The Villanovan | Volume 116, Issue 6: March 20, 2024

Lack of Inclusion Within Stanford

Sade Santana Staff Writer

Acclimating to life at a new university is very difficult for a freshman. Getting used to new classes, a new environment and growing into the role of a college student adds to the stressful time that everyone pursuing higher education has to eventually go through. However, when discussing their freshman years, students on Villanova’s campus (more specifically, POC students) tend to highlight their residential experiences.

“Socially, I struggled living in Stanford [Hall] because I was the only Black woman in my wing, so there were a lot of people that I couldn’t relate to,” sophomore Nayanna Fluellen said. “That was really difficult because sometimes conflicts would happen and I felt like they would look at me crazy.”

Once, during her freshman year in Stanford, a group of women in her wing were being very loud during quiet hours, and she opened her door politely to ask them to quiet down.

“They thought it was funny, and they banged on my door,” Fluellen said. “I heard them laughing outside my door, so I went out to see who it was, and they all had run away. This made me upset because if they had a problem with my tone or anything I had said, they could’ve communicated that to me.”

This, and other conflicts similar to this, made Fluellen’s experience in Stanford difficult, especially as a Black woman in her wing, since these conflicts happened very often but would never be resolved.

“Villanova puts emphasis on Caritas, Veritas, Unitas, and this situation didn’t show these core values

Continued on p. 7

Community Reacts to Hosting Trump-Appointed Judge p. 3

The

Controversial Federal Judge Duncan’s Arrival Sparks Debate and Discussion

Judge Kyle Duncan, of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, visited Villanova University on Monday, March 18 to discuss free speech and higher education.

Presented by the Eleanor H. McCullen Center for Law, Religion and Public Policy, with support from the Hovnanian Family Foundation, the event was a highlight of the McCullen Center’s distinguished speaker program. This series, which brings three speakers from the

legal profession to Charles Widger School of Law each semester, has showcased notable individuals, including Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett in 2019. While the program draws a regular audience of law students, professors and alumni, Judge Duncan’s visit to Villanova Law School drew significant attention and sparked polarized reactions regarding his invitation to speak.

Duncan was appointed by President Trump in 2018, and his entry into the judiciary was marked by controversy, a fact underscored by his narrow 50-47 Senate con -

firmation vote. His career, characterized by involvement in contentious legal areas, specifically as an LGBTQ-rights opponent, continues to spark vigorous debate and discussion.

One year ago, in March 2023, Judge Duncan was at the center of controversy at Stanford Law, when he was invited by the Stanford Federalist Society to lecture on the Fifth Circuit in relation to the Supreme Court. He was met with more than 200 heated, passionate students who loudly protested Judge Duncan because they vehemently opposed his past cases, decisions and statements.

The protestors shut down his lecture and created

a national conversation about the right to free speech and the role it plays in higher education, which was the core of the event at Villanova. Stanford University apologized to Judge Duncan and issued a lengthy statement about their free speech policies, the line between speech and silencing and the importance of engaging those with whom you disagree.

During the event at Villanova, Judge Duncan explained the incident at Stanford Law from his perspective. “It’s a great country, where you can [protest like what was done at Stanford], and no one will do anything to you, but there is a difference between dialogue and shutting down

Continued on p. 2

Villanova Prepares for the Cabrini Merge

Emma Cahill Co-Editor-in-Chief

With the acquisition of Cabrini’s campus comes the new challenge of making a new and removed environment feel like home. Cabrini is a four-minute drive down a two-mile stretch of road, and the University is mindful of the challenges ahead for successfully integrating a second campus. In anticipation of this development, Villanova representatives have been going on

Literary

Villanova

campus tours to see how other universities manage two or more campuses. One attendant of these tours and stakeholder in

the Cabrini project is Kathy Byrnes, Villanova’s Vice President of Student Life. Byrnes described the motivation behind these tours and how

Students

People-Watching

ACS:

Wildcat

these tours guide Villanova’s approach to the Cabrini acquisition.

“Learning by example is always a useful thing in life,” Byrnes said. “It seems that part of the reflection about how best to utilize this great asset that we’re acquiring is to look to see what some other places have done.”

Including Byrnes, a group of six has been in attendance on these tours. Typically, Villanova sends two Public Safety representatives to focus

Continued on p. 4

Congress’

Women’s Lacrosse Defeats Lafayette, 8-7, at Home p. 17

Arden West Co-Editor-in-Chief

Villanova’s School of Law hosts Federal Judge Kyle Duncan as a guest speaker. Katelyn Van Mater /Villanovan Photography

Reality of Being a Jewish College Student p. 9

Villanova prepares for acquisition of Cabrini’s Campus via campus tours. Lauren Armstrong/ Villanovan Photography

Terrorist Threats, Threats To Use Weapons of Mass Destruction

March 13, WHOLE CAMPUS

A threatening email was received at an administrative office.

Sexual Extortion

March 14, KLEKOTKA HALL

A male resident student reported being sexually extorted for money resulting from a social media connection.

CORRECTIONS

Controversial Federal Judge Duncan Sparks Discussion

Arden West Co-Editor-in-Chief

Continued from p.1

people you don’t like,” Judge Duncan said.

The event at Villanova was organized and facilitated by Michael Moreland, University Professor of Law and Religion and the Director of the Eleanor H. McCullen Center for Law, Religion and Public Policy. Professor Moreland, himself has “known [Judge Duncan] pretty well for a number of years, even before he was a judge.”

When asked if Judge Duncan, who has been deemed both unfit and extreme by Senate Democrats, is an extremist, Professor Moreland responded, “No, he is very much in the mainstream of judges on a range of issues.”

After highlighting Judge Duncan’s past actions, such as defending Louisiana’s same-sex marriage ban and authoring an amicus brief against the right to marry in the landmark Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges during his tenure as a lawyer, Professor Moreland was once more questioned about whether Judge Duncan’s positions could be considered extremist.

“That was before the Supreme Court had decided [Obergefell v. Hodges] as a matter of Constitutional Law, and there were and still are many people who have different views about the Constitutional status of same-sex marriage. The Chief Justice of the United States wrote a dissent in the 2015 case that held that there was a Constitutional right to same-sex marriage, which he read from the bench,” Professor Moreland replied.

“I think there are a range of disagreements that people can have on issues like [same-sex marriage], and I think that the positions Judge Duncan took as a lawyer representing a government client were within the range of what people then and still regard as reasonable Constitutional views,” Moreland continued.

When asked what he would tell a member of the LGBTQ community at Villanova who, in the context of Judge Duncan’s history, is upset about him coming to campus,

Professor Moreland said, “Come listen to the arguments and what that person has to say. Think about it and ask questions. Be open to different views even if you disagree and treat people with respect.”

This approach was exemplified at the event. OUTLaw, an organization for LGBTQ law students and their allies, alongside VUPride, the university’s undergraduate group for LGBTQ students and allies, attended Judge Duncan’s event, embodying Professor Moreland’s call for open dialogue and mutual respect.

VUPride, in tandem with Villanova’s Undergraduate Student Government Association (SGA)’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Department, planned a silent, sit-in protest to symbolize their opposition to the speaker and his views. SGA DEI’s department also released a statement saying, “We, as the SGA DEI Department, must vehemently express our disapproval of Judge Kyle Duncan’s values, views and rhetoric. We also express our disapproval of the Villanova School of Law’s decision to invite him to our campus.”

The silent, organized sit-in at Villanova Law contrasted the disruptive, combative presence at Stanford Law, just one year ago.

After the event, both law professors and alumni audience members noted the impression that the opposition was respectful, despite being in fierce disagreement. “They protested, but did not disrupt,” said an anonymous member of the McCullen Center’s board.

“After attending the event, my central views that Judge Duncan and his actions are both personal for me and antithetical to my moral framework are reaffirmed,” junior Akintade Asalu, SGA VP of DEI said.

“What is most dangerous, I realized, is that this is different than a guy on Twitter in his basement saying homophobic things—that guy has limits. If you are a federal judge, however, you are actively part of public policy that is informed by homophobia.”

Serving the Fifth Circuit, which includes Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, Judge Duncan’s

court has the second-highest caseload in the nation. Of the circuit’s 16 active judges, 37.5% were appointed by President Trump and 75% were appointed by Republican presidents. During the 2023 term, as of December, the Supreme Court has taken more cases from the Fifth Circuit than from any other circuits; thus, the influence of Judge Duncan is clear.

Since his time as a Judge, many cases regarding free speech have arisen, some of which have gone to the Supreme Court.

“Speech is a powerful thing, there is no denying it. It can be helpful, inspiring and useful, but it can also be harmful, offensive and can wound,” said Judge Duncan.

However, a tension exists between speech when it involves law versus when it is applied to culture.

“Do you want to live in a society where the government will tell you that you cannot say that or write that or one where you know you will be penalized for your speech?” questioned Judge Duncan. The event also revealed the disconnect, even at the University level, about what hate is.

“I would not say that saying that gay marriage is not a legitimate marriage is hate speech. That statement does not meet the qualifications of degrading someone or disrespecting the dignity of a person,” said sophomore Tino DiMur-

ro, who also attended the event.

When prompted to define hate, Judge Duncan responded, “It’s not about legality; it’s about strong disagreement. Whenever someone talks about hate speech, I’m like what do you mean? You mean speech you don’t like? The question, though, is can the government now punish that?”

Despite dialogue on his visit being centered around the controversial elements of his work, Judge Duncan has made many more decisions outside of these topics, most of which are mundane, yet necessary interpretations of the Constitution.

“People focus on these very controversial and high-profile cases, when the fact is that most issues, most judges, whether more conservative or liberal, agree on the legal outcome,” said Professor Moreland.

The event’s audience, composed of both supporters and detractors of Judge Duncan’s presence on campus, found common ground.

“No matter how passionately you disagree with someone, listening to them can show that you can still agree with so many other things that they think,” said an anonymous law student.

The following day, on Tuesday, Judge Duncan went to Princeton University to speak about “What Free Speech Is - And What It Isn’t,” presented by Princetonians for Free Speech.

Professor Moreland and Judge Duncan at the McCullen Center Law Event. Graydon Paul / Villanovan Photography

Community Reacts to Hosting Trump-Appointed Judge

Lydia McFarlane Former News Editor

Community members protested an event titled “Free Speech and Higher Education” hosted by the law school on Monday afternoon, with Trump-appointed judge Kyle Duncan as the featured speaker.

Duncan has been met with similar protests before, notably in 2023 when protesters clashed with him as he spoke at Stanford University last spring, making national news and adding fuel to the ongoing conversation about free speech in higher education, bringing up questions of who is allowed to speak at institutions (both public and private) and how administrations should handle student-led protests.

Duncan is a federal judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which covers Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi and is headquartered in New Orleans. Before joining the bench on the Fifth Circuit, Duncan was a prominent anti-LGBTQ+ lawyer and has been an outspoken opponent of transgender rights.

Because of his anti-LGBTQ+ stances, students and faculty banded together to protest his presence on campus in different ways.

Stephanie Sena, the law school’s inaugural anti-poverty fellow, assisted law students of the student organization OUTlaw, an organization for LGBTQ+ students and allies, in organizing an alternate event for

students who felt uncomfortable with Duncan’s presence on campus.

The event was titled “Protecting LGBTQ+ and Civil Rights,” which invited Thomas Ude Jr., Esq. of the Mazzoni Center and Professor Janine Dunlap Kiah, VLS Director of Public Service and Pro Bono Initiatives to discuss “challenges to LGBTQ+ and civil rights, how to work towards safeguarding these rights as attorneys, and how to best support impacted communities,” according to the flyer that advertised the event.

Sena said the work of people like Duncan can have real life implications, some that affect marginalized students on campus.

“Judge Duncan’s decisions from the bench have real life implications,” she said. “They are quite literally a matter of life or death for some people.”

Sena said it was important to her to provide a space for students who might feel threatened by the presence of someone like Duncan, although she supported the students who decided to protest in other ways.

“I felt like a better course of action would be to deny him the attention that he is seeking, and instead, create alternate programming so that students could have a choice whether or not they attend the talk or whether they go to one that is hopeful that offers messaging about what the current challenges to the LGBTQ community are, and what is the work that legal advocates are currently doing,” she said. “[I] wanted that to be a space where students felt seen and loved and

appreciated.”

Student organizers like Landon Holben, a 3L at the law school and President of OUTlaw, used the alternate programming as an opportunity to make sure students felt comfortable on their own campus.

“It really boils down to making sure students are comfortable and not disillusioned with their place at Villanova Law,” he said.

Holben said, that while he and OUTlaw never reached out to the University saying they should not invite certain people to speak, he thinks the University can do a better job at vetting guest speakers or at letting students know when controversial figures are coming to campus.

“There could be a little bit more of a proactive approach by administration when they know something’s coming that may disrupt students, especially minority students who are already even more of a minority than general at Villanova Law,” he said. “I think that would go a really long way.”

VUPride, the University’s undergraduate organization for LGBTQ+ students and allies, planned a peaceful and silent protest to show solidarity with these marginalized students on campus.

The protesters filed into the event with VUPride merch and pins on. They sat in on the event, laying a trans flag across the desk, just to show their presence at the event and take up space.

“Our presence will be enough to take a stand,” the flyer advertising the event read.

While Duncan did not acknowledge the protesters during the event, the organizers of the protest still were happy with their efforts and the results.

“I’m happy with the results of the protests, because we accomplished exactly what we set out to do,” SGA’s Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Akintade Asalu said. “This was planned to be a silent, peaceful protest, and that’s exactly what it was. I’m glad that we were able to draw attention to ourselves.”

