The Villanovan | Volume 115, Issue 2: Feb. 8, 2023

Falvey Acquires Senatorial Papers

Lauren Armstrong Staff Writer

There is never an hour of the day where you will not find students studying and doing work in Villanova’s Falvey Library. This semester, all the work has paid off due to a huge gift from former Senator Patrick J. Toomey, the Pennsylvania Republican senator from 2011-2023, who donated his senatorial papers for the use of Villanova students.

Toomey grew up in Rhode Island and attended La Salle Academy in Providence. After graduating high school as valedictorian, he attended Harvard University.

During his time post-graduation, he worked at a variety of jobs, from working on Wall Street to opening Rookie’s Restaurant in Allentown, PA with his younger brothers. From there, he was elected onto the Allentown Government Study Commission, and then decided to run for the House of Representatives in 1998. After serving three terms, he chose to run for Senate, and after losing his first election, he won in 2011 and served 12 years for the state of Pennsylvania. Toomey is well recognized across the United States as being one of the seven Republicans to vote towards convicting Trump of incitement of the insurrection during the second impeachment trial.

Toomey has espoused a variety of controversial legislative beliefs, such as a ban on same-sex marriage and not believing in women’s rights to access abortions. He does, however, believe in needing stricter background checks in order to purchase guns.

Toomey was a well-respected and well-liked political leader in the state of Pennsylvania and it is an

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University Members

React

BSU Hosts Flag Raising for Black History Month

On Wednesday February 1st, 2023, an event led by the Black Student Union was held at the Connelly Center on Villanova University’s campus. The ceremony was held to kick off Black History Month on campus, and celebrate the raising of the BLM flag in the Connelly Center. There was a large group of students, faculty and community members there to support the movement and the ceremony.

The Black Student Union issued the following statement about the event:

“On February 1, 2023, the Black Student Union at

Villanova University made history within the Villanova community. We made a dream into a reality by fighting for a simple but major way to be seen. With the unveiling of the Black Lives Matter banner, our hope is for all individuals who are a part of the Black community at Villanova, understand that they are heard, seen, loved, and supported.We also want the Black community to know that they will always have an organization who will work tirelessly to ensure that Villanova never falls short in those areas, while exemplifying our university’s core values: unitas, caritas, and veritas. But, more importantly we want those within the Black com-

munity at Villanova to know that you are important and your life does matter. We look forward to the future of Villanova University and its Black community.”

This was an important milestone for the University to show members of the Black community on campus that they are in a safe place, and will be seen and heard.

At the ceremony, the associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Dr. Crystal Lucky, gave a speech and led a prayer to the entire community prior to unveiling the Black Lives Matter Banner. Dr. Lucky began, “For these kinds of events, the prayer I would want to pray would

be one that sounds more poetic, but today I just want to pray,” she said. “We are asking the Lord to continue to give us the ability to show love, to show wisdom, to show solidarity because Lord you are the God of justice and you are the God of peace. It is time for this flag to be included with the other flags in the Connelly Center to acknowledge that Black lives do matter. We are dedicating this flag not to offend anyone, but to declare that we matter, that we matter to you [Lord], that we matter in this world, that we matter on this campus.”

The flag now hangs in Connelly Center, one of the most popular places on campus.

Students React to Tyre Nichols’ Death

Hannah Sweeney Co-News Editor

This week, Villanova students and people all over the country mourn the death of Tyre Nichols, who was brutally killed by police officers in Memphis, Tennessee.

Nichols, who was 29 at the time of his death, was a son, brother, friend and father of a four-year-old boy. Nichols worked for FedEx, enjoyed photography and was closely involved with the skateboard-

ing community in Memphis.

On January 7th, Nichols was pulled over for a traffi c stop just minutes away from his mom’s house. The

encounter then turned violent as offi cers beat, tased and kicked Nichols until he was hospitalized.

Three days later, on

January 10th, Nichols died, sparking horror, outrage and cries for justice from people across the nation.

While the news about Nichols was shocking for students on campus, others expressed ongoing frustration with a broken system.

“When I fi rst heard the news about Tyre Nichols, I was shocked, but also, not really,” Villanova sophomore Nick Jubilee said. “I feel like over the past few years I’ve just grown so desen-

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6 Women’s Water Polo Earns First Win of Season p. 14

Women’s Lacrosse Prepares for 2023 Season p. 15

Jadyn Ramos Staff Writer

The BLM flag hanging in Connelly Center. It was raised by the BSU to kick off Black History Month. Graydon Paul/Villanovan Photography

Members of BSU at the BSU flag raising. Graydon Paul/Villanovan Photography

PUBLIC SAFETY BLOTTER

Theft by Deception

February 2, MONASTERY

A Monastery resident reported being the victim of a phone scam which resulted in a loss of $2500.00 USD.

Criminal Trespass

February 3, CANON HALL

A female resident student reported seeing a male resident student inside of her residence hall room without permission.

Fire Actual

February 3, CEER BUILDING

A tar kettle caught fire on the roof of a campus building. The fire was extinguished by Bryn Mawr and Radnor Fire Departments.

Public Drunkennes/Liquor Underage

CORRECTIONS

February 4, FEDIGAN HALL

One male resident student under the age of 21 was evaluated by VEMS and Radnor ALS for alcohol intoxication and transported to Lankenau Hospital.

Public Drunkennes/Liquor Underage/Carrying False ID/ Disorderly Conduct

February 4, FARLEY HALL

One male resident student under the age of 21 was evaluated for alcohol intoxication and released.

Disorderly Conduct

February 4, ST. MONICA HALL

A fire extinguisher was deployed inside a campus building causing the activation of the fire alarm and the evacuation of the building.

Harassment, Strike, Kick, Shove/Disorderly Conduct

February 4, ST. MONICA HALL

A male resident student reported being pushed by a member of group that was attempting to enter his room without permission.

Criminal Mischief/Burglary, Forcible Entry/Disorderly

Conduct

February 5, ST. MONICA HALL

A male resident student reported an unknown male kicked in his door and attempted to make entry into a campus residence hall room.

Liquor Underage

February 5, GOOD COUNSEL HALL

A female resident student, under the age of 21, was transported to the hospital by VEMS Ambulance for alcohol intoxication.

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.

Tyre Nichols’ Death

Hannah Sweeney Co-News Editor

to the senseless killings of Black and Brown men and women. It doesn’t hurt any less than it did before, but I just feel like it’s something that’s starting to become normalized, which sucks to say. I remember hearing about it and just immediately being so shocked and upset, not only because he was beaten senselessly and treated worse than an animal, but the fact that the offi cers who beat him looked like him.”

Villanova’s Black Student Union also issued a statement on the incident.

“The Black Student Union of Villanova University mourns the death of the late Tyre Nichols. Like many other young Black men in America, his life was sadly cut short due to hatred. Although as a community we are tired of existing in a cycle of ostracization, dehumanization, and hatred, we will continue to bring awareness to experiences like this that Black people face. We, as an organization, send our prayers and condolences to the family of Tyre Nichols as they continue to experience life without their beloved friend and family member. We are also happy to know that justice has been served to those who had a hand in Tyre’s untimely death.”

Villanova sophomore Isabella Balian echoed this statement, adding that condolences, although important, are not enough.

“Police brutality has remained to be an issue in America and it’s sickening to see it prolonging after years and eff orts of protest,” she said. “Black Americans face police brutality at a disproportionate rate to their white counterparts; they should not have to fear being brutally murdered by the people who are supposed to protect them.

“Tyre Nichols’ death once again proves that police brutality is still a relevant crime in America towards Black Americans and

is disproportionately aff ecting their community. Thoughts and prayers have to go further and be reciprocated in legislation and protective measures to truly make a diff erence. The offi cers who are accountable must be held responsible for their actions. No matter race, ethnicity, or location, Americans must realize what an injustice this is to our country.”

On January 27th, Memphis Police Department released the gruesome body camera footage from the police on the scene the day of the incident. The footage was an hour long, showing graphic details from the encounter. After the footage was released, seven offi cers were suspended and fi ve are currently being charged with second-degree murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault, misconduct, oppression and other crimes.

“In regards to the video, I refuse to watch the video,” Jubilee added. “I refuse to put myself through that. Just hearing that another Black man was killed because of police brutality is already traumatizing enough. But for me to sit there and watch him scream for help and try and protect himself is more traumatizing than I can even explain.

“I think that the video is good because it helps to show that all the offi cers are guilty and they are no better than Derek Chauvin who killed George Floyd because of their skin color. It shows that they are no better than Brian Encinia who showed excessive force and straight-up abuse of power when he pulled over Sandra Bland. It shows that they are no better than the countless offi cers who have abused their power.”

What happened to Nichols was not an isolated instance for Black Americans. It has been over two years since the murder of George Floyd and the protests that followed, and grievances like this are continuing to occur.

“We sincerely hope that everyone will learn to have compassion, respect, and love for all mankind; so something like this will never happen again,” BSU said.

Senatorial Papers

Lauren Armstrong Staff Writer

decided to choose Villanova as the new home for his senatorial papers. Students and staff are thrilled, as this opens up a door of research and analysis that was not granted to those at Villanova before this donation. Patrick G. Maggitti, Villanova University Provost, is thrilled about Toomey’s donation.

“We are honored that Senator Toomey has selected Villanova University to house this notable collection,” Maggitti said. “Falvey Library is an academic hub for learning and discovery, including an exceptional collection of distinctive materials and artifacts. The addition of Senator Toomey’s papers will allow the global community of scholars critical access to these important historical documents.”

Students are equally as thrilled. Freshman political science major Marissa Bastian “is thrilled that Senator Toomey decided to donate his papers to Villanova University. As an underclassman [she is] very eager to use this as a resource during [her] time studying politics and policies at Villanova.” As happy as Villanovans are to receive these artifacts, Toomey is equally, if not more, excited to donate them to Villanova.

