The Villanovan | Volume 114, Issue 1: Wednesday, January 19, 2022

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 19, 2022 www.villanovan.com @thevillanovan

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VOLUME 114 | ISSUE 1

Opinion: University Returns to Campus for Spring Quad 2022 Semester Amid Ongoing Pandemic Intruder Angela Ferrigno Staff Writer

On the night of Friday Jan. 7, 2022, an intruder in the quad was detained

by Public Safety under the charge of trespassing. The unknown suspect, with no prior Villanova affiliation, gained entrance to both Sullivan and Sheehan Hall and began roaming the halls, knocking on the doors of many residents.

Although the exact way in which the intruder entered Sullivan and Sheehan Halls is unknown, it can be assumed he entered behind a resident who had scanned into the building with their Wildcard. This security breach is upsetting and needs to be addressed by students and the University alike.

“The doors were secure in the quad at the time of the incident,” said David Tedjeske, Chief-of-Police and Director of Public Safety at Villanova University in an interview with The Villanovan.

“It’s likely that the person tailgated behind somebody.”

Tedjeske explained that the person who was detained was not a Villanova student, and students were not in immediate danger because of him.

“This individual was a high school student and wasn’t anybody that we actually deemed to be a threat,” he said. “There were other reports of another older male that just happened to be a faculty member in Bartley who just happened to be on campus at the time.”

As the trespasser was talking with students, he asked questions regarding lost objects. One of the women he spoke to was sophomore Jackie Thomas.

“The only way I can describe the whole experience is bizarre,” Thomas said. “When I opened my door, he asked if I had seen a Continued on p. 5

Despite increasing cases threatening in-person instruction, the University welcomed back students, staff, and faculty to campus for the Spring 2022 semester.

Courtesy of Olivia Pasquale/Villanovan Photography

Sarah Wisniewski Co-News Editor

Despite COVID variants and increasing cases threatening in-person instruction, the University welcomed back students, staff and faculty to campus for the beginning of another unusual semester.

The University has taken a unique stance allowing back students and faculty, as hundreds of universities across the nation have opted to conduct classes online for the first weeks of the spring semester.

Professors were provided the option of moving their classes online the Friday prior to the start of the semester. Many students have

schedules with a mix of both in-person and online classes for the first two weeks of the semester.

Ana Dumitrescu, a Biochemistry major in her last semester of undergrad, begins her final semester with mixed emotions.

“I am happy to be back on campus, especially for my last semester at Villanova. However, I am aware of the threat of COVID and hope students can stay safe and follow the proper precautions,” Dumitrescu said. “I wish my time here was a little less weird to say the least, but I will make the most of my remaining time and be grateful for the memories I can still make despite this pandemic.”

The University has

implemented various guidelines to ensure the safety of students, staff and faculty.

Prior to the return to campus, all eligible community members were informed via email from Kathleen Byrnes, Vice President for Student Life, that a COVID-19 booster shot would be required by Jan. 21.

In addition to the new vaccine requirement, students will be tested in the beginning weeks of the semester. Surveillance testing will remain in place throughout the semester and unvaccinated students will be required to get tested twice a week.

The mask mandate remains in place for all members, despite vaccination status. In the first week of

the semester, some areas of campus have noticed students failing to adhere to the mandate.

Dean Joyce Russell, Ph.D. sent an email to all students at the Villanova School of Business emphasizing the importance of following the University’s mask mandate.

“As leaders on campus, we want VSB to set a positive example for our community and I personally ask each of you to adhere to the following guidelines in Bartley Hall,” the email read.

“We have extra masks for your use so there is no excuse for not having a mask on and wearing it correctly. You know how to do this.”

Dean Russell ended the email with a reminder

Continued on p. 2

Students Tailgate Before Wells Fargo Game Chloe Miller

Co-Culture Editor

The start of single-digit weather and the dreary second semester also signals every Villanovan’s favorite season, Wells Fargo Center tailgate season. Villanova students gather in the empty parking lot of Wells Fargo Center to prepare for the men’s basketball game.

With only three games taking place at Wells Fargo during the season, students

were eager to get back and cheer on the ‘Cats after a twoyear hiatus. For freshmen and sophomores, this Sunday was their first Villanova tailgate

experience.

Despite the horror most students face when setting a 7:30 am alarm for their 8 am class, they were more than will-

Villanova students tailgated outside of Wells Fargo Center this past Sunday..

Courtesy of Kate Blazejewski

ing to wake up at 6:30 am to catch their Uber in the Sheehan circle. Taking place on the coldest day of the winter so far, Villanova’s game against Butler University was the only place for students to be.

As 9 a.m. rolled around, plenty of Villanova students had already arrived and were waiting at the gates of the arena. Whether students managed to get there by train, Uber, or a school-sponsored bus, everyone piled in bright and early. It was impossible to Continued on p. 10

New Board of Trustees Members p. 3

Panhellenic Council Hosts Recruitment p. 4

Villanova Finally Increases Student Minimum Wage p. 5

January 6: A Stained America in the New Year p. 6

Gymtimidation is Real: How Do I Overcome It? p. 7

Villanova Dance and Cheer Teams Compete at Nationals p. 10

Welcome Back to Class...

And Zoom p. 11

Your Villanovan Horoscopes of the Week p. 12

Women’s Tennis Prepares for 2022 Campaign p. 13

Men’s Swim and Dive Defeats Providence p. 14

2 | The Villanovan

News Opinion Culture Sports

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

NEWS

1 5 10 13

VOL. 114 | ISS. 1 www.villanovan.com @thevillanovan

COLIN BEAZLEY VIVI MELKONIAN TINA ARON CATE McCUSKER RACHEL REINIGER SARAH SWEENEY SARAH WISNIEWSKI BELLA IRWIN JACKIE THOMAS A.J. FEZZA ELENA ROUSE CHLOE MILLER MATTHEW RYAN MEGHANN MORHARDT MOLLY BAKER OLIVIA PASQUALE

Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief Associate Editor-in-Chief Senior Editor Digital Editor News Editor News Editor Opinion Editor Opinion Editor Culture Editor Culture Editor Culture Editor Sports Editor Sports Editor Copy Desk Chief Photography Editor

MICHAEL BRADLEY Advisor DEENA SMITH Advisor CONTACT villanovan.eic@gmail.com

PUBLIC SAFETY BLOTTER Liquor Underage January 12 GALLEN HALL A female resident student, under the age of 21, was evaluated by Public Safety and Radnor ALS for alcohol intoxication.

Liquor Underage January 15 WEST CAMPUS GROUNDS A female resident student, under the age of 21, appeared in public intoxicated. Student was evaluated by Public Safety and released.

Indecent Exposure January 15 KATHARINE HALL A female resident student reported her roommate and a male resident student engaged in sexual activity in her presence.

Liquor Underage January 13 HOVNANIAN HALL (FORMERLY CUPOLA) A female resident student, under the age of 21, was evaluated by VEMS for alcohol intoxication.

Liquor Underage January 15 ST. MONICA HALL A female resident student, under the age of 21, was transported by Radnor ALS to Bryn Mawr hospital for alcohol intoxication.

Liquor Underage January 16 STANFORD HALL A male resident student, under the age of 21, was evaluated for alcohol intoxication and transported to the hospital by VEMS Ambulance.

Criminal Mischief January 15 GOOD COUNSEL HALL Police discovered two damaged exit signs in relation to a noise complaint. The estimated value of the damaged property is $50.00.

Liquor Underage January 16 STANFORD HALL A female resident student, under the age of 21, was found intoxicated in public and evaluated for alcohol intoxication.

Theft of Services January 14 I-1 MAIN LOT GARAGE Parking enforcement officer reported a vehicle exited the garage and failed to pay.

CORRECTIONS 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.

COVID-19 TRACKER CONFIRMED CUMULATIVE CASES AS OF 6:00 P.M. TUESDAY, JANUARY 18

704

208

496

Cumulative Cases (From 1/5)

Estimated Active Cases

Estimated Recovered Cases

403

168

133

Residential Students Continued from p.1

lected with the belief each student would be an “outstanding leader.”

“Do the right thing and encourage each other,” the email continued. “It’s really not that complicated – wear your mask.”

University President Rev. Peter M. Donahue, OSA, Ph.D. also sent an email to all community members containing a video where he addressed the unusual start to the semester and emphasized the need to mask up indoors.

“It hasn’t been the smoothest of starts but based on the counsel of our medical team, I am confident we will withstand this current wave and soon return to a more typical semester,” Father Donahue said in the video. “That said, now, maybe more than ever, it’s critical to wear masks indoors.

I am asking everyone to do their part and comply with this simple request.”

The COVID-19 Campus Dashboard has shown the impact of returning back to campus in-person and the impact of failing to follow guidelines.

As of Tuesday, Jan. 18, there have been 704 cumulative cases with an estimated 208 active cases.

Residential students remain the highest majority of the positive tests while employees are the lowest recorded number of cases.

The University will continue to monitor the situation on campus and will act accordingly.

Students who are unsure of what to do in any situation involving COVID should contact the University’s Health Center.

Non-Residential Students

Employees

9695

Total Number of Tests (From 1/5)

8765

930

Surveillance Diagnostic

Campus Minimum Wage Increased to $10 Lydia McFarlane Staff Writer

On Wednesday, Jan. 12, the University community received an email from University President Rev. Peter M. Donahue, OSA, Ph.D. containing updates for the new semester. One highlight from this email was the student employee minimum wage and anniversary increase.

“I am pleased to share that the student employee minimum wage has increased to $10 per hour effective Monday, Jan. 3,” the email said.

Every student employee that previously was paid less than $10 will now be bumped to a $10 hourly wage. The Pennsylvania state minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, which was the standard the University had previously been using as a benchmark regarding hourly wages for student employees. Student workers have expressed excitement regarding this pay jump for their on campus, university sponsored jobs. Many students get on-campus jobs to help shoulder the burden of costs not covered by tuition and room and board, such as laundry and books for classes, as well as to have disposable income to spend on weekends or for trips to nearby Philadelphia.

Sophomore Lindsay Redditt is a student worker, as well as a member of SGA on campus.

“As a student worker, I’m so excited because it will make such a significant outcome on my paycheck,” she said. “As someone who has to pay for their own things and can’t depend a lot on my parents for things I need on campus it helps with that, especially when doing laundry.”

With a several dollar pay jump, student paychecks are sure to reflect this change in policy.

A group of students within SGA teamed up to increase the minimum wage on campus.

