The Villanovan | Volume 117, Issue 9: November 20, 2024

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2024 www.villanovan.com @thevillanovan VOLUME 117 | ISSUE 9

STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916

University Unveils SDG Mural

University Names Eric Roedl as New Athletic Director

Nicole Liddicoat Co-News Editor

The exterior of Villanova’s Connelly Center now features a vibrant new mural. On Wednesday, Nov. 13, the University unveiled the painting dedicated to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

Villanova has partnered with the Global Philadelphia Association, a nonprofit that promotes Philadelphia as a global city through fostering international dialogue and awareness. The organization has developed a multi-faceted initiative centered on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which Global Philadelphia’s website describes as the intersection of “the interpretive power of art, the knowledge and resources of our local academic communities, the strong will of corporate and individual sponsors and more.”

Adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development outlines a collective framework aimed at achieving peace and prosperity for both people and the planet, now and in the future. Central to this agenda are the 17 SDGs, which serve as an urgent call for global action, for both developed and developing countries to collaborate in addressing these pressing challenges.

Villanova has consistently prioritized integrating the 17 Sustainable Development Goals into its decision-making processes, along with an additional goal: SDG 18: Sustainability in Academics. These Continued on p. 2

Owen Hewitt Co-Sports Editor

Villanova is hiring Oregon Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Operating Officer Eric Roedl as its new athletic director.

The news was first reported Tuesday afternoon by ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

An email from the Office of the President was sent to the Villanova community Tuesday at 4:27 p.m. confirming that Roedl will take over as vice president and director of athletics “at the start of January 2025.”

“When we began our search, we were look-

ing for an individual who understands our Augustinian mission, who is able to successfully navigate the changing landscape of college athletics and who possesses the necessary skills to build on our legacy of success—athletically, academically and administratively—well into the future,” University President Rev. Peter M. Donahue, O.S.A., Ph.D wrote in the statement. “Eric quickly stood out among a very talented group of candidates as a leader with a breadth of experience, vision and deep commitment to student-athletes.

Roedl will fill the vacancy left after former ath-

Eric Roedl is coming to Villanova from the University of Oregon.

Courtesy of Villanova University and Villanovan Digital

letic director Mark Jackson departed for the same role at Northwestern in August.

Longtime athletic administrator Lynn Tighe served as the interim athletic director while the search was ongoing. 82 days passed between the announcement of Jackson’s departure and Roedl’s hiring.

“This is an exciting day for the University,” Rev. Donahue wrote.

“Villanova Athletics is a significant part of University life, and the success of our athletics programs is a source of great pride for students, faculty, staff and alumni. I am confident that Eric will help advance the athletic and academic goals

of our university and set us on an exciting course in the ever-evolving college sports landscape while continuing the storied legacy of Villanova Athletics.”

Roedl took over as executive senior associate athletics director at Oregon in 2012, where he spent the last 12 years. He served as Oregon’s deputy AD for eight years after a promotion to the role in 2016.

Roedl is a Villanova undergraduate alumnus.

He graduated in 1997 with a bachelor of science in accounting and served as co-captain of the men’s tennis team. He also holds a master of sport administration from North Caro-

Continued on p. 13

Alleged Rape Case in Commons Awaits Trial Emma Cahill

Co-Editor-in-Chief Content warning: mentions of sexual assault.

On Thursday, November 14, the former Uber driver accused of raping a Villanova University student in her dorm room in the Commons appeared before court. The assailant, 26-year-old Mirvan Dinler, faced charges of rape, indecent sexual assault and related crimes.

The incident took

place in Hovnanian Hall during the overnight hours of Sept. 13 to 14. The complainant, who was his Uber passenger, reported the crime

to the University’s Department of Public Safety on Sept. 20. Dinler was arrested on Sept. 13, and the incident was filed in Delaware County

The alleged assault took place in Hovnanian Hall.

Victoria Margenat/Villanovan Photography

Criminal Court on Oct. 3.

During the hearing, which took place at district court in Newtown Square, Dinler and the complainant, who remains anonymous, both appeared before District Judge Sloan Walker. The complainant detailed her experience the night of the incident, as described in an article by the Philadelphia Inquirer. She shared that after a night out in Philadelphia, she felt unwell and decided to return to campus. The complainant called Continued on p. 6

Professors React to Election Results and Voting at Villanova p. 3

NOVAdance Morale Committee Hypes up Villanovans p. 4

Child Advocate Highlights Church’s Impact on Children p. 5

The Case for Civics Education at Villanova p. 7

Sof Says: How to Approach Thanksgiving p. 9

New Art Gallery Raises Enviornmental Awareness at VU p. 11

VillaVogue: Black Friday Shopping p. 12

Men’s XC First at NCAA Regional, Women’s Fifth p. 13

W Soccer Hopeful for 2025 After Memorable Comeback p. 15

Vollyball Goes 1-1Approaching End of Regular Season p. 16

2 | The Villanovan

News 1 Opinion 7 Culture 10 Sports 13

PUBLIC SAFETY BLOTTER

VOL. 117 | ISS. 9 www.villanovan.com @thevillanovan

EMMA CAHILL HANNAH SWEENEY 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 SOF QUAGLIA PETER REILLY MICHAEL BRADLEY CAT COYLE CONTACT

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

NEWS

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 Newsletter Editor Crossword Editor Advisor Advisor villanovan.eic@gmail.com

BURGLARY, THEFT Reported: 11/12/2024 Occurred: Between 11/1/2024 and 11/12/2024 BARTLEY HALL A staff member reported unlawful entry was made to an office and items stolen from within.

CRIMINAL TRESPASS Reported and Occurred: 11/13/2024 STANFORD HALL An unaffiliated male was found trespassing inside of a campus residential building.

LIQUOR UNDERAGE, PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS Reported and Occurred: 11/14/2024 SOUTH CAMPUS GROUNDS A female resident-student, under the age of 21, was found intoxicated in public. The student was evaluated by Public Safety and released.

THEFT Reported: 11/14/2024 Occurred: Between 7/31/2024 and 11/11/2024 MAIN CAMPUS GROUNDS A staff member reported several patio chairs were taken from the Old Falvey outside patio area. The value of the loss is unknown at this time.

CORRECTIONS

LIQUOR UNDERAGE, PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS Reported and Occurred: 11/15/2024 L-2 SURFACE PARKING LOT One female resident student, under the age of 21, was evaluated for alcohol intoxication. Student was transported to Bryn Mawr Hospital by Radnor Ambulance.

PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS Reported and Occurred: 11/15/2024 LANCASTER PROPERTY GROUNDS A female resident-student, over the age of 21, was evaluated for alcohol intoxication and released.

LIQUOR UNDERAGE Reported and Occurred: 11/17/2024 GOOD COUNSEL HALL A female resident student, under the age of 21, was evaluated by Public Safety for alcohol intoxication and released.

LIQUOR UNDERAGE, PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS Reported and Occurred: 11/17/2024 MCGUIRE HALL One female resident student, under the age of 21, was evaluated for alcohol intoxication. Student was transported to Bryn Mawr Hospital by VEMS.

LIQUOR UNDERAGE, PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS Reported and Occurred: 11/17/2024 STANFORD HALL A male resident student, under the age of 21, was transported by Radnor to Bryn Mawr Hospital for alcohol intoxication.

LIQUOR UNDERAGE Reported and Occurred: 11/17/2024 ST. MONICA HALL One female resident student, under the age of 21, was evaluated for alcohol intoxication and transported by VEMS to Bryn Mawr Hospital.

HARASSMENT, HATE CRIMES (CLERY), INTIMIDATION (CLERY) Reported and Occurred: 11/17/2024 SULLIVAN HALL A male resident student reported being the victim of harassment, based on perceived sexual orientation, by several male resident students.

PFA VIOLATION Reported and Occurred: 11/18/2024 ST. MARY’S HALL A male resident student violated a Protection from Abuse Order

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

University Unveils Sustainable Development Goal Mural Nicole Liddicoat Co-News Editor Continued from p.1

efforts are outlined in the University Sustainability Plan, which is available on Villanova’s website.

They address the challenge presented in SDG 12 with a 2030 objective of achieving zero waste by promoting awareness of circular procurement and operational models, a goal that represents 5% of the Sustainability Plan’s overall objectives.

Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, University President, reaffirmed Villanova’s dedication to sustainability.

“We continually assess our sustainability practices, promoting environmental ethos, and work to ensure that our community members understand the impact of our daily choices on the world and, more importantly, on future generations,” Fr. Peter said. “We remain committed to taking measurable actions under the guidance of Laudato Si’, its action platform, to achieve an ethos of sustainable living in every aspect of our campus life: academics, research, operations, student life, social justice, earth and well-being. I am immensely proud of what has been accomplished so far at Villanova, but as we all know, there is much work to be done. This is why I’m so pleased to be partnering with Global Philadelphia on this mural to promote a commitment to sustainability and global leadership.”

Global Philadelphia aims to raise awareness about global stewardship by installing 17 murals, each representative of a different SDG, across the greater Philadelphia region. Villanova was fortunate to have one of these murals placed on campus. It will remain here until 2026, after which it will be relocated to center city Philadelphia, joining the other

16 murals in a permanent display.

The mural was envisioned and created by Maggie Hobson-Baker, MFA, a Villanova faculty member in the Department of Communication. She repeatedly emphasized that public art belongs to the community and to everyone who has the opportunity to experience it, “invit[ing] the viewer to interpret what [they] see and even take action.”

Hobson-Baker shared her vision for the mural, highlighting its intended message of unity and shared responsibility.

“My goal here was to symbolize our interconnectedness to one another as well as to the Earth, our shared planet,” she said. “With the placement of the Earth as the central focal point surrounded by sky, my goal was to point to the role our actions take, not only in our local communities, but how our actions affect our global community. The globe serves as a reminder that we share the planet with humans across culture and geography.”

The unveiling ceremony was highlighted by remarks from Fr. Peter; Zabeth Teelucksingh, President of the Global Philadelphia Association; Rev. Kevin DePrinzio, OSA, PhD, Vice President for Mission and Ministry; Sarah Petrus, Chemical Engineering ‘25 and Student Sustainability Committee Secretary; Elaine Paul Schaefer, Member of Delaware County Council; Rob McNeill, Global Philadelphia Association Board Chair; and Eli Wenger of Martha’s Choice Marketplace & Community Farm.

Seventeen students had the opportunity to participate in the unveiling, each representing a different SDG with a placard. As they stood in front of the mural, they held up their signs in unison, illustrating how collective effort is key to achieving each goal.

Each mural is accompanied by a grant awarded to a related community organization.

The grant for SDG 12 was given to Martha’s Choice Marketplace and Community Farm, a Catholic Social Services program that provides locally sourced, healthy groceries to low-income residents of Montgomery County. The funding will support the pantry’s efforts to distribute over two million pounds of food each year to more than 15,000 individuals, furthering the goal of sustainable consumption while addressing local food insecurity.

Careful planning was essential in making the mural a reality.

Kim Cahill, Director of the Moran Center for Global Leadership, spearheaded the effort to bring this mural to campus, coordinating donations and organizing the event. She emphasized the importance of having a mural like this at Villanova.

“Not only has it increased visibility internally for our cam-

pus, to learn about ‘Hey what does this mean?’ or ‘Let me investigate further,’” Cahill said. “But it also helps increase our visibility externally and demonstrates that we’ve made a commitment to sustainable practices on campus.”

This opportunity was made possible through the generosity of donors, each contributing $2,500.

Donors include: the Moran Center for Global Leadership, the Office for Sustainability, International and Interdisciplinary Initiatives, the College of Professional Studies, the Center for Common Good, the Center for Global Health and the Center for Humanitarian Engineering & International Development. Their commitment to sustainability and social responsibility does not go unnoticed.

The SDG 12 mural stands as a vibrant testament to Villanova’s commitment to sustainability and global responsibility.

University faculty and students gather outside the new mural.

Courtesy of Global Philadelphia Association

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

The Villanovan | 3

NEWS

Professors React to Election Results and Voting at Villanova

Associate professor in the Department of Communication Dr. Billie Murray expressed disappointment with the results of the election.

“I think like many folks who Two weeks ago, Donald are committed to democracy and the Trump was elected as the 47th Pres- equality of treatment for all peoples, ident of the United States of Ameri- this result is incredibly disappointing ca. President-Elect Trump won with and, to be honest, a bit scary,” Mur312 electoral votes, defeating Karay said. mala Harris, who had 226 electoral She also spoke about ambivotes. Villanova students, faculty tions for the future. and staff were passionately involved “I believe there is a long road in this election, on both sides of the ahead, but one that we can make it aisle. The Villanovan asked professors through if we work together in soliabout their reactions to the results of darity and with care for each other,” the November elections and Villashe said. nova students’ involvement in the To make sense of election elections. results, Burge mentioned past presFirst, professors were asked idential elections and candidates. about their general response to the She mentioned Harris’s likelihood of election results. Chair of the Political becoming the first female president Science Department and associate in comparison to Clinton in 2016. professor Dr. Camille Burge-Hicks “Thinking about coalitions reported her expectancy of these from 2016 and 2020, let’s think results. As a race and politics scholar, about who Hillary Clinton lost that Burge reflected on the likelihood of Joe Biden was able to pick up, like Harris being elected. working class white men,” she said.

“Some of the things I look “What are the prospects of Kamala at as a race and politics scholar is being able to pick up those groups?” looking at Black women that have Burge questioned the likewon statewide offices, like gubernalihood of a multiracial candidate torial and Senate races,” Burge said. to get a majority of white women’s “No Black women governors. Very votes when they didn’t even support few Black women senators. Very few Clinton in 2016. to date. What are the prospects of She acknowledged that the Kamala Harris as a self-identified majority of white women have not Black woman winning this statewide supported democratic presidential race?” candidates since the 1970s.

Like Burge, assistant proAssistant professor of pofessor in the Political Science Delitical science Dr. Daniel Mark also partment and former Congressional reflected on the election results. staffer Dr. Erin Lauterbach also men“My general reaction is that I tioned statewide and legislative races. am thankful that we live in a country “As someone who worked where we decide political questions in, and now studies Congress, the with ballots not bullets,” Mark said. legislative branch is always my focus “I am grateful that our regular elecon election night,” Lauterbach said. tions are not marred with violence Lauterbach discussed the and similar conflict.” issue of split-ticket votes in this elecThe Villanovan also asked protion. fessors about how they approached “One of the things that election discussions in their classcaught my eye this year was the es. Murray and Burge mentioned split-ticket voting,” Lauterbach having class discussions about politics said. “There were several states that and voting. voted to send Trump to the White “We had an open converHouse but a Democrat to the Sensation on what happened,” Burge ate. Split-ticket voting is not new in said. “We are a two-party nation.

