First Time Voters Reflect on Election
Isabella Balian Political Columnist
This election cycle is the first presidential election that many students could vote in for the first time. For the first time, Villanova students were able to vote on campus at the Performing Arts Center. First time voters were able to cast their ballot for the President of the United States down to their Pennsylvania state representatives.
Villanovans who reside on campus were able to vote in the Mullen Center, and off-campus students were able to vote at their respective polling locations, like local churches and community centers. At the Mullen center, local campaigns and Villanova organizations like Let’s Vote Nova were stationed outside the polls to encourage students.
The Villanovan spoke to students about their experience voting for the first time. Senior Student Dean Millard spoke on his choice to change his voter address from his hometown to his campus address in Pennsylvania. He also spoke on his choice to vote in this election for the very first time.
“I changed my registration to on campus. I think it’s going to be very memorable to vote for the first time at my future alma mater," Millard said.
Millard also spoke on his efforts with the student organization, Lets Vote Nova.
“Also just helping out with Lets Vote Nova initiatives, regardless of which way
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Villanova Hosts Annual Special Olympic Fall Festival p. 3
Students React to On-Campus Voting
From before dawn to after dusk, thousands of Villanova students waited outside the John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts, commonly referred to as “PAC,” to cast their votes in the 2024 general election.
This election marked the first time students who live on campus could vote here on campus. Students used to vote between four different voting locations, and now all voted today in PAC.
“It definitely took a long time, but it went very smoothly,” senior environ-
mental science major Kayla MacKinnon said. “I did see people cutting the line, though, but having Hally Ammons there was great and a welcoming environment.”
Ammons, as well as other representatives from Let’s Vote ‘Nova, were at the polls all day, helping students make sure they were correctly registered to vote and answering any questions that voters had going into the polls.
Throughout the day, as more and more students finished classes and found time to wait, the line began to wrap all the way around the building, and students waited for up to four hours in order
to make sure their voices were heard.
“I waited in line to vote from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.,” junior Katherine Carney said.
“I wish there was a way to make it go faster, or that there was a timer, like at Disney, that showed how long there was to wait,” junior economics and environmental science major Alex Potter said.
However, voting on campus had its perks. Cinematic star Paul Rudd made a surprise appearance on campus, encouraging voters to stay in line and let their voices be heard while handing out
for
water and snacks. In addition, the nonpartisan nonprofit Pizza to the Polls sent over 15 pies to campus to help feed voters as they waited in line.
One of the main criticisms with this election was that Villanova did not cancel classes today, causing a sense of voter suppression on campus. With students having classes as early as 8:30 a.m. and as late as 6 p.m., there were hard decisions to be made: to miss class or to risk not being able to vote.
“I skipped class to vote because I was new to the voting process and greatly underestimated how long it would take,” freshman Sa-
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Exit Polling Occurs Outside of Mullen Center
Isabella Carlin Political Columnist
Villanova voters were greeted by an exit poll table outside the Mullen Center after they cast their ballots Tuesday. This was the fi rst time in Villanova history that exit polls were incorporated into the student voting process.
Exit polling is the process of gathering voter opinions immediately after they leave the voting site. The
Fall Election Series: Reproductive Health p. 4
Paul Rudd Pays a Visit to Villanova Voters p. 13
goal of this procedure is to gain data on who voters supported and to better understand how voters shaped their political beliefs.
“The data will not be available that night but will provide insight into how voters are feeling,” Communication Professor Allyson Levin
Choosing CLAS: Why Liberal Arts? p. 5
Exploring Opportunities: Studying Abroad p. 15
Is It Time to Reshape the Tipping Culture p. 8
said.
The Villanova initiative consisted of a non-partisan research project through the Communication and Political Science Departments. It was led by Political Science Associate Professor, Camille Burge-Hicks. The project was also part of a group of senior Communication students’ capstone project for Professor Tom Ksiazek’s class. Other universities, such as the University of Pennsylvania and Muhlen-
Continued on p. 11
Wildcat Watch: Unified Sports at Special Olympics p. 18 Off-Campus Ballots Cast Their Vote in PA p. 10
MBB and WBB Fun Facts p. 21
Lauren Armstrong Co-News Editor
Villanova on-campus residents took to the Mullen Center to vote in Pennsylvania, waiting
up to three hours on the line. Graydon Paul/ Villanovan Photography
Kamala Harris Hosts Final Rally in Philadelphia p. 12
Jay Wright was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Brian Luppy/ Villanovan Photography
PUBLIC SAFETY BLOTTER
HARASSMENT
Occurred: from 9/1/2024 to 10/31/2024 Reported: 10/31/2024
S.A.C.L.A.
A faculty member reported receiving harassing communication via letter in her office multiple times by an unknown actor.
LIQUOR UNDERAGE, PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS
Reported and Occurred: 10/31/2024
STANFORD HALL
A male resident student, under the age of 21, was found intoxicated in public. The student was transported by VEMS to Bryn Mawr Hospital.
FALSE IDENTIFICATION CARD, LIQUOR
UNDERAGE
Reported and Occurred: 1/1/2024
WEST CAMPUS GROUNDS
A female visitor, under the age of 21, was evaluated by Public Safety for alcohol intoxication. During the evaluation, she and a male resident student presented false identification cards which were confiscated.
CORRECTIONS
DISORDERLY CONDUCT
Reported and Occurred: 1/1/2024
DOUGHERTY HALL
A former employee engaged in disorderly conduct within a university building and was escorted off campus and subsequently issued a trespass notice.
LIQUOR UNDERAGE, PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS
Reported and Occurred: 1/2/2024
KATHARINE HALL
A female resident student, under the age of 21, appeared in public intoxicated. The student was transported by VEMS to Bryn Mawr Hospital.
FIRE ACTUAL
Reported and Occurred: 1/2/2024
ATHLETICS COMPLEX GROUNDS
A small leaf fire was reported in a storm drain on campus.
LIQUOR UNDERAGE, PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS
Reported and Occurred: 1/3/2024
STANFORD HALL
A female resident student, under the age of 21, was
evaluated by VEMS for alcohol intoxication and transported to Bryn Mawr Hospital.
LIQUOR UNDERAGE
Reported and Occurred: 1/3/2024
ST. MONICA HALL
A male resident student, under the age of 21, was evaluated by Public Safety for alcohol intoxication and released.
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF
Reported and Occurred: 1/3/2024
SULLIVAN HALL
A glass door inside a residence hall was shattered by an unknown person.
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF
Reported and Occurred: 1/4/2024
SULLIVAN HALL
A staff member reported damage within a residence hall restroom.
THEFT
Reported and Occurred: 1/4/2024
FALVEY LIBRARY
A theft of U.S. currency was reported in Falvey Hall.
Factual errors are corrected as soon as they are brought to The Villanovan’s attention. Please send an e-mail to villanovan.eic@gmail.com to report errors.
The French & The US Election
Leena Krayyem Staff Writer
French Journalist Joseph Confavreux of the news site Mediapart stopped by Villanova University on Nov. 4 as a part of his nationwide tour to discuss French interest in the American election. Confavreux arrived at a critical time for the state of Pennsylvania, simultaneous with the Kamala Harris’s rally on the Philadelphia Art Museum steps.
Confavreux has worked in journalism for almost 25 years, beginning his career in Radio France, a public national radio. In 2011, he was offered a position at Mediapart, an independent online newspaper. What makes Mediapart unique is that they do not accept any advertisements on their website, and rely solely on their subscribers.
Confavreux sat down with Villanova French professor François Massonnat to examine the French perspective on the 2024 election
“We feel the importance of this election because it concerns not only the United States, but those abroad as well,” Confavreux said.
Europeans as a whole are watching the American presidential election unfold with much anticipation. The stakes are incredibly high in regards to international diplomacy, especially with the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine.
“I think it’s ambiguous because if Harris wins, it would be like business as usual between the United States and France and Europe, but with Trump everything is unpredictable,” Confavreux continued.
There is much concern especially regarding how a second Trump presidency would affect European defense and NATO, the latter of which Trump has suggested retreating from in the past.
The United States election season seems like a great spectacle to the French. However, solely viewing American politics in this way neglects the severity of the race.
“[The French] can have a tendency to caricature the United States election,” and in his work, Confavreux tries “to explain for a
French audience what are the stakes in America.”
Massonnat emphasized the disparate understanding of American politics within the United States, which makes explaining the system to a foreign audience even more difficult.
“[The election] is not easy to summarize and to boil down, it doesn’t mean the same thing to someone who lives in Arizona versus Maine or someone in New York City and Iowa,” Massonnat said.
Compared to French politics, it is understandable why the French watch American politics for entertainment. For example, in France, political ads endorsing a candidate are not permitted on any public radio or television.
“We have stronger public information at work which is much more regulated, and during the election they are obliged to give the same time for each candidate so there is a balance,” Confavreux said.
Confavreux has visited several other crucial election hotspots during his tour of the United States.
“What was more surprising for me was [Trump supporters] talk as a minority, oppressed, and threatened by the state, and they had almost the same kind of discourse that I hear from democrats about a fear of tyranny,” Confavreux said.
Confavreux also highlighted the ambiguity surrounding this year’s election due to mail-in ballots and legal challenge.
“There is a fog over the outcome of the election due to the political polarization, and how we won’t know when the results of such an important wil be known,” Confavreux said.
Confavreux’s visit was informative, and allowed students to hear from a primary source about French media and politics.
“I think any opportunity to learn more about politics and government in our country is a valuable resource for all students,” freshman psychology and French double major Kathryn Davis said. “But I think especially for French students, it was very interesting to learn about political culture in France as well as the French view on American politics.”
Award Presented To WCK
Allie Hesler Staff Writer
Last Tuesday, the Peace and Justice Department presented the Adela Dwyer St. Thomas of Villanova Peace Award to World Central Kitchen, an organization dedicated to helping those in crisis.
World Central Kitchen is a nonprofit that is first to the front lines in providing fresh and nourishing meals to communities in need. Every time there is a disaster, whether natural or man-made, WCK heads to the front lines as fast as humanly possible to support those affected by providing fresh meals.
The award was accepted by Laura Hayes, the senior manager of the Chefs Corps program of World Central Kitchen.
“We put an emphasis on fresh, and strive to provide nutritious, good, cultural meals,” Hayes said.
World Central Kitchen not only focuses on providing timely meals, but also food that is culturally important.
The organization was founded in 2010 by Chef José Andrés, who sought to help those affected by the earthquake in Haiti. This resulted in the Haitians not only being fed but being fed comfort food in a time when most of their comfort was stripped from them.
Now, World Central Kitchen is dedicated to making culturally significant meals by listening to locals for the best ways to feed a community. It recruits local chefs to teach them how to make their meals and how to make them well.
Hayes says the organization has a “locals lead the way philosophy,” because, often, the locals know the best solutions but simply lack the resources.
Hayes made a comment while accepting the award,
“This award comes at the most crucial time in our 15-year history,” she said.
World Central Kitchen is currently in its third full year of being stationed in Ukraine. It had a team arrive in Ukraine only hours after the initial invasion of Russia. It has been
putting in immense work to allow those in Ukraine to have a source of fresh comfort in these extremely harsh times.
The organization has an emergency coordinator in each region that is in charge of sending out emergency response teams as soon as an attack occurs. It has more than 500 restaurant partners that provide hundreds of thousands of meals every single day. It also has ten mobile kitchens that are moved directly to places struck and unable to provide a stable kitchen.
Tim Horner, Committee Chair for the Adela Dwyer St. Thomas of Villanova Award, spoke on why World Central Kitchen was chosen.
“The committee recommended WCK mostly because of its work in Ukraine after the Russian invasion,” he said. “But we are also excited about this new type of a that is embodied in their spirit.”
Horner said that the committee was extremely impressed by World Central Kitchen’s approach to providing fresh and cultural meals, especially compared to other organizations that simply ship dry bulk ingredients.
“WCK is concerned about human dignity,” he said. “That’s why we were attracted to this particular group. It is a new way of doing disaster relief that is much more dignified than some of the old international models.”
World Central Kitchen focuses on supporting the families in war-torn communities regardless of their government. If the citizens are in need, WCK offers its help.
Not only does World Central Kitchen provide food and water, it also helps create new ways to cook food when typical cooking methods are impossible. Gaza was, and still is, having a fuel scarcity and WCK worked to design wood pellet stoves to fully cook their food without needing oil.
“We established community kitchens,” Andrés said in another video. “Providing the ingredients and the equipment so that the people of Gaza could cook for themselves.”
World Central Kitchen is a one-of-a-kind organization that is paving the way for aid organizations.
Villanova Hosts Annual Special Olympics Fall Festival
Finley Triano Staff Writer
From Nov. 1 to Nov. 3, thousands of Villanova students gathered around campus to host the 36th annual Special Olympics Pennsylvania Fall Festival. More than 20,000 adults with intellectual disabilities visited campus to train and compete in friendly competitions, which consisted of sports such as flag football, volleyball and soccer. This event is a pivotal part of the year for Villanova, as it has the honor of hosting the world’s largest student-run Special Olympics Festival, featuring more than 1,000 athletes, 400 coaches and 5,000 volunteers.
The festival kicked off with a welcome ceremony hosted in the Finneran Pavilion, where athletes were introduced to Villanova's campus.
Each county delegation was presented with a banner and walked through a tunnel of cheering Villanova athletes.
“Being on the Villanova cheerleading team and being able to cheer on the athletes is such a rewarding experience,” junior Danielle Lopes said. “The happy looks on their faces is something I will never forget.”
On Saturday, the games be-
gan, and thousands of people gathered all around campus to cheer on the athletes, both on and off the field.
One of the standout groups supporting the athletes was the Local Program Host Committee (LPH), which includes eager Villanova freshmen who want to be involved within the Special Olympics. Their role was to follow their assigned county delegation, offering encouragement and infectious energy throughout the games. LPH members even performed flash mobs to boost the athletes spirits.
Jane Murphy, a freshman, described her first experience volunteering at Special Olympics.
“I have always heard about Villanova's continuous participation in Special Olympics, so I have been looking forward to it for so long,” she said. “It really goes to show what Villanova stands for. My favorite part so far is getting so close to the athletes and celebrating with them. You can tell how hard they have been training and it is so rewarding to see them doing what they love.”
Many different on-campus organizations set up tables around the Quad, offering fun activities like golf, basketball and coloring along with refreshments like lemonade and cookies.
Junior Victoria Diaz explained how the cheer team contributed to
Saturday’s tabling.
“We decided to make different colored lemonades and serve it with lemon-flavored Oreos,” she said.
The event allowed for meaningful interactions, creating countless cherished memories.
“One of my favorite memories from this weekend was when an athlete came up to our table and asked us to cheer for his game,” Diaz said.
The event concluded on Sunday with award ceremonies honoring the athletes for their dedication and hardwork.
Sophomore Grace Bean spoke about her involvement as a Volunteer Coordinator for the awards.