Max Cabral, President of VUPride, hoped their protest efforts sent a message to the administration.

“We are here. We’re queer,” they said. “We’re ready to show you that we are not going to just stand by and let you invite these people to bring up this new generation of judges and lawyers.”

The University supports students’ right to protest, while also defending its decision to invite Duncan to speak at the law school, offering the following comment to the Villanovan regarding the protest:

“As a faith-based institution of higher education, fostering dialogue and discussion is core to our values, Augustinian mission and Catholic heritage. We are committed to providing the Villanova community opportunities to engage on relevant topics—controversial and otherwise—believing that everyone benefits from open, thoughtful, rigorous, and respectful discourse. In the pursuit of education and understanding diverse viewpoints, a wide variety of speakers are invited to campus.”

College of Engineering Honors John G. Drosdick

Lauren Armstrong Co-News Editor

Villanova University announced on March 11, 2024 that the Center for Engineering Education and Research will be renamed to Drosdick Hall, after John G. Drosdick, Class of 1965. Drosdick, who previously served as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Sunoco Inc., donated $20 million dollars towards the renovations for the College of Engineering.

In an email to the Villanova community, University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., Ph.D. announced the new building name, recognizing the extreme support from Drosdick.

“I cannot thank John enough for his unwavering support of Villanova and the College of Engineering,” Donahue said. “This is a momentous time for the College of Engineering and the entire Villanova University community. Drosdick Hall will enhance the Villanova Engineering experience for generations.”

“I think the donation will have a positive impact on the students by giving us the opportunity to learn in an environment that provides us with opportunities to grow as engineers, such as the new labs and class space,” sophomore Lily Swanson said.

The University announced the renovations in 2021 and began the project in 2022. The building

is set to be open in the Fall of 2024. The 150,000 square feet building will house all of the College of Engineering programs, and will help foster deeper connections between professors and students, as well as with students in the same and different engineering concentrations.

“Drosdick Hall will serve as a crossroads for innovation for Villanova Engineering students, faculty and staff, and transform the educational experience for the mid-century and beyond,” Michele Marcolongo, Ph.D., Drosdick Endowed Dean of the College of Engineering said. “We are so thankful for the generous support of John Drosdick to the College of Engineering.”

The building will include new technology, as well as more than 20 new lab spaces. The space will allow for an increase in innovative teaching, and help further develop the College’s commitment towards collaboration and interdisciplinary research.

“The donation will help all the engineering students by providing us with new spaces to better our academic and post-graduate careers,” sophomore Michael Unger said.

Drosdick has been donating and supporting the renovations since the beginning, with an investment going towards the Drosdick Innovation Lab, a space where students can explore handson building and innovating opportunities.

Previously, he has also helped support individual students in the College of Engineering through the John G. Drosdick Endowed University Scholarship, which helps engineering students who have financial needs. In addition, he also endowed the College of Engineering through the Drosdick Endowed Dean’s Fund, which supports the ongoing strategic priorities of the College.

“I have seen how a Villanova education can have a profound impact on the path a person chooses to take,” Drosdick said. “It is for that reason that I wanted to give back. I am extremely grateful to Villanova for the Engineering education it provided me and how it helped me to grow both personally and professionally. I want to

make sure that tomorrow’s engineering students have the same transformative experience I had at Villanova. This new building will create these opportunities for our future engineers.”

Drosdick received his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering in 1965. Shortly after, he earned his master’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He served on the Villanova Board of Trustees in a chair position and is dedicated to ensuring a strong future for the College of Engineering. As the now-retired President of Sunoco, Drosdick has continued to support the College of Engineering to ensure a strong foundation of education for future Villanova engineers.

The former CEER will be renamed Drosdick Hall, after a donor who donated $20 million to renovations. Graydon Paul / Villanovan Photography

Villanova Prepares for the Cabrini Merge

Emma Cahill Co-Editor-in-Chief

Continued from p.1

on transportation, namely the movement of people from one campus to another. Villanova also sends two individuals from facilities and management. This group also includes Tim Hoffman, Vice Provost of Finance and Administration, who, alongside Byrnes, represents interest in student life and academic life.

In deciding which campuses to tour, the representatives consider which schools are culturally, academically and geographically similar to Villanova.

“One of our criteria was the distance between campuses,” Hoffman said. “One of the goals is to learn about the logistics of bridging a couple mile gap, so we’ve targeted schools that have that type of profile.”

The University representatives, so far, have toured institutions such as Boston College, Quinnipiac, Lehigh and Duke. Some of these schools hold value in their similarity to Villanova as an institution. For instance, Boston College was selected

because it is a Catholic institution with similar applicants and similar academic structure. Some of the other colleges were selected because of similarities in the relationship to their auxiliary campus. For example, Byrnes touched on the similarities between Duke’s East Campus and Cabrini.

“Like Cabrini, Duke’s East Campus was originally its own school that, many years ago, Duke became a part of,” Byrnes said. “We were interested in looking at how they integrated that campus into a holistic campus experience.”

Later in the spring, University representatives will tour George Washington University. It, similarly, is a school with two campuses and some urban traffic in between them.

When the group tours these campuses, it is looking at formal elements of the campus presented to them by the universities’ leadership. Villanova representatives also want to hear the opinions of students, and to see how the campus interacts in its natural state.

“When we’re there, we’re walking into classrooms and walking into residence halls [both with permission and with officials present],”

Hoffman said. “We are riding the transportation, and talking to students, asking them questions. We get the official statement from the University and how they frame things, but then, as we do our conversations, we are trying to learn from the students what it is like.”

While attending these tours, another thing representatives are keeping their eye on are student amenities.

“Whether they’re here on this campus, or on the Cabrini campus, we want our students to be having a great student experience,” Byrnes said. “So, we’re looking at dining halls, we’re looking at athletic facilities and recreational facilities. We’re getting a feel for where students spend their time.”

In all, going on these campus tours has made clear that there is no one clear outline for success. Keeping a “holistic” campus in mind, Villanova representatives find inspiration in the various amenities offered. But another key takeaway is that the strength of an auxiliary campus is dependent on the mission of the University.

“Every campus has its own story,” Hoffman said. “Lehigh receives an old steel plant, Quinnipiac

decides to develop huge acres they own at the top of a hill. There’s all these different elements, but what definitely has shined through is that connection between the mission of the University and the strengths of the University.”

Cabrini’s campus will join Drosdick Hall and the Maggitti Library in aiding Villanova’s campus master plan, which plans to utilize campus in a way that best meets present and future needs. According to Byrnes and Hoffman, the vision for Cabrini’s campus is not fully articulated or envisioned yet.

“Cabrini comes to Villanova on July 1, 2024,” Byrnes said. “But the thought is that we won’t start utilizing that part of our campus until even maybe the Fall of 2026, with the thought being that we want to do this well and we want to make sure that our students, faculty and staff experience that Villanova ‘home’ and that Villanova ‘community,’ wherever they happen to be.”

As the University continues to plan for Cabrini, it will continue sending people on campus tours. So, while Cabrini has no set plans for its future use, University representatives will help it “become what it is not yet.”

Literary Festival Hosts New Irish Studies Chair

Emma Cote Staff Writer

On March 14, the University hosted writer and lecturer from University College Dublin Emilie Pine, PhD for an evening reading as part of the Villanova Literary festival. The event takes place annually in the President’s lounge, where students enjoy live music, a community-wide reception and reading.

Each spring, Villanova designates an Irish writer to serve as the Charles A. Heimbold Jr. Chair of Irish Studies. Inaugurated in 2000, this coveted spot serves as one of the most prestigious positions nationwide for Irish Studies.

As a Heimbold professor, one normally teaches a creative writing course and a literature course. Following years, the University has hosted several impressive scholars and writers to fulfill this spot, includ-

ing Mike McKormac, Hannah Kahil and Irish-Nigerian author Emma Dabiri in 2022.

When previously interviewed by The Villanovan, Dabiri recognized her role as Heimbold Chair as one in which she could share her experience.

“[I am] a practicing writer who can share that first-hand experience of being a published writer with my students,” Dabiri said. “There can be some kind of practical application for students that want to be writers themselves, get into publishing or pursue any career in those kinds of spheres.”

This year, Pine served in this esteemed role. Regarded as a leading scholar and academic of Irish Cultural memory, Pine’s notable works include The Memory Marketplace: Witnessing Pain in Contemporary Theatre and Politics of Irish Memory: Performing Remembrance in Contemporary Irish Culture. Along

with these critical texts, Pine works alongside the National Folklore Collection to consistently work on her oral-history project, Survivors Stories.

Alongside her writing, Pine is an immensely acclaimed playwright. Her play Good Sex was shortlisted by the Irish Times for Best Production and Best New Play in 2023. To accompany her theatrical pursuits, Pine also has written Notes To Self, detailing many memories within her personal life, as well as Ruth and Pen, a critically acclaimed novel.

Notes to Self ultimately earned the award for Irish Book of the Year in 2018. Last year in a conversation with literary magazine Five Dials Pine affirms this work was not a memoir.

“I never call it a memoir,” Pine said. “I understand that it is, right, but I don’t call it that, because I associate memoirs with being written at the end. And it’s so not.”

On March 14, students, facul-

Villanova Alumna’s Book Aims

Lauren Armstrong Co-News Editor

Villanova is often perceived as a highly rigorous, academic-focused institution, with an emphasis on school spirit and high achievement.

Another aspect that makes Villanova unique without a fault is the different backgrounds and life experiences from which every student comes. For alumna Tracy Viola, her path to Villanova is not only unique, but it also inspired her soon to be published novel, Pretty Wrecked Pretty Wrecked is an autobiography in which Viola follows her own path to sobriety starting at a young age. Viola, who has been sober since the age of 19, was inspired to write this novel, in order to showcase that it is okay to speak about addiction, and to share both the best and worst parts

of individuals’ lives.

“People remember stories, and it is important to have these conversations and to learn from others and their backgrounds,” Viola said to The Villanovan

As a teenager, Viola battled her own addictions, and when she was 19, she finally became sober from all substances. After reaching sobriety, and finishing her high school education, Viola applied to college, and at first was rejected from Villanova.

After advocating for herself in front of the Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, Viola was accepted to Villanova, and began her college career during a time in which there was an increase in peer pressure and societal stigma around addiction less than two years into her sobriety and recovery.

“You can come into recovery young, stay sober, and still have fun,”

ty and staff gathered to listen to Pine as part of a series of events hosted by the English Department, the Creative Writing Program, Gender and Women’s Studies, the Center for Irish Studies, Center for Peace and Justice Education and Falvey Library.

Many students affirmed that they genuinely enjoyed the events.

One student who is interested in pursuing Irish Studies said that they felt excited with “how much effort the University put into events with the Irish Studies Department this month,” and that they felt “supported” in their academic interests because of events like these. Others chimed in explaining how interesting it was to hear from someone like Pine who was so immensely accomplished in an array of fields.

As the events come to a close and spring carries on, many are eager to see who will be chosen to serve as Hemibold Chair and await the next literary festival in 2025.

to Break Stigma

Viola said. In hopes of inspiring the next generation to learn about the harms of addiction, as well as teaching that it is okay, encouraged even, to advocate for their needs and need for help.

Viola wishes her work will help readers recognize that the stigma regarding mental and physical health needs to be changed, in order to get individuals the chance at recovery that she received.

“Anyone who wants to make a change can,” Viola said.

In college, Viola partook in peer education groups around healthy living and substance use education, leading her into her passion to helping and educating others.

After graduating from Villanova, Viola earned her Masters from Temple, and began work in the field of Psychology.

Last year, Viola had an epiph-

any that she was meant to share her story, and has been writing for the past eight months. She went from not talking about her issues with addiction and substance use, to becoming vocal about this part of her past.

“It is okay to talk about your story, and it is important to have these conversations, to learn from others and their backgrounds,” she said.

“My hope for Pretty Wrecked is that people do not see these things with a negative light,” Viola said. “It happens, and we need to spread light and awareness. By being open with my story, I hope to encourage others to do the same, and to help others learn to be mindful and respect the different backgrounds everyone comes from.”

From starting the process only within this past year, Pretty Wrecked is set to hit the shelves on April 9, and is currently available for presale.

Students Relax on Well-earned Spring Break

Finn Courtney Co-News Editor

With Spring Break in the rear-view mirror and Villanovans back to campus (if only for a couple weeks) many are still reminiscing about the good times, refreshing relaxations and joyous reunions with family and friends. Some, like certain members of The Villanovan , headed out to Key West, the Bahamas or back home for some R&R. But in totality, every Villanovan found a reward for a hard six weeks of work previously.

Freshman Jack Hartung looked forward to the time away. However he did not opt not for the heat of Punta Cana, Fort Lauderdale or other popular tropical destinations of the year. Instead, he went for the chilly slopes.

“I went skiing with my family in Beaver Creek, Colorado,” Hartung said. “It was an incredible trip with plenty of snow, food and slopes.”

Many, like Hartung, chose to get away with friends or with family for the week-long respite from the daily mundane. However, some, like fellow freshman Aidan McGovern, didn’t fly anywhere but instead hopped in the car with a friend from high school to visit another member of their friend group at his school.

“A friend from home and I road-tripped to Virginia to visit another friend at school,” McGovern said. “It was a shame that his break wasn’t aligned with ours, but

we were able to take advantage of the singular overlapping weekend and have a good time. [I am already looking] forward to the next break.”

While McGovern and Hartung both chose to get away for the break, Corey McCall spent his break at home, hanging out with his family after the six-week stretch at Villanova’s campus exclusively.

“My Spring Break definitely wasn’t too bad, it was just filled with doctors appointments and just got to catch up on work,” McCall said. “It was good to hang with family and enjoy the beautiful weather outside and go to the boardwalk with my siblings.”

