The Villanovan | Volume 116, Issue 9: April 17, 2024

WEDNESDAY APRIL 17, 2024 www.villanovan.com @thevillanovan VOLUME 116 | ISSUE 9

STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916

Villanova Bone Marrow Drive Preview

University Celebrates Class of 2028 at Annual Admitted Students Day

Finn Courtney Co-News Editor

As is commonplace on the campus of Villanova, or at least since 1993, Villanova’s football team will host its 31st annual Bone Marrow Registry Drive on April 17 in the Connelly Center’s Villanova Room, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is an event started by legendary Villanova football coach Andy Talley.

For Talley, and his titular foundation, the Andy Talley Bone Marrow Foundation, this has been an event that has grown year after year after year. That is not simply hyperbole either, as Talley said that last year marked a record 50,000 young people put on the donor list, after hitting 40,000 at the 2022 event.

“We’re at the point now where nobody in the world does what I do, because I have the power of college football, so I can call a college coach and now all of a sudden, I got 100 players from that coach’s team doing a drive at their school,” Talley said. “And so, we continue to get involved with college football teams and the NMD, [the] National Marrow Donor Program.”

Talley (who served as the Wildcats’ head coach for 36 seasons, winning a school-record 229 games and a national championship in 2009) first found out about the great life-saving potential such a program could have in the most unlikely of places, his car on the way to work in 1993. But for the now-81year-old Villanova legend, he’s glad he did.

“I was driving to work for one of the morning practices at about 6:30 in the morning, and an oncologist came on [the radio], and said that at that time, there were only a million people on the bone marrow donor list and Continued on p. 4

Current Villanova students show off their student involvment to incoming students at Admitted Students Day Brian Luppy/Villanovan Photography

Lauren Armstrong Co-News Editor

On April 13, hundreds of prospective students and families came to visit campus to decide if Villanova would become their home for the next four years. Admitted Students Day is an opportunity for deciding and committed students to come to campus for the day and partake in tours, watch panels, visit the activities fair and meet other incoming students.

This year, Admitted Students Day looked a little bit different than it has in the past, in order to gauge more interest and help make the decision easier for the incom-

ing students. This initiative was led by Admitted Students Day Director Hannah Phillips and Junior Director Tyler Moore.

“It is a surprise to admitted students, but all the members of Blue Key make posters and welcome them to Villanova through a spirit line outside the Finn when they begin to arrive in the morning,” Phillips said. “Father Peter then gives a welcoming speech, and the day truly begins. We have an involvement fair outside in the quad, a resource and majors fair and a variety of panels throughout the day. We are very excited to be having a meet and greet with the basketball team, as well as implementing

a day-long scavenger hunt that prospective students can participate in. We overall are just excited to welcome the Class of 2028.”

Phillips recalled how her own Admitted Students Day was when she decided Villanova was home for her.

“I had a really early Admitted Students Day. It was actually on Valentine’s Day,” Phillips said. “That was when I decided to call Villanova home. This is truly a full-circle moment, and it shows that you cannot truly know Villanova until you step foot onto its campus.”

While the members of Blue Key, Villanova’s tour guide organization, do make up a significant amount of

the day, any current Villanova student has the opportunity to become involved in Admitted Students Day. “Admitted Students Day is such a pivotal moment for anyone who comes to visit Villanova,” Moore said. “It is also really cool because Blue Key is such an important factor throughout the day, but anyone can participate through speaking to families, volunteering with their major or on campus organizations or simply just walking through campus and seeing the incoming students.”

Blue Key President Harrison Jenkins shared more about the dedication of Villanova students.

“We have over 110-

Continued on p. 3

Connelly Center Break Room Controversy Kailey Fahy

Co-Opinion Editor On March 18, the Villanova Global Social Justice Initiative launched a petition that calls attention to the need for a break room in the Connelly Center. In this petition, the group cites how, although many of the Conn employees provide the Villanova community with comfort and contribute to the well-being of the student body, they are not afforded these same luxuries.

Without a break room, which is standard in most workplaces, many employees are forced to spend what is supposed to be their moment’s

respite from the constant frenzy of Conn resting amongst the same students they had served minutes earlier.

The Villanova Global

Villanova community enjoys the Belle Air Terrace in the Connelly Center Victoria Margenat/Villanovan Photography

Social Justice Initiative is a group primarily concerned with tackling social justice issues. While often these issues can appear quite large and daunting, the students within this group are focused on tackling them at a local level. Being part of a community that is deeply rooted in Augustinian values, members of this group seek to engage with issues that directly impact all members of the Villanova community.

Because workers’ rights is a persisting global Continued on p. 5

Class of 2028 Profile p. 3

Class Ring for ‘24 Revealed p. 3

LEVEL Hosts Annual Casino Night Fundraiser p. 4

CLAS Advising Needs a Revamp p. 5

Total Eclipse: Totally Cool or Totally Overrated? p. 7

VillaVogue: Wildcat Thrift p. 10

LinkedIn: the Newest Frenzy Amongst Villanova Students p. 11

The Spanish Tragedy: Reviewed p. 11

Softball Sweeps St. John’s at Home p. 13

Women’s Lacrosse Defeats Xavier, 18-8 p. 14

2 | The Villanovan

News 1 Opinion 5 Culture 10 Sports 13

PUBLIC SAFETY BLOTTER

VOL. 116 | ISS. 9 www.villanovan.com @thevillanovan

EMMA CAHILL ARDEN WEST BROOKE ACKERMAN HAYDEN KARNES NATALIE ZICKEL LAUREN ARMSTRONG FINN COURTNEY NICOLE LIDDICOAT KAILEY FAHY AVERY CHALK MAGGIE FITZGERALD SOPHIE LATESSA OWEN HEWITT KATIE LEWIS MADELINE OKENQUIST GRAYDON PAUL PETER REILLY MICHAEL BRADLEY CAT COYLE CONTACT

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Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief Associate Editor-in-Chief Digital Editor Digital Editor News Editor News Editor News Editor Opinion Editor Opinion Editor Culture Editor Culture Editor Sports Editor Sports Editor Copy Desk Chief Photography Editor Crossword Editor Advisor Advisor villanovan.eic@gmail.com

Liquor Underage April 11, SOUTH CAMPUS GROUNDS A male resident student was observed intoxicated and evaluated by Public Safety.

Receiving Stolen Property April 11, MAIN LOT GARAGE A male removed a university sign from a parking garage and fled the scene without paying the required parking fee.

Theft of Services April 11, RILEY HALL GROUNDS An unidentified male was observed illegally dumping trash in a university dumpster.

Theft by Deception April 12, GALLEN HALL A resident student reported that an unknown suspect attempted to deceive her and steal money from her via a GroupMe message.

Liquor Underage April 13, SOUTH CAMPUS GROUNDS A female resident-student was observed intoxicated and evaluated.

CORRECTIONS

Liquor Underage, Theft April 13, GAREY HALL LOT Three male resident students were observed intoxicated in public. They were in possession of a sign they admitted to taking from a location on campus Public Drunkeness April 13, MAIN CAMPUS GROUNDS An unaffiliated female was observed intoxicated and transported to Bryn Mawr Hospital.

Public Drunkeness April 13, SHEEHAN HALL A male resident student was intoxicated and causing a disturbance.

Liquor Underage April 14, STANDFORD HALL A male resident student was observed intoxicated and evaluated by VEMS. Public Drunkeness April 14, WILDCAT WAY A female resident was evaluated for alcohol intoxication.

Public Drunkeness April 14, MAIN CAMPUS GROUNDS A female resident was observed intoxicated and transported the hospital by VEMS. Harassment April 14, WHOLE CAMPUS A female resident reported being harassed by another female resident student.

Theft, Receiving Stolen Property April 14, MAIN CAMPUS GROUNDS A male resident student unlawfully took possession of university property.

Harassment April 14, AUSTIN HALL A female resident student reported unwanted contact over social media involving a non-affiliated male.

Liquor Underage April 14, ST. MONICA HALL Two female residents, under the age of 21, were in possession of alcohol.

Liquor Underage April 14, ST. MONICA HALL Two female resident students, under the age of 21, were in possession of acohol.

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.

Student Government Association Holds Elections Zoe Garrett Political Columnist Villanova’s Student Government Association (SGA) held its annual election last week, determining the student body’s representatives for the 2024-2025 academic year. Students were able cast their votes in this election last Tuesday and Wednesday through the link sent to their emails or through the SGA website.

While voting, however, students may have noticed something unusual about this year’s election: the candidates in every contest ran unopposed. This meant that students had the option of voting for the listed officer(s) on the ballot, who were essentially guaranteed their positions, or abstaining from voting in that contest. Despite the input students contributed last week, then, the outcome of the election was solidified before voting even opened.

SGA acknowledged this fact in its email inviting students to cast their votes last week.

“Even though there are no contested races within SGA this spring semester, which means all students on the ballot will be members of SGA, it is still important for students to be a part of and become familiar with the election process, as students can still vote for the candidate or abstain if there are no open positions on the ballot,” the organization noted.

What does this reality mean for the SGA? Evidently, there is not an overwhelming interest in student government among students at Villanova.

However, considering the University’s pervasive culture of overachievement and involvement, this fact is surprising. Nonetheless, the unopposed nature of the races did not affect the spirits of the newly elected SGA officers.

“Running uncontested did not change my experience or focus with the election,” incoming Student Body President Dean Millard said. “My running mate

and I prioritized meeting students and listening to the initiatives they would like to see implemented to improve their Villanova experience overall.”

Incoming Student Body Vice President Aleko Zeppos agreed with his running mate.

“Even with our names being the only ones on the ballot, myself and Dean made sure it would change nothing with our campaign process,” he said. “Making sure everyone executed their right to vote was a priority and we were happy with the overall turnout in the end.”

Some SGA officials felt that running uncontested was an indication of their peers’ assurance in these candidates.

“Although running unopposed may suggest a lack of competition, I’m confident that it reflects the confidence my classmates have in Brian and my ability to serve effectively as their class senators,” rising Class of 2025 senator Simran Mishra said about herself and fellow senator Brian Messalti.

All SGA officials voiced their excitement and gratitude associated with their recent victories. Additionally, they all noted their aspirations for the upcoming school year.

Many of the newly-elected officials look forward to acting as a voice for the student population.

“I am planning to be a resource for my peers in the Class of 2027 and make sure that their interests are heard and considered,” incoming Class of 2027 senator Cristina McNish said.

Mike Whaley, the recently elected Sciences Senator, has similar goals.

“In this role, my priority is really to represent the students within my college,” he said. “I’m looking forward to collaborating with and hearing from my peers as we endeavor together to promote positive change within our school.”

The SGA officials expressed their commitment to act as liaisons between students and administration in order to communicate their peers’ concerns.

