The Villanovan | Volume 114, Issue 18: October 26, 2022

SPO Diversity Initiatives Update

Sarah Sweeney Co-News Editor

Last semester, The Villanovan published an article titled “Privilege and Advocacy: Who is

In it, Staff Writer Lindsay Gallagher challenged the motivations of students joining two of the largest organizations on Villanova’s campus: Special Olympics and NOVADance. She encouraged students to consider how their race and socioeconomic status factor into the causes they choose to support and pointed out diversity and inclusion shortcomings in both organizations.

Campus was ablaze with chatter, reactions and opinions following its publication. Some students disagreed with the article, like one anonymous commenter who explained that it “[felt] out of pocket to hyperfocus on only two, very diff erent on-campus organizations, that do in fact push their members to understand one’s privilege.”

Others appreciated the article’s fresh perspective, like one student who commented, “I think this article is powerful. If it makes you uncomfortable, there is a reason why. Privilege is a hard topic to confront when you are benefi tting from it.”

Now, a few months later, The Villanovan sat down with Villanova Special Olympics (SPO) to learn more about its diversity initiatives and the role of DEI in the organization.

Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities, which provides year-round

Phillies Win The Pennant, University Celebrates

players and executives have waited many years for this success.

The sound of the ball hitting the bat and the roar of the crowd in late October is something Citizens Bank Park has been missing for more than a decade. This season has been generational. For the fi rst time since 2011, the Philadelphia Phillies are back in the postseason.

Over fall break, the team advanced to the National League Championship Series (NCLS). This Sunday, the Phillies won against the San Diego Padres to advance to the World Series.

This is huge for the Phillies organization. Fans,

Eleven years is a long time, and things looked very diff erent the last time the Phillies made the playoff s. In 2011, Novak Djokovic won his fi rst Wimbledon title, Games of Thrones was just released, Jay Wright had yet to win a national championship, The Commons was still a parking lot and Bryce Harper had just been drafted by the Nationals.

While it has taken three U.S. presidents and a pandemic to reach this moment, the Philadelphia area and Villanova students are celebrating the Phillies once again.

At Villanova, many students have been going to the games, including junior and Pennsylvania native Hannah Phillips, who spoke about what the Phillies’ success means to her and the Philadelphia area.

“As a diehard Philly sports fan, this sports season has been absolute insanity,” Phillips said. “From the Eagles’ undefeated record to the Phillies’ fi rst playoff run in 11 years, the energy in this season has been unmatched.”

When asked about the atmosphere inside the stadium, Phillips emphasized that it is one she is still in awe of.

“In the games leading up to the playoff s and our fi rst

playoff game in years at Citizens Bank Park, the energy in the stadium is indescribable,” she said. “Absolutely electric. One of my favorite things is the passion this city has, and that has been on full display during the playoff run.”

In celebration of this improbable run, Phillips has been celebrating with friends who are Phillies fans and is looking forward to a potential parade on Broad Street.

Along with Phillips, sophomore Drew Hanson is also cherishing every moment of the season.

“This means everything for Phillies fans,” Hanson said. “We’ve been waiting 11 years for a playoff berth, and it’s fi nally here with a

Continued on p. 9

University Celebrates Homecoming Weekend

Kendall Hayes Culture Columnist

Villanova looked very diff erent this weekend as a plethora of alumni swooped into the school for Homecoming Weekend. From all different areas and walks of life, people near and far came back to their alma mater for a few days, proving that once a Villanovan, always a Villanovan.

The main event of the weekend was the football game on Saturday afternoon. The

Wildcats played the University of Albany Saturday afternoon, where students, both current and alum, came together to celebrate Villanova school

spirit.

The nostalgia was felt all around Bryn Mawr, whether it was through getting drinks with old friends at Kelly’s Bar,

Women’s

passing by old dorms and houses, watching the Phillies head to the World Series or even just watching the football game at Villanova Stadium.

The Villanovan talked to some Villanova alumni about why coming back to campus for the weekend is so special to them.

“Although it has only been a few months since graduation, coming back to Villanova felt like no time had passed,” 2022 graduate Stephanie Horne said. “It will

Continued on p. 9

Bring

Elijah McDow Staff Writer

Even Villanova basketball coaches are supporting the Phillies through their postseason run. Courtesy of AP News

The Wildcats played Albany on Saturday afternoon.

Courtesy of Lydia McFarlane

Continued from p.1

training and activities to five mil lion participants. Special Olym pics Villanova works with Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA) to host the largest student-run Spe cial Olympics event in the world, known as Fall Fest.

SPO operates through a committee system, with each com mittee responsible for planning one aspect of the festival, while remaining integrated to the other committees and organization as a whole.

The Awareness and DEI Committee is one such committee. The DEI committee, which began in 2020, started with two people and has since grown to five people, with each one serving as a repre sentative and source to a manage ment team (there are five total).

Each management team holds roughly five or six commit tees.

“Each of those committees has a specific role in planning Fall Fest that all should be integrated with DEI,” Karoline Menze, the Fall Festival Director, explained. “I spent a lot of time envisioning what I wanted the committee to look like this year and just general ly what I wanted to leave with the organization. A large part of this visitor had to do with DEI initia tives and how we can make the organization more inclusive to all individuals. This is something that has been progressing over the past three or so years, but has only con tinued to grow within large steps every year…I cannot be more happy with how it took shape this year,” she continued.

Corrine Sullivan serves as Chair of the DEI and Awareness committee.

“[DEI] is something we’ve been tirelessly working on since the day we joined this committee,” Sullivan said. “During the week end, you’re going to see a DEI table to serve as a hub for connec tion and as a resource provider. However, most of our education has already taken place with the goal that during the weekend everyone feels comfortable, al ready included, and empowered to empower the people around them. That’s really our dream.”

The DEI committee has undertaken a number of diver

PUBLIC

BLOTTER

Disorderly Conduct/ Harrassment

October 21, WEST CAMPUS GROUNDS

A male

over the age of 21, was evaluated

intoxication after he was observed assaulting a male resident student.

Dating Violence/ Harassment

October 21, WEST CAMPUS GROUNDS

A female resident student was harassed by a known male student.

Liquor Underage/ Public Drunkenness

October 21, STANFORD HALL

A female resident student, under the age of 21, was found to be intoxicated in public.

Liquor Underage/ Public Drunkenness

October 22, W-2 RESIDENT STUDENT LOT

Three female resident students, under the age of 21, were evaluated for alcohol intoxication.

Liquor Underage/ Public Drunkenness

October 22, STANFORD HALL

A female resident student, under the age of 21, was found to be intoxicated in public.

Paraphernalia

October 22, FEDIGAN HALL

An RA found a marijuana vape pen in the 1st floor lounge of a residence hall.

Criminal Mischief October 22, CORR HALL

A Resident Assistant reported damage to the wom en’s restroom stall on the 2nd floor of Corr Hall. The estimated damage is 300.00.

Criminal Mischief October 22, CORR HALL

A Resident Assistant reported damage to the front door glass of Sullivan Hall. broken.

Disorderly Conduct/ Carrying a Fake Liquor Underage/ Paraphernalia/ Posses sion- Marijuana

October 24, WEST CAMPUS GROUNDS

Two male resident students, under the age of 21, were in possession of alcohol, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Harassment- Repeated Communication October 24, MCGUINN HALL

A female resident student reported receiving text messages to her phone from an unknown sender.

sity-related initiatives this year, including weekly interactive DEI-related workshops at commit tee meetings. The workshops have spanned a variety of DEI-related topics, ranging from ASL to race and ethnicity to socioeconomic status and privilege.

Other small but signifi cant steps include the inclusion of pronouns for the first time on this year’s Fall Fest name tags and ef forts to make the Villanova Special Olympics website accessible to the visually impaired.

“What’s great about the DEI team is that we have stu dents who can really be hands on and infiltrate these management teams, where they can challenge, where they can ask questions, where they can say ‘Hey, are you thinking with an inclusive minded

lens?’ and ‘Are you being as di verse as possible in your thought process?’” said Stephen Koch, the Associate Director for Leadership Programs at the Office of Student Involvement. “Challenging the processes,examining what’s been done versus what we should be doing as it relates to the mission of inclusion.”

SPO has also undertaken efforts in order to recruit more students of color.

When initially advertis ing the committee, SPO held an additional information session, besides the general one, specifical ly for people of color. The addi tional information session hoped to provide interested students of color with information on the op portunities SPO has for them and explain the initiatives it is working

on to make the organization more inclusive.

“The goal was that that space was an open-arms welcome. We want all individuals of all identities on Villanova’s campus to get involved. No labels should be defining our organization,” Menze said.

Furthermore, SPO has made strides in making the organi zation more accessible and inclu sive to all who wish to join. These include the elimination of an ap plication or interview requirement for LPHs, the expansion of the Inclusion Crew program, non-bias interview training and the practice of blind reading applications.

SPO partners with other organizations on campus to pro mote DEI, including the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI), CASA/UNITAS week end, and the Office of Intercultur al Affairs (OIA), to help promote its mission of inclusion.

SPO is also involved in fighting for advocating for more access for athletes across Pennsyl vania.

“Every year representatives from Special Olympics PA (SOPA) go to Capitol Hill, with athletes, as well as Villanova students to advocate for individuals with in tellectual disabilities’ rights. Every year there’s action, there’s advoca cy, there’s talking to people to say ‘Hey, things have to change. What are you doing, Capitol Hill for equal access?’” Koch explained.

SPO has come a long way to where it is today in terms of its diversity initiatives, but it is not content to stop here.

“What we’ve built this year, we hope doubles in size next year,” Sullivan said. “We have so much to learn especially since there are constant nuances in this field. As a general message to the student body, everyone is welcome to talk to us, everyone is welcome to share their ideas, and everyone is invited to let us know how to be better. By leading and learning alongside the students and athletes we hope to inspire change; that starts with a brave culture that is willing to have diverse conversations.”

(NOVADance was also mentioned in the article. The Villanovan has been in contact and will be providing an update).

Philly Justice Project Hosts Podcast Listening Event

Katie Reed News Columnist

as me not having a parent at home, so we dealt with the usual things that kids with no parents would deal with—a lot of abandonment issues and a loss of love and guidance.”

Further, Oliver-Harris mentioned how she has gotten closer with her mother over shared life experiences.

societal injustices. PJP gives her an opportunity to actively combat and dismantle systems of oppression, and her commitment to Boykin and the cause has become even stronger postgrad.

healing,” Oliver-Harris attested. “She’s defi nitely not the same woman that she was back in 1992 when this crime was committed.”

On Oct. 19, the Villanova Chapter of the Philadelphia Justice Project for Women and Girls (PJP) hosted a podcast listening event. The podcast, ”Wrongful Conviction” with Maggie Freleng, shared the story of Sylvia Boykin, who has been incarcerated for 31 years, serving a life sentence without parole. Boykin was charged with fi rst degree murder and conspiracy while trying to collect a drug debt in 1992, a situation that escalated and resulted in the fatal shooting of Bernetta Pope. She was arrested alongside two male-codefendants, who both testifi ed that she was unarmed and neither committed the murder nor conspired in it. Boykin is seeking commutation, or a reduction to her sentence, but her application was recently rejected by the PA Board of Pardons.

PJP has undertaken Boykin’s case with the leadership of Founder and Executive Director Dr. Jill McCorkel, a Professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminology at the University. She has been studying mass incarceration with an intersectional lens for decades, prompting her creation of PJP.

