The Villanovan | Volume 114, Issue 14: September 14, 2022

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2022 www.villanovan.com @thevillanovan VOLUME 114 | ISSUE 14

Football Prepares For West Point

STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916

SGA Elections Kick Off with Campaign Week

Colin Beazley Co-Editor in Chief

During the Tulsa-Navy game in October 2021, broadcaster ESPN2 shared a simple graphic titled, “Games you don’t want to face an option team.”

The graphic had three choices for when you don’t want to face an option team: the first game of the season, the last game, and any game between the first and last game.

On Saturday, Villanova will face that unenviable task as the Wildcats travel to West Point to take on Army.

While it’s an uphill battle whenever an FCS team prepares for FBS oppostion, any team playing one of the service academies has a greater challenge because it has to defend an offense unlike any other in college football: the triple option.

The triple option is an offense that relies almost exclusively on running the ball. On every play, the quarterback has two options: hand the ball off to a running back or run it himself. If he chooses to run it himself, he has a third option to pitch the ball to a running back running beside him, hence the name “triple option.”

Army’s offense is old-fashioned, yet necessary.

It was used widely to great success in the 1980s and 1990s, but as football has evolved, most teams have stopped using it.

However, it is still used by the nation’s three service academies: Army, Navy and Air Force. All three schools have strict fitness requirements for graduation, meaning that their linemen must be smaller than traditional college linemen.

Because of this, the teams would be at a disadvantage with bigger rushers coming at them while trying to protect a passing quarterback.

Continued on p. 11

SGA is a group of student leaders who are committed to making change on campus.

Courtesy of Andrew Kline

votes are finalized, another email will be sent out congratulating the new class senators.

The six new senators As the fall semester will represent the Class of begins, it is once again time 2026 within the Legislative for the freshman class senaBranch.

These senators will tor elections for Villanova’s work with a variety of projStudent Government Associects, such as organizing the ation (SGA). SGA is a group airport shuttles for students of student leaders who are during breaks, holding generpassionate about inciting al town hall meetings to hear change, representing their peers on campus and creating from their peers and running Let’s Vote Nova, which will a comfortable environment be an extremely important for students to feel heard. resource to help students vote Campaign week runs from with the midterm elections Sept. 9 to Sept. 16, with voting occurring from 8 a.m. approaching.

Throughout the on Sept. 15 to noon of Sept. summer and the first several 16. Freshmen will receive the weeks of the semester, SGA link to vote in a mass email has been working with the distribution, which allows Elections Commission, an each individual to vote for six unbiased and independent different candidates. Once the Giuliana Black Staff Writer

group dedicated to facilitating a fair and smooth election process. Both groups have decided to change the election process by making it earlier than normal.

This was done to allow as many students as possible the opportunity to get involved before other extracurricular and academic responsibilities take over. As a result, there are 11 candidates running, which is larger and more competitive than last year’s race.

The candidates share a sense of anticipation and excitement leading into campaign week. Most of them, like Anthony Taranto Jr., have previous experience with student government.

Taranto explained that within his large high school, he held

several leadership positions in student government, such as “Freshmen, Sophomore and Junior Executive, President of Student Senate and Student Representative of the Board of Education,” on top of other positions within National Honor Society and his lacrosse team.

Similarly, these candidates are passionate about leadership.

“I have a passion for representation and advocacy, and I have the experience to get stuff done,” Hannah McNeill said. “I would like to have discussions with the school administration on decisions that will affect students.”

Kaylee Becker explained why she is excited to have this opportunity for Continued on p. 8

Tonight’s Dress: A Villanova Student Business eliminated?

Alina Rubin is a Staff Writer junior Communication major specializing in Public Pink or blue? Long Relations and Advertising or short? Tight or flowy? The with a minor in Ethics, and question of what to wear to she hopes to go into experia formal never ends. It is one ential marketing post-gradthat plagues many at Villanova, uation. For now, she is busy especially those involved in with Villanova’s newest app: Greek life. Spending money on Tonight’s Dress (TD). multiple dresses each semester Tonight’s Dress is is the worst part…but what an online platform where if the money aspect could be students can find and rent Tallulah Laska

formal dresses on their college campus. In what looks similar to a dating app, students can scroll through a feed of dresses, showing size and price. Sign up requires using a school email, so the app shows dresses from the user’s specific campus. Rubin believes the importance of Tonight’s Dress is not just about making and saving money on old and new dresses, but has to do with

the environmental effects of fast fashion.

“College students are the primary consumers of fast fashion, so I wanted to build an app that facilitates multiple wears of an item,” Rubin said.

Rubin faced significant long-term COVID-19 symptoms, which left her out of many social opportunities in the 2021-22 school Continued on p. 13

University Establishes Moulden Endowed Dean of CLAS p. 2

Freshmen React to Living Next to CEER Construction p. 3

ADAMS: CampCo Renovations Are A Welcome Change p. 4

Letter to the Editors: New Lids at Holy Grounds p. 4

Mullen Center Performance Schedule Overview p. 8

Field Hockey Tops Penn, 2-1 p. 12

PRYOR: CAA is Villanova’s For The Taking p. 13

Volleyball Leaves Dayton Invitational Empty-Handed p. 14

Women’s Cross Country Prepares for Fall Season p. 14

NEW: THE BACKPAGE: Crossword p. 15

2 | The Villanovan

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VOL. 114 | ISS. 14 www.villanovan.com @thevillanovan

COLIN BEAZLEY VIVI MELKONIAN TINA ARON CATE McCUSKER RACHEL REINIGER SARAH SWEENEY SARAH WISNIEWSKI LYDIA McFARLANE A.J. FEZZA ELENA ROUSE CHLOE MILLER MATTHEW RYAN MEGHANN MORHARDT MOLLY BAKER OLIVIA PASQUALE MICHAEL BRADLEY DEENA LEH CONTACT

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Continued from p.1

leadership, as “it feels good to not only identify what can be better, but to actually put in the work and see it through is exciting.”

Gavin Crozier spoke about his own experience at Villanova so far.

“The past few weeks at Villanova have been incredible because of the community the students here have created,” Crozier noted. “As senator, I will work to continue and strengthen this feeling of community, especially for the freshman class.”

Vasu Raval explained that he is passionate about making a change and hopes for the senator position “as an opportunity to advocate for the best interests of a gifted group of students, and [I] hope to serve as a liaison between student government and the freshman class.”

Raval also spoke about a topic that several candidates are focused on: diversity, equity and inclusion. He stated the importance of “promoting diversity and inclusion around campus.”

Zach Hetrick said that his personability and responsibility will aid in his “commitment to making Villanova a diverse, equal and inclusive space for all students, and will always adhere to these principles when deciding how to vote on legislation.”

“I will look to listen to all my classmates’ opinions and strive for unity and inclusion,” candidate Aleko Zeppos said. “If elected, I would make sure that everyone’s voice is heard, and everyone’s opinions are represented throughout student life here at Villanova.”

Finally, Patrick Morin is eager to continue his college career and is excited to make Villanova the best home it can be.

“One of the guiding phrases for my campaign is ‘Class of 2026, let’s show Nova Nation what we’re made of,’” Morin said. “Together, we can and will show Nova the power we hold as students and what we are made of.”

The full list of candidates is as follows: Aleko Zeppos, Patrick Morin, Hannah McNeill, Gavin Crozier, Zach Hetrick, Chris Yin, Anthony Taranto, Vasu Raval, Jugat Singh, Isabelle Ferguson and Kaylee Becker.

Liquor Underage/ Public Drunkenness September 9, MAIN CAMPUS GROUNDS A female resident student, under the age of 21, appeared intoxicated in public and was evaluated by VEMS. Liquor Underage/ Public Drunkenness/ Carrying a False Identification Card September 10, LANCASTER PROPERTY GROUNDS A female non resident student, under the age of 21, was evaluated for alcohol intoxication.

The student presented a false identification card when evaluated by Public Safety.

Harassment- Repeated Communication September 10, LANCASTER PROPERTY GROUNDS A group of students reported being followed by a group of non-affiliated individuals.

Liquor Underage/ Public Drunkenness September 10, MAIN CAMPUS GROUNDS A male resident student, under the age of 21, was observed intoxicated in public and evaluated for alcohol intoxication.The student was also in possession of a false identification card.

Liquor Underage/ Public Drunkenness September 11, SOUTH CAMPUS GROUNDS A male resident student, under the age of 21, was evaluated for alcohol intoxication and cited for Disorderly Conduct after engaging in tumultuous behavior.

Liquor Underage/ Public Drunkenness September 11, SOUTH CAMPUS GROUNDS A female resident student, under the age of 21, was evaluated by Radnor EMS for alcohol intoxication.

Liquor Underage/ Public Drunkenness September 11, ST. MONICA HALL A male resident student, under the age of 21, was evaluated for alcohol intoxication.

Criminal Mischief September 11, SULLIVAN HALL A Resident Assistant reported criminal mischief to a fire exit sign. The amount of the loss is unknown.

Criminal Mischief September 11, SULLIVAN HALL A Resident Assistant reported damage to a soap dispenser in a residence hall restroom.

The amount of the loss is unknown.

Theft By Unlawful Taking or Disposition September 12, MAIN CAMPUS GROUNDS A female resident student reported her bike was stolen. The amount of the loss is $685.00.

CORRECTIONS Factual errors are corrected as soon as they are brought to The Villanovan’s attention. Please send an e-mail to villanovan.eic@gmail.com to report errors.

University Establishes Moulden Endowed Dean of CLAS Position Lydia McFarlane Co-News Editor The University has received an anonymous gift of $7.5 million to establish an endowed dean position within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the University's oldest and largest out of the six colleges, founded in 1842 and offering 43 majors. The new honorary position is named after William and Julia Moulden, a Black Catholic couple from the 1800s who provided support to the local Augustinian order who founded the University itself.

“This is a transformational gift for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences,” University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A. Ph.D., said of the monetary gift and establishment of the position. “We are grateful to the donors not only for their financial commitment, but for honoring the important legacy left by the Mouldens—a family whose generosity to Villanova and the Augustinians left an indelible mark on the University.”

William Moulden was born to enslaved parents but later went on to gain his freedom through Pennsylvania’s Gradual Abolition Act of 1780. After marrying wife Julia in 1841, the Mouldens moved to the Villanova area where they lived out the rest of their lives until their deaths.

The Mouldens became close with the local Augustinians during this time, which happened to be around the founding of the University itself. For 40 years, the Mouldens worked for the Augustinians at Villanova and became the first donors to the construction of the St. Thomas of Villanova Church. In addition to the endowed dean position being named after the Mouldens, a resi-

dence building on West Campus is also named after them – Moulden Hall.

Adele Lindenmeyr, Ph.D, was named the inaugural William and Julia Moulden Dean of CLAS. “I am honored and humbled to serve as the inaugural William and Julia Moulden Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences,” Lindenmeyr was quoted saying in a press release. “This generous endowment will have a profound, positive impact on the College’s ability to deliver a vibrant educational experience for our students, as well as support the path-breaking research conducted by our faculty.”

When The Villanovan reached out to Dean Lindenmeyr, she said of this opportunity, “I am thrilled and honored to be the inaugural William and Julia Moulden Dean of CLAS. This gift recognizes the excellence of the liberal arts educational experience at Villanova. I am also deeply grateful to the donors for their decision to honor the Mouldens and their major role in the history of Villanova.”

