rush chair William Davis, “When I first saw Timmy walk in with his white Nike Elite mid-calves and backwards Polo hat, I knew I’d spotted a potential recruit. It wasn’t until I saw him get a chick’s number that I knew he was a legitimate top prospect.” The Yowl’s investigative team worked to corroborate Davis’ account by painstakingly sifting through hundreds of maddeningly repetitive Snapchat stories from the evening, ultimately discovering a grainy image that purportedly shows Timmy talking to Katie — the most popular girl at Mooresville High. Huge if true. Timmy’s fratiness continued to manifest throughout the night in his uncanny ability to push and shove his way closer to the stage and yell threatening taunts aimed at UNCC students. But Collins’ promising Greek future “Snapchat stories from was never more evident than durthe evening reportedly show ing the chaos that erupted after the concert was brought to an abrupt Timmy talking to Katie — the halt by administrators concerned most popular girl at Mooresabout inebriated students and townies jumping guard rails to ville High. Huge if true.” occupy the floor area. According to fellow fourteen-year-old bros Chad, Spencer, Tanner, Carson, and Tucker, an enraged Timmy immediately stuck his middle finger in the air when the lights came on and totally started a “Free Lil Yachty” chant. Upon witnessing this young teen’s precocious fratiness and raw leadership skills, Davidson fraternity brothers began to take notice all across John M. Belk Arena. The Yowl was able to gain a brief interview with Timmy’s parents as they waited for their son in the lobby. Said dad Jeff, “I always encourage my son take advantage of opportunities like this. My fraternity years were the best times of my life. It’s important for Timmy to start cultivating his frat aesthetic now so that he may find success in four years. Donna and I make sure he gets lit with his friends at least once a month.”

Hot Shot Freshman Makes Sure To Very Visibly Grab 8 Condoms From Health Center Basket Smirking at his fellow patients in the waiting room of the Davidson College Health Center last Wednesday afternoon, Kyle Rivers ‘20 reportedly stuffed his pockets with eight One™ brand condoms before being called in for his appointment. Rivers then went on to hold two different free samples of lube up to the flourescent light before chuckling to himself, winking at Jen Loufolk ‘19, and settling on the larger one. Rivers’ efforts to impress didn’t stop in the waiting room. “I told him to wait on the cot while I grabbed his file, and when I returned he had scattered several prophylactics and a dental dam on the disposable tissue,” reported Dr. Baumgartner, the doctor on duty for Rivers’ visit. Reasons for Rivers’ appointment were unclear. Records indicate that under ‘reason for visit’, Rivers simply wrote “Action Jackson check-up”. Dr. Baumgartner only echoed this confusion. “When I asked him to elaborate, he said something about having ‘the old lincoln log tested for love monkeys’. I informed him that STI testing was

“Rivers went on to hold two different free samples of lube up to the flourescent light before chuckling to himself, winking at Jen Loufolk ‘19, and settling on the larger one.”

free every last Wednesday of the month, but would show up on his tuition bill otherwise.” Rivers reportedly then scrambled to gather his contraceptive objects and scampered out of the examination room. Loufolk, still waiting to be called in for her standing therapy appointment, recounted how the scene unfolded thereafter. “He was clearly agitated when he burst through the door, but he grabbed a few more condoms anyway.” Loufolk described seeing Rivers move to examine a brochure on mental health entitled “Gentle Genitals: Why It’s Okay To Wait” before siezing the entire stack, making hard eye contact with Loufolk, and disposing of them in a recycling bin. “That seemed a little excessive,” added Loufolk. Rivers himself declined to comment on the situation, but the Yowl was able to get a statement from his roommate, Cooper Bachmann ‘20. “Oh, Kyle’s great. He was going to get checked for a cold or something and I asked him to grab some rubbers for me. He came back with lube and everything! Didn’t even say a word. Great guy.”