“I felt that the fact that women were being over-incarcerated needed to be recognized as a public policy issue and a social problem,” McCorkel said. “Secondarily, I was really concerned that legal actors in the justice system were not recognizing that women very often are victims.”

McCorkel also noted how the over-incarceration of women has a large impact on families and communities. Kim Oliver-Harris, one of Boykin’s three daughters, spoke to this.

“I think my experience with my mother’s incarceration has changed over the years,” Oliver-Harris said. “Initially her incarceration had a huge impact on my life, as far

“As an adult, my mom and I have been able to have more indepth conversations about her life, her choices, her addiction and things that led her down the path to her incarceration,” Oliver-Harris said. “That has been very impactful for me, just to understand her as a woman and to understand her trauma as a child as well. She shares really freely with our kids as well how drugs and the streets could impact your life in a negative way.”

The podcast listening event sought to spread awareness around Boykin’s case, and it was packed with students eager to listen. Ajée Robinson, a senior at the University and President of the Villanova Chapter of PJP, was happy with the turnout of the event.

“We were defi nitely shocked and so pleased that it was a really solid turnout,” Robinson said. “There were people who really seemed to care about Sylvia Boykin, her story and her case overall.”

Robinson’s involvement in PJP was inspired by her identity and her experiences growing up in Baltimore, noticing how women of color are often “forgotten in legal spaces” and, consequently, “don’t get the kind of justice they actually deserve.”

“Being from Baltimore City, I’ve seen very closely how the criminal justice system can act in oppressive ways, not only toward communities of color, but women in communities of color,” Robinson said. “I think, being a Black woman, representation is very important, so I always knew I wanted to be a legal advocate and fi ght against injustice.”

Meagan Murray, who graduated from the University in 2020 and is now studying at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, also expressed her passion for addressing

“I’m in law school for a reason, and most of that reason is motivated by Sylvia, her case, and similar cases,” Murray said. “I have never wanted to take a step back on her case because I’m in law school, because what’s the point of being in law school if I’m ignoring people that need help?”

Murray, like others, expressed frustrations over Boykin’s case and the hardships she endured. This includes the childhood trauma that led to her substance abuse, being coerced into signing a false statement by the detective who handled her case, being abused by this detective with a phone book during the interrogation and not having access to suffi cient legal help.

“If you listen to the podcast, you know Sylvia is a survivor of just extensive levels of sexual abuse, violence and battery,” McCorkel said. “Her case is, to me, really indicative of a system that just continues to fail women. No one should have had to experience what she had to at the age that it began, with absolutely no intervention or help from community organizations, law enforcement or social welfare organizations.”

Robinson similarly noted how this case refl ects the deeper issue of “how we criminalize everything that shouldn’t, in fact, be seen as criminal,” as society consistently criminalizes women of color, substance abuse and sexual violence.

Boykin did not commit the murder and received such a severe sentence because she did not cooperate with the police out of a fear of retaliation from her co-defendants. What also makes her case so devastating is that despite dedicating herself to rehabilitation, her commutation application was still rejected.

“My mom has been incarcerated for 30 years now, and she’s done a lot of rehabilitation work, a lot of sobriety work and a lot of trauma

Despite the unfavorable outcome, PJP will continue fi ghting for Boykin, which Oliver-Harris expressed great appreciation for. The organization is hoping to strengthen her commutation application or get her back in the courtroom to contest the abuse she endured at the hands of the Philadelphia Police Department.

McCorkel extended her gratitude to Villanovans for always supporting PJP and families impacted by incarceration, but Murray reminds us there is more work to be done.

“I think a lot of times Villanova students can get caught up in the Villanova bubble, and I think it’s really important to remember that people like Sylvia and her family are our community members,” Murray said. “If you aren’t supporting the most marginalized members of your community, what are you doing?”

Robinson also noted how it’s easy to feel so disconnected from Philly, but we must be willing to do the work, be “unapologetically vocal” and educate those who are unfamiliar with these issues.

“I think it’s important to use your voice on this campus to speak for people that can’t speak for themselves,” Robinson said, reminding us that there are plenty of Sylvia Boykins in the U.S. needing advocacy and compassion.

For more ways to get involved and help incarcerated women like Boykin, check out the PJP website, sign its petition, share its information with everyone possible, get out to vote and listen to the podcast.

Oliver-Harris’ shared some moving words.

“I believe that everyone deserves a second chance,” Oliver-Harris said. “We are human, we all desire to be seen, heard and loved. We all have the ability to change, and I have seen it in my own eyes from my mother, in my life and those around me. We are not our worst mistake.”

JPMorgan Announces Investment in DEI Initiatives

Majo James Staff Writer

JPMorgan declared a $30 billion investment towards Villanova’s DEI eff orts.

On Oct. 17, representatives from JPMorgan arrived at the University to explain the investment and its repercussions. The panel consisted of Khamala Erskine, Noreen Henriquez, Dr. Chandra Williams, Jac Rivers (all four of whom are women of color), Josué Figueroa, Kevin Grubb and Neil Horgan (Villanova’s CFO).

The $30 billion is diverted into three categories: $26 billion towards aff ordable housing and home ownership, $2 billion for Black and brown business lending and another $2 billion towards philanthropic capital. After previous experience in Detroit, JPMorgan concluded that philanthropic contributions alone are not enough to combat inequality and that investments must be made

towards businesses. The money that goes towards aff ordable housing is also incredibly important, as research has proven Black and brown people are denied mortgages at a much higher rate than white people.

The money will be used keeping three pillars in mind: people, presence and product. JPMorgan will strive to be a bridge to the local community, providing complimentary fi nancial help, educating, business mentoring and home lending advisors. They are also setting up community centers with WiFi capabilities, meeting rooms and interview rooms for anyone who needs to meet clients but doesn’t have a space of their own, cost-free.

JPMorgan will identify minority business owners through branch referrals and community events in order to work with them, analyze their business and identify what they are doing well and what can be improved. They will seek to help these businesses that may have the capital but not the credit to get off their feet.

But how does all this relate to Villanova? Two years ago, the University’s contract with its previous bank expired and embarked on a search for another with similar values to our own. Villanova’s “Rooted Restless” plan had been recently declared, a major part of which are DEI eff orts. It was also around then that JPMorgan had announced its own DEI commitment with this investment. With all this in mind, the University identifi ed JPMorgan as its institutional bank for the years to come. This partnership off ers students exciting career opportunities, with a special focus on historically underrepresented groups who can connect with people with more career experience and enter a DEI friendly workplace. JPMorgan has set up and will continue to set up coff ee chats to connect with students from various backgrounds and give them an idea of what it is like to work for JPMorgan.

The cooperation between Villanova and JPMorgan even infl u-

ences business practices. As previously stated, the University realized the importance of looking at all aspects of potential business partners, looking beyond just meeting necessities and instead broader goals like DEI. As Neil Horgan said, JPMorgan Chase introduced the idea of doing business with underrepresented business owners. As a result, Villanova is now more focused on proactively going out and identifying those groups to compete for the University’s business.

JPMorgan’s $30 billion investment is an incredible example that other corporate goliaths should imitate. With the wealth and resources at the disposal of the biggest companies on the planet, real good can be done and lives can be touched. However, as admirable as JPMorgan’s eff orts are, one must keep in mind that a corporate entity is ultimately propelled by profi t and that without systemic change, lasting and meaningful equity will not follow.

*Content warning: sexual assault, substance abuse*

Black Hair Care in Campus Convenience Stores

Lydia McFarlane Co-News Editor

PWI is an acronym familiar to many University students, which stands for Predominately White Institution.

As of Fall 2021, the Villanova student population was made up of 5.9% Black students, which defi nitely qualifi es the University as a PWI. The University has earned nicknames like “Vanillanova” for its majority white population and lack of diversity within the student body.

However, in the wake of the summer of 2020’s racial reckoning, the University, like many other organizations across the nation, has put much more eff ort into becoming a more inclusive, diverse space.

As the number of Black students increases on campus, the amount of resources for the minority student population must increase as well. However, many students of color do not feel supported by the school’s administration.

The University’s DEI department’s mission statement reads as follows: “As a community that ‘insists that mutual love and respect should animate every aspect of university life,’ our Mission is to create and sustain a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist living and learning environment for students and staff .”

There are many ways to care for Black hair, and because of the textural diff erences in hair between racial groups, many of the previously off ered haircare services catered towards the University’s majority white population. Curly hair exists on a spectrum that can be categorized by the “curly hair chart,” organized by letters and numbers. Many students

of color have a variety of curly hair types that require specialty products, like mousses, gels and leave-in conditioners.

Several Black students took matters into their own hands to enforce the DEI department’s mission statement and pushed for a more inclusive hygiene and self-care shelf in campus convenience stores. Black hair care was lacking from campus convenience stores, forcing Black students to search off campus for their everyday hair care products.

In conjunction with SGA’s DEI department, several students worked to get Black hair care in campus convenience stores. Junior Lauren Amoo and sophomore Meklit Mare were two students who spearheaded this project. The students were inspired by their own diffi culties in obtaining natural hair care products while living at school. They put out polls to Black students to see what hair care products would be most needed after Amoo was inspired by an article about a school bringing in natural hair care vending machines. The students said the process was a relatively quick one that started with the polls and spreadsheets and ended with products on the shelves.

“We created a spreadsheet of all the diff erent shampoo, conditioners, gels, etc. that we chose and within a couple of weeks, the products were ordered and on the shelves,” Mare said.

The students were inspired by their own diffi culties in obtaining natural hair care products while living at school.

“Being someone who has natural curly hair and has to go outside Villanova’s campus to buy basic products, this project was something that I could personally relate to,” Amoo said. “Even though for some,

hair products are not that big of a deal, as a Black woman, hair care is something that is a huge part of our identity and daily lives so being in a space that accommodates that is very important.”

Both students expressed their gratitude and excitement at being a part of this project.

“I feel really honored to be able to be a part of this project,” Mare said. “I feel very proud that DEI was able to take this step towards a more inclusive Villanova, and I also am very grateful that I was able to be a part of this project.”

Amoo and Mare, along with the DEI Department, are excited about this step for the University’s students of color.

“I think that the students of color will be very excited to hear that they don’t have to order

their hair products on Amazon or go off campus to get basic hair products,” Amoo said. “Even for those who may not utilize those specifi c products, just having representation and feeling seen for those who have natural hair on a predominantly white campus is a very big deal.”

The natural hair care products in campus convenience stores have been a positive sign for students of color that change will continue to be implemented. Additionally, this step shows that students are the source of change.

“This step symbolizes the fact that there are steps being taken in the right direction for equity and inclusion but at the same time there is a lot of work that needs to be done,” Amoo said. “This is just the beginning.”

Special Olympics’ Hosts Strides 5k Run/Walk Ahead of Their Annual Fall Fest

Audrey Weber Staff Writer

Sofia Krzewicki Staff Writer

This past Thursday, Oct. 20, Villanova Special Olympics hosted its annual Strides 5k Run/Walk.

It was an exciting event for athletes and students alike, giving a small scale glimpse into what Fall Fest at Villanova will look like in the coming weeks.

The Strides 5k Run/Walk is primarily organized by the Fundraising committee for Special Olympics.

The course of the 5k was a one-mile loop around campus that participants repeated three times, starting and ending the race just outside of Corr Hall. Students involved in the subsets of Special Olympics lined the course, cheering on runners and walkers as they came through.