The group consisted of senior Ivanica Skalko, junior Jose Garcia, senior Kyle Smith, sophomore Thomas Dessoye and senior James Dunbar.

Garcia made the initial push to start the conversation regarding raising the minimum wage on campus at the beginning of the Fall 2021 semester. He and his team of fellow SGA members observed that many students wanted to or would prefer to work on campus rather than looking off campus for employment but did not see the $7.25 starting rate as worth their time or energy. Skalko shared her own experience.

“Personally, I’ve worked on campus as a freshman and sophomore, and the low wage was

a huge factor in deciding to seek off-campus employment my junior and senior year,” she said.

After Garcia assembled his team of fellow SGA members for this endeavor, they went through a few months of work to push this pay raise through. They met with various offices and administrators on campus, including Kathy Byrnes, the Vice President for Student Life. Around October, the team met with Human Resources, which helped them to make significant process. In December, they received an email directly from Father Peter himself saying that the change would be implemented in Jan. of 2022, which was sooner than anyone expected.

“It was incredible to see administrators and university leadership take our suggestions and feedback seriously, and eventually turn it into actual change for students,” Skalko said.

SGA members, student workers, and community members alike are all sharing in this success.

With dedication and commitment to the wellbeing of the student body, students can make change.

“I’m ecstatic that students are getting paid a more livable wage and can have the convenience of holding a job on campus,” Skalko said. “It truly will change the lives of so many students.”

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

The Villanovan | 3

NEWS

University Announces New Board of Trustees Members Kylie Horan Staff Writer

Effective Jan. 1, five new members have been appointed to the University’s Board of Trustees. Christopher J. Maguire ‘89 CLAS, Alfonso Martinez-Fonts Jr. ‘71 CLAS, Robert F. Moran ‘72 VSB, Diane P. Rowen ‘86 CLAS and Siran H. Sahakian joined the 36-member Board.

University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., Ph.D. praised their arrival.

“Once again, we have an impressive group of alumni and parents joining the Villanova University Board of Trustees. I look forward to working with [the trustees] to ensure that Villanova continues to deliver on our Augustinian Catholic mission, while always looking towards the future and what is best for the Villanova community,” Donahue said.

An alumnus of CLAS, Maguire earned his BA in English in ‘89 and has previously served as a member of the Villanova President’s Advisory Council.

He is the founder and President of 1251 Capital Group, a financial services holding company focused on the asset management and insurance sectors with offices across the East Coast and in Canada. Maguire is also a partner

in his real estate fund and holds several other positions, currently serving as Chairman of the Cobbs Creek Restoration and Community Foundation and on the boards of the Maguire Foundation and Caron Treatment Centers.

Martinez-Fonts Jr. is a fellow alumnus of CLAS, earning his BA in Political Science in ‘71.

Born in Havana, Cuba, Martinez-Fonts spent 30 years in the banking field, serving as Chairman and CEO, as well as President, of JP Morgan Chase in Texas. He has held positions such as Assistant Secretary and Special Assistant to the Secretary for the Private Sector at the Department of Homeland Security and Executive Vice President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation in Washington, D.C. He now lives and works as a farmer.

Moran graduated in ‘72 with a BS in Business Administration and has continued to support numerous initiatives across campus, like VSB, as well as the Villanova Track and Field program.

He currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of UNATION, Inc., an event-based technology company. He has held executive leadership positions for several major companies in the U.S., such as GNC Holdings Inc. and PetSmart, Inc. In 2011 and 2012, he was named to Fortune

Magazine’s list of the Top 50 People in Business. Moran is a member of the board of directors of The Fressnapf Group, as well as Hanesbrands, Inc., and the U.S. Track & Field Foundation.

Rowen, whose philanthropy pioneered our very own Rowen Campus Green, graduated from CLAS in 1986 with a BA in Communication. Rowen and her family have provided scholarships and bolstered STEM education at 18 Catholic institutions in Philadelphia, New York and New Jersey, including the University. In 2013, Rowen was honored with the St. Catherine of Siena Award from St. Agnes Cathedral School in her home parish of St. Agnes Cathedral in recognition of her commitment to Catholic education.

Two of her children, son James ’16 VSB and daughter Megan ’20 CLAS, are also Villanova graduates.

Sahakian is Vice President of her family’s foundation, The Hirair and Anna Hovnanian Foundation, which provides support to charitable causes relating to Armenian culture and education.

She serves on the boards of the Rumson Country Day School and the Riverview Medical Center Foundation. She previously served on the board of 180 Turning Lives Around, an organization dedicat-

ed to ending domestic and sexual violence, as well as the boards of the Monmouth Medical Center Foundation and the Peddie School (N.J.). She is the daughter of Hirair Hovnanian ‘56 COE, as well as the mother of two Villanova graduates and one current VSB senior.

The new members will begin Jan. 1.

Courtesy of Villanova University

University Partners with Rite Aid to Hold COVID-19 Booster Clinic for Students Katie Reed Staff Writer

As the University kicks off the spring semester, amid the continued global pandemic, it is as important as ever for Villanovans to be vaccinated to protect themselves and others in the community against COVID-19.

Per an email sent out by University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., Ph.D., all community members will be required to receive their COVID-19 booster shot.

As a result, the University is partnering with Rite Aid to hold booster clinics on-campus to make it easy for all faculty, students and staff to fulfill the vaccination requirements.

The clinics will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 19, Thursday, Jan. 20 and Tuesday, Jan. 25. Students can schedule an appointment anytime between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The clinics will be set up in the West Lounge of Dougherty Hall, which, for those who may be unsure, is located in the same hallway as the Wildcard Office.

Anyone who received the second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine before Aug. 15, 2021, or the Johnson & Johnson shot before Nov. 15, 2021 will be able to get booster shots on the days listed above. For the booster shot, it does not matter which vaccine one received originally, so people can choose any of the three options.

In addition to this informa-

tion, the email sent by the Fr. Peter also has two important links: one for scheduling an appointment for the booster shot and one for uploading an updated vaccination card to document full vaccination status. The documentation must be submitted

by Jan. 31, 2022.

Kathy Byrnes, the Vice President for Student Life at the University, encouraged all students to register for the clinic if they have not already gotten their booster.

“It gives you some added protection,” Byrnes said. “It seems like with the Omicron variant, the good news is people aren’t getting super sick, but on the other hand, a lot of people are getting it.”

Byrnes noted that there are several studies that demonstrate the positive effects of having your booster shot, since students are less likely to contract COVID-19, and even if they do, they may not experience as severe of symptoms as someone who is not vaccinated.

This is especially pertinent now, given the surge in cases on campus following winter break.

“I am optimistic that this variant will go the way in the U.S. as it has gone in South Africa and the UK, with a big spike but then a big drop off,” Byrnes said. “We aren’t there yet, but I think we can manage it. Villanova students have shown how resilient they are.”

In addition to providing more protection from COVID-19, Byrnes also mentioned that having the booster shot also makes it easier to navigate isolation and quarantine guidelines.

For instance, if a student is not fully vaccinated and is exposed to someone with COVID-19, they would have to go home to quarantine for five days.

However, if they are fully vaccinated, including the booster, they can quarantine without leaving campus or greatly disrupting their schedule. Byrnes noted that these new guidelines from the CDC, which thus far have served the community well, helped inform the University’s decision involving vaccination and will hopefully allow students to have as normal of a college experience as they can during these times.

As someone in a position with decision-making power at the University, especially during a global pandemic, Byrnes always has the best interest of the Villanova community at heart and recognizes how important it is to not just think of ourselves, but to also think of the people around us.

“I view the Villanova community as my family,” Byrnes said.

“What do I need to do to keep my family safe? How can I protect everybody?”

Byrnes also knows how much of a toll this pandemic has taken on everyone and reminds us how important it is to be kind to ourselves and each other.

“These pandemic days are hard days,” Byrnes said. “It’s okay to not feel great every day, it’s okay to ask for help, and it’s okay to say, ‘I am really stressed out,’ whether it’s from school or friend groups or worries about the pandemic. These

are stressful times.”

Byrnes predicts that the booster clinic will help a lot of people get their booster shot, which will in turn help individuals and the community at large be safe. She wants to reassure Villanovans that if all the appointments for the three clinics become fully booked, then the University will add more opportunities to get the booster to ensure that everyone can become fully vaccinated. In the meantime, students should continue to wear their masks when they are indoors, maintain social distancing and cooperate with the surveillance testing to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Additionally, Byrnes provided the following statement regarding questions that students who have recently tested positive for COVID-19 may have about getting their booster: “The CDC and the Pennsylvania Department of Health have shared guidance that individuals may receive the booster following a diagnosis of COVID-19 after all acute symptoms are resolved and the isolation period is completed. Some Infectious Disease practitioners support a 90-day period after a positive diagnosis before recommending the booster. As a result, students are encouraged to consult with their own primary care provider to make a decision on timing for the booster based on their individual medical circumstances. Students with a positive PCR test result within the last 90 days - that is on file with the Student Health Center - will receive an automatic extension to the deadline to receive a booster.”

4 | The Villanovan

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

NEWS

University’s Panhellenic Council Hosts Hybrid Spring Recruitment Molly Mook Staff Writer

A few days before second semester undergraduate classes began at the University, hundreds of women moved back into campus early and participated in this year’s sorority recruitment process.

Sorority recruitment at the University is a four day event and took place at the Villanova Inn this year. There are three rounds: Sisterhood, Philanthropy and Preference, and each one centers itself on a different value or theme.

Rounds include conversations between chapter members and potential new members (PNMs) and videos or presentations about the chapter. The process is one of mutual selection and the number of sororities one can go back to decreases each round.

The four days of recruitment were followed by Bid Night on Monday, Jan. 10, where many individuals received invitations to join sororities, and the chapters welcomed their new members with a fun night. Bid Night activities among the different sororities included dinner at Jin Ding, go karting and axe throwing, a trip to Urban Air and a night in Philly.

Lindsay Gallagher, the Panhellenic Vice President of Recruitment 2022, reported that this year’s recruitment process resulted

in 495 women successfully being placed into a sorority.

“The best part of recruitment was getting to see women make new connections across the Villanova community and running to their sisters on Bid Day,” Gallagher said.

Recruitment 2022 had its challenges though, with one being the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron.

“The hardest part of recruitment was how quickly we had to pivot as soon as we received everyone’s COVID test results on Thursday morning,” Gallagher said. “Panhel had only two hours to individually assign 600 women to first round parties. There were a couple of delays, but everyone was patient with us and we were able to host the entire day in person.”