The new position and gift will allow for the CLAS Dean to invest in initiatives involving curriculum, academic programs and supporting students and faculty development. It will also establish a new Office of Undergraduate Studies endowed fund that will provide resources to students such as professional development, internships, immersion programs and much more to set Villanovans apart from other students.

Dean Lindenmeyr began her tenure track at the University in 1987 as a professor in the History department, which she later served as the chair of. She went on to become the Dean of Graduate Studies before becoming the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 2014. Dean Lindenmeyr oversaw the development of CLAS and the emergence

of several new centers of excellence within the college. She is an internationally recognized expert in modern Russian history with several books published, the most recent of which being published in 2019.

As the University recognizes Dean Lindenmeyr as the inaugural William and Julia Moulden Dean of CLAS, students are excited for what this means for the future of CLAS. “It’s exciting to be a student in CLAS at a time like this,” sophomore History major Alivia Lanoue said. “The donation will create innovative experiences for existing students and develop new initiatives for future Villanovans.”

With the CEER construction underway and recent renovations to Villanova’s business building, Bartley Hall, liberal arts and sciences students are pleased to see funds directed their way towards the betterment of the college and to the benefit of students and faculty alike.

New Moulden Dean Adele Lindenmeyr.

Courtesy of Villanova University.

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

The Villanovan | 3

NEWS

VSB Takes Significant Steps with DEI Initiatives Isabella Balian Staff Writer Diversity, equity and inclusion [DEI] have a place on every college campus and in every classroom, regardless of academic discipline.

Villanova prides itself on its Catholic Augustinian values that emphasize the importance of inviting and including people of all identities. The Augustinian tradition emphasizes interacting and uniting people who come from different backgrounds and the importance of embracing diversity to celebrate all students.

“As a person of color, I constantly questioned the motives of not including a VSB DEI requirement, unlike CLAS,” said Luca Covino, the DEI Officer of the Villanova Finance Group. “It seems unfitting, especially when businesses have historically lacked diverse leadership. Both the integration of these concepts and the VSB Office of DEI’s initiatives are necessary for a richer core curriculum.”

The DEI office within Villanova’s School of Business has recently taken significant steps to work toward integrating DEI concepts into the business curriculum to further educate students on the intersection of business and diversity. It believes that DEI courses and business courses are not two separate entities but can be intertwined to be able to equip students for a successful career in business fully.

This year, in an attempt

to begin integrating DEI concepts into the VSB curriculum, all first-year students are introduced to these ideas within the Business Dynamics class.

During this first-year course, in addition to the regular curriculum of accounting, finance, marketing and other business disciplines, students will also learn about the way in which DEI appear within the business workplace, regarding the value of diverse teams, inclusive management and avoiding pay inequity and hiring imbalances. The aim of this intersection is to lay the foundation for defining concepts throughout core business classes and revisit these points when pertinent to the conversation later in the semester.

To continue the foundation for establishing DEI throughout students’ education at VSB, all students must take the Backpack to Briefcase class the following year. This new course, implemented in the Fall of 2021, has a specific module dedicated to allyship, where students will understand allyship as a dynamic behavior and how it relates to the business workplace.

Students will undergo the next level of this course during their third year at VSB, exploring specific casework and affirming the foundational concepts explored in the two years prior.

The final goal of this journey is a fourth-year capstone course for all VSB students.

“Our hope is that the class of 2026 by their graduation would have incorporated DEI in every stage of their VSB experience,”

said Aronte Benett, the Associate Dean of DEI. In addition to these adjustments, the office of DEI also released a new elective for business students called “VSB 3500 Reimagining Race, Justice, and Business Leadership.” This elective is offered to juniors and seniors and builds on the shared material from the race and dialogue class offered within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Within this course, VSB students will undergo an explicit investigation of the way race and justice intersect in business domains.

To reevaluate the core pillars of a VSB education with attention to these new DEI improvements, the DEI office delivered a list of learning objectives to senior leadership. These learning objec-

tives will be used to measure the development of DEI competencies in the core curriculum by identifying three core elements of VSB. They include endowing students with core competencies that will make them successful graduates, supporting world-class faculty research and creating a more inclusive community.

Benett reflected on what she hopes students will gain from these new and improved integrations of DEI concepts into the core curriculum.

“I hope that it will help us get to a point where students recognize DEI as integral to the functioning of a successful business enterprise and that they will be endowed with the tools that help them actualize DEI efforts in their careers or next steps,” she said.

Bartley Hall is the home of the Villanova School of Business.

Courtesy of Sarah Jones/Villanovan Photography

Freshmen React to Living Next to CEER Construction Sarah Sweeney Co-News Editor Last October, the University announced plans to expand and renovate the Center for Engineering Education and Research, colloquially known amongst the engineering students, for whom it serves as home base, as CEER. As a part of the University’s Strategic Plan, “Rooted. Restless.,” the project is designed to foster connections and facilitate collaboration, as well as emphasize hands-on, problem-oriented and team-based learning. It will include a 63% increase in overall teaching and research lab space, state-of the art learning spaces, improvements to office and computing space for post-graduate students and a community space.

However, students have a while to wait before getting to experience the new labs and community space, with an expected completion date of Fall 2024. Meanwhile, students get a host of other experiences, which, for some living close to the construction site, entails noise, dust and longer walks to class.

Those most affected by the construction include those living in the freshmen main campus dorms, including Fedigan, Simpson, Delury and O’Dwyer, which are feet from the construction site. Fortunately, a num-

ber of students have described their experience living next to the construction site as having little to no impact on their living conditions. Students also received a $500 per semester refund on their housing costs as compensation for any inconvenience they may experience.

Gianna Ciccimarra is a freshman VSB student living in Fedigan Hall. In regards to noise, Ciccimarra said she hadn’t heard it once.

“I honestly forgot it was happening, until today a parent came up to me and asked about it,” she said.

Her roommate Emily Curran, a freshman Computer Engineer, explained that “you hear it when you’re walking past, and it’s big and dusty, which is really the only annoying part.” Ciccimarra added that it’s

easily avoidable if one takes a different route.

Sophia Wiley is a freshman living in Simpson Hall. The construction occurs right outside her bedroom window, and she explained that she hears it every morning.

“Since I’m right here next to the construction, I’d say [the noise] is like a 6/10 at its height,” Wiley said.

“It doesn’t bother me too much, but I think as it gets further into the semester, if I have to study or something, it might be a little more annoying.”

Sonia Marhefka, a freshman Physics major living in O’Dwyer, hasn’t been too affected by the construction.

“Unless I really listen for [the noise], I don’t really hear it,” she said.

“I usually just drown it out. It’s not

Simpson Hall is surrounded by the CEER construction site.

Courtesy of Sarah Sweeney/Villanovan Photography

obnoxious, but it’s definitely there.”.

However, students shared that their biggest problem with the construction site overwhelmingly was not the noise. “[Walking by the construction site] is not very fun,” Marhefka said.

“It’s a little bit scary. There’s so many people going by, and I don’t want to get in their way or step somewhere wrong.”

“It almost blocks you off from the rest of campus,” Wiley said. “A lot of people on South don’t know that there’s any dorms over here, since all they see is construction. It’s already isolating living on Main, but having the construction as a barrier between us and the rest of campus is hard.”

Students were also overwhelmingly content with the compensation they received from the school.

“I definitely would have wished for a little bit more, but I think it’s fair, considering they’re giving it to so many people,” Marhefka shared.

“I think it’s fair,” Wiley agreed. “It’s not really hindering my experience too much, so I think $500 [per semester] is pretty fair.”

Conall Dougherty is a freshman Electrical Engineering major living in Fedigan Hall. He explained that living next to the construction site “has been pretty neutral,” but that his main emotion about the construction is excitement.

4 | The Villanovan

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

OPINION

OPINION

ADAMS: CampCo Renovations Are a Welcome Change Joe Adams Opinion Columnist A lot has changed around Villanova’s campus since students returned in August. Campus buildings have been updated and apartments have been renovated, creating a fresh buzz in the air with students returning to a more modern campus. But one update has come as a surprise to many: the new renovations at Campus Corner Pizza, better known by the Villanova community as CampCo. For me, this change was a welcome surprise. I was extremely eager to see the new spot, which I heard looked much nicer inside. As a junior, I had gotten used to the old-timey look of CampCo, but I was ready to see what changes were made.

When my friends and I needed dinner during the first few weeks of school, I suggested we check out the new CampCo. We decided to take the trek over there, and when I walked in, I was hit with a fresh new look that almost knocked me off my feet.

A new hardwood floor, elegant lighting, new seating, fresh signage and a sleek look hit me all at once. The place that I had known for two years had changed. At first, it was a lot to take in. However, as I sat and ate my chicken finger Caesar hoagie with my roommates that night, I realized this was just what CampCo, and I, needed: a fresh new start to a year when the pandemic and stress of previous years was finally a thing of the past.

Of course, I was happy with this change to CampCo, but I wanted to ask around and see what my peers thought of the updates. This week, I sent out a poll on my Instagram asking everyone to share their thoughts

Campus Corner Pizza’s renovation includes new walls, tables, lighting and more.

Courtesy of Graydon Paul / Villanovan Photography

on the new CampCo renovations and got dozens of responses. What I saw surprised (and somewhat disappointed) me.

“It’s not it,” one student said.

“The old-timey feel was much better,” another said. “I prefer the old one. It was more comfy and homey-feeling. Now it’s modern and uptight.”

As I read through the responses, it was hard to find a lot of positive feedback. Over and over, I kept seeing similar responses: “Old Campco was the best. This was unnecessary.”

“Literally hate it with my whole soul. Lost its ‘look.’”

“The old vibes were so much better.”

“It takes away from the classic vibe where you can tell people have been coming there for decades.”

While a lot of the criticism centered around the vibe or look of

the new CampCo, some comments also addressed the fact that there was less seating room and that they “miss the old booths.”

These responses were disheartening to read. For a pizza place that means so much to me and so many Villanovans, overwhelming criticism for a change intended to make CampCo better was not on my 2022 Villanova bingo card.

As a community, we should learn to embrace this change with open arms and appreciation. That first night that I went back to CampCo after the renovations, I spoke with the owner’s son, who seemed thrilled with the updates. He said at first, it took some getting used to for him. But now, he loves it and cannot wait to see how it continues to grow, especially with the addition of a new bar that might soon sell six-packs and assorted drinks. Hearing excitement from owners and employees

only made me love the changes even more.

I resonated with one student response in particular, which said that “It can be clean and sleek but it should maintain its vibrancy.” We need more thoughts like these.

Yes, CampCo used to look like a run-of-the-mill, classic pizzeria.

Now it looks different, but different is not always bad. We can acknowledge that there are aspects of the old CampCo that we might miss. But more than 50 years after it opened, it has been renovated, and it looks good.

I believe that the new CampCo will continue to maintain its vibrancy. I encourage students to give this upgraded yet classic Villanova spot a chance. Change is not always easy, but trust me, in a few years’ time, we will be looking back on this moment as a pivotal and positive point in CampCo’s history.

Letter to the Editors: New Lids at Holy Grounds: Bad for Our Coffee, Bad for Our Outfits Jackie Carroll Class of 2023 My morning was a wreck. I woke up late, threw on an all-white outfit in a low-effort attempt to look chic, and having run out of time to make myself coffee, rushed to Holy Grounds to grab a quick latte.

