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

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Only Two Hours Away It ' s unlike any other part of the world. The mountains of western North Caroli- na are unique in their beauty. They are not the stark Rockies or the awe-inspir- ing Alps. Instead their charm lies in the rolling, tree-covered hills, the mountain culture, and the numerous waterfalls. The sublime beauty of this part of the Appalachians is truly overwhelming. These hills do not intimidate but rath- er offer an invitation to explore the for- ests filled with pine and oak. Every one from a casual hiker to a mountain climb- er can find excitement in the hills of North Carolina. National forests in the Smokeys or the Blue Ridge support fish- ers, campers, and resort-goers. j -5 ?- xiiV- ' - The mountain culture, too, is unique. Of course there is the curious dialect, closely linked to Shakepearean English, but the people are especially distinctive. They are always friendly, greeting any strangers, even Yankees. They are close- ly tied to the land, cultivating corn and Christmas trees and trying to kill Kudzu. They are also, generally, closely tied to their church or community. While west- ern North Carolina seems to have re- markably few movie theaters, church so- cials and square dances are common. Perhaps the most striking feature of these mountains is the copious supply of clear, refreshing water. Whether it is running along in a mountain brook or falling for hundreds of feet from Big Bradley Waterfall, it is both a valuable natural resource and very beautiful. To drink this water is to have a proverbial taste of heaven. Above and beyond the gastronomic possibilities, though, are the sporting possibilities: rafting on the Green River, canoeing on Lake Lanier, skiing on Lake Lure, or simply watching Linville Falls. We are truly lucky to have the moun- tains of North Carolina, a veritable para- dise, only two hours from Davidson. Kathleen Micham SMOOTH ROCKS AND RUNNING WATER — a combination that makes for slippery fun! A REMINDER THAT MOUNTAIN NATIVES WORK, TOO — even if it is an idyllic setting. MOUNTAIN SCENE?

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MONTREAT — a popular haven for work-weary students who enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of the North Carolina Mountains. THE GLORIOUS SUN adds to the beauty of the water. 22 STUDENT LIFE

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In Celebration Of Davidson Architecture: Early in 1983, the Housing Office ad- ministered a poll to the inhabitants of Mary Irwin Belk and Peter Knox resi- dence halls as to the quality of their quarters, asking if anything could be done to improve them. When Bill Hold- ing received these, he took the more seri- ous recommendations, omitted some of their saltier comments, and submitted a basic proposal to the Physical Plant con- cerning the construction of a new dorm. The Plant then took these recommenda- tions, brought out the old blueprints from Peter Knox and Mary Irwin, and hired a construction crew. On June 1, ground was broken to be- gin construction of the newest dormitory at Davidson College. Three weeks before the beginning of classes, the roof had not even been put up yet. It looked as though it wouldn ' t be finished in time for the beginning of Winter term. By the time the upperclassmen arrived, it was con- sidered complete. Lacking furniture and hot water, it was a miracle that it was there at all, hence the nickname, Mir- acle Dorm. After 10 days passed, all of the necessary furniture was added, hot water was hooked up to the showers, amidst the blessings of its residents, and a new TV was installed, gerry-rigged with a guitar string for an antennae (thanks to yours truly). Finally, to finish the job, on October 5, the unknown dorm was officially given a name; Akers Residence Hall. Akers houses 56 upperclassmen, who are mainly transfer students and sopho- mores. Very little was changed from the format of the two already existing dorms as far as construction is concerned. The only true changes were the color of the rooms and coverings over the windows. Knox and Irwin residents had com- plained that the color of the rooms had made it look like a hole in the ground. So, the color of the rooms became a very light grey. Some of the newest residents lovingly refer to it as prison grey. The curtains, of questionable taste , said Bill Bolding, were replaced with Leve- lor@ blinds. This gave the illusion of more light entering the room as they re- flect almost half of the light. Indeed this dorm is the same as the other two, but as far as the students living in it are con- cerned, it is a welcome addition to the Davidson College campus. — Trey Arey AKERS DORMITORY, a prime example of mod- ern instant construction techniques. Something is missing in Davidson. A ritual has been abandoned — lost to the likes of a brick building standing less than a block from its predecssor. The 10 o ' clock rush is history. The ritual had been fading in the last few years, as 10 o ' clock classes lessened the masses headed for the P.O., but, the new location was the final blow. Ten o ' clock just won ' t be the same without the pilgrimage of hopeful students. In retrospect, the whole idea of a daily march to the P.O. seems rather peculiar (to me). Perhaps it dates back to the days when ten o ' clock was a free hour. Or maybe it was the earliest hour students could be assured that the daily mail had arrived and was distributed in the var- ious boxes. Or perhaps it was just a good excuse to socialize. In any case, students joined the human caravan as freshmen, and repeated the journey daily, almost compulsively. Now it is no more. It ' s not that the new P.O. is an unwel- comed addition. In fact, it was needed, as the community had outgrown the small- er building. The new P.O. has two times the square footage and 600 more boxes. It is a modern, attractive building, and one in which the community takes pride. However, some upperclassmen find the new building inconvenient. For in- stance, the distance to the P.O. has been lengthened and consumes more time, something of which D.C. students have precious little. The added distance com- pounds the negative feelings aroused when one arrives only to find an empty box. To add to the disappointment (even embarassment at times), the new boxes have no windows, making quick escapes after glaring at an empty box an impossi- bility. Finally, the new boxes require keys, easily forgotten or lost and a nui- sance to carry. After 3 years at Davidson, most of the seniors had mastered combi- nations, but, curiously enough, have found it annoyingly difficult to keep track of box keys. The freshmen, however, are enjoying the new P.O. with the enthusiasm that only freshmen experience. They, after all, were never a part of the 10 o ' clock rush and therefore do not miss it. But more importantly, they are still new here and find the P.O. a vital link to more familiar places. They are more willing to walk the distance, because they are more likely not to return empty-handed. As one ascends the ladder leading to gradu- ation, letter-getting, although still enjoy- able, loses some of its appeal. The ten o ' clock rush is history, a memory stored in the corners of the minds of only those who participated in it. (But, change is an inherent part of any experience and this change is relatively minor.) A new P.O. has been added to the Davidson community — a welcomed symbol of its growth. However, this ad- dition does pose one major problem in the form of an unanswered question asked repeatedly by former pilgrims — When do I go to the P.O.?! ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT AS CONVENIENT, Da- vidson ' s new post office maintains the classic brick architecture. 24 STUDENT LIFE