Hartung certainly enjoyed his time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life at Villanova, but equally feels content with where he is in his first year while also feeling the break snapped away from him.

“The break felt too quick, but the end of the year is in sight,” Hartung said. “Easter’s right around the corner, and after that it’s only a month until finals.”

Fellow freshman Maddy Bean agrees, noting the fun of the break but also its relative quickness in length compared to other, more vast breaks like the multiweek Winter Break two months ago.

“I just went home to Virginia and chilled a bit, caught up with friends and family,” Bean said. “And the break was definitely relaxing, but [I] would have liked a little more time off from classes and school.”

Another comparison to Winter Break comes with the quickness of the turnabout of tests, quizzes and essays assigned the week or week after students’ return from their various vacations, despite the possibility of other commitments like attending either of Villanova’s Big East Tournament basketball games, fraternity and sorority events or any other number of activities.

For instance, Alex Markatos had the tall task of his workload increasing since his return from his relaxing break at home.

“I’ve felt the workload definitely increase since my return from break,” Markatos said, “Not to the point of it being overwhelming, but certainly noticeable.”

Students must also remember to continue pacing themselves so as not to suffer burnout at this critical juncture of the semester.

That means keeping up with your mental health, taking “me-time” and doing the simplest things to spark some joy and maintaining healthy study habits, not falling into the doldrums and traps that may seem so evertempting.

Sleep is also a necessity during this time, as while some may work late into the wee hours of the morning in Falvey, they are also sacrificing crucial sleep needed to maintain focus.

“It’s been a struggle to maintain a consistent sleep schedule,” Markatos said. “Work’s definitely been a major conflict on that front.”

As Villanovans trek their way through the remaining few weeks of the springsemester, rewards other then the impending break for Easter next week await, including NOVAdance this Saturday - an exciting event for all students.

Super Tuesday Enables a Trump vs. Biden Rematch

Isabella Carlin Political Columnist

Zoe Garrett Political Columnist

Super Tuesday, the most significant primary election date of this year’s election cycle, occurred over Villanova’s Spring Break on March 5, 2024. On this date, 15 of the country’s 50 states held their primary contests for both the Republican and Democratic parties. This date is particularly significant because the results of these elections result in the allocation of over a third of all delegates available to candidates, according to The New York Times. This year, the outcomes of these 15 states’ elections

provided Joe Biden with an absolute Democratic victory and Donald Trump with overwhelming, yet not complete, success in the Republican contest.

Biden dominated all 15 Super Tuesday elections, collecting 1,402 delegates from the day’s contests, according to AP News. This significant addition of delegates lifted Biden closer to the 1,968 delegate count necessary to reach in order to capture the Democratic nomination. Since the 5th, Biden has won in Hawaii, Georgia, Mississippi, the Northern Mariana Islands, Washington, Florida and Delaware, allowing his delegate count to surpass the 1,969 threshold.

Biden’s success thus far has been absolute, as he has triumphed in every Democratic primary held as of March 17. In fact, of the 25 states and

territories which have allocated their delegates, only four states have not granted all of their available delegates to Biden, AP News reported.

On the Republic side, Trump defeated Nikki Haley and became the presumptive nominee of the party. Following the results of Super Tuesday, Trump had 1,273 delegates total, while Haley had 94.

“They call it Super Tuesday for a reason,” Trump said at his victory speech. “This is a big one. And they tell me, the pundits and otherwise, that there’s never been one like this. There’s never been anything so conclusive. This was an amazing night, an amazing day. It’s been an incredible period of time in our country’s history. It’s been sad, in so many ways. But I think it’s going to

be inspiring because we’re going to do something that, frankly, nobody’s been able to do for a long time.”

In response to Trump’s victory, Haley announced the suspension of her campaign the next morning in her home state of South Carolina.

“But the time has now come to suspend my campaign,” Haley said. “I said I wanted Americans to have their voices heard. I have done that. I have no regrets. And although I will no longer be a candidate, I will not stop using my voice for the things I believe in.”

Americans will have the opportunity to have their voices heard in the upcoming months leading to the election. The next primary occurred on March 19 in the states of Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kansas and Ohio.

Students return back to campus after a restful spring break. Brian Luppy/Villanovan Photography

Former President Donald Trump is ready for a rematch against Democratic opponent. Courtesy of Shutterstock

Incumbent Joe Biden is gearing up for the 2024 Presidential Election after winning the primary. Courtesy of Shutterstock

OPINION

Guest Judge Duncan Undermines Villanova’s Values

Avery Chalk Co-Opinion Editor

In a sponsored program entitled, “Free Speech and Higher Education,” Judge Kyle Duncan hosted an open discussion at Villanova Law School. Per a press release from the University’s McMullen Center, the event was advertised to address campus illiberalism, the constitutional nature of free speech in academic settings and Judge Duncan’s experience with student protestors at Stanford Law School (SLS) in 2023.

Duncan should not have been invited to speak at Villanova. For a school that prides itself on truth, unity and love, its praise of a figurehead that promotes the very opposite of these values is nothing short of disappointing. Duncan has demonstrated a blatant lack of respect for minority communities, specifically LGBTQ-identifying persons. His presence on campus is a direct threat to those whom his actions have personally touched.

Duncan was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit by former President Donald Trump. As a right-wing traditionalist, Duncan has made several decisions during his tenure that uphold conservative values. These include direct attacks on reproductive care, LGBTQ+ rights and transgender identity.

For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Duncan supported a Texas ban on abortions under the pretense of a public health crisis. He also made a series of decisions that hindered abortion access in Louisiana and Mississippi, among other southern states. Additionally, in 2015, he argued before the Supreme Court against the constitutionality of same-sex marriage.

Duncan has also openly stated discriminatory views from the bench, using hostile and derogatory comments toward transgender-identifying individuals. In United States v. Varner, a transgender female motioned to change the name on the record to reflect her identity correctly. Duncan refused the motion, speaking in great

My colleagues and I read with interest the opinion piece by Natalie Murphy on whether ACS, a required course, is a “Blessing or Curse?” This is an important question, and, as the director of the program since 2021, I’d like to better inform the conversation.

As a first-year seminar, ACS is a skills course, and Murphy rightly noted the positive benefits of ACS on student writing. In surveys, many students have reported that they appreciate the opportunity to work on their discussion and public speaking skills. They also enjoy sharing a seminar with students from all four colleges.

On average, nearly five dozen

detail about why courts should not be compelled to grant such a request.

Duncan’s more recent notoriety stems from a 2023 encounter at SLS. There, Duncan was invited to speak at an event open to both law and undergraduate students of the University. According to the Stanford Daily, his program was slated to cover, “Guns, Covid, and Twitter.” Several LBGTQ activist groups petitioned to cancel the event or re-organize via Zoom to prevent the negative influence that his presence would spark on campus. SLS declined, giving Duncan the chance to speak.

At the event, student protestors probed Duncan with questions regarding his values and legal decision-making. Stanford University’s Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Tirien Steinbach, also partook (and has since been declared by SLS to be “on leave”). Duncan condemned the protestors’ actions, stating that it was well within his rights to speak on a private campus as a guest. However, the event garnered national controversy given the intolerant nature of his program content.

Duncan’s event masqueraded as a celebration of free speech and personal liberty. However, opinions that intrinsically alienate multiple subsects of students should not be praised. The University’s decision to host Duncan was not empowering. It merely created the means to perpetuate hateful belief systems.

Like Stanford, Villanova is a private institution. Thus, it is not

bound by the First Amendment’s guarantee of federally-protected free speech. This understanding is baked into the price of Villanova tuition: students pay for certain privileges that do not apply on state-funded campuses.

At this event, Judge Duncan recognized this fact. He supported Villanova’s role as a non-state actor, saying, “As a private organization, [Villanova] ought to be able to set their own rules. The principles of free speech have particular purchase at this kind of institution, and any self-respecting religious university should allow debates to take place even if they’re outside a specific realm of beliefs.”

Can Villanova legally abide by a different set of rules as a private entity? Yes. Nevertheless, Villanova must ensure that the well-being of all students is protected. There is a substantial lack of diversity at Villanova Law School. Cyclically, this sustains a culture where one group is catered to instead of all. The overwhelming majority of white, cisgender, upper-class students may not feel threatened by Duncan’s presence on campus. Yet, there remains a vibrant community of students who feel otherwise. Their needs matter, too.

Cristina McNish, a political science student, stated that Duncan’s presence at school would cultivate an unsafe environment. Furthermore, she attests that he will cause divides among the existing student body.

“Bringing [Judge Duncan] to campus may silence or alienate

ACS: Letter to the Editors

instructors from a wide range of disciplines teach at least one section. None of us is an expert on all of the texts. Instead, we are proficient at teaching academic skills like good writing and modeling how to gain competence and confidence in engaging a diverse set of unfamiliar and challenging texts by reading, discussing, and learning along with our students.

I agree with Murphy that the ACS reading list would benefit from greater overlap across all 115-plus sections. Beginning this semester, all sections of Moderns will read Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and Kant’s “What is Enlightenment?” and be introduced to the four concepts of Catholic Social Thought: human dignity, solidarity, subsidiarity and the Common Good, so as to gain a shared Augustinian

students who hold differing beliefs, hinder open dialogue and foster division among the student body,” McNish said. “Given his harmful ideologies and practices, his right to speak on this campus seems absolutely unwarranted.”

Mike Whaley, another hopeful law student, agreed that Villanova’s decision to host Duncan was unethical. He also offered a more nuanced look at the long-term cost of promoting similar events.

“At such a notoriously conservative school, you’re going to get a less diverse application pool,” Whaley said. “You’re going to tailor things to the needs of those students, specifically if they are of only one racial, cultural or socioeconomic group. At the end of the day, only offering one side of the narrative is setting students up for failure. If you cannot understand multiple sides of an argument or make an emotional relationship with your clients because they are different from you, you’re not going to be a good lawyer.”

Whaley’s point rings true, especially when looking at Villanova’s alleged goals for its ideal graduate. The University prides itself on cultivating perceptive students with transferable skills, prepared to conquer a competitive job market. However, this well-roundedness is impossible to achieve without full exposure to diverse experiences.

This is not to say that conservative speakers should be universally banned from Villanova, or that the University must constantly promote a “woke agenda.” The problem arises when a single point of view not only prevails over, but actively diminishes, other opinions. Duncan simply does not offer any new perspectives that justify the risk of promoting hate. Several similar speakers were also recently welcomed to Villanova Law, such as Judge Chad Readler. Like Duncan, Readler is a Trump-appointed Republican Judge. Through its chosen speakers, Villanova perpetuates a certain voice, at the expense of others.

Villanova must strive to support the entirety of its student body. All voices, backgrounds and opinions matter, and they deserve to be treated as such.

and Catholic vocabulary.

One criticism of ACS mentioned is it does not help anyone to choose a major. That’s not its purpose. Students have advisors (and other courses) for that. ACS is a pre-disciplinary course. That is, a course before students go on to become specialists in their respective fields and separated by colleges, they gather to ask big questions about the meaning and purpose of their educations, careers and indeed of their lives. If we wait to ask these questions, we may be more likely to find, as Augustine did, that even a successful career may not be fulfilling, or, as the main character in Tolstoy’s novella The Death of Ivan Ilych did, that there are terrible consequences to putting off too long asking the question, “What to me is a life worth living?”

Finally, my colleagues and I

do not want students to think that, just because they have read, for instance, Plato’s Symposium, the Gospel of Mark or discussed a question such as, “What constitutes a life worth living?” in ACS, they have thereby studied philosophy, theology or ethics. These foundational disciplines are varied, rich, fun and beneficial. But ACS is not intended as a substitute introduction to them. Rather, ACS equips students to discover the potentially life-changing connections between them.

If one would like to help shape the future of ACS, please consider joining the ACS Student Advisory Board. The Board, a collaborative effort between ACSP and members of SGA, specifically Dean Millard and Aleko Zeppos, will put out a call soon for ambassadors from all four colleges and from all four years.

Judge Duncan spoke at John F. Scarpa Hall on Villanova’s West Campus on Monday. Graydon Paul/ Villanova Photography

Dr. Gregory Hoskins Faculty Contributor

EDITORIAL BOARD LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

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.

Sade Santana Staff Writer

continued from pg. 1

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.

Lack of Inclusion Within Stanford

that Villanova preaches about,” Fluellen said. “Also, I felt like I didn’t have people to go to, because people don’t understand my experience as a Black woman on campus. I was already going through a lot and there’s not a lot of us on campus, so I felt like my voice couldn’t be heard.”

Socially, living in Stanford as a POC is a challenging experience simply because of the lack of effort put into making sure all students feel welcomed and that conflicts like Fluellen’s are resolved.

To attest to this experience, I have also experienced many conflicts in Stanford just because of the way I go about living in this public space. As an Afro-Latina, little things such as washing my hair, doing makeup in the bathroom, even just brushing my teeth or walking in the hallways in Stanford earned me dirty looks, which just goes to show the uncomfortable environment Stanford already presents for students of color, just by their existing in these spaces. This is just one of the many examples from Fluellen’s perspective, which is more than enough to speak to how POC residents are treated in these residence halls in South Campus. But why?

“[White people] aren’t used

In the last few weeks, Congress has been abuzz with a controversial piece of legislation: the banning of TikTok. The bill has received outstanding bipartisan support, with only 50 Democrats and 15 Republicans voting against it in the House of Representatives.