I was disturbed, to say the least, when I found that the new tops that Holy Grounds uses are totally useless. The new, sippy cup-inspired lid collects coffee around the brim of the cup, which dribbles down your shirt as you drink it.

Angry that my monochrome outfit was destroyed, I went to my Instagram private story to air my caffeinated complaint. In a stained rage, I posted, “THESE LIDS NEED TO BE BANNED FROM SOCIETY. I HAVE COFFEE ALL OVER ME.” Holy Grounds’ new lids have garnered some criticism.

I was not expecting so many Courtesy of Rachel Reiniger people to also be mad about these caps, but my DMs were flooded me spill coffee down myself this heard by my peers. with comments like, “they are so morning” and “these make me want So the question becomes: dysfunctional” and “this cap made to commit a war crime.” I felt very Why?

At a place as high functioning as Villanova, why does the bill stop at the barista bar? Why are we using these dysfunctional and wardrobe-destroying caps?

I am sure these new coffee cups are meant to reduce single-use plastic waste, but to be honest: what are we doing here? It honestly seems that the University has fallen victim to the whims of liberal (when I say liberal, I mean non-radical) environmentalism. To really reduce single-use plastics, maybe instead of using countless plastic cups and tops a day, give students reusable cups or offer coffee at a lower price to students who bring their own cup from home. It is silly to delude ourselves into thinking these horrible lids are doing anything for the environment.

They are still single-use plastics. It will still take 500 years for these caps to decompose in a landfill. These lids are not a win for the environment or for my white shirts. They need to be eradicated from Villanova’s landscape not just because they are liberal propaganda, but also because they ruined my outfit.

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

The Villanovan | 5

OPINION

EDITORIAL BOARD

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

The Villanovan encourages all members of the Villanova community to voice their opinions. LetVIVI MELKONIAN Editor-in-Chief ters to the editors may be submitted via e-mail to villanovan.eic@gmail.com. Letters must not TINA ARON Associate Editor-in-Chief exceed 500 words and must be signed. No anonymous letters will be published. All submissions beAJ FEZZA Opinion Editor come property of The Villanovan and are subject to editing for clarity and space.

COLIN BEAZLEY Editor-in-Chief

POLICY

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 reflect the position of The Villanovan.

Villanova Needs More Renovations to Beautify Campus Audrey Ryan Staff Writer The vast disparity in facilities and appearances that has long befallen the buildings on Villanova’s campus is no secret. Be it a quick scroll through YikYak or an offhand remark made while struggling to class in Tolentine, within one’s first few weeks on campus, it becomes blatantly obvious why Bartley Hall and the Saint Thomas of Villanova Church find themselves at home in promotional material and campus tours, while other buildings are less prominent, if not absent altogether.

The leap from Bartley’s plush lounges and frequently renovated flooring to the 80s-esque bathrooms of White Hall — cramped, damp and ever permeated by an odd smell — is a large one. This past summer, Mendel Hall, home to STEM-centered classes, received a Holy Grounds while Bartley, unsurprisingly, had its flooring redone and study area redesigned. In the meantime, the narrow corridors of SAC and dilapidated restrooms in Tolentine continue to deteriorate at a seemingly exponential rate. With my extensive architectural knowledge (Minecraft and Sims), I have outlined proposed improvements to our campus as a means of remedying the aforementioned gap in renovations.

First, Tolentine could use an exhaustive internal purge. The exterior presents a towering building reminiscent of Hogwarts, but enter

The new Holy Grounds location at Mendel Hall is one of many renovations this fall.

Courtesy of Victoria Margenat / Villanovan Photography

its halls, and the steep, unforgiving stairs, and lack of available restrooms pose damaging implications in regards to accessibility. That there is one single-stall bathroom available on the majority of Tolentine’s floors impedes learning and comfort for students, many of whom bemoan having to wait more than 10 minutes at a time for the chance to use the restroom.

“Tolentine bathrooms are inconvenient to access as they often have long lines outside of them,” sophomore Michelle Kang said.

“Please add more. It’s such an annoyance.”

Beyond serving as an annoyance, Tolentine’s steep staircases

further deter those with disabilities from being able to access their classrooms. As an orientation counselor, I had a father show up to our parent meeting 10 minutes late, panting, as he had to scale three flights of stairs on a broken foot because he was unable to use the elevator. For students, missing out on class time waiting for elevator access, or having to forgo the elevator to attempt the stairs is an unnecessary struggle that could easily be resolved with increased accessibility. Beyond appearances, adding more bathrooms in Tolentine and making its elevator more readily available to students could greatly improve the educational experience for many Villanova

students.

White Hall, only steps away from Tolentine, harbors many of the same issues as its neighbor. The classrooms are designed in such a manner that the air conditioning being turned on manages to completely overpower conversation and dampen any ongoing lecture. The floorplan is convoluted and bizarre.

The bathrooms of White Hall, equally odd, feature an eerie waiting room, fit with questionable seating alongside the most cramped stall and sink design to grace Villanova’s campus.

A further blemish on Villanova’s campus emerges in the tunnels that lead to West Campus.

They are too susceptible to flooding, so winter and rainy periods make for treacherous conditions when students must sidestep ice and puddles on their trek to class. The tunnel’s steps are similarly dangerous, with the sight of a student slipping down its stairs in the winter months not being an anomaly. Nor is it surprising to observe scattered cans, vomit and other miscellaneous items littered throughout the tunnel when returning to classes following the weekend. Installing flood protection within these tunnels could make the journey across campus infinitely more bearable and safe for students.

As Villanova continues to tackle renovations on campus, taking accessibility and safety into consideration would alleviate the litany of complaints accompanying many of its more neglected buildings.

King Charles III Has Big Shoes to Fill Sofia Krzewicki Staff Writer On Thursday, Sept. 8, Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-living and longest-reigning British monarch, died at age 96 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Ruling for seven decades, the Queen has been the only constant in a constantly changing world. Her popularity has survived political, economic and social upheaval endured by her nation and respective Commonwealths, as well as the successive challenges posed by her children and their spouses.

The most famous challenge of the Queen’s reign is her son, the now-King Charles III, whose life is already riddled with controversy and scandals, such as his relationship with the late Diana, Princess of Wales (the “People’s Princess”), the Saudi cashfor-knighthood scheme and the treatment of his daughter-in-law, Meghan Markle.

Not only will King Charles III still live in the shadow of his late mother, Britain’s late and beloved

Queen, but his reign will certainly be defined by his past behavior and contribute to the monarchy’s unpopularity.

In the Queen’s obituary provided by the London Times, she is described as “the woman who saved the monarchy” in Britain. She was Britain’s North Star, a symbol of unity and pride. The article continues, “[S]he came to stand for those old-fashioned virtues that are in such short supply these days: service, duty, modesty, self-sacrifice and hard work.” Such values and such virtues arguably are not represented or will not be represented with King Charles III on the British throne.

King Charles III’s reign is crucial to the continued existence of the monarchy, which is based on Britons’ respect and acceptance of this tradition.

Although the Queen was pain-stakingly neutral on important issues from Apartheid to feminism, Britons had a soft-spot for her. The same, at this moment, can not be said for the new King. This is partly because Charles will always be associat-

ed with the Queen’s ‘annus horribilis’ of 1992—the year Diana, Princess of Wales, struck back with Andrew Morton’s tell-all, “Diana: Her True Story,” and their separation.

Four years later, in August of 1996, she would be dead.

Her death deeply influenced the lives of those she touched, but most specifically, the institution to which she exposed in her biography and BBC interview with Martin Bashir. She famously remarked about her marriage to then-Prince Charles and his affair with his now-Queen Consort Camilla Parker-Bowles: “There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.”

The ‘annus horribilis’ was the year that British subjects no longer saw their monarchy as the fairytale they were being fed. Nevertheless, the anger lie (mostly) with the younger generation of royals, with the thenPrince Charles at the head, not the Queen.

Now, the poster child of the ‘annus horribilis’ is at the helm of this long-standing, respected British tradition, tasked with both honoring

the legacy of his late-mother and creating a new image for himself and the monarchy.

It is his past and his selfish choices made as Prince of Wales that stand in his way.

As an older monarch, King Charles III has little time to make Britons forget about his past and to sweep the controversy and the scandal under the rug. And he will never be able to do so.

What he can and should do is to follow the inspiring example” of his mother, as he said in his first address as King of the United Kingdom, to an extent. The world is rapidly changing.

If King Charles III wants his title and his ancestral tradition to last, then he, too, must change with the times. He must redefine the qualities, the virtues and the values that his mother, the Queen, represented. But, he must also redefine himself and consider the type of monarch he wishes to be remembered for.

He lives in the shadows of many. He has great shoes to fill. Then again, heavy is the head that wears the crown.

6 | The Villanovan

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

OPINION

Kyle Neptune Has the “X Factor” Kai da Luz Staff Writer Five Big East men’s basketball tournament titles and two national championships in 2016 and 2018. And somehow, he’s just getting started.

Though this will be Kyle Neptune’s first year as head coach at Villanova, he is a veteran of the sport. Neptune’s relationship with Villanova’s basketball team dates back to 2008, when he was a video coordinator. He then worked as an assistant coach for Niagara’s team from 2010 to 2013, before returning to Villanova as an assistant coach under Jay Wright until 2021. Last year, Neptune was the head basketball coach at Fordham University.

His basketball journey didn’t begin with coaching though, as Neptune also played basketball for four years at Lehigh University.

The announcement of Wright’s retirement last year was met with mixed feelings by students.

Many were sad to see him go but excited for him to have more free time and were thankful for all he has done for Villanova basketball and the Villanova community.

However, there were some worries for the future of the program.

We all know that Wright was not just a coach here on campus. He was a figure almost larger than life. Wright brought with him an undeniable stage presence and capability, with a touch of showmanship. He was the

Kyle Neptune was all smiles at his introductory press conference in April.

Courtesy of Olivia Pasquale/Villanovan Photography

kind of person who people revered on and off the court, so much so that students would freak out if they had the opportunity to bump into him and strike up a conversation on campus.

With Wright no longer the head coach, Villanova needed someone not only to fill the role, but also to fill the cultural gap left by Wright’s transition. Villanova’s spirit has always been lifted by the face around campus that everyone knows and loves, someone who has always been able to connect with the student body and pump them up with simply a few words.

I was really skeptical at first that Neptune, or anyone for that

matter, could fill this role.

When Neptune came up for the athletics presentation segment of Orientation, there were a lot of silent expectations. Would we see the same level of enthusiasm, passion and ability to lead a crowd as we saw with Wright? Would students raise their voices in excitement simply at the sight of him? We were all on the edge of our seats, waiting to see if Neptune could channel that same energy and love.

As soon as he started speaking, I noticed a few things. He was poised, but at the same time, relaxed and friendly. He had control of the environment, without feeling too removed or above the student body.

I’m not quite sure how to describe it, but I instantly felt like Neptune too had that sort of crowd-pleasing, culture-creating “X-factor” that Villanovans have grown accustomed to.

Neptune took The Finn by storm, first introducing himself and conveying how excited he was to be there. When he called out “Nova,” Neptune practically danced on the stage in genuine excitement to the resounding call of the new students of “Nation.” The players seemed to light up in his presence.

He was also a very confident speaker. Not once did he fumble over his words.

For myself and many other students at Villanova who had experienced Wright, his whole performance exuded the “X-factor” that we had all grown to know and love.

