the davidsonian
May 3, 2017 Vol. 112 Issue 21
The Independent Student Newspaper of Davidson College since 1914
Inside NEWS Eating houses, fraternities, and sororities work to create more inclusive cultures on campus 2 As retirement draws near, Shandley reflects on his Davidson career 2 1947: Students and dates attended a Spring Frolics formal. Photo courtesy of Davidson's Archives and Special Collections
1972: Students enjoyed a rollercoaster at their Spring Frolics celebration. Photo courtesy of Davidson's Archives and Special Collections
LIVING DAVIDSON Photos of the week feature pieces from the student art exhibition 4 PERSPECTIVES Olivia Daniels '19 and Bridget Lavender '18 discuss the importance of political action 5 Natalie Skowlund '18 questions asbestos mitigation 5
1981: The Locomotion Vaudeville performed for the student body. Photo courtesy of Davidson's Archives and Special Collections
2017: Spring Frolics was pirate-themed and involved many events at PCC houses. Photo courtesy of Bess McLawhorn
A Brief History of Spring Frolics first mentioned, another article discussed a debate held by members of the college’s Christian Endeavour Society. Most of the students agreed that “dancing was not wrong in itself ” but instead n the March 17, 1937, edition of The Daviddecried the activities which accompanied dances, sonian, one fateful article made use of the most notably the excessive consumption of literm “spring frolics.” It was one of the first quor. The group stated, “Christians would have recorded times that the words had ever been no business in going” to dances when “people of used at Davidson, and the college’s party scene low morals assemble[d]” at them and abused alwould never be the same again. Spring Frolics cohol. Despite this sentiment, one Christian Enhas grown to become an annual outdoor party deavour Society member still stood his ground in that strives to be inclusive of all students. Dean 1937 and maintained that “dancing is an evil” all of Students Tom Shandley said, “There is no by itself. other time in the academic year when so many It was largely due to the wishes of the church students from across campus gather together to that the school banned dances from campus. have fun, often on a beautiful spring day.” While However, the administration could not stop stustudents take Frolics for granted today, they are dents and fraternities from hosting both semiprobably unaware of the long and surprisingly formal and formal dances at hotels and other complicated history behind the event. spaces in Charlotte. The college could do The original 1937 Davidsonian article that little to monitor off-campus dances, since mentioned the idea of frolicking was titled it could not officially admit its students “Junior Dance Set Features Mellen Music.” It were dancing. Student government leadwas tucked amongst other progressive pieces, ers campaigned to legalize on campus such as an article that stated women at Penn dances so that they could be more safely State had “agreed that marriage and a career chaperoned. In a religious outcry to these cannot be combined successfully” and anwishes, Beaty writes that “A torrent of other that complained about how frequently presbytery opposition poured down upon Davidson students smoked during theater [the administration].” performances. Ironically, nearly an entire As it turned out, the turning point for page of that day’s paper was devoted to an ad dances at Davidson would be World War for Lucky Strike cigarettes, which proclaimed II. Davidson’s campus played host to hun“Luckies are a light smoke that treat a tender dreds of military cadets, and the school throat right.” It was a different time, and a difexpressed its intent to make “a moral and ferent paper, but it marked the start of one spiritual impact...on these units of young iconic Davidson spring weekend. men,” as quoted by Beaty. However, an Until 1945, the administration had offiincrease in bodies on campus meant a cially banned dancing from campus. In 1838, rowdier social scene. Eventually, the fachardly ten years into the school’s history, a ulty began supporting on-campus dances student was forced to repent after having so that they could be “chaperoned and “taken some part with a company of youths drinking could be controlled,” according in dancing,” as reported in an October 7th, to A History of Davidson College. Dr. 1977 Davidsonian article about the history of John R. Cunningham led Davidson’s first dancing on campus. Essentially, any student legally sanctioned dance, which was held caught doing the day’s equivalent of dabbing on the weekend of February 9, 1945. could be accused of a deep moral wrongdoShortly before dancing was legalized, ing. A century later, in the 1930s, dancing was Spring Frolics originated from another still “an emotional issue on which honorable tradition: Junior Speaking. Before bemen could disagree” at the college, accordcoming seniors, juniors used to be re1992: Students advertised Frolics parties, games, and food ing to Mary D. Beaty’s A History of Davidson quired to give public speeches around opportunities. Photo courtesy of Davidson's Archives and College. commencement time. After this requireSpecial Collections With its deep Presbyterian ties, the Dament was lifted in the 1930s, “the juniors
ETHAN EHRENHAFT Staff Writer
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vidson administration deliberated over dancing throughout the first half of the 20th-century. In 1918, the school warned fraternities that the Board of Trustees “cannot approve of dancing on the Campus or in connection with the College in any way,” as quoted in A History of Davidson College. In an unanimous 1919 vote, the Concord Presbytery, the religious body which founded the college, officially condemned “the dances of today as a moral and spiritual evil.” Davidson struggled with actually enforcing this statement, which reads as if straight from the pages of a North Carolinian version of The Scarlet Letter. Whether or not The Davidsonian itself should be allowed to use the word “dance” was called into question. The debate surrounding dancing and parties was not limited to the administration or the board. In the same issue that “spring frolics” was
YOWL Paul Henderson '17 bids a (somewhat) sentimental farewell to The Yowl 6 Students earn P.E. credit by "jumping through hoops" 6 SPORTS Golf team competes at A-10 championship, Jack Lang wins individual title 7 The Davidsonian announces 2016-2017 sports awards 7 turned Speaking into a time to show off their party planning skills,” according to an article by Jan Blodgett on The Davidson Archives Blog. The parties were still hosted for several years in Charlotte, until the dance ban was lifted. From 1945 onwards, Frolics evolved into the end-of-year adrenaline-fueled extravaganza that it is today. The completion of the Johnston Gym in 1949 provided Frolics’ first big venue. By the 1950s, Frolics had become a highly-anticipated, annual event. In 1954, the Ray Anthony band performed, and students jammed to such hits as “When the Saints Go Marching In.” If one thought this year’s pirate theme was a bit odd, then they should take a look at 1956 Frolics; the theme was officially titled “Orchid Parade.” Blodgett’s blog states that the plan was “for each date [at the formal] to receive a miniature paper orchid and for ‘gay ranges of lavender and white to adorn the gym.’” In the 1960s, with the onset of counterculture, Frolics’ formals subsided and the parties moved out into the open. Spring Frolics began to resemble the Frolics today , albeit with some generational touches. Photos from the 1970s showcase a Frolics that looked like something of a Southern Woodstock, complete with students sporting tie-dye shirts, aviator sunglasses, and shoulder-length hair. The British band The Kinks headlined Frolics in 1975. In 1983, REM
