Davidson College Top Questions

Basketball is clearly the team to watch here. In the 2007-2008 season we made it all the way to the elite eight and almost beat the national champions (2 points away!). In addition to basketball you can always find a party to go to Wednesday-Saturday.

Social life is great. All Court (Greek) parties are completely open to all students. Membership in eating houses (for women) is totally voluntary and non-exclusive - there is no rush or bid system here. Membership in fraternities is similar, and generally guys can get a bid to their top-choice house. Sports are big here too. Most people here play either a varsity, club, or intramural sport. Honestly, I have no idea what people do here if they don't drink. None of the sober activities seem all that great, but I know they are well attended. And people absolutely go to Court parties without drinking.

Davidson's social scene centers around Patterson Court (eating houses/fraternities), particularly as an underclassman. All of these parties are open to everyone, except some semi-formals that you have to be invited to. People go out a lot on Wednesdays and on the weekends, but there is definitely a social scene also that does not involve as much drinking as there is on the court.

If you're awake at 2 AM on a Tuesday, there is absolutely no doubt that you're studying. But Wednesdays are decent, Thursdays has (the only) bar scene, and the weekends get pretty sloppy. Fraternities are fun but not essential to hanging out; Eating Houses vary in range of party-ness and are pretty much the only social scene for girls.

Social life is great....I met most of my friends from my freshman hall and also several through my singing group, my eating house, Bible studies and religious organizations, and club sports teams. I think by sophomore year people get scared to step outside of their bubble. Dorms and the campus is very open and involved in life as a whole...People love concerts, basketball games, and things such as Dance Ensemble, the RSC productions, and any student performances. People at Davidson can party either really hard, all the time, or not at all.. There's a wide variety of experiences regarding drinking.

I am in an eating house and i much prefer that to a sorority. Eating houses aren't caddy and don't foster competition between girls. All of my best friends are in my eating house.

There is little time for play and most weekday nights are spent doing work. Weekends during the day prepare to do work, but the weekends are pretty fun if you like to drink. The social scene is NOT very fun if you don't drink, which I didn't until the end of my junior year.

I wish the social life was a little bit more active but it's impossible because of all the work. The kids who like going out learn to balance their work and manage their time so they can go out. But if they didn't go out, there is more work that could be done. The kids who do not go out don't either becuase they have too much work or beucase they don't enjoy socializing/drinking/dancing.

Not many people seem to know about the Student Run restaurant, here's what you need to know, great fun whether or not you know how to cook, great food, and the dinners are usually for charities. i like the social life because it happens "down the hill" and all parties are open no one will ever get turned away. The good thing is that when you are done you leave and since most dorms are "up the hill" you are not disrupted by the party scene.

Greek life is big on campus. Students leave their dorm rooms open. Athletics arent huge, except for basketball, which really brings the campus together. Freshmen halls are a great way to meet people and get involved in social life. The union board provides a lot of programs for students who dont want to party on the weekends.

Eating houses are great. They are super low key and form great social networks your freshman year.

Patterson Court (the fraternities and eating houses) probably encompasses the largest group of students. But second to that is...Dance Ensemble. Davidson students all participate in a large variety of random activities and organizations, most of which have nothing to do with alcohol. However, we definitely like to enjoy our weekends and deserve the "work hard, play hard" label, even if alcohol is consumed in an open, non-pressured, and non-exclusive way. The Union Board does a pretty good job organizing movie nights, etc. for a drinking-free Saturday night. Religious groups are also popular. Most people meet their closest friends on their freshman halls - they actually Myers-Brigg you so it tends to be a good match. Doors are always unlocked if not open. Beyond the hall, activities and eating houses/fraternities can bring you closer together. Dating tends to stem from friendships versus someone you just thought was cute in your French class so it is more prevalent among older students.