“It was an honor to serve as a US Senator representing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” Toomey said. “The materials from my time serving the Keystone State belong to Pennsylvanians. Villanova University diligently worked with me during my fi nal years in offi ce to create this archive for educational and historical purposes. It’s an honor that such a revered and respected academic institution is doing this work. Thank you to Villanova University and its staff for their tremendous eff orts.”

Alongside Bastian and Maggitti, Freshman Trisha Dineshkumar is “very excited to have

these important papers and artifacts as a resource here at Villanova. It makes [her] feel very confi dent that [her] political science degree from Villanova will be backed up by amazing resources and opportunities presented to students.”

Students and faculty alike are extremely happy with the decision of Senator Toomey, and are extremely grateful for his contribution to the Falvey Library as a resource for students and the greater public to use.

Students study in Falvey Memorial Library, the new home of Toomey’s Senatorial papers. Graydon Paul/Villanovan

University Members React to 50 Years of Roe v. Wade

Caitlyn Foley Staff Writer

January 22, 2023 would have been the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, but this past June a vote passed that terminated the constitutional right to abortion.

The overturning of Roe v. Wade caused tension and confl ict across the country and on our own campus at Villanova.

In our Catholic-based community, this vote by the Supreme Court caused some students to feel relief, while numerous others felt anger and shock.

“It feels as if America is regressing in terms of human rights, and women’s rights specifi cally” stated sophomore Isabella Balian. “As a strong supporter of women’s rights and the right to bodily autonomy, my peers and I were extremely disappointed, worried for what’s at stake for women in America.”

It is important to note that this campus holds many confl icting views on abortion rights. Our campus’s community allows for a variety of opinions and feelings to co-exist without verbal or physical harm done to others. However, there are many educated women on this campus that feel disappointed and even disturbed by the loss of this constitutional right.

Junior Hannah Bisson stat-

ed that she felt horrifi ed when she discovered Roe v. Wade had been overturned. She strongly believes in the need for women to choose what they do with their bodies.

“What does not make sense to me is how people do not see how this disproportionately impacts women in poverty and women of color,” Bisson stated.

“It is unfair to force women to have a child in a country with no universal health care, especially if those women do not have the resources to care for that child. It is upsetting to think that the people who are making laws about my body are not directly impacted by those laws.”

Dr. Alice Dailey, Professor of

English, and member of the GWS Steering Committee, refl ected on her thoughts from June when this vote took away the constitutional right to abortion.

“I felt absolutely outraged and appalled,” Dailey said. “I was devastated and a lot of women were and still are devastated. Women’s bodies belong to women, not anyone else.”

This reaction was not an isolated one, as there has been continuous backlash against this vote since the day it was passed.

“I believe that the rights and dignity of women is an area that we have made signifi cantly less progress than we need to,” stated Dailey.

“Women are alive, and women are people, but this legislation and the decision suggests otherwise, and it is deeply troubling that we are in a place where we tolerate that kind of misogyny.”

There is a lot more work to be done in our country where supposedly all are equal. Many men, women and human beings disagree with this vote that abolished the right for women to have autonomy over their own bodies.

Dailey, like many women across our campus and country, hopes “that we will see and continue to see a backlash against misogyny. We will hopefully move forward, not just back to where we were.”

The emotions felt on Villanova’s campus about this overturning of a major constitutional right are still as strong as they were when the news fi rst broke of this vote on June 24, 2022. There are so many educated men and women on this campus who still feel frustration and disappointment in the face of this loss of a right to female bodily autonomy. These discussions must be had because without conversation and debate on the rights and laws of this country, we are bound to repeat history.

Although this year celebrates 50 years of the passing of Roe v. Wade, students expressed frustration at the policy reversal by the Supreme Court this past summer. While many celebrate the monumental legislation, others fi ght to bring it back.

University Community Dialogue about ChatGPT

Lydia McFarlane Co-News Editor

On a Tuesday morning, a political theory professor facilitates a conversation with his students about the issue of ChatGPT in his course. Reactions to the topic are all over the spectrum, with some students knowing a lot about the subject and others being only vaguely familiar with the programming. Students debate its ethical implications, whether they would use it or not and if there is anything good to come out of this type of programming.

Discussions like the one detailed above seem to be happening all over campus as students and professors learn about the new AI programming that has the potential to have serious eff ects on the workloads and learning of students.

In November, an American artifi cial intelligence company called Open AI launched a new program called ChatGPT, with which many college students are now familiar. Because it came out right before fi nals, students had access to the programming as they took on their fi nal exams, papers and projects. The program allows users to plug in a question, and then it will automatically generate a response to the question. This can include general curiosity questions, or, in terms of college classes, essay prompts.

To test the accuracy of the program, one could look up a basic question like “Who won the Super Bowl in 2018?” Students admitted to having fun on the pro-

gram and testing its limits. However, that is not the only way students have been using ChatGPT.

A student who requested to stay anonymous has been using the program since it came out.

“I started using ChatGPT the day it came out. As a computer engineer, I am always up to date on all the new things coming out in that fi eld and it caught my eye,” the student said. “I mainly started using it because it piqued my curiosity as an engineer so I wanted to start pushing it to see what it could really do since it is the cutting edge of AI currently.”

While students have expressed worry about professors catching on to them using the program, this student has not been concerned, even as they continue to use the program.

“I was never afraid of getting caught and never did,” the student said. “I view this chat bot as any other tool or source on the internet. I think it is plagiarism if you do just copy exactly what it says and say it is yours. The way I used it mainly is to just quickly pull up information or help me solve a problem I was working on…I would use it to help spark ideas for my own writing and used it as an editing tool where I fed it my own writing and it fi xed the grammar.”

Openai also recently came out with a program that detects AI-written text. This new program might be something to pay attention to as professors and school administrators across the country grapple with how to deal with the prevalence of programs such as ChatGPT on college campuses.

Faculty across campus have been talking informally about the situation, as well. Dr. Heidi Rose, the chair of the Department of Communication, has been talking about the AI program with colleagues since it came out late last semester.

“In late December, I started hearing more about the growing popularity of using AI-generated text in various contexts,” Rose said. “Then in early-mid January I started hearing and reading more about Chatbot as related to academic integrity. I read a comprehensive article in the New York Times, and Villanova’s Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning circulated an email to all faculty drawing attention to students’ use of Chatbot and off ering suggestions for addressing it in our classes.”

Rose said the topic of ChatGPT is going to be on the

agenda for the Department of Communication’s February faculty meeting, although she has been involved in informal conversation with her colleagues for a while now.

As for ways to combat the use of ChatGPT for classwork, Rose shared that the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning off ered suggestions to faculty.

“The Vice-Provost’s offi ce off ered some helpful solutions, including: addressing AI-generated text directly in class and on syllabi and clarifying that its use is considered an academic integrity violation; creating writing prompts highly specifi c to course readings and other material, that ask students to respond to each other’s

work or ideas in discussion board posts and that ask students to reason and build arguments; and craft writing assignments that include multiple steps so that students submit their work at various stages of development,” Rose said.

Rose also shared some of her personal thoughts about the new AI program.

“Chatbot seems to be one more supposed time- and labor-saving device that ultimately takes something away from human ingenuity, human thought, and human interaction,” Rose said. “I don’t think students would want AI-generated responses to their work rather than from their professors, right?”

Dr. Randy Weinstein, the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning, commented directly to The Villanovan on the topic, as well.

“There is no University-wide ban on ChatGPT as there could be many excellent uses for it in classes, if faculty allow its use, and it is properly cited with its output critically analyzed,” Weinstein said. “The issues really arise when you claim ChatGPT as your own work.”

Weinstein also shared resources available to members of the community regarding ChatGPT. There is a comprehensive list of suggestions for professors as they teach in an age dominated by technological advances such as AI programming.

To read more about it, read here: https://www1.villanova. edu/villanova/provost/teaching-learning/AVPTL/text-generators.html.

Students talking in the Connelly Center. Graydon Paul/Villanovan Photography

Women Leaders in Sports Panel in Finneran Pavilion

Victoria Newsome Staff Writer

On Wednesday, February 1st, Villanova Athletics hosted the Women Leaders in Sports Panel at the Finneran Pavilion. The event on National Girls & Women in Sports Day served as an opportunity for female student-athletes and young women to be empowered and to learn from influential women working in some of the highest positions in the sports industry. The panel lineup included NBC Sports CFO Christine Dorfler, President of Playfly Sports Christy Hedgpet and Philadelphia 76ers COO Lara Price.

Olivia Kraus, a senior on Villanova’s women’s rowing team, opened the event by thanking everyone for attending and welcomed Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman. Ackerman is an American sports executive and former basketball player, and she was the first President of the Women’s National Basketball Association from 1996-2005.

Hedgpeth began the panel discussion by speaking about the current state of the women’s college basketball experience compared to the days when she was on the court. She emphasized that media coverage has grown and how it has tremendously helped athletic departments to invest more money into women’s basketball across the country. This elevates the game as she explained the importance of parity, which is the state or condition of being equal in

status and pay.

“More administrators have gotten behind women’s basketball,” Hedgpeth said. “And it’s become more competitive. You’ve seen it, you know, get a lot of media attention and that’s made it more competitive. There’s a lot more, I would say opportunities, for young girls to develop and that has really translated to…a lot of really high-level competition, which is great to see.”

Dorfler added that media coverage is critical for women in sports, especially in television production. The sports media industry is evolving to new platforms that will change the way audiences watch sports and will allow new women

viewers to become immersed in the sports world.

“I’ve been in my role working for a media company for 20 years, the past four or so have been in sports media,” Dorfler said. “I’ve seen it grow, I think a big key to the future of women’s sports, with regard to media, is streaming. Right? Because we have a whole new platform that is boundaryless, that is not limited by a 24-hour television schedule, that is limited in terms of media real estate, and I think that creates an incredible opportunity to blend both linear and television media coverage of women’s athletics with streaming coverage of women’s athletics that can go far we’ve thought before.”