See SPRING Page 3
news
Page 2 May 3, 2017
PCC Members Seek to Increase Inclusivity on Organizational Level LAURA DUNNAGAN
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Senior Staff Writer
atterson Court Council (PCC) organizations are engaging in more conversations regarding inclusivity and diversity. Warner Hall House has been encouraging its members to learn how to foster diversity. “We’ve made more of a conscious effort to be more inclusive,” said Helen Webster ‘18, President of Warner Hall House. “I think inside, everyone in Warner always felt like we were inclusive, but we needed to make a conscious effort to make that clear to everyone else, too.” Two first-year Warner Hall members, Kayla Edwards ‘20 and Jules Franco ‘20, have taken active roles in designing events to promote a more inclusive culture within the house. “As freshmen, there were people who had anxieties about what it meant to join an eating house, what it meant specifically to be joining Warner, and how they were going to be accepted into that community,” commented Edwards. “We decided that we didn’t want this to be an anxiety that anyone else had to have. We wanted to take an active role in making Warner a space that was open for other people.” This semester, Warner Hall has partnered with Queers and Allies to co-host the Queer Pride Party, co-sponsored by several other PCC organizations, and has hosted an event about intersectionality between queer and disability theories within Davidson’s Greek community. They also plan to partner with Q&A on their service projects that benefit the Mwandi Christian Mission Hospital in Mwandi, Zambia and the Regional Aids Interfaith Network. Warner Hall recently started a weekly forum for people to discuss inclusivity and identify other problems within the house. The members voted to hang a Black Lives Matter flag, Pride flag, North Carolina State flag, and United States flag on their back porch. “Part of our goal is to make every person feel like Warner is a safe space and that everyone is included there,” said Webster. Franco hopes the conversation present within Warner Hall will spread to the rest of PCC. “The conversations I’ve heard coming from members of other PCC organizations [were] ‘We’re not actively exclusive, and therefore our spaces are accessible.’ That’s a discourse I hope shifts over the next few years,” commented Franco. “Not being actively exclusive is not the same as being actively inclusive, and that’s something that needs to be taken up
by all houses.” Josh Tu ‘18, President of Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji), explained that the diversity within their organization comes from a legacy of inclusion. “Before I got to Davidson, our organization started to include minority students, which began a conversation about diversity within Fiji,” commented Tu. “That’s caused a snowball effect—as more diversity is included, more diverse people want to join the organization. I think campus outreach is a big part of it, too. Having people involved in a lot of campus activities makes our outreach wider.” Davis Temple ‘18 and Jenna Boué ‘17, President and Vice President of Turner House, respectively, have been working to continue Turner’s culture of inclusivity. “Turner is a diverse eating house, and I think that’s because we foster an open environment,” said Temple. “Past presidents prioritized ways to make the house more inclusive,” said Boué. “It’s essential to Turner’s culture to change issues that different people in Turner are having, to make the house more inclusive and accepting and a more welcoming space for a wider variety of people.” Turner has been evaluating service opportunities to ensure members know what physical demands will be required before engaging in them. Turner has also been working toward making their house more accessible for members with disabilities, increasing funding for need-based scholarships, and celebrating religious diversity. Jonathan Sheperd-Smith ‘18, President of the Pi Mu Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., one of Davidson’s two historically African-American fraternities, commented that inclusivity is a cornerstone of the fraternity’s identity. “Inclusivity has always been a part of the organization on a national level,” explained Sheperd-Smith. “Kappa was founded on the principles of diversity, and that was a key reason why Davidson allowed us to have a chapter here. We try to live that out with our membership—everyone comes from a wide range of backgrounds.” Quin Brown ‘18, President of Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE), said his organization encourages diversity by offering financial aid to all members who demonstrate need. While official statistics on minority representation within organizations are unavailable, Brown remarked that his fraternity has noticed an increase in its racial diversity in recent years. Brianna Green ‘18 is a member of two PCC
organizations: Rusk House and the Upsilon Mu Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. “With Delta, even though it is a historically black organization, we try to make ourselves open to students who aren’t African-American and make ourselves approachable,” said Green. “Having members who aren’t black is important, because it’s really about the message and the cause—we’re trying to help the black community, but you don’t have to be black to help black people or care about black people.” Green says she was encouraged to join Rusk House by older members of color. “I thought it was cool that other black women were part of a white space, and I think subconsciously that affected my decision,” explained Green. “Rusk is a very inclusive space, but it’s really important that people are reaching out to more diverse members of campus to get them to join.” Green said that being a member of a sorority and an eating house has been a positive experience. “They’re very different spaces, but I’m glad to be able to have both experiences. That’s something special about Davidson, that I can join a sorority that’s meaningful for me and have a space to explore myself with other women of color and have a more predominantly white social experience.” Most Patterson Court representatives who were interviewed noted that their individual organizations, instead of PCC at large, led efforts to increase inclusivity. While this allows the individual organizations greater flexibility, it can also translate to a lack of cohesion and collaboration among organizations. Additionally, representatives cited overall school diversity as a limiting factor to their individual organizations' diversity, arguing that PCC can only be as diverse as the overall student body. “It’s hard for PCC to have a policy about inclusion because it really is a culture thing, and the individual organizations can control their culture easier than PCC at large,” stated Brown. Brown also noted that PCC’s involvement with SAE currently focuses more on promoting safe practices in the houses than encouraging inclusivity. For Interfraternity Council organizations, PCC requires members to complete three educational events, two of which must pertain to sexual assault prevention and alcohol safety. Sana Alimohamed ‘17, a member of Turner House who transferred into the organization during her senior year, notes that PCC should also focus on being more inclusive of students who choose not to drink. “I have never felt unwelcome as a Muslim in PCC organizations,”