ALWAYS things to do on campus. About 40{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of men join fraternies while 60{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of women join eating houses, non-nationally affliated social clubs like sororities but much different in that their is no rush process. A female can "cluster" with her friends and be randomly assigned to a house by a computer system that takes into account the cluster's top choices. Every party that fraternities/eating houses host are open to all Davidson students. For every party hosted on a Fri/Sat night, the Union Board - a student run organization - hosts some kind of event in the Student Union (such as Build-a-Bear, Paint Your Own Pottery, Karaoke Night, etc).

most popular groups include dance ensemble, union board, Studnet government association, walt 1610 radio, the davidson show, theater department. I'm involved with changing minds, a group that strives to make the campus more aware of mental issues, depression, eating disorders, relationships, body image, stress levels on campus. it's a great group that put out a newletter every other month about various mental issues, the newsletter is called "Note to Self". students tend to leave their doors unlocked, though it's at their own risk. But the atmosphere is open and inviting. Athletic events are very popular, half the school drove up to Detroit to watch our Wildcats play in the NCAA. the dating scene is problematic, there is a huge hook-up culture at Davidson or you see people in serious relationships. There isn't too much informal dating that goes on. if i'm awake at 2:00am on Tuesday, I am studying or talking to my suitemates. Traditions include the cake race, the midnight yell the night before exams begin, Sweet Caroline during bball games, senior week, Beer Truck, traditions in dance ensemble (the biggest event of the year), Freshman olympics, Flickerball between the freshman halls, Aftermidnight every month, Live thursdays, 21 year old night in the 900 room, Thirsty thursdays/college night at the Brickhouse, christmas vespers, santa clause and chambers, christmas carols, trick o treating in the dorms/ decorating for halloween and christmas, Spring Frolics, ice cream served by professors and the president the night before exams, cookies dropped off by the people of the town of davidson before exams, self selection evening, first night down... people go into charlotte a lot, it's a great city with lots of opportunities to go to the theater, museums, art exhibits, great restaurants and bars. it's 25 minutes away.

Most people spend time on campus because there are so many opportunities for culture, social life, and activities that there is no need to go off campus. I spend most of my time at the Union, the center of student life. There are numerous lecturers, in every field offered at Davidson, theater and dance productions, Artist Series, sports games, a big concert every year. They are well-attended. Spring Frolics is a big party weekend in April before exams. Charlotte is only 20 minutes away if one wants the advantages of a big city. The most popular groups are athletic clubs and the eating houses and frats. Though none of the groups dominate social or campus life. You are not defined by your organization, but that is often where you meet your friends. It's hard not to get involved in some way on campus! They do a good job at matching up roommates and halls based on a Myers-Briggs test. So many of your friends might be from your freshman hall. Often students leave their dorm doors open, it's that honor code sense of trust. If I'm up at 2 am on a Tuesday, I'm definitely studying for a big test or writing a paper. People party some on Wed. nights, but the most partying happens on Friday and Saturday nights after 10. The parties are at the court houses or in senior apartments. Last weekend, I went to dinner with some friends, went to a court party, went sailing at lake campus, went to Summit coffee shop on Main street to watch a Davidson band play, and did homework. Some traditions- cake race for freshmen, annual christmas party on Chambers lawn, thanksgiving and easter food day at Commons, self-selection for the eating houses, flickerball tournament.

We have a lot of fun. Work hard, play hard.

The two main social outlets on campus are Union Board, which plans activities centered around the student union, and Patterson Court, which includes the eating houses, fraternities, and Black Student Coalition. There are also performances like plays and dance shows and opportunities to do things off campus, but most weekends I am attending a Union Board event (like paint-your-own pottery or Casino Night) or a Court party (usually a big dance where most people have been drinking). These social outlets are not mutually exclusive - a lot of students like to do both. There are tons of activities on campus to get involved with. Service is a part of a lot of students' extra-curricular time. Basically, if you have an interest, you can find a club for it or start your own club.

There is always something happening on campus. The union board brings in bands and speakers, and also plans activities such as a super smash brothers competition. Plays and concerts featuring students happen almost every week. Fraternities and eating houses throw parties and cookouts that are open to everybody.

all sorts of social life aspects can be found at Davidson, there are the court parties where there is a lot of dancing and big groups, and there are the smaller parties where some friends just hang out, with everything inbetween really. The biggest thing is that you can find what you are looking for really. Dorm life is great- you get to really know your hall because of the Honor Code and what that allows us to do; mainly keep your doors open and have a real free and open dorm life. It's my favorite part of Davidson; how your hall can become some of your closest friends.