This year, recruitment had a hybrid model, where people who tested positive participated virtually and people who tested negative had the option to participate virtually or in person. Therefore, there were a few parties held virtually each day. The second day of recruitment was moved entirely online at the last minute, but the other three days were held mostly in person. Masks were required at all of the in-person parties.

Caroline Longworth, the Vice President of Membership and Head of Recruitment for

Kappa Delta, had similar frustrations to Gallagher regarding the uncertainty involving COVID.

“It was hard to prepare for a virtual shift after expecting and planning to be fully in person for months,” Longworth said.

Despite the obstacles that came along with this year’s recruitment planning and execution, many chapter members had good things to say about the process.

“There are some stressful aspects of recruitment, but there are also so many fun ones, like decorating, designing t-shirts and just getting to hang out with my friends all day,” Longworth said.

“The recruitment process worked for me and allowed me to meet so many of the best people in my life, so I thought it would be really cool to get to help others have the same experience I did.”

Elizabeth Baladez, a sophomore in Chi Omega, went through the recruitment process completely on Zoom last year. She felt that in-person recruitment was a much more genuine experience.

“I was able to make deep connections with some PNMs, which allowed me and them to open up more,” Baladez said. “Being able to talk with someone in person allows you to get a sense of how they are feeling, along with just gauging how you think the conversation is going.”

On top of the eight sororities already associated with the University, there are plans being made to add another. National representatives for Gamma Phi Beta are actively recruiting on campus this semester and are hoping to have a full pledge class by May.

Members of Chi Omega attend their Philanthropy Day. Courtesy of Gemma Krautzel

Provost Approves Strategic Initiative Group Lauren Kourey Staff Writer

Following approval by the Provost last fall, the Strategic Initiative Group (SIG) on Immigration and Refugee Protection has been created on Villanova’s campus.

According to Michele Pistone, J.D., SIG arises from an Action Plan that has been developed

by Villanova faculty and students over the last few years.

The SIG is a response to “Pope Francis’ call on Catholic colleges and universities to promote research and teaching about, and the social promotion of, immigrants and refugees,” Pistone said.

Pistone has been particularly instrumental in SIG’s creation process.

“As the most senior faculty member at Villanova researching migration and refugee issues, I felt it was my duty to lead a response by the University to Pope Francis’ call,” she said. “It was as if I was being called personally to respond”.

In addition to teaching law at the Charles Widger School of Law, Pistone is a Faculty Director for Villanova Interdisciplinary Immigration Studies Training for Advocates, the Director of the Clinic for Asylum, Refugee & Emigrant Services (CARES) and a Co-Managing Editor for the Journal on Migration and Human Security.

“Villanova University was established to serve and educate immigrants and the SIG is a continuation of this long-established mission,” Pistone said. “The formation of an SIG is a step needed to determine the viability of es-

tablishing a University Institute on migration and refugee protection.”

Creating the Strategic Initiative Group has been a group effort and many other professors at Villanova University have gotten involved.

Pistone continues to push intiatives at the University.

Courtesy of Villanova University

Raúl Diego Rivera Hernández, Karyn Hollis, Samer Abboud, Father Art Purcar, and Caitlin Barry, J.D., have also been influential in the creation of SIG. Hollis hopes the group’s first meetings will drive support for the Migration Studies minor and other programs on campus.

SIG’s first informational meeting will be held on Jan. 19 at 12 p.m. in the Driscoll Hall Auditorium.

During this first session, SIG leaders will be facilitating a Community Visioning process, in which community members will create a mission statement and key objectives for the group.

They also hope to “identify 12 to 18 members of the community, including faculty, staff and students, to work with our community partners to engage in a series of sessions to develop the Community Vision for the SIG,” Pistone said.

The first Community Visioning Working Group Brainstorming Session will be held on Feb. 15 at 11 a.m. at the Inn at Villanova. Pistone encourages all members of the Villanova community to attend these events and participate in SIG’s development on campus.

The University hopes to continue to develop and offer such groups in upcoming years. This is similar to the DEI intitatives the University has committed to expanding.

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

OPINION

The Villanovan | 5

OPINION

Security Issues On Campus have Students on Edge Angela Ferrigno Staff Writer continued from p. 1 gold crescent-shaped ring with green and white stones and was really insistent that I look around for it.”

Thomas is just one of at least three other residents that spoke with the intruder. She was highly concerned about her interaction.

“I was honestly too confused to feel threatened at the time, but in hindsight it is really unsettling to think about what could have happened and the fact that he was able to get into the building at all,” she said.

It was alarming for students to be part of an event like this.

Although scanning into the building is usually necessary to gain access, it is not the case all the time. As a sophomore living in Sullivan Hall, I at times find that the door to the building is unlocked throughout the day. While this provides easier access for the residents, it also provides easy access for intruders.

The same can be said about the entrances to campus. Security guards monitor the people who enter campus, but it can be hard to differentiate the true intentions of an outsider on campus. What is going to stop a possibly dangerous intruder from posing as an Uber Eats driver and gaining entrance onto campus?

The Villanovan asked what measures Public Safety was taking to

On Jan. 7, an intruder was detained in the Quad by Public Safety.

Courtesy of Olivia Gordon/Villanovan Photography

protect residents after this incident.

“We are continually making improvements and enhancements to our security systems,” Tedjeske said.

“Over the last year, in fact, one of the things we’ve done is add automated license plate readers at the gates. The guard at the gate will be able to, in real time, see if the vehicle is authorized.”

Tedjeske went on to explain that Villanova being an open campus does pose some difficulty.

“Unfortunately we are an open campus,” Tedjeske said. “People can park and walk on campus and tailgate behind people who are going into buildings.”

Tedjeske mentioned the importance of not holding the door for strangers and listed several resources meant to protect the safety

of students, including Nova Safe and communicating with Public Safety.

However, an important aspect of this event is the timing of the intrusion. This event occurred the week before second semester classes began, meaning that the overwhelming majority of students on campus at the time were women participating in Panhellenic sorority recruitment.

Recruitment is widely publicized on social media prior to the event and sororities announce that they are coming back to campus. The public has access to this information, which means anyone could know that the campus is to be populated by hundreds of women in the residence halls.

The Villanovan asked what plans Public Safety had to protect women participating in Panhellenic

Recruitment upon their return next year.

“Probably next year, to look where the concentration was of the students who were back for sorority recruitment – where were most of them living,” Tedjeske said. “I imagine the quad is a popular place [...] it would be easy to focus our patrol efforts in those areas.”

Although this is an isolated incident, it has made me and other Villanova students feel uncomfortable and unsafe. There are those who question the University’s ability to protect them.

The Villanovan asked Tedjeske what he would say to students who remain unsettled in the wake of this intrusion.

“It’s always unsettling when something like this happens, especially when you see somebody getting led out in handcuffs,” he replied. “You just don’t know who was in the halls and what kind of person you were dealing with. Nothing in what happened here suggested that this person was interested in anything other than talking to some Villanova students.”

The next steps taken by Villanova’s administration must be strategic and thoughtful in order to protect the community we call home.

Going forward, it will be important for students to continuously watch out for each other and remain cautious.

The safety of the student body must always be the priority.

Villanova Finally Increases Student Minimum Wage Jacob Artz Staff Writer

When National Basketball Association superstar LeBron James won his first championship with the Miami Heat in 2012, he stated, “It’s about damn time.”

Many Villanova student employees feel the same way, as the University finally announced a minimum wage increase.

This wage increase is long overdue. Students work very hard in all positions and play a vital role in the operation of the Falvey Memorial Library, Fitness Centers, Connelly Center and Student Life, among many others.

Students give up time that they could be completing schoolwork or hanging out with friends to fulfill roles for the various places on campus.

Of course, there are times to socialize with others, but student dedication to helping the University function at its best has been lowballed for a long time.

Student employees were notified of the wage increase on Tuesday, Jan. 11. The announcement raised the minimum wage from 7.25 to 10 dollars an hour.

“Student employee minimum wage has increased to $10 per hour effective Monday, Jan. 3,” said the University in an email.

“All student employees earning less than $10 per hour will increase to this rate effective Monday, Jan. 3. Effected current student job

Villanova University raises student minimum wage to 10 dollars.

Courtesy of Villanova University

postings will be updated by Human Resources to reflect this rate change. Additionally, anniversary increases for eligible returning student employees not impacted by the new student minimum wage will be processed and effective Monday, Jan. 3.”

There are a few objective and practical reasons as to why the University ultimately chose to raise the minimum wage.

A glance at other nearby states’ minimum wage leaves Pennsylvania lagging. Connecticut boasts a $14.00 minimum wage, Delaware $10.50, Maine $12.75, Massachusetts $14.25, New Jer-

sey $13.00, New York $13.20 and Vermont $12.55, according to Minimum Wage Facts & Analysis.

The state of Pennsylvania, though, is still stuck on the $7.25 minimum wage, per the same source.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has urged the General Assembly to increase the minimum wage to $12.00 to lead to a pathway to a $15 minimum wage.

Second, the University makes significant profits. According to the Financial Statement from 2019-2020, Villanova University reported an operating income of $29 million, making $461,867 from student tuition and

fees. With all calculations done, the University’s 2019-2020 Financial Statement revealed that in the pandemic year of 2020, Villanova had a total operating revenue of $629,663, which included gifts, private grants, government grants, endowment resources, investments and net assets released from restrictions.

Third, Villanova students pay a large sum to attend the Augustinian Catholic University.

According to the Bursar’s Office, the estimated annual freshman cost for 2021-2022 is $74,406, with $58,290 going towards tuition alone.

For a student and their family to invest that much money into education, increasing the minimum wage for student employees is the least Villanova could do.

I work for the work-study program in Falvey Memorial Library, and being from Pennsylvania, I was used to the low minimum wage rates. However, I was shocked when I came into this University two and a half years ago and truly learned how little Villanova paid its student body.

Given how so many people have been negatively financially impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, I am glad to see Villanova finally making the right move.

Raising the minimum wage to $10 per hour for all student employees is a step in the right direction, rewarding all the hard work students do to help run our University.

6 | The Villanovan

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

OPINION

EDITORIAL BOARD

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

The Villanovan encourages all members of the Villanova community to voice their opinions. LetEditor-in-Chief ters to the editors may be submitted via e-mail to villanovan.eic@gmail.com. Letters must not Associate Editor-in-Chief exceed 500 words and must be signed. No anonymous letters will be published. All submissions beOpinion Editor come property of The Villanovan and are subject Opinion Editor to editing for clarity and space.

