Davidson College has a rich social and academic history rooted in its establishment all the way back in 1837. In this piece I analyze the soundscapes of different spaces around campus, their functions and how they intersect. The first of these is the Summit Coffee Co., a coffee shop on Patterson Court frequented by many Davidson students. Next, the E.H. Little library, a staple of the College’s academic focus and prowess. Finally, the Alvarez College Union, a central hub for students and faculty with a bevy of different purposes. Through visiting and listening to the acoustic ecologies of these spaces, I hope to explain the culture and balance of academic and social aspects of Davidson College.
Academic spaces are a cornerstone of any college or university. After all that is the primary function of most of these institutions. However, many other important places involved in college life serve a social purpose. Over time, Davidson College has cemented itself as a top liberal arts institution on the basis of academics. Yet, even with a consistent focus of students and faculty encouraging learning, Davidson has also created an environment that promotes social growth. This can be seen by analyzing the soundscapes of various places around campus. The soundscape according to R. Murray Schafer is an “acoustic field of study” that “consists of events heard not objects seen” (Schafer 99). The soundscapes of Summit Coffee Co., the E.H. Little Library, and the Alvarez College Union offer a glimpse into the culture of Davidson and the balance between academic and social aspects of a space.
I walk up the front steps and into the Summit Coffee Co. and I am immediately greeted by a buzz of noise. Typical coffee shop music plays over the speakers and various conversations echo through the shop. The door squeaks shut and I grab a seat near the middle of the room. It’s a Sunday afternoon and Summit is fairly busy, every table or booth is taken by at least a few students. Most either have headphones in or are bobbing their head to the music being played overhead. A few groups are typing on their computers while talking and laughing, their voices reverberate across the walls of the small one-room establishment. The acoustic environment of Summit appeared to be full of different sounds that Schafer would describe as signals, “foreground sounds that are listened to consciously… which must be listened to because they constitute acoustic warning” (Schafer 101). The sharp squeal of a coffee maker from behind the counter, the hard clink of metal glasses knocking together, or the creaking of dated wood floorboards caused by the baristas footsteps are sounds that constitute as signals for Summit’s soundscape. The prevalence of these signal noises and the knowledge of what type of space Summit Coffee Co. is, a coffee shop, leads to the conclusion that while Summit does not discourage academic usage, its purpose on Davidson’s campus is one that is primarily social. This comes as a contrast to the next soundscape I studied.
As I enter through the double glass doors of the E.H. Little Library one of the first things I notice are the vibrant colors of the space, bright yellow and teal chairs contrast against the Davidson red carpet. The sound of the space is much more tame than it is visually. As I take a seat near the back corner of the room scattered conversations between students catch my ear, and the dull drone of the refrigerated vending machine becomes the most prominent noise in the room. The E.H. Little library as a space serves an important academic role at Davidson. Not only does it house the Teaching and Learning Center, as well as nearly every book, text, or academic resource of campus, but it’s also a common place to study for students. Many are scattered across the vast first floor of the library, writing on paper or whiteboards, clicking away on their computers, or reading books from one of the numerous bookcases that make up the east side of the first floor.
The cooling cycle of the nearby vending machine cuts out and the acoustic ecology of the space changed drastically. Immediately it sounds even more silent, before I notice a printer quietly whizzing from across the room. Although the space is quite open and socializing is allowed on the first floor, the library remains relatively quiet during nearly all hours of the day. The purpose of the E.H. Little library and the characteristics of its soundscape reveal that it serves a mostly academic function on Davidson College’s campus.
There is dull murmur of scattered conversations, a catchy commercial emanating from the nearby television tuned in to March Madness games, the occasional crack of two billiards balls colliding. I’m sitting at a high top table near the large fireplace inside the Alvarez College Union. One of the central hubs of the Davidson, the Union is one place that many would say embodies Davidson College. Students and staff members often frequent the Davis Cafe, the mail area or the numerous activities available within the walls. As I recorded my soundscape I noticed that the sound of Alvarez Union didn’t seem terribly unique. Instead it is a mixture of the environments of both the library and Summit. This is because Union has an incredibly diverse amount of uses for Davidson students, combining the social uses of places like Summit, and the academic uses of somewhere like the library. The architecture of the building also plays a role in the way sounds are heard throughout the space. The Knobloch Campus Center, the building where the College Union can be found, was formerly Johnston Gymnasium. The gym was home to both varsity and intramural sports and even an indoor pool. The acoustics of the building still reflect its original purpose. The open floor plan and high ceilings cause noise to carry and travel much easier than in other buildings on campus. This feature benefits a rowdy gym but is likely not intended for a purely academic space. The activities available in the Union are also not limited to academics. Students and their peers can play Super Smash Bros or Mario Kart on the game systems located downstairs, grab a bite to eat at Davis Cafe while watching television or playing pool or foosball, or work out with weights or cardio in one of the campus weight rooms. Due to all of this carrying background noise, a common type of sound found in the Alvarez Union that Schafer describes is a keynote sound. They are sounds that are not consciously listened to but rather, “are overheard but cannot be overlooked” (Schafer 101) The keynote sounds found in either the academic or social areas of Davidson can be found together at the union. The shuffling of students, a zipper opening a bookbag, the soft crackle of the fireplace or the aforementioned dull murmur of conversation all constitute this soundscapes keynote sounds.
Academics and social development are both foundational aspects of the college experience. The spaces on campus where students interact with each other socially and interact with academics also help to influence the college experience. Whether students are talking with friends while listening to music at Summit Coffee Co., studying for an upcoming test in the E.H. Little library, or just spending a relaxing afternoon grabbing a bite to eat at the Alvarez College Union, the acoustics of these spaces offer a glimpse into the purpose of these spaces and the academic and social balance at Davidson College.
Works Cited
Schafer, R. Murray. “The Soundscape.” In The Sound Studies Reader. Edited by Jonathan Sterne. London: Routledge, 2012.
Chion, Michel. “The Three Listening Modes.” In The Sound Studies Reader. Edited by Jonathan Sterne. London: Routledge, 2012.