“Seeing how grateful and happy the athletes are during the awards ceremony is amazing,” she said. “Being a part of something bigger than myself and something so important to Villanova is incredibly rewarding.”
Samantha Zacharczyk, a member of the Inclusion Crew for awards, agreed.
“SPO provides a safe, supportive, and awesome environment to push this mission and have fun while
doing it,” she said. “All of the late nights are so worth it when you finally see everything come together and how much this weekend means to athletes, their families and the Villanova community.”
The Athlete Oath— “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt”—captures the spirit of the event, a fun, memorable experience for everyone involved.
Jim Miele, team leader for York County and a head coach for bocce, expressed his admiration for the Villanova community’s efforts.
“The dedication the student body puts in and the organization of it all is just breathtaking,” he said.
The theme for this year’s Fall Fest, “Through brave exploration discover your true destination,” encouraged athletes and students alike to celebrate their future endeavors and embrace their passions. The impact of this theme and the spirit of the event resonate far beyond the weekend itself.
The 2024 Special Olympics Fall Festival at Villanova University was yet another success. Here’s to the memories made, and the anticipation for next year’s festival.
Special Olympics Committee Spotlight
Caroline Mugno Staff Writer
It’s no secret at Villanova that Special Olympics Fall Fest is a big deal on campus. Villanova University is the official host of the Special Olympics Pennsylvania state games in the fall. A once familiar campus turns into an Olympic village nearly overnight and hosts competitions for teams coming from counties all over Pennsylvania for a three-day weekend, usually falling in October or early November.
Every year, the number of athletes totals more than 1,000, with 400 coaches and more than 5,000 student and adult volunteers. Athletes participating in Fall Fest can compete in six different Olympic sports, which include powerlifting, flag football, bocce, long-distance running and walking, soccer and volleyball.
But, who pulls off this impressive feat? Fall Fest at Villanova is the largest student-run Special Olympics event in the world, and the unsung heroes of the operation comprise Villanova University’s Special Olympics Committee. These 106 devoted students pour their hard work into year-round planning, organizing,
managing and budgeting so that Fall Fest is the wonderful and inclusive space everyone knows it to be.
Senior Catherine Browne, studying public relations and advertising along with business and real estate, held the position of Festival Director this year. She oversaw all work for Fall Fest, which includes serving as a leader of Committee. Committee is broken up into multiple different positions, such as the Entertainment Committee, Inclusion Crew Committee and many more.
In order to fulfill this role, a rigorous application process and strong academic record along with Committee experience is needed. Browne beautifully fulfilled all these requirements and brought along a unique passion for the games.
She was asked why she wanted to get involved in Special Olympics.
“I started volunteering at the age of 14, alongside my family, helping out with the volleyball games,” Browne said. “When I was a freshman, I knew I wanted to continue my participation. I got involved as a local program host and fell in love with the organization. I found a family in a safe space here and have experienced significant personal
growth through this. The fact that Fall Fest is on campus adds incredible camaraderie to the environment. We all bond over our love of competition and emulate in a tight knit community. It’s amazing to be able to use the resources on campus and get everyone involved because there can be up to 8,000 or 9,000 people on campus for the weekend.”
Additionally, senior Colin Nemeth, studying neuroscience, held the role of Chair of Ceremonies. This includes hosting about 1,800 people in the Finneran Pavilion on the Friday of Fall Fest. A new aspect of this section of Committee this year is the closing celebration. This is a lighthearted and fun event that is broken up into two separate times instead of a formal closing ceremony such as in the past.
“I had some involvement in high school, but I got involved because of the student atmosphere to begin with,” Nemeth said when asked why he joined Special Olympics. “It later became such a strong part of my time here and defined much of my Villanova experience. So much so that I am currently finding more ways to stick with it post grad. There are students so dedicated to the cause, but even the average
student has many opportunities to join months in advance, or even the day of. It is really cool to see how the campus transforms into a decorative event, but also, an opportunity for all students to get out there.”
Another member of Committee, junior Natalia Rodal Fernandez, studying environmental science, served as the Entertainment Chair.
“I initially started in the local program host and didn’t really know what my role would be until the weekend of but after my first Fall Fest and experienced an incredible education on support and inclusion,” Rodal Fernadez said when asked why she joined Special Olympics. “The thing that is so special about this weekend is the change of perspective that it can offer so many. Villanova demonstrates what the world could and should be like if we all chose to be caring, kind and inclusive.”
This weekend provided not only a physical transformation of Villanova, but also a very emotionally-moving experience for the student body and athletes alike.
The Villanova Special Olympics Committee worked tirelessly year-round to put on an unforgettable weekend where love, kindness and inclusion thrived.
Special Olympics athletes compete in a game of flag football during Villanova's Fall Fest. Graydon Paul/Villanovan Photography
O-Town creates an exciting atmosphere, filled with games, food and performances. Graydon Paul/Villanovan Photography
Fall Election Series: Reproductive Health
Isabella Balian
Political Columnist
This week, Villanova’s Political Science and Gender and Women’s Studies Departments hosted an academic panel on reproductive health in light of the November elections.
What’s at Stake with Reproductive Health featured panelists Nancy Sharts-Hopko, Ann Juliano, Chelsea Gerrard, and Elizabeth-Jane McGuire.
The panel was introduced by associate teaching professor, and OUS faculty advisor, Dr. Kelly-Anne Diamond, and moderated by senior Co-Presidents of The Space. The panelists introduced themselves. Then, the moderators began to ask individualized questions for the panelists based on their respective experience.
Sharts-Hopko was asked about reproductive healthcare from a medical standpoint and its role in her professional career. She commented on the limited accessibility of this type of healthcare in America.
“We are the only developed country that does not ensure universal access to healthcare," Sharts-Hopko said. "These factors weigh into my experience on this topic.”
She also pointed out that states with stricter abortion bans face disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality versus states without these bans.
She discussed the apparent increase in infant mortality since the reversal of Roe v. Wade. She spoke on medical circumstances that may cause necessary abortions.
“Some of the kinds of life threatening things that may happen are sepsis and hemorrhage. Mothers may get blood clots to their lungs, brain or heart,” she said. “They may develop high blood pressures that lead to seizures, uteruses can rupture.”
She explained that these are all catastrophic events that require informed decision making by those involved.
“There's no time to call the Attorney General or call the institutional lawyer,” Sharts-Hopko said. “There's confusion in states based on what people are allowed to do. Physicians are threatened with loss of license or prison, which causes hesitation and causes OB-GYN doctors and students not to seekout education or practice in certain states where their medical judgment is being second guessed by the state legislature.”
Sharts-Hopko asked students and attendees to put themselves in the shoes of a woman losing her pregnancy.
“I want you to think about how it would feel to lose a pregnancy you really wanted to carry, only to be investigated for homicide, when it was not anything you did,” she said.
Juliano discussed the constitutional protections stated in a variety of cases related to reproductive health, like Griswold v. Connecticut, Roe v. Wade, and
Planned Parenthood v. Casey. She also discussed the overturn of Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
In the Dobbs decision, the Supreme Court ruled that there is no explicit right to abortion expressed in the Constitution.
“One of the questions stated in this case is: Do we have rights that are not directly stated in the Constitution?” Juliano said. “If you read the Constitution, you are also not going to see the right to travel, or the right to vote. These are not listed in the constitution.”
This decision calls other cases into question, like the right to contraception and same-sex marriage.
“Returning it to the states means there is no federal right to abortion,” she said. “Some people have the ability to travel to other states, and some do not.”
Juliano broke down any confusion or misunderstandings in these complicated cases and spoke on their importance to American women and America overall.
McGuire spoke on the panel to share her stance as a pro-life advocate and professor at Villanova for the Augustinian Cultural Seminar Program.
She was asked about her stance on abortion as a Catholic woman and how she approaches conversations with people who hold a diff erence of opinion.
“A truly pro- life worldview encompasses care for the human person from conception until natural death, with an emphasis on the innocent and most vulnerable people in our society,” she said.
“I am sure I diff er on abortion policy, but I do share in common with panelists this idea that there needs to be policies that support women through their pregnancies, through birth and afterward. We need to take circumstances that make it hard for women to feel that they can have children and change those circumstances.”
She built on the biological evidence that supports her pro-life stance.
“A zygote is diff erent from its mother. It has diff erent DNA,” she said. “The unborn are worth our concern just as any person we can see. They deserve human rights. I don’t think you need to defend the pro-life decision on the basis of faith. It really isn’t because I am Catholic.”
She noted the importance of holding conversations with those who we disagree with, coming in with a sense of humility and curiosity.
“It's really important to be able to put yourself in another person's shoes and understand that one person’s circumstances can be radically diff erent than our own,” she said.
She noted assumptions around the Catholic Church that all Catholics are pro-life, and notes that many Catholics want abortion reform.
Gerrard brought a unique position to the conversation.
She shared her experience with infertility, PCOS and in vitro fertilization. She also noted her
upbringing in Catholicism and states her familiarity with the Catholic Church's teachings and perspectives.
“I am the person who couldn’t get pregnant,” she said. “I fi nd myself in a reproductive endocrinologist’s offi ce and I am diagnosed with PCOS. Refl ecting back on what I had learned, I found that a lot of what was taught was very out of touch and a little bit inaccurate. There's this idea that there are all these embryos being created. I had to fi ght for my embryos. For many people going through it, it's a struggle to get healthy embryos.”
Gerrard brought students a raw, fi rsthand perspective on the misconceptions about reproductive health and how pregnancy and fertility are extremely nuanced.
Panelists were then asked about their potential concerns or comments on the future of reproductive health post-November elections.
“I am gravely concerned about the ability of the healthcare community to meet the needs of women who are pregnant and who have complications, and of teen-mothers who may have been victims of statutory rape or physical rape,” Sharts-Hopko said.
McGuire spoke on abortion regulations.
“We need to be looking at this not as an issue for women, but as a culture,” she said. “As a religious person, I am concerned about restrictions on fi rst amendment right, to be able to protest this. If abortion is to be legal, we need to have a lot more regulations. We need to have standards for facilities and for providers. There needs to be more mandated reporting. We need to have more conversations around the ethics around certain practices, so we don’t put things into law, whether that is pro-life or pro-choice, without having conversations about what this will look like for a doctor or for embryos that haven’t been implanted.”
Gerrard spoke on concern for access to infertility treatments and access to general reproductive healthcare.
“I am concerned about that being based on where you live,” Gerrard said. “It will impact
you, it's not about race, or political standpoint, it aff ects people everywhere.”
The event had a vast turnout with many Villanova students, staff and faculty attendees. Students were then given time to ask the panelists respective questions about their experience.
Senior attendee Laila Ghabrial spoke on her experience at the panel.
“The event was positive and educational,” she said. “I think overall this University needs to have more conversations around reproductive rights. It really struck me listening to the former nurse and the stories she has about how important reproductive freedoms really are. She really emphasized how many people can and are aff ected by anti-abortion laws and how this year women are on the ballot.”
The moderator of the panel, Alyssa Davis, echoed Ghabrial’s statement.
“One of the great things about this event was the panelists’ variety of backgrounds that added nuance to the discussion of reproductive health, which I think is often forgotten in politics,” she said. “We try to paint reproductive health as one thing or one story, but Ms. Gerard sharing her experience with infertility or Dr. Sharts-Hopko discussing cases she has seen in the medical fi eld showed the realities individuals experience when accessing reproductive healthcare. With all that is at stake in this election, the panel helped me to further understand the gravity and implications of my vote.”
Ghabrial also spoke about the topics of religion during the panel.
“The diversity of thought is appreciated and I enjoy learning from all opinions, but at some points the discussion shifted more towards religious infl uences in abortion attitudes and less so of discussing what is really at stake in this election and what we are voting for,” she said.
This panel on the future of reproductive health off ered students a nuanced discussion on the critical stakes surrounding reproductive rights ahead of the November elections.
Panelists gathered to share their concerns on the future of reproductive rights in America. Isabella Balian/Villanovan Photography
OPINION Choosing CLAS: Why Liberal Arts?
Natalie Murphy Staff Writer
When people ask me what my major is, I always expect a negative or skeptical response. I am often given a confused face or the notorious comment, “Why not STEM or business?”
There has been a growing focus on the science and business fields for the past few years. There is nothing wrong with this shift, as we need doctors, nurses, scientists, pharmacists, financial assistants, investors, managers, analysts and the like. However, such a focus has helped foster a rising sentiment against the value of a liberal arts degree. This is problematic. We need teachers, communicators, writers, journalists, theologians, criminologists and theorists just as much as we do any other profession.
The belief that a degree in science or business is “more useful” or that any other field is “full of people who slack off” is threatening the stability of our country and society. At first glance, this might seem like a large claim to make, but let’s talk about how it is not.
One of the many reasons why I chose Villanova was its steadfast commitment to its professors, who are the foundation of our academic experience. Throughout my time here, I have had the privilege of encountering several inspirational professors, including Gina Talley, Judy Giesberg and Lance Kenney, who are all excellent in their fields and have worked extremely hard to get to where they are now. The entire world as you know it is based on your education,
Srihi Surapaneni Staff Writer
Every November, daylight saving ends, and our clocks get set back by an hour, granting us a much appreciated extra hour of sleep. But why exactly do we get this extra hour? And is it even worth it?
The origin of daylight saving time goes all the way back to 1916, when World War I was wreaking havoc in Germany. The plan was intended to encourage people to make use of the extra hour of daylight, using up fewer energy resources for their lighting, heating and appliances. The United States took on the idea itself in 1918 but ended the use of it just a year later as the war came to an end.
By 1942, yet another World War was in full swing, and daylight saving time was reintroduced. Following the second war, there was no standardized plan for the country, and diff erent states and cities had diff erent policies regarding whether daylight saving would be implemented, as well as how it would be. In 1966, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act, putting an end to the chaos and
which is given by your educators, and they deserve just as much recognition as any other profession.
And no, I’m not saying this because I want extra credit. I’m saying this because they have opened my eyes to the world around me. Our professors, educators and leaders of our academic experience make just as much of a difference as someone who works in a STEM or business field, simply in a different way.
When I was in high school, I went out to dinner with my friends. When we were seated at our table, I was shocked when my teacher was our waitress. Educators prioritize
their students while receiving limited recognition and compensation. Is this because we value scientific pursuits over liberal arts? I have a difficult time believing it is not. Our education influences our perspective of the world, which influences our actions and roles in society. For example, after learning more history, I feel that it is my duty as a citizen to vote in the presidential election. Our understanding of current political and social issues is dependent on our understanding of our nation’s history. If one is unaware of the problems of our past, how can they appropriately change the out-
Daylight Savings is Overrated
instituting a standardized schedule that the entire nation, with the exception of Hawaii and Arizona, follows to this day.
Today, daylight saving is an incredibly controversial system, and many have called for it to be abolished. A 2019 Associated Press-NORC poll found that 70% of Americans oppose the clock switch.
