WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2022 www.villanovan.com @thevillanovan
STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916
VOLUME 114 | ISSUE 4
Opinion: Booster Requirement
University Celebrates Black History Month
Vivi Melkonian Co-Editor in Chief
Before students returned to campus for the spring semester, the University announced that all eligible community members would be required to receive the COVID-19 booster shot before Jan. 31. With this cutoff date just in our rearview, debate surrounding the vaccine within the community has yet to subside. Petitions and pleas calling for the University to reverse the booster requirement have circulated among parent groups and social media. The petitioners claim not to be against the vaccine but do not want the University to require boosters. The petition has 303 signatures. While this may seem like a substantial number, many of them are from non-Villanova community members. In a student population of about 7,000 undergraduates, which equates to roughly 14,000 parents, this number is insignificant. The booster requirement is beneficial to the student body, and controversy surrounding this issue is dramatized and not based in science. The University should not change its policy based on these complaints and should continue to protect students, faculty and staff as much as it possibly can. “The vast majority of people currently hospitalized for COVID-19 are unvaccinated,” wrote Dr. Joseph Comber, a biology professor at Villanova in an email. “The CDC has some great data to this end. As of December unvaccinated individuals were 16 times more likely to be admitted to the hospital than vaccinated individuals (over the age of 18). For those who are vaccinated, the booster dose is even more effective at preventing hospitalization than two doses Continued on p. 5
The University will host events including academic lectures and panels to celebrate Black History. Courtesy of Villanova University
Lydia McFarlane Staff Writer
February is Black History Month, so to kick off the beginning of the historical and honorary month, the University announced the activities and events that will be taking place throughout the month to celebrate Black History. These events include academic lectures, panels, showcases, historical projects and more. The University’s Black Student Union will be hosting many events throughout the month, all of which will be advertised on its Instagram, @novabsu. On Feb. 18 at 7 p.m.
in the Villanova Room, BSU will be hosting a Showcase called Light up the World: Celebrations of Black Joy. The attire for the showcase is formal, and there will be a lineup of several speakers, performers and artists. Even the University’s Dining Services have plans for this year’s Black History Month. Every Tuesday during the month, the dining halls will be offering a menu inspired by a famous Black chef. The menus and more information about the chefs and their accomplishments can be found on the Dining Services website. Many of the schools within the University are hosting their own events to celebrate Black History
Month. The College of Engineering has three separate events planned. On Feb. 3, there was an event called Black History Month in CEER hosted by SHPE, NSBE and the Engineering DEI committee. If one was unable to attend this first event from the College of Engineering, keep an eye out, because it is hosting several more events throughout the duration of the month. Over Zoom on Feb. 10 at 7 p.m., there will be an event called “Villanova Engineering Seniors Tell All.” “Hear from Black Villanova Engineering Seniors as they discuss challenges faced and how they were overcome, valuable extracurricular activities, helpful on-campus
resources, favorite courses, the benefit of research experiences, post-graduation plans and what they know now that they wish they knew then,” said the press release for the event. For those looking for advice from Black graduates of Villanova Engineering, there will be another panel event on Feb. 24 over Zoom at 7 p.m. called “Voices of Experience: Alumni Career Panel.” On Feb. 23, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing will be hosting a virtual event titled “The Power of Black Nurses’ Voices.” The Villanova School of Business will also
day of his diagnosis that their infant may never walk or talk, would experience seizures, become temporarily paralyzed and even stop breathing due
to his genetic disease. These symptoms would occur often, with or without a trigger. AHC has multiple mutations. Henry has the
most severe, causing him to experience all the terrifying symptoms associated with the disease. Every day of Henry’s life, these symptoms can be life-threatening. “This disease is like having seven neurological diseases in one,” Saladino explained. Like many other rare diseases, there is no cure. However, Saladino and other parents experiencing the struggle of AHC are working to fund research for a treatment. Continued on p. 3
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Alumna Fundraises for Son with Rare Disease Sarah Wisniewski
Co-News Editor
Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood, better known as AHC, is an incurable, rare neurological disorder that only 300 to 400 individuals have in the United States. Class of 2011 alumna Mary Saladino’s son Henry is one of those individuals. Henry was diagnosed in March 2020, when he was only nine weeks old. Saladino and her husband were told the
Mary Saladino is working to fund her son Henry’s treatment for AHC. Courtesy of Mary Saladino
Hannah Medsker’s Non-Traditional Thesis Approach p. 4
No Shade, But What’s the Deal with Groundhog Day? p. 6
Villanova Hosts Winter Gala in Connelly Center
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Highlight on Student Internships for Summer 2022 p. 3
Where Is The Love, Lancaster? Dating Life on Campus p. 9
Student Podcast Feature: “Nightmare Knowledge” p. 10
Hadestown Debuts in Philadelphia
Athlete of the Week: Kelly Montesi
Men’s Tennis Picks Up Win In Opening Match
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Women in Journalism Event Preview
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