Many students, faculty members and citizens of the Town of Davidson share a great appreciation for the charming college town in which they live, but they are not blind to room for improvement.
The aim of the "What's going on down the road?" symposium last Thursday night was to unite citizens of the Davidson community and members of Davidson College so that satisfaction, grievances and concerns could be vocalized.
One of the overarching questions asked at the symposium included whether the town and college are working as a unified front to ensure the well-being of all community members. President Tom Ross, Davidson Mayor John Woods, Cornelius mayor Gary T. Knox, Chief of Campus Police Fountain Walker, and countless other community leaders were present in an effort to answer this question.
"The purpose [of the symposium] was to motivate folks to network and work together to make our community a better place," SGA Executive Board Chair Darrell Scott '10 said.
The program began with a 15-minute documentary by Austin Bell '10 that showed the development going on in and around the Town of Davidson. Town Planning Director Khris Krider gave a tour of Davidson in the documentary, showing examples of expansion and growth.
New townhouses and incoming businesses were the primary focus of the video. Bell finished the documentary by interviewing David Boraks, the editor of "Davidsonnews.net," regarding the development.
The nature of the question-and-answer session following the casual interviews was very frank and open, leading to a progressively more negative conversation as the symposium progressed.
Several community members articulated their concern that to many passers-by, Davidson may seem like a quaint college utopia, but there remains a forgotten community on "the other side of tracks."
The economic gap between the wealthy and the poor in Davidson is continuing to grow at a discouraging rate. Lenny McAllister '02 said that the town's focus should be placed on teachers expecting more of the African-American and Hispanic children in the classroom.
McAllister explained that children grow up expecting less of them because their teachers, and even their parents, hold them to lower standards. While McAllister did not deny acknowledgment of the community service that Davidson students participate in, he maintained that more could always be done.
"To whom much is given, much is required," McAllister said, urging Davidson students to get out and do more. Part of this suggestion involved the idea of a mentoring program so that underprivileged kids who aspire to attend Davidson College instead of cutting its grass, cooking its food and cleaning its hallways.
President Ross agreed that the future of the town's children is important, but pointed out that the new no-loan policy, The Davidson Trust, is a great stride in the right direction. The policy replaces all student loans with grants in need-based financial aid packages.
Another topic that dominated the symposium is the constant traffic congestion that plagues Davidson. Students, faculty and community members expressed their dissatisfation with the continuous construction, traffic circles and one-lane roads. Leaders pointed out that while the construction is a temporary headache, it will ultimately solve the long-term traffic problem and make transportation in Davidson easier.
A woman who lives next to the campus articulated her concern regarding students' attentiveness to the environment. She is disgusted each weekend by the plethora of beer cans that line her walkway.
The resident understands that it is impossible to eradicate the drinking culture from the campus, but she believes that if even one-third of the beer cans thrown away each weekend were recycled, it would make a significant difference in the outflow of garbage from the town.
As the climate of the symposium became progressively more negative, one elderly woman who had moved to Davidson from Birmingham, Ala. in 1961 pointed out that we should not forget all the wonderful things that have taken place in this town. The college's esteemed reputation, the community service offered by residents and students and family-friendly environment that Davidson provides should make residents and students proud of where they live.
"We often get stuck in this romanticized image of Davidson, and while it is a great place, I think that it is vital to maintain an honest perspective on the problems that exist so that they can ultimately be eradicated," SGA President Chris Burton '08 said.
More discussion followed on issues including the local animal shelter, the fire department and Ada Jenkins Center. Bell, producer of "The Davidson Show," videotaped the entire program and has made it available to students via The Crier.
"The discussion was a giant step toward strengthening the college's relationship with the town," Scott said. "It was encouraging to hear individuals voice their concerns and have constructive feedback from leaders."
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