American elections, but we have seen Some people will agree with you. a decline in the practice in the last Others will not. My goal is to provide couple decades. Our current political students a space to discuss what haplandscape is highly polarized and we pened and how they felt, regardless have also seen a rise in negative par- of what side of the aisle they might tisanship, both of these things should be on.” decrease the likelihood of split-ticket Similar to Burge, assistant voting.” professor in comparative and Irish Isabella Balian Political Columnist

Professors shared thoughts on the outcomes of both voting at Villanova and in general.

Graham Sukup / Villanovan Photography

politics, Dr. Cera Murtagh discussed how she tackled the election in class.

“I did a free-writing exercise where students could write freely without having to share their responses unless they wished to do so,” Murtagh said. “I also invited students to reflect on any forms of political participation or community that this election had opened up for them.”

Murtagh told The Villanovan she was incredibly impressed by students’ emotionally intelligent and constructive responses.

Murray echoed Burge and Murtagh’s efforts.

“In my classes, we talk about the election/voting as just one small action in a much broader landscape of practices that make up a democracy,” Murray said.

Murray discussed students’ emotions and her reflection on students’ reactions.

“I know many students are upset, especially if this was their first time voting,” Murray said. “I have talked to those students about the fact that democracy lives in the local.

It isn’t just about voting and never has been. It is made up of all of our efforts in our communities to build power and live more equitably and democratically in our daily lives.”

Like Murray, Lauterbach and Murtagh acknowledged the wide range of emotions and opinions students may possess.

“I want to be mindful of the wide range of emotions that exist in a class of 30 students,” Lauterbach said. “This semester in my American government class I had students brainstorm how they would participate in government between now and the next election, connecting course material to concrete steps that they can take to hold the government accountable regardless of whether their preferred candidates won.”

“Regardless of one’s feelings about the outcome of this election, this was a major political event, especially for our students, many of whom were first-time voters,” Murtagh said. “I allowed time in my post-election classes for students to process some of the emotions they were experiencing about the election.”

Murray also spoke about future actions for students who felt disappointed.

Villanova students voted at the Mullen Center for the 2024 Election.

“Find your community. They Graydon Paul / Villanovan Photography

will show you how much good there is in service to others, how we need to lean on each other, lift each other up and live lives of honesty and justice,” Murray said. “That is our way forward, and it will sustain you.”

Oppositely, Mark noted that generally, he did not interrupt class material to discuss the election in class.

“Generally, I do not interrupt the regularly-scheduled learning in my classes for current events,” Mark said. “We often discuss current events where they are relevant to the material we are studying, but I do not go out of my way to discuss the election in my classes.”

The Villanovan also asked professors about their experience on election day and seeing so many students turn out to vote. Professors reported positive emotions seeing so many students turn out to vote.

Burge, Mark and Lauterbach mentioned the long lines outside of the Mullen Center.

“Although I do not personally vote at Villanova, I did notice a long line upon arriving on campus the day of the election,” Mark said.

“I think it is important for people to exercise their rights and vote, and I am always happy to see people develop habits of civic-mindedness.”

“The line was wrapped around the building, and I was just thrilled. I think it was really encouraging to see so many students not just turning out to vote but waiting in line to vote,” Burge said.

“While I wish nobody would ever have to stand in line for hours to vote, I am always excited to see people turn out,” Lauterbach said.

Similarly, Murray and Murtagh told The Villanovan that their students gave them hope for the future.

“It is my students that give me hope and I am very proud of all they have done and will do to change their communities for the better,” Murray said. “I was so proud to learn of the high turnout on campus and students’ dedication to the democratic process,” Murtagh said.

“I hope that students continue to stay active and involved in politics via elections and other outlets.”

“Even though this feels like a large setback, I know that it is the amazing students at Villanova and ones like them across the world that will make our world a more just and peaceful place,” Murray said.

4 | The Villanovan

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

NEWS

NOVAdance Morale Committee Hypes Up Villanovans Ava Petrosky Staff Writer Last week, Villanovans represented red, orange and green, in addition to their usual blue and white.

NOVAdance’s four Morale Committee (MoCo) captains wore their respective team colors to boost student involvement during the week of Nov. 11, 2024.

NOVAdance is an annual 12-hour dance marathon that raises awareness and fights against pediatric cancer. The exact date for NOVAdance 2025 has not yet been announced.

NOVAdance is directly connected with the Andrew McDonough Foundation. After being diagnosed with pediatric cancer, Andrew McDonough learned he had a B+ blood type. His family continued to refer to the phrase, “Be Positive” during his treatment.

Now, “Be Positive” is the message and mission of the foundation. NOVAdance refers to children diagnosed with pediatric cancer as “B+ Heroes.” “[The NOVAdance community] get[s] to provide all of these special moments for children that don’t get to have it all the time,” sophomore Angie Rodriguez, Morale Committee Color Team Captain, said. “We get to make sure that kids can be kids, and I think that’s something that’s so special that NOVAdance is

able to do and accomplish, and I love that every single person that I work with wants the exact same thing of making sure that kids have those dreams and have those futures.”

Last week, NOVAdance’s Morale Committee (MoCo) sponsored a “Hype Week” to increase student participants.

“The goal for Hype Week is to spread the word to as many new students as possible who haven’t heard about NOVAdance yet or haven’t joined the Morale Committee, and to continue spreading the B+ message, as well as fundraising for our heroes,” senior Jack Doolin, Co-Executive Director for NOVAdance, said.

Throughout the week, MoCo sponsored various activities specifically designed to increase NOVAdance participation and awareness. Each day was designated to a different event.

The week began with Monday’s “Where’s MoCo Monday?” where students searched for either the MoCo Chair or their color team captain in a striped “Where’s Waldo?” shirt.

On Tuesday, MoCo tabled outside the Connelly Center for “Tues or Dare.” Villanova students donated in return to pose a dare that a tabling MoCo member would complete.

A scavenger hunt for the MoCo trophy broke out around the entirety of Villanova’s campus this past Wednesday for the annu-

al “Where’s the Cup Wednesday?”

“My favorite [event] was probably ‘Where’s the Cup Wednesday’ that we did on Wednesday,” senior Sam Blume, Morale Committee Chair, said.

“This year, we have the brand new MoCo cup. On Wednesday, the MoCo team took the actual cup that we have, it’s, like, a two-feet printed trophy, and we carried it around different places on campus, and it definitely got a lot of stares for sure. It was a fun conversation starter, and one of the MoCo team leaders got a picture with Father Peter holding the cup, which was super fun. A lot of people were a little confused about it, but that really allowed us to spread awareness more and have some fun with it.”

The week continued with “Social Media Campaign Day” on Thursday. MoCo encouraged Villanova students to fundraise through emails, text messages and social media.

Students wore their NOVAdance merchandise around campus for Friday’s “Wear your NOVAdance Merch.” NOVAdance also sponsored a “Chopt Dine Out Day” for fundraising on Friday evening.

MoCo traveled to Philadelphia for “MoCo Canning” on Saturday morning. Members promoted the B+ message and received both Venmo and cash donations in Rittenhouse Square.

“Moco Mania” concluded

Hype Week on Sunday evening.

The Rowen Campus Green was filled with dancing, food, a variety of NOVAdance merchandise, music and games to help further promote the B+ mission.

“Being able to get involved in stuff like NOVAdance and find a community like NOVAdance through Hype Week I think is just so valuable and something that is just so special about Villanova,” Rodriguez said.

“NOVAdance is a place for everyone, and anyone who wants to be involved in this mission, however they wanna do that, we are excited to meet them and excited to help them support B+ heroes,” Doolin said.

“I hope that Villanovans take out of Hype Week that there are an unlimited amount of ways to get involved with NOVAdance,” Blume said. “We have so many opportunities, just like we did this past week, every single day.

We have opportunities like those throughout the school year to get more involved, to tell their friends and share the B+ message with them. I really want people to understand that there is something in Morale Committee, specifically, for everyone.”

Morale Committee will continue to inform Villanovans about ways in which they can participate in NOVAdance or MoCo over the next coming weeks. Hype Week was merely the beginning of what’s to come.

Breakdown of Mullen Center Voting Results Isabella Carlin Political Columnist On Election Day, many Villanovans visited the Mullen Center to cast their ballots and perform their civic duty. This was the first year that the Mullen Center on campus was utilized as a voting location. When registering to vote, students had two options. They could vote in-person or via mail-in ballot for their home state.

As Villanova students, they also had the opportunity to vote in-person if they live on-campus or at a designated location if they live off-campus.

The Mullen Center is located in Delaware County, Radnor Township Ward 2, Precinct 2. While mostly students voted here, there was also a small number of community members that were unaffiliated with Villanova that were assigned to the Mullen Center as their polling location.

According to the unofficial re-

sults from Delaware County that were last updated Nov. 14, 1325 individuals voted in the presidential election at the Mullen Center. A total of 895 individuals (67.55%) casted their ballots for Vice President Harris. Four-hundred-twenty-six votes (32.15%) were counted for President-Elect Donald Trump.

Votes for third-party candidates were also noted at the Mullen Center. Three individuals (0.23%) voted for Libertarian candidate Chase Oliver. 1 vote (0.08%) was casted for Green Party candidate Jill Stein.

These results largely reflect the majority of Delaware County, as overall 61.29% of county residents voted for Harris-Walz. 37.68% of the county casted their ballots for TrumpVance.

In addition to being able to vote in the presidential election at the Mullen Center, students were also eligible to vote for U.S. Senator, attorney general, auditor general, state treasurer, 5th District Congress

The voting breakdown skewed Democratic across the board.

Graydon Paul / Villanovan Photography

representative, 17th District General Assembly Senator and representatives in the 168th District.

The Republican and Democratic voting patterns for the rest of the positions mirrored that of the presidential election results. In the Senate race, Democratic candidate Bob Casey Jr. earned 66.07% of the vote at the Mullen Center. Republican candidate Dave McCormick gained 33% of the vote.

For the Attorney General position, 63.27% voters casted their ballots for Democratic candidate Eugene Depasquale and 34.69% of votes went to Republican Dave Sunday.

Similarly for the 5th District Congressional Seat, 67.80% of Mullen Center voters supported Democratic incumbent Mary Gay Scanlon.

32.20% cast their ballots for RepubliThe Mullen Center played host to Villanovans voting on campus for the 2024 Election. can challenger Alfeia Goodwin.

Graham Sukup / Villanovan Photography These results from the Mullen

Center indicate that most voters that visited this polling location voted for an all-Democrat or all-Republican ticket. Although the overall results of the Mullen Center reflect that of Delaware County, they do not resemble that of the state of Pennsylvania.

According to the unofficial election results of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Donald Trump won the state with 50.39% of the vote. For the Senate race, Dave McCormick (R) gained 48.84% of the vote, while Bob Casey Jr. (D) earned 48.58%. It was announced this past Wednesday that an automatic recount was being held under Pennsylvania state law as the margin of difference was less than 0.5%. As for Attorney General, Dave Sunday (R) won the race with 50.83% of PA voters supporting him.

Additionally, Mary Gay Scanlon (D) reclaimed her 5th District Congressional seat with 65.1% of votes.

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

The Villanovan | 5

NEWS

Labor & Immigration Historical Perspective: Zoom Panel Cate Torrey Staff Writer On Wednesday, Nov. 13, Professor Daniel Cortes of Villanova Law School hosted a thought-provoking virtual panel featuring three distinguished educators specializing in immigration and labor. The discussion highlighted their dedication to raising awareness about the pressing human rights issues at the intersection of labor and immigration.

The event featured three speakers, Dr. Cindy Hahamovitch, Dr. Paul Ortiz and Mireya Loza.

The first speaker was Hahamovitch, a well-regarded scholar of southern U.S., immigration and labor history in a global context.

She is the author of two books: The Fruits of Their Labor: Atlantic Coast Farmworkers and the Making of Migrant Poverty, 1870-1945 (UNC Press, 1997) and the triple prize-winning book No Man’s Land: Jamaican Guestworkers in America and the Global History of Deportable Labor (Princeton University Press).

Hahamovitch presented the complex issues involving labor and immigration, specifically, beginning with discussing the situations foreign workers face in the United States labor workforce. These workers who enter with a temporary visa are given false promises and unfair conditions within their job industry throughout history, which remains crucial to understanding the important context of how these injustices have persisted over time.

This is largely the result of employers operating with few checks or regulations. Additionally, if the workers decide to go on strike or protest against this mistreatment or request to be replaced at an alternative job, they are likely to be hunted down by ICE, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and will be deported immediately.

Inevitably, this leads to a number of cases where guest workers are forced to succumb to this inhumane treatment because of a system that exploits guest workers and protects employers’ ability to exploit the livelihood of foreign workers. Hahamovitch presented the question of whether or not guest workers are by definition, victims of human trafficking or not.

“We define a victim of trafficking as someone whose labor has been secured through force, fraud, or coercion,” Hahamovitch said. “And many guest workers fit in that category whether they bring charges or not. And, unfortunately, I think this has been a very weak solution.”

Next was Ortiz, who currently works as a professor at Cornell University and has written 10 books on American history, which largely aim to accurately represent historical events and occurrences.

Due to his book An African American and Latinx History of the United States, Ortiz was identified

by Fortune Magazine in 2020 as the author of one of the “10 books on American history that actually reflect the United States.”

One of Ortiz’ main topics of discussion involved the value of academics and education on histor-

ical events in order to have proper discourses surrounding immigrants and immigration. He emphasized the idea of racialization which discusses how certain people are convinced that they truly know who people of other cultures are.

The lack of education and understanding of history is a large factor in the formation of racist generalizations and harmful treatment of immigrant workers.

“Anglo folks think they know who Mexicans are: savages, uncivilized, anti-Christian, etc.,” Ortiz said.

Loza, the next presenter in the panel, is an award-winning public historian, who currently teaches as an associate professor in the Department of History and American Studies Program at Georgetown University. One of her books, Defiant Braceros: How Migrant Workers Fought for Racial, Sexual and Political Freedom (UNC Press), examines the Bracero program and how guest workers ended up negotiating the intricacies involved with problematic organization within guest worker programs.

She continued facilitation of this discussion through questions surrounding society and its harmful perspectives on guest workers, specifically of Mexican heritage and deportability. Dishearteningly, many Mexicans have had their human rights overlooked in the labor workplace for decades, leading Loza to discuss the many questions we must face in order to make change.

“How do we think about these guest worker programs?” Loza asked the audience. “Where do people stand on these issues? How do

we show that the system is uneven by design?”