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Trust, Commitment, Care: Jack Gibbs and his Davidson Career JONATHAN SWANN Sports Co-Editor When Jack Gibbs ’17 was an incoming freshman on the Davidson basketball team, he, along with rising sophomore Jordan Barham ’16, decided to get TCC, Coach Bob McKillop’s mantra for the team, tattooed on his rib cage. This seems like a bold decision for an incoming freshman, but now, after the end of Gibbs’ marvelous Davidson career, no one can second-guess the decision. While the college basketball season is not quite over, Davidson’s season, and Gibbs’ career, ended with a 60-84 loss versus Rhode Island in the A-10 tournament semifinals. In that game, Gibbs capped his Davidson career by becoming the third leading scorer in Davidson basketball history with 2,036 points, passing Fred Hetzel, who played for the Wildcats in the 1960s. The leading scorer in Davidson history is a name familiar to everyone, Stephen Curry, while John Gerdy, who scored 2,483 points for the Wildcats in the 1970s, is in second place. Gibbs finished his career by becoming the first Wildcat with at least 1,500 points, 400 rebounds, and 400 assists. He ranks first in program history in free throws made with 487 and is fourth alltime in 3-pointers made with 255. During his four-year career with Davidson, Gibbs became the face of the team through his prolific scoring, his playing style, and his leadership. Always aggressive, always willing to shoot (even if it meant launching a deep 3), and always setting up plays for his teammates, Gibbs led Davidson to new heights as a program. There have been numerous articles throughout his career comparing him to Davidson’s last prolific scorer, Steph Curry; both are undersized point guards. While Steph Curry, as Coach McKillop said in an interview last year in the New York Times, is on a planet of his own, Gibbs certainly could be seen as being on a smaller celestial object of his own; perhaps a moon or asteroid, if you want to continue the metaphor. Curry’s playing style was one of swift dribbling, incredible passes, and arcing 3-pointers. Gibbs, shorter but more solidly built, relied more on curling around off-ball screens and driving to the basket through pick-and-rolls.

The Beginning

Let’s pause and rewind in time, over five years ago, when Gibbs was a junior in high school and going through the recruiting process. Assistant Coach at the time (now Associate Head Coach) Matt McKillop came to watch Gibbs at Westerville North High School, 15 miles north of Columbus, Ohio. It was the third game in the high school season. In that game, Gibbs tore his ACL in his left knee, which meant he was out for the rest of his junior year. A number of high-profile basketball schools were recruiting Jack at the time, but dropped out after the injury. But Davidson’s coaches never backed down from recruiting Gibbs. As Matt McKillop says now, “He made enough of impression on the coaching staff [that we] never thought twice about continuing to recruit him.” Commitment. A relationship developed between Gibbs and his family and the Davidson coaching staff after the injury. As Gibbs says, the fact that Davidson never let up showed that they cared about him as a person, and that Davidson didn’t just want

him for basketball. Gibbs returned his senior year and was named Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year. Gibbs took recruiting visits to other schools, and received offers from Wichita State and Creighton, among others, but in the end chose Davidson because of the continued interest Davidson showed in him, and also, he says, because when he visited campus, Davidson felt like a close-knit community. Care. One story during the recruiting process that ties directly into the impact Gibbs would make on Davidson basketball is what he received when he arrived at Davidson during his visit. Somehow

tournament for the first time ever. Davidson was picked to finish last in the league in the coaches’ pre-season poll but Kalinoski, Sullivan, Gibbs, Peyton Aldridge ’18, and others fueled the team to victory throughout the season. Kalinoski was named the A-10 Player of the Year, with 16.7 points per game, a stellar 42% on 3-pointers, and a thrilling buzzer-beater lay-up versus La Salle to solidify Davidson’s at-large bid. Gibbs hurt his knee midway through the season, but came back to lead the Wildcats down the stretch and was named 2nd team All-Conference, averaging 16.8 points per game and leading the

send the Flyers home. The game got heated midway through the second half as Gibbs, who broke his nose in February and wore a facemask as a result, felt he was elbowed in the nose by a Dayton player. After that play, Gibbs seemed to play with extra motivation. The game came down to the final couple possessions, and Gibbs says he wanted the ball in his hands as a senior: “[I] wanted to make plays for the team and if my Davidson career ended, it was going to end my way.” For Gibbs and Aldridge, the game was especially significant as both of them are from Ohio. Matt McKillop believes the Dayton game vindicated Gibbs’ season. After continuously battling injuries, and not having the season the team had envisioned, Gibbs proved in the end he could never be counted out. The competitiveness and fire Gibbs brings to the court was something that A-10 teams always had to prepare for, and when it mattered, Gibbs showed that his fire was never going to go away. Commitment.