Supporters of the bill cite concerns that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance (a Chinese company), could be working with the CCP against American interests. Although there is no conclusive evidence that supports this theory, TikTok could be selling data to the Chinese government and manipulating users’ “For You Page” to display pro-Chinese content and influence American elections. TikTok has also received criticism for propagating hate content and conspiracy theories. It is also criticized for its algorithm failing to promote minority content creators.

However, these accusations have also been associated with

to seeing a lot of [Black people] because they come from the suburbs and different environments,” Fluellen said.

I feel like it would be beneficial for Residential Life to have RAs host DEI events for their residents to engage in, instead of only having these discussions during orientation, when the majority of students aren’t tuning in. Having these discussions more would help to prevent or lessen these conflicts for future POC freshman residents. Speaking to the conditions of Stanford, it has been proven notorious for not being the cleanest and most up-to-date com-

pared to the other residential halls on South Campus.

“One thing I will say, though, is that [the bathrooms] were very dirty. I would communicate this, but no one would listen, so I feel like that would be the only thing, especially with me being a Black person, and everyone in my wing being, for the most part, white,” Eyan said.

I lived on the fifth floor of Stanford, which is notorious for being the loudest, most crowded and unsanitary floor because of the amount of constant people-traffic.

The fifth floor, and other

other social media companies and countries. Several United States intelligence agencies concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election. Facebook received national backlash due to the prevalence of misinformation that supposedly influenced the 2020 election, for which Mark Zuckerberg was called before Congress to testify, much like TikTok CEO Shou Chew was.

The hearings of both CEOs displayed politicians’ lack of technological awareness. However, there were clear differences. Chew’s hear-

ing, which was supposed to be focused on child safety, instead contained multiple questions about his relationship with the CCP and his citizenship ( lawmakers seemed to be skeptical of his Singaporean nationality).

That said, I believe I personally witnessed TikTok’s algorithm manipulation in the weeks that followed the hearing. My feed was flooded with edits of Chew’s hearing portraying him in a heroic light despite my clicking “Not Interested” on each post.

As for TikTok’s struggles with keeping its content equitable and hate-free, what platform doesn’t

public places in Stanford are not always maintained as often as they should, and residents often have to wait until the next school day to have these public spaces cleaned, which are almost constantly in disarray or are just left overall disgusting by noon. This is a significant problem, especially since Stanford houses approximately 520 residents. There should be a more frequent cleaning cycle, and residents should be reprimanded, or at least there should be floor meetings discussing these cleanliness issues, instead of sweeping residents’ behaviors under the rug.

suffer from the same issues? Social media has a tendency to create echo chambers around its users, radicalizing them by showing only certain content.

Concerns over the privacy of users’ data are absolutely valid. However, these should be addressed through legislation that ensures the security of all social media users across all platforms. Other companies also collect and sell user data, TikTok has been targeted for its association with China.

All of this is to say that the solution lies in passing legislation that regulates social media, not banning TikTok, specifically.

For all of TikTok’s faults, it also showcases many benefits. Lesser-known artists, activists and politicians have used it to raise awareness about themselves and other issues.

Frankly, in my opinion, the argument that TikTok shouldn’t be banned because people my age (myself included) enjoy it isn’t particularly relevant. TikTok shouldn’t be banned because doing so would be an infringement upon free speech.

Stanford Hall is a freshman dorm located in the epicenter of South Campus. Brian Luppy/ Villanovan Photography

Thanks to the “TikTok Ban,’ the future of the app looks uncertain. Courtesy of Shutterstock

Defending Dissent: Judge Duncan Must Speak

Ryan Silverstein

Law Student Contributor

Judge Kyle Duncan of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals spoke at Villanova’s McCullen Center on Monday, March 18. Some students and faculty in the broader university community were calling for him to be deplatformed due to his allegedly abhorrent judicial philosophy and controversial choice of clients.

This is problematic on two levels. First, as an institution of higher education, we should embrace all of the cultural and social virtues of free speech that are protected by the First Amendment. Second, it is concerning that radicals are imputing to an attorney the views of his clients; a position which undermines our legal system by chilling the representation of parties with unpopular causes. Although Villanova is a private university not subject to the First Amendment, it, and every other institution of higher learning, is duty-bound to uphold free speech as a core societal and educational value. Villanova should not yield to self-righteous demagogues seeking to silence dissent in the name of “social justice.”

Free speech in America can be traced to the early 18th century, when a series of letters were published under the pseudonym

“Cato,” which framed free speech as the “great bulwark of liberty.” These letters greatly influenced early Americans, who feared that a government willing to quash speech would trample on other rights and liberties. Indeed, free speech was so important to our ancestors that the Second United States Congress enshrined it in our Constitution as the very first Amendment-making it the bedrock of our constitutional order.

This feature exemplifies the American people’s commitment to protecting unpopular speech. For example, in 1798, the Democratic-Republicans condemned the Alien & Sedition Acts in the Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions by referencing First Amendment principles. Next, in 1977, hateful speech propagated by Nazi groups was preserved in the name of free speech. Finally, in 1989, burning the American Flag was similarly protected on free speech grounds. Free speech is still so ingrained in American law and culture that prominent civil liberties organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression list compelling reasons for the protection of free speech on their respective websites. Free speech has consistently been revered by the masses regardless of one’s personal beliefs. Indeed, it is historically one

of the few truly bipartisan issues.

The social value of free speech is just as clear. First, free speech is the cornerstone of civil society. Free speech has allowed us to build a system of government where our disputes are not resolved through violence or intimidation but through politics and courts of law instead. Stifling dissent undermines our constitutional order by creating a majoritarian state where dissenters have no say in their government. Second, restricting speech distorts the marketplace of ideas resulting in group-think. Group-think leads to the outcast of dissenters in the name of a supposed “common good.” On the other hand, an unfettered marketplace allows for the best ideas to succeed, facilitating societal growth and progress. Contrary to their statements, those calling to deplatform Judge Duncan are not acting to protect marginalized groups on campus. Rather, their chief goal is to ensure that insubordination to liberal orthodoxy is not tolerated.

As a lawyer-in-training, I am disturbed that extremists would conflate a client’s views with the views of his attorney. These same agitators also believe that attorneys who represent unpopular clients, or those whose judicial philosophies with which they disagree should be socially ostracized and professionally punished. This undermines our

legal system in two ways. First, it destroys due process by preventing both sides from attaining adequate counsel. Second, it precludes attorneys from effectively advocating for their clients by restraining the substance of their arguments. Our adversarial legal system only works if all parties have effective counsel who can zealously advocate on their behalf. According to these extremists’ logic, John Adams should have been disciplined for his committed representation of the British Soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre. These fanatics have gotten their way in the past at other universities, most notably, the now-disgraced former President of Harvard University Claudine Gay played a key role in the cancelling of Professor Ronald Sullivan in 2019 because he represented an unpopular client. Villanova can avoid Harvard’s shame by resisting these left-wing zealots whose objective is to ensure due process only for those who share their convictions.

Prohibiting Judge Duncan from speaking only facilitates the goals of discontent leftist militants who oppose the virtues of free speech. Rather than censor Judge Duncan, Villanova should pursue alternatives for dissatisfied community members to express their displeasure. Villanova must defend dissent by allowing Judge Duncan to speak.

Villanova Honors Women’s History Month

Srihi Surapaneni Staff Writer

March marks Women’s History Month, a time to acknowledge and commemorate the previously unsung accomplishments of women of the past. Across campus, Villanova recognizes the importance of celebrating the pioneering women of the past while also uplifting the women of the present. This includes holding conversations centered around women’s mental health in the workplace in Villanova’s School of Business, events held by the McNulty Institute encouraging women’s leadership and talks from inspiring Villanova alumna sponsored by Villanova Law School.

Women’s History Month encourages one to see past the typical male-dominated historical narratives that relegate women to secondary roles at best and completely omit their contributions from the record at worst. Women’s history goes deeper than just the well-known suffragettes, such as Susan B. Anthony, who are idolized year after year. Women have been equal contributors since the beginning of human history, but the vast majority are simply forgotten while the historical contributions of men receive all the fame. These women of all backgrounds contributed to every aspect of society, from Catharine Beecher, who promoted equal access to education, to social activists like Claudette Colvin, who stood up to racial inequality. Women’s history is more than a subcategory

of history. The work of women is all-encompassing and has been interwoven throughout all of history.

It’s important that we don’t limit attention to just one month and instead continually recognize and learn from the women working hard to make change in the world, from the well-known to those in our own lives.

Terri Boyer, Founding Director of the McNulty Institute for Women’s Leadership and associate professor, emphasizes the importance of Women’s History Month.

“We don’t always honor or recognize the contributions that women made and continue to make in our economy, government, in our culture and all of these places where women have made an impact but their stories aren’t told,” Boyer said. “But on the other hand, I feel conflicted about history months because we should be honoring women’s contributions all the time.”

Boyer encourages Villanova students to actively seek out the stories of these contributions through the McNulty Institute’s Leadership Diaries. This is a collection of stories seeking to promote the stories of women who act as leaders in the capacity of their communities and day-to-day lives.

Current featured stories include those of Michele Pistone, a lawyer working to protect refugees; Cicely Muldoon, the superintendent of Yosemite who has dedicated herself to protecting the beauty of its nature and Candace Robertson-James, who uses her experience as a public school teacher in her promotion of public health.

The Leadership Diaries shine a spotlight on the remarkable women of our time to ensure that they are not overlooked as the women of the past were and that they are recognized for all of their inspiring work within their lifetimes instead of during another Women’s History Month 50 years from now.

In recent history, women have made incredible strides and progress, so it can be easy to disregard the importance of continuing to honor women’s stories. In fact, it’s easy to forget that women only were able to attend Villanova starting in 1938. But we cannot grow complacent in that progress. It’s essential that we keep the stories of the legendary women of

the past alive in order to preserve the legacy of their commitment and ensure that their fight is seen. We also must continue to notice the women of today who carry on that legacy in their own battles against gender inequality, and in their efforts to better their communities.

Villanova’s observation of Women’s History Month emphasizes not just the brave women of the past, but also the importance of taking in their stories and applying them toward empowering the women of today. But after this March comes to an end, be sure to take notice of and be inspired by the trailblazing women all around you.

The women’s basketball team serves as a reminder to support all women’s sports Ryan Sarbello / Villanovan Photography

The Reality of Being a Jewish College Student

Katie Pichanick Staff Writer

As a 20-year-old Jewish woman, I take pride in my identity. I went to Jewish day school for six years, synagogue for high holidays and shabbat dinners at my grandparents’ every Friday night. This culture that I have grown up in makes me who I am, but it is also the part of me that I have become afraid to be.

Since I was little, I have been taught that I will be hated for who I am. To be careful about who I surround myself with and be careful about who I share my identity with. Over time, people like me have been hated for the line of people they have come from and the culture that we have inherited. I would ask my mom, “Why?” But I never got a satisfying answer, because there never was one. As a Jew, I am despised for being too successful, taking up space, being dirty, greedy, ugly and for so many other things. No one wants Jews to succeed. “For what reason?” is a question I ask myself every single day.

Since Oct. 7, antisemitism has risen to record high levels, levels we haven’t seen since the 1940s. It’s everywhere, and one place where it has run wild is college campuses. Students are

Sof Quaglia Satire Columnist

The following content is purely satirical. Don’t believe everything you read!

Happy Women’s History Month. I think this month is a very important time to remember that all women are really just girls at the end of the day, and March is the time to cut them some slack. Let a girl live.

So, in honor of this wonderful month, I’d like to share 10 things that people should allow me and all women to do this month without any ridicule or judgment. Ladies, feel free to add whatever else is necessary to this list so you have a wonderful month.

1.) I’m just a girl, let me rot

harassed, doxxed and assaulted for their identity. Personally, I have known students who have been outed for being Jewish on anonymous platforms, causing room for angry people to have a person to place their hatred on. This is terrifying.

One college campus where antisemitism has been an issue is at a college near Villanova: the University of Pennsylvania. The former president, Liz Magill, failed to answer questions that should have been no-brainers while at a hearing with other college presidents. She was asked if calls for the genocide of Jews would violate school policies. She could not answer. Why? Why couldn’t she say that calling for the genocide of Jews was bad and that the call would be bullying or harassment? Thankfully Magill resigned, but why were Jewish students forced to be put in this position? Why couldn’t she condemn the harassment and alienation of Jews? After this hearing, questions kept me up at night. Why can’t my life be looked at the same as everybody else’s? Why can’t the safety of Jewish students be just as important as the person sitting next to them in class? Why, why, why? None of these questions have clear answers, and this has been an incredibly difficult pill for

me to swallow. We just have to be okay with it. We have to sit back, watch and do nothing about it. At least that is what we are expected to do. I don’t want to do that anymore. I am tired of watching stereotypes run wild on the internet that have no basis for being true. I am tired of seeing Jews being assaulted, harassed and in some cases killed

Sof Says: I’m Just a Girl

in bed. If I don’t have any responsibilities, and there are no emergencies, I will be on my phone in bed, and that is something you should respect.

2.) I’m just a girl, let me have ice cream for dinner. This is especially important if you see me eating the soft serve at Spit before I eat an actual meal. I’m going to need you to look away.

3.) I’m just a girl, let me cry while I do my homework. Listen, I can’t speak for all the girls who go here, but I know I’m stressed right now. So, if I need to cry in the library while studying for my chemistry exam, you’re going to need to let me. It’s the only thing getting me through.

4.) I’m just a girl, let me watch Grey’s Anatomy’s Season 20 in peace. I know it’s bad, and I know it should’ve been canceled

for wearing a kippah or a Star of David. I am tired of seeing hatred targeted at my Jewish friends and family members for not doing anything other than being themselves. I am tired. But it’s not just me. We are all tired and afraid. Nevertheless, I wear my Star of David to show that I am proud of who I am, and to show that my people are not going anywhere.

years ago. But, please, it’s all I have. Let me watch my bad medical drama and get some entertainment.