commented Alimohamed. “The only time where I felt not actively included, but neither actively non-included, was when I had to explain my decision not to drink. In part it was because of my religion, but it was also for so many other reasons. I have never felt pressured to drink at Davidson, but there have been times where I have felt pressured to have a good enough excuse as to why I don’t drink.” Referencing eating house culture specifically, Alimohamed mentioned that “PCC has a long way to go to be inclusive of people who choose not to drink. While people who want to stay sober can carve those places out for themselves, those spaces do not exist naturally.” Alimohamed noted that while some eating houses have alcohol-free events that focus on fellowship and friendship, sometimes these “sober events” can be mocked or may be “sober” in name only. Edwards suggested that PCC should make an effort to address concerns first-years have when considering joining a PCC organization. “I think PCC in general should be having more conversations about these anxieties freshmen may be having, how they can address them, and whether or not those anxieties are rooted in realities that freshmen are excluded or don’t feel as welcome in those spaces,” said Edwards. “When we have those difficult conversations, we’re better able to move into directions that are more inclusive of everyone.” Emily Yates ‘18, recently-elected President of PCC and a member of Turner House, said that she plans to use the position to bring inclusivity to the forefront of PCC discussions. “There have been a lot of conversations around inclusivity, but there’s a lot to be done to make PCC more inclusive, especially financially,” explained Yates. “The effort is there, but there’s still a lot of work to be done.” During her time as president, Yates hopes to bring more attention to National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc.’s culture, to encourage collaboration between the houses and to promote inclusivity by being more intentional with how PCC organizations use their social spaces. “There’s a lot of untapped potential within PCC,” commented Yates. “I’d love to see people make inclusivity a priority because we have so much social capital and we don’t think intentionally about it—but there’s so much we could do, and people are starting to recognize that.” *Note: Laura Dunnagan is a member of Turner House.
As Dean Shandley Retires, Community Celebrates Notable Career AIDAN PETERSON Staff Writer
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n April 25, Vice President of Student Life and Dean of Students Tom Shandley spoke at his last Spring Convocation. He addressed most of the graduating class of 2017, many of whom were not even alive when he came to Davidson twenty-three years ago. Students and faculty grieve the Dean of Students’ departure, but also celebrate the profound success that Shandley has built at Davidson. “I never came to Davidson thinking I would end up staying twenty-three years,” Shandley reflected. When asked what caused him to stay, Shandley kept it short: “the students.” After working at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, Shandley first heard about a possible opportunity at Davidson through a relationship he developed with Davidson’s President Emeritus John Kuykendall, who served in his position from 1984 until 1997. Upon hearing about Davidson’s Love for Learning program, an initiative to allow disadvantaged, low income Charlotte area students to pursue the dream of achieving a college education, Shandley knew Davidson was the “real deal” and wanted to be a part of the institution. As Dean of Students since 1994, Shandley has collected many treasured memories of his time at Davidson. One of his proudest accomplishments is creating the Honor Code Signing ceremony. “The signing ceremony was something that was in place at Rhodes, and I thought to bring it
here,” said Shandley. The ceremony has become unique is that “there’s an amazing team of people so ingrained in the Davidson experience that it here.” He spoke of a culture at Davidson in which is hard for an entire generation of students to “people have each others’ backs.” This communiimagine Davidson ty’s solidarity was even without it. Shandley more present in cases appreciates that stuof tragic deaths, and, dents have taken their in reference to those own spin on the event; situations, Shandley the administration spoke of his apprehad never encouraged ciation for Davidson the student body to students' ability to be dress formally for the there for one another, signing, but rather, as transcending social diShandley explained, visions. this tradition emerged Shandley has not naturally from the stuonly had an impact dents. on the students that While many of his have come to DavidDavidson experiences son, but also on the have been overwhelmcollege’s faculty and ingly positive, there staff. According to are exceptions. When Davidson Health Adasked about the hardvisor Georgia Ringle, est part of his dedicat“Dean Shandley has ed career to Davidson, done a great job hiring Shandley replied that excellent staff in the the death of a student Student Life Division. is something imposHaving good, smart sible to prepare for, Shandley's retirement celebration was held in the and supportive colregardless of how long Alvarez Student Union on May 2. Photo by Abby leagues makes all of one has been at the Miller the difference in a job job. “When a student that can often be chalpasses away, it’s not just hard for me, but for ev- lenging but rewarding nevertheless.” eryone,” said Shandley. Shandley’s ability to build rapport with anyShandley remarked that what makes Davidson one who walks into his office has allowed him to
make lasting relationships with not only students, but also the faculty and staff of Davidson College. Throughout his career, Shandley has had to remain very active. Retirement may seem like an invitation to slow down, yet this is not in Shandley's plan. Instead, he hopes to remain engaged with education after his retirement from Davidson. He will be teaching a class in Appalachian State University’s College of Education next year. Most notably, Shandley intends to participate in the Registers Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, or the RAGBRAI: a 500-mile bike ride across the midwestern states. The recreational event attracts upwards of 20,000 cyclists from around the world. Finding a suitable replacement for Shandley proved to be a daunting task. The college assembled a search committee to find an administrator who shares Shandley's commitment to students. Members of the committee included Nate Casey ‘17, Dara Ferguson ‘17, Professor Mark Barsoum, Professor Shyam Gouri Suresh, Professor Sharon Green, Vice President and General Counsel Sarah Phillips, Trustee Tom Okel ‘84, Associate Director of Residence Life Walter Snipes, and President Carol Quillen. On May 2, Quillen announced via email that Byron P. McCrae will be replacing Shandley. Shandley has left a strong legacy at Davidson, and many have been fortunate to share pieces of their college experiences with him. He has defined the Dean of Students’ position for many community members and left an indelible impression on Davidson's history.