The Strides 5k Run/Walk invites not only athletes from nearby counties to participate but also Villanova students. Many students involved in the various levels and

outlets of Special Olympics chose to partake in the event––one of them being senior Hannah Starner.

“[I] always value the unity of sports and how it brings everyone together regardless of ability, and I think Strides 5k is a great way to get involved in something and just feel the general inclusivity of the Villanova community,” Starner said.

Well-known and loved across the University’s campus is Special Olympics athlete Trevor Ciampoli.

He can be found all around cam-

pus participating in various events, and the Strides 5k Run/Walk was no exception. Strides was not only a great way for Ciampoli to spend time within the Villanova community, but it also allowed his longtime passion for running to fl ourish.

“I chose to run because my middle school teacher told me I’d be great for Track & Field, and I’ve been doing it since then,” Ciampoli said.

At its core, Strides is the perfect example of just how impactful and meaningful Special Olympics is

to the Villanova community.

“This event is important because it helps spread awareness about Villanova’s Special Olympics organization,” said Leah Jones, SPO fundraising committee assistant. “Villanova hosts the largest annual student-run Special Olympics event in the world with over 1000 athletes, 400 coaches and 6000 volunteers. Strides helps raise awareness about Special Olympics on campus and embodies what Fall Fest is all about.”

Starner, Ciampoli and Jones all highlighted how the Strides 5k Run/Walk foreshadows the energy and excitement to come during Fall Fest, scheduled for Nov. 4-6.

“This event is important to me because it feels like a preview of what’s coming for Fall Fest,” Ciampoli said.

It just goes to show that if a chilly weeknight on Villanova’s campus can be fi lled with high energy and inclusion, one can only begin to imagine what Fall Fest will be like.

“This [energy] times a million, like you can’t really put the energy that Fall Fest brings to campus into words,” Starner said. “This is a taste of it, but it gets even bigger…the entire campus gets transformed.”

Students pose in front of the new products in the convenience stores.

Courtesy of Lauren Amoo

Courtesy of Villanova

Students React to Student Loan Debt Relief

Hannah Sweeney Staff Writer

In August of 2022, President Joe Biden announced his plan to cancel up to $20,000 in debt for students who borrow loans. The application is fi nally open, off ering possible relief to millions of people across the country. It can be accessed easily online. With news of this plan spreading across college campuses nationwide, questions are being raised. Most importantly, who qualifi es?

This relief plan off ers

forgiveness of up to $10,000 of debt for borrowers who make less than $125,000 a year and married couples or heads of households who make less than $250,000 (as of 2020 or 2021). Pell Grant recipients are eligible for up to $20,000. Loans that are eligible for relief include both subsidized and unsubsidized loans, as well as parent

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PLUS and graduate PLUS loans. However, Biden’s plan does not include privately held loans.

According to Biden, the form is quick and easy. Once eligibility is determined, the form will ask for information such as Social Security number, birthday, phone number and email. The application will not ask for income or tax records.

Last Friday, the test of the application was released, and more than eight million people participated in the beta test of the website over just a couple of days. The website ran smoothly with limited glitches or problems. The beta test proved to skeptics that not only was the website and application functional, but also that there were millions of people needing it and willing to apply.

Although initial success, there is still pushback against the application. Many lawsuits have been fi led against the relief plan, and many Republican-run states

are actively trying to halt the program, claiming that it will increase national debt and taxpayers will pay the price. As of now, in up to seven states, borrowers could face anywhere from $500 to $1000 in state income tax on their loan forgiveness. This could pose serious problems to those that can not aff ord this tax. Republican leaders in states such as Arizona are also claiming that the relief program is an illegal abuse of power and that it is unconstitutional. Oppositions have been taken to the Supreme Court, but the program is still up and running. If the program does come to a halt after relief has been granted, people will not be asked to pay back the money.

“The form took me no more than fi ve minutes, and it was much easier to complete than I expected,” one Villanova student who applied for relief said.

With Villanova’s tuition just over $60,000 in the 2022-23 school year, nearly 55% of all students

have received grants, scholarships or federal loans. These loans can be a major stressor for students, even after graduation. In addition to tuition, students also have to worry about textbook costs, food and room and board. Biden’s relief plan off ers students a chance to leave school with less debt and less worry about fi nances.

“When I fi rst heard the announcement about the new relief plan, it felt like some weight was lifted off my shoulders,” the same student said. “Thinking about post college life is pretty stressful, especially when I think about the cost of grad school. Getting any amount of money back would be great.”

To apply for relief or for more information, students can visit studentaid.gov and click on “apply now.” The deadline to apply is Dec. 31, 2023, and once approved, borrowers should receive notifi cation of relief by their loan servicer within 4-6 weeks.

Conversation with the Republican Lieutenant Governor

Candidate: Carrie DelRosso

the top down. And I think that that’s where I bring that experience in.”

Cate McCusker Senior Editor

Carrie DelRosso is the Republican candidate running for Lieutenant Governor against Democrat Austin Davis. DelRosso is running alongside Doug Mastriano, the Republican state senator running for Governor running against Josh Shapiro. The Villanovan was able to sit down with DelRosso to discuss her values and goals.

DelRosso is currently a state representative for the 33rd legislative district, which she won by beating the 29-year Democrat minority leader incumbent in 2020. DelRosso believes she was able to do this by getting to know the people she hoped to represent.

“The representation that I beat was complacent,” she said. “It wasn’t actually boots on the ground with the people…I did it by knocking on doors and talking to the residents. They wanted change.”

After Pennsylvania was redistricted following the 2020 census, DelRosso decided to run for Lieutenant Governor.

“They drew me pretty much out of the district that I ran in,” she said. “Quite honestly, I felt like I was being sidelined…My son looked at me and said, ‘Mom, you don’t retreat ever.’ And I said, ‘I know.’ So I made sure my tires were good in my truck and started running a statewide race. And here I am.”

DelRosso was a small business owner, and she believes her background can help her in offi ce.

“As we’re touring I’m speaking with a lot of the small business owners,” she said. “They are the backbone of Pennsylvania, and I think that shutting them down and overregulating them is part of the problem…We’re at the hands of government offi cials that are saying, ‘You have to shut down’...and then what happens is you can’t pay your employees. So it will aff ect everyone from

DelRosso referenced the government shutdowns during the pandemic, and a big part of her campaign is “bringing back personal freedoms.” She believes it is the job of the government to keep the residents safe without restricting their personal liberties, including mask and vaccine mandates.

“It was a time of uncertainty when I was knocking on those doors, so I brought a mask with me,” she said of her time on the campaign trail in 2020. “Some people don’t believe in masks. Some people do believe in masks. Some people believe in vaccines and some people don’t. But that’s the freedom that myself and Senator Mastriano are going to restore, is making sure that we have those freedoms that we simply lost during the pandemic.”

DelRosso also discussed her thoughts on gun rights with The Villanovan. She explained that she supports Second Amendment rights, and when asked about keeping Pennsylvanians safe and reducing shootings, she cited securing our borders, education,

fully funding law enforcement and mental health initiatives.

Additionally, DelRosso has made election integrity a key issue on her campaign trail.

“Well, I think Pennsylvania has old laws that need to be reformed,” she said. “I think that once Senator Mastriano is the governor, he will appoint a Secretary of State that will push fair elections. I think that that’s what needs to happen. I think that we need to clean up our voter rules. I think it needs to be done. Look, the only way it’s gonna happen is if Senator Mastriano is our next governor.”

When she was asked about her own thoughts on the integrity of the 2020 election, DelRosso wasn’t clear on where she stood and could not say if there was voter fraud.

“I would not say that I can prove it, but at the same time I think that, again, we do need fair elections,” she said.

The claim that the 2020 election was illegitimate has been perpetuated by former President Trump and other top Republicans, even though 61 of the 62 election lawsuits

were defeated and multiple sources, including the U.S. Justice Department and even members of Trump’s own administration, have declared that there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud.

Mastriano, DelRosso’s running mate, has been described as extreme by many, especially due to his attendance at the insurrection on January 6th. Yet DelRosso does not believe her running mate is too extreme, and she believes he is the man to unite Pennsylvania.

“And he’s far from it,” she said. “He’s a leader. He needs to bring everyone to the table and get everyone to kind of let it down and work together. He’s the guy for the job. I’m very proud to be on the ticket with Senator Doug Mastriano.”

“It’s everyone’s right to rally, and I think that also got played off by the media pretty harshly,” she said. “He’s a wonderful guy who’s going to restore freedom in Pennsylvania.”

Finally, to all the Villanovans on the fence this upcoming election, DelRosso wanted students to know that she listens to everyone: Republicans, Democrats and Independents.

“One of the things we need back in Pennsylvania is we need to restore the respect for each other,” she said. “My one grandfather was a Republican, and my other grandfather was a Democrat. Never once did we break bread and fi ght over politics. Now my kids are coming home from school and saying, ‘What’s an abortion?’ at the age 10. That’s the issue.”

She encouraged students to reach out, as she would be happy to speak with them about their concerns.

“I think it’s important that people know that I’m a real person, you know, I’m not some movie star politician,” she said, laughing. “Myself and Senator Mastriano are two people who walk as free people. We want people to walk as free people. The other team, they’re career politicians. If you add up, I think they’re probably close to 30 years in politics, if not more…that’s the diff erence in the ticket.”

DelRosso will be on the upcoming midterm ballot.

Courtesy of Carrie DelRosso

OPINION

Cities Could Learn From the University’s Infrastructure

Sidewalks with weeds clawing their way out of the cracks, pavements that suddenly end in grass and the powerful gust of wind that buff ets you every time a car fl ies by are all common experiences for pedestrians. With the advent of the automobile, urban planning donned a modernist lens. Cities were redesigned to be more “car-friendly” at the cost of other forms of transportation. As the government invested in highways and multi-lane roads, suddenly public transport became less of a priority. However, there has been a relatively recent pushback against car-centric cities. Instead, post-modernist urban planners advocate for a city design that encourages walkability.

What would a people-friendly city look like, though? Something that we as Villanovans take for granted: a college campus. We have beautiful brick walkways that weave around buildings, bridges that rest over multi-lane roads and shuttles that take us to places where walking is not ideal. As Humnaities Department professor Dr. Margaret Grubiak recounts, this was not always the case. There used to be a time when students and Augustinians drove around campus regularly on what are now the walkways in front of Mendel and Falvey. The sight of a vehicle slowly rolling through campus is not uncommon today, but it was much more of a familiar occurrence before, with traffi c being horribly congested and students having

to weave around cars to get to class.

That is, before Villanova partnered with Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates to implement the Campus Master Plan and renovated campus to include the signature brick paths that we are so used to.

Separating the areas where pedestrians and vehicles occupy is essential in post-modernist urban planning, reducing pedestrian fatalities due to vehicular collisions. Like on Villanova’s campus, this can be things like designating sidewalks for pedestrians, paths for cyclists and building bridges over roads.

Other modifi cations that cities should implement are narrower streets, slowing traffi c and making walking a safer means of

transport. Cities and suburbs should be higher density, making it easier for people to walk to the places they need to go. Among the many ways to increase density, stopping the practice of having lawns is one of the most important. Not only do lawns unnecessarily occupy space, they are detrimental for the environment, requiring massive amounts of water and nitrogen-based fertilizer.

However, walking is not always the best way to get around, whether it be for work, school or anything else that is too far. Just like Villanova’s shuttle system, public transport is an important aspect of city life. Owning a car is not a fi nancially feasible option for many people, leaving public transport as

their only alternative.