COLIN BEAZLEY Editor-in-Chief VIVI MELKONIAN TINA ARON BELLA IRWIN JACKIE THOMAS

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.

January 6: A Stained America in the New Year Kai Da Luz Staff Writer

The new year has finally arrived, and with it comes the much-lauded tradition of New Year’s resolutions. People of all ages use such resolutions to reflect on the past and look forward to the future, often focusing on self-improvement. Popular resolutions include making more of an effort to go to the gym, picking up a book or learning a new skill like cooking or playing an instrument.

Others focus on cutting back on certain things like caffeine and sugar.

Resolutions like these are fine and can lead to a healthier lifestyle, but often they are more flashy than anything else. We tend to like resolutions like working out and learning something new because they are relatively easy. They give us something we can put on our Snapchat stories to show the world how we are taking on 2022. New year, new me, right?

This year, we should adjust this resolution mindset to see something bigger. Maybe instead of 2022 simply being the year that Americans learn to cook or to eat healthier, it could be the year we step away from this “me-first” mentality. It could be the year we face the putrid stains that 2021 has left on the fabrics of our star-spangled banner head-on.

Jan. 6, 2021 was one such

So, in the typical fashion of New Year’s resolutions, let’s opt to look back at this event in order to learn from and make a change in our behavior for 2022. The United States Capitol attack demonstrated the depressing effects of demagoguery and manipulation on a malleable general public.

In the new year, let’s resolve to be better consumers of information, looking for credible and trustworthy sources and properly digesting news before acting prematurely and making our nation look foolish.

Additionally, the insurrection highlighted mistrust in one of our defining democratic processes: the election process. If we want to alter it, let us resolve to make changes in A year after the insurrection at the Capitol, Americans grapple with its implications. this process through laws and legCourtesy of Slate islation, rather than savagery and stupidity. blemish, which just experienced else. Many of you surely remember

The riots demonstrated that its first anniversary two weeks ago. that this was not the case in 2021. we have forgotten what words like For those of you who have already

Rioting citizens stormed the patriotism actually mean. Let’s make forgotten about what transpired on Capitol Building in Washington, the resolution to learn from our this day in 2021, I implore you to D.C. claiming that the election was mistakes by seeing that what hapcontinue reading. One of the most stolen. While these citizens purported pened was inherently unpatriotic and pertinent resolutions we should have to be preserving democracy, acting un-American. as a country is that nothing like this as patriots, their demonstrations had

Of course, all of these “resoever happens again. the opposite effect. lutions” are easier said than done, as

Jan. 6 is the day that the elec- I, like many people, don’t any resolution always is. Still, we contoral college ballots are counted after feel deeply rooted in either political tinue to set out into the new year, one the conclusion of a presidential elec- camp, but there is no denying the juice cleanse at a time. In 2022, we tion. It has been this way since the fact that the events of Jan. 6, 2021 owe it to ourselves and our brethren mid-1900s, and the event is usually were heinously unpatriotic and a sad in this nation to at least try. more of a formality than anything reflection on our nation.

Djokovic’s Blunder Down Under: A Moment of Reckoning Carter Smith Staff Writer

The Australian Open tennis tournament is upon us, and Novak Djokovic, the current first-ranked player in the world, is causing a stir over COVID-19 protocols. According to the Open organizers, all players participating in the tournament must be fully vaccinated to be eligible for play. While nearly all the competing players have complied with the requirement, there is one particularly prominent outlier: Djokovic.

Over the course of the pandemic, Dojokovic hasn’t exactly been dedicated to COVID-19 protocols.

According to the New York Post, he held a party at a nightclub in his home country of Serbia back in June, which resulted in multiple of his tennis-star comrades contracting the virus.

Djokovic has openly espoused that he is an anti-vaxxer because he does not believe vaccination should be compulsory. He doesn’t feel like he needs it. While this has not been an issue with previous pandemic-era tournaments, the Australian Open’s vaccine requirement

poses a challenge to the Djoker.

He applied for a medical exemption, claiming that he had built up immunity after he contracted COVID-19 in December, but after arriving in Australia, the government ruled that the evidence for his exemption was unsubstantiated, and his visa was canceled. He soon appealed, but an alleged failure to isolate following a positive test result resulted in another visa cancellation.

The government detained Djokovic at a hotel while they battled with his lawyers and the Serbian government, but the cancellation was made final following a Sunday court hearing, and he left Australia.

I think that this is the dumbest move in a long line of dumb pandemic-related moves from the Serbian player, and these events will test his reputation. Djokovic has won 20 Grand Slam titles in total, and nine of them have been from the Australian Open. Thus, he will be missing a good shot at another title and could be continually barred from his best tournament if he remains unvaccinated. If he were to win this Open, he would surpass Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer to be the most decorated Grand Slam player of all time.

This also damages Djokov-

ic’s public image, which was already shaky. Even before the pandemic, he was seen as somewhat weird because of his strange beliefs and rituals, but many overlooked those quirks because of his skill. However, with the previously mentioned disregard for pandemic protocol and now refusal to abide by vaccination requirements, the tennis community’s opinion has begun to turn against him. This latest debacle has the internet calling him “Novax” Djokovic, although I doubt the harassment will end there.

Ranked the best men’s tennis player in the world, Djokovic has garnered many brand endorsements, which total $30 million from brands like Peugeot, Lacoste and Hublot, and his situation in Australia could be scaring sponsors. None have dropped him yet, but I imagine some of these brands will consider the option if the situation continues to go south.

This very public incident will be a moment of reckoning for all famous athletes around the world who remain unvaccinated against COVID-19 of their own accord. As exemplified by Aaron Rodgers earlier this year when it was revealed that he lied about his vaccination status,

public opinion turns against unvaccinated athletes quickly. Their choice not to get their shots leaves them and those around them more exposed to COVID-19, and as new variants pop up, I can’t call their choice smart.

Additionally, the pandemic has reached a stage where high profile athletes should have no trouble getting a vaccine, and the most available vaccines have been proven safe and effective. The biggest leagues and tournaments are beginning to implement vaccination requirements, and those like Djokovic and Rodgers will likely soon be forced to get the vaccine to be eligible to play or face repercussions.

However, these athletes are the faces of their sports and/or teams, so there is a possibility that organizations could let their halfbaked medical exemptions slide. This selective enforcement would give other anti-vaxxers room to demand more exemptions.

I am in favor of compulsory vaccination. Vaccines are proven to limit both the severity and ease of catching COVID-19. The more needles we get in arms, the safer our communities are. Those who think their fame puts them above their civic duty are a threat to that goal.

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

The Villanovan | 7

OPINION

Gymtimidation is Real: How do I Overcome it?

Isabella Balian Staff Writer

“Gymtimidation” is a real thing, and many people experience it. Gymtimidation is a word used to refer to the feeling of dread, fear or general intimidation when going to the gym, or in other words, intimidation of the gym.

A large number of women face gymtimidation and often find themselves too scared to go to the gym for a variety of reasons.

Among the most popular reasons as to why women avoid the gym are because they feel too intimidated, worry about looking out of shape and fear judgment from other people. As someone who is passionate about fitness, I believe that the fitness industry must serve as a welcoming place for every person to exercise.

Because fitness is a major interest of mine, I thoroughly understand the scientific benefits that exercise has on mental and physical health. Exercise is proven to improve mental health, as working out enhances our well-being by releasing endorphins. In addition to the release of endorphins, exercise can ease the symptoms of depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses.

Physically, exercise can transform the body in different ways and help people become stronger, faster or more physically fit. However, it is important to recognize the fear of starting your fitness journey and the intimidation that comes with exercising in public gyms.

those assumptions are untrue.

After the COVID-19 isolation period, walking back into the gym was definitely an anxiety provoking experience for lots of people.

“Once gyms reopened, I knew I had to face seeing other people while I worked out, this wasn’t just me in my back room by myself anymore,” Smith said. “It was definitely an adjustment at first and gymtimidation still sometimes gets to me, but I focus on listening to a killer playlist and knowing that no one is really paying any attention to me at all.”

Gymtimidation can be especially real in college gyms. I’ve definitely felt intimidated walking into the Davis center before, and I know that I am not alone. If someone feels anxious walking into the gym there are a few things they can do to help ease their anxiety.

Try walking into the gym with a friend because odds are most The Davis center serves as many Villanova students’ go-to workout facility.

Courtesy of Villanova Athletics people are experiencing the same thing. Plan a workout before you walk in, and consider some backup

Any form of workout has physical strength. exercises in case certain machines increased benefits on mental and

“Not only has lifting made physical health, but it is important me physically stronger, but mental- are taken.

In addition to solo workto practice exercise that makes a ly stronger as well,” student Haley outs, try reaching out to a trainer person feel good. Learning to love Smith said. “I have experienced so or partake in a class, both of which exercise is all about finding a form much growth since channeling my Villanova offers.

Remember that of movement that suits one’s body energy into lifting. It’s my favorite everyone is too preoccupied with best. A person can’t have fun while way to unwind, my passion. I love their own workouts to be judging working out if they don’t enjoy challenging myself and seeing what others, so people should focus on what they are doing. my body is capable of.” themselves and block everything

Specifically, by practic For women specifically, else out. ing exercise that one likes to do, starting the weight lifting journey To start the new year, try a gymtimidation starts to fizzle out, can be nerve wracking. Most wom- new fitness routine. Create a workbecause one can walk into the gym en believe the myth that weight out to get rid of gymtimidation, excited to workout. Lifting weights training will cause a “bulky” phyand who knows, maybe you’ll even has become a vital part of my life, sique or that weight training is an pick up a new passion. as it helps me gain confidence and exercise solely for men. Both of

SCOTUS Vaccine Mandate Decision and its Implications Steven Makino Staff Writer By now, it is a simple truth that many Americans – as well as the vast majority of Villanovans – are tired of constant societal restrictions on behalf of a seemingly endless pandemic. While I believe the concern was warranted at the start of the pandemic, once vaccines were widely available and more information was gathered as to who is most vulnerable from the virus, there was simply nothing more that could have been done on a public policy level.

Despite a growing number of Americans accepting this fact and wanting to carry on with their everyday lives, President Biden decided to take aggressive action by issuing an unprecedented vaccine mandate on the private sector.

