Davidson College - Quips and Cranks Yearbook (Davidson, NC)

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BROWNIE LEADERS Nancy Rosselot and Mary Grey Reddick represent just two of the many stu- dents who participate in community-oriented ac- ONCE THE AREA ' S LARGEST EMPLOYER, the college still offers an array of employment opportu- nities to local residents. U FEATURES

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Town and gown go hand-in-hand When the students flood the campus each September, the population in the limn of Davidson doubles. Store owners are thankful to have students once again as regular customers. Yet there is an increasing disenchant- ment among freshmen about the excite- ment of a college town. After visiting M M. Peregrine House, Giorgio ' s, get- ting free bird seed samples from Natural Foods, shopping at the specialty ' shops and hanging out at the laundry mat, a consultation with the hall counselor on how to get to Charlotte occurs. Charlotte may offer more diversity but the rela- tionship between the college and town of LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL BANDS participated in special Town Day activities during football half- time this season. Davidson is deeper than the business generated by students. The college as an institution is non- taxable, but it supports the town finan- cially and practices good business in or- der to keep the town a healthy and at- tractive place. In the past the trustees have appropriated money to help fi- nance a new fire truck, sidewalks and housing projects, as well as paying for use of public services such as sewage. Until the development of several indus- tries in the Davidson area, the college was the major employer of non-faculty Davidson residents. College professionals serve in the town government, also. The current mayor, Nancy MacCormac, is wife of Professor Earl MacCormac. Randy Kin- caid has served as town commissioner. Julius Melton, Bill Bolding, Cynthia Grant, Robert Currie, Tony Abbott, Mar- shall Case, Ruth Pittard, Dot Kaylor, Frank Bliss, Anna Burts, and other mem- bers of the college family are serving on various town committees and service organizations. College students also have an impor- tant ongoing relationship with the town. Many attend the churches in the com- munity, giving support with the music or youth fellowship programs. Several ser- vice projects, such as the Tutor Program, the Day Care Center Helpers, recrea- tional leadership and coaching at the YMCA and the Davidson Community Center, and the Senior Citizen Friend- ship Program depend upon student par- ticipation. This year PIKA fraternity sponsored a haunted house for the com- munity ' s enjoyment. Student organiza- tions sponsor events for Town Day every May. Conflicts over the noise ordinance and perimeter housing upkeep are examples of the need for the students and town to cooperate as neighbors. To this end, the SGA appointed Tom Schember as non- voting student representative to the town council meetings. The SGA, the Commit- tee on Women ' s Concerns and the Y Stu- dent Service Corps (YSSC) have commu- nity liaison officers or committees. Earlier in the year YSSC invited the community service leaders, Mayor Mac- Cormac, college administrators and stu- dents to discuss the needs of the David- son community and means of using stu- dent resources to meet those needs. As the students leave Davidson at the end of each academic year, the popula- tion shrinks, the noise level is reduced, and store owners sigh as business dwin- dles, but the relationship of town and gown never dies. — Pete Skillern LOCAL MERCHANTS reap the financial benefits. while students enjoy the quaintness and conve- nience of a real hometown Main Street. Community Relations 15