She shared a brief story about how there were not a lot of women on the business side, so Ackerman and Holly Hansen inspired her to pursue the industry when she first started in the NBA. She saw little change over time as she mentioned that the NBA is dedicated to focusing on diversity and getting more women in positions. Many of the opportunities today for women in sports were not available for the panelists, so they emphasized how building careers up now is essential with NIL deals, networking and coming to events like a panel to learn more about the industry.

Hedgepeth described how female leaders want to see more people like them as she encouraged everyone to empower each other. Representation and showing up in leadership are key as more women can picture themselves in different jobs in sports.

“Leadership is really about showing people their superpowers, not just yours,” Hedgepeth said. Although there is still a long way to go in terms of accessibility and senior roles for women in sports organizations, Dorfler mentions that finding a balance of confidence and humility is key to being successful in sports.

“[Be] confident in your ability to learn,” Dorfler said. After their inspirational remarks, the panel opened into a Q&A as students learned that establishing a network early on can change the trajectory of their careers and that strong women get the job done.

The event featured four women from some of the highest positions in the sports industry.

Graydon Paul/ Villanovan Photography

OPINION

Here is Your Sign to Go Abroad

Regan McEnroe Staff Writer

College alone is an experience uniquely its own. Being out of the house and on your own for the first time, college requires certain levels of independence while still providing you with many home comforts.

Among these comforts are meal plans to ensure you are never without a warm meal, on campus housing which eliminates any sort of commute to or from campus and, of course, the fact that you still are within the confines of the United States, in an environment somewhat similar to wherever you grew up. Then, you go abroad.

This experience changes everything. Your sleep schedule, your eating habits, the people you are surrounded by and your general way of life are all subject to change. The question becomes, is this change for the better?

Going abroad last semester was easily the greatest decision of my life thus far. I loved absolutely everything about it and am a firm believer that almost any other student would as well.

Being in a new country, surrounded by new places and people is the ultimate form of discomfort. It pushes you completely out of your comfort zone and forces you to do the only thing you can: adapt.

Junior Angela Ferrigno recently returned from a semester in Urbino, Italy.

“I can safely say it changed who I am today,” she said. “I think it

was an experience completely different from anything any college student can experience on a regular basis. It took me out of a place I felt comfortable, and it forced me to completely reinvent myself. You have no other option but to make it work because you can’t run away.”

An important aspect of going abroad is that there are no familiarities. There are no local chain restaurants or stores you recognize, generally speaking, and no family close by to go visit when you are homesick. It is only yourself and a new, exciting world right in front of you.

With this being true, I would never change my abroad experience for anything. I think I speak for all study abroad students when I say that my semester away taught me more about life than I could ever have been taught in a classroom and allowed me to grow as a person in ways that I never saw possible.

Junior Bella Irwin spent last semester in Amsterdam.

“Going abroad was one of the best decisions I have made in college,” Irwin said. I made the most memorable experiences and was able to go and see different places, people and things I will never forget. Exploring and learning in a new environment enabled me to grow and evolve as a student and person.”

One key takeaway that I had from this semester was that I gained a new perspective on what is really important in life.

That is, the only thing that matters is that you are happy. It doesn’t matter how much money you make, how big your house is, or how fancy your job is. All that matters is that you are able to make a life for yourself and enjoy it.

My experience abroad also taught me an appreciation for culture. The cultural habits of the United

Umbrellas Up, Wildcats!

Isabel Choi Staff Writer

We all know those days when the air smells of fresh grass and earth. The pitter-patter of the rain can be heard on rooftops and the view from the window becomes a myriad of colors: green, yellow, brown and gray.

The sky looks like stained newspaper, and puddles form within the indents of the soil.

As spring approaches, it seems these rainy days will become more common. Each morning when I wake up to the sound of my “Night Owl” alarm and the dripping of rain against the concrete, I know that it is going to be a gray day.

Freshman Cindy Yang appears to share a similar opinion.

“On rainy days I either go to CEER, or rot in my dorm,” Yang said.“I like to stay in my dorm all day,” another anonymous student said.

From these statements, it is clear that the rain dampens any motivation to venture outside, and, unsurprisingly, I feel the same rainy day blues as my classmates.

While rainy days are my excuse to order DoorDash and study in my dorm, which mostly involves

just “resting my eyes” in my bed, not all Villanovans do the same, and thus, rainy days look different for everyone.

Some students use rainy days for stress relief while others romanticize the gray weather in some sort of way.

“I want to dance in the rain of course, but I don’t want to shower after so I don’t actually dance,” freshman Joe Ahn admits, laughing.

In terms of the shoes or any rain gear that students regularly wear or use, it appears that umbrellas and sneakers are the most common, although Ahn revealed that he occasionally chooses to wear Crocs without socks because “[his] socks won’t get wet that way.”

“Flip flops and sandals are perfect for maximum efficiency because wet socks suck,” Freshman Antonio Fiorentino Wong said.

On the same note, Yang laments her decision to wear her black Converse shoes. Soggy socks are clearly an issue for a number of students on rainy days and prevents them from walking outside.

For Villanova students, there are notable places on campus where rain collects the most, serving as perfect places to ruin Ugg slippers.

Among the most recognized is the large puddle that forms outside the bookstore. This comes as no surprise, but, each time it rains, students, with their bulky backpacks, dark jackets and umbrellas, all pack

States do not exist in Europe. No one cares where you are from. People just want you to respect them and their culture. I studied abroad in Madrid last semester which was so rich in a culture different from anything I had ever experienced.

Shops and restaurants close in the middle of the day for “siesta,” people do not eat dinner until 10pm, and bars and clubs are open until the early hours of the morning.

Living in Madrid, if anything, showed me that Spanish people truly take advantage of the 24 hours given to us each day.

Additionally, a typical college student in Madrid does not live in a dorm or apartment on their university’s campus. In fact, no one does. Students commute from all around the city each day, some traveling as long as 90 minutes to get to campus. I had a 45-minute commute to my campus each day. This was a huge change for me, given that almost any building on Villanova’s campus can be reached in about a 10-minute walk.

However, doing this commute every day held me accountable. I had to be awake and headed to the train station an hour before my first class if I wanted to make it on time.

Though I am glad I no longer have to make this commute, I am grateful for it, because it introduced me to new responsibilities I never had to worry about before.

Going abroad was the most magical experience ever. I loved every second of it and I think anyone else would too. Go see what this beautiful world has to offer.

to one side of the path in front of the bookstore.

Inevitably, students avoid this giant puddle to safely get to where they need to without getting sopping wet.

“I stepped in the puddle a couple of times, which ruined my shoes,” Yang said. “Some students also walk very slowly so it’s annoying that I have to wait for a whole crowd of slow walkers to get past the bookstore.”

Yang is not alone in her experience with this Puddle of Doom. Each time I mention the subject, there are always strong responses. Perhaps the puddle is a result of Villanova’s faulty storm drain system or the fact that impervious surfaces do not drain well on rainy days, allowing water to amass. Either way, something must be done to combat this obvious tripping and soaking hazard.

Rainy days on campus, overall, are certainly not my favorite. When the sky looks angry, I take it as my sign to hibernate for the day. While I would love to be one of those people who idealize gray weather, once class ends, I go straight back to my dorm for the rest of the day and look out the window in low spirits. Until the rain subsides, everything else can wait until tomorrow.

A photo of Plaza Mayor from Regan’s junior fall semester abroad in Madrid, Spain. Regan McEnroe/Villanovan Photography

A large rain puddle accumulates in front of the Villanova bookstore whenever it rains. Graydon Paul/Villanovan Photography

EDITORIAL BOARD LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

COLIN BEAZLEY

VIVI MELKONIAN

TINA ARON

AJ FEZZA

Editor-in-Chief

Editor-in-Chief

Associate Editor-in-Chief

Opinion Editor

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

POLICY

The unsigned editorial that appears is the opinion of The Villanovan as determined by the majority of the Editorial Board. Other columns, letters and artwork represent the opinions of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of The Villanovan.

The Perils of Persistent Parking Problems

Loghan Hirkey Staff Writer

Since I arrived at Villanova, it has been clear to me that University Parking Services cracks down rather harshly on many students for parking violations on campus.

Both commuters and fulltime residential parkers on campus are given a specific area where they can park. If they do not abide by this, they can expect a fifteen-dollar parking ticket almost immediately. At a glance, this seems like a fair rule, but the number of problems that arise for students because of this rule is staggering.

Just last week, I went to the Refectory with a friend, who is also a commuter, and she parked behind the Commons. It was pouring, and it seemed absurd to park in a garage and walk, especially because she has a permit.

After two hours in the restaurant, she received a parking ticket because her permit was only acceptable for the law school parking garage on West Campus.

If it sounds unreasonable to ask a student to walk in the pouring rain from West Campus to the Refectory, it may seem even more annoying that our other friend, a non-Villanova student, parked in the same area for the same amount of time and did not receive a ticket.

To me, this shows not only the unfair rules surrounding permits but also, seemingly, the targeting of Villanova students. Would my friend have received a ticket if she had been a non-student? The answer appears to be no.

Obtaining a permit in itself is also quite difficult. Sarah Wisniewski ‘23 spoke about the issues she encountered when obtaining a permit.

“I had my first bad experience with Villanova parking when I was a sophomore,” Wisniewski said.

“I needed my car because I had an off-campus job. I applied for on-campus work but was never selected for any position, which I voiced to the parking department.”

Her difficulties did not end there.

“I had to get my financial advisor involved,” Wisniewski added.

“The next semester, my roommate received a permit saying she needed it for grocery shopping. It just did not make sense.”