news
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Spring Frolics Celebration Origi- crime log nally a Response to Presbyterian Time Reported Bans on Dancing 04/24/17 at 1528 hrs
04/27/17 at 1445 hrs
Continued from Page 1 performed in the 900 Room. The next year, the 900 Room played host to a disco party. During the ‘80s, court parties became more of a staple, as well. Robert Lee ‘86 explained that “Frolics was not fraternity oriented” during his Davidson career. The Union Board fully took control in 1977. Modern-day Spring Frolics consists mostly of parties hosted by fraternities and eating houses, along with additional activities such as moon bounces and student bands on the lawn of Patterson Court and inside the Union. A professional artist usually performs as well. 2017 Frolics welcomed rapper Bryce Vine, best known for his song “Sour Patch Kids.” “He was a great performer, and his music really fit well with the Frolics atmosphere,” said firsttime Frolicker Marshall Bursis ‘20. Historically, Frolics has hosted a wider variety of weekend events, including movie screenings, roller skating, and even a Frolics parade in the 1970s. “It’s been four years of Frolics for me. This was a pretty good Frolics,” said Matt Landini ‘17 on Saturday. “It’s very open.” The event undoubtedly brings the student body closer together. Students can now partake in dancing without worry of invoking the scorn of Presbyterian Church. While the weekend brings much joy, alcohol abuse and sexual assault are still large concerns. A significant number of emergency transports resulting from excess alcohol consumption resulted in the arrival of state Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) officers on campus. Looking forward, Spring Frolics will remain a staple of student life at Davidson College. Shandley hopes to “push to keep it an event meant for Davidson students and limit the guests. It should
be for you and to involve a lot of others can serve to dilute a bit the sense of community that this event invokes.” From a “company of youths” partying in the 1830s to the Bryce Vine fanboys of today, Davidson has certainly seen an interesting evolution of what dancing and Frolics means to the school. The Davidsonian would like to thank archivists Jan Blodgett and Caitlin Christian-Lamb for their wealth of knowledge and assistance with digitalizing photographs for this article.
04/27/17 at 1559 hrs 04/26/17 at 1635 hrs 04/27/17 at 2302 hrs 04/28/17 at 0900 hrs 04/28/17 at 1900 hrs 04/28/17 at 1900 hrs 04/28/17 at 2030 hrs 04/28/17 at 2200 hrs 04/28/17 at 2225 hrs 04/28/17 at 2307 hrs 04/28/17 at 2310 hrs 04/28/17 at 2325 hrs 04/28/17 at 0045 hrs 04/29/17 at 0131 hrs 04/29/17 at 0209 hrs 04/29/17 at 0332 hrs 04/29/17 at 2300 hrs
2017: Bryce Vine performed on Patterson Court lawn on the Friday of Frolics. Photo by Emilie Uffman
04/29/17 at 2325 hrs
Davidsonian.com
Description / Location
Larceny Misdemeanor (Bicycle) at Belk Further Investigation Sexual Battery at Residence Hall Prosecution Declined Larceny Misdemeanor (Bicycle) at Belk Further Investigation Miscellaneous Suspicious Person at Chambers Inactive Miscellaneous Suspicious Vehicle at Lake Campus Inactive Hit and Run at Main St. Inactive Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia at Ridge Rd Prosecution Declined Larceny Misdemeanor (MacBook) at BSC Further Investigation Poss. of Controlled Substance/Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia at Baker Lot Clear by Arrest Underage Consumption at Tomlinson Dean Referral/Medic Transport Miscellaneous Intoxicated Person at Jamieson Dean Referral/Medic Transport Miscellaneous Suspicious Vehicle at Lake Campus Further Investigation Miscellaneous Suspicious Odor at Belk Inactive Miscellaneous Intoxicated Person at Armfield Non-student Medic Transport Underage Consumption at Watts Dean Referral/Medic Transport Underage Consumption at FIJI Prosecution Declined/Medic Transport Underage Consumption at Multicultural House Prosecution Declined/Medic Transport Miscellaneous Suspicious Person at Union Inactive Breaking & Entering of Building/Injury to Real Property at SAE Further Investigation Miscellaneous Intoxicated Person at Multicultural House Dean Referral/Medic Transport
living davidson
Page 4
May 3, 2017
This Week in Photos: Student Art Exhibition Photos Courtesy of Sacha Franks ‘19 and Julia Vining ‘20 Don’t Forget: Senior Studio Art Exhibition Jean Paul Garcia: May 3 – May 8 StudentDirected One Acts: May 3 - May 4 Chorale Farewell to Seniors Con A reception and awards ceremo- cert: ny was held on the lawn of the May 20 | 7:15 VAC on Wednesday, April 26. pm
Student-made pieces will be on display until May 10.
THE CHEW 2.27 Lemon Pound Cake
Ingredients 1⁄2 cup butter, melted 1 cup sugar 2 eggs, well-beaten 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1⁄4 teaspoon salt 1 1⁄2 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1⁄2 cup milk
Adapted from food.com Want your favorite recipe featured? Email Living Davidson editor Mary Porter at maporter@davidson.edu to get involved!
1⁄3 cup lemon juice 1⁄4 cup sugar
Directions
1. Mix together 1 cup of sugar and 1/2 cup butter. 2. Add eggs and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice; mix well. 3. Add salt, flour, and baking powder to mixture. Add milk. 4. Bake at 325°F in a well-greased loaf pan for 1 hour, or until golden brown. 5. Mix 1/3 cup lemon juice and 1/4 cup sugar. 6. Use a toothpick to make holes in top of cake and drizzle lemon juice and sugar mixture over the top of the cake when removed from the oven. 7. Serve warm or cool.