A walkable living environment would contribute to the fi ght against climate change, reducing our carbon footprint by walking rather than taking a car. It fosters a sense of community as people are in close proximity to each other and can slow down and get to know the people they see every day (much like college life). In fact, this close-knit feeling is what many people miss when they graduate. The health benefi ts of walking would combat the obesity epidemic gripping our nation as well. With the benefi ts of walkable cities being innumerable, urban planners should consider adopting these policies in renovations to come.

University Could Do Better for Long-Distance Students

Carter Smith Staff Writer

When I fi rst arrived on campus for the start of my freshman year, it became clear that west-coasters like myself are a rarity here at Villanova. When I asked my classmates where they were from, I would most often hear New York, Pennsylvania or New Jersey. I could probably count the amount of people I have met from my home state of Washington on my fi ngers.

According to the Offi ce of the Provost, 68.1 percent of Villanova’s students come from the Mid-Atlantic states: Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia alone, with 85.4 percent coming from the Eastern states in total.

For these students, driving, taking a train or fl ying are all viable and timely options to travel to or from home. But for the remaining 14.6 percent of us who come from farther west or across the oceans, we have no choice but to fl y, and I feel that Villanova could be doing a better job of accommodating us and our travel needs.

Moving in is more complicated for us long-distance folks. We cannot simply pile our things in a

car or two and take a drive down to campus to move in. We have to book fl ights, rental cars and hotels along with shipping things out here.

This past summer, students were emailed move-in dates at the end of July, a little less than a month out. Sophomores, juniors and seniors, who have been around the block a few times, know what move-in entails, but freshmen should be given more time to fi gure out what they need and to get it out here.

Early notice is even more important for booking. Flights, cars and hotel rooms’ prices rise and availabilities fall as we get closer to move-in, so any advanced warning would help long-distance wildcats secure these things at a time of high demand, as other schools in the Philly area are beginning to movein around the same time, wanting to book the same things we are.

I also have some beef with the way Thanksgiving break is structured. I fi nd it quite strange that we do not have the Monday and Tuesday of Thanksgiving week off like my friends at other colleges and universities do. Sure, we do have a week-long, fall break in mid-October that very few other schools have, but that is not a justifi able reason for the shortened

Thanksgiving break.

Each class, with the odd exception, meets only once in those pre-break days, and I do not think that having one less class period would severely impact a professor’s ability to cover a class’s given material by semester’s end.

For the week-long breaks, most people I know fl y home on Friday or Saturday and come back that next Saturday or Sunday, giving us just over a week of break. For Thanksgiving, our old friends are home, and we get to see our family for good food, so we want that full week back to spend with the people we love. Therefore, others and I skip those two days of class and go home that weekend, nearly doubling the length of the break. That is in addition to not wanting to deal with the crowded airports once the Thanksgiving travel rush starts up on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Since many professors are aware of this, classes are often canceled.

So my question is: why do we keep these two days around? Academic focus and class turnout are low, and a healthy portion of classes do not take place. There is no reason in my mind that justifi es the existence of those two days of class.

According to Krissy Woods, Villanova’s Director of Public Re-

lations, both “the Fall and Spring Academic Calendars have a similar number of holidays/breaks” and “if additional days off , the University would either have to start the semester earlier or end later.”

Starting earlier “interferes with the end of summer programming, the preparing of facilities for the start of the Fall, and new student orientation and new faculty orientation,” and ending later would “in some years move the end of fi nal exam week to Christmas Eve.”

So the issue of giving a couple more days of Thanksgiving break is more complex than it might seem, so we frequent fl yers might have to live with a couple of absences on our records if we want that full week. There is certainly demand for the University to fi nd a workable solution, and not just from the westerners. I think we would all like a few more days to spend with our old friends and family that we only see a few times a year.

At times, it can be inconvenient to be a student here at Villanova if one is not from the area, and I think I speak for most of us who come from the other three corners of the country in saying that we would appreciate a little more attention in terms of facilitating easier travel conditions.

Majo James Staff Writer

The University used to be less walkable than it is today, with roads surrounding Mendel Hall (pictured above) and Falvey Memorial Library. Olivia Pasquale / Villanovan Photography

FEZZA

POLICY Editor-in-Chief

Editor-in-Chief

Editor

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

The Villanovan encourages all members of the Villanova community to voice their opinions. Letters to the editors may be submitted via e-mail to villanovan.eic@gmail.com. Letters must not exceed 500 words and must be signed. No anonymous letters will be published. All submissions become property of The Villanovan and are subject to editing for clarity and space.

The unsigned editorial that appears is the opinion of The Villanovan as determined by the majority of the Editorial Board. Other columns, letters and artwork represent the opinions of their authors and do not necessarily refl ect the position of The Villanovan.

Getting Fit with Felicia: Eating Enough Protein

Felicia Froio Staff Writer

Imagine the life-altering experience of cutting into a piece of chicken or taking that fi rst forkful of eggs from Pit or Spit, and immediately questioning whether or not it was safe to eat.

With the limited variety and questionable protein options off ered at Villanova’s dining halls, it can make getting enough protein in one’s daily diet diffi cult. Consuming a suffi cient amount of protein, especially as a college student, is essential as it allows one to build strong and healthy bones while also boosting metabolic rate. But how can anyone experience the many benefi ts provided by protein if the only protein sources that are available to are both limited and concerning?

The next time you walk into one of Villanova’s dining halls, know that you don’t have to eat the questionable protein available. Just a few feet away, at the campus markets, one can fi nd a range of quick and effective options. At each market, there are many packaged protein sources, from protein cookies, small packets of nuts and a range of bars such as ONE protein bars and Quest bars. One can also get a nice cold Core

Power protein drink from the refrigerated section. Each of these options will contain anywhere between 10 to 26 grams of protein, with each gram pushing you one step closer to hitting your protein goal for the day.

If someone decides that grabbing a pack of nuts is the best way to reach their protein goals, they should know that they can enhance the consumption experience. To make them feel more substantial and satisfactory, add the nuts to a snack mix, or if one doesn’t have the time, the market off ers small packets of trail mixes to purchase. Personally, I am not a fan of what comes with the pre-made mixes, so I make my own. Making a

mix with nuts is an extremely creative and versatile way to consume foods and snacks while also adding the benefi ts of protein to one’s diet. Students can grab diff erent resources from the market to include in their mix as well. In addition to someone’s nut of choice, they can grab a bag of freeze-dried fruit, pretzels, popcorn, muddy buddies, crackers, cookies, chips and more. What is also great about these mixes is that you have control over the amount of each food and the fl avor profi le. For example, they can be sweet, savory or a mix of both and can be eaten at all points of the day, whether that be a midday snack or for dessert. I will

share one of my all-time favorite dessert/sweet mixes in hopes that it may spark some inspiration: one Packet Of Your Nut Of Choice, Peanut Butter Filled OR Regular Pretzels, Popcorn, Chunks Of Granola or Your Favorite Cereal, Mini Cookies and Chocolate Chips.

If you do not think having these mixes sounds appealing, there is always the option to grab a bar. But, if we are being honest with ourselves, these bars or drinks come with a questionable aftertaste or texture, making the experience unenjoyable. However, this still may be more secure than trusting the dining halls. With that being said, I want to provide a ranking of what I believe to be the best and the worst protein bars off ered on campus in hopes that people will try each option and see for themselves which brand best suits them: 1. Quest Bars, 2. Kind PROTEIN Bars, 3. LUNA Bars, 4. Clif Bars, 5.ONE Bar.

The next time you fi nd yourself at one of Villanova’s dining halls about to eat the suspicious protein on your plate, I urge you to stop yourself and think about what I have suggested. Given the few simple tips and tricks provided, I hope that students are encouraged to go on a little shopping spree at one of Villanova’s markets and try some of my various recommendations.

Course Registration for Dummies

Isabella Ledet Staff Writer

It is the time of year once again when leaves fall off of the trees, everyone switches from iced coff ee to hot coff ee, and course registration for the spring semester begins. Spring feels so far away, yet we are forced to think about the future.

I will remind everyone that these tips I am about to give stem from my opinion (which should not be surprising, given the section in which this appears) and may not be the objective best way to handle course registration. My inputs have come from my own experiences.

Topic #1: Schedule Building. Separate from the actual spot to enroll in classes, there exists a portal called Nova Schedule Builder, which has all of the most important Course Registration information: the times the classes meet and who teaches them. I love this portal. It allows one to build their schedule in blocks that make sense and with fun colors to keep track of everything. Nova Schedule Builder even allows one to save their favorite schedules and reload them later. It gives one

the freedom to see exactly what options are out there. However, my recommendation is to not get attached to any schedule made in Nova Schedule Builder, especially if one has a late registration time. Pay attention to the courses selected as other people begin to register, and be sure to have multiple backup schedules.

Topic #2: Full Classes. It is not the end of the world if the best section gets full. Register for the next best one and then work some magic later if possible. Villanova wants to help. If there are signifi cant problems with a schedule, talk to advisors and department staff . Sometimes the issues can be sorted out. Second, be patient. Once registration occurs, there is still a lot of time before classes begin. Keep checking the portal to see if a seat opens in a full class. Oftentimes it does, and that can change everything. My schedule for this fall semester was completely diff erent when I registered last spring, but I was patient and kept checking to see if any seats opened in classes I wanted to take. Sure enough, a few weeks before classes actually began, I discovered that a seat had opened up in a full class, and I was able to switch into it.

Topic #3: Rate My Professor. Rate My Professor feels like something that should be helpful. However, take it with a grain of salt. What I have found is that professors with great reviews are likely to be great. However, professors with bad reviews are not necessarily bad. . Last spring, I took a class with a professor who had bad reviews, and it turned out to be great. So, for this fall semester, I thought to myself: “oh, these bad reviews mean nothing. I will just make a schedule based on what times I want to have class regardless of the professors’ reviews.” While this gave me a great schedule in terms of class times, I ended up with a professor with bad reviews who was actually bad. Once I had registered, all of my friends agreed with the negative opinions expressed for this particular professor.

So, I have come to the conclusion that the best way to gauge the quality of a professor is by word of mouth. I strongly urge anyone reading this to ask their friends or peers, especially older ones, who they recommend for professors. Not only might they have had experiences with the professor themselves, but they may

know others that have. I think it is unfortunate that professors who are incapable of teaching get to retain their positions as teachers. But I do not know a single person who got through their entire college experience without having at least one, if not many, bad professors. Luckily, Villanova has a lot of resources for academic help. The Learners Studio, Writing Center and Learning Support Services are just some of the many resources the University off ers for academic assistance. I cannot stress this enough: there is no shame in asking for help. And if one feels like they are struggling in a class, especially because of a subpar professor, there are certainly others who feel the same way. Therefore, do not be afraid to get to know the people in class. They can at least be reassuring if not resources and friends.

Course registration can often feel stressful. It certainly has been for me. But it is not the end of the world if it does not go exactly as planned. At the end of the day, it’s just a schedule, and the longest it can possibly last is one semester. So, good luck, stay calm and remember that there are many resources available for help.

Granola and nuts are great sources of protein. Courtesy of Olivia Tarantino / Eat This, Not That!

Bring on the Heat: Residence Hall A/C Gets Turned Off

Leah Cardinale Staff Writer

The heat is on at Villanova, and no, I am not talking about the start of basketball season. Over fall break, the Office for Facilities Man agement converted all residence hall climate control units and sys tems from cooling to heating. This development turned bathrooms into saunas, dorms into steam rooms and left residents tossing and turning at night.