Even for a reason as crucial as a student trying to make money while in school, they can be repeatedly denied. The inconsistencies simply do not add up either, because how can some students immediately receive a permit, no questions asked, but other students must get their financial advisor involved?

Wisniewski had more to say about the “villain in her Villanova story.”

“My junior year, my room-

mate went through the appropriate process to get a permit, yet had three tickets given to her,” she said. “She expressed these concerns to the parking department, but they assured her the permit was valid. She then got a boot on her car and Public Safety had to come and take it off as well as apologize for the mistake. It is just outrageous how much the parking department seems to care more about money than the students on this campus.”

Junior Matt Yang and senior Cat McCullough also shared their grievances about the hassles of parking on campus.

“I’d say that the biggest problem is the inflexibility, where you can only have one parking pass, max,” Yang said. “I believe it is unreasonable to expect students with a time crunch to make it from the South parking garage to West Campus.”

McCullough, a commuter with a pass for the Ithan parking garage, expressed concerns for the inability of commuters to park overnight.

“Since I don’t live on campus, I am not allowed a residential pass,” McCullough said. “Not having access to overnight parking on campus encourages drunk driving. The lack of parking, especially for off-campus students, is not only inconvenient, but dangerous.”

Per McCullough’s point, the problems with parking are not only causing financial issues, but are also

increasing the likelihood of unsafe driving.

Linda Lindley, Director of Parking and Transportation for Villanova, provided insight into the permitting and ticketing processes with which students have found issues.

“All commuters and junior and senior residents can receive permits,” Lindley said.

Additionally, on the subject of commuter overnight parking, Lindley stated that overnight spaces are reserved for residents alone, as commuters do not live on campus overnight, so there should be no reason or need for a spot at that time.

Lastly, Lindley expanded on the reasoning for the strictness toward nonadherence to one’s designated parking area.

“This rule applies to faculty and staff, as well as students,” Lindley said. “Everyone has to stay in their designated spot—if not, we would have chaos. That’s why we have the on-campus shuttle, and after nine o’clock the Nova Van On-Demand is there to take staff, faculty and students where they need to go.”

Although parking is limited on campus and it is understandable that there does need to be some level of regulation, parking enforcement could be better suited to students’ interests about safety, finances and other concerns. As it stands, albeit a complicated issue, parking stands as an annoyance that should be remedied.

VRJ vs. The Space: The Battle of Semantics

Majo James Staff Writer

Most campuses across the United States ensure that their students have access to safe sex by providing contraceptives. However, this is not the case with most Catholic universities, including Villanova.

According to the teachings of the Catholic Church, the use of artificial birth control is a sin, as the goal of sexual intercourse is procreation. Rather, the Church promotes abstinence outside the realm of marriage as the ideal way of life.

The reality is, that this is not a view shared by the majority of college students. Instead, sexual education via promoting contraceptive use and other safe sex practices is shown to decrease rates of unplanned pregnancies and STDs.

Villanova is an Augustinian Catholic institution that abides by the teachings of the Vatican, and as a result, contraceptives are contraband on campus. In response, a group of students have banded

together in an attempt to lobby for University support in their quest to ensure access to contraceptives on campus, initially naming themselves Villanovans for Reproductive Justice (VRJ).

Despite general support from the University, the student group ran into several problems. For one, it was strictly prohibited from operating under the title, “Villanovans for Reproductive Justice.” Nor could it include the distribution of contraceptives as one of their main goals. It is important to note that the reason behind this is not the Villanova administration, but the Catholic Church as a whole.

The Catholic Church has the ability to revoke the title of “Catholic” from any institution if the Church deems that it has strayed from Catholic doctrines to the point where the two no longer align.

So, even if the University shows a degree of support for The Space (as the group is now called), it is unable to allow the students to do the work they would like without jeopardizing the Catholic status

of the University as a whole.

Student opinion on this is split.

“I don’t understand why they’re getting hung up over this when students can just buy the stuff they need from nearby pharmacies, especially if something like that would get us in trouble with the church,” an anonymous student said.

However, nursing student Katie Pichanick disagreed.

“I think we should definitely have contraceptives on campus,” Pichanick said. “If it was just condoms, that’s one thing, but birth control is really inaccessible and it would be so much better if the University were to give them out.”

This issue will continue to be hotly contested on our campus and across the country, but unless the Catholic Church revises its position on contraceptives (which it has shown no intention of doing)

Villanova will find itself continuing in this deadlock.

For now, the administration should reconsider allowing the organization to name itself Villanovans for Reproductive Justice. Yes,

the name is indeed bold, but that’s precisely the point.

Contraceptive availability has been directly linked to women empowerment. An article from the National Library of Medicine states, “Women’s decision making power and their autonomy within the household is the most important factor affecting contraceptive use.”

Villanova’s administration being unable to allow contraceptives to be distributed on campus is understandable. However, approving Villanovans for Reproductive Justice would show the University’s commitment to women’s empowerment. VRJ has a place in our University where other student organizations, like Villanovans for Life, operate as well.

On a campus with an administration that has made great progress with acceptance regarding pronouns and racial awareness (note, however, that this does not necessarily mean progress has been made in the student body or alumni), it is high time we make a commitment to supporting our female students, as well.

Wildcats and Eagles Should Cohabitate More Often

Brian Luppy Staff Writer

Villanova could learn something from last Sunday’s Wells Fargo game.

On Sunday, Jan. 30, Villanova Men’s basketball played its second game at Wells Fargo this season against Providence. As always, students mobbed Lot D hours before the game.

That Sunday, however, was different than most, as the NFC championship game between the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles kicked off hours after Villanova’s tipoff. The presence of Eagles fans did nothing but enhance the gameday atmosphere.

Of course, getting to and from Wells Fargo is always a headache, and the addition of one of the biggest NFL games of the year did not help.

In what is usually contained to just one parking lot, rowdy tailgaters stretched endlessly, adding to the excitement of the day. What was once a tailgate on the verge of being rescheduled to a game at the Finn ended up being a perfect blend of basketball-football excitement.

“I loved how we had both teams there,” freshman Grace Iannaccone said. “It made it a lot more exciting for everyone. Personally, I’m not even an Eagles fan, but you really felt the positive vibes.”

Fellow freshman Caroline

Hisler, self-proclaimed “Eagles superfan,” shared a similar sentiment.

“The atmosphere was electric,” Hisler said. “It was great to see all the fans come together.”

Eagles tailgates, objectively, are far superior to Villanova’s. It was nice to get in on the action. Before students arrived in the morning.

Eagles fans had already begun tailgating for a game that was to begin three hours after ours.

Around us, RVs and buses painted in Eagles green stretched across the entire lot. A man with a full set of drums played live rock music. Tables were set up with endless food and beverages. If winter basketball tailgates in South Philadelphia are going to be a part of Villanova’s student experience, let’s do them right. Allow us the liberty of using tables. Let us play louder music and bring food. Instead of making a morning of it, we could make a

day of it, lingering and hopefully celebrating even after the game is over. In lots of ways, our tailgates feel like the idea is there, but the execution is not.

Another positive of last Sunday’s Wells Fargo game was that it transitioned nicely into Sunday evening. We are all familiar with the post-Wells Fargo fatigue. Upon arriving back on campus after the game, a nap is always more than necessary. By the time you wake up, it’s dark, and you feel obligated to go out because it’s a Saturday. This obligation did not exist last week. The tailgating fatigue acted as the perfect transition into a calm Sunday evening, with enough time to get homework done.

“I wish it was Saturday because then I could’ve had all of Sunday to relax,” freshman Lorenzo Bartolotta disagreed. “Sunday is usually a more productive day for me.”

Although Villanova suffered a tough loss, January 30 was definitely one of the more memorable tailgates that I have been a part of.

Never before did I think it would ever be possible to tailgate for two sports at once, but that is exactly the experience we were given last Sunday. In the shared sports complex, it was nice that we took advantage of the beloved sports equinox that is Villanova basketball and Philadelphia football.

Matt Ryan (‘24) and his family at the Eagles portion of Sunday’s tailgate. Courtesy of Matt Ryan

CULTURE

Augustinians of Villanova: Father Joseph Loya

Olivia Sabalaskey Staff Writer

“I have been privileged to be involved with the Villanova Community as it has grown from a quality regional university into a teaching and researching institution of national rank and repute,” said Father Joseph Loya, O.S.A., Ph.D. “This community not only exemplifies but also magnifies the core values of Unitas, Veritas and Caritas.”

This week, Fr. Joe offers Villanovans a glimpse into his life as an Augustinian at Villanova University in the Augustinians of Villanova Column.

Despite roots in western Pennsylvania, Fr. Joe’s parents relocated to Cleveland, Ohio after his father secured a teaching position. The second of four children, Fr. Joe was baptized as an Eastern Byzantine Catholic, not as a Western Roman Catholic. As an Eastern Byzantine Catholic, Fr. Joe and his family profess the Bishop of Rome as the chief Shepherd of Christ’s Church while living an Eastern Orthodox Church life and spirituality.

“Being non-Roman Catholic generates interesting and educational conversations with my brother Augustinians, colleagues and students,” Fr. Joe said.

Fr. Joe’s religious vocation seems to run in the family, given that his brother, cousins and uncles were also called to the service of God. While his uncles were married Eastern Catholic priests, his cousins and brother served as clergymen.

“It seems that the men in my family were primarily associated with service either in the ordained ministry or in the classroom,” Fr. Joe said. “I endeavored by the Grace of God to serve

in both.”

After high school, Fr. Joe pursued his passion for physics at Cleveland State University’s College of Engineering. Having always felt called to community life, Fr. Joe then met with two different religious orders: the Franciscans in the Midwest and the Dominicans on the West Coast. He then returned to his Midwestern roots, hoping to learn more about the Augustinians.