perspectives
page 5
May 3, 2017
An Incomplete Guide to Responding to YAF OLIVIA DANIELS & BRIDGET LAVENDER
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provocative video released last Tuesday on the Davidson Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) Facebook page analogized GPA points and income to make an argument against wealth redistribution. We aren’t here to argue about the specifics of this video, although both of us personally find it ridiculous and infuriating. Instead, we are interested in the large reaction it prompted on our campus. Many Davidson students, including ourselves, have engaged in conversations about the video, both formally through classroom conversations and the Teach-In and informally through Facebook debates and casual conversations. The conversations we have had regarding this video have been productive and insightful, not to mention therapeutic. YAF has brought many issues to the forefront of conversation throughout their time on campus, including income inequality, wealth redistribution, access to opportunity and resources, and women’s reproductive rights. We’re happy to have these conversations. Our fear, however, is that these conversations happen solely as reactions, provoked by YAF. Don’t get us wrong: there is nothing wrong
with reacting to the video. Most of us did, as evidenced by the professors discussing it in class and the hundreds of Facebook posts and comments on the subject. Reaction is inevitable and clearly justified, but if we only react, we concede to the provocation. If we only have these conversations whenever YAF and similar groups rile students up, then they will continue to win,--whether it be through framing the ideological battles on this campus, putting Donald Trump in the White House, or somewhere in between. The massive amount of energy generated through reactions has the potential to make concrete change if students are motivated outside of online debates and conversations. We encourage you all, and continue to challenge ourselves, to take simple steps towards positive change on this campus or at a larger level to successfully resist the implications of divisive, hateful rhetoric. Following are some suggestions, but these are in no way a prescriptive order of how to react or respond to hateful rhetoric and policies, especially ones targeting individuals personally based on any of their identities. Know and take care of yourself--understand that your method of resistance will not look like ours or anyone else’s. For the remainder of the semester, we encourage you to engage with your professors on these issues; learn from their informed opinions and challenge them when necessary. Talk to your classmates, and learn their stories. Remember, however, that many stories go untold, and your peers are under no obligation to tell their own. Thus, we urge you to think about these issues
regardless of personal connections. Attend the Teach-Ins, bipartisan discussions, informative lectures, and speaker panels. Many campus organizations seek to channel student enthusiasm for change into action-oriented initiatives that can have an impact on people, ideas, or movements beyond ourselves. Reach out to groups like Davidson Refugee Support, Planned Parenthood Generation Action, 1972, or the Environmental Action Coalition. They do not just welcome your help and efforts; they need them. Signing up for these email lists and contacting campus leaders are fast and effective ways to learn more about the issues going on around us and how you can address them as part of a larger team for change. Being aware of events, petitions, or discussions on campus allows you not only to educate yourself but also those around you. In Davidson and beyond, volunteering for local political campaigns (for either party) is an effective way to be engaged with issues facing your geographic area and to be a part of concrete initiatives to address them and inform voters of their importance. Working to publicize the issues and a candidate can be both personally rewarding and a key part of civic engagement in your community. Registering those around you to vote and educating them on policies and platforms makes you part of a larger, action-oriented movement. Our nation’s founding principles ensure a relationship between voters and their democratically-elected representatives. Use this connection. Call your state and national senators and representatives. Call your governor. Call your
city’s board of commissioners. Write letters and emails. Hold these officials accountable to your needs as a voter. If you are registered to vote in Davidson (you can check online!), our state senator is Jeff Tarte (919-715-3050) and our state representative is John Bradford (919-753-5838). As North Carolinians, our senators are Richard Burr (202-224-3154) and Thom Tillis (202-224-6342), and our congressional representative is Alma Adams (202-225-1510). Whether or not you cast your vote for any of these elected officials, they represent your interests as a constituent; make your voices heard. Our reactions are valid and necessary. Reacting without ever acting, however, concedes victory to the other side. Engage in discussion and learn about the issues because they are important, not only because of an inflammatory post. To make a difference and respond with conviction, take this knowledge and spread it through activity on Davidson’s campus and beyond. We have hardly perfected this method, but we realize that the impact of our resistance will be measured by both discussion and deeds.
Olivia Daniels '19 is a History and English double-major from Phillipsburg, New Jersey. Contact her at oldaniels@davidson. edu. Bridget Lavender '18 is a Gender & Sexuality Studies major and Communications minor from Greensboro, North Carolina. Contact her at brlavender@davidson.edu.
A Call for Community Solidarity NATALIE SKOWLUND
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town meeting in Davidson, North Carolina on April 4, 2017 addressed the presence of asbestos in parts of the Davidson community. As reported in The Davidsonian, the Environmental Protection Agency and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality were present at the meeting in order to add to the discussion on remediating the concerns about asbestos in the community. Ultimately, the EPA has stated that it is the responsibility of individual property owners to contact the agency with a request for an asbestos assessment and cleanup of the site. The hilly property across the street from several of the affected houses has also been found to have significant amounts of asbestos, yet since the property is under the ownership of Metrolina Warehouse LLC, a private corporation, it is up to the corporation to decide to what extent the asbestos issue will be addressed. This story, unfortunately, is not an uncommon one. In early February, The Progressive Pulse stated that Metrolina Warehouse LLC had repaired the areas affected with asbestos on its property by covering up the asbestos and taking preventative measures to deter erosion on the sloped parts of the property. Most recently, in mid-April, the Lake Norman Citizen reported that the EPA is getting ready to address asbestos concerns at several home properties in the affected area, and will begin the asbestos re-
