WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2021 www.villanovan.com @thevillanovan
STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916
VOLUME 112 | ISSUE 3
Students Report Life in Isolation
Thrift Flips and Upcycling Devin Toolen Staff Writer
Have you ever bought something that quickly went out of style, and now you don’t know what to do with it? Or maybe you purchased an item without trying it on and it doesn’t fit you. Don’t stress, because there are a lot of easy ways to revamp clothes so that they are perfect for your wardrobe. Obviously, not everyone at Villanova has access to a sewing machine, or even knows how to sew for that matter. So, let’s go through some ways to upcycle your clothes without even needing a needle and thread. One of the easiest ways to flip something that you have is to simply cut it. You can use this method with really anything. The only issue with cutting clothing is a frayed hemline. With t-shirts, a cut hem is usually fine. However, with some materials, a frayed hem might pull and ruin the entire piece, so be careful with what you cut. Another upcycling hack is the addition of elastic waists. A lot of times when you buy thrifted jeans, it’s hard to find a pair that fits you perfectly. Similarly, jeans sometimes get stretched out and just don’t fit anymore. Something that I like to do is insert my own elastic waist. This might sound complicated, but it’s actually very easy to do. Go to a store like Joanne’s or Michaels to find elastic. Look for a size of an elastic waistband that would be smaller in height than the waistband of the pants you want to fix. Make small incisions on the inside of the waistband of the pants. Make these incisions on either side of the pants opening, and make sure not to cut all the way through to the outside. Then, take one end of the elastic, attach a safety pin to it and run it through one of the incisions made. Continued on p. 8
Virtual Singing Valentines Spread Love Across Campus p. 3 The Hype Around Bullet Journaling at Villanova p. 10
Some students who test positive are quarantined at the Inn at Villanova. Courtesy of The Inn at Villanova
Garret Whitton Staff Writer
Despite hopes of mass vaccination in the coming months, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to worsen with mutated variants and limited vaccine distribution. Just six weeks into the new year, the United States has recorded the highest number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Though there has been a slight decline from January to February, these reports still worry hospitals around the country as they quickly near full capacity—an issue the University is facing as well. To deal with this, the University is taking any precautions necessary, including renting out another hotel for
isolation space in addition to The Inn at Villanova. Due to the frightening rise of campus cases, the University thought it would be best to acquire more space for students who must isolate themselves after being contact-traced. Doing so will help avoid the possibility of returning to fully online classes and closing for the remainder of the semester. With this concern in the administration’s minds, the University was able to rent out the DoubleTree by Hilton in Plymouth Meeting, which is about 13 minutes from campus. Upon arrival, students must sign a contract agreeing to abide by CDC guidelines. They then give their name to a University
representative, who checks them in and takes them to a room. Most suites include a bedroom, living room, bathroom and closet. Bedrooms contain a king or queen-size bed, a desk to complete schoolwork and a TV. Living rooms have a table and couch to relax on situated in front of another TV. Other amenities include a mini-refrigerator and microwave. “To be honest, it is definitely not the worst arrangement,” freshman Jeffrey Walsh said. Walsh is isolating for the second time since the beginning of the pandemic. Once students are settled in, accommodating hotel employees do everything they can to make their stay somewhat enjoyable,
starting with meals. Every morning, students receive an invitation from the hotel staff to complete a survey that provides them the option to order something to eat. Three different options for each meal are offered, accompanied by a fourth choice that reads, “No selection. Ordering out.” This allows students to use apps like DoorDash, Postmates or UberEats. Breakfast is served at 9 a.m., lunch is at noon and dinner at 6 p.m. Though they have different choices, the menu tends to stay similar from day-to-day, with changes every so often. If a student does not want a full meal, he or she has the alternative to purchase a
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Athletics and Black History Month Noah Swan
Staff Writer
Villanova Athletics kicked off its celebration of Black History Month on Feb. 1 with a message from Director of Athletics Mark Jackson and Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance Malcolm Grace. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity,” exploring the complexities of the Black family and its importance in the understanding of Black University Introduces E-Sports to Intramural Options p. 4
How to Celebrate Birthdays While in Quarantine p. 11
history. In their address to the students of Villanova, Jackson and Grace invited all members of the community to join them as Villanova Athletics recognizes different athletes, coaches and staff who have impacted the University. The department will continue to highlight the “moments, milestones, and memories” created by Black Villanovans, contributing to the story of Wildcat sports. The pair acknowledged the shortcomings of the department and Universi-
ty in their historical treatment of diversity. They emphasized the ongoing work of the
UNITAS committee within the athletic department. This organization strives to give
The Hypocrisy of the NFL’s “Inspire Change” Commercial p. 5
Trump and Social Media: The Never Ending Saga p. 6
Letter from the Editors: Prioritize Mental Health p. 7
How the Beauty Industry Responded to Black Lives Matter p. 12
Student Business Spotlight: Peels Apparel p. 13
Softball Picked First in Big East Preseason Poll p. 15
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Danielle Burns, Zoe Barnes, and Theophilus Quartey, Villanova student-athletes spotlighted on the athletics Instagram for Black History Month. Courtesy of @novaathletics on Instagram