“I met the Augustinians in Chicago,” Fr. Joe said. “They struck me as a group of guys that evenly balanced seriousness in academic studies, soul-enriching contemplation and the capacity to just kick back and relax together.”

In 1972, Fr. Joe entered the pre-novitiate program at Villanova to study philosophy, and then the novitiate a year later to begin his preparation for the solemn profession and priesthood. To earn an M.A. in theology, Fr. Joe studied at an Augustinian college in Washington D.C., the Washington Theological Coalition. Given his interest in serving as a priest in the Eastern Rite, Fr. Joe was ordained at Holy Ghost Byzantine Catholic Parish in South Philadelphia in 1979. He then returned to Villanova, this time as a teacher.

Although he enjoyed meeting with students and fellow faculty members, Fr. Joe soon left Villanova to acquire a Ph.D. in the History of Christianity from Fordham University. After his studies, Fr. Joe returned to Villanova, eager to reconnect with the campus community. In 1992, he was granted tenure and, in 1996, Associate Professorship.

As an Associate Professor in Historical Theology, Fr. Joe teaches popular theology courses including

THL 1000: Faith, Reason and Culture and THM 5005: Religion in Russia, the latter counting towards the Russian Area Studies Major, Minor, and Concentration housed within the Department of Global Interdisciplinary Studies.

“I am also a faculty member of the RAS Program since its foundation in 1996, serving as its Director from the fall of 2015 through the spring semester of 2022,” Fr. Joe said. Although he remains a busy faculty member, Fr. Joe has also written numerous academic articles, books and encyclopedia entries. Off Villanova’s campus, he serves the nearby community as a weekend associate pastor and retreat director for the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy (Diocese) of Passaic.

Also, given his studies in physics and engineering, Fr. Joe is passionate about motor racing. He continues to serve as chaplain for numerous racing series’ organizations at various tracks, both national and international.

To those interested in pursuing religious life, Fr. Joe offers some words of advice.

“The word vocation, of course, means calling,” Fr. Joe said. “Don’t bear in isolation the angst-fraught question, ‘Do I, or do I not, have a vocation to religious life?’ Should you have the slightest inkling towards the possibility, nurture that seed by involving yourself with a religious community, and have faith that the community, in the Holy Spirit, will discern the truth and quality of your initial intuition with you.”

Program Spotlight: VUnited Scholars

Zoe Manning Staff Writer

VUnited Scholars, better known as VU Scholars, is a two-year academic certificate program for highly motivated students with disabilities. The program is held within the College of Professional Studies.

Through VU Scholars, students can complete academic coursework, supervised employment and career development opportunities. Specifically, the program prepares students to work in fields such as Human Services and Business, in addition to immersing them in the social community at Villanova through living independently on campus in a traditional college setting.

Students interested in the program must apply and be accepted through an admissions process. The application is available on the College of Professional Studies’ website, and there are various materials that need to be submitted throughout the process, such as questionnaires and letters of recommendation. Roughly five to eight students are accepted each year.

Once enrolled, students take non-credit courses taught by Villanova faculty and can also take credit

courses during the program. VU Scholars also allows students to gain considerable experience in off-campus employment and obtain crucial skills to pursue a career in the future. At the end of the program, the students involved will earn a certificate in Community and Professional Development.

Steve McWilliams, Director of Disability Services, explained

how he became involved with VU Scholars and how it blossomed into a program as successful as it is today.

“I’ve been involved with the Office of Disability Services for many years as an advisor for students living with a disability,” McWilliams said. “Through the office, we sponsored the VUnited Program, which is a student-run life skills program on Saturday morn-

ings. From that program, the VU Scholars program grew.”

One of the best aspects of the program, McWilliams shared, is how VU Scholars interact with the entire student body here at Villanova and immerse themselves in their college experience.

“This inclusive experience allows students with intellectual disabilities to have a college experience which previously was not available to them,” McWilliams said. “The students are engaged in a variety of clubs and organizations. All of our activities, we hope, involve our students blending into existing events.”

Students who partake in the VU Scholars program can also participate in campus ministry events, such as service and worship.

Pursuing a certificate program at Villanova is an opportunity unlike any program that may be offered at other universities. Villanova’s Augustinian, welcoming community is built upon the values of Unitas, Veritas and Caritas, which promote a supportive and unifying environment.

“By offering this population of students the opportunity to live and learn on campus, Villanova furthers its mission as a place where differences are valued and supported,” McWilliams said.

Fr. Joe Loya returned to Villanova in 1992 and is an integral part of Villanova. Courtesy of Fr. Joe Loya, O.S.A., Ph.D.

VU Scholars celebrate at a banquet at the Villanova Inn. Courtesy of VU Scholars

Asian Students Association Hosts Expo Showcase

Brendan King Staff Writer

When was the last time Mario, Luigi, Link and Kirby were seen in the Connelly Center?

Villanova’s Asian Students Association (ASA) held its annual Expo Showcase in the Villanova Room on Saturday, February 4th. This was ASA’s second Expo since the COVID-19 pandemic, with the last one taking place in February 2022. Featuring performances from various organizations across the University, it was a night full of singing, dancing, humor and education.

Expo Showcase 2023 was organized by ASA’s executive board, consisting entirely of Villanova students. The board features President Megan Tsou, Vice President Alice Wu, Treasurer Kyle Lee, Secretary Matthew Park, Expo Chairs Gilbert Cai and Kaylee Pak, Public Relations Chair Adrianna Reilly, Events Coordinator Justin Wong and Freshman Representatives Vinnie Lin and Tyler Yang.

With the Expo taking place at the beginning of the spring semester, Wu, a Villanova junior who is also a member of Villanova Club Taekwondo, described how ASA’s board members communicated often with one another since November to organize the event. The team held multiple meetings, both in person and over the phone. Some meetings even took place over winter break in order to put all of the logistics in place.

“We’re in constant contact with each other, over text or over call, just to make sure that everyone’s in the loop for everything,” Wu said.

According to Wu, JJ Brown from the Office of Student Involvement also played a large role in coordinating the event.

“He’s the one who helps us talk to catering, talk to tech crew [and] talk to Connelly to have the whole event set up,” Wu said.

The overall theme for this year’s Expo was Nintendo. Attendees saw the Villanova Room decorated with characters from some of their favorite video games and heard theme songs from Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda

and more. The centerpiece of the Villanova Room, however, was a large-scale recreation of a Nintendo Switch, complete with items and symbols from popular Nintendo games. Wu described how the idea to theme Expo around Nintendo came from wanting to pay tribute to Asian culture while being able to “bring everyone in Villanova together.”

“We wanted to encompass a theme that our Asian culture is kind of big on and that we take pride in,” Wu said. “Honestly, our countries are really good with technology and games and Nintendo being one of the biggest game franchises out there, so it was kind of a no-brainer.”

The event began with an introduction by co-hosts Aaliyah Abdelhadi and Jasmine Thebaud, two Villanova sophomores who are also members of Villanova’s Japanese Language Program. To fit with the Nintendo theme, Abdelhadi and Thebaud were dressed as Luigi and Mario, respectively. They practiced for approximately three weeks in order to prepare for their hosting duties.

“We tried to make sure to practice at least a scene each day just so that we could have it memorized,” Thebaud said.

While Abdelhadi and Thebaud wrote all of their dialogue together, there were also moments in which they improvised onstage.

“We improvised a lot of stuff while we were there, like, in the heat of the moment,” Abdelhadi said.

The first half began with a performance of the National Anthem by Sadia Castro, a member of Villanova’s Filipino American Students Association. What followed were performances by the Vietnamese Student Association, the Japanese Language Program, the Filipino American Student Association, the Chinese Language Program, the Main Line Chinese Culture Center, Chinese Language Program member Yuanyuan Cheng, Ablaze and Superlative.

Moroti Adewole, a Villanova senior and member of Ablaze, explained how the dance team performed many different types of music for the first time during its debut appearance at Expo.

“We expanded the realm of music that we usually dance to,” Adewole said. “We danced to K-pop music, which we haven’t done before, so that was really fun. We try to mix up a lot of different types of music in this performance to keep the energy up. It was fun.”

During the intermission, performers and attendees were offered complementary dinner from both Jin Ding and Little Basil Asian Kitchen, as well as the chance to play rounds of Mario Kart on the Villanova Room’s projector screens. These rounds soon turned competitive, however, as the second half of Expo began with four Villanova students selected from the audience playing each other bracket-style for a chance to win a Nintendo gift card.

Also in the second half were performances by Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority, Inc, Villanova Club Taekwondo and ASA. Audience members also had the opportunity to participate, as some volunteered to be interviewed by Abdelhadi and Thebaud.

Isabella Riitano, a Villanova junior, serves as the president of Villanova Club Taekwondo. This is her second year being a member of this entirely student-run organization.

“Our main mission is to teach members about Taekwondo and help them to understand the background behind it,” Riitano said. “We want to help students to learn Taekwondo and to advance while making friends and building confidence. Overall, we want to create an environment where students feel comfortable to learn and grow.”

Audience members may have noticed members of Villanova Club Taekwondo wearing different colored belts. These indicate each member’s rank, which is tested for and earned at the end of each semester.

“Testing involves sparring, forms, general fitness, knowledge of the sport, some Korean terms, and a general respectful and hard-working attitude,” Riitano said. “The final part of the test involves breaking a board with some sort of hard break as well as a kick depending on the level of the rank they are testing for.”

Expo’s finale consisted of a fashion show in which students from the various organizations displayed traditional clothing from China, Vietnam, South Korea, the Philippines and Japan. Students modeling the outfits also displayed the flags of each country they were representing. Each model was met with applause and enthusiasm from the audience, bringing the 2023 Expo Showcase to a well-received close.

Overall, Wu, Abdelhadi, Thebaud, Adewole and Riitano felt that Expo was a success. Wu hoped that this event made Villanova students more aware of the various Asian organizations on campus, and that students do not have to be of Asian heritage to get involved.

