WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2022 www.villanovan.com @thevillanovan
STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916
VOLUME 114 | ISSUE 3
How to Improve Mental Health
A Spring 2022 Update from Dining Services
Abby Faeth Staff Writer
This time of year is tough for a lot of reasons. If you’re feeling particularly down, know you’re not alone. The freezing temperatures, lack of sunshine, and work all weigh on one’s mental health. Many Villanova students deal with seasonal depression. Even if you don’t, this time of year feels repetitive and takes a toll on college students’ wellbeing. As said by The Office of Health Promotion, it is essential to “know your limits (both physical and mental) and set boundaries.” Putting yourself first goes a long way. I try to be intentional during the winter, and all year, to do things to improve my mental health. Any small change can boost your mood. I want to mention a few areas of life where I try to be intentional in order to improve my mental health. First, find light in your life. Sun is minimal in the winter, and the human body craves sunlight. A lack of sunlight causes decreased serotonin levels in your body. This chemical decrease is scientifically proven to drop your overall mood. You can bring light into your life in a variety of ways. I recommend taking a Vitamin D supplement, which boosts the body’s nutrient levels.I also enjoy spending time looking out the window and feeling the sunlight coming in when it’s too cold to be outside. Continued on p. 6
McGuckin explained Dining Services wishes to meet as many concerns expressed by the student body as possible. Courtesy of @soldmysoultothespit
Kylie Horan Staff Writer
This week, The Villanovan sat down with Michael McGuckin of Dining Services to discuss food plans for the Spring 2022 semester. We figured the beginning was as good a place to start as any: our return to campus. “We were hoping for a much different beginning of the semester than we had with the presence of omicron,” McGuckin said. “We were already a bit short on workforce and we are trying to work with Human Resources to increase our applicant pool,
but the initial COVID issue from opening back up has hampered us. We are over the hump now and expect to be in much better shape in that regard.” Short-staffing is not a problem exclusive to our campus, though. The entire hospitality industry has been severely impacted by COVID-19 across the country. From labor shortages to supply gap issues, the food service industry in particular is fighting to stay afloat. McGuckin spoke to this point, stating that “every manufacturer and distributor is having issues getting supplies out to everyone, as you can see in grocery stores.”
His approach to remedying this nationwide problem on a campus-wide scale has been to contact new vendors and explore as many options as possible to supply University students with high quality, nutritious meals that are up to Dining Services standard. In keeping with this spirit of doing right by students, Dining Services wishes to meet as many concerns expressed by the student body as possible. McGuckin invited anyone with questions or an interest in discussing anything regarding Dining Services to meet with him and have an open dialogue. For
those who prefer an online option, the University Dining Services website has a “Feedback” tab in which students, faculty, staff and guests can express its thoughts through the “Speak Out” form. Dining Services will respond to submissions via email or telephone and if helpful suggestions are provided and accepted, it will try its best to implement them. The dedicated people who serve our meals must not go unmentioned, though. McGuckin emphasized how hard the Dining Services staff has been working to keep students fed and happy. Many employees work
Continued on p. 2
Ryan Henry Performs One-Woman Show Julia Stanisci
Staff Writer
On Jan. 26 and 27 at 6 p.m., audience members gathered in the Garey Studio for “Turn Me On,” a one woman show in which Ryan Henry explores the various different versions of herself that she “turns on and off” depending on her surroundings. The versions performed were the softball player, the funny friend, the emerging artist and the
grieving granddaughter, each of which contributes to the larger performance of being Ryan Henry. In her Director’s Notes, Henry explained that
over the course of her four years in Performance studies at Villanova, she’s learned that “the art of the performance is not limited to the stage, it
Henry explored versions of herself in her one woman show “Turn Me On”. Courtesy of Graydon Paul/Villanovan Photography
is something that narrates the human condition,” which she illustrates beautifully in “Turn Me On.” Throughout the show, Henry alternated between playing each character, or version, of herself. The transitions between each were smooth and clear, and the audience knew which version was being portrayed due to simple props like a softball bag, a stand-up comedy microphone and different seating positions. Characters were also supplemented by Continued on p. 11
Supreme Court Justice Breyer Retires p. 2
Business School Programs Receive High Ranks p. 3
University Hosts Annual Spring Career Fair Remotely p. 4
Nova Should Test Students for Tickets p. 5
The Yak is Back…and Better p. 7
The SAT is Moving Digital, Enough to Keep it Relevant? p. 8
Pulitzer Prize Winner Jericho Brown Visits Campus p. 10
Villa-Vogue: Haute Couture Spring 2022 Rundown p. 11
Athlete of the Week: Sade Meeks p. 13
Men’s Tennis Preview p. 15