The panel also addressed the significance of Donald Trump’s presidency, particularly his policies and rhetoric around mass deportation and immigration, which many view as harmful to the treatment of immigrants. The discussion recognized the critical need for education on the value of internationalism and immigration in order to foster the fair and humane treatment of all individuals in our society, regardless of race or ethnicity.

“We need to try to work together, build bridges together and not completely shut things down,” Loza said.

Students attending this panel were incredibly engaged and invested in the discourse of this topic, given its relevance today. One student, Angelina Graceffa, a sophomore studying political science, stated her thoughts on the panel’s impact.

“I think getting to hear from immigration and labor educators who have the experience and knowledge to talk about this complicated subject allowed us students to hear a well-informed perspective that stated the facts and stories surrounding these issues,” Graceffa said.

Discussions involving immigration and labor reform are increasingly widespread, particularly in the United States. So therefore, the panel emphasized the vitality for all citizens to educate themselves, understand the historical context, and form well-informed opinions on these critical and multi-faceted issues.

GSJI Hosts Basketball Tournament for Palestine Allie Hesler Staff Writer Last Friday night, Villanova’s Global Social Justice Initiative Club hosted a 3v3 basketball tournament to raise money for children in Palestine. For 10 dollars per person, students could sign up as a team of three to enter the tournament and for a chance to win 76ers tickets.

In the St. Mary’s gym, almost 50 students put together teams to compete, while others joined just to watch and enjoy Middle Eastern food, provided by Al-Sham Restaurant. Food was also 10 dollars per person, and all proceeds went to Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.

On its website, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund states that it is an organization that, “provides free medical care to thousands of injured and ill children yearly who lack local access to care within the local health care system.”

The event was in the works for two months, and faculty advisor Gabriel Rockhill spoke on how students organized the event.

“Members met two to three times per week to plan, lobby campus organizations for funds and set up a 3v3 basketball tournament with nearly 50 participants,”

Rockhill said. “Every member played a critical role, and the night went exceedingly well.”

However it was not always a smooth road while promoting the event.

“There were certainly some difficulties in the process of organizing, but I would say that GSJI had more issues with students than we did with the University itself,” Rockhill said. “At multiple points, GSJI flyers in residential halls, which had been approved by the Office of Student Involvement, were torn down, ripped up and thrown on the ground. We are not quite sure why anyone would take issue with raising funds for children in dire need of care.”

Despite having some pushback, Global Social Justice Initiative still had a very successful event and was able to raise almost $3,000. Club members were extremely excited with the turnout and encourage students who wish to continue to support the club to follow its Instagram, @nova_gsji to be updated on future events and current fundraisers. It is always welcoming to new members and has meetings every other Thursday at 7 p.m.

The club also encourages students who want to know more about the Israel-Palestine conflict to follow the link in the bio of @ villanova_sjp on Instagram to find trusted resources.

“The purpose of this event and others like it is to raise a substantial amount of money for a good cause,” Rockhill said when asked why the club chose to organize this event.

He also spoke on why a basketball tournament was the way they chose to raise money.

“There is nothing that Villanova students love more than basketball, so the tournament served as a fun experience for those who participated and a successful fundraiser for our organization,” Rockhill said.

The Global Social Justice Initiative does not only work on international issues, but local ones, too.

“As an organization, the main goal is to make small, but definitive steps to address both local

and global social justice issues,” Rockhill said. “Over the past year, GSJI has begun lobbying the University to provide a break room for the Connelly Center employees.”

With the Connelly Center being one of the busiest buildings on campus, Global Social Justice Initiative is determined to raise awareness on them not having an adequate break area and are hoping to get one provided soon.

It strongly encourages students to sign the petition in its Instagram bio to further urge the University to add a break room for the employees.

Overall, the basketball event was an extreme success and the Global Social Justice Initiative hopes they can continue this attitude towards problems they bring to light.

Students took to the court in GSJI’s basketball tournament, raising funds to support Palestine.

Jeanette Nawn/Villanovan Photography

6 | The Villanovan

NEWS

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Villanova Hosts Annual Senghor-Damas-Césaire Lecture Margaret Miller Staff Writer On Tuesday, Nov. 12, Dr. Nduka Otiono gave the annual Senghor-Damas-Césaire lecture, titled “Unbound Street Stories in a Diasporic World.” This event is hosted by the Africana Studies Department and focuses on continental Africa and its diasporas.

Chiji Akoma, Ph.D., Chair of the Department of Global Interdisciplinary Studies at Villanova University, began the event by illustrating the background of the annual lecture.

“This lecture is named for three black intellectuals of the French speaking world: Léopold Sédar Senghor of Senegal, Léon Damas of French Guiana and Aimé Césaire of Martinique,” Akoma said.

Akoma then introduced the speaker of the event, Dr. Nduka Otiono, noting his achievements and professional background.

Otiono is an associate professor of African Studies and English and the Director of the Institute of African Studies at Carleton University in Canada.

He also was formerly a journalist and general secretary of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA).

Otiono is also the author and co-editor of several books of creative writing and academic research and a winner of the ANA/ Spectrum prize for fiction.

He is also published in many top-rated academic journals. His most recent book, DisPlace: The Poetry of Nduka Otiono, is award-winning.

Otiono began his lecture by thanking several individuals and groups, including Olukunle Owolabi, Ph.D., Head of the Department of Global Interdisciplinary Studies at Villanova.

“It is particularly noteworthy to me that Owolabi brings to his role an impressive authority and an impressive achievement that includes the award of the W.E.B. Dubois Book Award for his recent monogram Ruling Emancipated Slaves and Indigenous Subjects by the national conference of Black political scientists in the United States,” Otiono said.

Otiono emphasized the importance of connecting with his audience, explaining his approach

to making his talks engaging.

“I also typically like to engage my subjects in the most lively way possible, because at heart, I am a storyteller and a poet,” he said.

To begin, Otiono quoted text pertaining to the first time the three individuals that the lecture was named after met.

“But when ‘who am I?’ has to be translated to or as ‘who are we?’ everything changes, especially when the ‘we’ have to define themselves against the world which leaves no room for who, and what they are because they are Black folks...” Otiono said.

Otiono connected this text to the title of his lecture, expressing that his goal was to answer the question “who are we?” from a cultural studies perspective, drawing on his background as a Nigerian journalist.

“I’ve had to track some of the most elusive and arguably most important postcolonial texts and oral narratives,” Otiono said.

These oral narratives served as the basis for his lecture, Otiono using several examples of these stories that he came across throughout lived experience.

This study is relatively unique, Otiono added, as many cultural studies focus solely on national narratives to find meaning rather than the oral narratives found on the street.

These oral narratives come in many forms, including rumors, gossip and legends, and can be incredibly important to examine.

“These encode and or decode power relations,” Otiono said. “Such work is particularly important in totalitarian societies of Africa where freedom of speech is tenuous. Everyday people use traditional narratives to convey potentially seditious meaning.”

Later in the lecture, Otiono explained that these stories can also be important for the people that share them, allowing them to comprehend social and political events and make sense of the information they are receiving.

Otiono also illustrated the use of modern technologies to spread street stories around the globe.

This can be a way for migrants to connect with their native countries, feeling a sense of home through the stories shared via the internet and social media.

Child Advocate Highlights Church’s Impact on Children Kristiana Kovaci Staff Writer Content warning: mentions of sexual abuse, sexual abuse in a Church setting, and childhood trauma Last Monday, Nov. 11, Villanova hosted pediatrician and child advocate Sandra Hassink, MD. Hassink discussed the treatment of children within the Church and how unhealthy settings impact children’s development.

Hassink attended Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and has published numerous articles. Her focus is on childhood obesity and how pediatricians and their environment treat children suffering from obesity.

This discussion delved into the traumas children face within the Church and how fundamental change that truly recognizes children has yet to occur.

Hassink began the presentation with stereotypical ideas of what children are and represent, such as the Dionysian and Apollonian child. The Dionysian child possesses intrinsic

evil, connecting back to the concept of original sin found in Christianity.

The child is reformed through moral training throughout their life. Contrastingly, the Apollonian child is seen as angelic and who offered their parents a source of existential meaning, a sort of healing from their suffering.

Historically, children have been seen as “becoming” and “not yet adults,” as if they were not human until adulthood. This has prompted children to be constantly overlooked by society, while they are often the most affected by issues such as climate change, poverty and abuse, leading to physical, mental and emotional implications. Despite the various environmental and economic instability in a child’s life, all that is needed to prevent further unregulated chronic stress is one nurturing adult.

Children can experience what is known as Adverse Childhood Experiences or ACEs, consisting of maltreatment, prejudice, traumatic deaths, torture and more. The more ACEs, the more implications there are on the child’s health, such as obesity, cancer, mental illness and substance use.

Institutions tasked with nur-

turing and protecting children often play a critical role in mitigating the effects of such trauma. This raises a critical issue regarding how the Church, often seen as a moral refuge, views and treats children. Despite the compassion Jesus showed children, the Church is more so influenced by current-day society’s approach to children. Abuse within the Church can cause individuals to feel a loss of childhood, abandonment by God and their trust ruined by one who represents God and the Church. These priests who were child sexual abusers are coined as “soul-murders” by their victims, who have a lack of selfhood and core relationships.

Hassink explores potential solutions to address this crisis, focusing on producing change in how the Church regards a child’s dignity and human rights. This includes training to develop a new culture centered around caring for victims, providing compensation, acknowledging past mistakes and offering public apologies.

Such a topic begs to call upon “the Body of Christ” - what it represents and how that affects how children are seen. Scholars still won-

der what Paul meant by the “Body of Christ” in the Bible and since then, there have been multiple applications.

There is an idea of a mystical body, that each individual has a relationship with Christ through God’s spirit. The concept of it being a physical body, in which the Church is the Body of Christ, and that each believer represents an organ or limb. Lastly, it has been interpreted to mean a metaphorical body, where the church is a corporate identity and the body promotes ethical behavior and community.

For the church to embody the Body of Christ it would require that children’s sufferings were recognized and acted on, for children to be recognized as a vital part of the church, and consider Jesus’ incarnation as a child.

Dr. Sandra Hassink’s presentation highlighted a pressing need for systemic change within the Church and society to prioritize the dignity, well-being, and rights of children. By addressing the traumas and adverse experiences many children endure, Hassink called for a collective reevaluation of how children are viewed, treated and protected.

Alleged Rape Case in Commons Awaits Trial Emma Cahill Co-Editor-in-Chief Continued from p.1 an Uber, at which point, she came into contact with Dinler, who drove her back to campus. The assault took place that night in Hovnanian Hall, as the complainant was unconscious, she said.

Following the assault, Dinler returned to demand payment for cleaning his car, which he

claimed had vomit in it from her ride back from Philadelphia. The complainant complied, paying him through an app. She shared that she felt he would not leave otherwise. Dinler’s attorney, Shaka Johnson, claimed that his client denies the allegations. Johnson described that there were “glaring cracks” in the complainant’s account of what happened that night.

“This case is about credibility, who you believe,” Johnson

said after Dinler’s hearing, according to the Inquirer article.

After this hearing, the judge ruled that there is sufficient evidence to move this case forward. The case will proceed to county court, the formal arraignment taking place on Jan. 2. Dinler is currently out on unsecured bail as he awaits trial.

Sexual assault is an unfortunate but very real issue on college campuses, including Villanova’s. To report a sexual assault or

an act of sexual misconduct, call Public Safety at 610-519-5800; the Title IX Coordinator Ms. Ryan Rost at 610-519-8805; or a Deputy Title IX Coordinator. For more information on support resources, call the Sexual Assault Resource Coordinator (SARC) at 484-3436028. For more information on Villanova’s sexual misconduct prevention and education efforts, visit Villanova’s website. For the National Sexual Assault Hotline, call 1-800-656-4673.

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

OPINION

The Villanovan | 7

OPINION

The Case for Civics Education at Villanova Zoe Schack Staff Writer You’ve probably seen one of those TikTok street interviews by now: creators quizzing everyday people about civics and U.S. history, usually in an attempt to highlight how little American citizens really know about the systems that govern us.

I’ve seen some where the speakers ask relatively simple questions about how many senators there are or how the Electoral College works. In most cases, people across every possible walk of life struggle to answer these questions and seem not to be concerned with their civic ignorance when the right responses are revealed. It’s no secret that people can go through life without ever truly learning the basics of government.

In 2018, a study in which Americans were tested on knowledge required to pass the U.S. Citizenship Test, only about one-third received a passing grade of 60% or higher. What’s more, just 19% of people under 45 years old managed to pass. This lack of political literacy among young people, paired with the ideals Villanova aims to promote, is exactly why it’s necessary to more fully incorporate civics education into the curriculum for undergraduates.

At Villanova, our core curriculum is built on the idea that all students deserve the information and skills needed to think critically,

In addition to required seminars, civics classes would educate students about government.

Avery Chalk/Villanovan Photography

defend our views, interact with opposing ideas and develop a sense of media literacy. These ideas of informed, responsible citizenship and the use of our knowledge to improve society are undoubtedly in line with our mission as an Augustinian university. By embracing an opportunity to help Villanovans become more aware and involved citizens, we come closer to fully idealizing the values our school sets forth.

At a school both rooted in tradition and willing to welcome progress, the core curriculum should represent the evolving interests and needs of students.

For example, the recent addition of the diversity requirement has provided students in CLAS,

nursing and engineering with the opportunity to develop their understanding of how to promote equity in their respective fields.

In light of the recent election, throughout which misinformation and a lack of inter-party dialogue among young voters perpetuated existing problems, it seems more important than ever that college students are introduced to the principles that define our democracy.

“I didn’t have the opportunity to take a civics class in high school, so college is the chance to learn these things for a lot of students in that position,” CLAS freshman Samantha Morin said.

“Civics is just as important as other things like philosophy or ethics

once we graduate and enter the ‘real world.’”

Implementing yet another requirement would likely be a challenge.

“No matter the workload you already have, it’s important to understand the values behind civic education and have a holistic experience as a student,” sophomore nursing student Andrew Pinou said.

With so many existing requirements already in place, fulfilling the core curriculum can make course registration and academic planning difficult for most students. Considering this, it might be more practical for the University to introduce civics or media literacy as an attribute as opposed to an additional core class for students to take to graduate. By working it into the existing schedule and enhancing some classes instead of having to allocate even more resources for civic education as its own class, Villanova could lessen the burden placed on both administration tasked with introducing it and students required to take these courses.

Whether this might be introduced within my four years as a Villanovan - and the four years before the next major election cycle - is to be determined, but with the support of receptive students and faculty, I am confident that our University can take strides in the right direction before 2028 rolls around. Who knows? Maybe the next opinion article on this topic will be a review instead of a proposal.

Do We Really Need Cranberry Sauce?

Although some enjoy cranberry sauce on top of their turkey and other dishes, gravy is by far the more popular option.