mediation projects in late April. Still, while the EPA is “working to minimize the exposure risk,” this does not mean that all of the asbestos will be removed from the affected properties. Furthermore, there has been an ongoing discussion about developing the Metrolina property into townhomes in the future, and any prospect of development on the site will reopen concerns about how to deal with the asbestos that has so far only been covered up, and not permanently removed, from the property. Yet, what does the potential development of the Metrolina property mean for the people living in this asbestos-infested area? It seems that the inhabitants of this lower-income neighborhood in Davidson will face consequences either way if the Davidson community at large does not demonstrate continued solidarity with the members of the affected neighborhood and demand accountability from the EPA, Metrolina Warehouse LLC and the future developer of the property. If the Metrolina property remains undeveloped, the affected community faces the possibility that the presence of asbestos will pose a continued threat to their families, as asbestos remains under the ground surface in several parts. It seems that the EPA’s action to give residents in asbestos-contaminated areas the opportunity to request an assessment of their property only thinly veils the lack of immediate concern they have for the affected community. Rather than viewing this as an issue of personal volition, it is crucial to recognize the serious health risks, including a heightened possibility of cancer, associated with exposure to airborne asbestos. This should be a problem for immedi-
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sports editors photo editor web editor business manager copy editors
Erin Davenport Kate McNaughton Olivia Daniels Steffaney Wood Mary Porter Kayla Edwards Paul Henderson Sophie McHugh Ian Robertson Jonathan Swann Abby Miller Emma Johnson Austin Newsome Yashi Gunawardena Lucas Weals
ate action, not a process that could take at least several months to address. Furthermore, actions taken to “minimize exposure” to asbestos does not ultimately eradicate the problem, and as long as the Metrolina property remains undeveloped, the corporation has no legal duty to permanently rid its property of asbestos. On the other hand, if the Metrolina property does become developed, the affected community faces other risks. If townhomes with higher rent replace the old mill that currently exists on the property, many of the families currently living in this area will face heightened rent and other costs of living. Gentrification too often poses serious threats to the original inhabitants because it attracts wealthier buyers who can afford a higher cost of living, thus developing the community to suit the interests of those in a higher income group instead of the interests of the original inhabitants. Respect for those who have lived in this part of Davidson for a long time, or possibly all of their lives, falls out of importance when money comes into the picture. Where does the dignity of the humans living in this neighborhood go once a company decides to develop a property that will directly affect them? Furthermore, the developers will face an imperative to permanently rid the property of asbestos, yet to a large extent this requires the vigilance of not only state institutions like the EPA but also Davidson community members to ensure accountability on the behalf of a company whose foremost interest is to save money and develop as quickly as possible. Of course, it is not as if the EPA has made no commitment to remediate the asbestos issue. They have promised to assess the properties of
those who request and assessment, and to clean up the asbestos that is found. However, The Davidsonian article also cited their mention of potential delays that could mean the remediation of asbestos will not be finished until fall of 2017 or later. Moreover, the asbestos on the Metrolina property may not be fully dealt with for a good while, and possibly only dealt with if or when the property is developed. This story, unfortunately, is not an uncommon one. Lower-income and marginalized populations have been the victims of a reckless lack of attention and blatant prejudices throughout history. Instead of once again leaving sectors of our community without access to a healthy, safe neighborhood to live in, let’s stand up for the dignity of human beings over corporate interests or the lackadaisical attitude of our government. I do not intend to blindly vilify corporate and government organizations, but rather to remind us that in order to ensure the maintenance of livable communities for all, we must remain aware about the issues our neighbors are facing and ask the necessary questions to see that such issues are addressed to an adequate degree. We have the responsibility to be allies for our neighbors. The asbestos mess in Davidson is not unresolvable, but it will take the solidarity of the entire community to put pressure on those who have the power to make livable communities a reality. Natalie Skowlund '18 is a Political Science major and Hispanic Studies minor from Lake Oswego, Oregon. Contact her at naskowlund@ davidson.edu.
The Final issue Guy with His Ringer on Loud in the Next Room Better Figure it Out Quick
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Dog With Cone on Head Definitely Feels as Stupid as He Looks
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Incoming Freshman Class Can’t Wait To Meet You Guys!!
Page Alright
Junior Takes Frolics Easy, Decides to Only ‘Brown Out’
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Study Shows That Blue Light and Being A Dumbass Without SelfControl Can Hinder Sleep
A (Somewhat) Serious Letter From the Editor
The Yowl’s Year in Review Aug. 18: First-year’s sex joke in hall lounge falls flat, realizes he peaked on the Facebook page Aug. 21: American collegians migrate to Charlotte suburb to “give it another go” Aug. 25: Friend who constantly complains about 8:30’s starting to get annoying Sep. 16: Area man sniffs an ungodly stench from his N. Main Street porch Sep. 17: Authorities investigate Armfield bathroom, find green bubbling entity emitting distinctive smell Oct. 4: Disgruntled freshman attempts to track down former tour guide, whose lies about campus food have officially been confirmed
Cool! Junior Goes Another Semester Without Having To Buy More Floss
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Yowl Editor Thinks People Give a Sh*t He’s Leaving
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Fly Free, Little Bird
“Believe in Your Dreams. Always.”
Your Davidson Honor Section
Editors: Paul Henderson Sophie McHugh Writers: EJ “Moving Up” Kelley Theo Greg Will Thurst.
Note: The Yowl is a satirical supplement to The Davidsonian. Hence, nothing in it should be taken as truth. Word.
Dearest Reader (if there are more of you let me know), So here we are at the end. I find myself hurdling toward the end of my time at Davidson at a blinding pace, with the days rushing by faster than I can comprehend. I am now sitting in the Davidsonian office for what will be my last time, staring at yet another blank issue of the Yowl that needs to be filled with funny quips and quirky observations. And you know what? I can’t think of anything funny. Not a thing. Maybe it is the impending sense of doom tied to graduation that is clouding my mind, or maybe I’ve exhausted every slightly humorous thing I’ve ever had to say over the last few years of working on the paper, I’m not sure. But right now I’m stumped, so I’m going to try my best to talk candidly. I’ve never tried this before, but f*ck it, I can’t think of anything else to do. Feel it, Perspectives. I’m taking over. Writing and editing the Yowl has been the only major obligation I have had on campus during my time as a student here. And you know what? It was pretty fun. Even the times when I was editing by myself and writing three articles on a Tuesday afternoon with two essays due the next day, the Yowl always gave me an opportunity to do something that I’m pretty good at and have people read it. To those of you that have taken the time to read the paper in the past (even by accident), I hope you at least found something enjoyable about opening up the Yowl and seeing some stuff that was at least a little funny. To those of you that ever came up to me and told me as much, you have no idea how great that made me feel.