In an email from the Office for Residence Life, students were told that HVAC units in Alumni, Austin, Corr, Fedigan, Good Coun sel, Sheehan, Stanford, St. Mary’s, Sullivan, The Commons and West Campus Apartments are controlled by a central heating/cooling sta tion. It isn’t possible to change from A/C to Heat and then back to A/C with this system, as it is all connect ed through piping in either a cold water or hot water setting. Once the A/C is turned off, it will not be turned on until late in the spring semester.

Commons residents beware, because residents who have been switching their thermostats from heating to cooling thinking this will cool the room end up making the problem worse. When the system is in cooling mode, the thermostat senses there is hot water in the pipes so it tries to cool the room down, which it cannot do.

On the other hand, Delurey, Moriarty, O’Dwyer and Simpson have it rough. These buildings only have heating in them. The Air Conditioning units installed in these halls are disabled when the temperature starts to reach near freezing to avoid any malfunctions caused by running them in the cold.

All residents were told not to tamper with the units in any way. Now, more than before, stu dents are leaving their personal fans on high and keeping windows open to let in cool air.

Victoria Leone, a sopho more Moulden Hall resident on West Campus, provided input.

“The weather for this time of year is unpredictable, so it is not practical to have the dorms have only heat or only A/C because it always ends up with the apartments either being 60 degrees or 80 de grees with no in between,” she said.

Students came back from fall break to dorm rooms at 84 de grees.

“Coming back from fall break, I expected my room to feel fresh and cool, but I walked into a musty and hot room with my posters and lights falling down due to intense humidity. Not the start I was hoping for as I started the second half of my first semester,” freshman Caughlin Hall resident Steven Marinelli said.

This has proven to be a challenge for junior Trinity Rogers, a Commons Trinity Hall resident

who suffers from allergies.

“I can’t have my window open; I have bad allergies,” Rogers said. “If the windows were closed, it was a sauna, but if they were open, my allergies would be going crazy.”

Villanova’s student hand book states that “Since all residence halls are equipped with window units or central air conditioning, personal or supplemental air con ditioning units are not permitted in the residence halls.” This caution leaves students looking to open windows to combat the heat in the room, but alas, the handbook warns against doing so as well. “Residents should not open windows while heating/cooling units are operating. This can cause condensation and may contribute to mold growth.”

“We shouldn’t have to keep windows open to cool down. I don’t want mold in the dorms.” said Mia, a freshman living in Stanford Hall.

Interestingly, Joseph Hohman from the office for Residence Life contradicts the handbook in one respect saying, “Students are permitted to bring a personal fan.” He goes on to agree with the handbook that “we [Res idence Life] discourage students from opening windows on hot, humid days or on rainy days as this, we believe, contributes to mold growth due to the disparity in room and outside air temperature.

The intense heat is not limited to dorm rooms. In residence hall bathrooms the high tempera tures are stifling. “Bathrooms are

like saunas. We shouldn’t have to take cold showers in order to be comfortable in our own bathrooms and we shouldn’t be sweating while we’re standing there brushing our teeth,” freshman Josie Calareso said.

Joseph Hohman from Res idence Life adds: “As stated in the email that was sent out on Octo ber 4th, we work closely with our facilities department to determine the best time to switch from cooling to heating in the fall semester. The week prior to fall break we saw high temperatures only in the 50s and we received a multitude of requests to turn the heat on. Again, we were hesitant because it is not easy to go from cooling to heating and then back again. The process takes be tween 2-3 days. There is no set date when the heat turns on. One year it was October 5th the following year it was November 9th. It is all dependent on weather.

“Since the system has not been used since the spring system it needs to be calibrated to the optimal temperature and there are some parts that need to be upgrad ed or repaired,” Hohman contin ues. “Temperature is set between 70 and 72 degrees, however, as with many mechanical parts such as a thermostat, they sometimes fail and need to be inspected by our facilities crew. Students are always encouraged to fill out a work or der so a staff member can inspect the room and make any necessary changes or repairs.”

CULTURE

University Students Celebrate Big Phillies Win

Elijah McDow Staff Writer

Cont. from page 1 and it’s finally here with a team that everyone counted out.”

For Hanson, who was still in grade school the last time the Phillies were in the postseason, defeating the reigning World Series Champions the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS, was “es pecially meaningful.”

Sophomore Nick Reed was also at the games over fall break and de scribed the atmosphere as “incredible.”

“The Phillies’ success has been huge for me as a fan because we’ve done basically nothing for the last 11 years,” Reed said. “It’s tough seeing most everyone else in the league have success while we haven’t. Seeing people rally around a team that has been down for so long was super cool, and it helps when you win both games, but the amount of positive energy from a sold-out stadium was unmatched. Best games I’ve ever been to.”

Not only have students been

making the trip to Citizens Bank Park, but so has arguably the most famous Villanovan, who was spotted at the game over the weekend. Caught on TV swinging around a bandana and proud ly wearing a Phillies jersey, Jay Wright was all smiles, taking in the atmosphere inside the ballpark.

Everyone is taking notice of the team’s success, and fans around the area were completely locked into the series with the Padres. This matchup has been one where Phillies fans have needed to be the loudest, which they have been all year, and one where the team has needed to play its best base ball of the season.

While it may have taken 11 years for the Phillies to obtain a win ning record and a postseason presence again, the passion and support of Phil adelphia fans, even during struggles, will never go away. It would have been easy for Phillips, Hanson and Reed to have turned their backs on the team, but they stuck with them through the good and the bad, which has made the atmosphere of baseball in late October worth the wait and “indescribable.”

Once a Wildcat, Always a Wildcat: Homecoming

Kendall Hayes Culture Columnist

Cont. from page 1 always feel like home.”

Class of 2021 graduate Katherine Lukas described the spe cial place Villanova holds in her and her family’s heart.

“Villanova is an extremely special place and being part of the Villanova family is worth more than any tuition,” Lukas said. “It was amazing to come back to a place that helped me grow into the per son I am and that has given me the

world’s greatest friends. As a family of Villanovans, it was even more memorable to share the weekend with my parents. Although my time on campus is over, I am reminded every day, especially this weekend, that Villanova is forever.”

Lukas’ mom, Madeline Lu kas, who graduated from Villanova in 1990, always makes sure to come back for Family Weekend. She is one of Villanova’s biggest fans and could go on and on about her love for the University.

“Homecoming is a wonder ful time to see old friends and to be back on the most beautiful campus,”

Mrs. Lukas said. “This year, we were able to connect with friends we have not seen in over 15 years. Homecoming has also become a place where we are lucky enough to gather with our children - one who graduated in ‘21 and one who is a current senior.”

Jack Roberge, a class of 2022 graduate, also returned to campus for homecoming weekend.

“Villanova puts in a lot of effort for alumni which isn’t some thing you can necessarily expect, but it goes a long way in making the school continue to feel like a com munity,” Roberge said. “I would

highly recommend recent grads or soon-to-be grads to come to home coming in the future, even if you skip the actual game.”

Even though it feels like graduation is right around the cor ner, it gave my friends and I hope that post graduation life is not as scary as it seems. We will always be connected through the four fantas tic years we all shared together.

For current seniors, our love for Villanova and each other won’t stop just because we are no longer in Bryn Mawr, because once you are a Wildcat, you are always a Wildcat. Location could never change that.

Don’t Worry Darling Movie Review

Leah Cardinale Staff Writer

Starring Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, and Chris Pine, Olivia Wilde’s much anticipated Don’t Worry Darling hit theatres on September 23rd. With tons of controversy surrounding the film, including mixed reviews, dra ma with Shia LaBeouf, who was originally supposed to play main character Jack, and alleged tension between Pugh and Wilde, I was excited to see for myself what the movie was all about.

Wilde’s second directo rial film, Don’t Worry Darling is a psychological thriller, which was pretty much the only thing I knew about the film going into the movie. As a fan of the psycho logical thriller/horror genre, the movie lived up to my expectations. Pugh’s performance in Ari Aster’s Midsommar left no doubt in my mind that she would bring the same star factor to Don’t Worry Darling.

Pugh plays Alice, a 1950s housewife living in a picturesque desert community with her hus band Jack, played by Harry Styles, who is a part of the elusive Victory Project. The women in the com munity lead ideal lifestyles: their husbands leave for work at the Victory Headquarters every morn ing, while they stay home to clean, or perhaps to go shopping, and later prepare dinner for when their husbands return.

The women are discour aged from asking questions about their husbands’ work and told not to venture out to Headquarters. Alice’s world falls apart and the film quickly takes a turn when she begins to see cracks in this uto pia. After seeing a plane crash, she wanders into the desert until she stumbles upon Headquarters. After touching the building, Alice experiences vivid, creepy hallu cinations then later wakes up at home. The events that follow cause her to spiral and we watch Alice get gaslit by everyone around her when she tries to warn them that

something is amiss. Don’t Worry Darling’s cinema tography is crisp and clean, the bright retro-chic aesthetic pulls the viewer in and has you desperate to discover what is going on beneath the surface. Harry Styles’ perfor mance blatantly fell flat when it came to acting in high-stakes emo tional scenes with Pugh. Converse ly, when Alice confronts the town’s leader Frank, played by Chris Pine, there is exciting tension and Pugh’s acting skills are equally met. The film’s twist Matrix-es que ending was one I didn’t see coming. We get a flashback of Alice in the modern world as a surgeon who comes home from a thirty-hour shift to the most fright ening part of the film, brace your self: ugly Harry Styles. Jack in the real-world is an unattractive bum, the opposite of the Victory Society Jack the viewer has seen for most of the film. The couple live in a dingy apartment and Jack, who is unemployed, becomes fed up with not being able to spend time (or have sex) with his girlfriend. So,

he does what any loving boyfriend would do—he sedates her and forces her into a simulation. Alice escapes, killing Jack in the process, but we don’t see what happens when she wakes up, leaving the viewer on a cliffhanger.

Wilde’s social commentary is simple and almost too easy: men are threatened by the success of women. Furthermore, the viewer is left with many questions after the film like the meaning of the plane crash that drew Alice into the desert in the first place. The plane shows up as a motif throughout the film and is even seen on the official movie poster, but then never explained after it makes its main appearance. Were the small earthquakes that kept happening glitches or disturbances in re al-life? What happens after Alice wakes up?

The film was pleasing to the eye with wardrobe that was very well done. I enjoyed Don’t Worry Darling and would recom mend it to anybody looking for a movie that makes you think.

The Phillies won game 5 against the San Diego Padres to advance to the World Series. Courtesy of NJ Advance Media/Tim Hawk

Kendall’s Column: Europe, Vegas, and in Between

Kendall Hayes Culture Columnist

As the week after fall break comes to a close, some Villanovans need a break from fall break… or maybe that’s just my friends and I. Through Instagram and Snapchat stories, it felt like Villanovans were all across the country, and some were even across the world. From Las Vegas to Italy to Kenya to Far Hills, New Jersey, Villanovans did not rest during the seven days off .

Hundreds of Villanova students, myself included, packed up their bags and dignity and headed on the journey to one of the most magical places on Earth: Las Vegas, Nevada. A trip that was organized through the company All Roads Travel, this was the defi nition of an enigma. Prior to the week before the trip, it felt as if no one knew a singular detail about the itinerary that would ensue once we all touched town in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas now holds a special place in Villanova senior Julia R.’s heart. She expressed her newfound love for the city.