“Cranberry sauce is gross, As the weather grows cold- and [is] only brought to Thankser and students begin to register giving because of tradition,” a for classes next semester, ThanksReddit quote read. giving grows closer. What is it To elaborate, cranberry about Thanksgiving that attracts sauce can be traced back to Inso many people? Is it parades, fall digenous people who lived in the weather or time off from school? mid-to-late 17th century, acNone of these factors compare to cording to “Business Insider.” In what truly makes Thanksgiving addition, the first written recipe such an anticipated holiday: the for cranberry sauce appears in the food.

1796 cookbook “American CookGrowing up, my family ery” by Amelia Simmons. always hosted Thanksgiving dinClearly, cranberry sauce ner. In return, I got to experience has an immense tradition in every dish being made firsthand as Thanksgiving history. This can I watched my family members pre- cause people to feel an obligation pare them. I can attest to the hard to prepare this dish, although the work that goes into the multitude majority of guests find it unnecesof dishes served for Thanksgivsary. ing dinner, but there is one dish “[Cranberry sauce is] althat can be eliminated in my eyes: ways a left-over dish. Gravy pairs cranberry sauce. better with anything you’d put it What is so controversial on. It’s disgusting,” the Reddit about cranberry sauce? To that thread continued. thought, I have a few responses.

As stated earlier, gravy To start, cranberry sauce is visibly serves a similar purpose to cranone of the smaller dishes served berry sauce, yet it continues to be during Thanksgiving, so would the more appealing option year that many people even notice if it after to year. were suddenly eliminated from the To no surprise, on Villatable? In addition, cranberry sauce nova’s campus, similar opinions is often overshadowed by other arose when cranberry sauce was dishes such as traditional gravy.

Massimo DiLeo Staff Writer

Though considered a staple on most Thanksgiving dinner tables, cranberry sauce is unecessary.

Avery Chalk/Villanovan Photography

mentioned.

“I hate cranberry sauce,” Villanova communication professor Michael Bradley said.

He also mentioned his love for gravy, stating he eats turkey sandwiches for lunch often, but “you need gravy for thanksgiving.”

In addition, he called attention towards an honorable mention: pecan pie. In addition to cranberry sauce, he mentioned how pecan pie is not as desirable as fruit pies such as cherry, his favorite. This is a similar comparison to gravy

being the more desirable sauce.

People all around the country are moving away from cranberry sauce. When one eats Thanksgiving dinner, are they more focused on the turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes or the small bowl of red cranberry sauce sitting in the corner? Although it carries a rich amount of history, cranberry sauce is not an essential dish to Thanksgiving dinner.

When you finish dinner on the 28th, notice how much leftover cranberry sauce you have.

8 | The Villanovan

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

OPINION

EDITORIAL BOARD

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

EMMA CAHILL Editor-in-Chief HANNAH SWEENEY Editor-in-Chief BROOKE ACKERMAN Associate Editor-in-Chief AVERY CHALK Opinion Editor KAILEY FAHY Opinion Editor

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.

More Than a Race: Villanova’s Marathon Culture Kaitlin Lawrenson Staff Writer The 2024 New York City Marathon took place on Sunday, Nov. 3. This is the world’s largest marathon, with more than 55,000 finishers.

Many well-known celebrities ran the marathon, including Claire Holt (The Vampire Diaries), Vinny Guadagnino (Jersey Shore) and Matt James (The Bachelor). Marathon culture seems to be ramping up around the country as thousands of people attempt to complete the challenge, including famous celebrities. Surrounding these larger marathons are half-marathons, 5ks, and other races that call runners at all levels to come out and get active. However, I feel that marathon runners are huge inspirations to all people considering stepping into the running community, as they show that if you work hard and show up, you can do anything you set your mind to.

In my opinion, marathon culture is a community filled with positivity and motivation.

While very few people actually qualify to become marathon runners, most of those participants start in 5ks and half marathons, or even their high school track meets. Running can be a very daunting physical activity because no matter how you slice it, it is always a competition. If I am on a jog with a friend, and she is a few feet ahead, she is winning the race. Are we racing? Is this a contest?

No. But our natural instinct as human beings is to compete and not just compete, but to win. We don’t like to participate in things we feel we aren’t good at because it makes us feel defeated and we all want to win. However, when we see these fellow runners and even celebrities documenting their running journeys, it shows that

Villanova’s marathon culture points to broader values of community and dedication.

Avery Chalk/Villanovan Photography

we can all start somewhere, and even if a person never reaches marathon level, it is still an incredible accomplishment to complete a race.

The lines of people cheering for runners, handing out snacks and words of motivation reminds us that no one cares how fast you are running or what race you are in. People are just impressed because you had the nerve to do something challenging and complete it. Thus, strangers will cheer for people they don’t even know, because this community is one filled with kindness.

While no marathon distance, through NOVAfit, Villanova hosted a 5k on Sunday, Nov. 10.. This 5k was open to students, faculty, staff and the local community in order to raise money for the Sunshine Fund in memory of Rev. John P. Stack, OSA. All races do not have to just be for glory. This race was to help raise money for a great cause, and many times people who don’t always participate in races will turn out for this good cause. Marathons do not

have to be the only type of running people do, because it is a rare thing to complete a marathon, but this season and the way it is perpetuated on social media reminds us of the culture altogether. Many people run just to raise money for a cause or for their friend fighting a disease, and it reminds us that we all can join this environment if we want to.

Villanova junior Abby Stinson discussed her experience running a recent half marathon in Philadelphia and whether it was worth the challenge.

“Absolutely,” Stinson said. “As someone who really does not like running, I was super open about talking about my training experience leading up to the race with friends and family.

I also think that after running the race, it has inspired my other friends to start running and join me on my next half marathon which I think is really exciting.”

She added on by discussing what made it such a challenge.

“Running a half marathon

was one of the most challenging events I have ever done,” Stinson said. “I found it honestly to be more of a mental challenge than a physical challenge. I have never been a runner and did prepare for the race as much as I could have, yet it was more overcoming the duration, keeping a steady pace, and motivating myself through that was the biggest challenge.”

Stinson is just one of thousands who completed that race, and after speaking to her, I am left feeling empowered to put on my running shoes and embrace the challenge. I am not a runner, I never have been.

However, seeing the sense of camaraderie that can come from running is super inspiring.

“I ran with my roommate, and not only did it empower us individually, but I truly think it bonded us for life,” Stinson said. “It was both our first half marathon, so we felt so accomplished and proud of each other when we hit the finish line. It’s an emotional experience, and I was glad to share that with someone else.”

Everything here at Villanova is so much better when you have the friends you have made here standing beside you. I think that as someone who doesn’t come from a running background, I could enjoy the process much more with my fellow Villanovans surrounding me, including my roommate; that is, if I can convince her. Accomplishing challenges is much more worthwhile when you have people to high five at the top and I think this is a testament not just to marathon runners or runners in general but the friendship that stems from the running atmosphere and community. Marathons are a positive motivator, even if someone doesn’t reach that high of a challenge, and I am proud of my fellow Villanovans for adding to a community I am growing to appreciate and respect.

Sip into the Season with Starbucks Holiday Drinks Patricia Cancio Staff Writer

It’s that time of the year: Starbucks is back with the holiday drinks. This year, it launched its holiday drinks menu on Nov. 7, nationwide. Compared to previous years, Starbucks made some changes to its holiday menu ranging from introducing their first-ever holiday refresher to removing some customer-favorites away from the menu, such as the Toasted White Chocolate Mocha.

The holiday menu gives a twist of flavors to Starbucks’ regular coffee and chai drinks. The menu includes drinks, such as the Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulée Latte, Chestnut Praline Latte, Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte and Gingerbread Latte. The majority of

these drinks are available hot, iced or as frappuccino.

Starbucks also launched new holiday cold foams. For those who enjoy extra-sweet drinks, adding a layer of foam is the perfect way to combine and enjoy the regular coffee with a creamy touch. The holiday cold foams are the Gingerbread, Peppermint Chocolate, Sugar Cookie, Chestnut Praline and Caramel Brulée. It offers a wide variety of alternative cold foams, making it easy for customers with different tastes to find their favorite flavor. However, there is an extra $1.25 charge for adding cold foam to one’s coffee.

As previously mentioned, this year, Starbucks launched refreshers for the first time as part of its holiday menu. By adding refreshers to its holiday menu, it is expanding its market by offering alternatives to

non-coffee drinkers.

There are three types of refreshers: the Cran-Merry Orange Refresher, the Cran-Merry Orange Lemonade Refresher and the Cran-Merry Drink. Although they are similar, the difference between them is that the regular Cran-Merry Orange Refresher is mixed with water and the Cran-Merry Orange Lemonade Refresher is mixed with lemonade, making it sweeter. On the other hand, the Cran-Merry drink contains coconut milk, which also adds a component of sweetness.

While I haven’t tried the holiday refreshers, I have tried the regular refreshers, such as the Strawberry Açai and the Mango Dragon Fruit refreshers, and they are both really good, so I am sure that the holiday refresher must also be delicious.

In addition, on Oct. 30,

Starbucks announced its removal of an extra charge for non-dairy milk, which also began on November 7.

Starbucks offers oat milk, almond milk, soy milk and coconut milk as non-dairy milk options.

According to Starbucks, “Besides adding an extra shot of espresso, substituting regular milk for a non-dairy alternative is the second most requested customization in a coffee order. Although this change only applies to stores in the US and Canada, customers who used to pay to switch their milk preference are expected to see a 10% reduction in their coffee price.”

Since I regularly drink coffee, especially during final exams in December and May, I will benefit from this change since I order coffee with a non-dairy milk.

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

The Villanovan | 9

OPINION

(Four)sight: My Predictions for the 2028 Election Cycle Juliana Burke Staff Writer As President-Elect Donald Trump starts to select key cabinet members for his incoming administration, newly-elected senators embark on their orientation, and the Biden-Harris administration prepares for a transfer of power, it is only natural that self-proclaimed political junkies focus on what’s (sort of) next: the 2028 presidential election.

Unlike the 2024 presidential election, the 2028 cycle is bound to be much more interesting due to what is almost certain to be an intensive primary season for Democrats and Republicans alike. On the Democratic side of the aisle, it is clear that President Biden will not run for re-election, a decision likely influenced by considerations regarding his age, which ultimately led to his withdrawal from the race in July of 2024. On the Republican side of the aisle, President-Elect Trump is unable to launch an election bid due to executive term limitations. This leaves us with three pressing questions: who will the primary candidates be? Who among these groups has the highest chance of clinching the two major party nominations?

Out of the two final nominees, who is most likely to win the general election?

On the Democratic side of the aisle, I foresee the top three primary candidates being California Governor Gavin Newsom, Pennsyl-

vania Governor Josh Shapiro and surprise candidate - former First Lady Michelle Obama. Although none of these individuals have officially declared their intentions to run, their activities suggest they are positioning themselves to gain support within their party.

Governor Newsom has proactively addressed potential Trump policies by meeting with President Biden, aiming to safeguard the progressive initiatives California has implemented during his six years as the Governor.

As for Governor Shapiro, his popularity is sure to make him a top contender in the Democratic field, as he enjoys a solid 56 percent approval rating in Pennsylvania, a state defined by its ever changing (and often unpredictable) political identity. Lastly, First Lady Michelle Obama is one of my wild card candidates due to her heavy presence on the campaign trail for Vice President Harris in the closing weeks of the 2024 presidential race. Polls show she has a high favorability rating among Democratic voters despite not holding elected office. However, her background in law may be appetizing to voters seeking an educated, yet “non-establishment” candidate.

On the Republican side of the aisle, I foresee the top three primary candidates being Vice President-Elect JD Vance, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy.

Should Vance’s term as Vice President prove successful, he might

Burke makes her predictions for who will run for President in 2028.

Courtesy of Shutterstock

benefit from the diluted incumbency advantage that often accompanies the presidential primary race. His diverse background as a lawyer, venture capitalist, author and Ohio Senator renders him a well-rounded candidate capable of appealing to a broad spectrum of voters. I believe Vance’s toughest competition will be Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is widely lauded for his success in handling the COVID-19 pandemic and hurricane recovery efforts. He enjoys 60 percent-plus favorability ratings in the Sunshine State, which begs the question: will this approval translate on the national scale? Lastly, Ramaswamy’s rise can be attributed to his strong debate performances and his outsider status reminiscent of Trump’s initial appeal in 2015.

With this diverse array of candidates in mind, I predict that the 2028 General presidential elec-

tion will culminate in an extremely competitive matchup between Shapiro and Vance. The outcome is reliant upon the performance of the second Trump administration and the results of the 2026 midterms.

However, if I had to put money on the 2028 race, I would lean toward the idea that Vance holds a slight advantage in this toss-up.

Although it is difficult to accurately predict events so far away ( but somehow just around the corner), following the platforms of these potential candidates and their trajectories will assist us in making informed decisions about which candidates reflect the ideals of our nation most accurately. Whether one is looking at a field of seasoned politicians, rookie candidates or the revival of some long lost movement, let us raise a toast to all the colorful, chaotic surprises that lie ahead, no matter how far off they may be.

Sof Says: How To Approach Thanksgiving Sof Quaglia Satire Columnist The following content is purely satirical! Don’t believe everything you read!

It’s time America starts being honest and admits that Thanksgiving is the most boring holiday. For a holiday with “giving” in its name, it’s funny that it quite literally gives nothing. There is nothing fun about Thanksgiving.

It doesn’t have presents or fireworks or costumes. All you get is dry food and a football game. It doesn’t even deserve the title of holiday. It’s literally just a normal Thursday but with cranberry sauce.

But not this year. I refuse to have yet another boring Thanksgiving. Luckily, there is one saving grace of Thanksgiving, and it is family drama. This Thanksgiving, it’s time for families to do what they do best: fight.

I want my Thanksgiving to be an exact replica of that scene in Gossip Girl when they all stormed out of the Thanksgiving feast. I want fights. I want judgment. I want all the drama that could be packed into one otherwise boring and gross food-filled day.

In order to add some drama to the day, I have compiled a list of what I like to call “Conflict Starters.” I will be using these conflict starters to bring some life to my Thanksgiving festivities this year, and I suggest all of you do, as well.

Quaglia gives an interesting approach on how to start conversation at the Thanksgiving table.

Courtesy of Shutterstock

I can confirm that some of them will work. I have watched a few of these questions blow up family events, and they are some of my favorite memories. I mean, it wasn’t great for the people fighting, but as someone who got to watch the drama unfold, I had an absolute ball.

With that being said, I do know how to use these responsibly.

By that I mean that I don’t care if saying any of these things gets me in hot water or causes my family to explode. If you are a little nervous about that, then please use them with caution.