5.) I’m just a girl, let me blast Noah Kahan’s music in the shower. There is nothing wrong with listening to Noah Kahan at full volume any month of the year, but especially this month. If you hear him screaming the words to “Paul Revere” in the hallway, don’t complain to the RA.

6.) I’m just a girl, let me say something incorrect sometimes. I will preface by saying that I am literally never wrong, so if you hear me say something wrong, shut up. That’s what I meant to say. You’re actually the one who’s wrong.

7.) I’m just a girl, let me say I’m locking in but never actually lock in. Sometimes, I just need a little more time to talk and not do homework, so don’t remind me

that I said I was going to lock in. I’ll get there eventually.

8.) I’m just a girl, let me have a high screen time. First of all, why do you care what my screen time is? Are you my optometrist? Let me stare at the little box of light and smile. It’s better than a lobotomy.

9.) I’m just a girl, let me tell you the same story twice. If I start telling you a story you’ve already heard, don’t tell me. I’m about to tell you something either really funny or really brilliant, and you should be lucky to hear it twice. You actually should’ve taken notes the first time, so I’m doing you a favor.

10.) I’m just a girl, literally just let me live. Don’t question me. For this one month, just trust that I know what I’m doing. And, if I don’t, let me make the mistake. It’s better for the plot, anyway.

Part of the ‘girlhood experience’ for some is eating soft serve for dinner. Courtesy of Shutterstock

Pichanick recounts her experience on Villanova’s campus as a Jewish College Student. Graydon Paul / Villanovan Photography

Sof cites laying in bed on the phone as a part of the girlhood experience. Courtesy of Shutterstock

CULTURE

Villanova Literary Festival Welcomes Tracy K. Smith

Julia O’Keefe Staff Writer

Villanova warmly welcomed 22nd Poet Laureate of the United States and esteemed author Tracy K. Smith to campus on March 12 to read selections of her poetry as part of the 26th Annual Villanova Literary Festival.

Originally from Massachusetts, Smith is Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, memoirist, editor, translator and opera librettist. She earned a B.A. from Harvard University and an MFA in creative writing from Columbia University. Smith is the author of four books of poetry, including Pulitzer Prize-winning Life on Mars and “Wade in the Water”.

As U.S. Poet Laureate from 2017 to 2019, Smith led American Conversations: Celebrating Poems in Rural Communities with the Library of Congress, in which she visited rural communities around the U.S. giving out copies of her anthology, American Journal: Fifty Poems for Our Time, to spread messages about the power of poetry. She also created the American Public Media podcast “The Slowdown,” which seeks to help listeners understand their shared humanity through poetry. Smith is currently a professor of English, African and African American studies at Harvard University and a Susan S. and Kenneth L. Wallach Professor at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute.

Seniors Ken Guadagnino and Jaden Cahoon, members of the English Department’s Authors On and Off the Page course, which runs in conjunction with the Literary Festival, introduced Smith, presenting an overview of her accomplishments and the selections from which she would read.

“Among today’s readings, we ex-

plore her collection “Wade in the Water”, which explores subjects of race, family and divinity through the lens of song, erasure and revelation,” Guadagnino said. “I found myself captured by Smith’s emphasis on love, and the beauty she is able to convey through a walk-through nature, or a passing conversation.”

“Once I finished reading it, I had to go back and read the 13 pages again, just to make sure I did not miss a single word,” Cahoon said. “To write in such a way that elicits raw emotion, I can only agree with Hilton Als of The New Yorker, who called Smith’s poetry a ‘gorgeous struggle.’ What better way to describe a body of work that dances across themes with all the grace you would expect from a poet such as Smith.”

Smith began by reading selections from Life on Mars, a collection inspired by her father’s death as she imagined the world he left this one to go to.

“It’s thinking about the universe as a way of extrapolating from current affairs and also as a way of imagining the afterlife,” Smith said of Life on Mars. “I’m very invested in what it means to live with a soul and to feel an attachment to other souls across space and time”

From there, Smith moved into reading selections from “Wade in the Water”, a collection of poems named after the spiritual that guided many enslaved African Americans along the Underground Railroad to freedom. According to Smith, it laments the loss of a different age while also encouraging both the writer and reader to rise and meet the high stakes of our ever-changing world.

“The poems work through the pains of American history like slavery and the Civil War, and even the anxieties of today,” Cahoon said in his opening remarks. “They hurt, yes, but in them there is also an undeniable hope for a better future. The collection forces a reader

to question, to reflect, and to consider what they know to be sacred, special and divine.”

“It’s a declaration of a courage that in my ordinary life is hard to muster,” Smith said.

“Wade in the Water’s” title poem comes last in the collection. Smith was inspired to write this particular poem following her experience at a ring shout in Georgia, a religious ritual in which people sing spirituals to honor enslaved people who would have sung those songs on plantations in the southern United States. Smith noted the sense of communion she hoped to convey with her words, acknowledging “Wade in the Water” is a spiritual song sung by many who understood they may never make it to freedom, but hoped the generations to follow would have a stronger chance.

During the Q&A portion of the event, attendees asked Smith where she finds her inspiration and what advice she would give to young writers. Smith said

she is typically interested in stories that have been marginalized or downplayed in our culture, finding solace in giving a voice to those who do not necessarily have an accessible space to speak up.

“I’m eager to hear from people who don’t always get the mic,” she said. “I get excited when I meet someone in the archive. It’s like when you’re in love. You want to tell everyone. I just want everyone to hear these voices that are so essential.”

As for her advice to young writers, Smith stressed the importance of trust and humility.

“We live in a world where it’s possible to get attention instantly, and that can become a motivation, but art is a long game,” she said. “It’s important and useful to become comfortable working quietly, under the radar. Make that privacy part of your practice as an artist.”

For more information on the Villanova Literary Festival and upcoming author visits, visit https://www1.villanova.edu/.

Ellipsis Magazine: Pages and Pages of Student Art

Cali Carss Staff Writer

If students are looking for an on-campus organization that allows full artistic expression and creativity, Ellipsis Magazine may be the place for them. Published annually in May, Ellipsis focuses on all kinds of literary art. Its past publications have included a variety of poems, doodles, drawings and paintings. This unique, creative approach is a reminder to the student body that anything can be art, and all forms of self-expression are valued and valid.

This year, the magazine’s

theme is “Déjà Vu.” The announcement, made in November, cites this subject as being “where past, present and future all meet.”

“Every year, we hold a BYOT (bring your own theme) meeting where anyone on staff can pitch a theme, and then we vote,” President of Operations and Editor-in-Chief Lu Nogueira said. This year, like many others, the theme is more of an “amalgamation of a few different themes, and the title just stuck,” according to Nogueira.

Submissions are due by March 20 through the magazine’s email. It is important to note that

while fitting into the theme is a bonus, it is not necessary. Along with encouraging submissions of all kinds, Ellipsis hosted a poetry workshop on March 19 in the West Lounge, in case last minute creativity struck or artists wanted feedback on their work before officially submitting it.

“Ellipsis loves to see unique pieces,” Nogueira said. “Our mission with the magazine is to expand what can be defined as art – we’ve gotten everything from traditional paintings to text messages.”

While always screening for quality, the Ellipsis staff is constantly on the lookout for fun new approaches to art to include in the magazine.

“Ellipsis is an awesome opportunity to share your art, what-

ever it may be, with the community,” Nogueira said.

The emphasis on inclusion and fun is a crucial part of the magazine and provides a unique creative space for students. The freedom Ellipsis promises its artists gives the magazine a more light-hearted feel, and the staff hopes that their approach will draw in more aspiring artists.

“It’s a small enough publication that the exposure is welcoming, rather than intimidating,” Nogueira said. “It is a super cool thing to get involved in. We accept basically anything that can be displayed on a piece of paper. When in doubt, submit what you have anyways.”

Send submissions to their email: ellipsis@villlanova.edu.

Villanova proudly hosted Tracy K. Smith this past Tuesday on campus. Courtesy of Villanova English Department

There is still time to submit your work to be featured in the 2023-2024 edition. Courtesy of Ellipsis Magazine

The beautiful work of Lu Nogueira displayed in the 2022-2023 edition of the magazine. Courtesy of Ellipsis Magazine

VillaVogue: Spring Trends Preview

Darling Maxi Skirt

Ciara Dursee Staff Writer

Wave a bittersweet goodbye to the winter season because spring is in the air. There is a warm breeze sweeping through Bryn Mawr, and it is time to pack up puffer jackets and toss them in the back of the closet.

Spring is encapsulated by pastel colors, floral elegance and loose clothing, with an emphasis on sweet charm. It is not just about the clothes but about how each individual dresses with unique vigor. The passion, feeling and expression we bring to our attire inadvertently showcases our genuine identity.

This upcoming spring, it is time to bring back timeless basic tees, beloved flowy skirts and versatile light-wash Levi jeans. These pieces withstand the test of time, making them staples that never fail to impress.

On the other hand, 2024 is the time to unlock new possibilities in the fashion world. With valuable inspiration derived from runway fashion, VillaVogue is here to encourage unexplored trends, transforming classic spring looks into something innovative and fresh.

The wait is over. Let’s discuss some key elements and crucial additions to one’s wardrobe this coming season. Better yet, below are five specific outfit suggestions featuring up-and-coming pieces.

Maxi skirts are becoming a graceful essential, hanging in almost everyone’s closets. Specifically, Zara’s white midi swing skirt. This stylish must-have skirt falls right above the ankles and matches any basic tank top. To complete the vision, pair a high-neck shirt with a slightly oversized knit cardigan. I recommend Reformation’s Jessa cotton cardigan or any sweater with a V-neck cut and buttons down the front. As for shoes, Vejas has been a hit recently. The Veja Volley suede-trimmed leather sneakers add a unique vintage twist. To finish it off, a half-uphalf-down hairstyle with a ribbon tied in a bow will fully complete the endearing outfit.

Tasteful Twill Vest

Mom Jeans. If you don’t have them in your drawer already, it’s time to loosen up those purse strings and head to the nearest Zara, Pacsun, Urban Outfitters or Madewell. Now for the star of the show: a twill vest. With a V-neck and an elegant button-down design, the blouse completes a chic and sophisticated outfit. For a warm color palette, I suggest selecting a vest in a pastel tone. To top it all off, Tory Burch classic dark brown or black loafers. In 2023, loafers had a resurgence in popularity, especially in women’s fashion. With a multitude of styling options, they add a brilliant flair to every outfit. As for hair, I suggest going with a slicked back

ponytail to fulfill the well-kept, clean look.

Sweet Sweet Sundress

One can never go wrong with a delicate, loose maxi sundress. Floral, checkered, striped or even a solid pastel color: the choice is yours. This versatile, floaty dress is a comfortable option when it comes to spring clothing. Just in case of a midday spring chill, a cream-colored Nico cardigan will be perfect to tie around your neck. While sandals are a typical choice to pair with a dress, a casual pair of sneakers are a comfortable, fun alternative. I urge everyone to try the Adidas Country OG Leather or New Balance 574 Leather-trimmed suede sneakers, two cute options to finalize the outfit.

Peplum Elegance

Peplum tops are a charming staple piece with flattering ruffles around the waistline. For this outfit, the Whisper strapless peplum top in a solid color paired with any wide-leg, white jeans will make the picture-perfect combination. For a bit of color, the Anine Bing signature link belt in a brown shade, gold buckle, is a recommended piece in runway fashion. One shoe that has been making a remarkable allure in rising fashion trends has been espadrilles, specifically COS leather Mary Jane ballet flats paired with jeans. These functional, everyday shoes with smooth leather and flat soles have people asking for more. If you want to enhance the look even further, you

you are in luck: thick headbands are back in style and would coordinate beautifully with the elegant peplum top.

Valiant Maxi Denim Skirt

I am all for dressing in light colors in the spring. However, a bold dark hue in an outfit scheme never fails. If anything, it is a daring technique. Maxi denim skirts have returned for another season, but this time, they are here to stay. The Agolde Hilla denim maxi skirt, 90s-inspired, is a trustworthy choice. There are several other reliable brands, including Zara, Garage and H&M. While denim can be seen as a simplistic choice, the most fun part of this outfit is choosing a top to amplify the look. When matching a dark-wash denim skirt, a high-neck black tank top is the way to go. A perfect shoe choice for this outfit is the beloved black loafers with gold buckles made by Steve Madden. For accessories, practical and stylish, an Isabel Marant Kastria leather belt suits the look just right. Slick your hair back into a tight bun and you have accomplished a daring, confident spring ambiance.

The shift in seasons is always a welcome opportunity to unite new styles with past ones and find your perfect wardrobe. Even still, in the world of evolving fashion, you make the rules. Take these suggestions with a grain of salt. Only you have the power to find styles that make you confident and express your personality best.

The Day the World Stopped: Covid at Four-Years

Sofia Krzewicki Staff Writer

On March 13, 2020, COVID-19 was declared a national emergency. Now, four years later, the pandemic has claimed the lives of 1.2 million Americans and seven million worldwide.

I remember that day so vividly. I was a sophomore in high school. I had just hopped off the bus and waved “good-bye” to my neighbors, thinking the next time we’d be back together would be in two weeks after an extended Spring Break. Two weeks turned into two months, and my sophomore year of high school was lost. For that period of initial quarantine, I felt as if the world had stopped. Each night, my family gathered around the small television we had in our kitchen and listened to daily briefings from the White House. We were always inundated with new, and often confusing, information about the disease and preventative methods: to mask or not to mask, to gather or not to gather, to test or not to test.