“I am most looking forward to attending meetings with faculty and administrators to collaborate with them in an effort to improve the student experience at Villanova,” Kara McGoldrick, incoming Arts Senator, said. “My ultimate goal is just to represent our student community as well as possible, and to make my classmates feel seen and heard.”

Furthermore, the officials noted the specific issues that they aim to address during the time they hold their positions.

“My goal is to create legislation aimed at improving student lives that align with Villanova’s values of inclusion and unity, while actively working to enact positive change,” incoming Arts Senator Jenna Angelini said. “I will fight against systemic injustices, striving for a more equal and supportive academic environment.”

Incoming Engineering Sen-

ator Chris Koobatian expressed his aim to advocate for students within the Engineering College.

“My aim is to advocate for the College of Engineering as a whole, and those who perceive a need for enhancements in curriculum structure, policy and open dialogue between students and staff,” Koobatian said.

Congratulations to all those who won their contests and will assume positions within Villanova’s Student Government Association next year. As the newly-elected representatives prepare to embark on their journey of leadership, it is critical that they embrace inclusivity, transparency and accountability to successfully serve the needs and interests of their fellow students. With their dedication to and their support of the overall Villanova student body, we can look forward to a year filled with progress, collaboration and effective changes.

An overview of the results and aftermath from the SGA elections.

Finn Courtney / Villanovan Photography

The Villanovan | 3

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Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Villanova Celebrates Admitted Students Day

Lauren Armstrong Co-News Editor Continued from p.1

plus student run organizations that will be speaking and dedicating their Saturday to engage with these incoming students,” Jenkins said. “It is amazing how passionate these current students are, not only about their clubs, but about Villanova as a whole.”

Admitted Students Day has effects much longer than just the day-of. For many current students, the families that visited for Admitted Students Day will be back in August for move-in day, and Class of 2028 will be recognized as individuals current students spoke to back in April.

“I remember seeing a guy who I spoke to on Admitted Students Day, and I then [saw] him during orientation that following August,” Phillips said. “It is amazing seeing the work that everyone put in and seeing their whys and that every prospective student has the best experience on campus, influencing them to go ‘Nova.”

In addition to the tradi-

tional Admitted Students Day, on April 19, the VUnited Scholars program will be hosting its Admitted Students Day, welcoming eight new students into the program.

Lauren McLaughlin, President of the VUnited Scholars Program, shared more about the day and the program for those who are unfamiliar.

“The VUnited Scholarship program is a two-year residential program for scholars with disabilities to help them make connections and friendships, while gaining a degree through the College of Professional Studies,” McLaughlin said. “This program was first introduced during the 2021-22 academic year, when I was a sophomore. The students live in St. Mary’s and are able to have a college experience.”

This Admitted Students Day will consist of meeting the current students in the program, as well as experiencing panels of current VUnited students, program mentors and students, as well as current parents who will attest as to how the program has positively influenced their students’ lives.

“I am very excited to meet everyone,” McLaughlin said. “I

Class of 2028 Profile

This year’s applicants also had very high grades and exam scores. The weighted GPA among applicants was 4.40. Among those who had a class rank, 78% ranked In the wake of the Class in the top 5% of their class. Addiof 2028’s Admitted Students Day tionally, 25% were either ranked this past Saturday, current high school seniors face the momentous first, second or third in their class.

According to Gaynor, these decision of where to commit to increased metrics are the natural college. As Villanova prepares for result of higher numbers of applithe Class of 2028, a profile has cants. emerged of this year’s incoming “In 1982, we had 6,914 apclass. plicants,” Gaynor said. “And here Michael Gaynor, Executive we are at 23,842 now. By virtue of Director of Undergraduate Admore applicants, and we had more missions, explained the admissions applicants this year than we did for this year’s class. last, the competition does tend to “Building our Class of get more keen.”

2028, we were very fortunate,” Though 54% of the apGaynor said. “We had 23,842 plicants Villanova were admitted [people] apply, and we’re looking test-optional, the average SAT for a first-year class of 1,720.” score for the applicants was 1489.

Compared to last year’s According to Gaynor, test optionapplicant pool, the number of al admittance will continue for at applicants was slightly larger and least the next two years. the target class is roughly the same The application process as last year’s, with a mere 20 extra for the Class of 2028, according students. to Gaynor, was looked at from a At this year’s Admitted comprehensive perspective.

Students Day, more than 45,000 “We use our seal as our students were in attendance. The compass for our holistic review students in attendance on Saturprocess,” Gaynor said. “The day were from 38 states, Washingveritas are the grades, the rigor of ton D.C., Puerto Rico and the six curriculum, the rank.

But always international countries registered in the context of opportunity at included Brazil, Canada, Guatethat school.

The unitas are the mala, Switzerland and the UK. extracurriculars, leadership… The In the entire applicant caritas, we look for changemakpool, this year’s applicants were from all 50 states and Washington ers– cultural commitment, lived adversity, resilience. We really lean D.C. From the U.S. territories, into demonstrated kindness.” there were 167 applicants from When asked to describe the Puerto Rico, nine from the Virgin Class of 2028 in three words, GayIslands and five from Guam. nor said they are “smart, compasAmong the applicant pool, there sionate and ‘doers.’” were 119 different languages And if one is walking spoken, which Villanova learned around campus, one’s best bet to through the Common Application, address an admitted student from according to Gaynor. The top the Class of 2028 is either Ryan three languages among these, beor Ava, as those were the two most sides English, are Spanish, Mancommon names among applicants. darin and Korean.

Emma Cahill Co-Editor-in-Chief

Admitted students and their families enjoy complementary Wawa on Mendel Field during the day.

Victoria Margenat/ Villanovan Photography

am excited to share why I love Villanova, and hope to help ignite their love in the University. I am excited to show my favorite parts of campus and how the current scholars have connections on campus and how many opportunities there are at Villanova for them.”

For all students, Admitted Students Day is a time on campus where the community comes together to share their love for

‘Nova. From waking up at 4:30 a.m. to sharing their passions and why they decided to declare different majors or joining certain organizations, the dedication of each Villanovan is highlighted. Class of 2028, welcome to Villanova.

The overall Villanova community cannot wait to see how new students will make a difference on campus throughout their academic careers.

Class of 2026 Ring Reveal Ailish Wilson Staff Writer

The Class of 2026 Ring Reveal took place on Thursday in Belle Air Terrace, located in the Connelly Center. The lively event, hosted by the legacy ambassadors committee of students, included music and refreshments. A table featured a glittering display of various ring styles and a diagram of the year’s ring.

Class rings are a Villanova tradition that dates back more than 100 years ago. The legacy ambassadors and a committee of students design a ring for the sophomore class and unveil it in the spring. Then, in the fall, Villanova hosts a ring blessing.

This ceremony typically takes place in the Finneran Pavilion during Family Weekend.

This year, the ring was full of meaningful symbolism. On one side, it features a candlestick that nods to first-year Orientation.

“One of the most memorable moments of orientation is a candle lighting ceremony in the Finneran Pavilion,” the diagram read. “A singular flame is passed from student to student, reminding them of the connection they share with each other as new members of the Villanova community.”

This ceremony was one of the Class of 2026’s first memories on campus. When students see the candlestick on the ring, it is sure to remind them of how much they have grown since their first year. The ring also features classic campus sites, such as the Corr Hall arch, the Riley Ellipse and the St. Thomas of Villanova Church.

The Class of 2026 has made some of their best memories on campus. In the future, their rings will allow them to carry a glimpse of Villanova wherever they go.

Legacy ambassador commit-

tee members Avery Junker and Reena Seraiya about the design process.

They explained that the committee made a list of ideas and then narrowed it down. As for their favorite elements, Junker was partial to the candlestick and Seraiya liked the sun rays.

In addition to legacy ambassador members, other students appreciated the ring.

“I really like the ring design this year,” Noah Buscaglia, member of the Class of 2026, said. “I think it pictures a lot of key symbols of student life and campus landmarks, and it will be a memorable keepsake to have.”

Villanova works with Balfour & Co., a company that produces graduation products, to unveil the ring. To order a ring, students can visit Balfour’s website. They can select different designs, such as the traditional option from the diagram, which is metal with a blue stone. There is also a signet design without a stone.

Additionally, students can select which metal and finish they would like. Tina Stenman, the manager of campus sales at Balfour, stated that ring prices start within the $500 range. According to Stenman, ring prices start in the mid-500s. There is a payment plan, so students can pay incrementally instead of all at once.

The ring reveal has reminded the sophomore class that college years pass quickly.

“I do think it’s wild that we’re halfway through our college experience already,” Buscaglia said. “I’m definitely going to savor every minute of these next two years.”

Fortunately, the Class of 2026 still have much to look forward to at Villanova for the back half of their time. The ring blessing is just the first celebration of their achievements. To purchase, students can check for email from the Office of Student Involvement or visit balfour.com/villanova.

4 | The Villanovan

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Wednesday, April 17, 2024

LEVEL Hosts Annual Casino Night Fundraiser Nicole Liddicoat Co-News Editor On Monday, April 15, campus buzzed with excitement as LEVEL’s Casino Night unfolded once again in the Villanova Room in the Connelly Center.

The annual event, known for its array of entertaining games and enticing prizes, drew crowds eager to support both the Office of Disability Services and Villanova’s student organization, LEVEL. This is the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

“LEVEL is a disability advocacy club on Villanova’s campus that aims to ‘LEVEL the playing field’ between students with and without disabilities,” Bella Lentini, senior LEVEL Outreach Coordinator, said. “While there are many inclusion organizations on campus, LEVEL focuses primarily on Villanova students that identify as disabled and works to promote a supportive and inclusive community.”

The group is on a mission to dismantle barriers and foster inclusivity among individuals with diverse abilities and disabilities.

Its ultimate goal is to strive to advance disability advocacy and redefine community both on and off campus.

Here, disability education takes shape through program gatherings, engaging activities and a variety of accessible events.

Gregory Hannah, Director of the Office of Disability Services since 2009 and the founding advisor for the Student Group LEVEL, offered some insight into his role within the program.

“Our goal is to make daily interactions all-inclusive as well as raise ableism awareness at Villanova and beyond,” Hannah said.

The idea for Casino Night sparked in 2012, where Hannah pitched the idea for the event, leading to its inaugural debut.

“When we started LEVEL, we were ready to do all that we could to share our mission and expose Villanova students to our new group,” Hannah said. “I saw that student groups hosted fundraisers during the year, but I had not seen a Casino Night. I attended one when I was in college, had no experience running one, but knew it could be an awesome community night with fun, games and prizes.”

An awesome community night is right, as LEVEL’s success has allowed this fundraiser to run for the last 13 years.

