WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2022 www.villanovan.com @thevillanovan VOLUME 114 | ISSUE 21
Let’s Do Better: Women’s Basketball
STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916
Letter from the Editors: Response to University of Virginia Shooting
Meghann Morhardt Co-Sports Editor
At a school with as successful a men’s basketball program as Villanova, other sports, especially women’s basketball, can be overshadowed. It’s time we start giving the women’s basketball team the attention it deserves and Monday’s Associated Press Poll results should be enough of a reason for Villanova’s students to take notice. Following an upset loss at Temple last Friday, the men’s team dropped from No.16 to unranked, falling out of the Top-25 for the first time since February 2019. On the other hand, the women, coming off an upset over No. 24 Princeton on Friday, climbed their way into the Top-25 for the first time since 2018, stealing the Tigers’ previous 24th spot. Now, this is not meant to take away from the success and history of the men’s program. The three national championships and six Final Four appearances speak for themselves, and no one is asking that any attention be taken away from them. It’s just time for that same energy to be invested into the women’s team. Many students on Villanova’s campus have likely never been to a women’s basketball game at The Finneran Pavilion, and the justification is always that “no one goes” or that the “women’s team just isn’t that good.” But both of these are excuses, not reasons. The first is easily avoided simply by more fans attending games. If everyone assumes that nobody else goes, then no one will ever go. It becomes a never-ending cycle that prevents the popularity of Villanova women’s basketball to grow. The second excuse is Continued on p. 12
Those whose lives were taken prematurely include Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry, all of whom played football at the university. Brian Luppy/Villanovan Photography
Late Sunday evening, three students from the University of Virginia were shot and killed. Those whose lives were taken prematurely include Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry, all of whom played football at the university. Two other students were wounded and remain in the hospital. One student is in critical condition and the other in good condition. Only one of those students has been identified as Michael Hollins, another football teammate. As Americans have become accustomed to, messages of hope, peace and prayers have flooded social
media and news outlets. Jay Wright, former Villanova men’s basketball head coach, shared his thoughts via Twitter on Monday. “We are thinking of all those effected by these tragic events at UVA,” his tweet read. “Thoughts and prayers to the families of those lost – may they Rest in Peace.” The messages may come with good intentions, but we must recognize as a nation and as community members of a fellow American university that thoughts and prayers are simply not enough. Lives that have barely begun continue to be taken day after day. This tragedy is
one of 68 shootings that have occurred this year on school grounds. There seemed to be hope of better gun reform following the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act previously this year. The bill made changes to federal firearms laws, including expanding background check requirements, expanding existing restrictions and establishing new criminal offenses. Funding was also designated toward mental health services particularly in schools, with the intention to keep children safe in the place of education. Yet, it seems to have failed the students at the University of Virginia and
the 68 other schools that have experienced gun violence and death this year. It is evidence that the policies we put hope and stock in are not as effective as we think. As reports roll in about the suspect in custody for the UVA tragedy, we continue to try to make sense of how another tragedy could occur when warning signs were evident. It was announced that the suspect had been brought to the attention of campus authorities in September when he told an individual unaffiliated with the university about possessing a gun. After a threat assessment, it was uncovered that the suspect had been involved
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Senior Year Housing Lottery Results Unveiled Sarah Sweeney
Co-News Editor Two Fridays ago, campus was ablaze with more than the normal weekend excitement, with the results of the Senior Housing Lottery informing juniors whether or not they would be able to live on campus for their senior years. The University guarantees housing for freshman, sophomore, and junior years. Senior year housing is only
guaranteed to students who are admitted to the school under a special scholarship or program, with the remainder of the seniors eligible to
enter a housing lottery for the remaining spots. This year, female students who entered the housing lottery and received
Juniors were informed whether they would be able to live on campus next year. Ryan Sarbello/Villanovan Photography
a number between 1 and 286 were guaranteed on-campus housing for senior year. Consequently, they were eligible to participate in housing selection, which began on Monday November 7. The same was true of male students with lottery numbers between 1 and 235. Seniors whose numbers fell outside the “cut-off” were placed on the waiting list. Residence Life will reach out to students on the waiting list at a later date based on Continued on p. 2
Amnesty International Hosts Womens’ Rights Discussion p. 3
Students React To Midterm Election Results p. 4
CUP OF JOE: Senior Housing Was A Mess p. 5
Satire: Living In An Oven p. 6
The Red Trickle: Why The Red Wave Never Came p. 7
CLAS Core Curriculum Could Use Some Updates p. 8
Augustinians of Villanova: Father Francis Caponi p. 10
Olivia Johnson: Equestrian World Champion p. 12
Anders Said It: Men’s Cross Country Is Best Team on Campus p. 13
THE THE BACKPAGE: BACKPAGE: Crossword Crossword and and Ask Ask The Villanovan The Villanovan p. p. 15 15