“There’s just a lot of destigmatizing the Asian community,” Wu said. “Some of the performances don’t really gear towards Asian culture, but it’s a good way to get people interacting with Asian culture.”

Summer Business Program Preview

Julie Soutter Staff Writer

Villanova School of Business’s Summer Business Programs may be the last thing to elicit thoughts of an undisturbed, poolside vacation. However, for those dedicated students interested in looking to defi ne their potential careers, learning more about these opportunities is an essential fi rst step.

February 13th marks the beginning of VSB’s Summer Business Programs Week, which is a week full of events that highlight the various options available to non-VSB students motivated to gain business-related competencies over the upcoming summer.

The kick-off information session will consist of an overview of the Summer Business Institute (SBI), as well as an introduction to VSB’s newest program, the Summer Business Academy (SBA), which is a business certifi cation program that will make its debut this May.

Trish Burdo, Director of Business Minor Programs, discussed the importance of obtaining an understanding of the various options available to students.

“Attendees will understand the diff erences between the Summer Business Institute and the Summer Business Academy, and be equipped with the information necessary to decide which option is appropriate for one’s personal needs,” Burdo said.

SBP Week’s spotlight event, Think Summer Day, is set to include an interactive presentation featuring SBP ambassadors and panelists. In addition to this unique opportunity to mingle with program alumni and pose questions pertaining to the programs, attendees may also enjoy tropical mocktails at the event.

As the week continues, SBP plans to capitalize on the men’s basketball game at the Finneran Pavilion as the Wildcats play against Butler. It will also partner with Quizzo to host an SBPthemed trivia night, and will end its series with a tabling event at the Oreo. As an added bonus, students will be entered into a raffl e to win a VSB-themed prize for each event attended.

Mariana Beneti Costa, Co-Director of SBP Events and Merchandise, described her experience as a key individual in the organization of SBP Week and her hopes for its outcome.

“SBP Week is the centerpiece for exposure of what VSB has to off er,” Beneti Costa said. “It’s very important that everything runs smoothly so that students can get the most out of these events. I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to show what opportunities are out there.”

To learn more about VSB’s Summer Business Programs prior to the SBP Week series, visit the VSB for Non-Business Students page at www.villanova.edu and the Instagram pages @villanovasbi and @sbavillanova.

Villanova students enjoy the ASA Expo on Saturday night. Courtesy of @novaafig on Instagram

Pet Therapy: Furry Friends on Campus

Katie Formato Staff Writer

Are you looking for a way to de-stress during the week? Check out Pet Therapy on Wednesdays to get to know other students and to meet a new furry friend.

Pet Therapy programs are organized and planned by the Office of Health Promotion’s Associate Director, Kristy McCarthy, and occur almost every week for students. Additionally, members of POWER (Peers Offering Wellness Education and Resources) assist McCarthy in planning weekly pet therapy programs.

To make this event happen, the Office of Health Promotion’s Pet Therapy Program works with Where is the Love? Wednesdays with Pals for Life, a non-profit organization that comes to campus weekly with certified therapy animals.

In the past years, pet therapy has become very popular on college campuses. The Office of Health Promotion at Villanova held its first Pet Therapy in 2014. Pet Therapy programs at Villanova originally only occurred once during the semester on Reading Day and during finals week. These programs were designed to allow students to take a break from studying and de-stress.

After the initial trial-run, it was clear that Villanova students had a real attachment to the furry friends, and the program started to be held more often.

“The events were so popular,

attracting over 200 students per event, that we saw a need and interest for more pet therapy programming,” McCarthy said.

Therefore, in the Fall of 2015, the Office of Health Promotion partnered with the Where is the Love? campaign, which follows Villanova’s model of caritas, which McCarthy said is “reminding students that it is the caring of self and others that makes us strive to our fullest potential.”

The Where is the Love?

Wednesdays with Pals for Life Pet Therapy program occurs every Wednesday when there is not a scheduling conflict between Villanova and the organization. Pet Therapy is held on campus at various locations depending on the week. Dogs, and even a bunny, are available for students

to hang out with if they are feeling stressed or just need some animal love that week. At these events, students can also talk with the pet owners and learn more about the different animals.

McCarthy sees a real connection between pet therapy and the stress of college students.

“Students who come to pet therapy can escape the everyday stressors that come with being a college student and can simply enjoy making a furry friend and connecting with other students and campus resources that help them thrive,” McCarthy said.

Pet therapy is important on college campuses because it has a large impact on students’ mental health. Many students have animals at home and being away from them

Spring Break 2023 Hot Spots

Maddie Schieder Staff Writer

February. Only one month into our spring semester at Villanova, and students are already planning their spring break adventures. This week’s chilling temperatures and sights of snow have pushed Villanovans to venture to new locations for their weeklong break this March. The Villanovan asked students how they plan to spend their time away from the hustle and bustle of life on campus. First up, sophomore Antonio Crescente is planning a trip to the Cayman Islands to visit his dad with a friend.

“I’m going to the Cayman Islands with my friend Ben to visit my dad who lives there and relax on the 7-mile beach,” Crescente said. “I am so excited to visit beach bars for their Full Moon beach bashes and discover Caribbean nightlife. There is a good amount of college students there during breaks from not just the United States but the United Kingdom and Canada as well. There are also plenty of fun activities like parasailing, jet-skiing, visiting sting-ray city and snorkeling which makes the daytime feel as fun as the night. I am really looking forward to this trip and would recommend it as a hotspot to any future Villanovan.”

Crescente is not the only Villanovan traveling outside of the United States. Junior Lauren McLaughlin stated she will be traveling to Italy. Along with McLaughlin, junior Nina Mahajan is also ad-

venturing overseas to Barcelona and Amsterdam to visit her friends traveling abroad this semester.

“I’m really excited to go to Europe over spring break to see my friends who are studying abroad,” Mahajan said. “I’m going to Barcelona and Amsterdam, which are both cities I’ve never been to before.

I’m planning to spend my days exploring and wandering through the cities seeing where I wind up with my friends.”

Traveling abroad has a lot of different opportunities compared to vacationing in the U.S. Mahajan expressed what she is most excited to experience on her trip.

“I think I’m most excited to try the food in both cities and see my friends,” Mahajan said.

“I’ve heard such great things about both places, and I’m really looking forward to meeting new people and seeing new places.”

Other students have booked trips down south to Florida to soak up the sunshine. Graduate student Charlie Gilroy and Senior Caitlin van Goeverden are both going to Fort Lauderdale.

“For spring break, I am taking a golf trip with my best friend,” Gilroy said. “I also look forward to seeing my girlfriend and our friends while we are down there to get the best of both worlds.”

In recent years students have more recently been spending their break abroad rather than embracing the typical spring break vacation. However, there are plenty of students who plan to stay in the U.S. to either visit family and

friends or take a much-needed vacation with other Villanovans. Sophomore Elizabeth Feczko is one of those students laying low this break.

“I am going to Dayton to visit my boyfriend,” Feczko said. “Afterwards, I will be going home to spend time with my family. I can’t wait.”

Another sophomore, Noah George, also plans on embracing some well-deserved at-home time with his family for the week.

“I am going home,” George

for a long time can be difficult. In fact, just petting an animal can play a powerful role in a student’s well-being because it releases an automatic relaxation response.

“Humans interacting with animals have found that petting the animal promotes the release of serotonin, and oxytocin- all hormones that can play a part in elevating moods,” McCarthy said. “Pet therapy lowers anxiety, provides comfort, reduces loneliness and simply can provide an escape or happy distraction.”

Many local Villanova and Main Line residents bring their pets to Villanova’s pet therapy sessions. Community members interested in registering their pet for Where is the Love? Wednesdays with Pals for Life Pet Therapy are encouraged to apply and get approved through Pals for Life.

Pet therapy has become popular at Villanova and it is a great way for students to learn about the Office of Health Promotion and all the events that it hosts. Usually, Pet Therapy is held in Room 200 of the Health Service Building. However, the Office of Health Promotion works with another campus partner to host the first Pet Therapy for each month, and it is usually held in different locations. Follow the Office of Health Promotion on Instagram @villanovahealth or visit the events page, www. villanova.edu/healthpromotion, to learn more about the dates and times of pet therapy, as well as other upcoming events.

“My brother and I have spring break at the same time so I will be primarily spending time with him. I also plan on hanging out with all of my high school friends who are also on break and to follow will visit other friends at their respective colleges. Lastly, I plan on sleeping a lot.”

Whether students are getting stamps on their passports or enjoying what the U.S. has to offer, Villanovans will be kept busy this break and have already begun to plan their upcoming adventures.

Students enjoy the Office of Health Promotion’s Pet Therapy every Wednesday. Courtesy of Falvey Library

Villanova juniors Alex Tessendorf and Chloe Miller on spring break in Arizona least year. Courtesy of Chloe Miller

said.

What’s in the Stars for You: February Horoscopes

Chloe Miller Co-Culture Editor

Valentine’s day is around the corner and the stars are aligning for love, friendship and surprise. Star signs may not know all, but they surely know some. Curious as to what the Valentines week ahead has in store?

Aries: Slow down, Aries! You’ve been running around, falling victim to the chaos of daily life. Whether it’s friends, classes, jobs, clubs, or the stress of the upcoming Valentine’s day, you’re being pulled in every direction. Make sure to take some time for yourself, or else you’ll end up fizzling out. Identify your top priorities, and stick to them. It’s hard for you to find balance, but don’t throw yourself at every opportunity you may find.

Taurus: Feeling unsure about what to do? You’ve been faced with many pressing questions, and you just can’t seem to find the answer. The solution to your dilemma is staring you in the face– Don’t think harder, think differently. A new perspective will change the course of the coming future….