Making this event possible requires a lot of hard work and meticulous planning. Members of LEVEL were spotted tabling in Conn and bustling behind the scenes, working tirelessly to make the event a success.

“Logistics leading up the event includes booking the Villanova Room, collecting raffles, preparing for refreshments and decorations, deciding on a layout for the games and selling tickets

to the student body,” senior and LEVEL President Claire McBlain said.

Casino Night allows LEVEL to create exposure for disability awareness and brings students together.

“We want as many people as possible to know about LEVEL because it provides a community to every student and we want every student to understand that they can find a home in LEVEL,” senior Ellie Smart, Vice President of LEVEL and Head of Casino Night, said.

The highlight of the event was the opportunity to win more than 46 prizes, which ranged from Villanova merchandise to a TV to student-made baskets to AirPods, among others.

Junior Lilly Grace, who has been with LEVEL since last year, mentioned her favorite part of the event.

“I love all the games and seeing my friends win the prizes,” Grace said.

Casino Night offered ticket holders the chance to participate in various card games, bingo and other casino-themed activities, all overseen by faculty members. Tokens won during the games could then be exchanged for entries into the raffle for chances to win the prizes.

The money made from the Casino Night directly supports students with disabilities.

“What is awesome about this event is that with each tick-

et purchased, Villanova students are helping other Villanova students registered with the Office of Disability Services gain access to the full Villanova experience,” Hannah said. “[It] has helped with costs to create and execute accessible events such as retreats, banquets, break trips, campus improvements, and supported the addition of an ADA accessible Van that is used on a daily basis.”

Nate DiFulvio, a junior LEVEL member spoke about his experience with the organization and the impact of this fundraiser.

“I came into Villanova freshman year registered with the Office of Disabilities Services, and I was nervous how the transition to college would be with a disability,” DiFulvio said. “I can comfortably say I have found a community and home within LEVEL. I think that casino night is a great way to pull the community together and have people who might not have tangible connections come together to celebrate a great cause.”

LEVEL’s Casino Night was a huge success and showed the impact that an event of this nature can have to foster inclusivity on campus.

If anyone would like to learn more about LEVEL and make change on campus, meetings are held in the East Lounge at 7 p.m. every Tuesday. You can also reach out to the organization directly at level@villanova.edu.

Everyone is welcome.

Villanova Bone Marrow Registry Drive Preview Finn Courtney Co-News Editor Continued from p. 1 people were dying constantly, because we had no donors,” Talley said. “And I went like, ‘Oh my gosh, I think I can do something about this.’ You know, I’ve got 100 healthy football players and I know a lot of coaches and maybe I can be helpful. Just one of those things coming out of the blue [and] so then I said, ‘Well, we’re going to have our first drive.’”

Since that first drive, the event’s grown in importance, stature and life-changing impact, partnering with the “Be The Match” organization in 2008 to create the “Get in the Game. Save a Life” initiative, partnering 165 college football programs together and an initiative that has lived on to today.

And in the process, since that merger 16 years ago, “Get in the Game” has registered over 159,000 donors, resulting in 880 transplants, according to the Talley Foundation website.

While the annual drive started with Talley, who retired in 2016 as head coach, it has persisted under current Villanova coach and longtime Talley assistant, Mark Ferrante.

But for Ferrante, his involvement with the program is involvement that personally cuts deep for the 62-year-old and drove him to make sure it continued to go on, even after Talley’s retirement.

“I had a younger brother

who passed away from leukemia when I was two years old. He was five months old,” Ferrante said. “So, when Coach Talley would ask people, and when he started [the drive] ask our team, raise your hand if you have any, know of anyone or have any family members that have been afflicted with any type of cancer, [and] obviously my hand would go up. It’s just something that hits home, unfortunately, with too many people.”

This is a story that certainly is not unique for just Ferrante and his family, but one similar to countless people who have participated over the years. Luckily, things have changed in the past three decades, with the process evolving from blood draw, which saw some turned off to the idea, to now the cheek swab, which in Talley’s purview, has allowed for many, many more people to get involved, even from the football teams over the years.

“They take a Q-tip running across your tongue, put it on a slide, and now they have your DNA, so if they’re ever called, the bone marrow family has your DNA and they can match it,” Talley said of the process’s evolution. “In [the old] days, they would draw blood, a needle in the arm and [well], if you wanted to see eight or nine big Villanova football players keel over, that’s what the first bone marrow drive looked like.”

And in Ferrante’s experience with the program since its inception, he’s seen a recurring theme.

One-hundred percent of matches on the teams he’s coached will do it, be it in-season or during the offseason,

and when he’s asked them if they’ve had regrets about doing it, all have said they’d do it again 100 out of 100 times.

For the current coach, one match in particular stands out: Matt Szczur, a World Series Champion with the Chicago Cubs and twosport Villanova legend who won MVP honors in that 2009 championship game. However, that last accomplishment almost never happened.

“We’ve had some of our guys miss games, we’ve had Matt Szczur [in] our 2009 national championship season [be a 1-in-80,000] match for a little girl in Ukraine, and if she was ready to receive the marrow, to have the transplant, Matt would have missed our playoff run and [missed] our national championship game,” Ferrante said, recalling the events of 15 years ago. “She wasn’t ready, Matt was able to play, [...] and then, he didn’t get called [upon] until the springtime to do the transplant, and he actually missed a handful of his baseball games.”

Szczur, who missed 10 games due to medication in advance of donating, memorably hit a home run in his first at-bat back post-donation, a memory fond in Ferrante’s memory.

But even fonder was his willingness to sacrifice playing to help save a life and grasping the reality that this donation was bigger than any game.

That spirit has been a fixture of the program from the beginning, with it being a big part of the promotion of it to the wider Villanova community, including for this year’s student coordinator, Meghan Harris.

“Having the opportunity to participate and be the student leader for this event has been nothing short of wonderful and inspiring,” Harris said. “This event gave me the chance to interview a peer and her husband who actually received a bone marrow donation many years ago [and] I learned so much in a very short time frame about his story and the process of how his life was changed from the very thing we are doing here at Villanova. By [getting] your cheek swabbed, you are allowing another patient somewhere in the US a chance at finding a bone marrow match needed to save their life.

[And] if you get the call and want to help save a life, you will forever be changing the life not only for your match, but their families as well.”

For all three, the event may hold different meanings personally, but the message to the wider Villanova community is clear. Anyone has the potential within themselves to save a life. And Talley has seen hundreds and hundreds of lives saved through that first event in 1993 and everything that followed since.

“First thing we say to [people] is you can be a lifesaver, [and] anybody who’s got any moxie in them would think, ‘Hey, I’d like to save someone’s life if needed,’” Talley said. “Chances are, you’ll never be called to save someone’s life, but every now and then, our people from our drives get called to save a life. I just had eight people today from different universities that were called to save a life and did. So, that’s kind of the [good part] of the deal.”

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

The Villanovan | 5

OPINION

OPINION

Connelly Center Employees Deserve a Break Room Kailey Fahy Co-Opinion Editor

continued from p. 1 social justice issue, this group decided to tackle this matter at Villanova. With this information, it figured an ideal starting point would be Conn, as it is the center of campus and serves as the workplace for many of Villanova’s employees.

“The people who we interact with at Conn are the heart at the school, so we wanted to give back to them,” Samuel Rowland, Secretary of the group, said. “As a school community, we often just think about how the students are being affected by issues. But I think it’s important that we include Villanovans in this conversation as well, as they are also a part of this community. Villanova students also work at Conn, so it is important to show that we value them as well.”

Villanova makes strong and usually successful initiatives to uphold its core values of Caritas, Unitas and Veritas with activities like Day of Service, Special Olympics and NOVAdance being pillars of many students’ Villanova experience. These activities encourage and ignite students’ sense of volunteerism and sense of giving back. Thus, it seems almost instinctive for students to want to address issues right here on cam-

Conn serves as the center of Villanova’s campus, and with this role, it is a place where many Villanova employees, as well as students, work.

Brian Luppy / Villanovan Photography

pus. And that support is shown in the number of signatures the petition has received. Currently, the petition stands at 671 signatures, showing how it is more than just a point of concern for those involved with the Villanova Global Social Justice Initiative. It speaks to the point that it is important when trying to display values like “Unitas” for example (meaning unity) that Villanovans include all members of the community into the conversation and find ways to better ourselves in all parts of the

community.

While the Villanova community is certainly strong and typically is the beacon for values of service and respect, we as a community still have places for growth.

The Villanova Global Social Justice Initiative brings awareness to these issues, through means like this petition. By creating initiatives like this one, this group is encouraging the Villanova community to reflect and think about how we can make our community better than it already is.

ment.

“We as concerned Villanovans cannot stand idly by and let nothing happen.”

He encouraged all students to sign the petition and express their continued support for this issue to administration. He also encourages them to discuss these issues with their friends.

To stay updated on this matter and hear about other issues the group strives to tackle, follow @nova_gsji on Instagram.

CLAS Advising Needs a Revamp

lends its way to serious issues. While some students are savvy enough to relay their questions to a higher power, those who fail to do so risk their ability to graduate with their intended Anyone who is a student major. Another CLAS student disin the College of Liberal Arts and cussed how the inefficiency of CLAS Science (CLAS) at Villanova is well advising nearly cost them the ability aware of tales of students frantically to graduate. changing their schedules or stressing “As a senior, I have been frusabout course credits. There have been trated and disappointed by Villanova’s far too many instances of students advising,” the student, who requested not being notified of correct major anonymity, said. “I had four advisors, requirements, being told that they a new advisor every year, and it was might not graduate on time or hava great disservice to me. I had taken ing to drop a major or minor due to a number of unnecessary classes that miscommunication. Something must change; the current advising program did not count towards my major or is not working in its current form. The minors, though I was advised that they would. If I had not asked other following advising horror stories, the sources of which are kept anonymous students and reached out to earlier to preserve both student and professor advisors, I would not have graduated.” identities, serve to show this purpose.

The same student described Many students feel frustrated by their advisor’s lack of expertise on how their advisor was not equipped to help them in this situation. their curriculum. When these stu“This past semester, an advisor had dents turn to advisors for help, their said that they could not help me and inquiries often go unheard or unanswered. Sometimes, out of frustration, that I should ask Dean Lindenmeyer, without offering any other advice or students simply feel like they have to support,” the student said. “It was seek out the chair of the department stressful, and I hope that advisors directly, rather than going to their in the future are better equipped to assigned advisor.

“Whenever I have a question support students.”