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Thoughtful Facebook Friend Decides To Share Memes 24/7 So You Don’t Have To Find Them Yourself
The DaviDsonian
This Issue Brought to You By: Undying Cynicism
Oct. 30: Toast Cafe sets state record for most hungover students per capita seen eating breakfast with parents Nov. 2: Complaining friend from August 25th not invited to weekly Wine Wednesday Nov. 9: A cheerful student body eagerly attends to their studies on a routine, peaceful day Dec. 8: Complaining friend posts cryptic Instagram with her #RealFriends Jan. 18: Ambitious sophomore declares upcoming term “The Semester of Steve” Feb. 2: In the ultimate eclipse, freshman girl’s sports fanaticism happens to coincide with Steph Curry’s return to campus Feb 26: Previously abroad junior finds poignant nostalgia in Southern Barbeque “International Station” Mar. 15: Swim Team contacts local strip clubs following success of big/little week Mar. 23: Brother Johnson carefully selects Lil Yachty outfit from cache of oldtime NBA jerseys Mar. 24: Johnson sees 15 year old in same jersey, subsequently approaches parents about pathway to pledge program in lobby Apr. 5: Freshman from Oct. 4th now that tour guide cheerfully telling the same lies she was once fed Apr. 16: Degenerate sophomore chugs altar wine at Easter Mass after first sober weekend in months Apr. 25: YAF solves income inequality, garners collective campus respect Apr. 28 – Apr 30: [REDACTED] May 2: Steve seen anxiously trying to salvage his semester in base libs May 10: Clairvoyant Yowl writer correctly predicts exact number of self-righteous library snapchat stories during finals (it’s 512 btw)
Looking back on my time as the editor, I have no regrets. All of my major goals were achieved. I published the word “pussy” in large letters and received a call from a member of the administration. I wrote articles about Police Chief Todd Sigler until he finally emailed us (I’m so glad he liked it). I was able to write issues entirely on my own that made me proud enough to pin them to my wall. All in all, I’m gonna be walking away feeling pretty good about this whole sh*tstorm. I am confident that I am leaving the Yowl in capable hands. Sophie, I’ll admit I was skeptical when I heard you had taken over as editor in my absence while I was abroad. I thought to myself, “who the f*ck is this girl? What the hell does she think she is doing?” But, I’m so happy to admit that I was dead wrong to ever doubt you. Writing the Yowl with you has actually made it a hell of a lot more fun. I can leave here with full confidence that our little piece of the school paper will continue to be of utmost professional quality. Thanks for everything. Well, I’m off. Let me assure those of you that think working on the Yowl will one day help you get a job that you are dead wrong. It did, however, turn out to be a grand old time. Worth it. Also, to all of you still waiting on your Yowl t-shirts, we never made them. Sincerely,
Paul Henderson
Administration to Count ‘Jumping Through Hoops’ As Final P.E. Credit For Desperate Seniors After a contentious debate that would determine the fates of several graduating seniors, the Board of Trustees voted 38-3 in favor of allowing the arduous four-year-long process of jumping through the various hoops in place at Davidson College to count as a physical fitness requirement. The dialogue surrounding this important campus issue was spearheaded by Haley Nufer ‘17. An ambitious Political Science and Communication Studies double major, Nufer took on the movement full force, going so far as to mention it at her thesis defense this past Tuesday. “You know what, f*ck this,” Nufer said, briefly interrupting her presentation about populist extremism in South America, “None of this sh*t matters if I don’t graduate just because I didn’t play f*cking Flickerball freshman year. F*ck me.” Her points visibly swayed the audience, which consisted of several faculty advisors, a jury of Nufer’s peers, and Nufer’s friend Becky Richards, ‘17. Nufer later expanded on her comments, confessing, “I know I lost my cool in there, but it’s true. I had to go through the CIS, do you know how grueling that sh*t
“You know what, f*ck this. None of this sh*t matters if I don’t graduate just because I didn’t play f*cking Flickerball freshman year. F*ck me.”
is? It’s f*cking grueling.” After the motion was approved, director of Physical Education Sandy Helfgott was saddled with the task of determining which of Davidson’s many onerous tasks should count towards the alternative P.E. credit. “The FAFSA application definitely constitutes a full credit, and any activities involving Bannerweb will for sure be included on the list. If you’ve ever had to bullsh*t your way through an underage alcohol citation, that’s gotta count too,” said Helfgott. While trustees mainly approved of Helfgott’s proposal, some aspects remain up for debate. “I’m on board with counting stupid group projects as a team sport credit, but average classroom busy work shouldn’t count. Weekly Moodle posts, AT sessions, that sort of stuff,” explained trustee Robert Cordle ‘63, “That’s just a part of the Davidson experience.” Regardless of the fine print, many Davidson seniors will be happy to don caps and gowns with a clear conscience. As for Nufer, her hard work and persuasive rhetoric paid off, and she is set to graduate later this month if she can scheme her way out of Davidson 101 requirements.
sports
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Golf Competes at A-10 Championship WILL JONES Staff Writer
Every young golfer dreams of it: walking up the 18th fairway in the final pairing of the final round, the crowd cheering as you tip your cap, ball on the green with a birdie putt to win the championship. You read the break, line it up, and drain it center-cut; the title is yours by a stroke and the crowd goes wild. You can hear the TV announcer in your head, Jim Nantz perhaps, or Roger Maltbie, proudly announcing your name as the champion to the millions of viewers at home. For Sophomore Jack Lang, the title-clinching putt was a little less dramatic, but just as satisfying. He stood over a 4-foot par putt on the 9th green (he started the round on hole 10), knocked it home, turned to his coach and asked, “Did I do it?” His teammates congratulated him as he walked off the green to the clubhouse, still unaware that he had just won the Atlantic 10 Con-
ference Golf Championship. When the final scores were finally posted, Lang breathed a sigh of relief; he had just won by 3 strokes. This had been the plan all along. Jack went into the final round in a tie for 2nd place, one shot back from the lead. However, unlike the other leaders in the final round, Jack started on the 10th hole, away from the other top competitors. “I just went into the round and decided I wasn’t going to pay attention to the leaderboard at all and was just going to try to hit every golf shot the best I could and see where I was when I finished,” Jack told me in an interview when he got back on campus, “If I could just focus on the stuff I could control, then I would be fine and hopefully happy with where I ended up.” The key to Lang’s success in the final round, in which he shot a day’s best 68 (-4), was the stretch of holes 11-15 (actually 2-6), where he drained 4 birdies to clinch the day. After missing a short birdie putt on the 10th hole, Jack hit