Gemini: You’re on a roll. Everything seems to be going your way and you feel on top of the world. In the midst of all this excitement, keep a close eye for new opportunities

around you. While you might feel satisfied with how things are going, never forget there’s always new opportunities around the corner, just waiting to be discovered.

Cancer: February love is in the air, and on the prowl for you, Cancer. Pay attention to who’s around you— a secret admirer is in your presence. Stay alert, and keep an eye out for this individual, it might not be who you expect… A surprise, to say the least. Don’t let this come as a shock to you; embrace the new and don’t feel afraid to be open to this opportunity.

Leo: Even in this winter chill, you’re still in the warm spotlight. With all eyes on you, you’re feeling a lot of pressure. This spotlight might even be blinding you. Despite your extroverted nature, remember that it is okay to step back from being the center of attention from time to time. Rather than pushing yourself forward, put yourself first and prioritize your well-being; lest you get burnt out from the ever bright spotlight…

Virgo: Let it go, Virgo. You’ve been holding so much baggage that it’s weighing you down. No matter how long you deliberate over those failures and sorrows, the past is the past. Nothing can change until you lighten your load. Make way for a new future, and free yourself from your regrets. Then, you will be on the path to success

Libra: You’re spending too much time inside your head. Take a step back from structured thinking. Quality time spent with a friend or family member is what you crave

right now. Unleash your true self and take a step back from the stressors of everyday life. Time to relax will bring you the clarity that you need.

Scorpio: Now is a good time to make changes in your life. You are feeling empowered and open to new opportunities. Pave a better path for your future. Your energy is being split between too many parties. Decide who is providing benefit to your life and be strict. Don’t waste your energy on those who do not deserve it.

Sagittarius: You’re feeling good right now. Your determination is paying off, but don’t let that focus draw you away from opportunities that may appear suddenly. When opportunity calls, be the one to answer. It will pay off in the end for you. You will be asked important questions soon. Stick with your guns. Be courageous and face uncertainty head on.

Capricorn: There’s a fork in the road in front of you. While your heart may be pulling you one way, the moons urge you to think differently

about the situations at hand. Now is time for change and looking at the relationships and situations around you with a different perspective. This will find you peace.

Aquarius: You might be spending too much time socially right now and solidarity is what you need. With that time alone you will find solidarity with the situations that have been causing your turmoil. Space is necessary for you to thrive. Then, focus on filling other people’s cups. In your time alone, stop worrying about those around you. Take time to forget the past and move forward afresh.

Pisces: Recently you have been trying too hard to attract what you feel will fulfill you. Lay down your sword and let it come to you. The time is now for the universe to bring you what you wish. All you have to do is wait. Keep your communication with those around you open and give those around you the benefit of the doubt. Stop fighting with others and what is meant to be.

Emma Cahill Co-Culture Editor

Want to know what’s in store for you? Check out your February horoscope. Courtesy of “purewow.com”

Brunson, Wright To Be Honored At DePaul Game

Owen Hewitt Co-Sports Editor

Villanova is set to retire the jersey of former Villanova guard and current New York Knick Jalen Brunson. The ceremony will take place during halftime of the Wildcats’ game against DePaul on Wednesday. Former Villanova head coach Jay Wright will also be honored pregame.

Brunson, a part of two national championship teams during his time at Villanova, will have his No. 1 jersey retired. Brunson played from 2015 to 2018, starting in 115 games for the Wildcats across three seasons.

In his fi nal year with the ‘Cats, Brunson racked up honors. For the 2017-18 season, he was awarded the Naismith Award, the Wooden Award and the Bob Cousy Award, while also being named the National Player of the Year. He is the second Wildcat to earn National Player of the Year honors, along with Paul Arizin.

Apart from the No. 11, retired outright in honor of Arizin, Villanova retires the jerseys, not numbers, of former players. This means that freshman guard Brendan Hausen, who currently wears No. 1, will continue to do so.

Brunson led the 2017-18 national championship charge averaging a team-leading 18.9 points per game, while adding an average of 4.6 assists per game. Brunson

was also voted “College Player of the 2010s” by the Sporting News.

“Jalen put together one of the most amazing Villanova Basketball careers ever,” Villanova head coach Kyle Neptune said to Villanova Athletics.

“His remarkable will and work ethic left an indelible mark on our program. He set a standard of excellence, on and off the court, that still impacts us today. We can’t wait to celebrate Jalen’s legendary Villanova career with

the Nova Nation.”

Neptune served as an assistant coach for the entirety of Brunson’s time with Villanova.

The athletic department is encouraging fans to be in their seats by 8 P.M. to see Wright’s address.

“We felt this would be a wonderful opportunity for Jay to express his gratitude to the Nova Nation and in turn for it to salute his incredible run as our head men’s basketball coach,” Villanova Vice-President and Director of Athletics Mark Jackson said to Villanova Athletics.

“This is simply our chance to say thank you to Jay and Patty Wright for their enormous contributions to Villanova.”

After Brunson’s time representing Villanova, he was drafted in the 2018 NBA draft by the Dallas Mavericks with the 33rd overall pick in the second round. He spent four seasons with the Mavericks, earning a starting role with the team.

In the 2022 off season, Brunson entered free agency and signed a four-year, 104 million dollar contract with the New York Knicks. Through 51 games, Brunson has been averaging a career-high 23.1 points per game.

In eff ort to honor both Brunson and Wright, fans in attendance will be encouraged to stay in their seats during halftime to watch the ceremony for Brunson.

Anders Said It: Women’s Basketball is Built for Big Run

These ‘Cats are for real. Villanova’s women’s basketball team has been the big trend on campus this year, sports or otherwise.

On Saturday, February 4th, the team put the second nail in the coffi n for the season sweep against Butler in a 78-58 road victory that saw senior forward Maddie Siegrist put her tenth 30+ point performance of the season (yes, you read that correctly). But now, what was once just a supporting cast are now co-stars. The women’s basketball team is poised for a Final Four run, posing a serious threat to everyone in the conference… and the country.

Anyone who has watched this team play knows that most of the wins feel largely uncompetitive, as they are either over by halftime or the opponents hope ends halfway through the fourth quarter when the diff erence in talent really starts to show.

But, it is not just a onewoman-show of Siegrist. Sophomore guard Lucy Olsen has quickly affi rmed herself over and over as the go-to number two scoring option in the rare instances when Siegrist is off the fl oor, especially in spacing the fl oor with a 41.8% clip from three.

But, what has also caught the eyes of many is the emergence of sophomore forward Christina Dalce, who is second in rebounds (7.6) and fi rst in blocks (2.2) on the team. She has emerged as the toughest player on the court, and

her impact on the team is undeniable. This is a complete roster that can go all the way. Even the loss to UConn last week showed fl ashes of the capabilities of Coach Denise Dillon’s squad, with the Huskies fi ght-

ing for every basket they scored. Although the ‘Cats couldn’t bring home the win, the gap between the two programs was closed even further, and, by the time the season is over, the gap could be closed altogether. Not just with UConn, but with all of the other blue bloods in women’s college basketball. Piece by piece, the Wildcats are building a culture, a system and a sense of confi dence that will put them on a slowly carved path directly to the Final Four.

When Siegrist broke the all-time Villanova scoring record (of both men’s and women’s), all of the attention was rightfully on her as the Villanova community was in awe of how lucky we are, as a school, to have her suit up in our jersey.

But, what it is, too, is a microcosm of why this team is so easy to celebrate. A season with that broken record and a run to Dallas for a spot in the Final Four in the same season would be too perfect. And, yes, it’s a very, very real possibility.

All the best men’s teams in Villanova’s history have had not just individual greatness on the roster, but a sense of connectivity. You can feel that with the women’s team, and it’s making this campus hungry for a banner.

All eyes are on the road for Georgetown on Wednesday. The journey continues.

Jalen Brunson averaged 14.4 PPG during his time at Villanova. Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

Anders Pryor Staff Writer

Villanova women’s basketball is on track for a big postseason run. Olivia Gordon/Villanovan Photography

Men’s Basketball Prepares for DePaul

Brooke Ackerman Co-Sports Editor

The men’s basketball team (10-13, 4-8 Big East) will return home to the Finneran Pavilion on Wednesday for another in conference matchup against the DePaul Blue Demons are currently ranked 10th in the Big East with only three in conference wins, holding a 9-15 overall record. Former Wildcat Jalen Brunson’s jersey will be retired at halftime.

The last time these two teams met was on January 10, when the Blue Demons had a second half surge that pushed them

past the Wildcats to claim their fi rst win in the series in 14 years.

While the fi rst half ended with just a one point diff erential, an 15-3 boost early in the second half pushed DePaul ahead of the Wildcats, helping it win 75-65.

For DePaul, Javan Johnson helped to fuel a 9-2 run that spearheaded their success in the second half. Big man Da’sean Nelson went head-to-head with Eric Dixon, proving to be successful in the paint, putting up eight points in less than ten minutes.

Now looking forward to their second meeting of the season, the pressure is on for the ‘Cats to reclaim their success in

the series, and snap their own three game losing streak.

As for the Blue Demons, while they are currently on a fi ve game losing streak, there are a few key players to watch for this upcoming matchup.

Senior Umoja Gibson currently leads the team averaging 16 PPG. Johnson and Nelson are the second and third leading scorers on the squad, averaging over 10 PPG, making them key diff erence makers that the Wildcats will need to lock down in order to come out on top.

Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m and the game will air nationally on FS1.