He made us feel seen, like each and every one of us was a part of the Villanova community and Villanova basketball.

After being with Villanova basketball for so many years, I believe that Neptune understands the underlying importance of his role on campus. To be honest, it’s a lot to carry, having to coach a successful college basketball team while also leading a culture on campus.

And while it doesn’t make sense to look at Neptune as “the next Jay Wright,” I do believe that Neptune will develop his own “X-factor” and culture on campus, bringing together the Villanova community in an effect that goes beyond basketball.

Wildcat Path: Convenient or Chancy?

Grace Janofsky Staff Writer The picturesque tree-lined path of Wildcat Path is a staple landmark for freshman students living on South Campus. The path conveniently connects the church on Main Campus to the residence halls of South Campus. Although there are two main ways to get to Main Campus from South Campus, Wildcat Path is more peaceful than the chaos of waiting for the walk sign on Lancaster Ave. Even when it is gray or cold, a nice quick stroll in nature to get to class feels great. However, when nighttime rolls around and the path is absorbed in darkness, the calming sense quickly drifts away. Shadows grow longer and familiar faces turn into strangers.

There is no question about the vulnerability of freshmen students, especially for those who identify as female. Sexual assault and harassment are huge problems on college campuses, so much so that the first few months of every year are deemed the “red zone.”

The red zone is the period of time from the beginning of fall semester until Thanksgiving break, when sexual assaults on college campuses spike. It creates a vulnerable environment for students and especially for freshmen. They can be unfamiliar with their surroundings and could possibly not be as confident in their ability to navigate campus, especially at night.

Wildcat Path has inade-

quate lighting, as students cannot see more than 25 feet ahead of them to identify who is walking towards them or sitting on a bench. Although mainly all people passing by are fellow Villanova students, one of the key factors for staying safe is being aware of your surroundings. The lighting on Wildcat Path does not make that possible. Furthermore, there are only two emergency call boxes along the path, one on each end.

Although the path is not very long, it would be helpful to install one more in the middle so students would not have to worry about finding public safety’s phone number or reaching a call box in an emergency situation.

Not only is the lighting an issue, but the path’s proximity to the Villanova Station-Norristown High Speed Line also allows for anyone, including non-students, to walk onto the path with ease.

There is no way to prevent people from wandering on to the path and running into Villanova students. Public Safety does patrol the area, especially in the late hours of the night. Rather, they focus their patrols around the dorm buildings. They often camp out in the parking lots or make short rounds in the area. Although this is an important location for Public Safety to observe, Wildcat Path is also very important. In the past, I can recall a Public Safety car stationed at the bottom of the stairs from the bridge only once.

However, greater consistency is

Wildcat Path connections South Campus to The Commons and Main Campus.

Courtesy of A.J. Fezza / Villanovan Photography

needed.

Although there have been no, or very limited, reports of any sort of emergency on Wildcat Path, the factors mentioned above do not aid in preventing future emergencies. Improved lighting, more call boxes and increased

public safety patrol in the Villanova Station- Norristown High Speed Line area would aid in preventative measures. It is imperative that we do not wait for something to happen before we make improvements for the safety of Villanova students.

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

OPINION

The Villanovan | 7

How Villanova Works to Make Campus Accessible and What Work Still Needs to be Done Eric White Staff Writer With a sprawling campus that covers 260 acres of land, three separate train stops to accommodate its students and local community and a mix of Modern and Gothic architecture that hints at its mid-19th century roots, Villanova is undeniably visually impressive. However, with the unique campus and building design, there come consequences. Though the campus may be picturesque, traveling around it is not always the easiest, even if one is able-bodied.

Some of the things that might seem only mildly inconvenient to an abled student, like a lack of elevators in South Campus residence halls or a ramp that only exists on one side of the Corr Hall arch, pose a major challenge for physically disabled students. Not only can it limit their ability to access certain buildings or areas of campus, but it can also make them feel deeply isolated from their peers and as though the campus isn’t designed with them in mind.

Gregory Hannah, the Associate Director of the Office of Disability Services (ODS), long fought for student accessibility.

“The interesting part for me is that I’ve seen a lot of the changes to campus and improvements in our conversations with departments like facilities and groundskeeping,” Hannah said. “We rely on student feedback and requests and these thoughts from those departments to figure out what needs to be improved. There are times where a student will come to you, and we investigate what they say and consult our partners to see what needs to be done.”

Hannah’s arrival in 2009 also marked the beginning of the student group LEVEL on campus. He was passionate about the fact that Villanova needed a group for disabled students and took it upon himself to form one.

The campus’s accessibility is a collaborative effort between a variety of departments on campus, such as maintenance, facilities, groundskeeping, public safety, parking and

transportation and of course, ODS. Despite these intra-campus partnerships and each department’s vigilance in finding possible issues, it’s more than possible for inaccessible spaces to fall through the cracks.

“We definitely think speaking with students is one of the most important parts to find the best way to deal with mobility concerns on campus,” Hannah said. “Seeing it through the eyes of our students is the most important part. Seeing it through my eyes, I might think everything is going great, but students are the key aspect.”

Many accommodations are available to students who register with the Office of Disability Services, such as elevator passes and access to the campus mobility shuttles. Hannah explained the office’s commitment to addressing students’ concerns. In one example, he explained how if a student winds up being assigned a course in a space they can’t access, such as the second floor of a building without an elevator like John Barry Hall, they can inform the office, and their class can be relocated to a more accessible space.

Though the commitment to fulfilling student wishes is admirable, at the same time, I could not help but wonder: is this really the best solution? Would it not be better to make buildings like this accessible in the first place, rather than resigning students to the fact that they will never be able to see certain spaces on campus?

It seems that many of Vil-

lanova’s accessibility measures are curative rather than preventative, seeking to figure out ways to navigate and circumvent inaccessible spaces on campus, rather than working to make all spaces accessible. It is a form of reformist advocacy, dedicated to mitigating the damages that occur within the current system after the problems have already impacted students, rather than seeking to reshape the system before students have to bear the consequences.

Having to register with the ODS allows disabled students to have exclusive access to the beneficial accommodations the University offers.

Yet at the same time, it isolates these students. It forces them to confide their medical history in the university and leaves them largely deprived of accommodations until they choose to register. Some students might know they struggle with mobility and pain but might not have had the opportunity to seek an official diagnosis yet. Others might be ashamed to approach the office or want to keep their disability private, even at the cost of comfort. In all of these situations, students aren’t able to benefit from the accommodations Villanova has created. However, sweeping structural changes would benefit all students.

Relying on student feedback allows for student concerns to be prioritized. However, it also places some of the burden of creating an accessible environment back on the very students who need that space the most.

It was made clear during the meet-

Villanova features many ramps and elevators on campus.

Courtesy of Victoria Margenat / Villanovan Photography

ing that the University’s ODS is not responsible for going around campus and analyzing it for mobility concerns. Instead, it’s the additional duty of other departments and students on campus to make these issues known.

This clearly is not Hannah’s choice, but at the same time, during the meeting, I wanted to ask, “why not?” Why doesn’t Villanova have individuals with the proper certifications for creating accessible spaces whose entire job it is to scour campus for accessibility issues, rather than letting these problems go unreported unless they are noticed by a department or student?

Again, none of the blame should be assigned to ODS and the dedicated individuals working within it. Since Hannah’s arrival on campus in 2009, campus has changed drastically for the better. There are many measures of support for disabled students here. Yet at the same time, there are many improvements to be made by administrators and executives far out of the ODS’s reach.

Instead of writing off entire buildings and areas of campus, which implicitly tells students that these areas are not meant for them and treats their presence on campus as an afterthought, the University needs to take a different approach.

Rather than avoiding assigning any wheelchair-using students to Alumni Hall - a building that cannot be entered without using stairs - why not fix the entryways with proper ramps? Instead of limiting the use of some elevators to only those with approved passes, why not open all elevators to the public and install more if demand is too high for the current amount? If the stairs in Tolentine are unpleasantly steep for any student, why not work on making them lower and easier to use?

The cost and logistics of this are ultimately a factor. Still, planning out the budget and the best use of resources isn’t a burden that should fall on the shoulders of students, and Villanova is no stranger to massive construction projects. Ultimately, the University has taken steps in the right direction, but there is far more work that needs to be done to create a truly accessible campus for all students.

Rooting for Lottery Points at Spring Sports Games Isabella Ledet Staff Writer “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take,” Wayne Gretzky, a Canadian hockey player, said some time ago.

Well, what if someone really wanted to take that shot but there were no fans cheering them on?

Most students are familiar with the basketball ticket lottery system. Regardless of the effectiveness of the lottery system itself, there are some fundamental flaws in the mentality of the system, specifically with bonus lottery games.

Returning from the bonus lottery soccer game the other day, I overheard some people behind me talking. They were complaining that no one shows up

for spring sports since no bonus lottery points can be offered. It was then I realized what a predicament this is. As much as I love soccer, I understand that the stands were packed primarily by those seeking to pack the stands of the Finneran Pavilion later this year. The person behind me was absolutely right: no one is packing stands at spring events because there is no incentive to do so.

What if there were some way to reward attendance at spring sports? I see some of the initial problems: carrying over points from previous years would only benefit upperclassmen and would leave freshmen behind entirely. But upon discussing this issue with peers, it was shared that some schools use their extra lottery points to redeem prizes.

For instance, one may

have 1,460 points by the end of the basketball season, and maybe an exclusive Villanova hoodie is worth 1,500 points. Even just one spring sport game would ensure the possession of the hoodie for this student, and the presence of people vying for the hoodies would ensure the enthusiasm of the team.

I am not living in a world of delusion. The basketball team here at Villanova is respected, adored and favored by all. However, it is not entirely fair that only some sports teams are able to ride on the coat-tails of this obsession.

All student athletes put in an extraordinary amount of effort into their respective sports and should have the satisfaction of their peers rooting for them in settings where they are showcasing their talents.

As a former swimmer, I know there is a hierarchy among sports to watch. The words “crowd” and “swim meet” have never been in the same sentence.

However, I trust in Villanova’s community. I believe it is only fair for everyone’s hard work and dedication to be appreciated, and I am sure that many others here at Villanova would agree with this.

Whether it is academics, athletics, media, community service or any other student-participating activity, the Villanova community always bands together to support itself.

Maybe someone could be inspired by an event they never considered attending if it were not for lottery points. Maybe the athletes will do a little bit better knowing their peers are rooting for them in the stands. Maybe that shot is taken and it goes in.

8 | The Villanovan

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

CULTURE

CULTURE

Tonight’s Dress: Villanova Student Business Spotlight Tallulah Laska Staff Writer continued from pg. 1 “I found myself bored with the surplus of free time,” Rubin said. “To pass the time and help keep me sane, my dad started to teach me about some useful topics including business and product development. He had me begin by coming up with a hypothetical business idea, my pitch: a way for girls in my sorority to share their once-worn formal dresses.

“I spent the evenings learning how to make pitch desks, business proposals, and spreadsheets. It was just a fun way to spend time with my dad and gave me something to do. After a few weeks of playing around with the idea, the pitch deck was surprisingly strong and I thought that it could actually be a good business.

And I also had the time to pursue it. During a particularly difficult semester it gave me something to focus my energy into, gave me purpose during the school year, and I enjoyed it.”

Next came what seemed to be the hardest part of founding a business: money. Rubin struggled with brainstorming where to fundraise for Tonight’s Dress.