I suggest you don’t, though.

If there’s no risk, there’s no reward. If you want to have fun on Thanksgiving, you’re just going to have to deal with the consequences. So please, use any (or all) of these Thanksgiving conflict starters to bring some life to your

Thanksgiving festivities this year.

1. Is a hot dog a sandwich?

2. Who here was Team Captain America and who was Team Iron Man? 3. Oh, you didn’t get any sleep the night of the election.

Was it because you were too nervous or too excited?

4. I don’t know if outer space is real.

5. Who is genuinely more talented: Lebron James or Michael Jordan?

6. Did you know what a tariff was two weeks ago? Do you know what one is now?

7. How do you feel about teams having to change their insensitive names?

8. Who is the most annoying member of the family?

9. Okay, well, who would be in your cabinet if you were the

president?

10. I’m pretty sure Sabrina Carpenter lip syncs.

11. Would you rather have a living daughter or an inexpensive carton of eggs?

12. If you could only save one person in this room from a burning building, who would you choose?

13. What are your thoughts on Ozempic?

14. When is it okay to cause an insurrection?

15. Who is really to blame for the Beatles breaking up?

16. How many transgender athletes are on your daughter’s basketball team?

17. Which is the correct way: toilet paper over or toilet paper under?

18. Maybe the Phillies really should trade Alec Bohm.

19. Do you really think there is a heaven, or are you just scared there isn’t one?

20. I think the Star Wars prequels are better than the originals.

21. When did you get your first and last COVID shot?

22. Should people with previous dance experience be allowed to compete on Dancing with the Stars?

23. Do you believe in the death penalty?

24. Just tell me why you thought it was a good idea to vote for them.

25. Let’s get serious here.

Who is your favorite child and why?

10 | The Villanovan

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

OPINION

CULTURE

NISA Spotlight: VU’s Indigenous Student Organization Cali Carss Staff Writer November is Native American Heritage Month, representing a commitment to celebrating and learning from the people indigenous to the land this country occupies. At Villanova, though, students have disappointingly few opportunities to engage with native culture.

That is where the Native and Indigenous Student Association (NISA) comes in.

Established last year by now-senior Meg Martin and now-juniors Autumn Coard and Modonna Kongal, this organization is committed to celebrating their cultures and educating the Villanova community.

“There’s not a ton of indigenous students on campus,” Co-President Martin acknowledged. “As far as we know there’s three.”

However, being each other’s only community has not stopped NISA from looking to the future and making strides for native visibility on campus.

“A lot of what we’ve been trying to do this year is make a lasting impact that doesn’t require another group of students in five or 10 years to restart their own group, because we’ve already seen that happen,” Martin said. “There used to be an indigenous student group, the Native American Student Association (NASA). That was around 25 years ago that there was that organization and [NASA] lived and died with the students as they graduated.”

The trio is utilizing both academic and cultural resources to plan events for students to participate in, in hopes that there will be a foundation left after they’ve gone on to post-grad plans.

This past week, the group held a movie night on Nov. 13 with a take-

home blanket and Taco in a Bag provided, watching Res Ball. They were very pleased with the turnout, and happy they could include a food that is “a pow wow food.”

“You typically see [those kinds of food] there and I was like we can do a little something of the culture even though a lot of people might not understand that’s what it is,” Martin said.

A pow wow on Villanova’s campus is in motion for the spring, which will highlight native culture and allow students to engage in a cultural practice most are probably seeing for the first time.

“There will be vendors, people who sell beadwork, artwork, clothes, jewelry, as well as singing and dancing, so there will be drummers, traditional dancers and an MC who kind of runs the entire event,” Co-President Autumn said. “It’s just a really communal moment and it would be really cool to have that at Villanova and bring students in and have them involved.”

The pow wow will be in April, taking advantage of the nicer weather for maximum time outside as a community.

In addition to events, there are other initiatives that NISA is pushing for in order to grow the native student population at Villanova.

“There is currently no scholarship for indigenous students, so there’s no support for that area,” Martin said. “Obviously, we want one, so we’re currently trying to prove the case for the need of one and how important it is to acknowledge indigenous history and indigenous existence itself.”

Resources such as scholarships for indigenous students have worked at other schools such as Syracuse and Brown, where there are vibrant native student cultures, both co-presidents

November is Native American and Indigienous Heritage Month.

Maggie Fitzgerald/Villanovan Photography

noted. There is important and necessary work to be done at Villanova, and this is the work that this trio has been doing.

“For whatever reasons we chose Villanova [we] factored in the sacrifice that we might not be able to practice our culture or see that representation and community that we want to have, and that’s just not something we want future students to have to go through,” Autumn said.

Both co-presidents also emphasize that their organization is not exclusive.

“We do want to welcome people of all indigenous backgrounds, they don’t have to be indigenous to the U.S.,” Autumn said.

“You can be indigenous from any portion of the world, we’re not just dealing with the American Indian tribe,” Martin added. “If you feel like you resonate, then you are more than welcome to join the club. Also, if you feel like you don’t resonate and you’re not indigenous

to any particular culture and you don’t have that background, you’re still more than welcome to join because I think it’s a really great form of allyship.”

The organization’s biggest goals remain focused around creating community bonds for future native students as they come to Villanova, so no one is left with as little as they found when starting this organization.

“I think our enjoyment when we get to rest will come when we get to see future students rest,” Martin said. “I think putting in the work is like our reward.

Most of the events we do we’re not actually doing the event, we’re facilitating them. Which is fine because it’s putting in the work now so when we come back as alumni, we get to see an established, sustainable group. And then we’ll get to do the event and craft what we want to craft, so I think it will be eventually rewarding.”

NISA uses its Instagram, @villanova.nisa to share updates about events regarding native history and issues.

Decomposition: MA Thesis Performance and Workshop Ava Satterthwaite Staff Writer I love autumn. I used to think its ambience drew me in: the cable-knits, cider donuts, crackled leaves.

Now, however, as we wrestle with inexhaustible evolution, as finals loom over us, and time ebbs like water from our wearied hands, Fall has become so much more. Fall reminds us we are finite. Like the rotten leaves– like willows and birds and rivers –we too are mortal. And there is innate unification in this shared fate.

In a beautiful brew of sound (from millennia-old mate calls to Microsoft Windows), stills, verse and modern mechanics, Villanova’s Communication PhD candidate Jake Metzger examined mankind’s subversive demolition of this dualism between life and death.

So often, we strive to be infinite. We are entranced with this venerated bloom: the innovation, urbanization, men in corner offices who fritter finite time to inflate their inordinate checks. Like lurid lilies in mild autumn, another new and lustrous item diverts us from the rotten world. And in our endeavor to be infinite, (whether via Botox, fillers, or floods of fast-fashion to drown our firm need for more), we accelerate the

The Decomposition performance and workshop took place last Friday.

Courtesy of @villanovaperformancestudies on Instagram

corrosion. We tarnish the world with our immoderation like children and their caramel-coated molars.

So? If we have overridden dualism, if we have falsified flowers to soothe us, who cares? I think one of the more calamitous “advancements” humans have made is this detached divide from the natural world. Even as loftier animals, more civilized than the

birds and trees, we too are mortal. We can disdain this truth, claiming we are more than a mere “combination of sodium, potassium and carbon” redistributed over time. Still we (us, birds, trees) come from dust, and to dust we shall return.

As mentioned before, I love autumn. I love how the leaves transform and break down with no shame,

how their crunches echo, voices unafraid of being heard. Each fall, we are reminded of our finitude. Even more so, how to embrace our finitude.

Find armistice in the transience: a formal invitation to leave the Botox and online orders behind.

In our modern world, saturated with the screeches of an ever-turning hamster wheel, a return to nature sounds absurd. How can we overcome the obstinate noise: the new devices, another controversial news headliner, a new diversion from our true ambition? In truth, as Jake elucidated with a collection of sound waves, there is no silence. There never will be. From the mother and calf whales’ bellows to the kauai oo bird’s mate calls, to running rivers, crunching leaves, sitcom laugh tracks and Netflix’s resonate introduction, we will never escape the music.

Our time here is finite. We will never be liberated from the noise, from the siren sound to find eternal life. Still, I urge: do not become so infatuated with the fake flowers, with the melodies of mechanization.

Remember: we too are mortal. If we burn the world with selfish desire, we, too, will burn.

So please, embrace finitude.

Learn to love the autumn. Our time is too invaluable to waste in a search for more.

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

The Villanovan | 11

OPINION

New Art Gallery Raises Environmental Awareness at VU

Ethan Silva, a student who worked on the exhibit, shared his perspective on how the exhibition brings the climate crisis closer to home.

Tucked away on the top floor “I like that it sort of bridgof the Connelly Center, the cozy es the theme of environment and Commuter Lounge has long been a sustainability to a local spectrum favorite study spot for students. Now, because those are such big issues,” it has been reimagined into someSilva said. “By sourcing art from thing more impactful. The space is our university’s collection I think it now home to an art exhibition with makes the issue more localized and a mission that extends far beyond more approachable for Villanova’s aesthetics. campus and students.”

“Envisioning the EnvironThe exhibition is a represenment: Art Sustainability at Villanotation of the collaborative vision and va” is the result of a collaborative effort of the students and their meneffort through Dr. Leah Pires’s Art tors. The class members were able History Honors Seminar, Curating to bring their skills and knowledge Art and Public Engagement. Over from the classroom to this exhibition the past three months eight students, and through their work, they saw their professor and director and cufirsthand the tangible results of their rator Jennie Castillo worked to bring efforts throughout the semester. this project to life.

Pires truly believes that the producThe walls of the lounge are tion of this exhibition enhanced the now adorned with carefully chosen learning experience for her students. pieces from Villanova’s extensive art For that reason, she plans on teachcollection, each exploring themes of ing more art history and curatorial the environment and sustainability. classes in the future.

These artworks range from gushing “We used consensus deciwaterfall photographs to paintings sion-making and committee work to and porcelain figures of birds. The create every aspect of the exhibition, works offer insight into the current from the visual identity to the theme climate crisis, fostering a thoughtful to the order that the works are hung connection between art and the issue on the wall,” Pires said. “Through at hand. this process, students gained handsLittle do most Villanovans on professional experience in curaknow, there are about 10,000 arttorial work, art writing, and project works in the Villanova collection. management.”

Out of this vast collection, CastilThough the works vary in lo and student workers identified medium and focus, they all encourpieces that connect to environmental age reflection on environmental themes. Each student in the semichallenges. Sustainability means nar selected a piece that resonated meeting today’s needs without jeopwith them and conducted in-depth ardizing the future. This involves research on the artist and artwork, repurposing resources, reducing writing wall labels to accompany the harmful practices, and restoring display. natural landscapes. Art, when used The project offers a unique to engage with sustainability, can opportunity to link global challenges amplify the conversation. It allows to a more personal and local context. students to connect with issues they Madison Ostrowski Staff Writer

care about and share them through creative expression. Eva Nicolosi, one of the student contributors, captured this sentiment.

“I think that art can be a really powerful catalyst in the broader conversation about sustainability,” Nicolosi said. “It gives us the power to visualize some of the invisible or often overlooked aspects of climate change, pollution, or environmental degradation. Art is also super powerful in that it can evoke an emotional response that stays with the viewer, which would hopefully cause a deeper sense of responsibility and connection to the environment itself.”

For these students, the exhibition is more than a school project.

It creates a community where they can express their perspective and inspire their peers. It encourages Villanovans to think critically about environmental issues through the lens of art.

In addition, the exhibition raises awareness of the university’s art collection and the dedication of the art history program. Located in a popular study area, it reminds students of the community behind the exhibition. Art history major Jackie

Nathanson highlights the often-overlooked support of the art community.

“I think a lot of people don’t know we have a gallery or an art history program, but the community is the best,” Nathanson said. “It’s so supportive. We’re small but mighty.

It’s really great that we can share that in a space that a lot of Villanova students come to and bring awareness to the program.”

The students will host a clothing swap and creative reuse workshop in the Commuter Lounge and Art Gallery on Dec. 10 from 6 to 8 p.m to raise further awareness about sustainability. In the meantime, the exhibition remains open for all, whether in need of a study break or seeking inspiration.

For those who visit the lounge, the exhibition offers more than an opportunity to view art. It is an invitation to think critically about humanity’s impact on the planet and how we can work together to create a sustainable future. As Villanovans pass through the lounge, they are reminded that art has the power not only to inspire, but also to drive meaningful change.

Gallery visitors could interact with the digital art through their phones.

Maggie Fitzgerald/Villanovan Photography

Author Chris Offutt Visits the Falvey Speaker’s Corner Katie Bryda Staff Writer Before he spoke at the Falvey Speaker’s corner on Thursday, Nov. 14, author Chris Offutt visited the Creative Writing programs class on Detective Fiction.

Offutt has published a number of crime novels, and has written for Emmy-nominated television shows in the past. He now primarily spends his time teaching and writing in Iowa.

Alan Drew, the Director of the Creative Writing Program at Villanova, knows Offutt on a personal level. Offutt was Drew’s professor when he was in the creative writing program at the University of Iowa, where Offutt encouraged him to pursue writing.

Now, Drew has published three novels and heads Villanova’s own creative writing department.

Drew brought Offutt to talk to his students in Detective Fiction, and even recruited two to introduce Offutt at the event in the Speaker’s Corner.

Offutt took to the podium in Falvey to read excerpts from two of his novels, the largest being from his novel Code of the Hills.

Author Chris Offut made a special appearance in Falvery Library last Thursday.

Courtesy of @villanovalibrary on Instagram

This is the newest of his books in a series titled The Mick Harden Novels, and after reading portions he talked about his unique experience writing the series. He started the first novel in The Mick Harden Novels under lockdown, and said that by the time he was finished

writing he “spent more time with these [imaginary] people than actual people.” This eventually led him to extending the single book into a series.

Writing during the pandemic, he took inspiration from his own hometown, a small town in

the hills of Kentucky with a population of about 200. Much of his Kentucky town inspired the setting of his newest series, especially its heavy focus on the animals and nature of the surrounding area.

Drawing on his own personal experience, Offutt went into the writing process of the book with the goal to make people who live in especially rural areas seem more like whole characters, rather than the less complete way they are often characterized in modern media.

After speaking on his novel, Offutt took the time to answer students’ questions on writing, and when Professor Drew noted that a few of the students in the audience wanted to explore writing as a career, he had advice to share.

“It is hard, but it is worth it,” Offutt said.

Offutt also noted that he didn’t publish his writing until he was in his thirties, and that it took more than 60 rejections before one of his short stories was accepted to a small literary magazine.

The talk was a special one, as three generations of creative writing students sat to talk about the creative process and what it meant to them.