In our very own Pennsylvania there have already been eff orts to keep one time for the whole year. In 2023, state legislature representative Ryan Mackenzie introduced House Bill 272, which would permanently keep Pennsylvania on daylight saving time, stating that “ending the process of changing our clocks biannually is long overdue.”
Those opposed to the switching of time make a good point. While the extra hour of sleep feels like a nice reward, the practice of daylight saving is far more harmful than helpful.
The impact of daylight saving can be visibly seen. Each year, when we lose an extra hour in the Spring, our sunny spring days become a little bit shorter. Gone is an extra hour that could be used for catching up with friends outside on the benches or peacefully fi nishing assignments at the tables
come, especially when many of our issues are institutional?
Every decision now relies on our past decisions. Our education leads to us discovering truths about the world and about ourselves. We are led by example, and we lead by example. Our education gives us that example.
The belief we cannot pursue our interests within liberal arts due to low-paying jobs is a further example of this problem. So many people who have genuine interests in liberal arts feel as if they cannot pursue what they are truly interested in because the liberal arts field is “not as lucrative.”
This is reinforced by the thought that the primary focus of our education is to gain money. Of course, especially in a capitalist economy, that is certainly a large part of it.
On the other hand, following one’s deepest passions will lead them to where they need to be. The primary goal of our education should be to make a difference in the world around us, to make Earth a better place. This might seem unrealistic and unachievable in many ways, but if one pursues their interests, they will realize it is not. The more people choose to not pursue their interests within liberal arts, the more we inaccurately judge others’ interests, and the more this stigma is continued. The world is in our hands, and the possibilities are endless when we follow our hearts.
Villanova’s liberal arts program and professors have done an excellent job to remind me of this, to encourage me and grow in the path I am supposed to be. I’m proud to be a history major, and I’m excited to share my passion with the world.
outside of Conn. Instead, it’s time to walk back from late afternoon classes while the sun sets and to head to dinner in the chilly pitch black of night.
The harmful eff ects of the changing clock on our minds and mental health go beyond just gloomy atmospheres. Sleep is one of the most important aspects of our health, and even just the two shifts can have profound consequences on sleep patterns. When we fall into later mornings each November, the body’s circadian rhythms, which control and manage some of the body’s key functions, are disturbed.
This negative impact is even more pronounced in the spring when daylight saving begins again. When our mornings begin earlier, we are naturally less exposed to light, which can reduce levels of serotonin. Low levels of serotonin can be linked with depression. Additionally, our exposure to light ends up occurring later in the day, potentially aff ecting quality of sleep by hindering the production of the hormone melatonin.
While daylight saving seems like it only matters on just two days of the year, it can be infl uential. And for people already struggling with certain conditions
like depression, anxiety, sleeping disorders or seasonal aff ective disorder, which is a large number of people, the extra hour gained or lost can be serious.
But not only is the daylight saving plan a depressing inconvenience, it just barely serves its initial purpose. In 2021, researchers at Stanford University analyzed 44 diff erent studies and found that the system has led to just a 0.34% decrease in energy consumption. Another study, this one conducted by the National Bureau of Economic Research, found that energy consumption from lighting did decrease, but heating and cooling energy consumption actually increased, countering any potential reductions in energy.
While daylight saving was originally introduced with the noble intention of reducing energy consumption in a time of national need, it has clearly overstayed its welcome. Whether it’s remaining on daylight saving time year-round after one last spring forward, or keeping Standard Time permanent, it’s time for the entire country to follow the example set by Arizona and Hawaii and end this obsolete system once and for all.
But for this week at least, enjoy a useless, but well-deserved, extra hour of sleep.
St. Augustine Center is home to Villanova's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Pepper Ritchey/ Villanovan Photography
EDITORIAL BOARD LETTERS TO THE EDITORS
EMMA CAHILL
Editor-in-Chief
HANNAH SWEENEY
Editor-in-Chief
BROOKE ACKERMAN
Associate Editor-in-Chief
AVERY CHALK
Opinion Editor
KAILEY FAHY
Opinion Editor
The Villanovan encourages all members of the Villanova community to voice their opinions. Letters to the editors may be submitted via e-mail to villanovan.eic@gmail.com. Letters must not exceed 500 words and must be signed. No anonymous letters will be published. All submissions become property of The Villanovan and are subject to editing for clarity and space.
POLICY
The unsigned editorial that appears is the opinion of The Villanovan as determined by the majority of the Editorial Board. Other columns, letters and artwork represent the opinions of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of The Villanovan.
A Tale of Two Protests: Bosa vs Kaepernick
Carter Smith Staff Writer
On October 27, 2024, the San Francisco 49ers beat the visiting Dallas Cowboys, 30-24, on Sunday Night Football.
After the game, NBC sideline reporter Melissa Stark was conducting a post-game interview with the 49ers’ key contributors: tight end George Kittle, quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Isaac Guerendo. Just as the segment was about to start, 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa approached Stark and Purdy and leaned into the camera to gesture to the message on his hat before running off.
On his hat, emblazoned in gold stitching, read “Make America Great Again.” When Bosa subsequently appeared in front of San Francisco media for his post-game press conference, he had removed the hat. A reporter questioned him over his wearing of the politically-charged headpiece.
“I’m not going to talk too much about it, but I think it's an important time,” he responded meekly.
Bosa’s political alignment has been widely known for some time, especially after he and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (who has since joined the White Dudes for Harris campaign) posed for a photo with former President Donald Trump at a wrestling event in March.
This is the first time Bosa has expressed said political views on the field.
A week on from the incident, the NFL has made no public statement on any punishment for Bosa, but there is an expectation among league-insiders that he will be punished.
“Bosa can avoid discipline only if the league office approved the hat in advance.” That obviously didn’t happen,” NFL insider Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk wrote.
Bosa’s political statement drew ire on social media, with many fans questioning how he could support a candidate for president who is a convicted felon, friend of Jeffery Epstein and has directly threatened the integrity of American democracy.
To many fans and onlookers, this situation with Bosa draws uncomfortable contrast to what unfolded with former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick beginning in 2016.
On September 1, 2016, during a preseason game in San Diego, Colin Kaepernick and teammate Eric Reed took a knee during the playing of the national anthem to protest the legacy of systemic racism in America.
The form of protest quickly spread throughout the NFL and to other professional leagues, with many players of all racial backgrounds taking the knee in solidarity with their teammates. The knee is still a hallmark of today’s protests for racial equality, which have jumped after the murder of George Floyd.
However, Kaepernick’s protest drew ire from a large percentage of the conservative American public, especially the most ardent supporters
of former President Trump. Many people believed Kaepernick was disrespecting the flag, our country and that the protesting players should just stick to sports.
“If a player wants the privilege of making millions of dollars in the NFL or other leagues, he or she should not be allowed to disrespect our Great American Flag (or Country) and should stand for the National Anthem,” Trump tweeted in September 2017. “If not, YOU’RE FIRED. Find something else to do!”
Kaepernick protested through the entire 2016 season, after which he did not receive a new contract from the 49ers nor any other NFL team. He has not played a down of professional football since. Many suspect that he was blacklisted by the league for his protests, seeing as many quarterbacks perceived as lesser talents got new contracts around the same time Kaepernick was due for his own.
Despite Kaepernick and Bosa’s gestures being of different meaning and magnitude, they both boil down to one thing: political statements on the field. However, the circumstances of their protests are quite different.
According to the New York Times, Kaepernick and Reed came up with the idea to take a knee after consulting Nate Boyer, a Green Beret who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and played college football at the University of Texas. Boyer claimed he and fellow servicemen took knees at the funerals of their fallen comrades as a way of showing respect after seeing photos of Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. kneeling in prayer during the Selma protests.
Kaepernick stood behind his protest and what it represented, speaking up for racial equality even though it likely ended his NFL career, and has continued his career in activism.
In contrast, Bosa’s stunt does not appear to have been done in good faith or for any larger purpose. He crashed a post-game interview, taking time away from his teammates to discuss their victory, not to make a significant statement of any kind, but to flash a knowingly controversial symbol at the camera and run away like a child trying to be edgy.
In his official post-game press conference, Bosa was given a chance to explain his stunt, asked directly by a reporter. Again he refused to make any significant statement or endorsement, shirking the reporter’s question with a non-answer.
As previously noted, he had taken the hat off before the press conference, another sign that he is unwilling to stand up for his beliefs when confronted.
If the NFL was willing to blacklist Colin Kaepernick for protesting the evils of systemic racism, an issue that directly affects a large percentage of the league’s players, there should be some form of punishment; suspension, fine or otherwise, for Nick Bosa, who drew attention to himself for the express purpose of highlighting a man who is running for president in spite of contradicting the values of democracy and equality that America was founded on.
Celebrating the Holidays: How Early is Too Early?
Molly Duffy Staff Writer
As we dive into November, the familiar annual debate resurfaces: is it acceptable to celebrate Christmas early?
In a world that forces us to adhere to tradition, it is important to remember that happiness and joy do not have a deadline or schedule. There are countless emotional benefi ts of celebrating the holidays early. They allow us to fi ght away seasonal blues and can bring cheer to everyone who may need it.
The list of pros for early celebrations is nearly endless. First, beginning festivities early can allow for an extended period of holiday cheer. That feeling of anticipation is something we all know and love. It can bring us back to the feeling of childhood and nostalgia that we all love so much. Along with this, by cele-
brating early, there is less pressure to stick to one set of traditions. More time with decor and celebration allows for fl uidity and multiple options in how a person can celebrate. They do not have to be confi ned to the bounds of one way of celebration.
In terms of gift giving, it only makes sense to get started now. Christmas sales have begun, so what’s the point in waiting to get our matching pajamas and ugly sweaters? Similarly, I don’t think that gingerbread houses can really go bad, so let’s start constructing now.
In previous years, I have waited until after Thanksgiving to let the celebrations begin, but then when the time comes, I realize that I did not actually get everything done that I wanted to. By giving myself more time this year, I am able to spread out preparations and can avoid the last-minute rush as the holidays approach. Around the holiday season, we tend to get more homesick, want-
ing to spend wintery days sipping hot cocoa in front of our family fi replace. By bringing the holiday spirit to school, we can bring down that missing feeling and make campus feel like home.
I don’t think I am alone when I say that this Halloween felt rushed. Almost everyone I talked to felt that the holiday snuck up on them and there was barely any time to prepare costumes and celebrations. This brought the vibe and energy of the holiday down a notch because it was mostly full of stress and outfi t disasters. In order to change this, we can enhance our holiday experience for the last few months of the year by ridding the season of all limitations. Why put a halt on holiday cheer when the benefi ts of it are endless?
There is nothing like the Christmas season and by the time that Halloween is over, I believe it’s time to celebrate. Especially this year, with Thanksgiving being so late, we don’t get back to school until the beginning of December.
At that point, we will be drowned in work for fi nals season, and there is very high potential that the Christmas spirit will be suppressed underneath the stress that comes from being a college student. If we can get our twinkle lights and miniature trees set up before Thanksgiving break, it will only be that much easier to return to school happy, rather than drowned in stress. This season rightfully urges us to give back to others and prove how thankful we are.
By celebrating Christmas early, that does not mean we are skipping past Thanksgiving. We are actually setting ourselves up for a more committed and well-rounded holiday season. Christmas decor allows us to feel youthful and happy, lifting everyone’s spirits up.
What’s the point of limiting something that has the potential to make everyone the happiest that they can be? It’s the most wonderful time of the year, so let’s take advantage of that.
Purses or Backpacks: Which Should Villanovans Use?
Kaitlin Lawrenson Staff Writer
Style or a $300 co-pay at the chiropractor? Often, when deciding whether to carry a purse or a backpack, I feel as if I am deciding between my fashion sense and my physical pain. Purses kill my shoulders, mess with my alignment and don’t fit all that I need for class, yet I am constantly pressured to use one. As I see all of the beautiful handbags on the arms of girls strolling around campus, I feel envious. I almost want to say, “Blink twice if your arm is killing you because we all know that bag is way too heavy.” Yet, all of these girls just strut by, and I am left walking to class with my backpack. Now, it is Lululemon, so I like to tell myself I am carrying a glamorous backpack, but it is still no Marc Jacobs purse.
I am sorry, but I need two straps. I need stability. Oftentimes, I am so tired from walking back and forth from West Campus to Tolentine that I don’t even do the cute “onestrap” backpack look. Days here are long, and this campus has hills. I need a bag that can support all of my items without weighing me down. At the end of the day, there is no perfect method to get all of our items from one side of campus to another, we are always tired at the end of the day no matter what. However, I find that purses aren’t practical, at least for firstyear students.
I have multiple books I must
carry along with my laptop. Plus, there is no place for a water bottle in a purse. Now, if I decide to be fashionable and carry a bag, I need to worry about carrying my water bottle everywhere without dropping and denting it. Sometimes I wonder if I am the only one who has such disdain for the purse trend on Villanova’s campus because it seems most girls use them. However, now I feel forever bonded to my fellow girls on campus who use backpacks. I think that we will now always have a connection because we all have decided to use the more practical method even though it may not always be deemed “girly” or “cute.”
“For day-to-day activities, I use a purse instead of a backpack,” sophomore Avery Chalk said. “Most of my classwork is on the computer, so I do not need to worry about carry-
ing textbooks, or other heavy materials. I like the versatility of a purse. My bag makes me feel put together, especially on days when I need an extra boost.”
She also offered advice on types of bags.
“I recommend Longchamp, Madewell and Kate Spade for anyone looking to make the switch,” Chalk said.
Chalk is reminding all of us that purses can be fun ways to make us feel confident and there are multiple affordable options for Villanova students looking to make the switch.
Megan Lawn, a first-year student, has her own opinion of the frequent on-campus debate.
“I’m a firm supporter of the stylish purse look for class—honestly, it’s a great vibe,” Lawn said. “But
with the sheer amount of stuff I haul around daily, a backpack is my only option. It’s not just an accessory at this point; it’s a survival strategy to save my shoulders from a workout every time I walk to class.”
This is the problem with society's expectations of women, we are supposed to be fashionable but none of the fashion we are expected to model around campus is comfortable. I would love to carry around a gorgeous handbag but for me, the back pain and alignment issues simply aren’t worth it. What am I supposed to do? Accept the fact that I will never be the cute girl with a handbag or fall victim to the trend and suffer with a chiropractor bill?
I remember touring campus and dreaming of being one of those Villanova girls walking around with her bag, not breaking a sweat. Now, I am a freshman who is simply is trying to get enough sleep at night to get through the day. Half the time, I am laying out my outfit the night before because I can barely piece together a sentence by the time I am getting to my 8:30 a.m. class. So, maybe I am not as cute or fashionable as I have the potential to be without a handbag, but at that point in my morning, all I want is a bag to hold my things. It could be a Wawa plastic bag, for all I care at that point. I may hop onto the handbag wagon my junior or senior year when I have fully figured out this “college girly” aesthetic, but for now, I will stick to my Lululemon backpack and hopefully save myself from some shoulder pain in the process.