Another CLAS senior shared about my course requirements, I usuhow they, too, experienced the risk of ally just ask the chairs of the department,” a CLAS student, who request- not graduating under the false pretenses of their advisor. ed anonymity, said. “It feels like they “As a second-semester senior, are able to answer my questions much I was told by my advisor to come better than my advisor, who usually by for a quick meeting just to make directs me to the chair, anyways.” sure everything looked good on my However, this lack of expertranscript for graduation,” the stutise on behalf of the advisors often Emma Cahill Co-Editor-in-Chief

dent said. “I have 149 credits, two minors and have taken a summer class every year in college. So, I went into this meeting prepared to check some boxes and be on my way. What I didn’t expect was to be told that I may not be able to graduate just two short months prior to graduation.

Unbeknownst to me, CLAS has a rule that the last 30 credits of your major must be taken at Villanova. As was my practice in all years prior, I took a summer class before senior year through another university. This was approved through OUS. However, that meant that my last 30 credits of my major were not taken at Villanova and I was 3 credits short of fulfilling this rule, which I was unaware of.”

The student described what happened when they became notified of this rule at last minute’s notice.

“Had I become aware of the rule prior to three-quarters of the way through my senior year, I gladly would have taken an extra class Fall or Spring Semester to fulfill this requirement,” the student said. “However, it was too late and the only option I was given by OUS to get this fixed was to petition the dean. After reaching out to the dean, I was told to overlook the rule. Yet, I had still felt stripped of four years of hard work and dedication, and I felt abandoned and overlooked by a school that I adore.”

Professors should not be forced to advise when they are too busy with their classes, outside research and personal lives. They only have so much time on their hands, and many cannot give this role the

Rowland echoed this senti-

attention it needs.

Even those who have found themselves in unfortunate academic situations do not blame the professors, but rather, the system. The same CLAS senior who almost fell victim to the 30 credits rule even emphasized this sentiment.

“I have had great relationships with my CLAS academic advisors, and I have zero doubt they are doing the best they can with the hand they have been dealt,” the student said. “I think people fail to realize that unlike the business school, CLAS advisors are not solely academic advisors. Every advisor I have had has been a professor teaching multiple classes and conducting their own research lab. Overloading professors with duties and titles inevitably leads to situations like mine and, surely, many others.”

Given the amount of tuition the average Villanova student spends to further their academic career, advising must be given the time and attention it needs to help students. The solution is simple. Professors should not be forced to be advisors. CLAS needs separately-hired advisors who are willing to familiarize themselves with course requirements and get to know the students on a personal level. Whether it follows the model of the business school, or finds a new formula, CLAS advising needs to shift to a more targeted, student-oriented focus, and change the way it is currently run. Only then can the advising program become beneficial to both CLAS professors and students.

6 | The Villanovan

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

OPINION

EDITORIAL BOARD EMMA CAHILL Editor-in-Chief ARDEN WEST Editor-in-Chief BROOKE ACKERMAN Associate Editor-in-Chief AVERY CHALK Co-Opinion Editor KAILEY FAHY Co-Opinion Editor

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

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

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.

Sof Says: How To Win the Registration Battle Sof Quaglia Satire Columnist The following content is purely satirical and entirely fictional. Don’t believe everything you read!

As a second-semester freshman who just registered for first-semester sophomore classes, I am uniquely and perfectly qualified to tell you the exact steps you need to take in order to get all the classes you want.

I might have only done it twice, but I have cracked the code on the registration system. So, without further ado, here are the exact steps you need to take to win at registration.

Step 1: Start the Process Very Late.

When is the best time to start thinking about classes? Way later than you would think. I think the ideal best time to start looking into classes is after every single person you know has already come up with their own schedules. This gives you an advantage because you were wiser than when they started. You are now winning at registration.

Step 2: Do Not Make a Backup Plan.

I think the best backup plan you can make is no backup plan. Go on Nova Schedule Builder, select your classes, and then do not think about it any further. If you do feel the need to come up with a second plan, I suggest keeping all of the same classes pretty much exactly but switching maybe one of the sections. This will give the illusion of multiple plans, but you really only have one plan. This high-

For most students, Nova Schedule Builder is a staple part of the registration process.

Graydon Paul/ Villanova Photography

risk, high-reward, low-effort strategy puts you in the lead.

Step 3: Start Stressing the Night Before.

Now that it is about 24 hours before your registration time, it is time to panic. Look at all the classes you want (from the one plan you have) and realize that they are filling up fast.

At this point, you can do one of two things: Step 4a: Cry. Once you see that all your classes are filling up and you are most certainly not going to get the schedule you wanted, one thing you can do is cry. I think this is a great option. Crying is a wonderful solution to this very big problem.

Step 4b: Re-evaluate Your Life.

This is the ideal time to make

a backup plan in my opinion. This is the time when you look into multiple different options, switching multiple class sections. At this point, maybe it’s time to look at switching out a class or two. Maybe you’re going to have to take Calculus instead of Statistics. Maybe you’re going to have to take that professor with a 3.5 rating. This is when you start to lose at registration.

Step 5: Register.

This will be a bloodbath, and like all battles, you are going to need to choose who will survive. This is a triage situation. That genetics class with one spot left? You are going to need to copy and paste that CRN so fast that the Flash himself would be impressed. That might mean that the psychology class you wanted fills up in the meantime. You need to pick

your battles here. At this point, you are officially losing, but as long as you make it out alive, then you can recover.

Step 6: Switch Majors the Next Day. This is actually a tried-andtrue method. I know this because I did it last semester, and my friend did it this semester. I personally think this method allowed for both of us to come back to the winning team.

It doesn’t matter what you decide to switch your major to, as long as you switch it. This will allow for you to drop that class that you didn’t actually want to take in the first place and replace it with a slightly more ideal class in the long run. This is a pretty big and life-altering decision that will change your entire education, but it also changes your schedule for at least one semester. Let’s be honest, you weren’t going to be happy with that horrible schedule anyway, so you might as well just switch majors. All of your little work and lots of stress has finally paid off. You have now won at registration.

Congratulations. I sincerely hope you use these steps next semester when registration rolls around again. Some might argue that this is not at all the correct way to properly register, but I think they are wrong.

At the end of the day, do you want to have a calm and organized strategy that might get you what you want but might fail miserably, or do you want to have no strategy at all, and that way when you end up not getting what you want, you can’t actually be upset about it? That’s what I thought.

Admitted Students Day Was a Sucess

largely dependent on the efforts of Villanova’s Blue Key organization, which was outside the Finn early in the morning lined up to greet new prospective students and their famiAfter three and a half years lies with fun signs and bright smiles, of late-night studying, packed extraalready demonstrating the welcoming curricular schedules and standardized community that exists at Villanova. testing, students are finally rewarded Following the excitement at with college acceptances. But choosthe Finn, the new prospective students ing a college can be challenging. were then taken on tours around There are so many questions to be an- campus to see how they might live for swered before students decide where the next four years. While campus apthey will finally end up. Villanova’s pearance may be lower on the factors Admitted Students Day was the of college decisions, it’s still something perfect event for those questions to be that we all take into account when asked and answered. choosing our new homes. Though it This past Saturday, hundreds was cloudy, students got a glimpse of of potential members of the newest the beautiful campus environment. class of Villanova students from far Along with the tours, the Coland wide poured in for the chance lege of Liberal Arts and Sciences held to get a glimpse of what their life at a majors fair to show new prospective Villanova could be like. Admitted students the range of options availStudents Day is the most important able to them to study, aiding them in and rewarding part of the admissions their decision of whether Villanova process for applicants who finally get is the right choice for them and their a chance to see if they’ve found their academic and career goals, which is new home. arguably the most important aspect Admitted Students Day is of picking the right school.

Srihi Surapaneni Staff Writer

Student organizations and clubs also had the opportunity to have tables outside showing off all of the impressive ways to get involved in the Villanova community, emphasizing that this isn’t just a place to go to class.

While Admitted Students Day is just a brief snapshot of what life as a Villanova student is really like, it’s an essential part of the admissions process as it truly allows new prospective students to go beyond online information and stats and see for themselves how exciting life at Villanova could be.

Incoming freshman Sofia Fevola is one of those students and she spoke to just how important Admitted Students Day can be in getting prospective students exciting. “[I] really enjoyed Admitted Students Day and being on campus,” Fevola said. “From the start, students and faculty were so excited and welcoming.”

She emphasized just how effective the hard work of everyone involved was and the impact it had on

getting prospective students interested.

She also noted how it helped her get an even better understanding of what academic life here is like. “[I] really liked how you could build your own schedule for the day and do what you felt would benefit your experience,” Fevola said. “It definitely reinforced [my] decision of choosing ‘Nova.”

Although Admitted Students Day is far more exciting than an average day on campus, it’s still the best representation of everything that a prospective student might find if they make that decision to make Villanova their new home. Students come from all over the country for this chance, from nearby New Jersey all the way to New Orleans, Louisiana.

The students who came to Admitted Students Day have a lot to think about before the dreaded May 1st deadline. But thanks to the hard work of Blue Key and all of the faculty, staff and clubs who were involved, Villanova will no doubt be a strong contender for students.

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

The Villanovan | 7

OPINION

An Unexpected Cafe ‘Nova Pop-Up Isabella Ledet Staff Writer If someone had told me last Wednesday that I would never again be able to order a BBQ chicken flatbread from Cova, I would have ordered 20 and kept them in my freezer. This was the terrifying reality that I thought awaited me on Friday. I was filled with fear when I went to order my favorite flatbread, finding it erased from the menu. I begrudgingly purchased a thin-crust pizza, the only thing even remotely similar that I could find.

One could definitely say that I was angry by the time I reached Dougherty Hall. I did not want thin-crust pizza. As a New Yorker, I know that is not what pizza should be. Then, it took so long for my

thin-crust pizza to get made that I was almost late to class. And to top it off, as I tried to eat it with great haste, I burned my mouth.

I tried not to let the absence of my favorite on-campus food ruin my day. But later, as I told my friends of my sorrow, I was made aware that the BBQ chicken flatbread would, in fact, return. So, thankfully, I was just overreacting.

Yes, the horrible reality that I thought I was living in melted away, replaced by the relief of knowing that it was only a pop-up shop. For the remainder of the Fridays in April, Cova will be hosting a pop-up shop serving Jules Thin Crust Pizza.

I believe that a better warning could have been given to me.

Perhaps I missed it somewhere, but

I was completely unaware of the fact that the Italian Kitchen would have an alternate menu on Fridays in April. Had I known about this, I might have actually been excited to try a new food on campus.

If I am being completely honest, the thin-crust pizza was not actually that bad. But when one is expecting a delicious flatbread with puffy, bready crust, thin-crust pizza is not even close to being in the same ballpark.

Would I have even gotten to try this strange, cracker-like pie if I did not usually order my lunch from the Italian Kitchen? Likely, no. But I did, and I am grateful for that. I think that it is important for there to be a good variety of foods on campus for students to choose from.