However, due to opposition from various different companies as well as certain states, the Supreme Court ruled on Jan. 13 to block Biden’s vaccine mandate.

The Court’s 6-3 decision not only spells a major victory for millions of employees across the country but also shows that our institutions remain resilient even in the face of heavy external pressure.

I believe that this decision was the correct conclusion based on the current given facts surrounding the pandemic and the

disastrous effects this could have on an economy that is already suffering due to inflation and labor shortages.

The 1970 Occupational Safety and Health Administration law that the three dissenting justices have cited as justification for the mandate only allows for workplace safety standards against occupational hazards, not very broad public health measures such as this one, which need the authorization of Congress.

Thus, the six approving justices expressed that while OSHA does indeed have full authority to require safety measures such as the wearing of a helmet or other protective equipment for projects that pose more physical risk, it does not have justification to require vaccines as the pandemic is a risk present both inside and outside the workplace.

In addition, the emergence of the Omicron variant has completely dismantled any rational argument in favor of the mandate.

The whole purpose of Biden’s mandate (which was already very dicey when it was first issued) was to stop transmission of the virus from unvaccinated to vaccinated employees. However, it is apparent that this new variant does not discriminate as now both the unvaccinated and vaccinated are getting Omicron at relatively comparable rates.

Even the nation’s lead-

ing infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci has admitted that “Omicron, with its extraordinary, unprecedented degree of efficiency of transmissibility, will ultimately find just about everybody” regardless of vaccination status.

Even during the height of the Delta variant, breakthrough cases had been fairly minimal and mild. Omicron cases, too, have been overwhelmingly mild, particularly for the vaccinated and those in the younger demographic. Why, then, is there an urgency to promote vaccine mandates that would prove more detrimental to the economy and the everyday lives of Americans who were in fear of losing their jobs over their public health decisions?

The answer lies in the constant mixed-messaging about the pandemic from both the media and the current administration.

Perpetual fear-mongering and vaccine hesitancy led many to panic over the virus despite having had the tools to get back to daily life since March of last year.

One question raised by Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett that has been on my mind is, “When does the emergency end?” There has to be some sort of limiting principle in order to return to normalcy. However, this mandate proves that there is no such principle at play, even as President Biden admitted last month that there is no federal

solution to stop Omicron and it is up to the states to act.

The Supreme Court was not designed to favor personal points of view but rather interpret the law as it is written. I do not believe that this decision undermines the vaccines in any way as some have suggested, as all of the justices on the court are fully vaccinated and have deemed numerous state-issued vaccine mandates appropriate over the past few months.

Rather, this mandate was struck down due to the fact the Constitution makes clear that public health falls under the jurisdiction of states and certainly not the federal government, much less without the authorization of Congress. This is not even a partisan issue as even the Senate voted 52-48 on Biden’s vaccine mandate for the private sector, a majority of the U.S. Senate.

The Court’s decision should be a sigh of relief not just to those in fear of potentially losing their jobs but also for all American people. Regardless of political leanings or personal beliefs, Americans should be proud that our Supreme Court has proven durable in the face of heavy pressure. This decision shows that despite the skepticism from both sides of the aisle, the country’s checks and balances remain effective and fulfill their intended purpose.

The Villanovan | 11

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

CULTURE

10 | The Villanovan

CULTURE

Students Tailgate Outside of Wells Fargo Center Chloe Miller Co-Culture Editor Continued from pg. 1 of yellow school buses that arrived at Wells Fargo Center on Sunday morning. The atmosphere at the Villanova tailgates is reminiscent of college football but much colder.

The fashion for the tailgate was unanimous, and you can find evidence of it on nearly every Villanova student’s Instagram. It was rare to see anyone without a massive winter jacket, gloves, a hat and likely multiple layers of socks and pants. Barely in the double-digits, students had no choice but to bundle up.

“I probably needed to wear three more pairs of socks,” sophomore Anna McCarthy said. “Next time will be more fun now that I know.”

Echoing the same sentiment sophomore Jennifer Ryan called the tailgate “a learning experience” when asked about the freezing temperature.

The weather did not stop the excitement of the student body.

Many fraternity members and other students parked their cars in the lot and blasted music for the rest of the Villanovans. If you looked hard enough you could even catch some alumni, and parents joining in on the old Villanova tradition.

One of the most special parts about the Wells Fargo tailgates is simply the camaraderie of Villanova’s nearly 7,000 student population.

There is no place like it.

“After such a weird year last year and still not a completely normal fall semester, it was so nice to see students from all different organizations coming together,” sophomore Maggie Winston said. “This is something I looked forward to doing as soon as I decided on coming to Villanova and I know most people feel the same way.”

All students come together under one common interest: basketball. It is not just the students who find the tailgates so special, but also

faculty and staff. Villanova basketball head coach Jay Wright commented on the tailgate after the game.

“This is one of the most unique college basketball atmospheres in the country,” Wright said. “This is an NBA arena but a college crowd.

You’ve got to see all the students out there. To see them tailgating in seven-degree weather, which blows my mind every year… every time I see it, I’m like ‘I can’t believe they still do that.’ It’s a fun place to play and a great experience for our guys.”

A long-lasting tradition, as the Wildcats have played in Wells Fargo Center since its opening in 1996 and have won their fair share of games in the arena. To many Villanova basketball fans, Wells Fargo Center is a home away from home. Villanova basketball, and of course the tailgates, were a huge factor in many students’ decisions to come to Villanova.

“As a big sports and Villanova fan, I was super sad when I didn’t get

to go to any games last year,” sophomore Alex Tessendorf said. “Being able to go to games at big places like Wells Fargo was something I was really looking forward to. It was so fun to be a part of a big Villanova tradition.”

As soon as it hit 10:30 a.m. and the doors to Wells Fargo opened, there was a mad dash to enter the first basketball game open to students in Philadelphia since 2020. Amidst the long lines, close quarters and the student ticket app crashing, there was no moment more relieving than entering the arena for either the first time ever or the first time in over 700 days.

The Wildcats conquered the Butler Bulldogs with a final score of 82-42, which was a perfect way to commemorate their return. Students have two more opportunities to tailgate at Wells Fargo during normal season play on Feb. 5, where the ‘Cats face the UConn Huskies and on Feb. 12 where they face the Seton Hall Pirates.

Welcome Back to Class… and Zoom Kendall Hayes Staff Writer

Villanova is just shy of the one-year anniversary of one of the largest university COVID-19 spikes country-wide. Since then, Villanova has come a long way in regards to COVID-19, but right now, the world is looking eerily similar to that unsettling time back in Feb. 2021.

The rise of the Omicron variant has been swift throughout the entire country over the past month. For the first time since the start of the pandemic, new daily COVID-19 cases have surpassed one million. Unfortunately, being fully vaccinated and boosted is not protecting us from this variant, even if it is weakening the severity of symptoms.

As a result of the country-wide spike, University officials announced that a few things would look a little different at the start of this semester. The first step to these changes was from an announcement made by Kathleen J. Byrnes, the Vice President for Student Life on Jan. 3.

“This email addresses mandatory arrival testing for the spring semester and a new requirement

that all eligible community members must receive a COVID-19 booster shot by Jan. 31, 2022,” Byrnes stated.

Starting at the end of 2021 and beginning of 2022, universities across the country began pushing the start date of classes or making the first two weeks of classes virtual. Anticipating an announcement, Villanovans received a message from Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning Randy Weinstein on Jan. 7.

“As approved by Fr. Peter, faculty have the option to move their in person classes online for the first two weeks of the semester only - if your faculty keeps their class in person you must attend in person,” Weinstein said.

The message continued to say that students required to quarantine or move to isolation may be allowed to Zoom into their classes, but professors are not required to accommodate a virtual class.

It is not surprising that as a result of these changes, students across Villanova’s campus are experiencing a sense of “Zoom fatigue.”

For many students, it does not feel as if the semester has started yet.

“The start of the semester has felt slow because of how

Many students are heading back to virtual classes at the start of the second semester.

Courtesy of Maja Hitijj

many classes are on Zoom,” junior Carolyn Reilly said. “It is hard to be motivated and focused, so I am eager to return to in person.”

“Only one of my classes is online, but it is still making the adjustment to the semester harder and it is sometimes difficult to focus,” junior Alyssa Paster said.

Sophomore Marina Rouse also spoke about being online.

“It’s definitely much more difficult to stay engaged while online,” Rouse said. “Being on campus with a roommate makes it hard to find quiet places where I can still talk in the Zoom too, but

I understand why it has to be this way right now.”

Other schools across the country, such as the University of Michigan, have responded similarly to the rise of Omicron, but there are other universities that are going about business as usual. Tufts University and Boston University will be fully in person starting next week, while also mandating the COVID-19 vaccine booster.

As they head into the second week of classes, Villanovans are hopeful that looking forward, classes will be in person and Zoom will be something of the past.

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

The Villanovan | 11

CULTURE

Villanova Dance and Cheer Teams Compete at Nationals Elena Rouse Co-Culture Editor

The Villanova Dance Team took the term “the happiest place on earth” to a new level as it competed on the Walt Disney World stage.

This past weekend, the team, along with the Villanova cheer team and mascot Will D. Cat, competed in the Universal Dance Association Nationals in Orlando, Florida, showing off its chops at a high level.

Open to all colleges, universities and junior colleges in the country, the 35-year-old annual event is “the most prestigious collegiate national championship in the country,” according to the official UDA Website.

From Jan. 14 to 16, top dance teams from all across the country took part in intense competition, mixed in with team bonding at the parks and watching other colleges perform. The event is split by divisions, with Villanova’s dance team competing at the Division One level.

The team performed once on Saturday, ranking in 9th place out of 12, for the Jazz Division I resulting in the team moving on to finals. The team went on to rank 9th in the final round, making them 9th in the nation.

Making it to the final round and ranking as one of the top in the nation were both firsts for Villanova Dance Team history.

The Villanova Dance Team is one of the most well-known groups on the University’s campus.

The Villanova Dance Team has performed at many campus events, like Hoops Mania.

Courtesy of Olivia Pasquale/Villanovan Photography

The group performs at all home football games, home basketball games, community events and the Big East and NCAA National Basketball Championships. These events, along with the annual Nationals competition in Florida, are a testament to the group’s dedication and committed practice schedule.

The team is not only full of talented dancers but also devoted students. According to the team’s website, members average an average GPA of 3.68, with majors spanning across business, the sciences and arts.