Somehow, the stars aligned. The

next morning, Rubin stumbled across a flyer for the Villanova Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE) posted in Bartley Hall. The IIE was hosting its Student Entrepreneurship Competition, so Rubin utilized the institute’s resources leading up to the competition. In May, Rubin won $13,000 funding for Tonight’s Dress.

Since acquiring funding, Rubin has fully launched Tonight’s Dress on Villanova’s campus and expanded her team.

There are now more than 300 active users on the app and the TD team has developed partnerships with local businesses. Rubin attributes much of TD’s successes to her support system, including her Alpha Chi Omega sorority sisters.

“The support from girls in AXO is amazing,” Rubin said.

“Cristina Seaver joined our small team to help with marketing which is so incredible because that’s not my area of expertise. It is really great because everyone on our team (Rubin, the engineer, and Seaver, the user experience designer) are all just learning as we go. It has been such a fun project to use what we have learned in the classroom and apply it to something we are passionate about.”

Seaver is a sophomore Finance major with a Philosophy minor. A member of the Investment Fellows team within the IIE,

Rubin won a grant to full furbish her app “Tonight’s Dress”.

Courtesy of Alina Rubin

Seaver was able to watch Rubin’s initial proposal to the IIE. Seaver loved the idea for this project and knew it was something she needed to be a part of.

“As a member of the target market, I was really interested in [TD’s] ability to create a streamlined solution to a problem I have experienced first hand,” Seaver said.

As the school year picks

up again, Rubin plans to expand Tonight’s Dress to other college campuses. In the coming months, it will launch at the University of Virginia, University of California, Los Angeles and Chapman University.

The end goal is to be on all college campuses, but for now, Rubin and the team are taking it slow and enjoying TD’s success here at Villanova.

Mullen Center Performance Schedule Overview

Ph.D. graduate. The speaker is set to discuss “Truth, Lies, and Democracy Now: A Historian’s Reflections.”

The beginning of the year On Oct. 20, Villanova is not strictly for scholastics, as Musical Theater opens “Kiss Me the world of all things performKate,” a classic musical and retelling arts once again takes center ing of Shakespeare’s “Taming of stage. Specifically, events take the Shrew.” Performances go until center stage at the two-year-old Oct. 23.

John and Joan Mullen Center for On Oct. 26 at 6 p.m., Jay the Performing Arts. Here is the Wright himself takes to the Center upcoming line-up for all the things with a fireside chat titled “Ignite to look forward to this upcoming Your Strengths.” semester.

On Oct. 30 at 2 p.m., the Coming Sept. 17 at 3 Jazz Band’s Fall Concert takes p.m., the Mid-Autumn Festival, place. sponsored by CAT, comes to the Come Nov. 3 at 6 p.m., center. The Mid-Autumn Festival Villanova’s annual Mother Mary is traditionally celebrated on Sept. Lange Lecture takes place. Spon10 and is a traditional festival sored by the Office for Mission and celebrated in Chinese culture.

Ministry, Office of the Dean and From Sept. 21 through Liberal Arts and Sciences and HisOct. 2, the Villanova Theatre tory, this year’s speaker is Reverend Department opens with its show Bryan Massingale, STD, known for “Men on Boats.” Loosely based theological and social ethics. He is on a true story, the satirical play also the author of “Racial Justice follows 10 male explorers as they and the Catholic Church.” chart out the Colorado River. The Nov. 10 through Nov. 20 is Villanova cast is played by nonwhen the Villanova Theatre Demale actresses? partment puts on the 17th-century On Sept. 28, The Brazilcomedy written by one of the select ian Jazz Band takes the stage to fill women playwrights of the Spanish the hall with smooth melodies and Golden Age, “House of Desires.” good vibes.

From Nov. 17 through Nov. On Oct. 6, the LePage 20, Shakespeare’s Macbeth lives on Center, whose mission it is to through Villanova Student Theater. spread historical study and present On Nov. 18, Nov. 19 and movements, will celebrate its fifth 20, Villanova’s multiple a capella anniversary with an address from groups perform for their annual noted historian Sophia Rosenfall showcase. Stay tuned for what felf, a University of Pennsylvania groups perform on each day.

Elena Rouse Co-Culture Editor

From a capella to band and beyond, the Mullen Center has lots to offer this semester.

Courtesy of Olivia Pasquale/Villanovan Photography

Come Dec. 3, the Center sees some movement with Villanova’s Dance Company and Ensemble performing in the Nova Noise Fall Showcase.

On Dec. 9, Villanova Student Musical Theatre hosts its Cabaret. Students create their own performances of song or dance or both and conduct individual performances in a hodge podge selection of performances.

To celebrate the Christmas

season, Christmas Portions of Handel’s Messiah and other Choral Favorites fill the halls on Dec. 10.

Ending out the semester, the Villanova Band and Chamber Strings put on their Christmas concert. The Mullen Center is full of exciting performances for the upcoming semester, so make sure to check in on this cultivated list of for everything to know about the season.

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

The Villanovan | 9

CULTURE

CAT Hosts Labor Day Picnic Emma Cahill Staff Writer On Sunday Sept. 4, Villanova’s Campus Activities Team (CAT) hosted its Labor Day Picnic on the Rowan Campus Green.

This event was a BBQ filled with plenty of food and drinks, as well as games for students to enjoy. As one of the first events of the year, CAT went all out for this Labor Day picnic and put a lot of time and effort into planning this event.

Senior Julia Ramsey is the Director of Annual Programming for CAT, and she discussed how the members came up with the idea for this event.

“Our main focus with this event was to create a space where students can relax and enjoy the beautiful weather without any of the stresses surrounding finances or planning,” Ramsey said. “We know many have the opportunity to visit family and friends during the long weekend, but for those who remain on campus we wanted to create a fun event that was convenient for our student body to access.”

One of the best parts of any CAT event is the free food.

For a large-scale event like this picnic, CAT needed to ensure that it had enough food to provide for the student body. In order to fulfill this need, CAT works with vendors such as Mission BBQ for its events.

“Many of the vendors we have worked with previously and have built a great rapport with over the years, ” Ramsey said.

One of CAT’s first events on campus was its Labor Day picnic held on the Rowan Campus Green.

Courtesy of Chloe Miller/Villanovan Photography

“Mission BBQ , who provided food for the Labor Day Picnic, was actually a new partnership and we cannot wait to continue working with them throughout the year. We are so happy that their food was a hit.”

As CAT plans its events, it is able to cater to diverse parts of the student body. In this instance, CAT had a 21+ section that provided alcoholic beverages, such as seltzers and beers. While this event was not senior specific, it offered something special to those who are over 21. Ramsey spoke to the

inclusivity of CAT by explaining how it aims to reach all parts of the Villanova student body in planning its events.

“We look forward to continuing offering both senior exclusive events and those for any students over 21,” Ramsey said, “However, our goal is to reach all students on campus, so we have weekly events that are open to all and target diverse student interests.”

For Ramsey, events like these are the perfect opportunity to take a moment to enjoy oneself.

Ramsey talks about how she appreciates when students are able to have fun from the events she plans.

“We always love seeing how happy students are at our events and nothing feels better than knowing an event was well received,” Ramsey said. “For me, I love when students are walking to their dorm or another area of campus and stumble upon the event. They may not have intended to go, but were able to take a few minutes to slow down and enjoy what we offer. We know how busy college life can be, and it is rewarding knowing we can create an outlet where our peers can take a few minutes to relax” When looking to the future, CAT will continue to offer a wide array of events. In the planning stage of these events, CAT makes sure to develop its ideas and events as the campus culture develops.

CAT ensures and encourages its flexibility in its ideas and planning in order to cultivate an inclusive environment at Villanova.

“Some events, such as the Labor Day Picnic, we offer annually,” Ramsey said. “Others are partnerships with various student run organizations which help us ensure we are creating events that are inclusive of our diverse student body. We are always taking suggestions and cannot wait to continue planning throughout the year.”

Stay tuned for more by following CAT on Instagram, @villanovacat, and look forward to the rest of the awesome events it will be hosting this semester.

Goodness Bowls Opens in Villanova Lilly Grace Staff Writer Getting tired of eating the same dining hall food day after day?

If the answer is yes, the recent opening of Goodness Bowls, a new café within walking distance of campus, should be great news.

Villanova’s newest addition resides in the Villanova Center, the same complex as other student favorites, such as First Watch and Starbucks.

The business started four years ago when Sue and Corinne Persichetti, a mother-daughter team living in the Greater Philadelphia Area, bought and opened the original Goodness Bowls location in Avalon, New Jersey.

Sue shared that the business was her daughter Corinne’s idea to begin with. Corinne’s dream was to start a healthy cafe that followed her personal motto, “Eat good. Feel good. Do good.”

With some assistance from her mother, she accomplished that dream at just 21 years old when they opened Goodness Bowls together.

Persichetti shared that she and Corinne take huge pride in the fact that they are a women-owned business.

“We wanted to be a women-owned business because I have another job where I advocate for women in technology,” Sue explained.

After much success on the Jersey Shore, they recently decided to expand their business and open up a second location closer to their hometown of Blue Bell. They were specifically drawn to Villanova because, being locals, they are huge Villanova basketball fans. Their store opened just at the beginning of the summer, and they have been eager for students to get back on campus ever since.

Unlike most other acai bowl businesses, Goodness Bowls has a wide variety of healthy options available on its menu for adventurous and picky eaters alike. In addition to staple offerings such as acai bowls, smoothies and juices, Goodness Bowls goes above and beyond by also offering a variety of warm bowls, salads, wraps, small bites, coffee and more. Goodness Bowls is the “onestop shop” for anyone looking for a healthy meal or even just a quick snack. According to Persichetti, some of the most popular items on the menu are the Nutty Nutella, Avalon Bowl, French Toast Latte and the Buddha Bowl.

Additionally, because it is a family-owned business, the community aspect is especially important to Goodness Bowls.

“We really strive to be part of the community and like to know our customers really well,” Persichetti said. “Also, we’re passionate about doing good, so we do a lot of charity events and sponsored events. I don’t know if that’s different, but it’s something we pride ourselves on.”

Since the middle of August, Villanova students have already started pouring into Goodness Bowls, eager to try the tasty menu options and support the local family business.

Sophomore Isabelle Kellezi was one of the first customers of the school year.

“Goodness Bowls has great food and a great ambiance,” Kellezi said. “The owner came right up to my table, introduced herself and chatted with my table. Being away from home made speaking to her like I was talking to a ‘school mom.’

I will definitely be going back for a delicious yet nutritious meal soon.”

Sophomore Morgan Arma also went to try the cafe.

“The overall vibe of the store was very welcoming and comforting.

All of the staff was super nice and caring,” Arma said. “I hope everyone gets to go try Goodness Bowls.”

Goodness Bowls is open and ready to serve Villanova students and community members Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. So, the next time you wake up feeling hungry, skip the dining hall, grab some friends and head down Lancaster Avenue to give Goodness Bowls a try.

Goodness Bowls offers acai bowls, smoothies, juices, warm bowls and wraps.

Courtesy of Goodnessbowls.com

10 | The Villanovan

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

CULTURE

Outcry Gallery Q&A at the Connelly Center Catherine Gunther Staff Writer TW: mentions of sexual assault When was the last time you used your voice? Truly used it in a way that was organic, without exact purpose, without filtering how you would be perceived.

When was the last time you just screamed? Maybe you can’t remember; maybe you never have.