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

CULTURE

12| The Villanovan

VillaVogue: Black Friday Shopping Ciara Dursee Staff Writer Thanksgiving break is sneaking up on Villanova students.

As we look forward to the warm embrace of our family, laughter amongst our friends, creamy mashed potatoes and some sweet pumpkin pie, we can begin to focus on the momentous occasion that occurs once a year: Black Friday.

For brief clarification, Black Friday is said to have originated in 1950s America when chaos erupted in Philadelphia the day after Thanksgiving. This was due to the disarray of large crowds, shoplifting, accidents and other concerns caused near the city due to people traveling for the holiday to suburban areas and the annual Army-Navy football game. The police began to depict this day as annual madness in the city. The term “Black Friday” was coined in the 80s to represent retailers operating at a loss “in the red” and moving toward earning a profit going “into the black” because holiday shoppers blew so much money on these sales. Later on, it grew in popularity when companies began using this annual consumer motive to promote sales after the holiday.

While sales scale from clothing to coffee machines top Apple Airpods, if one is looking for enticing fashion deals, Black Friday is not to be overlooked. Always falling on the last weekend of November, which is the 29th this year, Black Friday serves as the best day for deal hunting and money saving.

From seasonal trends to holiday gift-giving, everyday pieces are substantially discounted.

Let’s talk about the brands that offer the most and consistently give the people what they want.

Nordstrom We know her, we adore her. Nordstrom never disappoints.

With some of the best deals we see every year, this retail business will always deliver for us antsy customers, searching for the perfect pair of jeans or outwear jacket to keep us warm this winter. Take up to 60% off at Nordstrom select styles, and up to 70% at Nordstrom Rack, while supplies last.

Reformation We know the usual high prices due to its elegant selection and high demand. So, when this day rolls around every year, it’s always a good idea to check out the discounts Reformation has to offer.

Like last year, Reformation is offering 25% sitewide, with limited-edition styles. Don’t walk, run to these clothing racks.

Target If you can’t make it this Friday, don’t fret, Target’s sales last from now through Dec. 24. What makes Target special is the “Deal of the Day” campaign, ensuring customers are granted new deals daily and can even preview upcoming deals all season long.

The North Face Oh, how we all love a comfortable puffer coat to fashion around the holidays. You’re in luck because the North Face is the outerwear brand you can count on to find the best fit for your winter practicality and appearance. Some of the most popular winter coats are on the pricey side, so this Black Friday make sure you secure one of these iconic puffers.

J. Crew Oh how we adore the looks they bring to the table, and now we can search for more for less. Starting last week, J. Crew has exciting options with up to 50% off all purchases, plus an extra 60% off sale items with various discount codes.

We love and appreciate the brands that give us the most on this special shopping day. However, let’s take a deeper look into specifically what we should be searching for

at these fabulous prices during this wonderful season.

Belts are Back Baby: Amplify every denim look with a belt. This can upscale any outfit you wear to dinner with friends or class. The opportunity to snatch a cute and trendy belt for a sufficient price is fortunately effortless. To list a few stores that hold a wonderful selection: Mango, H&M and our beloved Nordstrom.

Outstanding Overcoats: Just in time for those chilly outdoor fires or a gathering with your friends. From jean jackets to puffer coats, to wool fleece, there are endless options to search for. It’s time to get your hands on Free People favorites, Aerie’s up-to-25% off on new arrivals, or Anthropologie’s wintry items for 30% off storewide.

Best Boots: Personally, my focus is on finding the perfect pair of black, leather, ankle-high boots for the winter season. These are perfect for any outdoor event on a weekend in college and I have been eying them since last year. With DSW’s 30% select boots discount, I won’t hesitate to pull the trigger on the purchase this time around. Not to mention,

Steve Madden, Anthropologie, ASOS and more carry similar versions with striking deals.

Sweet and Subtle Sweater: Let’s not stray away from the classic cozy cardigan look.

Men’s and Women’s sweaters are a staple in anyone’s closet as the bitter winter breeze creeps in. While Amazon is not known for its chic style, the trendy clothing deals its site carries can not be overlooked this Black Friday. Some more recommendations of great deals would come from Uniqlo, Abercrombie & Fitch and Gap. Oh-so-Chic Shoulder: Listen up Villanovans, it’s time to steer away from the classic two-strap backpack and move towards the revolutionary shoulder bag. Find an abundance of hidden gems on Amazon or browse through Kate Spade’s 50% off deals for a finer choice. Either way, you’ll find one that fits perfectly for you.

My suggestions are just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much to choose from. And don’t worry, if you don’t find your favorites on Black Friday, Cyber Monday just three days later is always something to look forward to.

Overcoats are one fashion find readers should look for on Black Friday.

Emma Cahill/ Villanovan Photography

Bryan or Bust?: ListenUP! Charlotte Kyles Staff Writer In the wake of the election, we have seen the impact that podcasts have had on certain groups in the U.S. In last week’s column, I talked about political podcasts and how Joe Rogan and Alex Cooper used their platforms to uplift certain candidates and reach out to their respective fan bases. Rogan’s episode with Donald Trump got 26 million views and many poll analysts are connecting Trump’s victory to the episode’s success.

Podcasts have proved to be a strong force in terms of public persuasion and listenership has increased tremendously over the past decade. Especially since many popular celebrities have started their own channels as another form of media, people are now able to get even more from their favorite pop culture figures in terms of their opinions on politics, other celebrity gossip, and day-today thoughts. It raises the question of to what extent these podcasts

The BFFs podcast has been getting a lot of attention online, and it is the featured podcast this week.

Sophie Latessa/ Villanovan Photography

can influence people’s personal belief and opinions about themselves or other public figures.

BFFs is a popular pop culture podcast run by Dave Portnoy, Brianna LaPaglia, and Josh Richards. Dave Portnoy is the owner of popular sports and pop culture company Barstool Sports, but he’s also known for his pizza reviews and sport commentary. LaPaglia and Richards are TikTok personalities who have both gained a large following since the app gained popularity. BFF’s podcast covers a combination of pop culture, celebrity gossip and sports.

LaPaglia has gained even

more popularity since she started dating Zach Bryan, an up-andcoming country musician who has captivated the attention of GenX and millennials across the US. Over the past few years, Bryan has produced more than five hit albums and has had about 200 sold-out shows. His music echos themes from his family relationships, as well as his experience in the Navy. Recently, however, he has received a lot of criticism from his fans after he and LaPaglia split up this fall. After announcing via Instagram that the two had split, Bryan went on to post regular Instagram content about new upcom-

ing music.

As more information came out it appeared that Bryan had been on popular celebrity dating apps while still in the relationship.

LaPaglia has since released an episode on BFFs with Portnoy and Richards, where she exposed some of their relationship issues. She revealed that she suffered emotional abuse and neglect from him while they were on tour together, as well as the fact that he tried to get her to sign a 12-million-dollar non-disclosure agreement.

This information has been circulating around Instagram and TikTok and many people have commented on the issue. Video clips have been taken from the YouTube channel and shared on various other platforms, many of them criticizing Bryan for his behavior.

Many of his fans have expressed disappointment and called out the hypocrisy between his actions and song lyrics. But is this enough to sway Bryan’s fans away from him and his music? Listen for yourself on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or Spotify. Happy listening.

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

CULTURE

The Villanovan | 13

SPORTS

University Names Eric Roedl as New Athletic Director Owen Hewitt Co-Sports Editor Continued from pg. 1 -lina and a master of business administration from William & Mary.

“I would like to thank President Father Peter Donohue, the search committee, and the Villanova community for entrusting me to lead Villanova Athletics,” Roedl said in a press release.

“As a Villanova alum and former student-athlete, it is an honor to return to my alma mater. My vision is to collaborate with University leadership, the Villanova community, our coaches, staff, and student-athletes to maintain a championship culture throughout the athletic department that places the highest value on student-athlete experience and success and strives to match and promote the excellence of Villanova in everything we do.”

After three years as an associate director of athletic business affairs at William & Mary, Roedl took a job as the associate athletic director and chief financial officer for Temple in 2003. Roedl was eventually promoted to deputy AD at Temple in 2011 before departing for Oregon in January 2012.

As chief operating officer at Oregon, Roedl oversaw the day-to-day operations of Oregon’s 20-team 145-million dollar athletic

program. Roedl was responsible for “business/financial operations, strategic and financial planning, human resources, contracts, information technology, and equipment operations,” according to his bio on the Oregon Athletics website.

Roedl also served as the sport administrator for Oregon’s men’s basketball, baseball, men’s tennis and women’s tennis teams.

“Eric has worked closely with our basketball program for the past 12 years and we are going

to miss his leadership and support,” Oregon head men’s basketball coach Dana Altman said to Villanova Athletics. “Nicole and Eric have a wonderful family. They will be missed by the Ducks but will be a tremendous addition to the Villanova community.”

Roedl had a leadership role on the Pac-12 Football and Men’s Basketball Working Groups. He has also represented the Pac-12 on the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Tennis Committee.

Roedl has been with Oregon Athletics since 2012.

Courtesy of Oregon Athletics

Over 25 years within collegiate athletics administration, Roedl has gained experience in many different roles. At Temple, his responsibilities as Deputy AD included direct supervision over business/financial operations, sports medicine and strength & conditioning. He also served as the sport administrator for the Owls’ football, men’s basketball and baseball teams.

“There is not a more talented, capable or proven athletic administrator, at any level, than Eric Roedl,’’ said former Temple athletic director Bill Bradshaw.

“Kudos to Villanova for this brilliant hire and congrats to Eric, a former Wildcat student-athlete, for coming back home. All of us who had the pleasure of working with Eric are very proud of our dear friend and wish him and his beautiful family every success.’’

Parker Executive Search served as the lead consultant in Villanova’s hiring process. The firm has served as a consulting group for many high-profile athletic leadership searches. Some of its recent placements include Eric Musselman as men’s basketball head coach at Southern California and Kim Caldwell as women’s basketball head coach at Tennessee.

Villanova board members, alumni, faculty and staff, served on a committee that oversaw the search process. There are no details about an introductory conference for Roedl at this time.

Men’s XC First at NCAA Regional, Women’s Fifth Dylan Johnson Staff Writer Graduate Liam Murphy won his third-straight NCAA regional individual title, leading Villanova men’s cross country to a Mid-Atlantic Regional championship in University Park, Pennsylvania last Friday. Senior Sadie Sigfstead ran a school record 19:30.8 on a 6,000-meter course, finishing third individually. The women finished fifth as a team.

The men’s regional title is the team’s second in the last three years.

The win gave the men an automatic bid to the NCAA National Championships, marking the third straight season the men have attended nationals.

Murphy entered regionals just two weeks after winning an individual Big East championship title.

He ran a time of 29:22.8 over the 10,000-meter course, recording the ninth-fastest time in school history.

He holds three of the top 10K times in school history. “[Regionals] was a ‘prep up,’” head coach Marcus O’Sullivan said. “[Murphy] just really had his foot off the gas, except for that one surge.”

Junior Marco Langon recorded his personal best on a 10K cross country course. His personal best time of 29:32.1 was just behind Murphy’s time, allowing Langon to finish second.

Villanova men’s cross country claimed its second Mid-Atlantic Regional title in three seasons.

Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

The one-two finish from Murphy and Langon matched what Murphy did with former Wildcat Haftu Strintzos last season at regionals. With Langon early into his collegiate career, O’Sullivan recognizes how he handles running alongside a veteran like Murphy.

“To Langon’s credit, he doesn’t fall apart or anything like that,” O’Sullivan said. “He kind of steadily keeps his own and maintains his own pace for his own race, and still continues to hold everybody else on comfortably.”

All of Villanova’s scoring five earned All-Region honors. Redshirt freshman Bailey Habler recorded a top-10 placement, finishing ninth with a time of 29:48.7. He was one of the three Wildcats to finish in the top-10.

Rounding out the final two scoring spots were redshirt freshman CJ Sullivan and senior Devon Comber, finishing 13th and 25th, respectively.

Sullivan ran a 29:54.8 and Comber was behind him, finishing in 30:21.1.

Sullivan made an impressive move through the field, gaining 21 spots in the second half of the race and passing two runners in the last 1200 meters.

“I saw just a really good collective team performance,” O’Sullivan said. “And what I was really proud of is guys showing up on the day.”

The women fell short of a team bid to nationals, but Sigfstead’s strong race and third-place finish earned her an individual bid.

Sigfstead’s time of 19:30.8 marked her third top-10 career finish at regionals.

“I thought that was a big jump for [Sigfstead] at the regionals,” head coach Gina Procaccio said.

“That was a great race for her, and I think she’s ready to get out there [at nationals] and run with the best runners in the country.”

Senior Emma McGill came in 14th overall with a time of 20:14.7 and graduate Nikki Vanasse ran a 20:40.2 to finish 25th.

The trio of Sigfstead, McGill and Vanasse all earned All-Region honors, marking the eighth time in the last nine seasons that Villanova has had at least three athletes earn the honors The final two scorers for the Wildcats were first-year collegiate Rosie Shay who came in 27th (20:41.7) and senior Margaret Carroll who finished 39th (21:01.8). Procaccio is impressed with what Shay can do at such a young collegiate career. “[Shay] has made a big jump from high school and she was one of the top freshmen in the race as well,” Procaccio said. “I think [Shay] is just a very tough competitor. She has a lot of room to grow as well, so I think it’s going to be fun following her development over the next few years.”

The men and Sigfstead have a short turnaround to prepare for the NCAA National Championships in Madison, Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23.

SPORTS

14 | The Villanovan

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Wildcat Watch: Ryan Pamer Wins Big 5 Golf Title

kind of thought I blew it. So I came off disappointed for sure, until later on, my assistant coach let me know that I did end up winning, and it was As fall sports come to a close, just kind of a big relief off my shoulone standout player who has made ders. I’ve been second a couple of impressive strides throughout the se- times now, and I’ve just really been mester is junior Ryan “Coop” Pamer pushing myself and working harder on the Villanova golf team. to finally get that win.”

