WEDNESDAY MARCH 17, 2021 www.villanovan.com @thevillanovan
STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916
VOLUME 112 | ISSUE 7
The Oprah Effect
Let the Madness Begin: Wildcats Named Fifth Seed in South Region
Rachel Reiniger Staff Writer
Oprah Winfrey’s Sunday night interview with Meghan and Harry was raw, shocking and let the public in on what it is actually like to be a royal. Spoiler alert: not everything is as it seems, and Markle’s time in the palace was definitely not like Anne Hathaway’s experience in “The Princess Diaries.” The similarities between Markle and Princess Diana’s telling of the press is uncanny. And, as Harry pointed out in the interview, he did not want his mother’s history to repeat itself for his wife. While there are many similarities, Markle’s received racial discrimination in tabloids adds a whole new element to the mix that escalates the concern for privacy, security and mental health. Beyond the twisted stories and obsessive narratives in the media, Markle spoke on legitimate problems within the royal family. The denial to help while her mental health plummeted and conversations surrounding her child’s race were the most alarming. The so-called protection that the royal family gives to its members who are willing to complicit to silence is not sheltered from its own discriminatory practices. As Markle claims she soon realized, the alienating feelings evoked from the media only worsened in the palace, describing it as “insurvivable.” Her mental health crisis worsened to suicidal thoughts and, when she sought help, she was denied resources. There were also several conversations regarding the color of the couple’s children while she was pregnant with Archie, and people in the royal family were expressing concern for what this would mean for their image as a whole. While there were no specific names dropped, Harry did later
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The Villanova Wildcats enter the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament South Region with a 16-6 record. Courtesy of Michael Hickey, Getty Images
Billy Vinci Co-Sports Editor
After the tournament cancellation in 2020, the Villanova Wildcats were named a five seed in the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament South Region. The Wildcats stand at 16-6 on the season and went 11-4 in Big East regular season play. The Wildcats won the Big East regular season title, but lost starting senior point guard Collin Gillespie for the season in the March 3 game against Creighton when he tore his MCL. Since then, the Wildcats lost to Providence in their regular season finale and to Georgetown in
the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament. Due to the injury and subsequent losses, Villanova fell to a five seed in the south region, where it will take on the Winthrop Eagles on Friday in the first round. The South region is also highlighted by one seed Baylor, two seed Ohio St., three seed Arkansas and four seed Purdue. Starting with the Wildcats matchup, the Eagles went 23-1 this season, winning the Big South regular season title and tournament championship to earn a 12 seed. Their lone loss was a 57-55 defeat to the hands of UNC Asheville back on Jan. 29. Despite the Eagles’ im-
pressive record, they only received a 12-seed because their schedule is considered very weak. The best team they played all season was either UNC Greensboro or Furman. According to Kenpom.com, the Eagles’ strength of schedule stands at 309th most difficult out of 357 teams. The Eagles are certainly talented, but the Wildcats will be the toughest team they have faced this season by far. The Eagles are led by senior Chandler Vaudrin, a 6’7” forward from Uniontown, Ohio. The senior leads Winthrop in points (12.2), rebounds (7.2), assists (6.9) and steals (1.3) per game. He also is shooting 37.5%
from the three point line and 51.3% from the field. D.J. Burns is one of three other Eagles who average more than 10 points per game. The 6’9” big man from Rock Hill, South Carolina averages exactly 10 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while shooting 58.3% from the field. As a team, the Eagles are average on offense and slightly above average on defense. They are 120th in the country in adjusted offense and 70th in adjusted defense, per Kenpom.com. The defense number is respectable, but the Wildcats have played numerous better offenses in the Big East and even Continued on p. 2
Student Share Perspectives on Sexual Assault Julia Stanisci
Co-Culture Editor As most, if not all, Villanovans know by now, on Wednesday, March 3, David Tedjeske, Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police, sent an email to the University community detailing multiple reports of sexual assault on campus. The email listed two reports of sexual assault,
one on March 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. Since then, the University community has been reeling in reaction, some speaking out against these heinous acts and the University’s handling of them, others taking action with
petitions and campaigns. On Wednesday, March 10, the University’s Student Government Associ-
ation hosted a Town Hall to address the recent sexual misconduct. The Town Hall was Continued on p. 3
Students share their thoughts. Courtesy of Sarah Jones
SGA Hosts Town Hall to Discuss Sexual Assaults p. 2
Kappa Delta Raises Money for PCAA p. 4
Teresa Briggs Speaks to VSB Students for Women’s Day p. 4
A Year in the Pandemic and the Lessons Learned p. 6
Letter from the Editors: Addressing Sexual Assault p. 7
Opinion: Biden’s Foreign Policy is More of the Same p. 8
The Villanovan Editorial Board Bracket Predicitions p. 11
Regional Review of NCAA Basketball Tournament Bracket p. 12-13
Stress Relief: Maintainng Mental Health in College p. 18
Book of the Week: Normal People by Sally Rooney p. 15