Villanova has never had outside

vendors serving food through the dining halls until this year. While there are some people who do not have much of a problem with this, like myself, I also value the greater choice and standardization that outside food vendors bring to campus. Food Truck Fridays are beloved by the Villanova community, not only because of the fun and social aspects, but also because of the novelty of new foods to try.

It is important to make sure the beloved on-campus foods stick around for people like me though.

While it is very nice to have a food shop pop-up, I would select a flatbread over a thin-crust pizza 100 times out of 100. It is amazing to introduce new foods to campus, but they should not come at the expense of foods that already exist.

Total Eclipse: Totally Cool or Totally Overrated?

Natalie Murphy Staff Writer On April 8, the Villanova community watched with bated breath as the renowned total solar eclipse rolled across campus greens.

In a matter of minutes, the bright blue skies were blanketed with dark clouds. It is vital to understand what the eclipse specifically entailed, especially in terms of safety preparation. According to NASA, a “total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun.” The last total eclipse was in 2021 and was only visible from Antarctica. As the next total eclipse will be in 40 years, the world was celebrating this viewing with great excitement and interest.

People from all over the country took days off of work and school to drive to places that were guaranteed full coverage, including many locations in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Additionally, the eclipse

caused a sharp increase in social media content, such as TikToks, Instagram posts and stories, tweets and Snapchat stories. College and high school students from across the nation were seen laying outside, using their backpacks as pillows with midterm grades in hand.

At Villanova, Falvey Library handed out various fun snacks, trinkets and special viewing glasses for the eclipse. Most students gathered on Mendel Lawn with blankets at the chance to have the clearest sight. It was exciting to wait for a rare natural event, especially with the rise in temperature. NASA predicted around 89% coverage in the suburbs of Philadelphia. However, when the clock hit 3:26 p.m., clouds covered people’s view of the eclipse. Within seconds, the eclipse had passed. The cloud coverage and growth in social media content provide an interesting debate: Was waiting for the eclipse worth it, or was it overrated?

While there was a lot of disappointment on campus, many

Villanovans believed the eclipse to still be an incredible, “once-in-alifetime” event.

“I did not think the eclipse was overrated,” senior Maya McFadden said. “It was disappointing that it was too cloudy to see when it was at its peak, but it was super cool to be able to see it before and after when there was less cloud cover.”

Despite the cloud coverage, students were still able to take clear photographs before and after the eclipse, and it was a fun-filled afternoon.

“It was nice to be outside with the rest of the student body and get to experience it with friends,” McFadden said.

On the other hand, some Villanovans believe the eclipse to be overrated, as they were unable to view the eclipse because of the clouds and it lasted for a very short amount of time.

“I barely saw anything,” freshman Amanda Pinou said. “[Astrologists] said it happens every 70 years,

but it happens [around] every 15 years.”

I think that the presence of social media greatly influenced people’s view of the eclipse, and not in the best way. Many people on various platforms used the eclipse as a way to showcase their relationship status, making the eclipse seem like a popularity symbol. While it was an amazing natural phenomenon, which should not be understated at all, the total eclipse only occurred for a few seconds, and if one is a Villanovan, one only got a view of clouds.

For a humanities major, the amount of hype that the eclipse received on social media was slightly out of order. The eclipse was a great event to enjoy the fresh air and people around you. It will be remembered fondly by several college students and adults, especially as the next total eclipse to be viewed in the U.S. is not until 2044, but it is no surprise that society’s inclination to grab their phones first tinted my opinion of the eclipse.

The Power of a Beautiful Day Julianna Burke Staff Writer After months of bitter cold, early morning alerts of spontaneous snow days and debates as to whether the walk to class is survivable without the shuttle, it is safe to say that spring has arrived at Villanova. One does not need to check the temperature or see the vast array of tulips, daffodils and hydrangeas to recognize this truth.

Rather, it can be determined through a newfound energy on campus.

On the recent 75-degree day, I felt an intense kick of childhood nostalgia as I made my way to my classes. Seeing large groups of students playing volleyball on the nets by Dougherty Hall, students doing their work in their Adirondack chairs and even a group of students blowing bubbles, reminded me of the power that beautiful weather has to boost

public morale. It is quite a testament to human nature that despite the vast technological innovations, distractions and constant faux dopamine boosts, we are able to find such obvious fulfillment solely through nature and its healing power.

Alongside witnessing the whimsical nature of students in their element, the aesthetics on campus were at their absolute peak. As I opened my window in my dorm room, the bushes of hundreds of yellow daffodils caught my eye. As I walked to Bartley Hall, I was greeted by the beautiful aroma of pink and purple hyacinths. Even as I made my way toward the Oreo statue, I saw hundreds of flowers that I had no idea existed.

Villanova is a uniquely beautiful campus throughout all seasons. In the fall, the crimson leaves scattered throughout Mendel Field allow one to feel as though they are in Acadia

National Park. In the winter, the icicles that hang from Falvey incite deep appreciation for how such elements augment the intrinsic beauty of our architecture. Even in the summer, the bright green of the grass and hydrangeas outside of the Connelly Center feel like an ode to the transition from high school into college. Despite all three of these seasons decorating Villanova so beautifully, spring is the greatest time to be on campus.

It is the best not even for the mere aesthetics, but for the high morale and spirits by which it is accompanied.

It truly is a wonderful time to be a student at Villanova University. The long-awaited summer break is merely weeks away, the Commons’ Holy Grounds extended its hours past 7 p.m., and the sunset is late enough that a post-dinner walk through the local Radnor neighborhoods has become a sort of tradition among students and their friend groups.

As I reflected on what I have perceived to be a large change in the general campus mood, I was curious as to what degree other people perceived this boost of campus activity.

Freshman nursing student Andrew Pinou was asked how he celebrates the newfound warmth.

“I like to keep things fresh by exploring new study locations throughout campus,” Pinoy said.

“Whether it’s a new cafe or an outdoor spot, switching up the scenery helps me stay focused and motivated.”

Whether it is through throwing a frisbee with your friends, basking in the sun as you complete your homework or people-watching and writing an article on the matter like me, it is important that we all appreciate the wonders of a Villanova Spring and gain an even deeper appreciation for nature and its ability to provide us with renewal after even the harshest of winters.

Wednesday, AprilA 17, 2024 OV

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DINING SERVICES

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10 | The Villanovan

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

CULTURE

CULTURE

“Crazy in Love” Elizabeth Weiss’s One Woman Show Julia O’Keefe Staff Writer Senior Communication and English student Elizabeth Weiss performed her original, one-woman show “Crazy in Love” in the Communication Department Studio last week as a culmination of her senior project.

“Crazy in Love” aims to analyze the word “crazy” as a gendered term, answering questions of why this term is often thrown around by men to describe women when it does not directly apply. The show takes on the form of a radio talk show, and as host of “Slay 104.1,” Weiss answers calls from women looking for dating advice, offering them rather over-thetop solutions to commonly experienced problems in the college dating scene, largely appealing to the male gaze. Through satire, Weiss conveys to her audience that the word “crazy” is overused and often harmful when used against women who are not actually “crazy” at all, but are just trying to express their deep emotions.

“I was definitely playing up the crazy trope and making it so over the top with the advice I was giving to poke fun at the trope in general, but also the fact that men will call women crazy for the littlest things,” Weiss said.

Weiss’s research stemmed from work she had done in her qualitative research class, in which she dove into the origins of the word “crazy” to discover if it truly is gendered and how people feel about it.

“I looked into the history of the word ‘crazy,’ the etymology of both ‘crazy’ and ‘gaslighting,’ hoping

to find whether this term really is gendered,” she said.

Ultimately, Weiss concluded that yes, “crazy” is considered a gendered term. It was then up to her to write her script to convey the different ways in which men and women perceive and use the term.

Weiss’s script included 10 voice memos by her friends, who serve as the “callers” on the show.

She was happy to get her friends involved and felt it made for a productive medium in conveying her message. From wondering how to get a love interest to notice them to questioning why one’s sorority formal date didn’t ask her back to his frat formal, these callers bring about all too real examples that women commonly face in the dating world, many specific to Villanova culture.

“In tonight’s performance, you will hear over-the-top, exaggerated versions of real stories I heard during these interviews,” Weiss wrote in her Director’s Notes. “Get ready to hear some terrible advice, some great music and think about what it really means to be a ‘crazy’ woman.”

In calling audience members to strive to be the “crazy girl” instead of the “cool girl,” Weiss further stresses that a “crazy girl” is “just a girl.” Why strive to be the “cool” girl when putting the word “crazy” in front of “girl” holds no weight or correlation to a textbook definition?

If being crazy is expressing emotions, Weiss encourages women to be “crazy” girls, express those emotions and get the answers they deserve.

“Because we don’t do ‘cool girl’ here,” she wrote.

Weiss hopes her audiences had fun and enjoyed her show. She hopes they walk away knowing that if

Senior Elizabeth Weiss takes the stage to perform her one woman show.

Courtesy of Julia O’Keefe/Villanovan Photography

one has ever been called ‘crazy,” it’s okay.

“It really is such an overused term that can be used in so many ways,” Weiss said. “And [women] shouldn’t be too hard on themselves for that.”

One of Weiss’s most fulfilling moments from this experience was hearing that her mother and her three aunts, all in their 50s, understood the show’s message, proving the subject matter is truly multi-generational.

“I thought my mom wouldn’t really understand it, but she agreed it wasn’t just relatable to my generation,

VillaVogue: Wildcat Thrift

and sustainability. “[Some of the motivation for this event is to] support the circular economy on campus, support other students and encourage sustainabiliAre you looking to declutter ty,” Lonergan said. your closet and bring new items to “We encourage people to get your wardrobe before summer break? groups of friends together and clean Well, you’re in luck, because Wildcat out their closest,” Lonergan said. “My Thrift, a pop-up thrift store on camroommates dedicate one night and we pus, is coming to the Oreo on Friday, go through everyone’s closets and ask April 26. There will be tables surrounding the area with vendors selling ourselves, ‘Who would wear this and who wouldn’t?’” clothes. Students and organizations But donating clothes is not the can buy a table for $10, sell old clothes only benefit of the event. Thrifting is and keep or donate the profits. an easy way to gather vintage clothing The organization was founded by Emily Jaenicke, a 2022 graduate that adds authenticity to one’s style. of Villanova, who started it during her The student-run organization offers sophomore year of college after being students a great way to expand their sent home during the pandemic. With taste in clothing for an affordable price, while simultaneously getting an overwhelming amount of time on her hands and a progressing major in rid of clothes efficiently. Many colenvironmental science, she construct- lege students tend to roll on a budget, ed the idea for sustainability purposes. therefore looking for affordable and cute clothing to wear on nights out or The first pop-up thrift event going to class is essential. was held a year after Jaenicke’s initial Students have made up to $700 worth plans in the spring of her junior year. of profits. Thrifting is successful mostHer inspiration to infiltrate sustainly because some people’s old style is ability into Villanovan culture was a another person’s new style. success and continues to flourish.