Now, as a sophomore at Villanova, my life is relatively worry-free in terms of Covid. My days of contact tracing, masking, cohorting and online-schooling are over. Four years ago, if you would have asked me if I imagined life returning to “normal,” I would have said no. I could not have imagined a sense of normalcy returning to my life.

I am lucky that I can enjoy my college experience void of intense, health-related anxiety, isolation and confusion. The graduating Class of 2024, however, had a very different experience.

“We still dealt with a lot of adversity trying to transition into college life in the thralls of a global pandemic,” senior Joe Coyne said. “Freshman year is when you typically form your initial friend groups and join clubs, but we were stunted in this process, and many felt a sense of uncertainty and isolation.”

According to a Best Colleges survey from 2021, more than nine in ten college students reported having experienced negative mental health impacts due to Covid-related circumstances, including isolation and anxiety. There is no doubt that there is a youth mental health crisis in the United States that only worsened during Covid, which stunted social growth and development for teenagers and young adults. Additionally, an increased reliance on technology stemming from the pandemic has created a culture of psychological codependency on our phones. Four years ago, it was how we were able to stay connected with the outside world. Today, it is how we continue to communicate, often leading to self-isolation.

TikTok became popular during the height of the pandemic. In Q1 of 2020 alone, the app had 315 million downloads, the best quarter experienced by any app, ever. Whether people tried to

master a dance to learned how to make whipped coffee, TikTok became a one-stop shop for content creation and sharing. It was a way in which people could engage with each other. It was and continues to be a space for escape from current situations, which, four years ago, was the pandemic.

Nevertheless, as we settle into a new sense of normalcy, we must acknowledge that we are living in a decade that will forever be changed by Covid. As we continue to find new ways to mitigate

the virus, we must urge public health officials and policymakers to address the social and emotional impacts that Covid has had and continues to have on those who experienced their most formative years during this time.

While Covid may have erased high school sports seasons, proms and opportunities to make memories with friends in high school and college, it has not erased the sense of community embraced by those who remember the day the world stopped.

Some Villanova students can remember the time spent on campus during the pandemic. Olivia Pasquale /Villanovan Photography

Villanovans Unite In Honor of Trans-Bullying Victim

Christopher Brown Staff Writer

“O God, bless us with the foolishness to believe we have the power to change things,” Father Joseph Calderone said. In front of the Oreo, last Monday, March 11, students and faculty members stood their ground against the merciless winter air to honor the late Nex Benedict. Benedict was a member of the non-binary and transgender community, who was tragically bullied by high school classmates for their gender identity.

Benedict was raised in Oklahoma, the first U.S. state to prohibit citizens from having non-binary gender markers on their birth certificates. Students were required to use bathrooms that corresponded with their assigned sex at birth. Benedict was dehumanized further by constant bullying throughout their time at Owasso High School.

On Feb. 7, Benedict was jumped in the women’s bathroom by three female students. During the altercation, the girls knocked the back of Benedict’s head against the bathroom floor. Later that day, Benedict’s family took them to be examined at a nearby hospital, where they were treated for their injuries and sent home. However, on Feb. 8, Benedict was declared dead after an unexpected collapse in their living room, the

cause of which still remains uncertain.

“Every day, the trans community loses more children to shame, homicide or suicide,” Villanova senior Dylan McMahon said.

Following a recount of Benedict’s experiences by junior Sonia Singh to begin the vigil, McMahon courageously detailed his own experiences growing up as a transgender community member. Attendees devoted 15

minutes of silence to reflection while lighting candles, with each candle symbolizing beacons of light in the darkness of American society. After the candles were lit, Father Joe conducted a prayer for both the trans community and the nation at large.

Dan Griffin, a representative from Let’s Vote Nova, spoke afterwards to encourage students to vote in upcoming elections. He urged Wildcats to vote for politicians who demonstrate a commitment to enacting policies that benefit all people.

Villanova offers many resources for LGBTQ+ students, including NATS (Nonbinary and Transgender Students), a social group on campus built to offer such students a supportive community. Additionally, the University Counseling Center offers shortterm counseling, crisis support and LGBTQ+ support groups. Carly Cohen of the Office of Intercultural Affairs (OIA), which oversees Villanova’s LGBTQ+ advocacy groups like VU Pride, Oasis and QTPOC, is a primary contact for resources and guidance pertaining to Villanova’s LGBTQ+ community.

“My hope with hosting this vigil is to bring awareness to the legislative and physical violence that transgender youth like Nex are facing all across the U.S. right now,” McMahon said. “I want the community to know that there are trans people right here at Villanova, and that we are grieving.”

Campus Characters: A Universal Student Experience

Kalyani Halsband Staff Writer

You know those familiar faces walking across campus? You’ve got them memorized, but you may not even know their names. You’ve almost certainly never actually spoken to them. But for some inexplicable reason, you seem to see them everywhere you go.

Two words: campus characters. Everyone’s got a few (or maybe even a few dozen).

With an undergraduate population of almost 7,000, Villanova’s size allows it to fit snugly between small liberal arts schools and massive state schools, whose populations enter the tens of thousands and beyond. Despite the University’s so-called “medium” size, students often find themselves running into the same, unmistakable people time and time again.

Whether it’s in Pit, Falvey or the Holy Grounds line at 10 a.m., you can bet you’ll see someone you recognize, or perhaps even someone you can’t seem to escape.

Freshman Grace Johnson commented on her experience with campus characters, also commonly referred to as “campus celebs.”

“I definitely have a few campus celebs,” Johnson said. “It keeps things exciting when I leave my dorm and walk to class. [I’m] like, ‘Am I going to see one of them or am I not?’”

Though many people have never interacted with their campus characters, they can become an important part of one’s day-today life. These “celebs” are often shared among friends and bring a bit of fun to daily activities.

“Some of [my campus celebs] are random people I see around a lot, some are people I’ve seen on Instagram or TikTok, friends of friends or crushes of friends,” Johnson said.

While many campus characters are personal or inside jokes among friends, some are much more popular across the student population, functioning as many people’s resident celebs. These people stand out for a variety of reasons, including a large social media presence or heavy club involvement. For many, however, campus characters are simply people they see on a daily basis.

“I see the same people everywhere,” freshman Ellie Leimkuhler said. “I have so many campus celebs.”

Though the experience of seeing the same people around campus daily may lead some to view Villanova as too small, Villanova’s smaller size means that students see not only unknown faces, but friendly ones in unexpected places. Whether you’re trying out a new club or strolling across campus, it’s likely that you’ll also come across people you know.

“I still like the size of the school,” Leimkuhler said. “It’s fun and I have little stories about [my campus characters], so it’s fun to

see them out in the wild. I also like running into my friends everywhere.”

It is for this reason that many students view Villanova as the seemingly perfect size: large enough to have that classic college feel and not know everybody, but intimate enough to consistently run into friends and reap the advantages of personalized inter-

action with professors and classmates.

Campus characters are a classic part of any university experience. They allow for inside jokes among friends, bring a bit of excitement to daily life and ensure that strolling around campus is always entertaining. And who knows? Your campus character could just become a new friend.

Villanovans commemorated the life of Nex Benedict last Monday. Courtesy of Christopher Brown/Villanovan Photography

Campus Characters can be spotted anytime with students out and about during the day. Courtesy of Brian Luppy/Villanovan Photography

Blue & White Turned Green: St. Patrick’s Day on Campus

Sophie Latessa Co-Culture Editor

It turns out wildcats bleed blue and green. The luck of the Irish was strong on Lancaster Ave this past weekend as students united together to commemorate a beloved holiday on campus. Villanovans participated in celebratory festivities throughout the days leading up to St. Patrick’s Day on Sunday.

To kick off the celebrations, the Irish Studies department organized daytime performances by the Villanova Irish Dance Team in Belle Air Terrace on Friday to music performed by a live band. The team performed both traditional and more modern dances.

Mary Kate Gallagher, Co-Captain of the Villanova Irish dance team, stressed the importance of the holiday in sharing their culture with the wider student body.

“We love getting the opportunity to share Irish dance with other students and members of the community and St Patrick’s

Day is the perfect holiday to share in that celebration,” Gallagher said.

Kappa Delta also held their annual cornhole tournament, Shamrock, on Friday benefitting Prevent Child Abuse America and Mission Kids. With the majority of participants wearing green and embracing the spirit of the holiday, the event was an energetic way to celebrate while supporting an important cause.

“Shamrock was a super fun and festive was to raise money for Kappa Delta’s philanthropy of child abuse. It was exciting seeing the campus rally together around such an important cause,” Freshman KD member Ally McManus said.

The Campus Activities Team additionally hosted “Dublin Down on the Green” on Friday, a St. Patrick’s Day celebration on Rowan Campus Green including a live Irish band and a beer truck for students over 21.

There was certainly no shortage of Irish spirit at Villanova this weekend and one thing is for sure - Villanovans know how to celebrate.

People-Watching Spots Have Blossomed with Spring

Zoe Manning Staff Writer

With the arrival of warmer weather, the campus has sprung to life as students emerge from winter hibernation, filling the grounds with tons of activity. Spring’s arrival opens the door to a perfect opportunity for people-watching, always a beloved pastime, as students are able to observe campus life unfold. Highlighted are four prime spots where students can sit back and immerse themselves in the vibrant energy of Villanova’s campus community.

Tucked away near the Oreo, a beloved campus landmark, there is a hidden gem for people-watchers: the benches to the right of the iconic statue. They are slightly shaded by nearby trees and strategically positioned, making it an ideal spot to observe the comings and goings of students as they make their way past Dougherty Hall. It is secluded but also provides a great view of the center

of campus. Sophomore Marina Saad said that these benches are a superior spot.

“When it is nice weather out, the best place to people-watch are those benches,” Saad said. “From this standpoint, I can see people walk to class and watch all the activity surrounding the Oreo.”

For a close-up glimpse into Villanova’s community, the Exchange in Bartley Hall offers an ideal setting. Here, students gather to enjoy meals, engage in spirited conversation and complete homework, providing observers with a front-row seat to the social dynamics that define campus culture. The Exchange is always buzzing with the infectious energy of Villanova students, making it a perfect destination for those seeking to immerse themselves in the heartbeat of university life. Sophomore Jamie Sung enjoys doing homework in Bartley and said she often people-watches here.

“I love sitting in the Exchange and people-watching because it is always buzzing with

activity,” Sung said. “And you are guaranteed to witness the vibrant energy of campus life.”

Another fan-favorite is Café Nova, a beloved spot overflowing with life and energy all throughout the day. It is a magnet for students looking for a quick bite to eat or a place to quickly chat with friends in between classes. Carefully choosing a seat against the windows allows students to witness the vibrant scenes both inside Café Nova and outside Dougherty Hall, with a perfect view of the happenings at the Oreo. Last but not least, one of the more obvious places to sit back and observe is the Quad, nestled between Sheehan and Sullivan Halls. Here, you’ll find a constant flow of students heading to and from Bartley Hall or venturing deeper into campus. Whether lounging on the side or hurrying to class, the Quad is always buzzing with energy. The opportunities

are endless for observers to witness the dynamic energy of campus. Sophomore Sofia Sanchez lives in the Quad, and thinks that it is the perfect spot to relax, enjoy campus and see people interact.

“I love sitting in the Quad and seeing people interact with one another, especially after many of my high school years were spent online due to the pandemic,” Sanchez said.

Whether it is enjoying a nice breeze by the benches near the Oreo, enjoying the energetic atmosphere of the Bartley Exchange, watching out the windows of Café Nova or soaking up the energy of the Quad, Villanova’s campus offers many prime spots for people-watching-enthusiasts. With each location providing its own unique perspective on campus life, there is no shortage of opportunities to immerse oneself in the lively energy Villanova has to offer.

Kappa Delta hosted Shamrock to commemorate the holiday and support their philanthropy. Courtesy of Liz Vaupel

The quad is a prime people watching spot for residents. Zoe Manning/Villanovan Photography

With

Zoe Manning/Villanovan Photography

The Irish Dance Team performed in Belle Air Terrace with. Courtesy of Dorothy McCarthy

SPORTS

Wildcat Watch: Ava Franz Earns Spot on ESPN Top 10

Amanda McKean Sports Columnist

Although many softball fans justify its growing popularity with the Field of Dreams quote, “If you build it, they will come,” perhaps the more appropriate saying when it comes to the sport is “if you film it, they will watch.”

Viewership for college softball has skyrocketed over the past couple of years. Major networks like ESPN began broadcasting more games, including the Women’s College World Series. Since 2021, this event has brought in more than 1.5 million viewers. This is a number equivalent to, and in 2022 more than, the viewership of the Men’s College World Series for baseball.

Softball games are a lot faster and more action-packed than some baseball games, making it a more dramatic sport for audiences looking to see impressive defensive plays and great hitters.

Such is the case for the Villanova softball team (6–0 Big East, 14–11) and junior infielder Ava Franz, whose recent defensive stops and home run hitting have garnered national attention.

On Monday, March 5, Franz made an impressive double play at shortstop against Central Florida. The play received the number eight spot in ESPN’s SportsCenter’s Top Ten Daily countdown the next day.

“I woke up and I got a text from one of my teammates saying, ‘Dude, I think you’re on SportsCenter Top 10,’” Franz said. “[The team] had no idea. We were searching all day and couldn’t find the clip anywhere. And then one of my teammates’ brothers sent them the clip and that’s how we all found out. I was super excited.”