Earlier this month, Pamer After last year’s departure closed out the season at home in the of Peter Weaver, one of the greatest Big 5 Championship with his second golfers Villanova has seen, there was individual title of the season, shoota large gap in the team as someone ing one-over 71 and clinching the needed to fill his shoes. Pamer, who win by three strokes. had competed with Weaver for his “The [Big 5 Championship] first two years as a Wildcat, proved was really cool,” Pamer said. “I that he was the man for the job. In made a big putt on hole 17 to stretch five out of six of the competitions my lead to three, which I didn’t the team competed in this semester, know at the time, but I knew I was Pamer was the top performer for ahead by a little bit of a margin. So I Villanova, helping the team raise its was just trying to stay calm through final placements in each. the final hole. My teammates let me “Peter Weaver practices what know that it was pretty much set in he preaches,” Pamer said. “He was stone that I won so that was a good a great leader on and off the course, feeling. Having all of them come up keeping everyone’s mind clear if to me at the end and just being able they had bad rounds and was just to celebrate with them was really really supportive with everyone. I’m special.” trying to do the same thing, stay This finish was a fitting steady while I’m out there, never let bookend for Pamer, who started out anyone see me get too high or too the season in late August with his low. Just trying to keep the team in a first individual title of the semesgood head space.” ter at the Alex Lagowitz Memorial In fact, some may say Pamer Invitational at Colgate in which he is giving Weaver a run for his money, finished one under (71). as he put forth two of the top indi“At the [Alex Lagowitz vidual seasons in Villanova history Memorial Invitational], I didn’t in his freshman and sophomore year really know if I had won or not,” and collected more than 11 top-ten Pamer said. “I don’t really check the finishes over the course of his collescoreboard while I’m out there, but I giate career. made a bogey on the last hole and I All of his hard work also Amanda McKean Sports Columnist

earned him two Big East Male Golfer of the Week titles throughout the season. These are not the first accolades for Pamer, who during his freshman year was the first Villanova golfer to be named the Big East Freshman Player of the Year.

“It takes a lot of patience,” Pamer said. “Golf is a very difficult game, both mindset and physically. Sometimes the ball just doesn’t bounce your way. You hit a good shot and you get unlucky, or you hit it, and then two holes later hit a bad shot, you’ll get lucky. Transitioning from a freshman to a junior, my mindset has improved a lot. I was trying to put too much pressure on myself. But now it’s just about staying patient, keeping your mind steady, never getting too high or too low, and don’t let anything affect you too much, especially in competition.”

Now as the team takes a break from competition during the next few months, Pamer is looking for new ways to improve his game and get his team back to the Big East Tournament.

“I think as a team, we weren’t too satisfied with how we played in the Fall,” Pamer said. “We had a meeting together to talk about what we can do better and how we can do better. For the spring we want to get at least one team victory for sure. And then we want to compete in the Big East Tournament. We were in the final group last year, and we don’t see a reason why we can’t be there again this year.”

WEEKLY SCOREBOARD Nov. 13 - Nov. 19

Wednesday, November 13 Women’s Basketball @ Princeton 61-70 L Volleyball vs St. John’s 1-3 L Thursday, November 14 Friday, November 15 Women’s Cross Country @ NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional 5th of 30 Men’s Cross Country @ NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional 1st of 30 Men’s Basketball vs Virginia 60-70 L Saturday, November 16 Football @ Monmouth 33-40 L Women’s Basketball vs Columbia 68-67 W Volleyball @ Butler 3-0 W Sunday, November 17 Monday, November 18 Tuesday, November 19 Men’s Basketball vs Penn 93-49 W

Hewitt: This Column is My Super Bowl Owen Hewitt Co-Sports Editor For nearly 30 years, former Buffalo Bills head coach Marv Levy held the record for most consecutive Super Bowl losses. His Bills lost four in a row between 1990 and 1993.

Fortunately for Levy, Villanova head coach Kyle Neptune snatched the record on January 30, 2024, as he recorded his fifth-straight Super Bowl loss to No. 9 Marquette at the Finneran Pavilion. Neptune had already tied the record in 2022, recording four straight losses in the Big Game.

This is clearly nonsense.

Villanova did not lose five consecutive Super Bowls. It lost five-straight Big East games in the month of January.

But, according to Neptune, the team prepares as if every game is its Super Bowl.

“All our guys, we talk about every single game being our Super Bowl no matter what,” Neptune said after the team’s 83-76 loss to Big 5 rival Saint Joseph’s on Nov. 12. “[The] Big 5 is obviously a big rivalry between all the schools. We know it takes on extra meaning, especially for fans and schools in general, but for us, every game that we go into it’s, ‘This is our Super Bowl and our biggest game of the year.’”

As losses have piled up across Neptune’s 74-game tenure, it’s gotten harder to believe him. The ‘Cats have dropped three games this season, including a 90-80 loss at the Finneran Pavilion to NET #225 Columbia.

A 66-56 loss to Big 5 rival

Villanova’s 90-80 home loss to Columbia was the first of three straight losses.

Erick Quezada/Villanovan Photography

Saint Joseph’s last week meant the ‘Cats needed the Hawks to lose to Penn to have a shot at playing in the Big 5 title game. After the Hawks concluded an 86-69 drubbing of the Quakers, Villanova was eliminated from Big 5 title contention for the second straight season. Villanova has not appeared in the first-place game of the Big 5 Classic tripleheader since the transition from round-robin to pod play.

Previously, Neptune has made reference to the Super Bowl before the Wildcats play. After a 66-56 loss at Seton Hall in the penultimate game of the 2023-24 regular season, he said the team was approaching its final matchup with No. 10 Creighton as “our Super Bowl.” The ‘Cats lost that game, 69-67.

The comment makes more sense in the lead-up to a game, though it still lacks sincerity. Neptune wants to emphasize that the team buys into the mentality that the next game is the most important game on

the schedule by making the lowest-hanging analogy possible. But to deploy it after a second-straight loss to St. Joe’s in the Holy War is baffling.

If being outplayed by the Hawks, whom the Wildcats beat 10 times consecutively between 2012 and 2021, is the result of Super Bowl-level game planning, it may be time to re-evaluate what is part of that preparation process.

As alarming as it is to hear Neptune pull out the Super Bowl reference this early in the season, it makes sense considering the kind of pressure that has mounted on the third-year head coach. There are a lot of games left on the schedule for the team to make up for a catastrophic start to its season. The ‘Cats have two power conference opponents left to play on their non-conference schedule, as well ample opportunities for resumé-boosting wins through Big East play.

However, just because it could get better does not mean it will. Early

season play suggests that Villanova would be fortunate to finish higher than eighth in the 11-team Big East.

The last time Villanova finished eighth or below in the conference was in the 2011-12 season, prior to realignment.

After the ‘Cats’ 70-60 loss to Virginia in Baltimore last Friday, there was nothing left to be said. Under the guidance of interim head coach Ron Sanchez, the Cavaliers surged to erase an early 9-2 deficit. An Isaac McKneely three with 10 minutes remaining in the first gave Virginia a 14-11 lead. The Cavaliers stayed in front for the remaining 30 minutes of the game, with the lead ballooning to 18 points with 1:55 remaining.

Sanchez took over the team after former head coach Tony Bennett retired in October. Virginia’s 70 points against the ‘Cats was more than the Cavaliers scored in either of their two previous matchups, which came against Campbell and Coppin State.

Villanova’s defense is the worst in the Big East by defensive rating, allowing 107.8 points per 100 possessions. It is probably the factor that should receive the most blame for the Wildcats’ start, but it is also a reasonable conclusion to say it’s all bad.

The ‘Cats will have to prepare for either the third or the fifth place game of the Big 5 Classic as their Super Bowl, even as the game is specifically marked as a consolation prize. Neptune gave the classic the greatest gift it could ask for. After a long stretch of Villanova dominance, the Big 5 is competitive again.

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

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The Villanovan | 15

Gavalyugov’s Journey: Three Continents, Three Countries Elijah McDow Staff Writer 4,794 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, a four-year-old kid named Aleksandar Gavalyugov stepped on the basketball court for a game against a group of 10-year-olds.

14 years later, that same kid, a native of Sofia, Bulgaria, is now a six-foot-two freshman point guard for Villanova.

Nicknamed “Sash” by his teammates and coaches, the 18-year-old’s journey to the Main Line took him around the world.

At 17, Gavalyugov left Sofia to attend the NBA Global Academy in Australia.

“It was harder than I thought it was going to be,” Gavalyugov said. “I was far away from home in a whole different continent and culture. Everything was just so different. I was excited the first couple of weeks, but then I got homesick.”

An injury shortly after his arrival sidelined Gavalyugov, who was already missing his Bulgarian roots.

In Gavalyugov’s family, basketball is a rite of passage.

While the whole family has played a part in Gavalyugov’s basketball journey, his father Ivan’s impact has been without equal. “[My father] is always on the phone with me, following my development and he’s always tell-

ing me what to do in the gym to get better,” Gavalyugov said. “He’s like my mentor, coach and idol.”

From the age of four to now, Gavalyugov’s experiences have sharpened his skills as a point guard and given him a fearless mentality.

“I was a late bloomer,” Gavalyugov said. “I was always shorter and skinnier than others, especially when we were hitting our growing years. I wasn’t as strong as them and I couldn’t jump like them. I had to learn how to be more skillful than them and I had to dribble better and shoot better and play smarter. ” On the international stage, Gavalyugov has excelled.

In 2023, as a member of the Bulgarian Youth National Team, Gavalyugov averaged 21.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.6 assists.

This past summer, Gavalyugov attended the 2024 Adidas EuroCamp in Italy, which showcases top talent from Europe. In Italy, he averaged 15.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game.

Following his strong performances at the camp, Gavalyugov’s stock in the United States began rising and more college coaches such as head coach Kyle Neptune started reaching out.

“It was amazing,” Gavalyugov said. “Some of the players were NBA prospects, so playing against them helped me get recruited by bigger schools. Last

season I was injured, so I missed a lot of games, so this was the stage to prove that I could play.”

Villanova and Neptune’s rich history with point guards make Gavalyugov an exciting addition to the program.

“Aleksandar is a crafty, competitive lead guard with high level dribble, pass and shooting tools,” Neptune said to Villanova Athletics. “At a young age, he has already excelled on the international stage and impacted winning.

Our staff is looking forward to working with Aleksandar as he transitions to college basketball.”

Due to a new style of basketball, Gavalyugov has yet to play for the Wildcats this season.

In Europe, teamwork, ball movement, and outside shooting are emphasized more than one-on-one play, athleticism and pace. Despite being sidelined, Gavalyugov has remained an active player in practice and continued to further his development.

In Bulgaria and Australia, Gavayugov was often one of the better players on his teams. At Villanova, he is still waiting for his opportunity, but has leaned on older players and his coaches for help.

In the locker room and on campus the difference in music taste has created a strong bond between Gavalyugov and his teammates. While his teammates have introduced him to American rap, Gavalyugov has introduced the

locker room to music from back home.

“Going to the weightroom they have introduced me to some artists I have never heard before,” Gavalyugov said. “In the locker room and on the road it’s always American music but I’ve also introduced them to Bulgarian music.

I think they kind of got a feel for it. Every student who came to Hoops Mania probably heard the most famous song from Bulgaria, so hopefully people got a feeling for what it is.”

Gavalyugov recently found a taste of home close to campus and has also been cherishing his time in the United States as a student-athlete.

“There’s a Bulgarian store twenty minutes from campus,” Gavalyugov said. “I can get some stuff from there, which is nice. The life here is more chill. I’ve only been to Philadelphia one or two times so I haven’t seen much of it, but I like it here and like living here.”

Gavalyugov’s journey has taken him to three different continents and three different countries.

His journey is one that many other college players will never experience or need to take, but it is a journey that is ultimately paying off as a Division I player and member of the Wildcats roster. “[Fans] can expect that I will be a guy who brings a lot of energy on the court and has a positive attitude,” Gavalyugov said.

W Soccer Hopeful for 2025 After Memorable Comeback James Haupt Staff Writer Despite a disappointing end to the season, the Villanova women’s soccer team has much to be proud of in 2024. The Wildcats finished the year with a 5-7-6 overall record and a 2-3-5 conference record, finishing seventh in the Big East Conference and only two points away from making the Big East tournament.

Last season, Villanova finished last, with one win and seven losses. The improvement the Wildcats saw in 2024 has sparked hope for the program to be a contending team in the Big East once again.

“The team is extremely competitive,” head coach Samar Azem said. “The belief is there.

The ideas of what this team looks like, how we train, how they go out to the field, how prepared they are for the game.”

It was a unique season that included five ties within the conference for the Wildcats. These games represented Villanova’s fight and resilience throughout the year to stay competitive. One game in particular highlighted the identity of this team.

On Oct. 27, Villanova took on Providence a crucial conference game. It came three days after the Wildcats had their worst loss of the season against Georgetown.

The game didn’t start how they wanted with Providence scoring two goals in the first ten

Despite disappointing results in the Big East, the Wildcats ended their season on a hopeful note for 2025.

Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

minutes. The Wildcats finished the first half down 2-0.

The second half was more of the same as the Friars scored two minutes in. Villanova was looking at a three goal deficit in what was a must-win game.

With the game coming to an end, the Wildcats pressed numbers up looking for any offensive production.

Fortunately for Villanova, graduate midfielder Alex Fava put in their first goal of the game.

There was only ten minutes remaining, but this was the spark they needed.

“We definitely had the nothing-to-lose mindset,” Fava said. “As we started to high press, we saw how frantic they became.

We saw that we could really exploit that and that fueled us. In those last ten minutes especially we saw how frantic they were, and we were able to capitalize on

a corner kick. At that point, we were down 3-1 and we knew if we lost that game we were definitely out of the Big East [Tournament].

I think a lot of us thought this could’ve been in our last game. It was really in those last ten minutes that we were like, let’s just give everything we have.”

The ‘Cats went on to score two more goals in the span of eight minutes to make it a 3-3 tie. Graduate midfielder Lauren Ashman and senior midfielder Susanna Soderman were responsible for the game-changing plays. It was fitting for three of the team’s oldest players to be a part of such an impressive turnaround.

“I think this game really does represent our time at Villanova really well,” Ashman said.

“Me coming in five years ago, Sue coming in four years ago and even Fava coming in two years ago, our team was more of a losing team

in the sense that when we would get down we weren’t getting back up. We were getting discouraged.

I think that in the past season we learned how to build that culture that will come back and fight to win. Although we didn’t come out with the win and we didn’t make the Big East tournament, I think that all three of us can say that we’re leaving this program better than we found it. And, I think this team will be pulling out those wins next year and have a great chance at making the tournament.”

Although the game finished in yet another tie for Villanova, it was one of the most impressive comebacks in program history.

Especially with it being such a crucial game at the backend of the season.

“We had a very small but mighty group of seniors, but the majority of our players who played had a year or less experience with us,” Azem said. “We knew that throughout the season there would be these inconsistencies. These ebbs and flows of success. And the goal was we would be peaking at the right time, which is the end of the season. To me, that match showed just how much the team has taken on this process throughout the season of growing and learning each day.”

It may not have been the perfect ending for Villanova, but it certainly was a memorable one.

The Wildcats will look to take this program to the next level in the 2025 season and compete for a Big East title.