“You would be surprised. It’s Senior Fiona Lonergan runs crazy what people give away,” Lonerthe organization. She took over for gan said. “I have bought Zara dresses Jaenicke last year. As a Statistics and with tags on them.”

Gender & Women’s Studies major, This organization works to Lonergan has a natural interest and be accessible for everyone, even when devotion to environmental science Ciara Dursee Staff Writer

one may not have a lot of clothes to donate. For example, this past fall, Lonergan led a “Pay What You Can.” For the next week, Lonergan and others involved in this club will be holding the same table in Bartley and Connelly to collect clothes and sell various pieces on a smaller level.

Above all, the main goal during the pop-up is to increase foot traffic. Lonergan is confident that the Oreo is the perfect spot to hold the event, as long as the weather agrees.

“We want to get the most amount of vendors possible and the most amount of clothes [at the Oreo] because then we will divert them from the landfill and donate them responsibly,” Lonergan said.

but to hers, too,” said Weiss. “That was super exciting to hear.”

Weiss’s favorite part of this experience was being able to perform her own writing. She has always loved the stage and found her opportunity to embrace that through the Performance Studies Department at Villanova. Weiss extends her thanks to Dr. Evan Schares for his support in advising her project and for largely shaping her Performance Studies experience to date. She would also like to thank anyone who attended either of her two performances, hoping they embrace that “crazy” and, of course, tune into “Slay 104.1.”

The organization is looking to reach Greek Life to link the donations to a broader fundraising community.

The more word is spread, the more vendors and therefore more clothes there are to sort through and potentially purchase. This organization is also working towards creating a permanent space where people can donate clothes and students can thrift.

That way, students can enjoy affordable and accessible thrifting yearround right on campus.

Attend Wildcat Thrift from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. next Friday. It is ACS-approved. The Wildcat Thrift is a perfect opportunity if one is looking to upgrade one’s style as summer creeps in.

Maggie Cavanaugh(Right) pictured with Fiona Lonergan(Left) at last years Oreo thrift event.

Courtesy of Fiona Lonergan

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

The Villanovan | 11

CULTURE

LinkedIn: the Newest Frenzy Amongst Villanova Students

ing student Sophia Koutsourakis said.

LinkedIn can help connect one with people they never knew Though one may think were interested in the same field as students’ favorite form of social them, facilitating relationships and media is Instagram or Snapchat, advancing one’s job search in the during internship and job applica- future. tion season, one would be mistak“As a nursing student, the en. It is LinkedIn. If you are not app is fun for me to connect with connected with your friends on people in my sorority that are also LinkedIn, can you even consider nursing students,” freshman Eloise them real friends?

Kircher said. “This helps me when LinkedIn is a platform picking classes because I can find on which people are able to conpeople to talk and go to for nursnect with others that they know, ing advice.” building a network for jobs in the From the initial creation of future. The free software is easy to a profile, one is prompted to add use. All one needs to do is share connections based on the compatheir education and job experience nies and education they provided. on their profile. There are also op- This is where LinkedIn gets a tions to add certifications, profile person coming back for more, as photos and job updates. The goal masses of people are suggested to of the app is to facilitate connecadd to one’s network. Out of all tions with others in similar career the features the app has to offer, fields, helping to get jobs in the the connections seem to intrigue future and can be used to highlight people the most. Friends will even one’s resume and send in applica- race to see who can get the most tions. connections, with the label “500+ Freshmen in the business connections” on one’s account beschool were required to make ing basically equivalent to an InsLinkedIn profiles for a class astagram verification badge. While signment. However, this does not some business students needed to mean that the craze is limited to reach a certain number of connecbusiness students. Students of any tions for their class, many conmajor are able to create a profile tinued to use the app afterwards. and explore the app.

Once you start connecting, it is “Even though I’m not a difficult to stop. business student, LinkedIn helps “It was fun to connect with me find people at Villanova that people I had in my classes because are in my major that I can talk to I knew we all had similar interin the future,” freshman engineer- ests,” freshman business student Alex Pultz Staff Writer

Ryann Segall said.

Another popular feature of the app is the ability to see what people are interested in. Education, interests and past experiences are displayed on each person’s profile. Students are able to see what others were up to in the past and what they want to do in future.

Though LinkedIn is a new social media craze, it is actual-

ly one that is very beneficial to students. The “500+ connections” that students are racing towards can ultimately help them find career opportunities and form relationships in the future. By helping students to create their very own networks able to assist them in securing internships and jobs, LinkedIn is the perfect way to have fun connecting with friends while also building towards one’s future.

In addition to coursework, students have taken to networking on the platform LinkedIn. Courtesy of Brian Luppy/Villanovan Photography

The Spanish Tragedy: Reviewed Sofia Krzewicki Staff Writer From April 11 to April 21, the Villanova Theatre Department presents Thomas Kyd’s The Spanish Tragedy, directed by Dr. Alice Dailey and Dr. Chelsea Phillips.

Written between 1582 and 1592, The Spanish Tragedy established a new genre in English theatre: the revenge play, otherwise known as the revenge tragedy. William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and Titus Andronicus are often cited as popular examples of revenge tragedies. It is hypothesized that The Spanish Tragedy inspired Shakespeare with elements such as a play-within-aplay used to trap a murderer.

In addition, Dailey and Phillips taught a course titled “Legacies of Revenge Across Time, Space, Genre, and Media” in the Fall of 2023 ,that involved the study of the play and its dynamics of revenge in context with western culture.

The Spanish Tragedy opens in the Courts of Spain and Portugal in the aftermath of a battle between the two nations wherein the Viceroy of Portugal’s (David Adah-Ogoh) son Balthazar (Justin Badoyen) has killed the Spanish officer Don Andrea (Emily Mosset).

The ghost of Don Andrea and the personification of Revenge serve as the equivalent of a Greek chorus. Don Andrea’s lover, Bel-Imperia (Emma Drennen) promises to murder Balthazar, but he begins to

With showings through April 21st, don’t miss your chance to see The Spanish Tragedy.

Courtesy of Villanova University

fall in love with her. Bel-Imperia’s grieving heart, however, belongs to Horatio (Owen Dorlac), the son of the Knight Marshal of Spain, Hieronimo (James Keegan). The Spanish Tragedy is filled with revenge plots, love triangles, political intrigue, farcical comedy and of course, violence.

The Spanish Tragedy

comes with content warnings for depictions of graphic violence, murder, suicide, discussion and exercise of capital punishment, self-inflicted dismemberment and gun usage. The physical violence in the play is used to augment the deep emotional pain felt by the characters.

Adah-Ogoh and Keegan,

playing father figures, tapped into the uncontrollable rage that a parent may feel at the mere thought of their child being endangered or hurt. Drennen encapsulated the confusing emotions that Bel-Imperia felt as she navigated revenge on behalf of her dead lover and the desire to find happiness with someone new simultaneously.

Another impressive aspect of the show was the set, which uniquely enough was not constricted to the stage. The show boasted a multi-level structure with two floors accessible by a staircase for the actors, decorated with an Iberian motif. In addition, to emphasize the idea that The Spanish Tragedy contains characters from two worlds, the stage serves as a representation of the world of the living as well as the afterlife. The house, shrouded in darkness, is where Don Andrea watches the story unfold, along with the rest of the audience, from the Underworld.

The Spanish Tragedy is most definitely a play worth seeing. This upcoming Friday and Saturday, April 19 and 20, the John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts will host a The Spanish Tragedy Symposium with keynotes by Dr. Richard Preiss (University of Utah) and Dr. Andrea Stevens (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), including facilitated discussions and reception.

To purchase tickets, visit the Villanova Theatre website at https://villanovatheatre.org.

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

CULTURE

12| The Villanovan

Talking Detours with Heimbold Chair Dr. Emilie Pine Irish Culture and The Memory Marketplace: Witnessing Pain in Contemporary Irish and International Theatre.

Dr. Emilie Pine, PhD. is no In the midst of her many stranger to redirection and adven- positions and responsibilities, Pine ture. still finds a way to explore new “I’m a huge fan of deareas of her discipline, venturing tours,” Pine said. into creative writing. The detour The author of essay colin question first took place in 2018 lection “Notes to Self ” and ficwith the publication of her coltion novel Ruth & Pen was eager lection of essays “Notes to Self.” and poised as she conversed with Originally published by Tramp students in the Villanova Art Press in Ireland (and published Gallery last Friday afternoon. In again the next year by The Dial her role as Villanova’s 2024 Heim- Press, a division of Random bold Chair, Pine has spent several House, in the United States), weeks at Villanova this spring Notes to Self overflows with vivid visiting and teaching in various memories and vulnerable reflecEnglish and Irish Studies courses, tions on Pine’s life, with a promiattending literary events on and nent theme of self-care. off campus and reading her work When asked about her as a visiting writer for Villanova’s thoughts on the role of care in Literary Festival. education, as well as the writing The Charles A. Heimbold, process, Pine noted that her goal Jr. Chair of Irish Studies is a poin her classes, in which difficult sition held each Spring Semester content can arise in a variety of by an accomplished Irish author subject material, is to help her stuand is considered a distinguished dents protect themselves and stay honor. safe while exploring these topics.

As for her personal expe“It shouldn’t be a dangerrience at Villanova, Dr. Pine has ous thing to come to class,” Pine nothing but gushing remarks about said. “I can’t make the subject her time here. safe, but hopefully I can try to “As soon as I got off the make the room a safe space.” plane I was like, ‘Whoa. I am havAs for herself, Pine admits ing new ideas,’” Pine said. that she has become well-versed Back in Dublin, Ireland, in speaking about care, but is still Pine is a Professor of Modern learning to implement it into her Drama in the School of English, own life. The vulnerability presDrama and Film at University ent in the book made it difficult at College Dublin. Outside of the times to discuss it with family and classroom, Pine is also the Direcfriends, but Pine says she ultimatetor of the Irish Memory Studies ly feels confident in the end result.

Research Network, a member “Editing is where you get of the Advisory Board of the to make sure that the thing you’re International Memory Studies putting out in the world is [someAssociation, an editor of the Irish thing] you’re happy with,” Pine University Review and the author said. “Notes to Self is vulnerable, of several academic publications, but actually I don’t feel vulneraincluding her books The Politics ble about it at all, because I know of Irish Memory: Performing exactly what that book is saying Remembrance in Contemporary and about, and I decided on every Bailey Quinn Staff Writer

single word in that book.”