In the play at shortstop, Franz made a leaping catch, robbing the Central Florida batter of a hit into center field, and then turned two. The runner from first base did not get back in time to retouch the bag. Despite her impressive performance, shortstop is a fairly new position for Franz.

“This is my first year playing shortstop, actually,” Franz said. “I played in high school a little bit. My freshman year, I started playing third base, and

then I transitioned to second when someone got injured. I kind of felt a leadership role going into shortstop. That was a little stressful at first, but I’ve been enjoying it.”

Franz’s achievements this season don’t stop there. Last weekend, during the second out of Villanova’s three-game sweep of previous Big East Champions, Seton Hall, Franz brought the heat with a fourth-inning grand-slam, the first of her career. It ended the 1-1 tied game that eventually resulted in a 6-1 Wildcat victory.

“I was struggling a little bit earlier in the weekend,” Franz said. “And then to really come through for that and to do it against the reigning Big East champs was super exciting, and when my team needed it the most, since we were down at that time. So everyone was super pumped just to be winning.”

The wins keep on coming, with Villanova sweeping Providence over the weekend in all three games. Two ended in the fifth inning due to the mercy rule, as the ‘Cats were up by eight runs.

Franz again showed her power hitting, capping her fourhit weekend off with a three-run home run in the 17–5 win against the Friars. It was the most runs the ‘Cats have tallied since 1999.

Villanova currently sits in first place in the Big East, while Seton Hall is in fifth.

“It kind of made losing to [Seton Hall] last year in the championship hurt a little bit more, but just for a second,” Franz said. “It felt really good coming into this year, coming into opening weekend, and setting the tone. We might have lost to [Seton Hall] last year, but it’s a different year.”

Over the past four seasons, Villanova has been on a streak in the Big East tournament, making it to the finals and even winning it all in 2021 and 2022. But after last year’s denial of a three-peat, the Wildcats are looking to regain their top spot in the conference.

“We just want to set a tone and keep going for ourselves,” Franz said. “One thing we talked about is not getting too low or too high. So kind of just finding that middle ground there and running with it. That’s the ultimate goal for the postseason: playing games and getting another Big East championship.”

MBB and WBB Enter Postseason Play in NIT and WBIT

Owen Hewitt Co-Sports Editor

Both Villanova basketball teams are headed for the postseason, but not in the way that either team imagined. The men’s team will make its second consecutive National Invitation Tournament appearance, while the women’s team will compete in the inaugural Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament.

The men (18-15 overall, 10-10 Big East) will host Virginia Commonwealth (22-13, 11-7 Atlantic 10) at the Finneran Pavilion on Wednesday, March 20 at 9 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN2. The women (18-12, 11-7 Big East) will also host Virginia Commonwealth (26-5, 15-3 Atlantic 10) on Thursday, March 21 at 7 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN+.

The men’s team finds itself in the NIT after playing itself off the bubble in the Big East tournament. A narrow 58-57 first round victory over lowly DePaul made it necessary for the Wildcats to reach the final of the tournament to have a chance at an at-large bid. The ‘Cats lost in overtime, 71-65, to Marquette in the quarterfinals.

The Wildcats failed to make the NCAA tournament in back to back years for the first time since the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons.

Villanova was able to claim a No. 1 seed in the NIT, courtesy

of some opt-outs from teams that missed the NCAA tournament. Pitt and Oklahoma were both among the first four out of the NCAA tournament and turned down an NIT invite. Other teams that declined invites were St. John’s, Memphis, Indiana and Syracuse.

The No. 1 seed does mean that the ‘Cats will have an opportunity to host three more games if they can string together victories. The path to the semifinals and championship at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis starts with VCU.

The Rams are 14 seasons removed from their Cinderella run to the Final Four under now-Marquette head coach Shaka Smart.

While the Rams have maintained some of the momentum from their run in 2010-11, making seven tournament appearances in the past

10 seasons where a tournament was held, they have only been able to make it past the first weekend once in those appearances.

VCU finished fifth in the A-10. It was able to make it to the A-10 tournament final, but fell to Duquesne, 57-51.

The Rams have four players averaging double-figures in scoring. Senior guard Max Shugla posts 15.8 points per game, senior guard Joe Bamisile averages 13.7, senior guard Zeb Jackson averages 11.6 and graduate guard/forward Sean Bairstow averages 10. The Rams also boast the 44th best scoring defense in Division I under first-year head coach Ryan Odom, limiting opponents to an average of 66.7 points per game. By the simple rating system, Villanova will be the second toughest opponent the Rams have faced

all season, behind Iowa State. If Villanova can advance past the Rams, the ‘Cats will host the winner of No. 4 Central Florida and unseeded South Florida in a second-round matchup.

The women’s team also played itself off the NCAA tournament bubble, losing to Marquette in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament, 50-48. A fourth-place regular season finish was not enough to secure the ‘Cats an at-large bid.

The ‘Cats were given a No. 1 seed in the inaugural WBIT. While the independently-run WNIT has existed since 1998, the WBIT is in its first year as the NCAA’s official women’s basketball counterpart to the NIT.

The Wildcats will host VCU in the first round. The Rams placed second in the A-10 regular season with a 15-3 conference record, but lost in the A-10 quarterfinals to Saint Louis, 65-63.

By SRS, the Rams have yet to face a foe as tough as the ‘Cats.

The Rams are led by senior guard Sarah Te-Biasu, who averages 15.8 points. Sophomore guard Timaya Lewis-Eutsey posts 12.8 points and 5.1 rebounds. Sophomore guard Mary-Anna Asare is the team’s other double-digit scorer, averaging 10.5.

If Villanova can advance past the Rams, it will host the winner of No. 4 Virginia and unseeded High Point on Sunday, March 24.

Junior infielder Ava Franz’s double-play appeared in the SportsCenter Top Ten Daily on March 5. Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

Villanova Men’s and Women’s Basketball will compete in the upcoming NIT and WBIT tournaments. Courtesy of Villanova University

Women’s Lacrosse Defeats Lafayette, 8–7, at Home

Genna Cottingham Staff Writer

On Wednesday, March 13, Villanova defeated Lafayette, 8–7, on the road, their last non-conference game of the regular season.

The ‘Cats are now second in the Big East standings with an overall record of 4–5. Lafayette is part of the Patriot League conference, where it sits at No. 6.

Freshman attacker Emma Verhoest won the initial draw control and managed to achieve two others the remainder of the game. Not far behind was freshman goalie Cailin Harrington, who acquired two draw controls against Lafayette. Harrington also accounted for 11 saves.

Comparatively, the Lafayette goalie, senior Lexie Coldiron, made 13 saves against Villanova.

The highest scorer of the game was junior attacker Sami Carey. Carey’s two goals were both assisted by freshman attacker Sophia Corretjer.

Senior attacker Kayla Gulmi scored one goal and forced a turnover, along with two ground balls.

Graduate attacker Cara Moreau took four shots, scoring one assisted by Carey. Carey had a total of five assists for the game, gaining seven individual points for her records.

Wildcat freshmen continued to put on a strong showing on the field. Corretjer scored a goal with the help of Carey, and forced two turnovers from the Lions. Midfielder Mary Moore picked up four ground balls and scored one goal, assisted by Corretjer.

Freshman midfielder Rose Christie got two ground balls and

a turnover. Christie scored the first goal of the fourth period.

As for Lafayette, senior midfielder Clare Culligan scored an unassisted goal, and another which was assisted by junior attacker Sara Rogers. Junior defender Lindsay Geiger and sophomore midfielder Katie Marrs both received five draw controls on.

‘Nova didn’t score the entire first period until Moore finally overpowered Lafayette with 5:08 remaining until halftime.

After a rocky first half, the Wildcats rallied in the second by scoring three goals in the third period and four goals in the fourth. With less than four minutes remaining, Moreau tied the score at 7–7. At 1:59, Gulmi scored the game-winning goal.

“I’m really proud of this team for finding a way to finish the game today on the backs of a lot of upperclassmen leadership,” head coach Jill Batcheller said. “[Gallagher] had a phenomenal game in cage, [Carey] led our offensive unit and it was great to see another game winner from a senior, [Gulmi]. We are looking forward to using this time ahead of us to fine-tune our skills as we kick off Big East play. We’re excited for the road ahead.”

The Wildcats will have their first Big East game of the season next weekend. Villanova faces Georgetown on Saturday, March 23 at 1 p.m. at Villanova Stadium.

Softball 6–0 in BE After Providence Sweep

Jon Hunn Staff Writer

Villanova continued its undefeated Big East play, sweeping Providence in three games, 8–0, 4–1 and 17–5 and pushing its winning streak to six games.

The ‘Cats opened on Friday, March 15 with a resounding mercy rule win in five innings.

Villanova started the scoring in the top of the third inning, tallying six runs.

After graduate catcher Ally Jones led off the inning with a walk, redshirt junior DP Brooklyn Ostrowski crushed a home run, knocking in Jones for the first two runs. Later in the inning, graduate first baseman Victoria Sebastian loaded the bases with a single before freshman center fielder Elizabeth Gray scored junior right fielder Elaina Wagner and sophomore second baseman Lilly St. Jean with a single of her own.

Senior left fielder Tess Cites then scored Sebastian with a groundout. Gray came home on a double by graduate third baseman Chloe Smith.

Villanova added two more runs in the top of the fourth when second baseman St. Jean crushed a two-run home run, bringing home junior shortstop Ava Franz.

Neither team scored in the fifth. The game was called a mercy rule with Villanova up, 8–0.

Senior pitcher Alyssa Seidler picked up the win, scattering two hits over three scoreless in -

nings, while striking out four.

Villanova once again emerged victorious on Saturday.

B. Ostrowski scored for Villanova on an RBI groundout from Wagner at the top of the second.

Providence recorded its first run of the series with a home run in the bottom of the second.

Villanova took the lead back in the top of the third when Smith singled home Sebastian to make the score 2–1.

Neither team scored again until Villanova added two insurance runs in the seventh. Jones walked with the bases loaded to force in Gray, and B. Ostrowski scored Cites on a sacrifice fly, making the score 4–1, ‘Cats.

The Wildcats’ senior pitcher Caroline Pellicano blanked Providence in the bottom of the seventh to record her fourth save of the season.

Junior pitcher Kelsey White recorded her fourth win of the season, locking down the Friars for three and a third innings in middle relief. White struck out two while allowing just two hits and a walk.

The Wildcats concluded the weekend on Sunday with another mercy rule victory, trouncing the Friars in five innings.

Cites scored on an error in the top of the first.

The Wildcats added three more runs in the second when St. Jean hit a solo home run and Cites brought home Sebastian on a tworun bomb of her own.

Villanova scoring continued in the third, when Wagner

WEEKLY SCOREBOARD

March 13 – March 19

Wednesday, March 13

Swim vs. NCAA Zone A Diving No Team Scoring

Women’s Lacrosse @ Lafayette 8–7 W

Baseball @ UPenn 3–8 L

Men’s Basketball vs. DePaul 58–57 W

Thursday, March 14

Men’s Basketball vs. Marquette 65–71 L (OT)

Friday, March 15

Baseball @ East Tennessee State 11–12 L

Softball @ Providence 8–0 W (5)

Saturday, March 16

Men’s Lacrosse @ Monmouth 12–11 W

Softabll @ Providence 4–1 W

Women’s Tennis @ Army 0–4 L

Baseball @ East Tennessee State 5–11 L

Water Polo vs. Siena College 12–9 W

Sunday, March 17

Men’s Tennis vs. Loyola 3–4 L

Water Polo vs. #25 Marist College 8–9 L

Women’s Tennis vs. Monmouth 4–3 W

Water Polo vs. Iona University 10–7 W

cranked a home run that brought home Franz and B. Ostrowski.

Providence added its first run of the game in the bottom of the third to cut the deficit to six runs.

Villanova responded again in the fourth inning when Jones launched a three run home run, scoring Smith and Cites.

“I mean, [Jones] is huge [for us], obviously,” head coach Bridget Orchard said. “She’s a fifth-year senior, so she’s been there, done that. She has two championships. She’s like another coach out there for us, and she’s definitely somebody that steps up and we need her to.”

Providence added three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Villanova led, 10–3.

The ‘Cats then exploded for seven runs in the top of the fifth. Wagner scored on a passed ball, St. Jean was singled home by Smith, and center fielder Gray scored alongside Sebastian on a two run double from Jones.

To round out the inning, Franz crushed a three run home run, driving in Jones and Smith.

Providence added one more run in the bottom of the fifth, but it was not enough to avoid another mercy rule victory for Villanova.

In the third game of the series, Villanova hit five home runs, with each coming from a different player.

“We’d seen [Providence’s] pitchers the previous two days, so I thought [Villanova] did a great

Baseball @ East Tennessee State 15–8 W

Women’s Tennis vs. Loyola 5–2 W

Softball @ Providence 17–5 W

Monday, March 18

Tuesday, March 19

Women’s Tennis @ St. Joseph’s Cancelled

Men’s Lacrosse @ Navy Post-Production

job of just making adjustments,” Orchard said. “They were really powerful and scored a lot of runs. I think they just locked in.”

For the Wildcats, Seidler picked up her sixth victory on the season, scattering four runs on five hits in three and a third innings. She also walked three and struck out three.

With the series sweep, Villanova moved to 6–0 in conference play so far this season.

“I definitely attribute it to our preseason schedule,” Orchard said. “We saw a lot of really good teams with really good pitchers. So that prepared us to get ready for the Big East pitchers that we would see. We are having a lot of success against [Big East teams] after seeing a lot of top twenty-five teams in the preseason.”

The ‘Cats will have a solo home game against St. Joseph’s this Wednesday before taking on Georgetown for a three-game set at home this weekend.