Maybe you have been taught that silence is preferable to screams and your agreeableness is more valuable than the truth in your voice.

Whitney Bradshaw, through her ongoing project “OUTCRY,” invites us to confront the raw emotions depicted in her photos and reflect on those we find within ourselves. On Wednesday September 7th, Whitney came to Villanova’s campus to kick off the newest installation of “OUTCRY,” a social practice project consisting of over 400 photographic portraits of women screaming, 254 of which are displayed in the Villanova Art Gallery on the top floor of the Connelly Center. At its core, “OUTCRY” is about community building, intersectional empathy, healing, and empowerment. At each location where the photos are displayed, Whitney hosts what she calls Outcry scream sessions where women who don’t know one another can connect, build community, share stories, and of course, scream. Whitneys intention in installing the photographs together is to create an exhibition that is a monumental act of collective resistance.

Whitney is an artist, photographer, educator and activist from Chicago who has championed women’s empowerment throughout her life. While attending Eastern Illinois University, she collaborated with a professor and another student to create an interdisciplinary Women’s Studies Minor and was the first in the university’s history to graduate with a degree from that program. After

Whitney Bradshaw’s “OUTCRY” exhibit is displayed in the Connelly Center Courtesy of Villanova University Art Gallery Facebook

spearheading the study of gender and its role in society, she worked for Rape Victim Advocates (now called Resilence) and for fourteen Chicago hospitals.

Being a victim of sexual assault herself and in a situation where Whitney said her “voice saved her,” her passion for encouraging and supporting women to “speak up and out” grew.

After the election of Donald Trump in 2016 she felt motivated to begin a project to empower women.

On the night of the Women’s March in January of 2018, when she invited three women of different backgrounds to her home to scream, “OUTCRY” was born.

Among the women photographed that night was Sue Roth, a Villanova alumna who was a communications major and now works for The Chicago Tribune. The women told their stories, practiced speaking up for themselves and screamed for the camera. The process for the subsequent portraits in the “OUTCRY” project mirrors that first gathering; women from different walks of life coming together to share their stories and build intersectional empathy.

Whitney likes to think of

“OUTCRY” as a “secret society” where the participants bond for life.

For many participants, it is the first time they are in a space where they “are witnessed, heard, believed, and supported,” Whitney explained.

The process is transformational for those who participate and moving for those fortunate enough to view the display.

At the Villanova “OUTCRY” display, one photo in particular stood out. The photograph was of an older woman holding a black and white photograph of a young woman. Many of the subjects have statements on their shirts or accessories, but she is the only person actively holding an object. Whitney explained that the woman is also a photographer who chose to hold a picture of her younger self. The subject saw “OUTCRY” as a method of reclaiming the voice inside her which was silenced in her youth.

The story she shared prior to the capturing of the photo makes it even more impactful. As a recent college graduate, she moved to Atlanta. After only a week of living there, she woke up one night with a man on top of her, hold-

ing a knife to her throat, telling her to be quiet or he would kill her. She did not listen, instead she screamed, and the man was stunned and terrified; he ran. Her voice had saved her.

Another “OUTCRY” participant was largely nonverbal when she eagerly signed up to participate in the project. During the session, she brought herself to scream not just once, but three times. A couple of months after the scream session, she bravely stood before 40 people and told her story.

The life-changing impact of “OUTCRY” is evidenced by this and hundreds of other stories.

The work Whitney and the Outcry participants are doing together is extremely important. “OUTCRY” will continue to grow as it travels across the country engaging more women and communities along the way, expanding the “collective act of resistance” it champions.

At Villanova’s Connelly Center gallery, one is taken back by the photos.

“It is overwhelming, but overwhelming in a good way,” one student said.

The women in these photos are not servicing an expectation of what their appearance should be. They are screaming and they are screaming to be heard. The observer must listen. The observers cannot reduce the women to their looks, or their differences, she or he is invited to reflect, not to judge.

Students involved in constructing the displays in the art gallery felt the project is a fresh and thought-provoking exhibition which may be the beginning of a new chapter for the art gallery and potentially the university overall.

The art gallery may continue to emphasize greater levels of inclusivity and diversity both in the artwork and the artists featured.

Whatever the future of the art gallery may be, in isolation “OUTCRY” is a display all should find time to experience.

Kendall’s Column: Charity Softball Tournament Kendall Hayes Culture Columnist The first annual Michael Farrell Memorial Wiffle Ball Tournament took place on Aug. 27 at Villanova’s Pike Field. Hosted by the brothers of Delta Tau Delta, Farrell’s fraternity fraternity, the tournament was a resounding success, raising about $8,750 towards the Farrell Boy Foundation. Created by Farrell’s parents and brother, The Farrell Boy Foundation’s mission is to raise money for charitable and educational purposes, creating scholarship grants and producing funds for different educational endeavors.

Last July, Farrell and his brother James were involved in a tragic car accident, altering the lives of the Villanova community forever. To honor Farrell’s memory, some of his closest friends and

fraternity brothers, Mark Cowan, John Kraft, Regan Paris, Greg Goetz, Patrick Hagerty and Will Frieder, came together with the intention of creating an event that Farrell would have loved while simultaneously raising money for the Foundation. From that meeting, the Michael Farrell Memorial Wiffle Ball Tournament was born.

Two weeks ago, that idea became reality when more than 300 people attended the tournament, and thousands of dollars were raised through the tournament sign ups, a GoFundMe and a raffle. The members of Delta Tau Delta, Farrell’s fraternity, created a shirt that was sold prior to the event, and similar to attendance, about 200 shirts were sold. To organize the bracket, once there was a final list of teams attending the tournament, the committee used a random generator for which teams would play each other.

The Villanovan spoke with some of Farrell’s closest friends who organized the event, who explained what the day meant to them.

“Michael was a fun loving kid who’s contagious smile always had everyone smiling,” Frieder said. “It was amazing to be able to put together an event doing something Michael loved.”

“I am so glad the first annual Michael Farrell Wiffle Ball Tournament was a success,” Goetz shared. “It was a great day with a lot of my closest friends, filled with friendly competition and a lot of laughs, just as Michael would have wanted it. Seeing the support that we had from some of my peers was very moving. I truly hope this event will not only continue at Villanova but even grow its size and influence in the coming years.”

Cowan explained how the tournament perfectly represented

Farrell.

“For me, this tournament was a tribute to who Michael was,” Cowan said. “He was a fun, energetic, competitive and most importantly, a lovable person. He was able to connect and become friends with so many different types of people, and I think the amount of students that were there shows it.”

It was supposed to rain the day of the tournaments, with scattered thunderstorms as the exact weather report. Instead, the sun was shining, everyone was smiling, and it was a perfect day for wiffle ball. It is moments like these that makes one think Michael was there that day, watching the people he loved most doing something he loved for the greater good.

I think that Michael is looking down on the people he loved every day, whether it is in the Exchange, at Kelly’s or on the Wiffle Ball field, he’s a part of it. All of it.

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

The Villanovan | 11

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It’ll Take An Army: Football Prepares For West Point Colin Beazley Co-Editor-In-Chief continued from p. 1 coming at them while trying to protect a passing quarterback. The service academies have adapted by largely refusing to throw the ball, choosing instead to attack opposing defenses on the ground with an offense that depends on quick decision making — a skill widely found at military schools.

While Army has won nine games in four of the last five seasons, the Black Knights come into the matchup with Villanova with an 0-2 record, falling on the road to Coastal Carolina, 38-28, and at home in overtime against UTSA, 41-38.

The Army offense is led by senior quarterback Cade Ballard.

Ballard’s stats aren’t eye-catching, throwing for 309 yards over two games and running for 48 more.

The Black Knights have attempted just 26 passes on the season, with eight in their season opener. However, Army did throw for 304 yards last weekend against UTSA, its highest total since 2001.

Army leads the nation in passing efficiency, yet Army head coach Jeff Monken said postgame that he hopes to return to traditional Army football.

“Everyone wants to talk about the passing yards we had,” Monken said. “We threw the ball

for a bunch of yards, who cares.

We don’t win that way. We win by running the ball and stopping the run.”

As Army runs the ball so frequently, its carries are shared between many players. Five players have run the ball between 14 and 23 times, led by junior running back Jacobi Buchanan. Buchanan has scored three touchdowns despite not having a run over nine yards this season.

Sophomore running back Tyrell Robinson has carried 17 times for 160 yards, but the bulk of his yardage came on a 70-yard scamper against Coastal Carolina.

While Army has no true star

on offense, that can’t be said of its defense. Senior linebacker Andre Carter II had 15.5 sacks in 2021, totalling 18.5 tackles for loss. The 6’7”, 260 pound Carter has drawn NFL buzz, a rarity for a player from a service academy. Ahead of the NFL Draft in April, Carter is projected by some to be the first Black Knight drafted in the first round since 1947.

Army enters the game looking for its first win while Villanova travels to West Point hoping to continue an unbeaten start to the season. Villanova has yet to be challenged this year, routing Lehigh, 45-17, before overcoming its own mistakes to beat LIU, 38-21.

Villanova football plays its only FBS opponent of the season this Saturday.

Courtesy of Quinn Burns/Villanovan Photography

Junior quarterback Connor Watkins has stepped in this season after backing up Daniel Smith.

Watkins threw for nearly 300 yards and three TD in his first start, but he threw four interceptions last weekend against LIU. Villanova head coach Mark Ferrante chalked it up to early season struggles, describing it as “a second opener.”

To pull off the upset, Villanova will need to minimize mistakes and stay disciplined on both sides of the ball. Ferrante said that Villanova has dedicated time towards defending the triple option since Spring practices, but knows that there’s only so much you can do.

“No matter what you do in advance, you’re never going to be ready to go until you get there,” Ferrante said.

Villanova has played Army 21 times throughout the program’s history, winning just three times.

In the first four matchups between the two schools, Villanova failed to score a single point, suffering shutout losses in 1908, 1910, 1913 and 1914. The Wildcats suffered the same fate again in eight straight games spanning from 1919 to 1948, including an 83-0 loss to the national champion Black Knights in 1944.

The teams last played in 1977, with Army winning, 34-32, but Villanova won 10-0 two years prior.

The game kicks off Saturday in West Point at noon. It will be televised on CBSSN.

Women’s Tennis Uses Fall to Improve Doubles Play Amanda McKean Staff Writer

After coming off of a losing 2021-22 season, the Villanova women’s tennis team is looking towards the future and building up a younger and fresher team for the upcoming spring season. The Wildcats are led by head coach Steve Reiniger, who is in his 25th season as head coach.

Although the main competition occurs in the spring, the Wildcats are hosting their first tournament of the season next weekend at the Villanova Invitational.

“The whole fall season for me is like a practice season,” Reiniger said. “It’s preparing us for the spring season; it’s about trying to find doubles combinations and the proper lineup. Figure out who’s the strongest.”

The Wildcats graduated five seniors last year, leaving the team with only three seniors and one junior. As a result, the fall season and incoming tournament will provide the younger members of the squad the chance to show their skills and make their case for why they should be on the lineup.

“They’re awesome,” Reiniger said about the freshmen. “We’re really lucky they fit in well with the team.

That’s the most important thing, not to have high-maintenance players who don’t fit. So we’ll check that box right off and their tennis is good as well.”

Caitlin Fisher is a senior captain this year.

Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

Besides the freshmen, one of the players to watch this season is senior captain Caitlin Fisher, who has had the most experience out of anyone on the team. This will be her fourth year in the lineup, and according to Reiniger, she will most likely be in the top three of the lineup to start the season.

In addition, when it comes to making improvements from last season, the Wildcats are looking to strengthen their doubles results.

“Last year, I was not pleased with our doubles play,” Reiniger said.

“So, this year we started off with a double boot camp. There has been a big emphasis on how to play doubles and the adjustment is to try to get both players at the net. We work on it

every day in practice. There is probably not a practice that goes by that we haven’t tackled it.”

A big component in improving doubles play may be improving the chemistry of the team. Senior captains Fisher, Amanda Rivera-Gonzalez and Taylor Gould are tasked with making the younger players comfortable while also setting an example for them on the court.

“They all have been named captains, and they have to lead by example first and foremost,” Reiniger said. “That’s at practice and at matches as well.”

However, the Wildcats recently faced a setback in the amount of time they had to practice. Last week, more than half of the team tested

positive for COVID-19 and had to quarantine. However, the team made the most of the situation to improve team chemistry.

“Five of them were in the same hall at the hotel, so I think they all got closer, which is kind of nice,” Reiniger said after the team came back from quarantine this week. “Just wish they didn’t get COVID.” At the end of the fall, Reiniger’s main goal is to have an established lineup for the spring, which will only happen if the Wildcats are playing their best in the fall.

“By the end of fall, I want to hit the ground running,” Reiniger explained. “I want to know the lineup because our spring season is a little different this year. We have a lot of matches before spring break, so I can’t go into the spring without having a really good idea of what the lineup is going to be. Not only in doubles but singles. Maybe even more importantly singles because the bulk of the points in matches is from singles. I want to see who’s playing well, who belongs where. I hope the cream rises to the top and everyone is playing their best so I can have a good evaluation of everybody.”

The Wildcats’ next big tournament is the Villanova Invitational, where play starts on Friday, Sept. 16, and continues through the weekend at the Villanova Tennis Complex on West Campus. Some of the teams expected to play at this invitational are Drexel, Delaware and Temple.

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Wednesday, September 14, 2022

Field Hockey Tops Penn, 2-1 Brooke Ackerman Staff Writer The Villanova field hockey team beat the University of Pennsylvania, 2-1, in an overtime thriller Sunday afternoon. With the win, the Wildcats improved their record to 4-1, while the Quakers still remain winless at 0-4.

Sophomore goalkeeper Emma Lepert recorded five saves in the first two quarters, keeping the game scoreless after the first half.

But the Quakers scored just a few minutes into the the third quarter to take a 1-0 lead.

Down a goal, the Wildcats picked up the intensity. With lock down defense in the back led by junior defenseman Sabine de Ruijter and three more saves from Leppert, ‘Nova did not allow any more goals through, allowing them to focus on their attack up top.

De Ruijter “leads the defense,” according to Villanova head coach Joanie Milhous.

“She sees really good passing lanes, and I think her growth has really shown,” Milhous said.

“She is so much more poised with the ball, and her defensive skills have really improved.”

In the final minutes of regulation, freshman forward Toni Minichello shot the ball past two Quaker defenders to tie the score and force overtime.

Heading into overtime, Milhous noted how the Wildcats had “all the momentum,” and felt that the team was playing with confidence.

“There wasn’t a thought in my mind that we were going to lose,” Milhous said. “I think that’s exactly how our players felt as well.”

‘Nova’s confidence was clear as the Wildcats took control of the

Meghan Mitchell scored one goal and had an assist in Villanova win over Penn.

Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

7v7 overtime, putting themselves in a scoring position on the attacking side.

In the end, it was star forward Meghan Mitchell who scored the winning goal, as she dove to deflect the ball off a pass from sophomore midfielder Anne Drabbe.

It was no surprise that Mitchell helped clinch the victory for the Wildcats, as she’s been a standout forward all season.

“Our ‘core values and standards’ are what make up the culture of the team,” Milhous explained. “[Mitchell] is the epitome of that: passion, growth and accountability.”

While Milhous also praised Mitchell for her “amazing skill set and incredible speed,” she credited the overtime victory for being an exciting team win.

“I’m mostly just proud because we had a game plan and our girls stuck to it for 60 full minutes,” Milhous said.

The Wildcats head into conference play this upcoming week.

“We just want to buckle down—cleaning up and then mastering details,” Milhous said. “A lot of light bulbs went off and a lot of learning took place this past week in practice. I think that really showed against Penn, and that’s the stuff we are going to build off of before going into our Big East play.”

The Wildcats will travel to Rhode Island to take on 1-5 Providence in their first Big East game of the season on Friday, Sept. 16 at 4 p.m.

WEEKLY SCOREBOARD Sept. 7 - Sept. 13

Wednesday, September 7 No Games Thursday, September 8 No Games Friday, September 9 Men’s Tennis vs. Villanova Invitational No Team Scoring Volleyball vs. Missouri State 2-3 L Volleyball vs. Dayton 2-3 L Saturday, September 10 Men’s Tennis vs. Villanova Invitational No Team Scoring Men’s Golf @ The Doc Gimmler 10th of 15 Volleyball vs. Illinois 0-3 L Football vs. LIU 38-21 W Sunday, September 11 Men’s Tennis vs. Villanova Invitational No Team Scoring Men’s Golf @ The Doc Gimmler 10th of 15 Field Hockey @ Penn 2-1 W Men’s Soccer @ Yale 0-1 L

Rain or Shine, Fall Intramurals Kick Off Katie Lewis Staff Writer The sand volleyball courts on West Campus were filled with serves, sets and spikes on Saturday, as students converged in t-shirts and sunglasses for the first intramural contests of the fall season.

Teams arrived in the morning and engaged in spirited competition throughout the day in men’s, women’s and all-gender tournaments.

“I love intramurals because it’s a fun atmosphere where you can play with your friends in a team of people you’re comfortable with,” said junior Emily Cahill, who joined the sand volleyball tournament for her third year on Saturday. “I’m also doing flag football this year for the first time.”

A full season of fall intramural sports this year consists of sand and indoor volleyball, flag football, outdoor soccer, dodgeball, disc golf and the esports Rocket League and Super Smash Bros. For many students, intramurals are an opportunity to compete in organized games, try new sports and make new friends, without the high intensity and time commitment required of varsity and club athletics.

There are also opportunities for students to pursue employment and leadership positions in intramural sports, such as becoming officials, scorekeepers, supervi-

Above are the coed Ultimate Frisbee intramural champions from Spring 2022.

Courtesy of Villanova University

sors or commissioners. This year’s three commissioners, seniors Cate McCusker and Liam Shay and graduate student Matthew Panagrossi, have a wide array of responsibilities, including setting up schedules, running team registration and encouraging students to get involved in intramural sports.

“I joined intramurals right when I got on campus because I needed a job, but it definitely means more than the working part of it,” McCusker said. “It’s just a really good community, and I’ve met a lot of great friends through intramurals.”

To participate in an intramural sport, a team captain must register a team, pay a forfeit fee, and all players must sign waivers.

Although the majority of students organize teams with their friends or dorm halls, students can also register as “free agents” if they don’t have enough players to form a team. All fall sports except for e-sports offer men’s, women’s and all-gender leagues.

For freshmen in particular, the fall intramural season offers opportunities to join a community on campus and meet new people outside of their dorm and classrooms. Intramurals also allow former high school athletes to continue their sport or transfer their skills to a new athletic pursuit. It is also a chance for students to become acquainted with athletic facilities on campus they might not otherwise have access to or come

across in their daily schedule.

“Having played soccer in high school and missing it, I decided to make a [intramural] soccer team and the process was fairly easy,” said freshman Jugat Singh, a captain in the all-gender league.

Though Saturday’s sunny weather took a turn the following day, some teams refused to let the downpour interfere with their intramural plans. “[On Sunday] it was pouring outside, but our team decided to go to the game anyway and embrace the rain,” Singh said. “Our opponents didn’t show up, and we did a practice scrimmage, which was really fun and a great way to start the season.”

Apart from the competition and memorable moments of intramural sports, the ultimate reward for tournament champions are the traditional t-shirt prizes. The men’s, women’s and all-gender sand volleyball champions received their t-shirts after Saturday’s tournament and were featured on the Instagram page @villanovarec.

Not all fall sports have yet begun, as indoor volleyball registration takes place this week on Sept. 13–15, and the dodgeball tournament does not commence until late November. Some popular sports, such as sand volleyball, are one-day events, while others, such as flag football and soccer, will continue on a weekly basis throughout the season.

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Anders Said It: CAA is Villanova’s for the Taking Anders Pryor Sports Columnist Villanova football enters the 2022 season with excitement after coming off a successful 2021 campaign that included a trip to the postseason, a playoff victory over Holy Cross and a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) championship.

It was a season so successful that it saw a Wildcat get drafted in the sixth round of the NFL draft: Christian Benford to the Buffalo Bills. So successful, it saw former defensive coordinator Ola Adams get a gig as an assistant defensive backs coach with the Denver Broncos.

Now, the CAA has some new kids on the block and some who graduated. These changes make the outlook of Villanova repeating its success from last season a very real possibility.

One of the big stories of the offseason for FCS Division I was James Madison moving up to the FBS, joining in the well-respected Sun Belt Conference, which includes big programs like Appalachian State, Georgia Southern and Coastal Carolina. JMU had a historic run last year that included a trip to the FCS Championship against North Dakota State and losing just one conference game, against Villanova, 28-27.

With quarterback Cole Johnson no longer on the roster after his in-

credible season of more than 6,000 yards and 55 touchdowns, senior Todd Centeio will be under center this time around. Many expect JMU’s first year in the Sun Belt to be not as pleasant for the Dukes with the sudden jump in competition.

While JMU left the Colonial, two new teams have joined.

Monmouth made its way over from the Big South Conference, where it went 6-1 in conference and 7-4 overall in 2021. Monmouth is led by junior quarterback Tony Muskett, who last year put up 2,651 passing yards and completed 65.1% of his passes for 25 touchdowns while throwing six interceptions. He had three games in 2021 with four touchdown passes and is expected to continue his success in the new conference.

Hampton is the first Historically Black College or University (HBCU) to become a part of the CAA since its establishment in 1979. Hampton is coming over from the Big South. On paper, the Pirates don’t appear to pose as much of a threat as Monmouth, going just 3-4 in conference and 5-6 overall last year. Despite the less impressive records, Hampton does have a bright spot and potential year-long matchup threat in receiver Jadakis Bonds, who finished last year with 773 yards and six touchdowns.

With the top dog in JMU out of the picture and none of the newcomers posing any immediate

threat, the CAA is Villanova’s for the taking.

As of this week, Villanova (5) is the highest ranked team in the conference by a respectable margin. Delaware (13), Rhode Island (20) and William & Mary (22) are the only others to crack the top 25.

Junior quarterback Connor Watkins has shown great promise in his first two outings as the starter for head coach Mark Ferrante. He combined for nearly 500 yards and five touchdowns in his stints against Lehigh and Long Island. He also has thrown four interceptions.

With no harsh competition in sight and all the momentum in

Wildcats have an opportunity to establish themselves as the CAA’s top dog.

Quinn Burns/VIllanovan Photography

Softball Kicks off Fall Season Aphrodite Dimopoulos Staff Writer Fall ball is back, and Villanova softball is entering game play for the second straight season as the defending Big East Champions. This past weekend, the team traveled to Binghamton to play both Buffalo and Binghamton, winning its game against Buffalo but falling short to Binghamton.