In regards to her current and future work, Pine is content with her detour away from academia. Having spent roughly 20 years within the realm of academic writing, she views her work in Notes to Self and her fiction book Ruth & Pen as a “permission slip” to explore a new area.

“Writing was something I always wanted to do,” Pine said. “I kept refusing myself permission on it.”

Recently, she has been navigating nonfiction writing while working with survivors of the Magdalene Laundries. Also known as “mother-and-baby homes,” these institutions were run by religious orders in Ireland during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, taking in and abusing unwed mothers and young children.

Because of the inadequate education the young people, now grown adults, received within the institutions, many of them are unable to write down their experiences, which is where Pine, alongside others, comes in to provide support in the process of sharing their stories.

“The difficult [part] for me in that is trying to find a way of

writing about those experiences without stealing those experiences from people who have gone through them,” Pine said.

In her role, she recognizes it is not her goal to be the speaker for the survivors of the Magdalene Laundries, but to support them in the process of communicating their experiences and drawing attention to the residual impacts of the institutions that can still be felt by the Irish people.

Throughout her visit, Pine’s presence on Villanova’s campus acted as a constant reminder of the ways in which writers and artists encourage us to dream while also rooting us in the present. From her Heimbold chair reading to classroom discussions to one-on-one conversations, Pine approached every interaction as an opportunity to simultaneously bond with and learn from the Villanova community. Her eagerness for learning and passion for writing has left an indelible mark on our community, and we would be remiss not to acknowledge the “permission slip” that Pine has given us to create, to connect and to care, even if it leads to detours we never expected. They might just turn out to be amazing.

Dr. Emilie Pine, PhD., is Villanova’s 2024 Heimbold Chair.

Courtesy of Villanova Irish Studie

Teddy Fitzsimons: The “Side Quest Man” Ean Steidle Staff Writer Is there a better test of the human spirit than running 250 miles around Villanova’s historic track on a spring day? In the upcoming weeks, Villanova junior Teddy Fitzsimons will attempt to run 1000 consecutive laps around Villanova’s track with minimal breaks, pushing the limits of both his mind and body as he completes this ultramarathon.

Why is he willing to sacrifice astronomical amounts of time to train and prepare for this abysmal task? For Fitzsimons, the answer is rather simple. After learning of recent cancer and sepsis diagnoses of loved ones, he decided that he wanted to help in any way he could.

“I wanted to find a way to make a difference while also pushing myself and strengthening my mind in ways I didn’t think were possible,” Fitzsimons said.

Fitzsimons, no rookie to ultramarathons, is in the process of preparing for this endeavor through extensive training. He has

Villanova junior Teddy Fitzsimons is known as the “Side Quest Man.” .

Graydon Paul/Villanovan Photography

successfully completed numerous 100-mile ultramarathons, and is reflecting on his previous races as he looks ahead to his newest challenge.

“I’ve already learned a lot from my 100-mile races,” Fitzsimons said. “Miles 50 to 60 and 70 to 90 are the biggest mental walls

for me. Ultramarathons liberate you from your old way of thinking.”

He has never attempted any event nearly as long as the one he will this spring. However, this leaves him with a certain level of uncertainty.

“I do not know what to

expect from a 250-mile run yet,” he said. “After completing the 100 miles, I didn’t think I could run another lap.”

In addition to his endeavors around the track, Fitzsimons will be going to local businesses around the Villanova and Bryn Mawr area to seek support for his fundraiser, asking stores to donate a percentage of their sales to his cause. As of now, he is still unsure what charity organization the fundraiser will support, but he plans to make sure the proceeds help those in need battling similar illnesses to those close to him.

Fitzsimons likes to call himself the “Side Quest Man,” stemming from his enjoyment of taking on unusual and fun challenges such as this one. In addition to being an ultramarathoner, he is also a member of USA Bobsled-Skeleton (USABS).

Though 250 miles is ambitious, Fitzsimons is up for the challenge. If one sees a friendly ultramarathoner running around campus in the coming weeks, feel free to cheer him on in his latest side quest.

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

The Villanovan | 13

SPORTS

SPORTS

Softball Sweeps St. John’s at Home Jon Hunn Staff Writer Coming off a tough series in Omaha that saw Villanova softball suffering its first Big East losses of the season, the ‘Cats aimed to get right back at home against St. John’s. They did just that, sweeping the weekend series with scores of 13–9, 10–1 and 11–5.

“I think it humbled us a little bit,” head coach Bridget Orchard said. “We were 9-0 going into Creighton, and taking two losses I think it was [time to] refocus and lock in and work. They put a lot of work in over the week coming into the Saint John’s [series]. We knew that St. John’s had beaten UConn, so we didn’t take them lightly and came out ready to go.”

In the Friday series opener, the Wildcats got on the board first, scratching a run across in the bottom of the first inning when junior right fielder Elaina Wagner’s RBI single scored senior left fielder Tess Cites.

The Red Storm responded with an onslaught. They added two runs in the top of the second on a pair of run-scoring singles, five in the third on a two-run single and a three-run home run, and two more in the fourth on an RBI single and a sacrifice fly. After the top of the fourth inning, they led, 9-1.

The Wildcat offense reig-

nited in the bottom of the fourth, scoring seven runs to pull within one run of St John’s.

Graduate third baseman Chloe Smith scored graduate first baseman Victoria Sebastian on a double to start the inning. Graduate catcher Ally Jones walked with the bases loaded to score Smith.

Sophomore second baseman Lilly St. Jean’s two-run single then scored Wagner and freshman center fielder Elizabeth Gray. Senior shortstop Ava Franz knocked in Jones with a single and Sebastian’s RBI single scored St. Jean.

The ‘Cats’ offense closed the deficit to one by the end of the inning as Franz scored on a St. John’s wild pitch.

To follow up the monstrous fourth inning, Villanova added another five runs in the fifth to take the lead, ultimately for good. St. Jean’s two-run double scored Cites and Gray and was followed up

by Franz’s three-run homer that knocked in St. Jean and Jones.

The 13-9 score after the fifth inning held as the final.

For the Wildcats, senior pitcher Caroline Pellicano recorded the win, pitching the final three innings in scoreless relief. She scattered just two hits and one walk while striking out a pair of batters.

In the Saturday game, Villanova jumped on St. John’s in the first inning with five runs when Wagner scored Cites on an RBI single and was brought home on Jones’ two-run homer. Franz

rounded out the inning on a tworun round-tripper that scored St. Jean.

Both offenses went silent until the fourth inning when St. John’s scored their first run of the game on a bases-loaded walk.

The Wildcats added five more runs in the bottom of the fifth to trigger the mercy rule.

Redshirt junior first baseman Brooklyn Ostrowski clubbed a two-run home run to score Smith. Freshman pinch hitter Maranda Runco then hit a walkoff home run, the first home run of her career, when her two-run round-tripper that scored junior DP Kelsey White ended the game early on the mercy rule.

Villanova sophomore pitcher Kat Gallant recorded the victory by completing four innings of one-run ball, scattering six hits and one walk. She also struck out three batters.

In the Sunday series finale, St. John’s scored first, adding three runs in the top of the second inning on an RBI single and a pair of RBI doubles.

Villanova answered back to cut the deficit to two in the bottom of the second when White’s double brought in Smith.

The ‘Cats then tied the game in the third when St. Jean crushed a two-run home run to score Jones. “[St. Jean] was awesome,” Orchard said. “She was clutch.

She hit a homer and [came

through] in big big situations. Her coming through in the clutch was pretty massive.”

Villanova then ambushed the Red Storm in the fourth, punishing the opposition for six more runs. Gray got the inning started with an RBI single that scored Ostrowski. Cites followed with a sacrifice fly to drive in White.

Gray went home on a passed ball.

Later in the inning, Wagner was brought in on Franz’s fielder’s choice. Smith brought in Franz and Jones with an RBI single.

St. John’s defense then fell apart in the bottom of the fifth.

The Red Storm second baseman committed an error, allowing Villanova redshirt sophomore pinch runner Alexa Raphael and Cites to score the final runs and trigger the mercy rule.

For the Wildcats, senior pitcher Alyssa Seidler recorded the win, coming out of the bullpen to pitch three perfect innings, striking out four batters in the process. “[Seidler] has been huge, really, really big,” Orchard said.

“She went from [being a starter early in the season], and then this weekend, we decided to bring her in as a closer, which is kind of a different mindset [that she] had to take on. I thought she did a great job. She was able to start and finish a lot of innings and they didn’t get any hits off of her.”

Villanova will travel to Chicago this weekend for a threegame series against DePaul.

T&F Success Continues; Murphy Qualifies for Olympic Trials Dylan Johnson Staff Writer It was another two-event weekend for Villanova track and field. One was the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, California.

The second event was the Larry Ellis Invitational in Princeton, New Jersey.

Distance was the highlight of the weekend in California.

Sophomore Marco Langon ran the seventh best time in the 5000 meters in Villanova history. Langon crossed the finish line with a time of 13:28.44 to shatter his previous personal best by 20 seconds.

Senior Liam Murphy took the spotlight. He achieved an Automatic “A” qualifying time for this summer’s U.S. Olympic Team Trials in the 1500 meters. Murphy coasted across the finish line in 3:36.48 to lower his personal best by about three full seconds.

At Princeton, junior Faith Haught threw for a personal best.

Fifth-year Madison Martinez won her section of the 800 meters and junior Emma McGill was one of three Villanova athletes who recorded personal bests in the 1500 meters. Sixth-year distance runner Jack Fredian tallied the second-fastest time of his career in the 5000 meters.

Langon finished 11th in a field of 29 runners in the 5000

meters. This is Langon’s first official college season on the track after he redshirted as a freshman.

His previous personal best in the 5000 meters had been 13:47.42 while running unattached at Princeton a year ago this weekend. “[Langon] can run faster, I believe,” men’s head coach Marcus O’Sullivan said. “He is young and is putting up numbers like this. He will soon be where he needs to be.”

Murphy’s 1500-meter time is the sixth-fastest time in Villanova history and the second-fastest ever run during the college season. Murphy trails Sydney Maree (3:35.30) on that list. Maree’s time was the NCAA record for nearly 38 years from 1981 to 2018.

Fifth-year Xian Shively competed in the third heat of the 5000 meters and ran a 13:57.90 to tally the second-fastest time of his career.

Fifth-year Sean Dolan and freshman Dan Watcke ran the 800 meters. Dolan posted a top-10 national time in his outdoor season debut with a time of 1:47.11 for the Big East lead this season.

Watcke ran his second collegiate race on Friday evening.

He won his heat of the 800 meters in 1:48.55. Watcke is already an international gold medalist after winning the 800 meters at the Pan American U20 Championships last summer. Watcke made his col-

legiate debut only two weeks ago.

“This is a really good place for [Watcke],” O’Sullivan said.

