The world found out shortly before 2 p.m. ET on March 26 that Davidson College was increasing tuition again. 

I, however, knew two hours before the email exploded that the increase might be coming because the College’s secretary of endowment defense had texted me the financial aid plan via Signal. The plan included precise information about financial aid packages, targets and timing.

I received a request via Signal to join the group chat. It was labeled “Davidson Aid PC small group”. The points of contact for each area of the school endowment were then included on the Signal group. I could not believe that the endowment-security leadership of Davidson College would communicate on Signal about imminent tuition increase plans. I also could not believe that the College’s defense advisor to the president would be so reckless as to include the editor-in-chief of The Yowl in such discussions with senior Davidson officials.

This mishap is sadly reminiscent of another security leak that occurred almost two years ago by the school administration, when blueprints to Libs were leaked to a Discord group chat by a disgruntled Libs ant. There was also the leak that claimed Dean Snipes was paying English majors to play The New York Times games for him. This trend of security breaches has led the student body to distrust the administration’s ability to maintain student security.

Many students ask what’s next. Will Chief of Police Julian Coaxum accidentally release the names of undercover cops in the MSBG on his Tinder!? Will Angie Dewberry drop financial fundings of Nicaraguan Contra groups in course listings?

How should Davidson protect against these security risks? The Yowl suggests a more authoritative push and an increase in surveillance. How else can we combat people who leak conversations through ill intent or stupidity?