New Adult-Sounding Name, Same Goldfish Taste?
Avery Stout Staff Writer
Goldfish crackers, the beloved snack known for its playful fish shape and flavorful cheesy taste, has decided to dive into deeper waters with its latest limited-edition product: “Chilean Sea Bass” crackers. Despite having initial skepticism about the recent rebranding, Villanova students remain fiercely loyal to Goldfish, viewing the changes as an interesting statement piece that won't impact their purchasing habits.
On Oct. 23, Goldfish temporarily changed its brand name to “Chilean Sea Bass” to garner attention from its adult audience. According to the Goldfish website, the renamed crackers will be available online at ChileanSeaBassCrackers. com for $7.38 until Oct. 30. With the tagline, “New adult-sounding name, same Goldfish taste,” the rebrand is a playful nod to the nostalgia and sophistication many millennials and Gen Z now seek in their snack choices.
Goldfish’s one-week rebrand is aimed at reconnecting the snack with adult consumers who grew up eating Goldfish crackers. According to CNN, Campbell Soup Company, which owns the brand, has focused on evolving Goldfish into a nostalgic snack for grown-ups, bringing out flavors like Old Bay and Frank’s RedHot Original.
Goldfish has faced significant backlash from nostalgic consumers who oppose the name change. Many adults feel that the classic brand name
never deterred them from enjoying Goldfish, and this rebranding makes them feel unnecessarily older.
Students at Villanova have strong reactions to the one-off Goldfish rebrand. Many students are skeptical of this change and don't know if it would encourage them to buy more Goldfish under this new alias.
“I honestly thought it was a joke at first,” sophomore Lily Wand said about the rebrand. “I’m interested to see how this plays out. While I can't say I'm necessarily a fan of the rebrand, I do appreciate the creativity and fun it brings. I'm a fan of the brand itself, but this was an interesting choice for them. We will have to see what happens.”
Other Villanova students, like sophomore Shaina Keough, believe that it is time for Goldfish to make a change and adapt to older audiences.
“I think it’s a great move,” Keough said. “I think a lot of us grew up with Goldfish as a kid and that’s a great name for a little child. A child loves a good orange Goldfish, but you know as you grow up, you realize that, like, things have more meaning when you grow up.”
She also agreed with the brand name change from an aesthetic standpoint.
“Honestly it looks better on the packaging. It makes it more unique,” Keough said. “I'm sick of all these one-word-named crackers like Ritz.”
These launches reflect the brand’s shift from a purely kid-centered snack to one that adults can enjoy, capturing the nostalgic yet modern tastes of their once-young
fans. According to Campbell’s Christopher Foley, President of the Snacks Division, this strategy has succeeded, pushing Goldfish’s net sales to rise by 50% from 2019 to 2024.
According to CNN, since its U.S. launch in 1962 as a bar snack aimed at adults, Goldfish has evolved to suit the times. Now, with millennials and Gen Z seeking comfort foods that remind them of their childhood, Goldfish is capitalizing on the current moment. The Chilean Sea Bass rebrand is a clever nod to the past and a testament to the snack’s enduring versatility.
“ Goldfish this is devastating,” user @abby.kaczynski commented on Goldfish’s Instagram post about its rebrand.
“Literally no adult asked for this,” @corbintheminer, another Instagram user, commented on the
Instagram post.
While some adults do not feel compelled to buy this new Goldfish snack, many other big snack brands are reacting in a positive way.
“We see what you did there, and we like it! Hmm, collab?” said @ kraft.naturalcheese, the Instagram for Kraft.
“Knocked it out of the water!” the Wheat Things Instagram account commented in support of the “Chilean Sea Bass” rebrand.
Goldfish are a nostalgic staple that many Villanova students grew up with. While some welcome the rebrand as a fun, fresh twist on a classic, others question whether it’s really necessary to reinvent a snack that’s already beloved as it is. But, Villanova students’ love for the iconic snack overpowers the initial doubt about the “Chilean Sea Bass” rebrand.
Many Villanova students still use traditional backpacks for class. Brian Luppy / Villanovan Photography
Goldfish crackers are a classic snack for many Villanovans. Courtesy of Shutterstock
Is it Time to Reshape the Tipping Culture?
Patricia Cancio Staff Writer
Tipping, which used to be a gesture of gratitude for a service, has now evolved into an almost mandatory part of daily transactions in the U.S., from coff ee shops to food delivery to even self-service kiosks. This shift has made consumers and workers uncomfortable about when and how much to tip, especially as the cost of living increases.
On the consumer side, tipping feels like an obligation, rather than an optional choice. As a coffee lover, I have been to multiple coff ee shops here and back home in Puerto Rico. Nowadays, after checkout, when the service workers fl ip around their digital screen, it's always asking the question of tipping or not, and usually with tips starting from 18%. On a visit to Starbucks, the creative tipping jars caught my attention. They use a creative marketing tactic consisting of two tip jars and an opinion question called "Tip Wars,” with questions such as iced or hot coff ee or other types of questions with a "This or That" format.
As a student majoring in marketing, I know this can incentivize buyers to give tips by participating in the "Tip Wars" and being part of the trend. However, as tipping becomes a part of almost any transaction, many customers face tip fatigue. According to a
Sof Says:
survey from WalletHub, "64% of people think a tip is something you should give when you feel like it, instead of something you always have to give," and “Three out of four Americans think tipping has gotten out of control." For this reason, I believe that it will get to the point where people will begin to give less to no tips on some services, which can lead to greater income disparities.
On the other hand, tipping is a component of a workers' income. However, the disparities in
(Kamala
The following content is purely satirical and entirely fictional. Don’t believe everything you read!
The election results are in, and I am here to tell you all about my first time experiencing the presidential election as a voter. Let me tell you: it was crazy. I mean, it wasn’t all that crazy for me the day of because I sent in my mail-in ballot weeks ago. (I had to get that vote in my hometown, where it matters more.) But it was still super exciting to watch the election results come in.
I am incredibly dedicated to this country, so I watched all the coverage of the election. The whole time, all *number of hours or days or weeks it took for the results to come in*, I was extremely locked in. The whole time. And I waited until we had the results to write this be-
employee's performance with the customer. In other businesses, tip pooling is used. This is a practice in which tipped employees all contribute to a tip pool and then divide all the tips equally among the workers at the end of the shift.
In some sectors, workers can face emotional distress as their income is unpredictable and they rely on tips to compensate for a portion of their income. If their income is not met with tips, employers are required under federal labor law to pay them the remaining balance to meet the hourly minimum wage.
the tipping culture from the workers' side also raise a question about the real issue, which is centralized in minimum wage, coupled with an expectation from consumers to give tips which compensate part of the worker's salary. This results in wages that employers avoid having to pay.
Depending on the industry, tipping can create income disparities. In some businesses, especially restaurants, some individuals earn more tips than others. However, in many cases, this is based on the
Wins!/Trump
The tipping culture in the United States is so strong that I hadn't questioned it much until I studied abroad in Spain last year. Tipping is not expected or required in Spain and other countries in Europe. If a tip is given, it can be seen as a bonus for exceptional service You pay for what you get, including the customer service and meal, drink or whatever you order. At fi rst, it felt a little weird not to feel the need to give a tip for every coff ee or meal, but later, with time, I got used to their culture. Although the American and European cultures have signifi cant diff erences in salaries, opportunities and lifestyle, my experience abroad left me questioning: if a no-tip culture works for other countries, could the United Statesbenefi t from reshaping how tips wages are handled in service industries?
Wins)(Can’t name it I literally don’t know who won)
cause I wanted it to be as authentic as possible.
This was the first time I got to watch the election results and actually know that my vote mattered. It was really cool, and I loved watching it. I had so much fun watching it live. Seriously, I watched it live *this is a lie*.
It was so thrilling to watch, wasn’t it? It was worth all those *hours or days or whatever*.
I mean, how about how crazy it was when *name a swing state that went blue and was really exciting.* That was awesome, right? Or how about when Texas went red?
Just kidding, that always happens. Or, how about Pennsylvania going *blue or red, again don’t know what happened?* That’s why so many Villanova students register to vote here instead of at home. Swing states, am I right? You just never know. I totally knew it was going to go *the way that it went,* though.
This is really great for the country, don’t you think? *This is either read sarcastically or seriously, tone needs to be considered after the results are in.* Like, we really have our first *female or fascist* president. These really are unprecedented times. Who knows what is going to happen next?
I am personally very happy that the election is over.
I exercised my civic duty, and it *did or did not make a difference.* Either way, we have to get rid of the Electoral College, even though I do think it’s a funny phrase to say. *I sincerely mean that regardless of who wins because democracy, so I’m not cutting that line when I read this back.*
I did my part, and the re-
sults are in, no matter how long it took. I literally did all I could, just like everyone else in the country. We listened to the ads that totally worked and changed our minds because that’s how voting works. I don’t know about anyone else, but I was completely undecided and the non-stop ads and text messages that helped me make up my mind. I’m personally going to be so sad that they are going to stop now that someone actually won. Kidding, of course. That’s that. It’s over. *The person who won* won the election. *He or she* is our next president. Great work, voters. Let’s move out of election season and into the most important season of the year: the holiday season.
Tipping jars are a typical way many establishments ask for tips. Courtesy of Shutterstock
Students cast their votes today, and wait to see the results. Courtesy of Shutterstock
Our satirist, Sof, awaits the decision of the presidential election. Courtesy of Shutterstock
Sof Quaglia Satire Columnist
ELECTION Students React to On-Campus Voting
vote.”
Lauren Armstrong Co-News Editor
Continued from p.1
-brina Damien said. “I think classes should’ve been canceled because this is an event that only happens every four years, it’s special enough to excuse just one day. Villanova should do as much as it can to encourage students to
Voting on campus has not only increased voter turnout, but also helped students become encouraged to learn more about the candidates and cast educated ballots.
“I feel like with how much talk has been happening about voting on campus and this election, I was encouraged to educate myself and felt confident walking into the polls” a sophomore biology major who requested anonym -
ity said. “I walked into the polls knowing I was going to vote for Harris in order to protect democracy. If it was not for all the talk about politics on campus, I might not have made that decision.”
“I am thankful to have been able to make an educated decision in this election,” a se -
nior marketing major, who also requested anonymity, said. “I am confident in my decision to have voted for Trump in this election. I was able to make this decision on my own, and I am grateful for the push to become more educated on the topics at hand in this election.”
Off-Campus Residents Cast Their Ballots in PA
Emma Cahill Co-Editor-in-Chief
While on-campus residents voted at the Mullen Center for the Performing Arts, off-campus Villanova students went to a different precinct to cast their ballot. For those who wanted to vote in Pennsylvania and did not participate in mail-in-ballots or early voting, off-campus students were assigned to polling centers determined by their place of residence.
Some residences with high student concentrations have the same precinct. Such is the case for residents of the Villas at Bryn Mawr, colloquially known as “Props,” who voted at the Judith Creed Horizons for Achieving Independence. Similarly, residents of College Hall, colloquially known as “Courts,” voted at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church.
Senior Props inhabitant
Shannon O’Brien shared her experience voting off-campus as part of a densely populated Villanova residency.
“It was nice going to the polling place and seeing other students also vote,” O’Brien said. “My roommate and I were able to go together, which was very convenient.”
Compared to the seemingly endless line outside the Mullen Center, it seemed that lines for off-campus venues were fairly short and efficient.
Senior Kate Smith voted at St. John’s AME Church. When Smith arrived at the polls at 9 a.m., she found no lines. According to Smith, the entire process took around five minutes.
Similar sentiments were shared by others, such as O’Brien, who voted at the designated precinct for Props residents.
“My polling place was not
very busy at all,” O’Brien said. “I went at 9:20, and I was out by 9:35.”
Among the lines at these polling centers, the demographics were more representative of the general public than that of Villanova’s campus. Senior Megan Curtin, who voted at the Community Park in Ardmore, described the turnout at her polling location.
“Since we live off campus in Ardmore, there were mostly parents and middle-aged people,” Curtin said. “We saw another Villanova student voting, and there was also a kids table for children under 18 to fill out a mock ballot.”
Despite the fairly smooth trip to the polls, many students are thankful that their professors chose to cancel classes, allowing for flexibility in their voting experience.
“My professor canceled our 10 a.m. class, which was helpful because due to my schedule with work and other classes, it would not have allowed me to go early otherwise," senior AnNa Hughes said. “It gave me enough time to vote and travel to my internship
afterwards, too.”
Curtin shared similar sentiments, as her Tuesday classes were all canceled, and commented on her enjoyable experience at the polls.
“My roommates and I were able to walk to our polling place and enjoy the beautiful weather,” Curtin said. “We were greeted by friendly poll workers and offered free donuts. We left feeling excited and accomplished that we exercised our civic duty.”
Whether students voted on or off campus, Villanovans felt excited to exercise their right to vote.
“It was surreal voting in person in the arguably most important state in the election,” O’Brien said. “I was extremely proud to be able to vote in my first presidential elections for the candidates who reflect my values and represent the future of the United States that I want to see. I am excited and cautiously optimistic to see the results later on, but it felt great to know that I can use my voice to vote in such an important election.”
Villanova students line up outside the Mullen Center for hours, waiting their turn to cast their vote. Graydon Paul/Villanovan Photography
Local voters had the chance to vote at the Rosemont Plaza on Election Day. Emma Cahill/Villanovan Photography
Off-campus student, AnNa Hughes, exercised her right to vote today at the Rosemont Plaza. Emma Cahill/Villanovan Photography
Pennsylvania, a crucial swing-state, has spurred high voter turn out among Villanovans. Graydon Paul/Villanovan Photography
Villanovans Vote For the First Time
Isabella Balian Political Columnist
Continued from p.1
students vote, it's important that they make their voices heard and maintain civic engagement,” he added.
Other senior students echoed his claims about voting.
“It was really important for me to go and vote and especially for my first time I was incredibly excited to be able to vote for a candidate for president who aligns with my values and what I believe is important,” student Shannon O’Brien. “The direction that the country is going to go in for the next four
years is up to us. I am excited to be able to have my voice heard.”
Student Katie Chuss discussed her anticipation of voting since the 2020 election.
“I was really angry that I couldn't vote in 2020,” she said. “I volunteered at the polls and reminded people of their rights in line.”
“To get to vote this time is a relief. Being in a swing state and having grown up here it was really impactful to be able to contribute in a numerical way. All contributions matter but getting a concrete say in the future of our democracy was really important to me."
Sophomore student Dylan Cahill spoke on his experience voting for the first time.
“I was super excited to go out and vote for the first time, and the process was super easy and straightforward,” Cahill said.“The only downside was the long line that I waited two hours for, but I was so excited the wait did not matter.”
Senior student Mackenize Smith reflected on her first time voting.
“For me voting today was very empowering, and I am grateful that I was able to get the chance
to vote in a swing state,” she said. “The voting process was honestly very easy, and everyone working the polls was super nice.”