Murphy, junior Sean Donoghue, junior Devon Comber and sixth-year Charlie O’Donovan ran the 1500 meters in impressive and historic times.

Murphy ran against both collegiate and professional runners. The automatic standard for the Olympic Trials is 3:37.0 and Murphy ran just over half a second under it. Murphy ranks sixth on this year’s NCAA Division I performance list.

“That gives a strong indicator of where [Murphy] is,” O’Sullivan said. “He still has the whole collegiate season to go and that was his first race outdoors.”

All four Wildcats in the 1500 meters ran the metric equivalent of sub-four minute miles.

Donoghue recorded a time of 3:41.02. Comber ran a 3:41.32.

O’Donovan was right behind them with a time of 3:41.90. Comber is the 48th member of Villanova’s sub-four minute mile club.

At Princeton, Villanova ran its first 4x100 meter relay race of the season. The lineup was freshman Derrick Smith, freshman Imevar Justice, freshman Parker Turner and junior Connor Dunning with a time of 41.41.

A lineup that featured O’Neill, freshman Ethan Walls, sophomore Sal Barretta and

freshman Matthew Griffin won the 4x400 meter relay in 3:17.01.

Fredian crossed the finish line in 14:12.01 to finish fourth in the 5000 meters. Kredell ran in the same section of the 5000 meters and ran 14:42.20.

The 800 meters featured the trio of Martinez, sophomore Micah Trusty and junior Alex Stasichin. Martinez tallied a time of 2:05.20 to win the heat. Trusty recorded a time of 2:06.67. Stasichin posted her best result of the season with 2:09.15.

McGill ran the 1500 meters, lowering her previous personal best by more than six seconds and placing seventh. McGill moved up to fifth on the Big East performance list, with her time of 4:22.72.

First-year Tilly O’Connor and junior Margaret Carroll also lowered their personal best times in the 1500 meters. O’Connor won her heat in 4:28.23 and Carroll finished with a time of 4:28.78.

Junior Faith Haught moved up to fifth on Villanova’s all-time performance list in the discus with a personal best of 47.69 meters.

Haught is now in third on this year’s Big East performance list.

Both the men’s and women’s track and field team will head to the Virginia Challenge in Charlottesville, Virginia. The event will be on April 19 and April 20.

14 | The Villanovan

SPORTS

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Pitching Staff Leads Baseball to Sweep of Seton Hall

pitched, allowing one run on four hits, one walk and three strikeouts.

He also managed to earn the win as the Wildcats scored immeVillanova baseball has a four- diately after with a Dylan Dennis game winning streak after sweeping single. The graduate student first Seton Hall this past weekend. The baseman went 2-for-4 on the day first two games resulted in a 3–1 win with one RBI, one walk and one run. and a dominating 9–2 victory for Villanova added an insurance Villanova. The Wildcats then folrun in the following inning on a solo lowed the games up with a shutout in homer from junior catcher Josue the final game of the series, winning, Valdez. Graduate student pitchers 3–0.

Stephen Turzai and Alec Sachais These conference wins give each threw a scoreless inning out of the ‘Cats a 3–6 conference and 11–21 the bullpen to hold the score at 3-1. overall record. They now stand sixth Senior Patrick Montfort came in to overall in the Big East. close the game. He allowed no runs It’s difficult to win on the or hits to earn the save. road, much less take every game in It was an all-around team the series. The Wildcats have imeffort in the first game that the Wildproved their away record to 10–17, cats carried over into Game 2. The as they’re playing some of their best bats got started early with Villanova baseball of the season. taking a 7-0 lead into the fifth inning.

“Part of our plan was to Sophomore shortstop Michael play non-conference road games to Whooley sparked this offense with a prepare for the number of confertwo-RBI single in the first inning. He ence road games,” head coach Kevin then wrapped up the 7-0 streak with Mulvey said. “Our guys are used to a two-run homer in the fourth, giving it now so they know what to expect. him four RBIs on the day.

Our coaches do a great job of preNeff was efficient in the secparing them with scouting reports.” ond game as well, going 1-for-2 with The first game against the two walks and two RBIs. Graduate Pirates was a pitcher’s duel, with only third baseman Jack O’Reilly led the four total runs being scored. Villateam in hits going 3-for-6 including a nova scored the first run in the third two-run double in the second inning. inning on a hit-by-pitch from grad Graduate student Luke student DH Jason Neff.

McCollough pitched six innings and Freshman pitcher Jake Franallowed one run on four hits and cis started the game and threw five three strikeouts to earn the win. Grad scoreless innings until he allowed one student Rian Schwede then came run in the sixth inning to tie the game into relief and dominated with three up. Francis finished with six innings strikeouts and only one run on two James Haupt Staff Writer

hits in 3.0 innings to finish the game.

This 9-2 victory gave the Wildcats the confidence to sweep the series in Game three. The game was scoreless through five innings proving to be another defensive masterclass on both sides. Eventually, the Wildcats were able to score three runs through a ground out, sacrifice fly and a single, the latter being hit by Neff, yet again.

It may not have been the offensive onslaught from the day prior, but the pitching remained dominant in this game. Senior Devin Rivera threw seven scoreless innings to earn his first win of the season. Rivera has been 0–6 up until this matchup.

Graduate student Ryan Mintz came in after and allowed no runs on one hit en route to a two-inning save.

“We were able to perform in clutch situations both on the mound and in the field,” Mulvey said. “When we were in spots where we needed a big out we got it. We made the play, got the hit, moved the runner, scored the runner and made the pitch. We were able to perform in those pressure situations.”

This winning streak is tied for the longest over the last two seasons for the Wildcats. It has helped them reach double-digit wins much quicker than last season as they are only three wins away from last year’s total.

Villanova baseball will look to continue its success in the next matchup against Monmouth on Wednesday. Villanova will then face off against Creighton in another Big East series this upcoming weekend.

Women’s Lacrosse Defeats Xavier, 18-8 Genna Cottingham Staff Writer Villanova (6-7 overall, 2-2 Big East) defeated Xavier (3-10, 0-4), 18–8, on Senior Day. The matchup took place at Villanova Stadium on Saturday, April 13.

Before the game, the Wildcats celebrated nine seniors, along with attacker Cara Moreau, who is finishing up her fifth year of play at Villanova.

“We’re really going to miss the impact that [the seniors] had on the program, but we were so happy to be able to celebrate them and have them on the field so much today,” head coach Jill Batcheller said.

In the previous meeting of Villanova and Xavier, the Wildcats won, 21–9, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Although the ‘Cats had a smaller margin of victory this time around, Villanova remains in fourth place in the Big East conference. Xavier sits in last, losing every conference game thus far, with only two weeks left in the regular season.

“We’re planning on finishing out the season sticking to our core values: faith, family, fight and fast,” Batcheller said. “That has been our goal since day one.”

Freshman attacker Emma Verhoest won the initial draw control.

Verhoest went on to win 15 more draw controls throughout the matchup. Freshman defender Cailin Harrington was able to receive three draw controls, as well for the ‘Cats.

After scoring four goals in the first period, the Wildcats managed to score eight against the Musketeers in

Senior attack Kayla Gulmi had two assists in the Senior Day win over Xavier.

Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

the second period alone. The game’s high scorer was junior attacker Sami Carey, who scored four, including three consecutive goals in the span of four minutes.

Next on the scoreboard was freshman midfielder Rose Christie, who had three unassisted goals on Saturday.

Two Wildcats scored free position goals from freshman attacker Sophia Corretjer and sophomore midfielder Ashlyn Hickey. Both went on to score another unassisted goal during the game. Moreau had four points in the game, between two goals and two assists. Junior attacker Sydney Pappas was held to only two goals against the Musketeers due to a face mask penalty that was called early on.

“The number of goal-scorers that we have allowed for everyone to pick up the slack and take any opportunities they could get,” Batcheller said.

Xavier’s highest scorer, sophomore attacker Lola Mancuso, netted four goals. Two of the goals

by Mancuso were free position shots.

However, the Musketeers fell into foul

and penalty trouble throughout the game. Xavier had six green cards, two of which were called on junior midfielder Julie Cassidy. The team also had four players receive yellow cards.

The starting Villanova goalkeeper was freshman Mackenzie Fisher, who stayed on the field for most of the game. With four saves, Fisher only allowed four goals against the Musketeers. After nearly 50 minutes of play, Fisher was subbed in by junior Kate Montalto with 11:22 left in the final period. Fisher had two saves and allowed four Xavier goals.

Christie scored the first goal of the second half, putting the Wildcats up by 10. The women’s lacrosse rulebook allows for the clock to run when a team is ahead by 10. For the remainder of the game, the time only stopped for time outs and penalties.

In total, Villanova took 34 shots compared to Xavier’s 17.

The Wildcats also overpowered the Musketeers in draw controls, winning nearly 67%.

Villanova only has two more conference games left before the Big

WEEKLY SCOREBOARD April 10 - April 16

Wednesday, April 10 Men’s Tennis @ St. Joe’s 2-4 L Baseball vs Penn 5-3 W Thursday, April 11 Friday, April 12 Women’s Tennis @ Georgetown 1-6 L Softball vs St. John’s 13-9 W Baseball @ Seton Hall 3-1 W Women’s Track and Field @ Larry Ellis Invitational No Team Scoring Men’s Track and Field @ Larry Ellis Invitational No Team Scoring Men’s Track and Field @ Bryan Clay Invitational No Team Scoring Saturday, April 13 Men’s Tennis @ Georgetown 0-7 L Women’s Track and Field @ Larry Ellis Invitational No Team Scoring Men’s Track and Field @ Larry Ellis Invitational No Team Scoring Men’s Track and Field @ Bryan Clay Invitational No Team Scoring Softball vs St. John’s 10-1 W Water Polo vs No. 20 LIU 13-15 L Men’s Lacrosse @ St. John’s 14-9 W Women’s Lacrosse vs Xavier 18-8 W Baseball @ Seton Hall W 9-2 Sunday, April 14 Men’s Tennis @ George Mason 0-4 L Women’s Tennis vs St. John’s 2-4 L Softball vs St. John’s 11-3 W Baseball @ Seton Hall 3-0 W Water Polo vs No. 18 Wagner 10-19 L Water Polo @ La Salle 8-9 L Rowing @ Knecht Cup No Team Scoring Monday, April 15 Golf vs Wildcat Spring Invitational 1st of 7 Tuesday, April 16 Golf vs Wildcat Spring Invitational Post-Production Baseball @ Lafayette Post-Production East Tournament commences. Next Saturday, April 20, the Wildcats play No. 12 University of Denver in the last home game of the season at 1 p.m. “[Denver is] a very fast and dynamic team, but I think we’re really ready for the challenge,” Batcheller said.

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

The Villanovan | 15

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