“Gonna raise my kids in Las Vegas,” Julia said, full of excitement and laughter.

No need to fear, because after almost a fi ve hour fl ight, Villanovans arrived safely in Vegas to take on the weekend. It was truly a once in a lifetime, otherworldly experience. I would get more into detail, but I think it is in every Villanovan’s best interest if the saying “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” is followed.

Other students, mostly juniors and seniors, had other plans for the break: Europe. This semester is the third semester since Villanova has continued allowing students to study abroad due to COVID-19 restrictions. Because of this, many juniors made the hajj to Europe to reunite friend groups for a week long European escapade. Junior Theresa McGannon explained her European adventure visiting friends.

“Over fall break, I traveled to Italy to visit my best friend, who is studying abroad in Rome,” McGannon said. “It was so incredible to see her day to day life in a brand new city and to experience that with her for a week.”

Seniors Anna O’Keefe and Cameron Castelli had their own little European adventure throughout the United Kingdom and Italy. O’Keefe explains how it felt to visit the place she studied abroad this time last year for the fi rst time since.

“I was anxious to see if the city that had such an incredible impact on my life would remember me like I remembered it,” O’Keefe said. “Rest assured it did. From my barista at my coff ee shop, to Gisueppe’s gelato, and my former professors, it was all the same.”

Villanova students also traveled to Kenya for the Social Justice Documentary program made possible by Villanova’s Waterhouse Family Institute for the Study of Communication and Society. This group of students traveled to Siaya county in Kenya to create an inspiring fi lm. Senior Luke Denatale discussed his experience over break.

“Traveling to Siaya County in

Kenya for my Social Justice Documentary class this fall break was something that will live in my heart for the rest of my days,” Denatale said. “Not only were the people and their stories so beautiful, but the whole trip forced me to grow as a man, a fi lmmaker, and as an individual.”

The weekend ended with many Villanovans back in familiar territory: New Jersey. The Far Hills Race Meeting, more commonly known as “the Hunt,” is a horse race that takes place in Far

Hills, New Jersey. Villanovans from all around the Northeast stayed with their friends that live closest to the race event. Picture a Villanova basketball tailgate, but instead of Wells Fargo Stadium’s parking lot, it took place on a farm in the middle of New Jersey.

Unfortunately for me, I have yet to experience such an exciting event. Instead, let’s just say I was still resting from my trip to Nevada because a chronic sinus infection and fever is what you get for waking up in Vegas.

Student Musical Theater: Kiss Me, Kate Review

Julia O’Keefe Staff Writer

The Villanova Student Musical Theater production of “Kiss Me, Kate” this past weekend was Shakespeare like never seen before. A musical comedy at its core, “Kiss Me, Kate” capitalizes on the creative concept of a show-withina-show. Not only is the audience transported to post-war America, watching as tensions rise between the recently divorced director and leading man, Fred Graham, and leading lady Lilli Vanessi, but also to the Renaissance—Padua and the countryside of Verona—as Baptista Minola attempts to fi nd a husband for his daughter, the shrewish Kate.

What is masked as a story of ex-lovers fi nding their way back to each other while playing opposite each other in Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew” is in actuality an exploration of relationships: love, marriage and all the things in between.

The musical focuses not only on Fred and Lilli, but also Bill and Lois, whose relationship is also impacted by their on and off -stage antics. Seniors Olivia Pistella (Lois Lane/Bianca) and Aidan Fecko (Bill Calhoun/Lucentio) had playful chemistry. In their respective solos, both dazzled. Pistella explored the subtle sensuality of “Always True to You in My Fashion” as a talented dancer, capturing the glamor of the Hollywood starlets of the Golden Age, and Fecko’s enthusiasm was addictive, as well as his tap solo in “Bianca,” which deserved the sus-

taining applause.

The audience fell in love with senior Katherine Moff a (Lilli Venessi/Kate) and sophomore Matthew Sabol (Fred Graham/Petruchio) as they waited for Lilli and Fred to fall in love with each other. Moff a and Sabol explore passion and longing in their duet, “Wunderbar.” The waltz transports all into a dream-like trance, a world void of disdain and animosity towards one another, a perfect night for love.

“Kiss Me, Kate” was not absent from wild, theatrical dance numbers and breaks. However, the ensemble hit their stride in “Too Darn Hot,” the opening number in Act II. The number brought the energy that lasted until the fi nal curtain, transporting the audience back in time. The melodies and

dance combos were reminiscent of “West Side Story,” another popular musical set around the same time, with the rhythmic snapping and wild high kicks.

Credit must be given, of course, to the pit orchestra. It too was integrated into the show-within-a-show: Sabol directly interacts with them on the occasion as Fred Graham. The orchestra signaled the time travel, the transport from the audience to the late 40s with jazz undertones and then the Renaissance with the beautiful, lulling sound of the mandolin.

Although the gangsters (Amelia Morning, Jack Drennen) were introduced in Act I, providing another level of tension to an already tension-fi lled show, “Brush Up Your Shakespeare” in Act II

was hilarious, eliciting well-deserved smiles and laughs from the audience. Masters of physical comedy, Morning and Drennen compel the audience to take advantage of the bard of Stratford-on-Avon. In many ways, they are much like the audience, thrown into a world of the unknown and forced to understand, assimilate, learn and enjoy. The number was the most Shakespearean aspect of “Kiss Me, Kate,” as it was a testament to his legacy as a writer for the masses, a poet for the common people.

All’s well that ends well: in the true nature of a Shakespearean comedy, “Kiss Me, Kate” ended on a happy note, both for the characters and the audience members, who were satisfi ed with the performance they just witnessed.

Senior Anna O’Keefe did some overseas traveling for her fall break.

Courtesy of Anna O’Keefe

Students put on “Kiss Me Kate” for the fall musical.

Courtesy of @novavsmt

Campus Activities Team Hosts Midnights Release Party

Tallulah Laska Staff Writer

While Taylor Swift invited fans to “Meet [Her] at Midnight” for the release of her newest album, “Midnights,” the Campus Activities Team (CAT) invited students to a “Taylor Swift All Day Release Party” on Thursday, Oct. 20.

“Midnights,” consisting of 13 tracks representing 13 sleepless nights, was released on Friday, Oct. 21 at midnight. Taylor Swift fans, also known as “Swifties,” came together in the Villanova Room of the Connelly Center with Swift-themed activities in anticipation of the album drop that night.

Students were invited to do karaoke, paint mini canvases and enjoy refreshments. Students who came fi rst were given “Meet Me at Midnight” canvas tote bags. Swift released diff erent aspects of the album using this phrase, inviting fans to tune in at midnight for announcements of track names, new merchandise and the eventual release of the album. The tote bag also features a dark blue clock, one of the images Swift has been using to promote the album.

Sophomore Katie Brumbaugh, a member of CAT, organized the event. Brumbaugh has been a Swiftie since she was in fi rst grade, when Swift’s hit single “You Belong With Me” came out. Brumbaugh explained that the canvas tote bags needed to encompass “Midnights,” even though Swift had not yet released the album when they were created and distributed.

“CAT always likes to do some sort of giveaway at events, and we try to

be sustainable with them,” Brumbaugh said. “We eventually landed on the reusable tote bags, and the designs ran through our marketing department quite a few times.”

Additionally, karaoke was a big hit at the event. Students Anna Jankowski and Shannon Foley held a big stage presence, singing songs from “All Too Well” to “Holy Ground.” As Swifties, they encouraged the crowd to sing with them and turned it into one big dance party. Many other students participated in the karaoke, requesting songs of all genres, such as “Our Song” and “Style.”

“The release party was an amazing time, and it was great to meet new friends with a shared love of Taylor Swift,” Foley said. “CAT did an amazing job and I cannot wait to sport my ‘Midnights’ tote bag.”

There was lots of chatter among Swifties about the release of “Midnights.”

Although the album was not yet released during the party, fan favorites were expected to be “Snow on the Beach (feat. Lana Del Ray)” and “Anti-Hero.”

Swift released the album at midnight that night, and it was a hit. The album broke Spotify’s record for most streamed artist and album in a single day. Swift released a second version of the album at 3 a.m. on Oct. 21, titled “Midnights (3am Edition).” This edition includes seven additional songs.

“There were other songs we wrote on our journey to fi nd that magic 13,” Swift wrote in her Instagram post that announced the 3 a.m. Edition.

“Lately I’ve been loving the feeling of sharing more of our creative process with you…so it’s 3 a.m. and I’m giving them

to you now.”

Foley’s favorites after listening to the album in full included “Karma” from the original version and “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve” from the 3 a.m. Edition. Following the release of the 3 a.m. Edition, Swift also released a music video for “Anti-Hero” and lyric videos for

all 20 songs.

In the upcoming weeks, Swift will release an additional music video and speak on The Graham Norton Show. Fans are also awaiting a possible tour announcement. Until then, Swifties everywhere are reveling in the “honeymoon phase” of the album release.

Delta Gamma Hosts Annual Anchor Slam Fundraiser

Sofia Krzewicki Staff Writer

On Friday Oct. 21 Villanova Delta Gamma collaborated with Pi Kappa Phi to host its annual Anchor Slam volleyball tournament to conclude its “Do Good” philanthropy week and raise money for its chapter’s philanthropy, Service for Sight.

The tournament was held at the West Campus volleyball courts and was made up of 64 teams. All participants donated $5 to play in the tournament and attend the event. In total, the chapters raised more than $3,000 for Delta Gamma’s philanthropy, Service for Sight.

Abby Song, one of Delta Gamma’s Directors of Anchor Slam, spoke about what the event meant to her.

“It was really exciting to see all the hard work we did to plan the event pay off ,” she said. “Knowing we’re making a diff erence and bringing the Villanova community together to get involved makes it feel all the more successful.”

Song worked alongside co-director of Anchor Slam Elizabeth Curley, Delta Gamma’s VP: Foundation Faith Kisker and foundation members Tess O’Hara and Gabby Slentz to plan the event. These members spent the weeks leading up to the event organizing tabling, scheduling restaurant fundraisers at Juice Pod and Honey Grow, communicating with the

creating a bracket for the tournament. This year, the event included yard games, food and a live band.

“We wanted to expand on the traditional volleyball tournament to make it a fun afternoon for everyone,” Song said. “Having the yard games gave people something to do to keep the event engaging, and the live music defi nitely added to the environment.”

The chapters lucked out with a beautiful fall day for the event. There were nearly 200 participants and students playing volleyball, spikeball, cornhole, eating hot dogs and burgers, listening to the band or just hanging out and cheering on their friends.

“Anchor Slam is one of our biggest philanthropy events of the year, and teaming up with Pi Kapp defi nitely brought in more participants,” Song said. “It was nice to have more people involved and it made it feel more like a community event, not just a DG event.”

Collaborating with Pi Kappa Phi helped Delta Gamma get more people involved and raise more money for their philanthropies. Delta Gamma’s philanthropy, Service for Sight, is an organization that supports fi ve schools for the blind and advocates for the visually impaired. Pi Kappa Phi’s philanthropy, The Ability Experience, is a nonprofi t organization that serves people with disabilities. The $3,000 raised from this Anchor Slam and Do Good week will be donated to Service for Sight. Pi Kappa Phi has decided to donate its portion of the money raised to Service for Sight as well.

“This year’s tournament was one of the most successful, which was especially important considering we lost a year for Covid in 2020,” Song said. “It was exciting to be a part of bringing the traditional event back and even enhancing it a little bit. Of course. we would still love to see even more involvement in future years. This is

my favorite event of the year, and I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes.”