Senior student Alexa Kallas also commented on voting in her first election.
“I am proud to be able to vote for a woman on my ballot for the first time and I’m looking forward to telling my kids in the future that in my first election I got to vote for a woman and how the future is female.”
Exit Polling Occurs Outside of Mullen Center
Isabella Carlin Political Columnist
Continued from p.1
Muhlenberg College, partook in this initiative as well.
“For my Senior Project in Communications, I was interested in exploring the roots of the current state of political polarization,” senior Lucy Simmons said. “With my groupmates, we hypothesized social media, and the partisan language used on these platforms, might play a big role in the current state of polarization within our democracy. Also, it is a contentious election, and we live in one of the most pivotal regions for the impending outcome, so getting to be on the ground conducting this
work is a type of front-row view to our democracy that not many people get to have.”
At the Mullen Center, the table was located directly outside of the exit door. Student volunteers and professors were present to assist if anyone encountered a challenge with completing the survey. Volunteers emphasized the idea that completion of the survey was optional and that all answers would be anonymous.
“A lot of people are really interested in expressing their opinions and the fact that we are getting data from the school and that we are doing a lot of work for Villanova University as a whole,” Masters of Political Science student Maribeth Jaeske said.
As of 4:30 PM, 191 students had submitted the surveys. The team shared that the goal was to hit 200 surveys prior to 5 PM when the table would close. When students were ex-
iting, it was promoted that completion of the survey would take no longer than three minutes.
“We are doing a lot of analysis of data of how peoples’ feelings are,” Maribeth Jaeske said. We are basically looking at what best explains your attitude and feelings about the election cycle itself and seeing how different ways of communication [how are you receiving your news and how you are getting information] to basically make your decision.”
Some of questions on the exit poll included information about voters’ primary mode of news consumption, which media sources they heard anything about the presidential campaign, and the level of investment in the political campaigns this year. Additionally, participants were asked to share their gender, race, highest level of education completed, year they
were born, religion, and frequency of attending religious services in an effort for students to study and analyze how voter perspectives came to be.
“I am going to pay particular attention to the question on our survey pertaining to people's primary medium for getting the news: social media has been a major instrument for the candidate's in this election, and I'm looking forward to seeing if it has had any impact on the outcome of this election,” Simmons said.
Although not all students were willing to participate in the survey, many were receptive to the idea of sharing their ideas about their voting beliefs.
“At the end of the day, we will respect everyone's decision to either participate or not and will be grateful to those who choose to do so,” Simmons said.
The Mullen Center gave many first-timers the chance to vote on campus. Graydon Paul / Villanovan Photography
Exit polls gave insight into the pysche and voting habits of Villanovans. Graydon Paul / Villanovan Photography
Villanovans gave data on who they voted for in the 2024 election. Graydon Paul / Villanovan Photography
Many Villanovans are excited to have the chance to vote for the first time. Brian Luppy / Villanovan Photography
VU Democrats on Election Day
Zoe Garrett Political Columnist
Yesterday was Election Day for the 2024 general election, and many in the Villanova community had the exciting opportunity to cast their ballot either on or off campus to ensure that their voices were heard.
A time filled with so much significance but also uncertainty, the day prompted many different reactions from Villanova students, including those affiliated with the Villanova University Democrats. The student organization offered their outlooks and responses to the climactic day of this particularly polarized election cycle.
VU Democrats presidents Isabelle Clare and Annie Curtis commented on both the general anxiety and apprehension their organization experienced leading up to Nov. 5.
“There were definitely a lot of nerves with this upcoming election,” the two presidents said. “There is a lot at stake regarding certain human rights and the future of our government, and Pennsylvania is a key swing state.”
The Democratic organization has also put forth multiple efforts preceding Election Day in order to spur mobilization among Villanova students.
“Villanova Democrats held multiple events leading up to this election,” the presidents respond -
ed. “Many of them were nonpartisan, such as our voter registration tabling– however, our club continued to support and uphold our Democratic values throughout these efforts. So much depends on how Pennsylvania votes, and it was crucial for us to not only express the importance of voting democratic, but of registering and voting in general. ”
The VU Democrats expressed mixed feelings when reflecting on how Election Day
unfolded.
“It was a nerve wracking day, but the amount of student turnout we have seen at the Mullen Center has been a source of hope,” the presidents said. “We have faced a lot of difficulty trying to emphasize the importance of politics on Villanova's campus, so seeing the sheer amount of students voting was rewarding. We think that students are really taking their responsibility to vote seriously, especially in a state like
Pennsylvania.”
Moving forward post-Election Day, VU Democrats hope that the Villanova community continues their political discussion and engagement.
“We hope that this political importance does not die out on campus,” the VU Democrats’ presidents said. “Voting for a presidential candidate is only a small part that people can do to uphold their values and support their communities. We hope that people continue to be civically engaged even after the winner is announced.”
Yesterday was a monumental day for not only the Villanovan community, but for the country at large. Students across the political spectrum, be it stueents who identify as Democrats, identify as Republicans or identify as independents came together to exercise their right to vote, recognizing Pennsylvania’s critical role in this election.
Looking forward to the coming days and weeks, leaders from Villanova University Democrats emphasized the importance of continued political engagement beyond their experiences at the polls.
With a shared hope for sustained discussion, these student organizations look forward to fostering an environment where students remain civically active, informed, and empowered to advocate for the issues that matter most to them.
Kamala Harris Hosts Final Rally in Philadelphia
Isabella Balian Political Columnist
On Election Eve, Villanova students traveled to Philadelphia to see Kamala Harris’s final address to the people. The rally was held outside the Rocky Steps in front of the Philadelphia Art Museum, where an estimated 30,000 people gathered. Harris’s campaign hosted other community members, including Lady Gaga, Oprah Winfrey, the Roots and Jazmine Sullivan to join her in rallying Pennsylvanians.
The event began with Grammy-winner Sullivan, who performed and addressed the crowd. Senator Bob Casey, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and Pennsylvania Speaker of the House Joanne McClinton delivered introductions. Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania governor, also took the stage and spoke to Pennsylvanians.
“It's not just Kamala's name that's on the ballot. It’s our rights and your freedoms that are on the line,” he said. “It is our responsibility, just as our framers had intended, to do our part. 248 years ago, it was here in Philly just down the street that we declared our independence from a king. We are not going back to a king in this country.”
Shapiro also spoke on the importance of loving others in our country.
“The lessons we teach our children, to love thy neighbor, to treat others with respect, are the foundational values guiding our next president,” he said. “Tomorrow let
us come together to write this next chapter, where we are more free and united in the cause of liberty and justice for all.”
Hip Hop Icon and Bronx Native Fat Joe took the stage. He spoke on hateful rhetoric and jokes disrespecting Americans.
“We have to elect someone who is really for the people," he said. "Every vote matters, your voice matters."
Later on in the night, Harris’s husband, Doug Emhoff took the stage. Emhoff ensured that she is a leader with a positive, inclusive vision of America, where everyone belongs and everyone has a place.
Oprah Winfrey then took the stage with a group of first time voters from Pennsylvania. She asked them about their decision to vote for Kamala Harris this election.
A first-time voter spoke about women’s rights.
“The policies that Kamala Harris has proposed for women’s rights, reproductive rights and education equality are what led me to cast my ballot for her,” she said.
Winfrey then passed the microphone to another first-time voter.
“Honestly it was an honor as an African American to exercise my right to vote which my ancestors fought so hard for,” he said. “As a professional soccer player for the Philadelphia Union, I know that God… He gave me this opportunity to be a leader.”
Winfrey then took the stage and began her remarks by mentioning former President John F. Kennedy.
“He issued a challenge. Ask
not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country,” Winfrey said. “If you haven’t already, you have to vote.”
Winfrey then welcomed Harris to the stage to deliver her final remarks. Harris energetically welcomed supporters and thanked them for taking the time to show up.
“We are all in this together,” she said. “Are you ready to do this? Our campaign has tapped into the ambitions and the aspirations and the dreams of the American people. It is time for a new generation of leadership in America. I am ready to offer that leadership as the next President of the United States.”
Harris then spoke on the decade of politics that has been driven by fear.
“We have an opportunity in this election to finally turn the page,” she said.
She told Pennsylvanians that America is ready for a fresh start and a new way forward.
“We must see our fellow Americans not as enemies, but as neighbors,” Harris said. “We are ready for a president who knows that the true measure of a leader is not based on who you beat down, but based on who you lift up.”
Harris then concluded by encouraging Pennsylvanians to reach out to their family members, friends, co-workers, classmates and neighbors to vote.
“We must remind them that we have so much more in common than what separates us,” Harris said. “Let us please remind everyone that your vote is your voice, and your voice
is your power.”
Villanova students reflected on their experience being able to see Harris deliver her final remarks in person.
“It was really awesome to be surrounded by such a supportive and uplifting crowd,” senior Mariel Persico said. “Everyone was excited to be there and full of energy even after waiting hours to get inside. The rally left me feeling really excited and hopeful about this election, but still anxious as so many important issues are at stake here, especially for women.”
Junior Lauren Armstrong also reflected on the event.
“I attended the event in order to support Harris and Walz in the last moments before Election Day,” she said. “I had an amazing experience and felt so safe being alongside thousands of fellow supporters, all excited to share our eagerness for change and new beginnings in America.”
Junior Josie Calarseo echoed Persico and Armstrong’s sentiments.
“I attended the Kamala Harris rally in Philadelphia last night because I wanted to take advantage of the unique position I’m in as a first time voter in a crucial swing state,” Calareso said. “I had never been to a political rally and wanted to not only experience what that would be like, but also be surrounded by people with similar values/beliefs the night before we vote for our next president. Being at the rally last night gave me tremendous hope — seeing the sheer number of people who showed up to support Kamala really made me believe that she can win.”
VU Democrats reacted to the events of Election Day. Graydon Paul / Villanovan Photography
Editorial: Concerning the Undecided Voter
Juliana Burke Staff Writer
In a political landscape that is perhaps more polarized than ever before, it appears the electorate is split precisely down the center line of strong conservatism and equally strong liberalism. The one sentiment these two polarities share is frustration with the undecided – and uncommitted – voter.
The undecided voter was a more understandable concept in previous election cycles. Political correctness, for better or for worse, was at the forefront of every town hall, press conference and political advertisement. What was considered to be a scandal back mere decades ago (such as Bush’s uncovered DUI and Obama’s tan suit) would be blips on the radar in our current political landscape. This begs the question: how can anyone find themselves to be undecided in an era where the stakes are high and the differences in candidates are extremely stark?
The undecided voter is a fascinating enigma in the sense that both parties harbor a sense of disdain and utter bewilderment toward their inability to know “where they stand,” while also passionately yearning for their vote. After all, the voting bloc that makes or breaks an electoral result solely comes down to the whims of the fly-by-quadrennial voters rather than staunch party loyalists.
However, undecided voters are not all created equal. There is
a fragment of the voting bloc which is simply misinformed, which I personally believe is the one of the greatest travesties and acts of disrespect citizens can take toward their nation. To simply decry politics as a whole and remove oneself from the duty of electoral participation, due to a “lack of interest,” is weak. If one is to complain about the political system we endure and the policies of the various administrations within it whilst abdicating the responsibility to vote, a person has no leg to stand on. Conversely, registering to vote and choosing the candidate who is the most “brat” or “based” without any true policy research is disrespectful to the men and women who fight for our freedoms and the intentional, cunning work of our forefathers in crafting a political regime that ensures the voices
of all Americans are heard. There is never an excuse to not vote or to cast a misinformed vote, but this is especially true in 2024. We were presented with two choices, and both have a proven track record having been in power for four years. Although Vice President Kamala Harris was not the President of the United States, she cast many tie-breaking votes in the Senate and stated in countless interviews that her policy does not contrast with the policies of President Biden. The benefit of this truth is that it is easier than ever to become informed on the policy differences between candidates.
Simply visit whitehouse.gov and view the archives to see legislation passed within the respective administrations and go in with an open mind.
Another archetype of the
undecided voter is the average American, who feels as though politicians are out of touch with the electorate. Perhaps the most sought-after trait in our candidates is authenticity, which is ironically the most lacking trait in our political candidates. Additionally, the misinformation war between both parties can be taxing for the undecided electorate to navigate, nuanced conversations concerning policy are difficult to find in an X post.
The key to circumventing this is to visit the websites of the individual candidates. Then, one can decide which issues are most meaningful to them. If one struggles to identify which issues you are most passionate about, start with the basics. Ask the following questions: Are we better off now than we were four years ago? How does one define success? Do you believe the government should have a prominent influence in your life?
Even though this election season may be over, going forward, I encourage students to carefully weigh their decisions. This article is not meant to shame people. However, it is meant to encourage students to research the issues and not blindly accept their parents' or friends' beliefs It is meant to motivate people to do their own, independent research. And then, based on this research, come to their own decisions and confidently exercise their right to vote.
May we all remain grateful for our ability to access political information easily, our ability to dissent and above all, our ability to vote. God bless America!
Paul Rudd Pays a Visit to Villanova Voters
Hannah Sweeney Co-Editor-in-Chief
As Villanova students waited for hours outside of the Mullen Center preparing to cast their votes, they received a visit from an unexpected guest.
At around 2:45 p.m., American actor Paul Rudd showed up to Villanova with water, snacks and encouragement for voters.
Rudd, who has acted in almost 70 movies and shows, is most commonly known for his roles in Clueless, Friends, Parks and Recreation, The Hangover and several of the Marvel movies.
Paul Rudd was asked why he thinks it is important to support young voters by a reporter from The Villanovan
“Because voting is very important, especially for young voters who are going to be having to live with the results longer than old farts like me,” Rudd said. “So,
I encourage everyone to come out and vote, to keep our democracy alive, and I am thankful to see so many students out here today to do that.”
Quickly after Rudd arrived, crowds of students quickly formed around Rudd, each one hoping to get a picture with the movie star.
“When I heard Paul Rudd was here, I ran to get a photo,” senior Emily Schoonover said. “I loved him in Parks and Recreation. Seeing him made waiting in line worth it and it was cool to have people visit our school after seeing so many celebrities on other campuses in swing states.”
Other students who were not in line to vote also showed up to see Rudd, creating bigger crowds at the polling site and even encouraging some to vote.
“My friend was on the fence about voting because she didn’t want to wait in the twohour line, but that got her to get in line, and she ended up voting,”
sophomore Kailey Fahy said.
“I only knew Paul Rudd from a few fi lms and TV shows, but when I heard the news he was here, I went straight over to John Mullen,” student Patrick Casale said. “It was really cool, he was there out of nowhere and being interactive with Villanova students. It was awesome to see how many people voted on election day in Villanova.”
Senior Katie Stump echoed this point.
“I was super surprised when I fi rst heard that Paul Rudd was here, but then we went to the Mullen Center where we saw him handing out water bottles,” she said.
In addition to Paul Rudd, actress Jennifer Garner also made
an appearance at Villanova, but Garner tuned in virtually.