WEEKLY SCOREBOARD

Feb. 1 - Feb. 8

Wednesday, February 1

Women’s Basketball vs Marquette 73-54 W

Men’s Basketball @ No. 14 Marquette 64-73 L

Thursday, February 2

Friday, February 3

Women’s Track @ Bruce Lehane Scarlet & White Invite No Team Scoring

Saturday, February 4

Women’s Tennis @ NJIT

0-7 L

Men’s Track @ Scarlet Night Open No Team Scoring

Women’s Track @ Bruce Lehane Scarlet & White Invite No Team Scoring

Men’s Basketball @ Creighton 61-66 L

Women’s Basketball @ Butler 78-58 W

Women’s Water Polo @ Mercyhurst

18-8 W

Men’s Tennis @ Bucknell

4-3 W

Women’s Lacrosse @ Delaware No Team Scoring

Sunday, February 5

Men’s Tennis @ Penn State

1-6 L

Men and Women’s Tennis Play in Action-Packed Weekend

James Haupt Staff Writer

Villanova’s tennis teams had action-packed weekends with matches across the Northeast.

The men’s team was able to bounce back from a 2-0 start, beating Bucknell on the fi rst day of action. However, on their second day of play, Villanova fell short to Penn State, dropping its record to 1-3 on the season.

The men’s match against Bucknell was expected to be a close one, and it did not disappoint. The Wildcats won 4-3 on an impressive day for those who had singles matches.

The ‘Cats went 4-2 in singles, which included victories from junior captain Josh Robinson, freshman Tighe Brunetti, freshman Cooper Gordon and ended with a clutch win from sophomore Ryan Nguyen.

Prior to these victories, the day began with three doubles matches as Villanova went 1-2, losing the fi rst team point. The only duo to win was a pair of juniors, Robinson and Noah Winton. These two Wildcats took a 6-3 victory, marking a huge improvement for Villanova in the doubles category.

“We got to work with different combinations and overall execute on the court,” said head

coach Brad Adams. Adjusting the doubles teams and their success could be rewarding for the Wildcats in future matches.

On the second day of men’s weekend, the Wildcats suff ered a diffi cult 6-1 loss to Penn State.

Villanova lost two doubles matches, with one being left incomplete with Penn State ahead. The Wildcats then lost all their singles matches in close, competitive matches.

Regardless of the loss, the main positive note of the day was

Brunetti who won yet another singles match against the number two player for Penn State.

“He’s a total animal on the court,” Adams said of Tighe’s performance this weekend. This win marked Brunetti’s second victory of the weekend.

The men’s team will now head to Rider on Friday, February 10th, as they look to bring their record back to .500.

The women’s team had its third match of the season, against NJIT, to which it lost 7-0.

It was a tough loss for the Wildcats as the women’s team now falls to 1-2. Despite this loss, the women were able to take a win in the doubles matches.

The duo of senior captain Amanda Rivera-González and junior Bella Steff en had a 6-2 victory. This marked the only win that Villanova had, as it lost the other doubles matches and was swept in the singles matches.

Despite the loss, coach Steve Reiniger said that he was “pleased that [they] competed.”

“I just want to see us continue to compete well,” he said.

Looking forward to this coming weekend, Reiniger noted how “all six players need to perform to win,” in their upcoming match.

The Wildcats will hit the road again on Friday, February 10th, for their match against the Delaware Blue Hens.

Villanova women’s tennis had a challenging weekend, losing 7-0 to NJIT. Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

Villanova men’s basketball prepares for DePaul. Graydon Paul/Vilanovan Photography

Women’s Water Polo Earns First Win of the Season

Camden Wright Staff Writer

Villanova’s women’s water polo team had a commanding 18-8 win over Mercyhurst this past Saturday, February 4th. This is the Wildcats’ fi rst win in their 25-year commemoration season of water polo becoming a varsity sport at Villanova in 1998.

Villanova started off strong with a quick goal in the fi rst 40 seconds scored by sophomore Emily McKenzie, which was followed by a goal from sophomore Amelia Baca less than a minute later. Mercyhurst attempted to respond to the Wildcats’ fi re, but missed its fi rst two shot attempts. Further into the quarter, a penalty on Mercyhurst gave Villanova a power play advantage that senior Emily Morrissey scored on, bumping up the lead by another goal.

Starting the second quarter off with a 5-2 lead, Villanova was quick to get play going again with a goal in the fi rst 20 seconds. On the other end of the pool, the Wildcats continued to portray a united front with strong defense, led by freshman Gracin Kerry. Kerry started the game in the net for the ‘Cats in her fi rst college appearance, making 11 saves and allowing just three goals, a 79% save rate.

Abigail Shelby closed the

game as goalie and her numerous saves also helped the team’s defensive dynamic to remain positive, especially in the last few minutes of the game.

Coach Larry Sanders was excited about the “great team eff ort and win.”

“The team played some great team D to start the game and that showed with the halftime score being 10-3,” Sanders said. Villanova continued the theme of quick goals to start each quarter by racking up two more at the beginning of the third to further its lead to 12-3. While Mercyhurst scored to make it 12-4, its eff orts were no match for a stellar Wildcat defense, which helped to lead Villanova into the fourth quarter up seven goals.

Mercyhurst got to within 13-7 at the beginning of the fi nal quarter, but Villanova quickly responded with two quick goals from senior Allie Hansen and junior Stella Byles. This was Hansen’s only goal, but she supported the team with fi ve assists, the highest overall points total for the ‘Cats.

McKenzie continued to be a crucial component of the team’s win, scoring a behind the back goal that earned her a career high fi ve goals in the game. This goal also moved the team to a 16-8 lead with little time left in the game.

A missed shot by Mercyhurst with three minutes left in the game allowed Villanova to act

quickly and to rack up two more quick goals. These goals serve as a prime example of Villanova taking advantage of their improved off ense with a 50 shooting percentage this game, as opposed to the overall 20.5 percentage the team faced last weekend.

Villanova will return to the pool next weekend at the Bucknell Tournament in Lewisburg, PA. The Wildcats will take on Salem and Princeton on Saturday, Feb 11th, and will close out the weekend against Bucknell on February 12th.

Women’s Lacrosse Prepares for 2023 Season

Elijah McDow Staff Writer

On Saturday February 4th, Villanova’s women’s lacrosse team made a short trip for a scrimmage against Delaware. Saturday’s scrimmage in Newark marked the start of a new season that will offi cially kick off on February 11th, when the Wildcats travel to Virginia to play William & Mary.

This season, the Wildcats are led by senior midfi elder Addie Fischer, and expectations are high for the Maryland native. Despite her team ending 2022 with a 5-11 record, last season was the best of Fischer’s career. She was named fi rst-team All-Big East, scoring 13 goals, recording three assists and 13 ground balls. As a conference star, Fischer is expected to be the leader of the team. Other players poised to make an impact include senior midfi elder Harriet Overend, graduate attacker Caroline Curnal and senior defender Molly Dunphey.

Now in her second season as the head coach of the Wildcats, Jill Batcheller looks to turn things around for the program after last season’s disappointing fi nish. This year’s team is full of experienced players, with multiple seniors whose leadership will be vital, as well as nine new freshmen who will be players to watch for the future.

Despite a rough start to life in the Big East, Batcheller’s resume suggests that rebuilding, and

eventually fi nding success, often works in her favor. As the head coach at Bryant University, Batcheller led the Bulldogs to three conference championships and fi ve regular season championships, fi nishing her career there with a 77-33 record.

In 2019, Batcheller was hired to coach Drexel. At the time, it was a program in desperate need of a rebuild. By the time Batcheller left Drexel for Villanova, she had guided the Dragons to a 13-3 record in a season where they became nationally ranked and made

the NCAA Tournament.

After the scrimmage on Saturday, there will be at least 16 games for the team to turn things around.

“Our seniors and fi fth years set the tone for us during the scrimmage,” Batcheller said. “I was also excited to see a lot of our freshman energy as well.”

On the schedule, there are several notable non-conference opponents that will help the Wildcats when they begin Big East play against UConn on April 5th.

Villanova has some huge tests early in the season, playing nationally ranked opponents such as No. 2 Maryland, No. 10 Denver, No. 16 USC and Navy, which was also considered for national ranking.

“The goal [playing these teams] is to expose our team to the speed of the game both in transition and within systems to prepare ourselves for our competitive Big East Conference,” Batcheller said.

These matchups will serve as a measuring stick for Batcheller, allowing her to evaluate her squad and see whether they can go toeto-toe with some of the best teams in the country.

The Big East Tournament is scheduled to begin on May 5th. The Wildcats are not just aiming to be at the tournament, but they are also going in with the mindset of becoming champions.

“My goals for the spring are to lead this team to believe in themselves and in each other,” Batcheller said.

Villanova scores first goal 40 seconds into play. Gabi Frank/Villanovan Photography

Villanova women’s lacrosse celebrates after scoring a goal during their fall season. Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

THE BACKPAGE

Across

5. Name of player that’s jersey is being retired

6. Villanova women’s basketball ranking

9. Social media with a bird logo

11. Sport that Villanova is known for

12. New Villanova email system

14. Popular athletic clothing brand

15. Medicine to get rid of a headache

18. QB for the Eagles

19. Where Villanova plays Saturday night

20. Triva every Thursday night

ASK THE VILLANOVAN

I matched with someone on Marriage Pact, and they’re super cute! I want to message them but don’t know what do say. Any ideas?

How exciting! Just keep it simple. Maybe a classic “Hey, we just matched on Marriage Pact and wanted to reach out and say what’s up!”

Also, you should fi nd their Instagram and DM them instead of emailing them. Again, keep it casual!

Kelly’s just changed its Tuesday nights to karaoke. I don’t like singing in public, and this makes me not really want to go. What should I do?

The great about a karaoke night is you don’t have to sing. You can go and just enjoy everyone embarrassing themselves.

If you’re still worried, prepare a song that you LOVE so when you’re up there, it’s free-fl owing!

Down

1. Sign that hangs above doors

2. Puzzle you are fi lling out right now

3. Student-run since 1916

4. Place that hosts karaoke on Tuesdays

7. Expensive jewelry brand

8. Building that has four fl oors

10. Best acai bowls around

13. Style of earring

16. Abstract sculpture by pit

17. Last Hoops Mania performer