Looking ahead at the 2022-23 season, the team has to adjust, as it graduated a good amount of its starting lineup, and has shifted to a younger and more inexperienced front.

This past Saturday, the matchup against Buffalo was played in seven innings, and the Wildcats ultimately won, 4-3, as senior third baseman Chloe Smith hit a walk-off home run to close the game. In the regular season, this milestone would have garnered a lot more attention, but as head coach Bridget Orchard explained, the fall season is more casual.

“In the fall it’s different, because obviously you’re doing substitutions and lineup changes and everybody is playing,” Orchard said. “[Smith’s] hit was an exciting moment, but not as much of a big deal in the grand scheme of things.”

Sunday’s matchup against Binghamton did not fall in the favor of Villanova, as it lost, 3-1.

This loss can be attributed to many things, but one key com-

Victoria Sebastian (above) was a Golden Glove Award recipient in the spring.

Courtesy of Villanova Atheltics the team. But luckily, the squad

ponent is the player shift that the softball team is facing.

“The fall schedule is great because all of the freshmen get to play,” Orchard explained. “We have seven freshmen and one transfer, that means eight new faces. Our team is going to look a little different. It’s exciting. Last year, we graduated some people that have been at their positions for four or five years.”

Angela Giampolo is one of those players. The former second baseman played at her position for five years, adding layers of depth, experience and comfort to

the world, a top five finish is perfectly within reach for the Wildcats this year. And with the Battle of the Blue against Delaware at Villanova Stadium this time around, don’t be shocked if an undefeated in-conference season becomes part of the discussion in the latter half of the year.

If Villanova can put backto-back CAA titles together and have another successful playoff run, it’ll create even more cultural relevance for football on campus and place the program in a position where we haven’t quite seen since its national title in 2009.

It’s a big one for the ‘Cats this year.

retained some experience. Senior first baseman Victoria Sebastian is a notable player in terms of her leadership and experience on the team.

Sebastian was recently awarded the Golden Glove Award for her defensive performance at first base last season. It was the first year that an award of that nature was presented at the collegiate level, making her achievement that much more monumental. This particular achievement has put Sebastian in a new tier on the collegiate level, where she now

sits among other winners from major, top Power Five programs. Last season, Sebastian had no errors at first base, a very rare achievement.

“It’s tough to even take [Victoria] off the field because of the leadership she displays on the field through her communications and her presence,” Orchard said.

“For example, when our pitcher struggles, she knows to go over and how to support her. Having [Victoria] on the field is like having another coach on the field, and you don’t realize how valuable that is until she is out there. It is one of those unwritten things that you look at.”

Having Sebastian at first and Smith returning at third, the team had their corners covered.

The juxtaposition of this leadership and comfort, with the freshman still finding their way will provide a new frontier to Villanova softball.

Moving forward, the team is focusing on using the fall season to bring some experience and grounding into the spring. Orchard describes these scrimmages and out-of-season games as “educational,” as the players find a sense of self as a Wildcat and up their level of play to the collegiate expectations.

Next weekend, the team will travel to West Point to play Army and St. Peter’s. The development of the team throughout the fall season is sure to be exciting. As previous seasons have shown, Villanova softball is a force to be reckoned with.

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Wednesday, September 14, 2022

Volleyball Leaves Dayton Invitational Empty-Handed

and finally finished off the Bears, 25-16, with two kills from freshman Skylar Gerhardt.

Villanova had a chance to The 3-3 Wildcats headed put this thing away going into the to Dayton to face Missouri State, third set, which would have conDayton and Illinois, and lost all served some energy for the game three games, including getting later that night against hometown swept by Illinois in three sets.

Dayton. But, the third set was all Villanova started off with its third MSU from the jump. The Bears five-set match in a row, losing to took an early 12-7 lead and continMissouri State, 3-2 (20-25, 16-25, ued to pile high, eventually turning 25-23, 25-20, 15-5). It followed that the score into 23-19. After a rally, with a third consecutive five-set loss Missouri State finally got a big kill to Dayton (25-19, 23-25, 25-18, 25- to end the set.

23, 15-11). Head coach Josh SteinAfter taking an 8-5 lead in bach talked before this tournament the fourth set, Villanova looked about their long matches. like it might be ready to end it, but “It feels like we’ve been that was not to be. Missouri State fading at the end of the weekends,” started to put together big chunks Steinbach said. “We’ve just been of wins, and all of a sudden, Villagoing long in every single match nova’s lead was gone and Missouri and not putting teams away, which State was now up, 24-18. After a makes it very difficult for us.” couple of kills from Villanova, a kill By the time the team got to from Missouri State sealed the set its last and biggest match, Villano- win (25-20) and sent Villanova to va was fading, as Steinbach menanother dreaded final set. tioned, and Illinois clamped down The fifth set was expected and sent them home in three sets to be as good as the rest, but before (25-16, 25-9, 25-16). Villanova now the crowd knew it, Missouri State sits at 3-6 with one tournament was up 10-3 and would win five of left to play before the conference the next seven to make it an easy schedule begins.

15-5 win in that set. Villanova, now The Wildcats’ matchup tired, would head into its match against Missouri State on Friday against Dayton 3-4. was the first against the Bears in Dayton made its presence Steinbach’s tenure. known in the first set to the homeThe first set started with crowd of more than 900 people.

Missouri State jumping out to a Leading 12-11, it rattled off six of quick 7-4 lead before Villanova the next eight to bring it to 18-13 won eight of the next 11 points. and never looked back, scoring on Villanova won 13 of 18 points all three of the final points of the after, and with the score at 19-14, it set to seal it, 25-19. finished it off 25-20, with four of its The second set was about as last six points coming off of kills close as it could get. Neither team The second set was much of held a lead bigger than three points the same, as Villanova took a 11-4 during the set despite many runs lead to start and never wavered. It for each team. With the score tied was able to keep on winning points at 21, Villanova had four of the Zac Tipton Staff Writer

next six to win the set, thanks to a couple of attack errors and kills.

Dayton took an 11-3 lead to start the third set, and it never got closer. Dayton won 10 of the next 16 points to put it out of reach, and even with a little run from the Wildcats, Dayton handily won the set, 25-18.

The fourth set was easily the best of the match. With Villanova up four midway through the set, Dayton scored six straight points to take the lead 18-16. Villanova came back and was down 23-22 before the Cats scored three straight to win on a kill from senior Belle Morgan.

Villanova was back in a fifth set for the second time on Friday.

This time, Villanova kept it close, only being down 13-12. However, three straight kills from Dayton ended Villanova’s night and sent them into a matchup with Illinois now 3-5.

The matchup started out

poorly for Villanova and never got better. Illinois took the first six points, and before Villanova knew it, it was 21-14, and Illinois got four kills in six points to end the set, 25-16.

Villanova was within five early in the second set, only down 11-6, but Illinois ended it there, going on a 14-3 run to stun Villanova and end the set, 25-9. The run was helped by six Villanova attack errors and three aces.

The third set was the best Villanova played, with the score being tied at 10, but Illinois got 11 of the next 14, and it was able to finish it off thanks to four straight errors from Villanova.

Villanova left the Illinois game 3-6 and will now head into the last weekend tournament of the year at Yale. It will face Yale (5-1) on Friday followed by Sacred Heart (4-6) and Fordham (6-2) on Saturday. Big East Conference play starts directly after.

Belle Morgan (above) was able to score multiple points off kills in the tournament.

Courtesy of Villanova Atheltics

Women’s Cross Country Prepares for Fall Season Catherine Browne Staff Writer

team securing a fourth place finish out of 11 competitors. The trio also proved its success through its third The Villanova women’s cross place win at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional competition last season. country team ended with a strong Olivere has graduated, leavseason last year, and it hopes to build ing Smith and Sigfstead to lead the off of its success as it enters into the team as the ‘Cats prepare for their new season.

The team finished third at the first official meet in Bloomington, Big East Championships last year and Indiana at the Coaching Tree Invitational on Sept. 16. had three top-100 finishers leading The following week, the to a 27th place finish at the NCAA team will compete in the The Paul Championships in November of last Short Run at Lehigh University. Last season.

The team’s top finishers in the season, the team placed second out NCAA Championships last year were of 38 teams with a total of 17 points, with Olivere, Smith and Sigfstead senior Lydia Olivere, junior Maggie Smith and freshman Sadie Sigfstead. ranking as the top scorers of the team.

They were the top three finishers in Smith ran a personal best, the Big East Championships, with the

The women’s cross country team had the top three finishers at the Big East Championships last season.

Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

Maggie Smith (above) will serve as a veteran leader for the team this season Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

with a 6,000 meter time of 19:47.4 at Lehigh in 2019. At the Big East Championships, Smith finished 14th out of 97 runners in the same event, with a time of 21.24.2. Last September, Smith was named Big East Female Athlete of the Week following her winning performance against 76 competitors in the Main Line Invitational, with a three-mile time of 16:20.0.

Last year, Sigfstead’s first season as a Wildcat, she marked a personal best in the 6,000 meter event, with a time of 20:04.7 in the Paul Short Run competition. At the Big East Championships, Sigfstead finished fifth, with a strong time of 21:00.0 in the 6,000 meters.

Head coach Gina Procaccio

is entering her 22nd year leading the women’s cross country team. She has led the team to two national championships and 17 Big East titles. She has been named National Coach of the Year twice and is a 17-time Big East Coach of the Year. Procaccio is a 1987 Villanova graduate herself and competed as a Wildcat for one year of eligibility after transferring from the University of Florida. She was part of the team that ran the 4x800 meter relay winning an NCAA Championship and setting a world, American and collegiate record time of 8:24.77.

The team is expected to begin its season with a strong performance in the Coaching Tree Invitational this Friday, Sept. 16, at 10 a.m.

The Villanovan | 15

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

THE BACKPAGE

Crossword by Allie Stockburger (‘24)

ASK THE VILLANOVAN “How do I ask for my roommates location without it being weird? I just think it would be helpful for safety reasons.”

I think that is a super valid reason to share locations. If you explain that it would be helpful for everyone’s safety, I think they totally will understand. Especially because it is a pretty common thing between roommates.

It might help to share your location with them first, and hopefully, they will reciprocate without you even having to ask. We totally understand the feeling of wanted to know who’s home before you get there.

If they give you push-back, it’s annoying but you have to respect their privacy.

You can always just text and figure out where they are that way.

Also, getting your roommate’s class schedule might help to lessen your worries during the day.

You can even throw in a joke about how you’re not trying to be like your mom with Life 360, you just want to make sure they’re safe.

“I’m not a huge fan of my roommate/best friend’s boyfriend and he has been staying over a lot. How do I bring this up to my roommate?”

It is fair to want to set boundaries, especially because your roommate’s boyfriend isn’t your roommate. Bring it up to them at a good time and just express your concerns.

Remember, you agreed to live with her and not her boyfriend, so it’s totally fair for you to feel weird about it.

The best way to go about it is to not be accusatory and use “I” statements. There’s nothing wrong with saying, “After I come home after a long day, sometimes I don’t feel like being with you and your boyfriend.” Hopefully she will respect your space and understand without a fight. Emphasize that you like him a lot, just that you need your own space.

If things get unmanageable, your RA is a great resource to reach out to. They are there for you and problems like these, so don’t hesitate to contact them!