Student Natalie Zickel said she was waiting in line with her friend when a representative from the Harris campaign approached them and asked if they would like to speak with Garner. He then FaceTimed Garner, who introduced herself to Zickel and her friend and expressed appreciation for their political engagement.
“It felt very supportive,” Zickel said. “She made it personal by introducing herself and talking about her son who is also a fi rsttime voter”
These celebrity appearances brought energy and excitement into what would otherwise have been a stressful and time-consuming event.
Some Villanova students were still undecided walking into the polls. Courtesy of Shutterstock
A group of students meeting Paul Rudd outside of the Mullen Center. Hannah Sweeney/Villanovan Photography
Paul Rudd poses with a student while handing out water to those in line. Kailey Fahy/Villanovan Photography
CULTURE
Falvey Holds “Get Research on a Groove” Workshop
Christopher Brown Staff Writer
“I think a lot of students just feel overwhelmed with the paper and all the parts that come with a paper together.”
Those words came from Linda Hauck, business librarian for the University who held a workshop in Falvey 205 last Wednesday, Oct. 30 about preparing for final research papers. The workshop, known as “Get on a Research Groove,” was part of Villanova’s Empowerment Week—a week of programs meant to raise awareness about the challenges experienced by college students and give students advice to overcome them.
As business librarian, Hauck provides resources for all programs within the Villanova School of Business, including collection development. For her workshop, she went into detail about different tools and phenomena that either affect a student’s ability to begin their papers or exist to make the research process easier. The most important tool she talked about was Copilot.
Copilot is Microsoft’s large language generation tool, a software process that uses data to give a response generated by artificial intelligence. OpenAI’s ChatGPT is such a tool, and it is the basis upon which Copilot is used. The big difference between ChatGPT and Copilot is that there is a measure of privacy when one uses the subscription version.
If one is asking the tool sensitive questions or if one is a researcher exploring potential topics, chances are that one would not want their information to be shared publicly.
Copilot prevents people from facing this issue, since the information being used to train it is completely protected. Combined with the links to online sources that Copilot provides with the text it generates, it can serve as a useful tool for finding reputable sources quickly.
To make matters easier, the University itself is subscribed to the service. One simply needs to go to CoPilot on the Microsoft website and sign in with their Villanova credentials. However, it is crucial to review, check and respect each professor’s policy regarding the use of language generation tools in the coursework.
Another issue that commonly keeps students from beginning research is “library anxiety.” As described in the workshop, the best way to conquer this is through goal setting. If you feel nervous about getting your work started or you are too busy to continue, set a small goal for yourself.
“I’m going to go to the library, sit at a quiet table and write as much as I can for the next hour,” Hauck said, giving an example.
If one is having further difficulties getting started, they can schedule an appointment with a Falvey research librarian. Research librarians offer one-on-one sessions and advice to students looking to get information for their research papers.
The final significant mental block is the inability to set proper boundaries. While faculty and staff understand that college is a time to be social and form bonds, many students fail to know when to turn down social offers in order to focus on academics.
“You are here specifically for academics and your career and a
Trick or Treat at Nova: OFSL Hosts Halloween Party
Sophie Latessa Co-Culture Editor
Sounds reminiscent of childhood Halloween echoed through campus last Monday, Oct. 28, as OFSL (Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life) held a Halloween party for local families and children. Villanova’s Greek life organizations ran tables surrounding the area of Corr Hall and the Oreo, handing out candy to delighted trick or treaters ranging from babies dressed in tiny pumpkin costumes to preteens donning spooky masks.
The event evidently made many of the children’s Halloween seasons special, allowing them the unique opportunity to dress up and celebrate on a college campus with its students. Each filled their respective canvas bag or pumpkin pail with candy and goodies from every table, with lollipops, glow sticks and stickers among some of the offerings. Campus was decorated to the nines, with colorful spooky lights and fake gravestones lining the walkways. The party also included a Halloween movie being shown outside Corr Hall, a great spot for families to take a break and kids to assess their
candy hauls. Children of all ages zipped around campus all evening, stopping at every table to proudly exclaim “trick or treat” and wish a happy Halloween to students.
Not only was this event memorable for the families, but also for the Villanova students who participated in it. The party took place from 5:30-7:30pm, with many students involved in Greek life rotating to work at the tables and interact with families.
“It was really fun to give back to the community and get to interact with all the kids,” sophomore Jack Dollenberg said. “It was clear to say that they really enjoyed the experience.”
College students no longer get a traditional trick-or-treating experience like they did as children, so this event provided a great opportunity for Villanovans to reminisce and enjoy the holiday while also giving back to the local community.
OFSL brought holiday spirit to campus with its most recent event, bringing Villanova students together with the community to create a fond Halloween memory for all. Whether you were a kid dressing up, or a student involved on campus, the party was full of laughter and lots of candy.
specific passion you want to pursue career wise for the rest of your life, and that is important to focus on,” Hauck said.
Whether it is a research librarian, a professor or a generation tool, there are many ways you can improve your research process.
The workshop last Wednesday was available to all students at Falvey Library. Ryan Sarbello/Villanovan Photography
Students and local residents alike joined in the Halloween festivities. Sophie Latessa/Villanovan Photography
Exploring Opportunities: Study Abroad Fair
Lilly Semprevivo Staff Writer
Are you considering spending a semester abroad during your time at Villanova?
On Wednesday, Oct. 30, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., Bartley Hall was filled with energy and excitement as students attended the annual Study Abroad Fair. Organized by Villanova’s Office of Education Abroad (OES), the event held representatives from various organizations showcasing a wide range of programs. This was a wonderful opportunity for students to explore international study options, broaden their horizons and immerse themselves in diverse cultures.
With more than 800 Villanova students studying abroad each year, the Study Abroad Fair displayed representatives from many universities and organizations, each presenting distinct opportunities to develop their educational experience in countries like Spain, Italy, Australia, France, South Korea and many more. Tables colorfully decorated with flags, stickers and brochures created an inviting atmosphere, welcoming and encouraging students to explore.
The fair highlighted and focused on semester-long programs running from early September to mid-December and January to May, giving students the
Ciara Dursee Staff Writer
We are rapidly heading towards one of the most underrated times of the year for fashion trends. The period approaching the end of the fall season and beginning of the frigid winter months is unsettling for most, especially when daylight saving time throws us for a discomforting loop, and the sun begins to set before 5 p.m. But let’s look on the bright side: this opens the doors for exciting wardrobe shifts. It’s not quite time to bundle up in our Super Puffs just yet, but to our delight, it is officially sweater weather. This short and sweet season comes after the lingering warmth in Fall as we start to feel a chilly breeze. As someone who enjoys baggy jeans and oversized sweater ensembles, it is my pleasure to share an assortment of outfit inspiration I have compiled that embodies this special season of flashy trends and thrilling fashion opportunities. It’s time to focus on the outerwear additions, versatile bottoms and charming accessories, so grab your hot latte and listen in.
Outerwear. For starters, one of the best ways to amplify a minimalistic look is to add a lively jacket, cardigan, sweater or anything that doubles to keep you warm. The routes you can take with this are endless.
Colorful Cardigans
chance to engage with program representatives from all over the world. Students were able to learn about the many benefits of studying abroad and the opportunities available to Villanova students.
These numerous international academic programs allow students to experience their studies, and the world, from a new perspective. The study abroad
experience opens countless opportunities to engage, learn and see the world, aligning with students' needs and desires.
Hearing from students serving as global key advisors at the fair offered eye-opening insights as they shared their experiences. One advisor from IES Abroad discussed his time in Rome as an economics student.
VillaVogue: Sweater Weather
A simple pair of jeans, a basic tank top and a vibrant cardigan will protect you from the November air. Some of my favorites have been circling in Urban Outfitters’ fall section, including an abundance of colors from a roaring red to a calm charcoal gray.
Vests : Whether padded or puffer, the practicality of an insulated vest is unmatched. Focusing on menswear, the creativity you can take with this trending style is exceptional. Wear this with any long-sleeved shirt, crewneck or flannel for a stylish enhancement.
Quilted Jacket:
I have been loving the eccentric patterns and prints covering quilted jackets this season. Not only is the quilt design making a comeback, but it makes for a perfect method for warmth and an easy way to complete an outfit.
Now for our beloved accessories. Without a doubt, they can make an outfit go from average to show-stopping.
Hair Clips:
I truly adore the trending hairstyle that only requires two of the tiny hair clips we all wore in elementary school. Silly to think we can take advice from our eightyear-old selves, but I truly feel my inner child coming back to life when I contribute to the popularity of this look.
Corinne Boots:
These boots were everywhere during the fall and winter
He highlighted the possibility of optional internships, including one with the communications program at the Vatican. He explained how these supervised internships allow students to gain firsthand experience in what it is like to work in their host city, helping them develop a genuine understanding of the workplace culture abroad while developing necessary job skills. It is never too early to start planning one’s semester abroad. In fact, early planning is essential. Students can start as early as their freshman year, especially for those majoring in science, engineering or nursing. Global key advisors emphasized the importance of taking the first step by attending a mandatory study abroad information session. Students can also take steps by meeting with their advisor to express their interest in studying abroad and scheduling a meeting with an OEA advisor. For those unable to attend the fair on Wednesday, the OEA is a resource for more information on upcoming events and study abroad opportunities.
As students attended throughout the day, many entered with curiosity and left with newfound excitement about the possibilities ahead. The fair opened pathways to international education opportunities, but also cultivated a sense of community among those eager to explore and travel the world.
runways of 2024. Their fame continues to carry on a global level, as their comfort and style are admired. They come in a variety of shades and materials, from leather to suede, so you can most definitely find a pair perfect for you.
The Belted Waist: Now, I do not just mean adding a brown belt to your wideleg denim jeans. A humble belt, usually used to adjust a loose pair of jeans or a slouchy dress, over a dress or a coat is a creative method to elevate an outfit. Picture a dress with an overcoat, knee-high boots and a belt around your waist.
Denim is a constant in
every season. The style of these jeans is what matters most.
Barrel Leg:
You may be thinking: what are barrel jeans? Not your average wide-leg denim, these are more specifically known as horseshoe or balloon jeans. They flare at the thighs and taper at the ankles. My brand recommendations: Madewell and Abercrombie & Fitch.
Patch Pocket: J. Crew’s patch pocket flare jeans have me picking up a new obsession. These might be my new favorite style of denim, with two pockets in the front. It is a simple yet groundbreaking change to a basic pair of jeans.
On Oct. 30, the Office of Education Abroad held a fair to educate students. Courtesy of Lilly Semprevivo
Corrine Boots are one fashion trend surging in this bewteen-season period. Maggie Fitzgerald/ Villanovan Photography
Crafting a Vision: Vision Board Workshop
Ava Satterthwaite Staff Writer
Whether you are a “three children, two retrievers, one wraparound porch” type of person, a “corner office, Boston brownstone, Nobu dinner for one” or even a “I don’t even have a schedule for next semester,” there is nothing quite as exhilarating or enervating as our prospective future. As we ponder an eventual culmination of our efforts - the lives we’ll create beyond Lancaster Ave. – an abundance of concerns come to mind. Where will I live? Where will I work? Will I be married and have kids? Where do I head from here? And amid the noise, our true ambition is abandoned.
Outside of an infinite chase for two-dimensional satisfaction, we wonder: “Who am I? And, who am I meant to become?” I’m unsure we will ever have a solid answer. For now however, we are Villanovans. Villanovans with Elmer's glue sticks and a dream.
Last Thursday, Oct. 31, I had the privilege of mulling over these fundamental questions with fellow students at a vision board workshop held in Falvey. Emily Harris from Learning Support
Media has played a valuable role in both political campaigns for the 2024 election. Both parties have tried to use social media and news outlets to their advantage to gather as much support as possible. One of the main concerns for both parties in this election was the swing states, as well as specific demographics of people. One of the unique media outlets that both candidates used during their campaigns was podcasts. Kamala Harris has been trying to introduce herself as a person and policy maker ever since her Democratic nomination in August. Despite being the vice president, one of her main criticisms is that voters feel as though they didn’t know her or her politics well enough to vote for her. She attempted to stabilize her image and used podcasts to do so, with the hopes of reaching audiences who didn’t interact with
Services hosted this event, entitled Meet Your Future Self: Vision Board Workshop, as part of Empowerment Week on campus.
As one would envision (see what I did there), the Empowerment Week’s vision board class was flooded with motivational
stickers, vivid florals, beaches, pilates and plane window seats. As students trimmed and pasted, they dove into issues far more momentous than fad diets or exercise classes.
One attendee shared a motivational motto which, as cliché
ListenUP! Political Podcasts
mainstream news outlets.
Harris went on Call Her Daddy , a podcast hosted by Alex Cooper in early October. Cooper's podcast is very popular amongst millennial and Gen Z women and is mainly a comedy podcast with a focus on dating and relationship advice for young women. She chose to take a new angle when she invited the vice president onto her podcast for a 40-minute interview. Cooper has shown immense interest in the pro-choice movement and, after the reversal of Roe v. Wade, she made a trip to a Planned Parenthood in the South and discussed the effects that this would have on women all over the U.S. Cooper had a clear agenda for her conversation with the vice president and the two had an indepth conversation about women’s reproductive rights and the value of reproductive care. Cooper also added a disclaimer before beginning the podcast. She acknowledged that the episode may seem
as it seemed, calmed her chronic stress: “Go through and grow through.”
Another revealed her consternation before a semester abroad. From finances to remoteness, fear and homesickness, her future abroad was uncertain. And uncharted. And even if the collection of sunsets and trim suitcases have no influence on her real semester, there is undeniable comfort in crafting these idealized versions of our lives.
There is nothing wrong with a vision board brimming with Benjamins and the corner office and the brownstone in Boston. There is nothing wrong with material desire. But to transcend the material, to address the heart of the matter, we need more.
For now, as Villanovans, I encourage exploration outside of the established “visions.” Each of us has an authentic occasion. Each “Who am I? And who am I meant to become?” cannot be reduced to concrete bits. We are so much more than our careers, homes, travels. We are so much more than a cookie-cutter future.
So, join the club. Find the friends. Make the vision board. When Lancaster Ave. no longer lends itself to your exploration, continue searching for your answer.
partisan, but she revealed that she had also invited Donald Trump onto the podcast and had not heard back from his team.
Trump’s team has also recognized the benefits that podcasts can bring to a campaign and Trump was the guest on a few well-known shows run by popular figures such as the Nelk Boys and Logan Paul. His most recent was a three-hour episode on Joe Rogan’s podcast The Joe Rogan Experience , where their conversation led in various directions, such as policy decisions and global warming. Rogan’s fan base is entirely different from Cooper’s, as his audience is typically young men, and his content covers topics such as UFC, sports and frequently discusses controversial politics. Rogan typically doesn’t have time limits on his episodes, and they can last multiple hours depending on the conversation. His episode with Trump
lasted three hours and didn’t seem to have a clear agenda aside from a few clear questions from Rogan aimed to clarify some of Trump's claims over the past few years. Like Cooper, Rogan has also invited Harris on his podcast with the same goal of simple unedited conversation but stated that her team didn’t agree to the conditions that he proposed.
