WEDNESDAY MARCH 10, 2021 www.villanovan.com @thevillanovan
STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916
VOLUME 112 | ISSUE 6
Cross Students React to Recent Sexual Assaults Country Big East Jamie Pennington Staff Writer
On Friday Mar. 3, the Villanova men’s and women’s cross country teams competed in the 2020-2021 Jeep Big East Championships at WakeMed Soccer Park Field in Cary, North Carolina. The men’s competition included an 8000-meter race, and the women competed in a 6000-meter race. The men’s team finished the team event in third place, just behind the runner-up Georgetown and champions Butler. The Wildcats proved their dominance in the conference, as each of the 10 competing runners placed in the top 40 in a field of 94 runners. This tremendous showing by the ‘Cats continues their three-year streak of Big East Championship success, in which all five scoring runners placed in the top 20. Villanova sophomore Haftu Strinzos prevailed as the Big East Men’s individual champion, finishing the 8000-meter course in 23:05.02, beating out runner-up Barry Keane of Butler by a mere one second in a battle to the finish. Strinzos made the decisive move to pass his competitor in the last 1500 meters after remaining patient through the initial 800-meter downhill at the start of the race and through the succeeding uphills. Strinzos was not alone in his incredible finish, as teammates Josh Phillips (7th place, 23:30.3), Nick Steele (14th, 23:39.5), Charlie O’Donovan (15th, 23:40.02), Paul Nichols (17th, 23:41.1) and Jack Fredian (18th, 23:44.8) all finished within the top 20, each of the six receiving all-Big East accolades. Justin Weber (24th, 24:01.7), Patrick Spychalski (34th, 24:26.8), Ben Seiple (37th, 24:39.8) and Liam Murphy (38th, 24.43.9) rounded out the ‘Cats’
Students shared their reactions to the University’s handling of recent sexual assault cases. Courtesy of Sarah Jones
Julia Stanisci Co-Culture Editor Content Warning: Sexual Assault
On Wednesday, Mar. 3, an email was sent to the Villanova University community from David Tedjeske, Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police, detailing multiple reports of sexual assault. The email listed several reports of sexual assault, one on Mar. 1 involving four female resident students assaulted by the same male student, and another on Feb. 28, involving a female student who was treated for sexual assault at Bryn Mawr Hospital.
Students and faculty across campus have had strong reactions to these reports, along with the University’s language in the emails sent. Many are enraged by the use of the phrase “non-consensual sexual intercourse,” as opposed to rape, while others suggest that using stronger language could have been triggering to survivors. Two students, sophomores Alice Ke and Jessica Laino, started a petition with the intent of taking it to administration in response to the reports and the way they were handled. “We were extremely disheartened and frustrated
by the University’s response,” Laino said. “With so many students feeling unsafe and neglected, we could not sit back and do nothing.” “We recognize sexual assault on college campuses is a nationwide issue and hope that Villanova will step up and be an example for positive change and victim advocacy,” Ke added. Sophomore Sara Barshap commented on the University’s Title IX procedures in general. “Villanova’s Title IX procedures focus too much on the organization and timeliness of due process, rather than the emotional effect and long term implications that
female students face,” Barshap said. Barshap’s statement sheds light on an issue many students have already struggled with on campus, especially in light of the pandemic – mental health. Many viewed the University’s notification process as harmful to student mental health, both for the community in general and for the victims’ suffering. An incoming student of the University’s Class of 2025 also shared thoughts on the matter, specifically the administration’s failure to notify and communicate with the incoming class regarding Continued on p. 13
University Football Player Charged with Attempted Sexual Assault On Tuesday, Mar. 9, a Villanova University student, sophomore Iyanu Elijah Solomon, was arrested by University Police and charged with the attempted sexual assault of another University student. Solomon, a member
of the University’s football team, has been charged with attempted sexual assault, a felony, as well as misdemeanor charges of indecent assault, simple assault and unlawful restraint. If convicted, Solomon could face a sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment. A press release issued on Tuesday by the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office details the timeline of
the report, stemming from the incident in September of 2019. “The victim reported the incident to her resident assistant approximately two weeks after it had occurred but had decided against filing a police report at that time. In August 2020, however, the victim met with the Villanova University police and the victim’s written statement was
obtained. The victim did not, however, elect to pursue criminal charges. In February 2021, however, the victim decided that she wanted to pursue criminal charges and reported that she had been subjected to ongoing harassment by the defendant. In March 2021 the victim met with representatives from the District Attorney’s Office,” the press release said. Continued on p. 3
Second Annual Immigration Week p. 3
Students Struggle to Reserve Spots at Fitness Centers p. 3
The Pandemic’s Impact on Teenage Mental Health p. 6
Raising PA’s Minimum Wage Will Benefit Philly Businesses p. 7
Villanova Students Share Vaccination Experiences p. 8
‘The Bachelor’ Racism Controversy p. 8
Prospective Students Attend 2021 Candidate’s Day p. 10
Sophomore Thomas Newton Releases New Single p. 10
Student Business Feature: Keto Kind by Enrique Moel p. 11
Women’s Lacrosse Wraps Up First Week of Play p. 15
Continued on p. 5
Cate McCusker
Co-Editor-in-Chief Content Warning: Sexual Assault