Delta Gamma and Pi Kappa Phi will continue to raise money for their individual philanthropies throughout the year. To receive updates about their events, follow @villanovadg and @novapikapp on Instagram.

Taylor Swift fans gathered in The Villanova Room for her album’s release party.

Courtesyof TallulahLaska

Vivi Melkonian and Lily Greer worked as referees for the event.

Courtesy of Vivi Melkonian

SPORTS

Field Hockey Picks Up Two Wins

Brooke Ackerman Staff Writer

Villanova came out of this past week of play beating Davidson, 3-2, on Senior Day, and then defeating Quinnipiac, 4-3, in a Big East matchup to improve its record to 10-6 (2-4 Big East).

The Wildcats kicked off their matchups this week by celebrating the fi ve seniors and two graduate students on the squad in a ceremony before taking the fi eld against Davidson on Sunday, Oct. 16.

Head coach Joanie Milhous commented on the excitement of Senior Day, saying how “everybody on the team loves [the seniors] and looks up to them.”

“The team was really psyched and really hyped up for the game,” she noted.

In true spirit of Senior Day, all seven of the players being honored started the game for Villanova, playing in what was an uneventful fi rst quarter until the remaining minute when Davidson scored a late goal to gain the lead.

However, ‘Nova came back fi ghting in the second quarter as graduate forward Noor Van de Laar had a breakaway and passed the ball off to freshman forward Toni Minichello, who launched the ball into the top left corner to tie up the game.

Heading into the second half, Villanova began to take more control of the game, getting shots on net and

drawing multiple corners, but the team still struggled to capitalize. With less than a minute left, it was Van de Laar who was able to put the ball in the back of the net off a pass from junior back Sabine de Ruijter.

“She had a really great breakout game,” Milhous said of Van de Laar. “She’s been a little quiet for us, but when she has the ball, she’s defi nitely a threat. Her ball handling skills and hand speed are absolutely incredible, and I really think she just had an extra level of determination that day, and it showed it.”

With a 2-1 lead, ‘Nova headed into the fourth quarter full of energy. The Wildcats scored another goal early on into the last quarter that was called back due to a foul.

Continuing to maintain possession, senior Maggie Mick had a good look to junior forward Meghan Mitchell who secured a 3-1 lead.

With about fi ve minutes left, Davidson scored one more goal, but it wasn’t enough to outdo the energy on Senior Day, and Villanova came out victorious with a win that improved its overall record to 9-6.

Commenting on the win, Milhous noted how “the team always has a sense of confi dence that they’re gonna get the job done.”

“They never panic,” she said. “There’s never a sense of ‘we’re gonna lose,’ it’s always a winning mentality.”

With the Davidson win under their belts, the Wildcats headed back to practice for the week with their winning mentality, focusing on one

thing: scoring.

“We focused on fi nishing,” Milhous said. “Capitalizing on opportunities, creating opportunities, our shooting, and our aiming with that shooting — we need to fi nish on the chances we get, because we’re letting too many opportunities slip by us.”

After fi ve days of practice, the Wildcats took the fi eld against the Quinnipiac Bobcats in what was a closely contested matchup. Keeping possession in the fi rst quarter, Villanova had control of the game early on, but the game remained scoreless at the end of the fi rst quarter.

As the game began to pick up, the Wildcats gained momentum in the second quarter with junior forward Amanda Middleman diving to defl ect the ball in the net off a pass from sophomore midfi elder Emma Schwarz.

The Wildcats headed into the second half with a 1-0 lead and made a statement in the third quarter. Middleman scored another goal off a rebounded shot from Mitchell, which was then followed up by another goal from Van de Laar off a pass from senior forward Caitlin van Goverden.

Villanova had a decisive 3-0 lead, but the Bobcats still exhibited high energy and narrowed the score to 3-1 with just 12 seconds left into the third quarter.

As the fi nal quarter kicked off , the Bobcats scored back-to-back goals that tied up the score for the fi rst time in the game.

With minutes left, de Ruijter scored the eventual game winner off a corner assisted by sophomore midfi elder Raina Smolji and Anne Drabbe to give Villanova a 4-3 lead.

“I loved it,” Milhous said. “I really did. I love the winning mentality. They never quit, they never felt defeated, they never played on their heels.”

The win against Quinnipiac marked the Wildcats’ 10th win of the season, a feat the program hasn’t accomplished since 2008.

“This team has really committed to our new culture that we have been working on the past couple of years,” Milhous explained. “I give credit to our captains, our seniors, to every single player on the team because they have 100% bought into everything we are committed to. I also give credit to Villanova — they’ve supported us with full time assistant coaches, they’ve supported us with our fi eld, our new locker room. The excitement around our program has been awesome and our girls have soaked it all in. They just care. They’re determined. They wanna win, but they wanna put in the work to win.”

With this winning mentality and team culture, the Wildcats head into their last game of regular season play against Georgetown at home on Friday, Oct. 28 at 5 p.m.

“Our goal is to just play our game,” Milhous said. “We want to create and capitalize on opportunities, and to be disciplined on the defensive end.”

Men’s Tennis Completes Fall Season

James Haupt Staff Writer

The fall season has come to an end for men’s tennis, but not before an exciting appearance at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Atlantic Regional. Seven Wildcats traveled to Charlottesville, VA, to compete against some of the best schools in the country at the University of Virginia. This was a six-day contest beginning on Wednesday, Oct. 19 with a potential to advance to Monday, Oct. 24, depending on the outcomes of the previous days.

The competition was sorted into three draws including Bronze, Silver and Gold. It started with the Bronze draw in which there would be three rounds, and the remaining teams would advance to the Silver Draw, joining the other teams who already qualifi ed for this draw. These teams or individual players would then face off and fi ght to advance to the Gold draw, which was the main draw of the tournament. The Wildcats had a tough task at hand going into the tournament in the Bronze draw for both the doubles and singles matches.

The ‘Cats had three doubles teams playing in the tournament. This included the senior duo of Justin Suarez and Alex Kim, a pair of juniors in Noah Winton

and Josh Robinson and a freshman squad of Tighe Brunetti and Cooper Gordon. Unfortunately, none of the Wildcat duos were able to advance to the second round as the freshman team had to submit a walkover due to injury, and the other two teams were defeated.

In the consolation round, Winton and Robinson were defeated in a tough match against a Bucknell duo. Suarez and Kim ended up not playing their match, but their performances overall this weekend were solid. Brunetti and Gordon fi nished their weekend and the doubles matches with an 8-4 victory against Radford,

demonstrating their potential yet again. Coach Brad Adams noted that despite solid performances, there was much left to be desired after the Doubles matches. The singles left a better impression on Adams as the Wildcats had plenty of success.

The fi rst day of singles matches proved to be successful for the Wildcats as four members of the team advanced to the second round. Winton and Robinson beat their respective opponents in dominating performances. The promising freshmen, Gordon and Brunetti, performed well again as they were the other two Wildcats

to move onto the second round. Kim and Suarez were sent to the consolation bracket after strong play on Day 1 in what were both tight games. Junior Ryan Nguyen was also defeated on Day 1 despite having a great performance.

Both Kim and Suarez fell short in the consolation round on Day 2, but Nguyen displayed his talent in a great win against one of Richmond’s best freshman recruits Mark Taranov. Robinson and Gordon continued Villanova’s weekend after winning the second round of the singles championship bracket. They both fought hard on Day 3 but fi nally met their match and were defeated. Adams mentioned that Gordon was playing through an abdominal injury, making his singles run even more impressive. It was a strong showing from the Wildcats in the singles brackets.

Villanova’s weekend ended on Saturday, but there was much to be satisfi ed with from this tournament and the season as a whole. Adams was happy with how well the freshmen have played all season and noted that the upperclassmen are starting to hit their stride after not playing that much tennis over the summer. He hopes to keep the momentum from the ITAs and previous tournaments into the off season. Overall, this was a great fall season for the Wildcats, and the team will begin its offi cial season in January.

Men’s tennis wrapped up their fall season at the ITA Championships last weekend.

Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

Men’s Soccer Falls to Seton Hall, 2-1

ease.

Owen Hewitt Staff Writer

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. –Villanova men’s soccer lost to Seton Hall, 2-1, on a chilly night in South Orange, N.J. Pirates graduate forward J.P. Marin scored the match’s fi rst goal in the 48th, with Villanova senior defender Viktor Benediktsson equalizing in the 72nd. Senior midfi elder James Boote found the back of the net in the 75th, burying the ‘Cats’ hopes of getting into the Big East Tournament. The loss dropped the ‘Cats to 5-8-2 overall and 2-7-1 in conference play.

“It was tough,” head coach Tom Carlin said. “I thought we had another goal in us too. It looked like we had started to turn the tides a little bit. It’s backbreaking. It was a play we should have defended better, whether that be our goalkeeper or a fi eld player or whatever. Like I said, it’s backbreaking.”

The ‘Cats struggled to get much going on the off ensive end in the fi rst half, as their fi rst shot didn’t come until the 37th. The attempt came from the foot of junior forward Akinjide Awujo, whose shot went wide of the frame after the Pirates applied intense pressure.

The Pirates were able to produce many more opportunities in the fi rst half, getting off seven shots in the fi rst 45 of play. Only two of those shots forced graduate keeper Kent Dickey into making saves, both of which were made with relative

The best scoring chance of the fi rst half for the ‘Cats came off a corner earned by junior midfi elder Branden Johns in the 42nd. The service in from the corner bounced awkwardly through the box and got to Benediktsson, who attempted a bicycle kick, but his shot sailed high of the net.

Shortly after the halftime break, Seton Hall was able to break through, with Marin slotting one past Dickey off a cross from the right side of the pitch. The goal put the Pirates up, 1-0.

The Wildcats tied the score in the 72nd off the foot of Benediktsson, who snatched the ball off a rebound from a Wildcats free kick.

“[Benediktsson’s] opportunistic, he’s always chasing things down in the box on set pieces. He’s hungry,” Carlin said. “He always seems like he’s in the right spot. It’s unbelievable.”

But the Pirates wouldn’t have to wait long to get back on top, with Boote striking a beautiful ball from the top of the semicircle that found its way to the back of the net in the 75th.

From there, the ‘Cats kept attacking but were unable to fi nd to tie things up. The loss all but mathematically eliminates the Wildcats from postseason play, as they stand second-to-last in the conference with seven points.

“It speaks to this conference,” Carlin said. “Xavier was picked to be last, and they’re in the top two or three. We were picked to be last last year. It speaks to the parity of the conference. It also speaks to expectation and how things are weighing on our guys.”

Villanova has just two matches remaining on its schedule. The Wildcats face Navy on Oct. 25 and travel to DePaul on Nov. 2nd to close out the season.