Podcast listenership has increased significantly over the past few years, and the political campaigns have used this to their advantage. When this episode comes out the election will be over and there will be a winner. It will be interesting to see if the demographics that these two podcasts direct their media towards were reached and whether it provided the poll boost they wanted. One can find these two podcasts on Spotify, as well as Apple podcasts. Happy listening.
At this Empowerment Week event, students curated personal vision boards. Courtesy of Ava Satterthwaite
Charlotte Kyles Staff Writer
Call Her Daddy is one of many podcasts that discuss the election. Courtesy of Shutterstock
The Joe Rogan Experience's podcast episode on Donald Trump. Courtesy of Shutterstock
SPORTS
MXC First at Big East Championships, WXC Fourth
Dylan Johnson Staff Writer
In his fi nal Big East Cross Country Championship, fi fth-year Liam Murphy cruised to a fi rstplace fi nish, earning his second straight individual Big East title. Behind him was junior Marco Langon in second place. The men’s cross country team won the Big East Championship title on Friday, Nov. 1, in Leesburg, VA.
Senior Sadie Sigfstead led the women’s team, fi nishing fourth out of a crowded fi eld. The fi rst seven Wildcats across the fi nish line were all among the top 25 overall in a fi eld of 100 runners. The women’s team fi nished fourth of 11.
After falling short and fi nishing second as a team last season, the men sought revenge to return the Big East title to the main line. The men fi nished with 35 points. Butler fi nished second with 41 points, with Georgetown third with 70 points.
Murphy defended his individual Big East title, fi nishing the 8,000-meter course in 23:12.83. Murphy is only the third Wildcat to win multiple cross country Big East individual titles, joining Bobby Curtis and Patrick Tiernan.
“A lot of kids come through the program and they're good enough to be with the best of all of us in the program over the history, but you’ve got to have
the it-factor which is the determination and the commitment,” O’Sullivan said. “I told him I can't want it for him. It's too hard of a sport to do if you don't want it for yourself and [Murphy] wanted it enough, and I think that was the diff erence.”
The only runner within Murphy's range was Langon, who fi nished second with a time of 23:28.27. This marks the third time in school history that two Wildcats fi nished one and two at the Big East Championships.
The rest of Villanova’s fi ve scoring runners fi nished in the top 18. Redshirt freshman Bailey Habler fi nished in fourth place (23:58.35). Senior Devon Comber
fi nished 10th place in 24:14.48. Redshirt freshman CJ Sullivan came in 18th in 24:36.22 to round out the scoring runners and all-conference performers.
Villanova has recorded seven straight years with at least fi ve All-Big East honorees. The men’s coaching staff , which included O’Sullivan, Matthew Valeriani and Xian Shively, was awarded coaching staff of the year.
“It's special to me because I think it's special to Matt [Valeriani] or Xian [Shivley] who’s helping the staff this year,” O’Sullivan said. “It kind of becomes memories.”
With a strong core returning for the women, they delivered
a fourth-place team fi nish on the 6,000-meter course.
Sigfstead fi nished fi rst at Nuttycombe early this year and has been improving her eff orts throughout her senior season. Her fourth-place fi nish in 19:56.25 marked her third career Big East cross country top-fi ve fi nish.
The four other runners who rounded out the Wildcats’ scoring fi ve were all within a minute of each other and fi nished in the top 25.
Seniors Emma McGill ran a 20:41.51 to fi nish and Margaret Carroll fi nished 19th in 20:58.90. Senior Emily Robinson fi nished in 22nd (21:17.00). Freshman Rosie Shay was right behind Robinson in 23rd, running a 21:17.46.
“[Shay] keeps getting better every week,” head coach Gina Procaccio said. “She is really dialed in, she works hard and she competes hard.”
The women are working to return to normal now that injured runners have returned to good health.
“Our best team performance is going to be when [McGill] gets back to herself and when [Vanasse] gets back to herself,” Procaccio said.
The men and women begin preparations for the NCAA Mid-Alantic Regionals, aiming to lock in a spot at the National Championship race. Mid-Atlantic Regionals take place on Friday, Nov. 15 at Penn State.
Denise Dillon: Reshaping a Villanova Dynasty
Victoria Newsome Staff Writer
Denise Dillon isn’t just coaching the Wildcats. She’s crafting a basketball dynasty.
Since returning to her alma mater in 2020, Dillon has reignited Villanova’s women’s basketball program, transforming it into a national contender. In just four seasons, Dillon led the Wildcats to a 93-36 overall record (.720) and a 52-19 mark in the BIG EAST, highlighted by two NCAA Tournament appearances, a WNIT berth, and a trip to the inaugural WBIT championship game.
Known for her intense, no-nonsense approach, Dillon has developed all-Americans and delivered record-breaking wins, cementing her reputation as one of college basketball’s elite coaches. Entering her fi fth season, she faces a tough challenge after the departure of key players like Lucy Olsen and Christina Dalce.
“You never anticipate players exiting… especially that far into their time here at Villanova, academically standing and athletically,” Dillon said. “The truth of it is you focus on the present. I think that’s the one lesson we learned. Don’t project too far out.”
Dillon’s track record shows she thrives under pressure, and this season promises to be no
exception. Her overall coaching record stands at 422-247 as she prepares to lead Villanova into a new era.
Dillon’s impact at Villanova was immediate. In her second season, the Wildcats went 30-7, reaching the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament and setting a school record for wins. That same year, forward Maddy Siegrist led the nation in scoring with 29.2 points per game and earned BIG EAST Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive season. Siegrist was named a consensus fi rst-team all-American and was selected third overall in the 2023 WNBA Draft by the Dallas Wings, showcasing Dillon’s ability to bring out the best in her players.
Last season, Dillon guided the Wildcats to a 22-13 overall record and an 11-7 BIG EAST mark. Although they didn’t make the NCAA Tournament, they had a strong run in the inaugural WBIT, with wins over Virginia Commonwealth, Saint Joseph’s, and Penn State before falling short to Illinois in the championship game. Junior guard Lucy Olsen emerged as a breakout star, fi nishing third in the nation in scoring with 23.3 points per game, earning fi rst-team All-BIG EAST honors and an Honorable Mention all-American nod.
But Villanova faces signifi cant challenges in the 2024-
25 season. The team lost its two biggest stars: Olsen transferred to Iowa, and Dalce transferred to Maryland. These departures leave Villanova in a rebuilding phase, forcing Dillon to reevaluate her roster and strategies. Nonetheless, Dillon has responded by adding key transfers, including Southeast Missouri State’s Jaliyah Green, a versatile player expected to make an immediate impact.
Green, who averaged 12.9 points and 4.5 rebounds last season, is already feeling the positive eff ects of Dillon’s leadership.
“Coach Dillon truly cares about her players and keeps their confi dence high, which is something I really like,” Green said. “She expects me to aff ect the game in more than just one way.”
This level of care has resonated with Dillon’s players throughout her career. She fosters a team-fi rst mentality while helping her athletes develop both on and off the court.
“She gave me the freedom to grow as a player while holding me accountable,” former Villanova player and WNBA Dallas Wings player Maddy Siegrist said.
“Coach Dillon doesn’t just coach basketball, she invests in you as a person.”
Heading into her fi fth season, Dillon aims to address the Wildcats’ struggles from beyond the arc, as the team shot only
29.4% from three-point range last season. With the addition of Green and other incoming players, Dillon will look to retool the offense and get Villanova back to the top of the BIG EAST standings.
“Pivot is a great term,” Dillon said. “We certainly did that in the spring and brought in some high caliber players and greater people.”
Whether it’s returning to the NCAA Tournament or making another deep postseason run, one thing is clear: under Denise Dillon’s leadership, Villanova women’s basketball is in good hands. Her blend of competitive fi re, basketball intelligence, and genuine care for her players ensures that the Wildcats will remain a force in women’s college basketball for years to come.
The men's cross country team won the Big East
Championship on Friday, Nov. 1 in Leesburg, VA. Courtesy of Villanova Athletics
Women's basketball head coach Denise Dillon. Courtesy of Villanova Athletics
Wildcat Watch: Unified Sports Shines at Special Olympics
Amanda McKean Sports Columnist
This weekend, the Villanova Unified Sports Club won a gold and silver medal in volleyball at the Special Olympics Fall Festival. In the Unified Sports Club, athletes with and without intellectual disabilities play on the same team. Due to its size, club members who competed in Fall Festival were split into two teams, the Villanova team, and Wildcat team, with the former taking the gold and the latter the silver.
This is only the first year in which the club competed at Fall Festival after years of hosting unified events throughout the year.
All of the club sports teams were reached out to in the spring,” co-President Jasmine Soriano said. “We created an executive board and we planned throughout the summer to figure out what time our practices were and what we wanted to do in terms of planning as well. We started practicing the first week we got back to school and we’ve been practicing every Tuesday and Thursday for an hour and a half every week.”
Unlike some club sports teams in which tryouts are mandatory and competition and practice are intense, the Unified Sports Club is more interested in bringing a more welcoming environment than a competitive one.
“I think it's a club that real -
ly focuses on inclusivity,” Soriano said. “It’s a club that combines students with and without intellectual disabilities and it's really a fun place for all of us to compete in competitive sports, while also having fun and making new friendships.”
“Practices are really fun and it's cool to see from the beginning the amount of improvement that everyone has made,” head of student engagement Grace Fonkalsrud said.
With the results over the weekend, the weekly practices seem to have paid off as the team went from the underdogs looking to break through in the tournament to the eventual leaders on the podium. Both teams did so well that they faced off against one another in the championship.
“It was really rewarding,” Fonkalsrud said. “I think it was great to play our other team in the championship, because either way, whoever won, our entire team won. I think that it was important that we had that inclusive mindset.”
“It felt super amazing because in the beginning we were not that good,” co-President Jake Keller said. “But now I’m just so happy for everyone and how much improvement they made throughout the year.”
For the leaders of the club, the success came in large thanks to the effort and work put in by coach Molly Shawhan.
“She really did a lot of the work to get us where we are today,” Soriano said.
Though it will continue planning various events and tournaments, such as their unified tournament in fall, the Special Olympics tops as one of the clubs largest and most successful events.
“I just love the environment here,” Fonkalsrud said. “I think O-Town has always been one of my favorite parts. Just seeing everyone dancing, all the different foods, and seeing all the athletes and volunteers just come together in one big community has been great.”
“I think the camaraderie from both teams is really my favorite part,” Soriano said.
The club plans on expanding into other sports other than volleyball in the upcoming year and putting on more inclusive events.
“We’re planning on competing in another sport next,” Soriano said. “We don’t know what yet, but we still have intramurals that we’re playing, and I think we plan on playing basketball perhaps to continue during the spring.”
While they are no longer practicing for Fall Festival, practices will still be held twice a week and anyone can join. For updates on practices and the club’s various events, follow them on Instagram @villanovaunifiedsportsclub or reach out to one of the presidents through their Villanova email.
Oct. 30 – Nov. 5
Wednesday, October 30
Men's Swim @ Rider 152-146 W
Thursday, October 31
Women's Soccer @ Butler 2-1 L
Friday, November 1
Men's Tennis @ Drexel No Team Scoring
WXC vs. Big East Championships 4th of 11
MXC vs. Big East Championships 1st of 9
Field Hockey @ Providence 3-2 W
Men's Swim vs. NJIT 178-118 W
Volleyball @ Marquette 3-0 L
Saturday, November 2
Football @ Hampton 20-14 W
Men's Soccer @ Seton Hall 1-0 L
Sunday, November 3
Volleyball @ No. 6 Creighton 3-0 L
Monday, November 4
Men's Basketball vs. Lafayette 75-63 W
Wooga Poplar Sets the Tone in Philadelphia Homecoming WEEKLY SCOREBOARD
Dylan Johnson Staff Writer
After spending three seasons at Miami, guard Wooga Poplar returned home to Philadelphia for his senior season with Villanova.
Poplar dropped a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double in the Wildcats’ 75-63 Monday night win over Lafayette. He fell five points shy of his career high of 25 points. The local native showed that he still has “Philly grit,” which translates well to the Villanova attitude. Poplar dove for loose balls and drew fouls in the paint.
Villanova fans are not the only people happy Poplar transferred, as Poplar’s friends and family were able to watch him in his Wildcat debut.
“'I’d say about like 15 people,” Poplar said when asked about the crowd who came to watch him play on opening night at the Finn.
Poplar’s strong connection to Philadelphia is a reason he chose Villanova instead of taking up the other offers he had after entering the transfer portal last spring. The 6-foot-5 guard had portal offers from Oregon, Arkansas and Kentucky, among others.
When Villanova took on Robert Morris in an exhibition scrimmage on Oct. 27, Poplar recorded five points and seven rebounds in 27 minutes. There was limited offensive production for Poplar, who averaged 13.1 points for Miami last season.
Poplar assuaged any concerns leftover by his scrimmage performance with a nine-point second half to help the ‘Cats pull away from Lafayette.
For Poplar, playing in his hometown drives his motivation even more to perform at his best.
“[Math, Civics and Sciences Charter School is] the same color,” Poplar said. “So everybody says, ‘Oh, he's back in that same blue.’ So yeah, it's a great experience. I'm just happy to be here.”
Last season at Miami, Poplar shot 38.5% from three-point range. He was 2-of-3 from deep Monday night, and 8-of-13 from the field overall. After an 0-for-8 performance in the scrimmage, it allowed the ‘Cats to take a deep breath about Poplar’s shooting.
“Poplar is arguably one of the best shooters we've had here [at Villanova],” Villanova head coach Kyle Neptune said. “When you look at his numbers in terms of what he's done so far with us,
arguably one of the best athletes we've had here.”
Poplar has experience on the big stage, aiding Miami in its 2023 Final Four run. Villanova is hungry to return to March Madness after missing the tournament in back-to-back seasons after a 2022 Final Four run.
Villanova’s last two seasons did not meet the standards of the Villanova program, with it comes a lot of uncertainty amongst fans. Poplar knows what it feels like to get so close to a title and fall short. He knows how to embrace adversity and pressure. The bright lights do not make him nervous. It’s part of his natural environment, a place where all the noise just disappears.
With no sixth-year Eric Dixon in the lineup due to a onegame NCAA suspension, Poplar led the Wildcats, who had five double-figure scorers.
On media day, Dixon acknowedged Poplar’s ability to
shoot the ball.
“The thing about [Poplar] is he's such a good shooter, we get mad when he doesn’t shoot it,” Dixon said. “He's a great teammate in that way. He likes to make [opportunities] for guys, but sometimes we have to yell at him to shoot the basketball.”
Scoring is just one thing Poplar has in an arsenal of basketball skills. His no-look flashy passes confuse defenders. He rebounds well. He logged three steals in the opener.