Jack Lang receives the A-10 individual title trophy. Photo courtesy of A-10 Conference
Men's Rookie of the Year
Photo by Tim Cowie/Davidson Photos
Axel Fries-Men's Tennis
As a Swedish Nationals Singles finalist in High School, Fries’s success in high school translated well into an impressive freshman year at Davidson. Fries worked his way up from No. 5 to No. 3 singles, earning an 18-5 singles record in the process and being named A-10 Rookie of the Week a conference-best 5 times. Pairing up with Senior J.B. Gough at No. 1 Doubles, Fries was also part of the duo that recorded a team-best 15-6 overall record and helped the team to an overall great season. Honorable Mentions: Jon-Axel GudmundssonBasketball; George Williams-Track & Field, 400/200m; Crossan Cooper-Swimming, 1650 m free
Women's Team of the Year
the green on the Par 5 2nd in two shots, following with a phenomenal 2-putt from 50 feet for a birdie. “Converting on that two-putt on 2 really sort of helped me settle back in,” Lang said. His tee shot on the next hole, a par 3, settled 6 feet from the hole, and he drained the ensuing putt. After a tough 70-foot 3-putt on the par 4 4th for bogey, Lang bounced back with consecutive birdies on the 5th and 6th holes to seal the deal. Recovery was a main theme for the team on the weekend, who finished in 5th place, a large improvement over their finish from last year. After a solid first round, which saw under-par performances from Lang, fellow sophomore Hoke Carlton, who paced the ‘Cats at -4, and freshman Michael Freeman, the team struggled on the second round. While Lang shot 4-under-par en route to his top finish, teammates Carlton and Freeman posted rounds of +5 and +4 respectively to drop back to over-par for the tournament. However, the boys bounced back in the final round, with Carlton firing a -3 round to finish just outside of the top 10 and Freeman shooting +1 to round out the top 20. Senior Andy Simmons rounded out the team scoring with a +18 total for the tourney. According to Lang, the team was a little far back of where they wanted to be going into Saturday, but they did the best they could on the last day to earn 5th. However, the team is optimistic about its outlook going into next year. “We have a young team with a lot of talent,” Lang said, “Between Hoke, Michael, and Nate Tenpas, who was a phenomenal junior golfer and is just coming back from injury, and a new freshman coming in next year, we’re hoping to nab an at-large bid to Regionals next year.” As for Jack Lang, he will be competing in the NCAA Regional Championships in two weeks. Tune into Golf Channel at 12 pm on Thursday to see where he will be compet-
Davidsonian Sports Awards pionship quarterfinal, the team finished with a 78-37 singles record (31-10 in A-10 play), while going 41-17 in doubles play. Six players of the team reached the double-digit mark in singles wins this season, highlighted by Ava Todd '18, Anna Catherine Feaster '18, Megan Scholvinck '19, and Samathan Armas '20. Honorable Mention: Women's Track and FieldThe women's team, colloquially dubbed the Fasty Cats, has had a record breaking year, setting six new program records at the 2017 A-10 Indoor Championships. Additionally, the women's team has continually improved since joining the A-10, moving from 26 points in 2016 to 48 points in 2017 in the A-10 Indoor Championships.
Women's Rookie of the Year
Photo by Tim Cowie/Davidson Photos
Alexandra Abele-Women's Tennis
Both the Men’s and Women’s tennis teams can attribute a huge part of success to their outstanding freshmen. Playing at No. 4 and No. 5 singles, Abele had a team-best 16-4 record. Playing alongside Ava Todd at No. 3 doubles, the duo was also 16-4. Abele also went 6-3 in A-10 play during the season. Abele will be looking to have an even bigger impact next season as one of the team’s top 3 singles players.
Photo by Tim Cowie/Davidson Photos
Men's Tennis
The Men’s Tennis team had an impressive season, ending the year with a 16-8 despite losing in the A-10 Championship quarterfinals. The 16 wins were the most the team has had in a regular-season since 1994. Along with the outstanding performance of Fries ’20, J.B. Gough ’17 completed his Davidson career with a 14-6 record. The team rattled off a 6-match win streak during the season.
Women's Tennis
The women’s tennis team had a great season, with a 15-6 team record and winning five straight matches at one point during the season. Although the season ended in disappointment with a loss in the A-10 Women’s Tennis Cham-
Men's Team of the Year
Jack Lang is congratulated by his teammates after capturing the A-10 title. Photo courtesy of A-10 Conference
during the indoor season and similar success thus far this outdoor season. At the A-10 Indoor Track & Field Championships, Brewster pulled off arguably the toughest possible event “triple” by winning the 5k in dominant fashion, placing second in the mile with a school record of 4:10.21, and fighting through fatigue for 4th in the 3k. He was named A-10 Conference Athlete of the Meet for his performance at the championships. Brewster is currently a three-time A-10 Conference champion and school record holder in the indoor mile and outdoor 5k. He will look to qualify for NCAA Regionals in either the 5k or 10k, and defend his 10k title at the Outdoor A-10 Championships. Honorable Mentions: Jack Gibbs-Basketball; Jack Lang-Golf; Will Robertson/Brian FortierBaseball
Women's Athlete of the Year
Honorable Mention: Baseball-After concluding a great season last year, going all the way to the finals of the A-10 Championship. The baseball team is continuing its success, currently holding a 22-19 record overall and a 9-9 record in conference play. The team will look to finish strong at the A-10 Championships.
Men's Athlete of the Year
Photo by Tim Cowie/Davidson Photos
Elise Lankiewicz-Women's Swimming
Honorable Mentions: Seeley Yoo-Soccer, Midfielder; Carly Peters-Track & Field, Javelin; Jada Woods-Track & Field, Sprints/Triple Jump Photo courtesy of davidsonwildcats.com
ing for a spot at nationals.
Photo courtesy of A-10 Conference
Will Brewster-Men's Track & Field
Amongst all the impressive athletes and individual performances throughout the year, choosing just one athlete for this award was incredibly difficult. However, distance runner Will Brewster ‘18 stood out for his individual accolades
Elise Lankiewicz concluded her incredible Davidson career by competing in the NCAA Championships for the third consecutive year. She finished 21st nationally in the 200 freestyle while also placing high in the 100 and 500 freestyle. Named the A-10 Performer of the Year for the third time, this year she set new conference and school records in the 500 and the 100. She was named A-10 Performer of the Week six times, tied for the most in a single season. Lankiewicz certainly left her on mark on Davidson swimming, and will most likely be on the record board for years to come. Honorable Mentions: Annie Brockett-Field Hockey; Emily Franklin-Volleyball; Caroline Yarbrough-Cross Country/Track
The Davidsonian
Jack Lang Captures Individual Title at A-10 Championships See Page 7
Photo courtesy of Tim Cowie/Davidson Photos
May 3, 2017