WEEKLY SCOREBOARD

Oct. 19 - Oct. 25

Wednesday, October 19

Men’s Tennis vs. ITA Atlantic No Team Scoring

Men’s Soccer vs. UConn 1-0 L

Thursday, October 20

Men’s Tennis vs. ITA Atlantic No Team Scoring

Women’s Swim vs. UConn 119.5-180.5 L

Women’s Soccer vs. UConn 0-0 T

Friday, October 21

Men’s Tennis vs. ITA Atlantic No Team Scoring Field Hockey vs. Quinnipiac 4-3 W

Volleyball vs. Creighton 0-3 L

Saturday, October 22

Men’s Tennis vs. ITA Atlantic No Team Scoring Football vs. Albany 31-29 W

Volleyball vs. Xavier 1-3 L

Men’s Soccer vs. Seton Hall 1-2 L

Sunday, October 23

Men’s Tennis vs. ITA Atlantic No Team Scoring

Men’s Golf @ ODU/OBX Intercollegiate 10th of 16

Penalty Kicks Secure Women’s Soccer Win

Katie Lewis Staff Writer

Celebrations were about more than just the score as the women’s soccer team triumphed over the DePaul Blue Demons, 2-1, on Tuesday afternoon’s Senior Day game. All three of the goals scored by both teams throughout the tightly-contested Big East matchup came on penalty kicks.

The Wildcats found momentum early in the game after graduate forward CiCi Fox was fouled in the box in the tenth minute. Fox put the Wildcats on the board fi rst, eff ectively placing her penalty shot out of reach in the lower left corner of the goal. Villanova maintained the lead for the rest of the fi rst half, with graduate goalkeeper Megan McClay making two saves, including a key dive during a dangerous Blue Demons corner kick.

Less than 10 minutes after halftime, a second foul in the box, this time against the Wildcats, gave DePaul an equalizing opportunity in which the Blue Demons’ Katie Godden succeeded (52’).

The game remained tied for the next 20 minutes, with both

teams competing fi ercely. McClay made three more saves throughout the course of the second half, and 20 total fouls were called on both teams in the match.

The game’s pivotal moment arrived when sophomore forward Lauren Belcuore was fouled in the box with just eight minutes left, resulting in the game’s third penalty kick.

Junior Emma Weaver stepped up to take the winning shot, fi ring the ball into the back of the net to put the Wildcats 2–1 over the Blue Demons. DePaul was unable to equalize, despite taking three more shots in the game’s fi nal minutes.

Following the Villanova victory, the team stayed on the fi eld at Higgins Soccer Complex to honor its eight members of the Class of 2023 during the

Women’s Soccer vs. DePaul 2-1 W

Monday, October 24

Men’s Tennis vs. ITA Atlantic No Team Scoring

Men’s Golf @ ODU/OBX Intercollegiate T-9th of 16

Tuesday, October 25

Men’s Soccer vs. Navy 1-0 W

traditional Senior Day ceremony. The seniors — Alexa Wojnovich, Makayla Stadler, Sara Beidleman, Molly Shannon, Sophia Kryza, Kelsey Delola, Fox and McClay — received fl ower bouquets and took photos together.

Tuesday’s game leaves DePaul in last place in the Big East, with a single conference win against Seton Hall and a conference record of 1–7–1. Villanova now stands in eighth place with 10 points, only one behind UConn and Marquette.

After a disappointing last season with only one conference win, Villanova’s stronger conference record this season of 3–5–1 sets the expectations for an improved postseason performance if the Wildcats can make it.

Only one more regular season game remains for the Wildcats, who will be traveling to Rhode Island to take on Providence on Thursday at 6 p.m. Providence is currently in ninth place and ranked behind Villanova, with nine points and a conference record of 2–4–3.

The Big East Tournament commences on Sunday with Villanova fi ghting for the fi nal spot.

Megan McClay (above) had fi ve saves in Villanova’s win over DePaul.

Sam Rabkin/Villanovan Photography

Viktor Benediktsson (above) scored Villanova’s lone goal against Seton Hall.. Olivia Pasquale/Villanovan Photography

Kelsey DeLola (above) was one of fi ve seniors honored.

Sam Rabkin/Villanovan Photography

Women’s Swim Falls Short in Season Opener

Aphrodite Dimopoulos Staff Writer

Last week, the women’s swimming and diving squad hosted UConn in its season opener. Coming off of an impressive 2021-22 season and returning as the reigning Big East Champions, the team entered the new year hopeful to continue this success. Unfortunately, the Wildcats fell short to UConn in a 180.5-119.5 loss, ending Villanova’s four-meet winning streak against the Huskies.

Last season, the women’s team reached new milestones. For the ninth consecutive season, the team was named Big East Champions. To win the title last year, Villanova beat out UConn by a 75.5 point spread at the end of the fourday championship event. The team is looking a little diff erent going into the 2022-23 season.

The Wildcats have graduated some of their top athletes, including Kelly Montesi, Milly Routledge and Erin Welch. All three women won many Big East individual titles over the course of their careers and contributed to much of the team’s success. That being said, Villanova is welcoming back an abundance of key contributors. This list of athletes includes senior Perri Stahl, senior Brenna McLaughlin, junior Audrey Pastorek, senior Margaret Kleinsmith, junior Cara Stapelton and junior Lexi Elkovitch. Along with the 15 returning swimmers, the team is bringing in eight new freshmen this

year.

Those freshmen made their mark this past Thursday. Newcomers Mary Kate Farell, Winnie Jalet and Katie White secured fi ve of the team’s six individual wins. Farrell competed in the 200 Free and swam a 1:54.14 to secure the win. Jalet competed in both the 100 and 200 Breast, sweeping the category with times of 1:04.56 and 2:21.32, respectively. Similarly to Jalet, White competed in both the 100 Fly and 200 Fly, dominating the 200 with a time of 2:02.31 and tying for fi rst in the 100, with a time of 56.82. Not only did White secure fi rst place in the 200 Fly, but she also won by almost eight seconds.

The only individual win that did not come from a freshman was in the 200 IM by Pastorek. She clinched the win with a time of 2:07.17. Pastorek also competed in the 100 Back, fi nishing with a time of 57.29, which secured her a topthree fi nish. Kleinsmith also fi nished her individual event, the 100 Breast, with a top three standing, at a time of 1:05.55. Furthermore, the 50 Free had two Wildcats fi nish in the topthree. Sophomore Lainey Quinones fi nished second , with a time of 24.46, and Stahl fi nished third, with a time of 24.66.

In terms of group swim, Villanova had two teams fi nish in the top three. The 200 Medley Relay squad consisting of Pastorek, Kleinsmith, Quinones and Stahl fi nished just three-tenths of a second behind the UConn group, at 1:45.40, to

secure the silver. The 400 Free Relay with Stapelton, Quinones, Farrell and Stahl closed out the event with a fi rst place win, with a time of 3:34.03.

Other notable scorers of the day ranged across events. McLaughlin fi nished third in the 1000 Free, with a time of 10:51.01. Sophomore Pepper Ritchey and sophomore Francesca Raimondi also raced in this event, with Ritchey fi nishing fourth, with a time of 11:00.04, and Raimondi fi nishing fi fth, with a time of 11:02.19. Both Farrell and junior Cara Stapleton swam in the 100 free, with Farrell fi nishing in the top three, with a time of 53.46, and Stapelton trailing just behind at 53.47. Lastly, junior Hannah Wasmuth touched

the wall in the 200 Back at 2:04.87 to claim a third place fi nish, and senior Kaitlin Gravell was the only Wildcat to fi nish in the top three of the 500 Free, with a time of 5:12.34.

For the diving portion of the event, both freshman Caroline Blankenbecler and freshman Claire Feick secured top-fi ve scores. Blankenbecler clinched a fi fth-place score of 198.89 in the 1 meter, and Feick was third in the 3 meter at 242.77.

Although the season opener did not end in a win, each athlete’s individual success gave a glimpse into a promising rest of the season. This week, the team returns to the pool in a home matchup against Georgetown in a men’s and women’s dual meet.

Drops Two Big East Matchups

Zac Tipton Staff Writer

Villanova entered this weekend 2-6 in conference and had to face a top 15 team in the country in Creighton, followed by Xavier.

Villanova lost to #15 Creighton (18-3, 10-0 Big East) in a three set match (25-22, 25-12, 25-18). It lost to Xavier (13-7, 6-4 Big East) on Saturday in four sets (25-22, 23-25, 25-15, 25-21), dropping it to 6-16 and 2-8 in the conference.

Villanova faced Creighton on Friday night in Jake Nevin Fieldhouse. Creighton was ranked 15th in NCAA Top 25 poll and had not lost a conference game yet, including a big win over Marquette a couple of weeks ago.

The Wildcats gave Creighton a tough fi rst set. They were down big early, but they fought all the way back due to a lot of Creighton errors and a couple of kills from freshman Tara Garvey and junior Kiera Booth. Unfortunately, they could not complete the comeback and lost, 25-22. Coach Josh Steinbach was very happy with this set.

“Creighton is really freaking talented,” Steinbach said. “We played them hard in the fi rst set, and they kind of controlled the last two.”

That took a lot of momentum away from Villanova, and Creighton capitalized in the second set, with the score never being closer than four points for most of that frame. Creighton kept piling on to complete a dominating 25-12 win, with three of Villanova’s points coming on Creigh-

ton service errors. Villanova had a negative attack percentage in the frame, committing eight errors to go along with seven kills, including two from junior Riley Homer.

Villanova lost the third set in a set that was less close than the score said. Villanova never was very close, but three kills from Garvey got the score a little closer at the end before Creighton fi nished it off , 25-18.

Villanova was led by Andrea Campos in assists with 18, and Taryn Whittingham led the team in digs with 11. However, the team did not have a single ace in the match, which Steinbach contributed to the fact that Creighton is one of the nation’s top teams.

“I think you are talking about a very talented team,” Steinbach said. “Creighton is the number 15 team in the nation, and they are maybe underrated at that. Not getting aces against Creighton versus getting aces against Xavier isn’t a surprise.”

Xavier was a team Villanova could have beaten, according to Steinbach.

“Xavier is a team we expected to beat,” Steinbach said. “With the talent level and the kids we have, I thought that was a match we should’ve won, but that’s the way it goes.”

The match against Xavier, despite the loss, was a breakout game for Garvey, who set her career high in kills with 20. Unfortunately she didn’t get much help.

“We had been waiting for her [Garvey] to show the things that she did,” Steinbach said. “Unfortunately, the performers who had been very good for us coming into the match didn’t have great matches. We need Tara to have those type of matches, as well as, Kie [Kiera Booth], and Riley [Homer] and Rose [Crist] to be a little more consistent too, and then we would’ve been in better shape, but what we had was Tara with a good

match, and everyone else was just okay.”

Crist did have 12 kills as well. However, it didn’t work out in favor of Villanova, as every set was very back and forth, and Villanova could not pull out the victory.

Campos led Villanova in assists again with 38, while sophomore Elizabeth Feczko led in digs with 16. The Wildcats dropped to 6-16 and a 2-8 conference record with this loss.

Villanova will go into two winnable games this weekend, facing Providence (10-12, 2-8 Big East), which Villanova beat two weeks ago in Rhode Island, and UConn (11-10, 5-5 Big East), which beat Villanova in four sets in their last meeting.

Providence is on a three-game losing streak coming into this match versus Villanova.

“I thought Providence came out hot in our match two weeks ago,” Steinbach said. “But, then it switched, and they did not look very good, and we played steady and did a good job. I hope to be better at home this Friday.” However, UConn is on a fi vegame winning streak and looks very good right now.

“UConn has everybody back, besides their setter, from a team that fi nished third or fourth last year, so I think they are underperforming from what we thought,” Steinbach said. “They are on a hot streak now, they are starting to put some things together.”

UConn would be a big win for Nova to get some hope and excitement in the locker room for a team that is having a hard time putting fi ve sets together.

Audrey Pastorek was the only upperclassmen to pick up a fi rst place individual win.

Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

Chris Taylor/Villanovan Photography