With this dedication and drive in tow, the dance team prepared for Nationals starting back in September.

Emma Dowd, junior cap-

tain of the team, spoke about the training.

“We got a guest choreographer to travel from California to choreograph for us,” Dowd said.

“After that, we practiced every weekend, and came back Jan. 6 to practice every day until we left for Florida.”

The practices did not stop there, as the team, upon reaching its destination, practiced every day in preparation.

However, Dowd mentioned that there was still down time to explore.

“We also have free time to go to the parks and bond as a team,” Dowd said. “It’s a really great way to get closer while still staying focused and representing Villanova, all with other teams

across the nation.”

Olivia Gang, junior member and the recruitment coordinator for the team, spoke more about representing the school with her teammates.

“Our team has really bonded throughout this process and we are really proud of all the hard work we have put in,” Gang said.

“We are so excited to represent our team and University with a dance we are so proud of.”

That pride goes beyond just the team’s direct members, expanding across to the cheer team as well, with members posting pictures and videos of each other on social media platforms. The overall result was an environment of support and excitement for the large competition.

The excitement might also be a testament to the readiness to perform after a year lapse due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We didn’t compete last year because of the pandemic,” Dowd said. “Only four veterans have ever stepped foot on the nationals floor. We compete with 14 girls, so 10 of us have never even competed at UDA before.”

A combination of team and school spirit, partnered with sunny skies, a year in waiting and the magic of Disney, the Villanova Dance and Cheer Teams shone bright at the Universal Dance Association Nationals, becoming nationally ranked. If their smiles and embraces after hearing the news tell us anything other than the team’s exhilaration and devotion to each other, it is that “the happiest place on Earth” holds up to its title.

VST Takes On 2021 BroadwayWorld Regional Awards Bailey Quinn Staff Writer

After two years of a pandemic, one would think that the ‘unprecedented times’ that continue to punctuate every email and cancel every in-person performance would discourage students from taking part in a performance no one will see in the flesh. However, this was not the case for Villanova Student Theatre. This January, the BroadwayWorld Regional 2021 Awards for Philadelphia, PA were released, and the passion and success of Villanova students are evident in the results. Villanova Student Theatre won awards in three categories.

The Broadway World Regional 2021 Awards recognize productions throughout the country that held their first performance between Oct. 1, 2020 through Sept. 30, 2021.

“The BroadwayWorld Regional Awards are the largest theater audience awards, with over 100 cities worldwide participating,” according to the Broadway World website.

This year was unique, as streaming productions were eligible in specific categories catering specifically to streaming performances.

The Villanova Student Theatre productions thrived under this jurisdiction, with its Fall 2020 pro-

duction “Pride & Prejudice” and its Spring 2021 production “You Can’t Take It With You,” both having been streamed for audiences.

Villanova Student Theatre received the following nominations: Best Streaming Play (“Pride & Prejudice” and “You Can’t Take It With You”), Best Performer in a Streaming Play (Emily Monaco and Hannah Packard), Best Direction of a Stream (Grace Metzger and Kylie Horan) and Best Supporting Performer in a Streaming Play (Ryan Wolfe, Cristian Rodriguez, Daniel Gorman, Mason Olshavsky and Haseeb Waseem).

Rodriguez was also nominated for Best Performer in a Musical, for a performance in another production outside of Villanova Student Theatre.

Villanova Student Theatre won Best Streaming Play for “Pride & Prejudice,” Emily Monaco won Best Performer In A Streaming Play for her performance in “Pride & Prejudice” and Ryan Wolfe won Best Supporting Performer in A Streaming Play for his performance in “Pride & Prejudice.”

The large number of nominations and awards given are certainly something to behold, especially as we reflect on the past year of Zoom classes and fluctuating numbers on the Villanova COVID-19 Dashboard, a familiar experience as we begin this new semester. Even in the midst of uncer-

Villanova Student Theatre performed “You Can’t Take It With You” in March 2021.

Courtesy of @vstheatre

tainty and Zoom fatigue, it is easy to see how much good has come out of the pandemic.

“Watching the cast and crew of these performances not only come together to create something beautiful, but also be recognized for all of their hard work is the best part of being a part of this program, and I am so grateful to witness these people in their element,” said a VU sophomore, who wished to remain anonymous.

Villanova Student Theatre has begun putting together the Spring 2022 production of “Romeo and Juliet.” In addition, Villanova Student Musical Theatre has begun to hold musicals again, and has begun production of its winter show “Assassins,” and the spring show “Carousel” is on the horizon.

For more information and updates on ongoing and upcoming shows, you can check out @vstheatre and @novavsmt on Instagram.

CULTURE

12 | The Villanovan

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

The Weeknd’s Dawn Album Hits The Mark Jack Roberge Senior Editor

When thinking about genres that are conducive to a concept album that can genuinely be considered a masterpiece, it is incredibly unlikely that pop, let alone dance pop, comes to mind.

The generation who grew up on Katy Perry, The Black Eyed Peas or the Jonas Brothers became familiarized with pop nearly exclusively from their middle school and high school dances, not from lying awake carefully listening to the lyrics of albums dealing with real life problems, and especially not terrifying philosophical problems.

Abel Tesfaye, better known by his stage name/public persona The Weeknd, changed all of that.

Starting from his first album, Trilogy, a compilation of his original three 2011 mixtapes, it was clear that Abel would not be making mindless music. Sure, the sound of the records would be conducive to a club atmosphere, or notably a Super Bowl halftime show, but the astute listener would be treated to a much darker experience dealing with depression, drug abuse and relationship trauma.

Even The Weeknd’s biggest hits, “The Hills,” “Can’t Feel My Face” and “Blinding Lights,” all deal with these same issues, most notably Tesfaye’s struggles with addiction. The danceable production contrasts this beautifully to paint a picture of someone who knows they are struggling, but refuses to seek help due to their persona and the expectations it has brought on them.

These struggles finally begin to come to a culmination in Tesfaye’s newest album, Dawn FM, narratively structured around its radio station naming. As the conclusion of his 2018 album After Hours, a track aptly named

The Weeknd’s new album ‘Dawn’ features a cover of an older version of himself.

Courtesy of XO/REPUBLIC

“Until I Bleed Out” captures the death of The Weeknd. As its successor, Dawn FM picks up as the character of The Weeknd awakens in purgatory, forced to confront his life of debauchery and the heartache that he has caused others.

Throughout the album, Tesfaye’s fellow Toronto native Jim Carrey acts as the fictional radio station’s announcer, but also as The Weeknd’s spiritual guide through purgatory. Showing up on a number of songs throughout the album, Carrey’s presence begins as a relatively cheerful welcoming committee on the opening title track, but gradually descends into darkness, finally culminating with the album’s eerie outro, “Phantom Regret by Jim.” If the concept of the album somehow managed to slip by the listener during the first 49 minutes, the last three will undoubtedly be the final tipping point to cause the existential crisis that looms over Dawn FM.

The song, which is proba-

bly more accurately described as a spoken word poem with backing music, puts the album into sum: detached from time and as a spirit, The Weeknd is forced to face the regrets he has accumulated through his life. Asking challenging questions about whether his life had been led correctly, and if he had died correctly, Carrey tells The Weeknd that “Heaven is for those who let go of regret.” The entire track is hauntingly beautiful, and forces the listener to take an introspective look at their own life as well.

The album also deals with Tesfaye’s personal and romantic relationships, particularly that with former partner Bella Hadid.

Though she is not mentioned by name, numerous tracks on the album, as well as the previously released “Moth to a Flame” which made its way onto the deluxe album, call out to a former love interest both telling her that he has changed from his old ways,

but still continuing to urge her to stay away. The complicated view of this relationship underscores the feeling of purgatory in a much more real sense, where Tesfaye no longer knows where he stands in regard to his romantic life and personal life in general.

Overall, both the music and the concept of Dawn FM are astounding. The only tracks that come close to missing on the album are “Every Angel is Terrifying,” whose strangeness is excusable as it functions more as an interlude, and “I Heard You’re Married” which would be a good track if not for the confusing choice to add a Lil Wayne feature.

Wayne’s feature is the musical equivalent to nails on a chalkboard, and sounds even worse by comparison when placed next to arguably the best male vocalist in the mainstream.

This album may not have the same single power as After Hours did with “Blinding Lights” and “Save Your Tears,” but the concept of the album and creativity demonstrated on Dawn FM far exceed that which was seen on its predecessor. Where After Hours integrated the 80s into the modern, Dawn FM went full blown 80s in both musical sound and vocals, resulting in a tremendous synthpop album that is simultaneously of its own era in theme and harkens back to the golden age of pop in sound.

Abel has already teased his next album in a now-deleted tweet asking, “i wonder… did you know you’re experiencing a new trilogy?” The continuation of the saga of the death of The Weeknd, and more 80s pop, is something I am most certainly here for.

The best tracks on the album are “Sacrifice,” “How Do I Make You Love Me?,” “Out of Time,” “Less Than Zero” and “Phantom Regret by Jim.” Dawn FM is a very strong 8/10.

Your Villanovan Horoscopes Of The Week Elena Rouse Co-Culture Editor

Aries: In a world full of people who care too much, you are never afraid to be yourself, which is going to be helpful. Don’t get frustrated when some friends around you succumb to being anything but themselves for the sake of something seemingly unimportant. Find the people that are going to match your unique energy, and don’t get too caught up in those who won’t.

Taurus: This is the week you might feel like you’re always running late. Whether it’s to class or to the party, it will feel like an uphill battle to just merely keep pace with everyone else. However, fear not, because these feelings aren’t going to last forever. In fact, if you stay on the course, you’ll realize you were always right on time.

Gemini: Whatever you’re thinking is probably wrong. Stop listening to that voice in your head that’s saying this person doesn’t like you or your life isn’t meant to go that way. You are closer to getting what

you want than you realize, you just have to go for it. The stars are shining bright for you. All that’s left is for you to reciprocate.

Cancer: You’ve had a moment of clarity recently. Take advantage of this newfound energy coming from your new perspective.

While it might not follow the original plan you had, it’s definitely one that will only help in opening new doors.

Once you embrace it, exciting things will come.

Leo: The praise you’re looking for won’t come. That’s because you’ve been searching for external validation when you need to be diving deep into what you think of yourself. When you realize that you just need to love you, then everything else will fall into place.

Virgo: Someone is going to surprise you this week. In what way, you’ll have to see, but the only thing you can control is how you respond to it. Now is not the time to respond with anger or shock. Instead of responding with emotion, wait it out and respond later with reason. It will be beneficial in the long run.