Looking Back while Moving Forward

Gibbs celebrating during the win against Dayton Photo by Mitchell Leff/Atlantic 10 A-10 in assists and free-throw percentage. Comit became known during the recruiting process that Gibbs loved Kit-Kats, and therefore when mitment. In the 2015-2016 season, Gibbs emerged as he visited another school, that school gave him a big bag of Kit-Kats. When he visited Davidson, one of the top scorers in the country, averaging however, the coaching staff gave him a basketball. 23.5 points per game. However, in the second Why? Because the coaching staff wanted Gibbs year in the A-10, expectations were higher for the to know that as a Wildcat, he would be given the Wildcats, yet A-10 teams had played Davidson reins to the program and would be able to lead once or twice before, meaning they could better prepare for the Wildcats. That, along with injuries the team. Trust. suffered by Jake Belford ’16 and Barham, and earHis Four Seasons as a Wildcat During his freshman year, Gibbs absorbed the ly season-ending injuries to freshmen Kishawn intricacies of Coach McKillop’s high-powered Pritchett and Dusan Kovacevic, caused some motion offense. He improved throughout the struggles during the season. However, Gibbs, year, learning from both the coaching staff and Sullivan, and Aldridge still led the Wildcats to a from other players on the team, including Tyler 20-13 record and a berth in the NIT. Gibbs had Kalinoski ’15, point guard Tom Droney ’14, Brian three 40-point games, including one with Steph in attendance, and had ten 30-point games, along Sullivan ’16, and more. Gibbs made his first appearance against Duke with averaging nearly 5 assists per game. During this past season, Gibbs averaged 22.1 at Cameron Indoor, ultimately appearing in 32 points per game and was named A-10 1st team contests off the bench and averaging 20 minutes a game. He scored in double figures ten times All-Conference. Although this year the team’s during the season, and was selected to the South- goal was a NCAA tournament berth, injuries ern Conference All-freshman Team at the end of were again a problem. In fact, Gibbs almost the season. The Wildcats had a great season, but a redshirted this year, which may be a surprise to disappointing finish as they lost to Western Caro- many Davidson fans. Late October during praclina in OT in the Southern Conference semifinals tice, Gibbs sprained his left shoulder and the injury was serious enough that Gibbs told Coach and Missouri in the first round of the NIT. In Davidson’s inaugural A-10 year, Gibbs was McKillop he wanted to redshirt the season. But the starting point guard and was named the first Coach McKillop put faith in him that he could sophomore team captain in Coach McKillop’s play, and that was enough for Gibbs to decide tenure at Davidson. Davidson concluded a mag- not to redshirt. He and the coaches knew the risk ical season by winning the A-10 regular season of the shoulder popping out again, but, as Matt title and receiving an at-large bid to the NCAA McKillop says, Gibbs didn’t want to disappoint the team and Davidson fans. As a result, Gibbs worked tirelessly rehabbing the shoulder, and he missed only the first game of the season. Trust, Commitment, and Care. Gibbs was such a prolific scorer that the coaches didn’t run plays for him, knowing that Gibbs could create his own plays. They ran numerous plays for Aldridge, who has transformed into an extremely versatile player. Aldridge and Gibbs formed a formidable one-two punch for the Wildcats this season; they were the second highest scoring duo in the nation. Trust. Injuries, the loss of Sullivan, the highest in-conference strength of schedule in the A-10, and the inability to close out tight games meant the Wildcats failed to receive a postseason berth this past season. However, Gibbs closed out his Davidson career with a flourish.

The Dayton Game

Gibbs driving to the basket in a victory against A-10 foe Duquesne. Photo by Jane Campbell

In the A-10 quarterfinals versus the number one seeded Dayton Flyers, Gibbs scored a season-high 34 points, and hit two pivotal three-pointers in the last minute of the game to

As Gibbs reflects on his Davidson career, and looks to the next chapter of his life, he says he couldn’t have imagined the career he would have at Davidson when he committed to the school. Gibbs scored 800 points in high school, but he is now among the greatest Davidson players of all time with over 2,000 points. He says that is a testament to Coach McKillop, Matt McKillop, and all the other coaches and teammates he has had. Care. Coach McKillop had this to say about Gibbs and his career with Davidson: “It’s easy to measure Jack’s significant contribution and place in the history of Davidson basketball by the extraordinary statistics that he had during his career. However, it’s the size of his heart that will forever be remembered by me as his greatest asset to our program. Jack was a fearless competitor and every time he took the court that was evident in the way he played. He always played with abandon and battled injuries constantly because of this fearlessness. I shake my head in amazement reflecting upon the statistics that he accomplished amidst the daily physical battles that he fought just to get on the court. He truly was a warrior.” Commitment. Currently, Gibbs is talking to agents and preparing to play for the East Team in the Senior AllStar game in Phoenix, Arizona, this week, as well as the Portsmouth Invitational over Easter break, which invites the top 64 seniors in the country to play against each other. Hoping to play professionally, Gibbs has sought the advice of former Davidson players as well as the Davidson coaching staff. Trust. Overall, he’s incredibly thankful that he decided to come to Davidson, and for the memories he has of playing basketball; he considers the team to be his second family. However, Gibbs says “In the end, basketball is just a game.” The people and relationships he has developed in his four years at Davidson seem far more important to him than basketball. He is already planning to return to campus once he graduates, no matter what his post-Davidson career turns out to be. Care. Davidson basketball will move forward without the presence of Jack Gibbs on the floor every night, but the program was, and will most likely continue to be, shaped by the career of Jack Gibbs. From a diehard Davidson fan and current Davidson student, thank you Jack for the memories. You will always be a Davidson Wildcat.

Coach Bob McKillop has had high praise for the toughness and resilience that Gibbs showed throughout his career at Davidson. Photo by Gerry Broom/ Associated Press

TTHE HE D DAVIDSONIAN AVIDSONIAN Women’s Tennis Remains Unbeaten at Home

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