If you're awake at 2am on a Tuesday, you are studying. Traditions could be better around here, although Christmas at Davidson is pretty special. Whenever the President repels off of the main academic building in a Santa costume, that's a good time. Speakers speakers speakers, they are here all the time!! Dating scene--people are either practically married, just friends or hooking up.

Davidson is a work hard/play hard environment. However, that does not apply in the normal sense of the phrase. At Davidson, people are 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} committed to whatever they do. So, most weeknights, you'll find students working really hard on school work or attending lots of meetings for extra curriculars. The Davidson student is busy. Here, weekends are really the only time people let loose. Some say that condensing the party scene to two nights a week creates an unhealthy atmosphere, I say it creates a different atmosphere. The week is for studying, the weekend for playing. Most of the social life revolves around Patterson Court. There are eight fraternities and four eating houses (like sororities). These organizations throw parties most weekends. The parties are open to all, and everyone goes to everyone's events.

Freshman halls are very sociable...they are set up with lots of thought and it shows. Most people's best friends are from that hall. If I'm up at 2 on a Tuesday, I'm working. No question asked. Partying doesn't happen much during the week. The dating scene is kind of claustrophobic; people tend to gossip and over-dramatize like in high school and it's best to keep things very low-key and to yourself. People tend to party fairly heavily on the weekend; most partying happens on the Court but most parties are open so membership in a Court organization is not necessary. The sisterhood provided by my eating house is very fun, however; and as someone who drinks very little I can say that your social life is not highly inhibited by being sub-free at Davidson.

Patterson Court is popular. There is also an alternative scene on some off-campus houses. Students leave their doors open and unlocked.

There are organizations on campus for everything you can imagine. If it isn't here, you can start it! Charters for new organizations are relatively easy to get and you can get money for a group that you've created. Being in the concert choir and chorale, I see a lot of music, and I can attest to the great value of the musical groups on campus. They are really wonderful and there are some great opportunities to perform in the area and on tour. As far as sports, basketball is by far the most popular sport on campus. Many (if not most) students follow the games and go to many of them. Dating at Davidson is quite hard at times. It is, after all, a small school. That being said, students usually go out to the fraternities and eating houses on the weekends to socialize (though the lights are off, so it's more dancing than socializing) or visit a friend's room/apartment to hang out. Some people go out and party very frequently (like during the week), while others rarely go out to 'the court'. Usually the Union board has some fun events going on during the weekend that students can go and participate in, and these events do not involve drinking.

Davidson is very service-inclined. Most students do some kind of volunteer activity, such as Habitat for Humanity, tutoring at local community centers or schools, volunteering in free clinics, etc. The basketball team is really popular, and a lot of students go to as many games as they can to support the team. Other athletic events are pretty poorly attended, though. Eating houses (60{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} if females participate) and fraternities (38{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of males participate) are very popular. All the parties are open to everyone though, so the social scene on the weekends is not restrained only to people who are greek. Most people party three nights a week (Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday). This partying usually involves drinking, but you are not ostracized if you don't drink. The Union board also plans activities, such as movies, casino night, concerts, etc. for people who don't want to drink on the weekends.

Social life mainly revolves around the court. The best thing about this though are the eating houses. I never would have joined a sorority, but I am in an eating house. It's just a really great way to meet new cool people, and get out of commons for meals. I met my closest friends because they lived on my freshman hall. Davidson spends lots of time putting together compatible halls and roommate pairs. You will probably be friends with your freshman hall for life!

Davidson's social life has something to offer for everyone. One popular thing is to join a fraternity or an eating house (like a sorority, but we don't live in them). My eating house (Rusk) is one of my favorite places to be because I get to meet lots of girls and make new friends. We have parties on the weekends sometimes, but we also do service projects and have meals every day. It's also nice that because the campus is so small, you can go to almost any party that an eating house or a fraternity has, even if you're not a member. And if you don't want to go to a party, the Student Union sponsors a lot of activities. We even had ice skating this semester!