Libra: This week, you’re

going to be challenged. That’s a good thing, though, because you’ll need the challenge to take you out of that cozy comfort zone you so often find yourself in. Don’t fret at the idea of struggling, because it will be exactly what you need to put you on the path to meeting the right people.

Scorpio: A person will come into your life that will peak your curiosity. The opportunity to connect will be once in a lifetime, so make sure you stay open minded and vocal this week. You never know when they’ll come and just how much they will affect your life.

Sagittarius: Well well well, it seems you will be ‘feeling yourself ’ this week, and that is exactly what you need. You’ve been in a bit of a slump, but that’s no problem, because now you’re on the come up in big ways. Take advantage of this time and go for that one thing that you have wanted but have been too afraid to go for.

Capricorn: Trouble is brewing, but fear not. You have been preparing for this moment, and there is not one reason that you should falter at these impending challenges. Imag-

ine that you are the main character in charge of your own destiny, but it is up to you to answer the call and accept that while whatever happens might not be easy, it is necessary.

Aquarius: You can’t coast forever—at least, that’s what keeps you up at night. The stars show a sense of uneasiness and apprehension, which points to you feeling like whatever good thing you’ve got going on can’t last forever, and you’re getting all worked up about it ending. Let it be known, the more you stress about this ‘end’ or bad things happening, the more likely it is that they will.

Instead of stressing, choose to relax into where you are and who you are with and cherish it.

Pisces: You’ve been giving, but have you been receiving? You’re always the first to jump for a friend in need or a classmate who may have missed some notes, but sometimes that leaves you feeling a little emotionally burnt-out. This can take its toll, so it is important that this week, when those opportunities arise, you really think about whether or not it is worth exhausting yourself. You need to be taken care of too.

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

The Villanovan | 13

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SPORTS

Women’s Tennis Prepares for 2022 Campaign

Noah Swan Staff Writer

nerships during the previous semester, and a reliance on seniors emerged from the experimentation. The senior

The Big East title in women’s duo will lead the lineup, and senior tennis has been shared by only three Sabina Grigorian will play alongteams over the past eight years. Xavier side freshman Emma Brogan in the and DePaul have dominated, winning second position. The third position seven of those eight, with St. John’s remains to be determined. stealing one in 2015. So, what is the

Brogan enters the season as formula for success in women’s tennis? the highest-ranking freshman in the

“I think it’s recruiting,” Villalineup, following a successful fall seanova head coach Steve Reiniger reson. sponded. “It’s getting the right people The Georgia native racked in.” up five wins with only one loss in the

As the Wildcats look ahead to exhibitions, earning her the third potheir spring season, the only follow-up sition in the singles lineup moving into question is: Do they have the right the spring. The travel from Georgia to people?

Philadelphia may seem difficult, but

To answer that question, it that is nothing compared to Valieriia is worth looking at the seniors, who Kornieva’s trek to the Main Line from are the leaders of the team. Annalise Ukraine.

Klopfer leads the singles lineup and is “She gets along with everycoming off a 6-4 season. In only her body great,” Reiniger said of Korniesecond season as a Wildcat, the Navy va. “She’s a fantastic addition. It’s nice transfer will look to build upon her to have some diversity in where she’s singles success last year, while also ad- from. I think she fits in with Villanova justing to a new doubles partnership perfectly. I think she’s getting much with fellow senior Emily Strande. stronger day-by-day with the lan “To pick up where she left off guage. She’s really improved and loves last year,” Reiniger answered when Villanova.” asked about his expectations for Klop- Kornieva may or may not fer. “She was a great number one for break the lineup as she nurses an us. Seeing her at practice right now, ongoing shoulder injury at the start she hasn’t skipped a beat. In doubles, of the season. The Wildcats expect [my goal for her is] to try to nurture heavy contributions from both ends of that new partnership, particularly at the age spectrum, with senior leaders the beginning of the spring.” and new freshmen alike populating

Solidifying that doubles lineup the top of the lineup. has been a major focus for the team

Rounding out the roster are during the fall exhibitions. Reiniger the sophomores and juniors vying for trotted out 13 different doubles partmatch time while aiming to improve

their games. The sophomores especially face a key period of growth within the developmental context of the high school to college transition.

“As freshmen, they usually have a lot more to learn regarding doubles than singles,” Reiniger noted.

“They have stuff to learn in singles but more in doubles because a lot of times good high school players are focused only on singles. Usually from freshman to sophomore, they make a jump in doubles.”

Doubles strategy and formation require both practice and studying beyond that of normal match training. Adding another teammate along with another opponent into the formula requires players to readjust their position and their shot choices.

Communication becomes of the utmost importance, and this is the area of the game that the sophomores will

look to improve upon the most.

The answer to the original question seems clear: There is no doubt the Wildcats have the right people. But what’s as important as that is the collective identity of the group.

Any dissension within the team could ruin even the most talented of lineups.

“Close-knit,” Reiniger said when describing his squad. “The seniors set the tone for the team. They’ll do dinners together. If I walk over to Bartley, I’ll probably see a couple of players sitting together eating lunch.”

From Dnipro, Ukraine to Centennial, Colorado to Bayamon, Puerto Rico to Milton, Georgia, each of the Wildcats found her way to the quiet suburbs at the heart of Philadelphia’s Main Line. Back-to-back Big East semifinal appearances have set the standard, but the ‘Cats have more than enough to surpass that high bar.

Villanova Women’s Tennis opens its season on Jan. 22 at Bucknell.

Courtesy of Villanova University

Men’s Track and Field Preview Tee Parris Staff Writer

The 2022 men’s track and field indoor season kicked off on Saturday, Jan. 15, in Staten Island, New York. The team started well as junior mid distance runner Sean Dolan put on an impressive performance, running the second fastest 800m time in Villanova men’s track and field history at 1:48.11.

This is not surprising as the team’s coach, Marcus O’Sullivan, named Dolan -- a US Olympic trials qualifier -- as someone to watch this season.

Another top performer from the weekend was Liam Murphy, a redshirt freshman who demonstrated his bright future ahead, by placing first in the mile event.

Looking ahead, there are plenty of athletes who are expected to represent Villanova in the NCAA Championships. In the mile event, look out for senior Charlie O’Donovan, who is coming off a hiatus due to injury and COVID-19, senior Josh Philips and newcomers, Jack Jennings, a sophomore, and Murphy. In the 3000-meter event, alongside Phillips, Murphy and Jennings, O’Sullivan recommends keeping an eye on senior Haftu Strintzos, a well decorated athlete who also competes in the 5000m event. Strintzos

Men’s Track and Field heads to Staten Island for the Villanova Invitational on Jan. 22.

Courtesy of Butler Athletics

has consistently performed well in long distance events for Villanova’s track and field team, and last year placed ninth at the NCAA championships.

The team is also hoping to make an impact in the field events this season. The coaching staff has identified senior jumper Malik Cunningham as a must watch for this season. Cunningham is coming off a bronze medal finish in the Big East Championship during the last outdoor season and qualified for the NCAA East preliminary round. Cunningham is looking for his first Big East title during this indoor season.

A new face at Villanova, graduate thrower Riley LaRiviera, spent the last four years as a member of the Lehigh track and field team.

Prior to Saturday’s meet, the coaching staff had a good look at the team and identified some positive discoveries. O’Sullivan noted that there were “some surprises” and some athletes returned from the three-week break “fitter than when they left.”

O’Sullivan mentioned that athletes returning from colder climates faced more challenges when it came to staying fit over winter break. Saturday’s meet was a great

indicator for the coaching staff as to where more attention would be needed as well as where some stars may emerge. This season, the men are expecting to be challenged in the Big East by a very strong team at UConn. The Huskies are back in the Big East this season and Villanova will need to perform at a high level to compete with this powerhouse team.

When it comes to important meets, track and field is one of those sports where many different factors affect an athlete’s performance. Not every athlete on the team travels to the same meets every week, and who travels is determined by the level of competition at each meet as well as the quality of the competition grounds themselves. The John Thomas Terrier Classic on Jan. 29 at Boston University provides a great opportunity for the distance runners.

“The track is very fast, so what you are trying to do there is get qualifiers so you can move on to nationals,” O’Sullivan said of the upcoming event.

Another interesting meet will take place at Vanderbilt on Feb. 11 and 12. There will be a flat 300m track, which again would help the athletes post some of their quicker times.

The team’s next meet will take place at its Staten Island “home” on Jan. 22 as the Wildcats host the Villanova Invitational.

SPORTS

14 | The Villanovan

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Track and Field Splits Season Opener

Owen Hewitt Staff Writer

in both the 3000m and 4x400m relay, as freshman Emma McGill finished the 3000 in 9:56.26, and the relay team finished the 4x400

Villanova women’s track in 3:55.23. and field started the year off strong In the field events, the at the Penn 10-Team Select at Wildcats claimed two first-place Ocean Breeze in Staten Island, finishes, both by graduate thrower N.Y., coming in first out of the Sade Meeks. It was Meeks’ first eight teams that participated in meet as a Wildcat after transferthe meet. The men’s squad fared ing from Jacksonville State. Meeks worse at the counterpart meet, fin- broke a 20-year-old school record ishing sixth out of the eight-team in the weight throw by more than field, 70 points behind first-place a meter, winning the event with Cornell. a distance of 17.98. She also

The women’s team ended claimed the top of the board in the with seven first-place finishes in the shot put with a distance of 14.76 track portion of the day’s events. meters.

Junior Jane Livingston came in

The combination of 14 top first in both the preliminary and three finishers was good enough to final 60-meter hurdles, finishing put the ‘Cats at the top of the field in 8.48 seconds and 8.38 seconds, at the end of the meet, posting a respectively. In the 60m sprint, se- point total of 124.33, ahead of nior hurdler Trinity Hart finished at the top of the standings in both the preliminary (7.88 seconds) and final (7.86). Junior Alexis Martin was also able to qualify for the 60m final race, where she ran an 8.02, which was good for fourth.

The ‘Cats also dominated in the longer events. Graduate sprinter McKenna Keegan finished first in the 400m, with a time of 54.58 seconds. The ‘Cats were able to sweep the podium for the 800m, as senior Lydia Olivere placed first with a time of 2:15.99, junior Maggie Smith finished second, running a 2:16.25, and junior Anna Helwigh rounded out the top three with a time of 2:17.88.