Junior attacker Sami Carey scored two goals with five assists in the win over Lafayette. Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

Baseball Goes 1–2 at East Tennessee State

James Haupt Staff Writer

In a successful, extended trip to California and another trip to Tennessee, the Wildcats displayed some of their best baseball of the season.

Spending spring break on the West Coast, Villanova played seven games in ten days and earned four wins. This past weekend, the Wildcats went 1–2 in a tough, three-game series against East Tennessee State, bringing their overall record to 6–11.

“We gained a lot of confidence out there in California,” head coach Kevin Mulvey said. “We figured out what we are capable of.”

Game one in Tennessee set the tone for the weekend with a tight, high-scoring matchup on Friday, March 15. Ultimately, Villanova fell short in a 12–11 loss.

Saturday’s game resulted in another defeat for the Wildcats, with a final score of 11–5.

The ‘Cats then shook off the losses and returned to winning ways with a 15–8 victory on Sunday.

The Villanova offense started its elite weekend with 11 runs in Friday’s loss. Home runs by graduate outfielder Scott Shaw, graduate catcher Jason Neff and junior outfielder Connor Hale highlighted the scoring action.

Both Neff and Shaw went 2–5 with two RBIs leading the way for the Wildcats. Hale came into the game as a pinch hitter and homered in his

second at-bat of the game. He went 1–3 with three RBIs coming from his seventh-inning blast that put them up, 11–5.

East Tennessee State then rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth. This gave them the opportunity to take the lead in the last inning and steal a victory.

Graduate pitcher Rian Schwede started on the bump, going 5.1 innings and allowing five runs (three earned) on eight hits and four walks. The bullpen didn’t perform great allowing the seven runs that gave Villanova the loss.

Game two was a different story, with East Tennessee State taking an early lead and holding it for the rest of the way.

Senior pitcher Devin Rivera

started the game and pitched two innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits and four walks. Unfortunately, this was enough to give Rivera the loss on the day. The bullpen didn’t do him any favors, as Villanova then allowed six more runs to extend the deficit.

The Wildcats offense was still solid, despite the significant loss. Graduate first baseman Jack O’Reilly and sophomore infielder Michael Whooley had the best day with both of them clobbering seventh-inning homers. O’Reilly went 2–4 with an RBI, while Whooley also went 2–4 and collected three RBIs.

Villanova baseball got back on track on Sunday in their dominant, 15–8 win. Everyone got involved in this offensive clinic.

O’Reilly led the way again, going 4–6 with three RBIs, including a two-RBI home run. Sophomore infielder/outfielder Collin Quintano had a day as well, batting 3–5 with 4 RBIs, a team high. Quintano impressed by mashing two homers on the day, including a monster threeRBI slam in the fifth.

“We continue to gain confidence and stay in our zone,” Mulvey said about Villanova’s offense this weekend. “Our guys are taking their walks and when they get their pitch they look to hit line drives. Sometimes line drives turn into home runs, as you saw this weekend.”

The Wildcats improved on their pitching in the third game, but still struggled. Graduate pitcher Luke McCollough started and allowed five runs on six hits in 3.1 innings. Freshman Jake Francis replaced him on the mound and allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits in 3.2 innings.

Senior pitcher Cade Udell also showed out, pitching two scoreless innings and only allowing one hit and one walk.

Villanova’s offense starting to catch fire in the final game of the series helped Francis earn the win.

This weekend continued a trend for Villanova of outstanding offensive play, but lackluster defense. The Wildcats will look to keep working on their game as they head into their next matchups. After their home opener against St. Peter’s on March 20 at 3 p.m., Villanova will visit George Mason University on March 22 to 25 in a three-game series.

Water Polo Starts Conference Play 2–1

Brandon Nesmith Staff Writer

The Wildcats played their first slate of conference games this past weekend, finishing 2–1 in games that came down to the wire.

Coming off a dominant showing against Salem University, winning, 20–6, on March 9, Villanova had a week of preparation in attempts to get off to a strong start in MAAC play.

The team traveled to Lexington, Virginia to take on Siena College, Marist College and Iona University

on March 16 and 17.

The Wildcats emerged from the weekend with an 18–5 overall record.

The swim-off began at 5 p.m. on March 16 against Siena, where Villanova squeaked out a 12-9 win.

The collaborative effort was essential in the victory, as sophomore center Ella Mattocks and junior center Emily McKenzie both recorded hat tricks.

Senior captain Stella Byles was also productive in the stat sheet, recording another hat trick and three assists.

Sara Withers tallied a goal and assist, and freshmen Lauren Short and Tiffany Maguire each contributed a goal in the victory. A stifling defensive effort rewarded senior goalie Abigail Shelby. Shelby recorded six saves and three steals in the win.

The following day, Villanova returned to action to face Marist, falling by one. Byles led the team in goals, recording another hat trick. However, the ‘Cats struggled to capitalize on the chances they created, as they launched 23 shots at the goal.

Head coach Michael Gordon emphasized defensive contributions across the weekend.

“Our defense and goalie play came up big for us,” Gordon said. “On the offensive end, we had some high-powered quarters, but need to find ways to score throughout all four quarters of play to put together complete games as we continue in conference play this season.”

The ‘Cats responded well to the loss. They regrouped against Iona in the second game on March 17, winning, 10–7. The defensive effort was well-felt, as Villanova picked up five steals in the victory.

Shelby recorded another victory, tallying seven saves. It was another collaborative effort on the offensive side, as four Wildcats scored two goals each.

Looking to ramp up their offensive production while maintaining the defensive energy, the Wildcats look to continue building up momentum to finish out the next three weeks of conference play strong.

“We are right in line with our expectations and control our own path to the conference championship tournament,” Gordon said. “We are a tough, resilient and hardworking team that continues to improve each game. Hard work and good vibes have contributed to our team success.”

Villanova will next travel to Staten Island, NY for another MAAC game against Wagner College on Saturday, March 23.

The following day, the team will face two more conference opponents, LIU and Virginia Military Institute, in Brooklyn, NY.

Senior Cade Udell closed for Villanova in its 15–8 win over East Tennessee State. Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

This past weekend, Villanova began MAAC play with wins over Siena College and Iona, and a loss to Marist College.

Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

Women’s Tennis Goes 2-1 over the Weekend

Ollie Currier Staff Writer

On Saturday, March 16, Villanova women’s tennis played a match at Army and fell, 4–0. The following day, Villanova won both of its matches at home, defeating Monmouth, 4–3, and Loyola, 5-2.

The weekend kicked off with a tough matchup against Army. The match was especially challenging because Villanova was missing several key players from its lineup. Notable absences included the first and second singles players, graduate student Ami Grace Dougah and sophomore Maggie Gehrig.

Despite the sweep, the Wildcats were strong overall.

“I don’t think we could have done any better in that match,” head coach Steve Reiniger said. “With us being out so many players, I thought we did as well as we could.”

In doubles, freshmen Miriam Gondorova and Lauren Monti were defeated in the one spot, 6–3. Meanwhile, the third doubles pairing of graduate Amanda Rivera-Gonzalez and freshman Maddie Hills fell, 6–1. The second doubles match ended in a DNF (did not finish) result, with Wildcat duo freshman Jenna Stevens and junior Emma Brogan down, 5–1.

Villanova was subsequently defeated by Army in the third, fifth and sixth singles spots, which gave Army the victory before the other positions could finish their matches. All three unfinished singles matches

were competitive, ending in split sets.

In first singles, Gondorova dropped the first set 6–4, but took the second, 7–5. In the second, Stevens also lost her first set and rallied to win the second, 6–3, 5–4. In the fourth spot, Hills took her first set, 7-6, and ended her second set down, 3–2.

The following day, the team met Monmouth and Loyola. The Wildcats faced a similar situation as the Army match, with several key players missing due to academic commitments, injuries or other health-related issues.

Despite the challenge, Reiniger was confident in the team’s ability.

“I told the team that if they played as well as they did at Army they would be fine,” Reiniger said. “And they did. I was pleased they got it done.”

Dougah returned for the ‘Cats, teaming up with Gondorova

in first doubles to win, 6–4. Stevens and senior Bella Steffen defeated Monmouth, 6–2, in the second spot. The third doubles match with Wildcat duo Rivera-Gonzalez and junior Chloe Floyd ended in a tied, 5–5 DNF result.

In singles, Dougah and junior Valieriia Kornieva defeated Monmouth in the first and second positions respectively. Kornieva’s hardfought match was the decisive victory for the Wildcats, which came down to a third set tiebreaker, 7-5, 6-4, 1-0 (5).

Third and fourth singles were narrow losses. Hills fell, 7-5, 6-4 and Brogan lost in a third set tiebreaker, 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (6). Steffen won her fifth singles match, 6-4, while Rivera-Gonzlez fell in a third set tiebreaker, 6-7(3), 6-4, 0-1 (4).

“I was really pleased,” Reiginer said. “It was good to see that some of our players who don’t usually get the opportunity to play were

sharp enough to go in and step up.”

The final leg of the double header was a match against Loyola.

The weather was less than ideal.

“The conditions were pretty tough,” Reiniger said. “It was pretty windy and it was easy to have an off day.”

Despite the poor conditions, the Wildcats still managed to orchestrate a 5–2 victory.

This time, Stevens and Steffen played in the first doubles position and secured their second victory of the day, 6-5. Rivera-Gonzalez and Monti dropped their doubles match, 6-3, while Brogan and Hills were defeated, 6-4.

In singles, Stevens fell, 6-3, 6-0 in the one spot. Monti responded with a dominant performance in the second spot, winning, 6-2, 6-4. Kornieva played her second competitive match of the day and, once again, emerged with a three-set victory, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3.

The final three singles matches were favorable for the Wildcats. Hills emerged victorious in the four position, 7-5, 6-4, Brogan won in fifth singles, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 and Steffen secured the Wildcat’s final three-set victory, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5.

“My message to the team would be to maintain what they’ve done over the weekend,” Reiniger said. “We’re trending in the right direction and those who haven’t played a lot this season are stepping up and helping the team out, which is appreciated and expected.”

Photo Spread: Men’s Lacrosse vs. Monmouth

Villanova defeated Monmouth and Loyola on Sunday, March 17. Natalie Zickel/Villanovan Photography

Junior attack Luke Raymond netted a goal in the ‘Cats 12-11 victory over Monmouth.

Brian Luppy/Villanovan Photography

Villanova scored five unanswered goals in the second quarter. Brian Luppy/Villanovan Photography

Senior attack Matt Licata recorded four goals and an assist on Saturday. Brian Luppy/Villanovan Photography

The Villanovan Sports Editors’ NIT Predictions

Owen Hewitt Co-Sports Editor

Katie Lewis Co-Sports Editor

DISCLAIMER:

The NIT bracket was filled out on March 19th, 2024 at 6:00p.m. Any incorrect predictions following the production of Wednesday’s issue are not misreported.

The Villanovan Sports Editors’ WBIT Predictions

DISCLAIMER:

The WBIT bracket was filled out on March 19th, 2024 at 7:00p.m. Any incorrect predictions following the production of Wednesday’s issue are not misreported.

ASK THE VILLANOVAN

So many people have a car and I’m feeling trapped on campus. Help!

If this isn’t the age-old Villanova struggle, I don’t know what is.

The good news is that it’s Spring time and warmer weather means walks off campus! Maybe take a walk down Lancaster to Snap Pizza, or Hope’s cookies and grab yourself a treat, or you can always go on a run behind South campus or around West.

If after all of that you are still feeling trapped, ask an upperclassmen if you can catch a ride. Somtimes we all just need a good windows-down music session.

I just rushed in January and I’m struggling to make friends and fit in in my sorority. What do I do?

Know that this is entirely normal. Member classes tend to be 60+ girls and it can feel really overwhelming at first, but the best thing you can do is become as involved as possible.

Spend time with your new sorority family, go to philanthrophy events, don’t skip out on chapter — get as involved as you can. It may seem like friend groups are forming around you, but there is certainly a place for you, you just have to find your people!

I’m a freshman right now and got a terrible housing time. Do I have a shot of getting in the quad?

Take it from someone that got the second to last open room in the quad last year — there is hope.

You likely will be able to get a room in the quad if you want it, but on the off chance you don’t, you can always contact housing and request a room change. Rooms in the quad open up all the time over the summer, so the room you pick this week won’t necessarily be set in stone.

My friend wants to take my ex-boyfriend to our sorority formal, but the whole situation is making me really uncomfortable. How do I handle it?

This is a tricky situation. On one hand, if they are truly your friend they will respect the fact that you are uncomfortable and listen to you. On the other hand, if they really like this boy and want to potentially pursue something with him, ask yourself if you can look past it. They are probably your ex for a reason, so maybe he is better suited for someone else.

Either way, you definietly need to talk this one out. Be mindful of your friends feelings, but don’t forget to voice your own opinion as well!

There is a group of us all living on West campus next year, but we can’t seem to agree which people are going to be direct roommates. How should we go about it?

Consider schedules and personalities with this one. If you have two roommates who are early birds or night owls, try to pair them together. Or maybe you have two that are neat freaks vs two that tend to be more messy — those types of compatibility go a long way!

If that doesn’t apply to your situation and all four of you are the same, just flip a coin! You’re roommates for a reason, so you will likely enjoy your time with any combination of people.

My workload is getting to be too much and I’m feeling burnt out. How am I supposed to make it to finals?

You are not alone in that. With the weather getting warmer and the days being longer, it’s easy to put homework very last on yoiur to-do list.

With that being said, try to find a balance. A bit of homework, a bit of exercise, a bit of phone time. If you do everything in moderation, you are less likely to burn out as fast.

Try this with a friend!