Activities and events can be popular, but sometimes workload prevents students from attending things during the school week. Some sporting events are popular, theatre/music events are pretty popular because students are likely to know and support student performers. the dating scene is somewhat defined by the small student body: most people are either in an exclusive relationship or casually "hooking up." Most friendships begin either through residence halls (particularly freshman year), sports teams, or fraternities/eating houses. If you are awake on a tuesday at 2 am, you are probably doing homework or goofing off with friends, but rarely are you partying (unless you are 21 and can go to 21 Year Old Night in the student union). traditions/events: Freshman Olympics, Freshman Cake Race, First Night Down (when freshmen can go 'down the hill' to parties at the frats/houses/senior apartments) which is in the middle of september, Homecoming, Santa repels off the academic building, Court Selection (when freshman girls join eating houses spring semester), Spring Frolics- sort of a spring carnival at the end of april. People usually just party on the weekends, although some people go out on wednesdays or thursdays. However, work usually doesn't permit that much weekday partying. About half the student body is in an eating house or frat, and they tend to be the location for parties, but they are open to "non greek" students, too. the frats and eating houses don't make or break people socially. Davidson kids get really into theme parties (80s party, boy band party, etc.). There are almost always non-drinking options as well: campus-wide capture the flag, midnight movies, casino night, or a breakdancing fundraiser. Most Davidson kids stay on campus, but Charlotte does have concerts and events that people can go to.

We always leave our doors unlocked (Hooray for the Honor Code!) The dating scene is troublesome. Students seem to fall into one of three groups - there are students who start dating and end up getting married; there are students who tend to "hook up" and have casual sex all the time; and then there are students in the ambiguous middle, who might hook up every once in a while or have two or three dating relationships but aren't really in one of the first two categories. The frats and eating houses are a key component of Davidson's social life but by no means the dominating force. Parties are open to all students, which helps foster a really inclusive atmosphere. I've never felt any pressure to drink whatsoever. I love that the social atmosphere is really relaxed - you can participate as much or as little as you want in activities that involve drinking, and no one's going to comment on whether you choose to imbibe. My closest friends definitely come from my freshman hall, although some are from other freshman halls -- what I love is that I have many close friends of the opposite sex with whom I'd never have a romantic relationship, but with whom I love to hang out.

Most of the parties are on campus on Patterson Court, which is a street that has all the eating houses and fraternities. All parties are open to anyone, there is a band or dj at every party, and beer is free for anyone who is 21 or has a friend to that's 21 and can get a beer for them. Other parties tend to be in senior apartments on campus. There is a large separation between the students that go out and don't go out. There are plenty of activities on campus. Basketball is huge, especially since they went to the Elite Eight this year. A lot of students participate in some form of sports, but support for the athletic teams is pretty minimal except for basketball and occasionally football.

Dance Ensemble is the largest organization. A lot of women are involved in Eating Houses, which are service and social organizations where girls eat and have functions.

Eating houses and fraternities are a large part of the social scene at Davidson, but there is also a staunchly Greek-independent segment of the population. If you're awake on a Tuesday at 2am, you're studying. If you're awake at 2am on a Thursday, you're being asked to leave the local bar, the Brickhouse. If you're awake at 2am on a Saturday, you might be leaving Warner House's Madonnarama party in your cone bra.

Athletics are very popular on campus, and students support their friends on varsity and even some club sports team. Of course basketball is the most popular sport, but the boys on the team are just the same as all of us: students first, then athletes, and they're also very good friends.

Eating houses are a wonderful part of the Davidson experience. Without the caddy, judgemental rush and pledge process, eating houses are assigned according to groups of girls' preferences. The four houses have unique personalities, but I know plenty of great girls in all the houses, and there are no divisions amoung girls from different eating houses.

Girls join eating houses in a non-rush, self-selection process. I'm in Connor. It rocks.

People can throw down pretty well at Davidson. there are certain social groups that run together and there is no need to separate (i wouldnt want to hang out on weekends with half the people at Davidson).

Varsity basketball dominates, as it should; their success has put Davidson increasingly in the national spotlight which is a great thing for the team and for our school. The freshmen halls here are very community oriented. People leave their doors open and hang out in the halls. Freshmen dorms have that home away from home feeling while upperclass dorms are more secluded. But it's kind of nice to live in nicer, more quiet halls when you're not a freshman and your hall is not the center of your social world. The same cannot be said for the CRAPPY sophomore "apartments," however. Many people have fun living there, but most agree that they always smell like a strange mixture between urine and beer and are roach infested. They are also not soundproof in the LEAST!