The Olivere and Smith tandem finished one and two again in the mile race, as they posted times of 4:43.81 and 4:44.09, respectively.

The Wildcats took third

second-place Cornell by 27 points.

In a meet that consisted of fewer events, the men’s team claimed just two first-place finishes.

Junior distance runner Sean Dolan finished with a time of 1:48.11 in the 800 meters, good enough for first. Senior distance runner Charlie O’Donovan posted a thirdplace finish in the 800, with a time of 1:49.63. Sophomore distance runner Liam Murphy took first in the mile, with a time of 4:04.81.

The team posted a point total of 40.

The women’s team will look to carry some strong momentum forward into its next meet, while the men’s squad will look to rebound from a lackluster performance. Both teams will return to Staten Island next Saturday, Jan. 22 for the Villanova Invitational.

WEEKLY SCOREBOARD Jan. 12 - Jan. 18

Wednesday, January 12 Men’s Basketball @ Xavier 64-60 W Thursday, January 13 None Friday, January 14 Women’s Swim vs. Richmond 161-120 W Women’s Basketball @ DePaul 75-63 L Saturday, January 15 Men’s Swim @ Providence 110-95 W Men’s Track (Penn 10-Team Select) 6th/8 Women’s Track (Penn 10-Team Select) 1st/8 Sunday, January 16 Men’s Basketball vs. Butler 82-42 W Women’s Basketball @ Marquette 58-55 W Monday, January 17 Women’s Swim @ Rutgers 133-108 W Tuesday, January 18 None

Lydia Olivere led the ‘Cats with a win in the 800m.

Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

Men’s Swim and Dive Defeats Providence 110-95 Zac Tipton Staff Writer

Villanova defeated Providence in its first conference road trip of 2022, by a score of 110-95.

Juniors Reid Hutcherson and Jake McIntyre led the Wildcats with two wins a piece, as Villanova won half of the events, including four one-two finishes in the match.

The Friars were led by Justin Viotto and William Layden, who each had two wins of their own in four of the five Providence victories.

The day started off slow for the Wildcats as they lost the first relay, the 200-meter medley, to a Providence team who finished the relay in a time of 1:45:34. Villanova’s lone team in the race, made up of sophomore Ethan Brown, junior Kevin Geist and freshmen Henry Halloran and Patrick Hemingway, placed second in the event, just a half second behind the Friars.

Then came the Hutcherson and McIntyre pair, with McIntyre winning the 800 free and Hutcherson winning the 200 free. McIntyre finished the race in 8:38, just one second faster than his teammate, sophomore Charlie Hinckley. Hutcherson finished in 1:54, which was also a second faster

McIntyre secured two individual wins in the victory over Providence.

Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

than the Friars’ Alex Beauchene.

After those races, Layden and Viotto would win the next four races. Layden took home the 50 and 100 freestyles, while Viotto won the 400 individual medley and the 200 butterfly.

Layden raced his 50 in 23.56 and his 100 in 52.75. He still holds

the top Big East 50-meter time in the event this year. The 100 free was the closest race of the day, as Layden edged Hutcherson by 0.1 seconds. Viotto finished his races in dominating fashion. He finished the 400 IM in 4:34, three seconds faster than Halloran, and the 200 butterfly in 2:06, two seconds fast-

er than Geist.

The next four races were all taken by Villanova. Brown started this winning streak off by taking home the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:06. It was two and a half seconds faster than freshman teammate Carson Brockette. McIntyre took the next event, the 400 free, with a time of 4:08 and beat out Hinckley by one second. Sophomore Richard Nolan took home his only victory of the meet, winning the 200 backstroke in a time of 2:23. He edged out Halloran, who had three second place finishes, by one second.

Villanova finished off the meet with a win in the 400 freestyle relay. The team was composed of junior Ryan Maher, Hutcherson, Hinckley and Hemingway. They finished with a time of 3:29. Providence’s three other teams took home the next three spots, the closest being five seconds behind Villanova’s group.

Villanova ended with six first place finishes, nine seconds and three thirds. Providence finished with five firsts, two seconds and eight thirds.

Villanova currently sits at 681.3 points this year, third in the Big East. Providence sits at fifth.

The Wildcats look to continue their perfect 2022 on Thursday when they face the University of Pittsburgh.

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

The Villanovan | 15

SPORTS

Women’s Swim & Dive Starts 2022 With Two Wins Aphrodite Dimopoulos Staff Writer

Villanova women’s swimming started off 2022 well. The women upheld their strong reputation with a win over Richmond, 161-120, followed by a 133-108 victory over Rutgers.

In the first win, which was in Villanova’s home turf, the Wildcats won 12 of the 16 events, and were dominant over their opponents from early on.

Five separate women on the team won at least two events.

Kelly Montesi, a senior from Greenwich, Connecticut, led the team on Friday. Montesi posted three victories: the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 55.61, the 100-yard butterfly, with a time of 55.57, and in the 200-yard medley relay as the group’s first leg. Proving experience leads to success, fellow senior Nicole Welch also won a pair of individual swims: the 500-yard free, with a time of 5:04.08, and the 1000-yard freestyle with a time of 10:20.02.

The 200-yard medley relay proved to be a pivotal moment in the Wildcats’ overall success.

Along with Montesi, junior Perri Stahl, graduate Elizabeth Bailey and senior Abbey Berloco completed the relay with a time of 1:45.56, just 0.8 seconds ahead of Richmond’s second placed team.

This win set a precedent for the remainder of the events, as the Wildcats went on to win the next

five events. This winning spree set a true gap between Villanova and Richmond, one which the Spiders were unable to make up.

In the 200-yard free, graduate Milly Routledge finished a mere 0.04 seconds earlier than Richmond’s senior swimmer Margaret Purcell. Furthermore, junior Kaitline Gravell and Stahl ended the 100-yard breaststroke with a remarkably close one-two finish.

Stahl only surpassed Gravell by a miniscule 0.3 seconds, finishing with a time of 1:06.12 versus Gravell’s 1:06.42. Continuing said one-two streak, Bailey and sophomore Molly Benson showed a comparable finish in the 200-yard fly, as Bailey finished in first with a time of 2:05.46 and Benson was second with a time of 2:08.28.

Montesi truly dominated the 100-yard back with a time of 55.61, but her teammates finished close behind. Villanova had three of the top-four times in the event, with great work from senior Grace Wieler and sophomore Audrey Pastorek.

Villanova and Richmond split the two diving events, with the Wildcats taking home the 1-meter with a score of 239.02 by senior Andrea Holtz.

The team traveled to Rutgers on Jan. 17. In the win over the Scarlet Knights, Montesi and Routledge each won both of their individual swims, in addition to their relay with Berloco and Wielar.

This brought the squad

The women’s swim and dive team celebrates during their weekend win.

Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

to an impressive 5-1 record and also brought an individual win to Welch, who placed first in the 1000-yard free with a time of 10:25.09 and the 500-yard free with a time of 5:04.79. Later in the meet, Gravell and Stahl brought together a one-two finish in the 200-yard breast, with Gravell finishing in 2:20.81 and Stahl in 2:23.18. Furthermore, Gravell, Pastorek and Berloco accomplished a mighty feat with all three of them landing inside the top-three in their events.

Although the Wildcats couldn’t quite reach a win in the 200-yard free, Berloco and Benson

followed in close pursuit at second and third place. The Wildcats stood out in the 500-yard free, where all Villanova swimmers participating found a spot in the top four: Welch (5:04.79), junior Brenna McLaughlin (5:12.68) and freshman Francesca Raimondi (5:16.33).

Overall, the team won eight of the 13 events, including four one-two finishes, to seal the win over Rutgers.

After a weekend apart, the men’s and women’s teams will reunite on Jan. 20 as they travel to the University of Pittsburgh for the first dual meet of 2022.

Women’s Track and Field Preview Catherine Browne Staff Writer

After a strong fall season for the women’s cross country team claiming fourth place in the Big East Championship and third place in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Competition, the women’s track and field team prepares for its indoor season.

The team is composed of 35 women competing in distance running, sprints, throwing, jumping and pole vaulting. The Wildcats won the Penn10 Team Select on Saturday, totaling points 124.33, 27 more than second place Cornell.

Villanova is led by head coach Gina Procaccio who appears in the school’s record books herself from her time of competing on Villanova’s track and field team before she graduated in 1987. Over her years as a runner at Villanova, Procaccio

garnered valuable experience that has now helped her as a head coach.

“[I am] in the position to tell [the team] about stories (...) of what it felt like to be a part of this great school [and continue] the tradition,” Procaccio said.

Procaccio shares that the team continuously strives to challenge for the Big East Championship. Last season, this competition was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, in the 2019-20 indoor season, the Wildcats placed first, 22 points ahead of second place Marquette. Although the pandemic has affected prior seasons, Procaccio claims that “it has made us all appreciate the sport more [since] it was taken away from us,” but she is confident that this season will fortunately return with a sense of normalcy.

As the Wildcats enter into this new season, there are a few members of the team to look out for.

Sanaa Barnes looks to be named an All-American athlete for the fifth year in a row Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

McKenna Keegan hold nemerous Villanova records in the 400m and 800m Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

Distance runner McKenna Keegan was named a first team All-American at the 2021 indoor NCAA track and field championship and has set many school records for her performance in the 400-meter and 800m. She also qualified for the 2021 Outdoor Track and Field Championship having run 2:01.25 in the 800m, which also qualified her for the U.S. Olympic Trials this past summer. Lydia Olivere is a junior distance runner who is an All-American in cross country. Additionally, she qualified for the Olympic Trials and broke the school record in the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 9:49.88. This season, Olivere is expected to compete in the 3000m and 5000m.

Junior high jumper Sanaä Barnes is a four-time All-American, four-time National qualifier and also competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials, jumping 1.87 meters in the high

jump.

The Wildcats also have graduate thrower Sade Meeks, a transfer from Jacksonville State, who qualified for the NCAA East Regional meet in the shot put and hammer throw. Procaccio believes Meeks has the potential to be an All-American athlete, and in her first event as a Wildcat broke a 20-year record in the weight throw with a distance of 17.98 meters.

In the pole vault event, Ashley Preston is a three-time Big East champion and a four-time All-Big East athlete. As for the sprinters, they are a generally inexperienced group, much in part to the shutdowns caused by the pandemic. However, Procaccio is excited for many of the sprinters to compete in their first full year.

The team is expected to have a strong season as they have a plethora of talent, with varying levels of experience.

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