16 | The Villanovan

SPORTS

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Signing Day Brings New Talent to Basketball Programs

Ohio, the Bender twins’ ability to play the guard and forward positions will help the team where the Wildcats need them most.

Signing day has brought Elise Bender has an execusome new and promising talent to tive list of accolades, and is lookVillanova’s basketball program, ing to continue building that list. both on the men’s and women’s She was first-team all-Ohio, Prep teams.

Girls Hoops Player of the Year, On Nov. 13, the women and first-team all-District 7. Elise’s signed three new athletes, one excellent scoring talent has shown, being a four-star recruit. as she has scored 1,427 career Kennedy Henry, hailing points, which has earned her a from Hockessin, Delaware, joined nomination for Ohio Ms. Baskethead coach Denise Dillon’s alball. Her ability to score from any ready guard-heavy roster. Standing position on the court, along with at 6’0, Henry plays for Westtown her great defensive instincts, will School, where she honed her make her a great fit for the womskills against elite competition. en’s roster.

As a four-star recruit, Henry was Brooke Bender has a named to the Mid-Atlantic Prep unique skill set that will enhance League (MAPL) first team for the Wildcats’ roster. The 6’1” three years in a row and was on guard/forward has established the Prep State First Team for three herself as an extraordinary shootconsecutive years. er. Brooke owns the school record Henry, ranked 78th in of 123 three-point field goals, ESPN’s Women’s 2025 Top 100 which shows her ability to spread and a four-star recruit, has already the floor. Her accolades continue demonstrated her scoring abilwith earning Special Mention allities, by recording 1,000 career State, First Team Northwest Ohio, points as a junior. Henry, who is First Team all-District 7 and Toleknown for her tough ball handling do Blade top 25. Brooke’s shooting and strong shooting abilities, her range and consistency from bepresence on the court will provide yond the arc make her a valuable the Wildcats with another scoring weapon to Villanova basketball. option.

“We are excited to have The next two women’s bas- Kennedy, Elise and Brooke join ketball signees have a unique bond our program,” Dillon said. “They like no other. Next season, fans are a talented group that will help will have double the excitement as move our program forward. All Dillon-recruited twins Elise and three possess the talent, mindset Brooke Bender. From Whitehouse, and skill level to be high level perMadison Hodges Staff Writer

formers. Our program got better today by adding these three to our future roster.”

On the men’s side, the Wildcats signed a dynamic guard who will carry on his father’s legacy at Villanova.

Dante Allen, a 6’4” guard and four-star recruit, has a multifaceted skill set in which he can produce on offense and play strong defense. Allen initially gained attention in high school at Riviera Prep in Miami, where he averaged 21.0 points, seven rebounds and three assists per game last season.

This season, he will attend Montverde Academy, the same program that produced former Villanova legend James Bell, to hone his abilities in elite competitions.

Allen demonstrated his abilities on the AAU circuit with Nightrydas Elite. He was instrumental in winning three straight championships at the renowned Nike Peach Jam Festival, demonstrating that he thrives under pressure on some of the largest platforms in high school basketball.

Dante Allen’s journey to Villanova is more than simply a new chapter. It is the continuation of a family lineage ingrained in Wildcat history. His father, Malik Allen, was once a Wildcat, cementing a strong collegiate career.

Malik played four seasons for the Wildcats from 1996 to 2000, where he scored 1,131 points and collected 708 rebounds. He concluded his college career earning

third-team all-Big East as a senior before entering his NBA career. In 2021, he was inducted into Villanova’s Varsity Club Hall of Fame.

“We are so excited to formally welcome Dante to the Villanova family,” Villanova men’s head coach Kyle Neptune said.

“Dante is a tough, intelligent guard who drives winning. He is extremely versatile in getting to the rim, shooting and making plays for others. And of course, he brings a great pedigree as the son of two Villanova alumni, one of whom is a Hall of Famer for what he accomplished in his playing career here.”

With four new athletes added to a future Villanova basketball roster, the women’s and men’s basketball programs both look to have a promising start to the 2025-2026 season.

Four-star Dante Allen continues a Villanova legacy.

Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

Volleyball Goes 1-1 Approaching End of Regular Season Genna Cottingham Staff Writer After playing St. John’s and Butler this past week, Villanova is now entering the final games of the regular season.

The penultimate week began on Wednesday night at Jake Nevin Field House, in which the ‘Cats suffered a 1-3 loss to the Red Storm. To end the week, the team traveled to Indianapolis, IN to defeat Butler, 3-0.

On Nov. 13, the ‘Cats were defeated by St. Johns, (25-17, 1825, 21-25, 23-25).

After winning the first set, Villanova came up short in the last three, losing by a margin of two points or more. Despite their scoring troubles, the ‘Cats still managed an aggressive performance on the court.

The two highest scorers of the night were star outside hitters sophomore Abby Harrell and freshman Cat Young.

Harrell and Young both achieved 13.5 points each. Harrell also pulled off 13 digs and 11 kills against the Red Storm.

Aside from being one of the highest scorers of the game, Young acquired two assists and two aces. Along with 10 kills and digs, Young accomplished one of her best performances for the 2024 season.

“Coming on the last stretch of the games, I feel like we’re just trying to stay connected with each other,” Young said. “I think at

Villanova (15-12, 8-8 Big East) lost 1-3 to St. John’s before defeating Butler 3-0 on the road.

Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

the end of the day, it’s just all of us coming together and giving it all we have and putting it all out there on the court.”

Young’s fellow rookie freshman setter Alyssa Nelson recorded three aces and 21 assists on Wednesday night.

Senior middle blocker Ozzie Ozonoh registered six blocks against the Red Storm.

Graduate transfer Taylor Jakubowski helped out her teammates by gaining 19 assists for the ‘Cats.

On Saturday, Nov. 16, the ‘Cats overpowered the Butler Bulldogs, (25-23, 25-13, 25-19).

After winning three straight sets, this put Villanova undefeated against the Bulldogs for the sea-

son. The ‘Cats have not allowed Butler to win a single set since November of last year.

Freshman middle blocker Campbell McKinnon executed an ace and three blocks, as well as six kills.

Freshman Taylor Lewis attained one block and ten kills.

Young pulled off another stellar performance on Saturday, achieving two aces, two blocks, and six kills.

“I think they’ve done a really good job of just kind of being themselves, and one of the things you’re hoping for when you get young players in is that they can be themselves,” head coach Josh Steinbach said. “We just got a group of freshmen that really

seem calm and comfortable right away, which is fantastic.”

Senior libero Elizabeth Feczko reached five digs and 13 assists for the ‘Cats. Harrell was the highest scorer of the game yet again. She achieved 13 kills accounting for 14 points.

Barreling towards the end of the season, the ‘Cats are putting out their best efforts to fight for a spot in the playoffs. Villanova now has an overall record of 1512 for the season.

As for the Big East conference, the ‘Cats are 8-8. Their last home games for the season are scheduled for this weekend and are crucial for Villanova’s entrance into the Big East Tournament.

“I know we have all the pieces,” Young said. “I feel like we just need to trust what we’re doing and trust what we’re seeing on the other side, no matter who we’re playing.”

The ‘Cats will take on the Providence Friars on Friday, Nov. 22 at 6 p.m. On Saturday, Nov. 23, Villanova will play the UCONN Huskies at Jake Nevin Fieldhouse to close out the 2024 regular season.

The Big East Tournament will take place in Omaha, Nebraska over Thanksgiving weekend.

“I want to stay relaxed and confident to hopefully get us in a place where we’re playing smoothly coming into our last two home matches,” Steinbach said. “Also, getting us ready for a big tournament and trying to make a run out there at Omaha.”

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

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The Villanovan | 17

Football Prepares For Final FCS “Battle of the Blue” Jon Hunn Staff Writer No. 15 Villanova (8-3, 5-2 Coastal Athletic Association) returns home for a game with Delaware (9-1, 6-1 CAA) to close out the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 1 p.m.

Saturday’s meeting between the Wildcats and the Blue Hens in the Battle of the Blue will be the final matchup with both programs at the FCS level. The Blue Hens will compete as an FBS team in Conference USA in 2025. The two teams have met 57 times, dating back to 1895.

Villanova-Delaware has been played in every football season since Villanova restarted its football program in 1988.

Entering the 58th edition of this classic tilt, Delaware is second in the CAA, and Villanova is in fifth.

NCAA rules prohibit Delaware from claiming a conference title or participating in the FCS playoffs during its one-season transition period. Even as a one-loss team that would typically be in contention for a share of the CAA title, Saturday’s game against Villanova will be the final contest of the season for the Blue Hens.

Even after an unexpected 4033 loss last week at Monmouth (5-6, 3-4 CAA) pushed the Wildcats out of the conference title race, the 8-3 Wildcats are still in the FCS postseason picture. The loss makes Saturday’s game even more critical, as a loss to the Blue Hens would likely push Villanova out of the 24-team bracket.

Villanova is 8-3 headed into its final game against Delaware.

Graham Sukup/Villanovan Photography

Villanova’s 16 fourth-quarter points against Monmouth were not enough to overcome the 33-17 deficit it faced at the start of the fourth. In the defeat, graduate quarterback Connor Watkins recorded his second-highest single-game passing yards total of the season with 235 yards.

He added a passing touchdown and two rushing touchdowns to his performance.

Villanova’s defense was uncharacteristically porous in the loss, surrendering 502 yards of total offense to Monmouth. The Hawks logged 358 passing yards, the most Villanova has allowed all season. FBS opponent Maryland previously held

the season’s high mark with 338 passing yards.

Watkins has passed for 1,619 yards this season, with 10 passing touchdowns and two interceptions.

His yardage mark is 11th-best in the CAA. The ‘Cats’ backfield is spearheaded by freshman running back David Avit, who has piled up 765 yards on the season and eight rushing touchdowns, including touchdowns in each of the last three games. Avit is averaging 5.5 yards per carry on 140 attempts.

The Blue Hens enter this edition of the Battle of the Blue on a three-game win streak. The Blue

Hens’ only loss of the season was a 28-9 defeat to Richmond on Oct. 19.

Delaware has juggled three different quarterbacks this year, but found success by starting sophomore Nick Minicucci in each of the last three games. Minicucci has recorded 627 passing yards this season, along with eight touchdowns and two interceptions. Four of his touchdowns were recorded last week in the 41-22 Blue Hen victory over Campbell (3-8, 1-6 CAA).

Senior running back Marcus Yarns leads the Delaware rushing offense with 744 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.

The Blue Hens’ most dangerous offensive weapon is senior wide receiver Phil Lutz, who leads the team with 810 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns.

The Wildcats’ defense will need to collect itself quickly if the ‘Cats hope to slow this dangerous Delaware offensive attack and defend the Battle of the Blue Trophy.

Villanova leads the all-time matchup, 34-22-1. The most recent matchup ended in a Villanova victory by a decisive margin, a 35-7 drubbing on Nov. 18, 2023 at Delaware Stadium. Villanova is 15-2 in the series since a physical trophy was introduced in 2007.

The ‘Cats will look to win their fourth-straight matchup against Delaware on Saturday to complete their push for playoff football.

The game will be streamed on FloSports with kickoff at Villanova Stadium set for 1 p.m.

Women’s Soccer Adds Five to Roster on Signing Day as a member of the Independence High School soccer team. Mitchell played for 12 years with the St. James Football Club and was a Villanova women’s soccer member of the 2021 Girls Acadewill be welcoming five new players my U15 National Championship for the 2025 season. This incomsquad, and was also named the ing class features midfielder Jaden U15 Golden Glove winner. She Aaronson (Medford, NJ), defendachieved more than 100 saves in ers Téa Gambardella (Guilford, 2024 alone.

CT) and Kayla Raghunandanan “Lillian is a technical(Newtown, PA), goalkeeper Lilian ly sound goalkeeper with great Mitchell (Ashburn VA) and forvision on the ball and positionward Avrie Nelsen (Dix Hills, NY). ally,” Azem said. “She will bring Head coach Samar Azem a dynamic that will continue to expressed excitement in regard to enhance the strength of our back the new recruiting class joining the unit.” program, and has some big goals Last up to complete the Head coach Samar Azem is excited about the five recruits who will add versatility to the 2025 roster. recruiting class is forward Avrie ahead for the new signees.

Courtesy of Villanova Athletics “We have significantly Nelsen, who will be coming in Villanova’s second addition from Dix Hills, New York. Nelsen enhanced our athletic profile with constantly looking to break lines and create goals. She will bring an to the defensive squad is Kayla this class as well as the culture of was a member of the SUSA exciting dynamic to our attack,” Raghunandanan, a Newtown, our program, as we pursue our Club team where she played for Azem said.

Pennsylvania native who played goals of winning the BIG EAST six years. During her time at St. Defender Téa Gambardella six years with the Philadelphia Conference and sustaining sucAnthony’s high school she racked is a Guilford, Connecticut native.

Ukrainian Nationals and helped cess,” Azem said to Villanova up all-League and all-Long Island She played with the Connecticut the team to three Mid-Atlantic Athletics. “This group of five will accolades along with being an Rush Select ECRL for 12 years, Championships. Raghunandanan also join our current players in all-State First Team selection. She and for Connecticut Rush UWS played varsity soccer with both enhancing the overall mission of scored 30 varsity goals and was The Pennington School and our program within our Villanova for four years. She has been a CHSAANY Offensive Player of three-time All-SCC selection and Council Rock High School North. the Year in 2023. community, serving others and has two All-State accolades. Gam- She also played on two state chamgrowing as they pursue academic “Avrie is a relentless attackbardella scored a total of 65 goals pionship teams. and athletic excellence.” ing and pressing player,” Azem “Kayla is a versatile deMidfielder Jaden Aaronson during her time at Guilford High said. “She will wear teams down School. Along with that she was fender who can play anywhere in will be coming in from Medford, in the press and has the work rate, a dual sport athlete as a member the back line,” Azem said. “She’s New Jersey as a former member speed and grittiness to create fanof both the soccer and lacrosse a homegrown talent with a lot of of the Real Jersey Football Club. tastic goals.” athleticism and intelligence to her She racked up all-South Jersey and teams.

The recruiting class will “Téa is a physical, fast game.” all-Conference accolades as just a begin their freshman years with Goalkeeper Lillian Mitchell the team in 2025, where they will sophomore in highschool. She also and tenacious defender,” Azem said. “She has the versatility to of Ashburn, Virginia was a First toured the UK with the Capelli hope to contribute to the mission play across the back line or in the Team all-Region and All-District Sport National Select Team. of Villanova women’s soccer and “Jaden is a very smart mid- midfield. She has great range and Selection in high school. She also achieve the goals Azem has set for a lot of speed.” won a state championship in 2023 them. fielder with excellent vision. She’s Casey Healey Staff Writer

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