I love the court. Dating sucks, its either classes, EC activities or dating. Not all at the same time. Davidson is a very hard school, BUT, if you don't do workstudy, if you don't do extra curricular activities and if you watch TV and read magazines all day, don't complain. If you just study, then Davidson isn't as hard as they say.

What are the most popular groups/organizations/clubs/teams on campus? Men's bball. Most of the club sports have a lot of devoted members. The Dance Ensemble is quickly growing as well. Tell us about a group you’re involved with. Davidson College Equestrian Team. We just refounded the club sport this past October and we're already competing in IHSA (intercollegiate) shows. It's very exciting! Do students in dorms leave their doors open? Some do, but that's not smart. We're already too trusting. The campus police are constantly lecturing us on how to stay safe, but Davidson just feels so safe that sometimes it's difficult to remember that there are criminals who come on campus. How popular are athletic events? Guest speakers? Theater? Very popular. Just check out our website Tell us about the dating scene. Most students are either hooking up randomly or are in such a serious relationship that they're basically married. This is an issue that is often mentioned on campus. How did you meet your closest friends? Randomly. If you’re awake at 2am on a Tuesday, what are you doing? Homework or watching TV What traditions/events happen each year? Battle of the Bands Certain parties Red & Black Ball (to raise money for Metrolina AIDS) How often do people party? Every weekend and Wednesdays, 21 year old night on Tues. evenings How important are fraternities/sororities? We don't have sororities, but eating houses. Similar concept but without rushing (it's lottery based). Not particularly important. What did you do last weekend? Horse show and studied. What can you do on a Saturday night that doesn’t involve drinking? Hang out, dance (there is ALWAYS a court party where there is music and dancing). UNCC students are jealous of the parties we have. What do you do off campus? Go to parties.

Service clubs are extremely popular. There is a huge focus at Davidson on giving back and endless opportunities to do so. Dorm room doors are almost always open, especially among freshmen, and the Honor Code makes everyone feel secure enough that no one locks doors. Basketball games are almost always packed, as are guest speakers and theater/dance shows. Dating here is difficult, though not impossible, because of the small size of the college. Most of your closest friends probably come from either your freshman hall or fraternity/women's eating house (what we have instead of sororities). If you're awake at 2am on a Tuesday, you're doing work...writing a paper or studying. People party every weekend, though it's mostly dancing at themed house parties, as well as Wednesday nights which are more social. On a Saturday night, you can always go to frat parties and dance, without drinking, or attend one of the events the Union Board puts on every weekend. People rarely go off campus, unless it's to go to the lake campus or dinner/a movie.

There are four eating houses: Connor, Rusk, Turner, and Warner. I'm in Connor and it's been the most competitive to get into the past few years. Eating houses are based on a lottery system, so second semester freshman year, girls write the order of eating houses they would prefer. They "cluster" with up to three other girls so that you will be placed with some of your friends. Girls usually get placed where they want, but if not, they can transfer into another house after one semester. Sometimes they even decide to stay in the second choice house. There are also seven fraternity houses on campus: Pika, Sig Ep, Kappa Sig, SAE, Phi Delt, Fiji, KA. There is also the BSC (Black Student Coalition) on campus. Boys receive bids to fraternities with which they show an interest in wanting to join early on in the year. During first semester, they accept the bid to the house they want to join. Pledging starts second semester for boys. Students usually leave their doors open. I know I've rarely locked mine. If you're awake at 2 AM on a Tuesday, it's probably because you're writing a paper because parties are rarely held Sunday through Tuesday. Spring Frolics is a big weekend in spring where students hang out all weekend long. For people who go out, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday are they days to do it. For people who don't drink, there are usually activities going on in the Union (the Student Center) on the weekends. Fraternity and eating house parties are on campus in the houses (usually 1 or 2 per night on the weekend). There are a few off campus parties throughout the sememster hosted at people's houses, but most people live on campus all four years anyways (besides going abroad one semester--usually junior year).

Basketball team is very popular. I play baseball, and I love all the guys on the team. Dorm rooms are almost always open. Athletic events are pretty popular. Closest friends are on my hall or on my baseball team. On Tuesday at 2 AM, I'm probably doing work. The people on campus that party usually go out Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Fraternities and eating houses are a pretty big part of the social scene. Last weekend I played four baseball games. i don't know what people do on Saturday nights that doesn't involve drinking.