“I'm trying just not to score. I try to do everything across the board, even if it's rebounding and defending,” Poplar said. “I just try to get the [win] as my team needs.”
Poplar is no stranger to winning, especially in Philadelphia. He led his high school to both its first Philadelphia Public League title game appearance and championship.
Teammates will always get the spotlight before Poplar gives himself any. For Poplar, his game is successful because of the people he plays alongside.
“I feel like my teammates made my game successful,” Poplar said. “I mean, they just handed me the ball at the right times.”
Monday’s performance by Poplar marked a new tone for the Wildcats. Poplar is not here to have an average final season: he wants to bring back hardware to the main line and more importantly, to the city of Philadelphia, his home.
Senior and Miami transfer Wooga Poplar scored 20 points in the opening night win over Lafayette. Courtesy of Villanova Athletics
Volleyball Goes 0-2 on Weekend in the Midwest
Genna Cottingham Staff Writer
The Wildcats had a tough weekend on the road, going 0-2 in the Midwest.
Both of the teams Villanova played are ranked in the top two in the Big East conference. The ‘Cats had to power through some undeniable competition.
On Friday, Villanova lost, 0-3 (14-25, 15-25, 15-25), to Marquette. Then, Villanova traveled to Creighton, where it was defeated 0-3 (10-25, 12-25, 18-25).
"I think [Creighton and Marquette] have been one and two in the league since 2015," Villanova head coach Josh Steinbach said. "Those are tough matches for us, they are especially tough on the road."
To start off the weekend, the ‘Cats made the trek to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to take on the Golden Eagles. Marquette is ranked No. 2 in the Big East, with a conference record of, 10-1, after only losing to Creighton.
As for the ‘Cats, the team is ranked No. 6 in the conference, with a record of 6-6.
Villanova struggled in the first set, allowing the Golden Eagles a 7-0 run in the middle of the match. This put Marquette at a 13-2 lead over the Wildcats.
Marquette went on to accomplish a few more scoring drives across the next two sets to put them up against Villanova. Despite their difficult defeat, the ‘Cats still pulled off
some notable performances in the two games out west.
Freshman setter Alyssa Nelson managed 16 assists and one ace against the Golden Eagles. Graduate outside hitter Riley Homer was the highest scorer for the ‘Cats that night with 8.5 points along with six digs. Sophomore outside hitter Abby Harrell had five kills and eight blocks. Graduate transfer Taylor Jakubowski pulled off seven digs on Friday, which now puts her over 170 for the 2024 season.
After a short time in Milwaukee, the ‘Cats traveled to Omaha, Nebraska to take on Creighton on Nov 3.
The Blue Jays are ranked No.
6 in the country and No. 1 in the Big East.
The Blue Jays remain undefeated in the conference, 11-0, and have only lost two games the entire season. Therefore, the ‘Cats had to overcome the unimaginable to pull off a win, however they fell short in a hard-fought game.
"They have a great place and a great crowd; it was just one of the games where I don’t know if we played poorly, or they were just better that night," Steinbach said. "That’s just one of those things we got to regroup and get back and get ready to go with this week’s big matches at home.”
Harrell had nine kills and
five digs against the Blue Jays. With no surprise, Harrell was the highest Wildcat scorer with nine points.
Freshman middle blocker Campbell McKinnon was the second highest scorer with 6.5 points. McKinnon also accomplished five kills and two blocks.
Sophomore middle blocker Annika Veurink was subbed in during the third set. Verunik ultimately notched two kills and one block in the third set, scoring two points for the ‘Cats.
Homer achieved a monumental threshold of 1,000 career kills on Sunday and six kills against the Blue Jays.
"One thousand kills in our sport is a big deal,” Steinbach said. “[Homer] been a great competitor throughout her career, and we’re happy she can hit that milestone.”
Looking forward to the seventh week of conference play, the Wildcats are back at home this weekend. Because they have previously beat the next two teams, Xavier and DePaul the ‘Cats have a bit of an easier schedule coming up.
On Friday, Nov. 8 the ‘Cats will take on Xavier at 4 p.m. and then on Saturday, Nov. 9, Villanova will play DePaul at 7 p.m. Both games are scheduled to take place at Jake Nevin Field House.
"We’re getting down to the end of the season where people are fighting for positions in the lead," Steinbach said. "We wanna make sure we can extend our season. Every minute counts."
Men's Swim and Dive Secures Second Win over NJIT
Madison Hodges Staff Writer
Villanova men’s swimming and diving secured its second consecutive victory with a convincing 178-118 win over New Jersey Institute of Technology on Friday, Nov. 3. Villanova secured ten firstplace finishes out of 16 events and 29 top-three finishes. The men's team is now 2-1 overall in the season.
“I thought our [team] performance was fantastic,” Villanova head coach Rick Simpson said. “We certainly over-performed, and [the team] exceeded our expectations.”
The diving team delivered a strong opening one-meter diving performance, led by Junior Chris Jones, who took first place with a score of 274.58. Right behind him was senior Nick Jubilee, with a second-place score of 264.98. In the three-meter dive, Jones also took first place, knocking down a personal best score of 321.15. Jubilee followed up with a 295.05 score.
“I felt like I did amazing,” Jones said. “I just try to go out there, smile, and have a good time. Between every dive, I was dancing and trying to have fun. I knew that transitioning into the pool, I felt like I was killing it, and at the end, when I found out that I had a personal best, I was like, ‘I guess it worked.’”
With a sweep in both the one-meter and two-meter dives, the diving team added 26 points to its team overall score.
For swimming, the men’s 200yard medley relay team all finished
in the top five. Relay team A, led by freshman Cole Gorsuch, junior Mikey Thurk, freshman Zach Sutter, and senior Patrick Hemingway, took first place (1:33.24). Relay team B took second place (1:34.21), led by sophomore Max Christensen, sophomore Wade Weston, junior Henry Gingrich and freshman Kaden Elkovitch. The third Villanova relay team came in fourth (1:36.83), guided by sophomore Josh Seidman, senior Henry Halloran, freshman Melson Arquillano and senior Aubrey Bowles.
In freestyle, the Wildcats took first place in four of five events. In the 50-yard, the Cats swept the top three, with Sutter securing first (21.21), senior Patrick Hemingway placing second (21.50) and freshman Kaden Elkovitch coming in third (21.57). In the 100 freestyle, the Wildcats finished in the top four. Sutter claimed another first-place finish (46.47), Thurk claimed second (46.75), Hemingway claimed third (46.82) and Gavin Peck took fourth (47.74).
Freshman Owne Nye has had a strong start to his rookie season. In the 1000-yard freestyle, he claimed first (9:41.09) and took third in the 500-yard freestyle (4:44.07).
“I am working a lot on my turns underwater, and I have fully changed my stroke technique,” Nye said. “I am straight-arming the whole time now, so [there is] a big change in that. [The goal this season is to get] top three in the Big East in the mile and hopefully top eight in the 500.”
Also in the 1,000-yard freestyle, Villanova secured third place from junior Patrick Casey (9:50.51). Right behind him in fourth was The-
odore Morse (9:51.51). In the 200yard freestyle, they also took a one, three and four finish. Junior Gavin Jones finished first (1:41.94), freshman Gavin Peck finished third (1:43.66) and sophomore Justin Nowicki finished fourth (1:44.66).
The men struggled more in the backstroke. Freshman Cole Gorsuch took third (52.56) in the 100-yard and sixth (1:59.27) in the 200-yard. Senior Carson Brockette claimed sixth (53.13) in the 100-yard and third (1:55.59) in the 200-yard. Sophomore Josh Seidman claimed fifth (53.06) in the 100-yard and fourth (1:57.34) in the 200-yard. Sophomore Max Christensen took fourth (52.72) in the 100-yard and Bowles took second (1:54.05) in the 200-yard.
In the breaststroke, the men had some strong finishes. In the 100-yard breaststroke, Mikey Thurk claimed first (58.49), followed by Wade Weston with a second-place finish (59.16). Henry Halloran also finished in fourth place with a time of 59.58. In the 200-yard, Max Chris-
tensen claimed second (2:08.31), Weston took third (2:09.10), Halloran took fifth (2:111.77) and sophomore Aiden Bunker took sixth (2:14.50). In the butterfly, Melson Arquillano excelled in the 100-yard, finishing first (50.58) and second in the 200-yard (1:53.24). Sophomore Justin Nowicki finished third (1:56.24) in the 200 yard and Brady Tierney finished fifth (1:58.32) in the 200-yard. In the 100-yard behind Arquillano, junior Henry Gingrich got a fourthplace finish (52.67) and right behind him was freshman Kaden Elkovitch finishing fifth (53.64). The men closed out the meet with three top-five finishes in the 200yard individual medley. Christensen took first (1:56.43), Nowicki took third (1:56.81), and Bunker took fifth (1:58.12). With three finishing in the top five, the team secured 13 points from this event and won the meet. Villanova will be on the road against La Salle on Friday, Nov. 8. Then, the team will return home to face Providence on Saturday, Nov. 9.
Villanova lost to Marquette and Creighton, the top two teams in the Big East. Courtesy of Villanova Athletics
Junior Chris Jones earned first place in the one-meter and three-meter dive against NJIT. Erick Quezada / Villanovan Photography
Field Hockey Finishes Season With Two Wins
Ali Benjamin Staff Writer
Villanova field hockey finished its season off with a winning streak, beating Fairfield, 4-3, at home on Sunday, Oct. 27, and claiming a 3-2 victory over Providence on Friday, Nov. 1.
The senior day game against Fairfield started with an early lead from Villanova with a goal by senior midfield/forward Emma Schwarz off a wide shot attempt from fifth-year forward Sabine de Ruijter.
De Ruijter was fouled during the shot, allowing the ‘Cats to maintain possession. The ‘Cats added to their lead at the half with a successful shot on goal by de Ruijter off of a penalty stroke.
The Stags came out of the locker room strong, scoring their first goal less than a minute into the second half. However, a penalty corner from Schwarz created an opportunity for fifth-year forward Meghan Mitchell to immediately respond, scoring her seventh goal of the season with an assist from de Ruijter less than two minutes later. Graduate forward Ava Borkowski scored Villanova’s final goal of the game at the end of the third period, sinking her 6th goal of the season with an assist from senior midfield/forward Anne Drabbe.
Despite two shots at the end of the third period and one in the game’s final five minutes, the ‘Cats did not get any more goals in the net. Fairfield put in two more goals in the
fourth period, one off of a penalty stroke of their own and one off a foul against ‘Nova, but were still one goal short of catching up. This made for a successful senior night for the ‘Cats, walking away with a 4-3 win over the Stags.
“Our conversion rate on our corners was absolutely fantastic, so scoring off of open field goals we didn’t do a ton, but we started doing more of that in the last few games which was nice to see,” head coach Joaie Milhous said. “Our conversion rate on our corners, though, was probably the best it’s ever been, it’s pretty impressive, so that was exciting.”
Five days later, Villanova hit the road to face Providence for their final game of the season. The Friars started the game with an immediate shot on goal, giving them an early lead that lasted the remainder of the first half. A green card called on Villanova’s midfield/forward Anne Drabbe created an opportunity for a direct shot off of a corner, which the Friars capitalized on, putting them ahead, 2-0.
The ‘Cats attempted six shots on goal in the first half, all of which went wide or were blocked by the Friars defense, and came out of the locker room with an almost immediate yellow card on sophomore midfield/ forward Maeve Boston.
However, a penalty corner from Schwarz in the first minute of the second half created an opportunity for de Ruijter to put Villanova on the board with an assist from senior midfielder Raina Smolij. Less than 10 minutes later, sophomore midfielder Jane Bresnehan brought the game to a tie with an unassisted goal off of a loose ball. Another penalty stroke by de Ruijter off of a penalty corner from Schwarz at the end of the third period, not only closed the gap in score, but put Villanova ahead.
After finishing the period with a yellow card on sophomore back Gemma Lysaght followed by another penalty corner from Schwarz, the ‘Cats were still able to hold the lead for the game’s final 15 minutes and walk away with a 3-2 win. This comeback broke a 22-game Villanova losing streak on Providence’s field
and allowed Villanova to finish their season with their third win in a row.
“We never gave up, we never panicked, and it kind of just shows the strength and that never giving up attitude that we did have this year,” Milhous said. “To come from behind and win that game was just really good, especially because we broke a 22-game losing streak on Providence’s field. We normally win at home against them and they normally win at home against us so to break that was super special and such a nice way for our seniors and fifth years to end their careers on such a positive note.”
Following this win against Providence, and last week’s conference win over Temple, Villanova finished the season with a 4-3 record in the Big East. Only the top four teams in the conference play in the Big East tournament, and while they were tied for fourth place, its loss to Liberty earlier in the regular season gave them the fourth spot in the tournament.
This brought Villanova’s season to a close earlier than many would have anticipated and would have hoped, but does not negate the impressive effort they demonstrated all season long.
“It’s a great way to end our season,” Milhous said. “It just shows the strength of our team. Also our seniors and our fifth-years being able to end their careers on a win. I think we played really strong towards the end and finished on some key opportunities so I’m really happy for our players and for our team.”
Women's Soccer Ends Season With 2-1 Loss at Butler
James Haupt Staff Writer
The Villanova women’s soccer season has officially come to an end. On Thursday, Oct. 31, Villanova lost, 2-1, against Butler to place seventh in Big East, narrowly missing the conference playoffs.
The Wildcats finished the 2024 season with a 5-7-6 overall record and 2-3-5 conference record, which is the most success the team has seen in the last ten years.
Entering the game, Villanova needed a win, along with a draw in the DePaul-Providence match, to secure a spot in the Big East tournament.
On the other side, Butler was hoping for a St. John’s win over Creighton, along with its win or tie over Villanova to secure third place in the conference and avoid playing UConn in the first round. This game was a must-win for both teams, making it a competitive, playoff-like match of its own.
“It was basically a postseason game for both teams,” head coach Samar Azem said. “It was a good opportunity to see how our players would handle that.”
From a statistical standpoint, Butler controlled the game. The Bulldogs had 17 shots (six on goal) compared to Villanova’s six shots (four on goal).
The Wildcats got the scoring started in the 21st minute with a goal by graduate midfielder Alex Fava, assisted by sophomore defensive back Olivia Marrone.
Both teams went scoreless the rest of the half, making it 1-0 in Villanova’s favor at halftime. The start of the second half was more of the same as the one-goal lead remained for the Wildcats.
Around the 60th minute news broke out that Creighton let in a goal against St. Johns, opening up Butler’s chance to take over third place. The Bulldogs took action and subbed in all of their starters to make a late push against the Wildcats. They continued to push more players up in hopes of scoring a game-tying goal.
“They sent a ton of numbers in and went for Hail Marys,” Azem said. “It becomes hard to defend that.”
In the 73rd minute, Butler finally found the equalizer, putting Villanova’s playoff hopes on hold. With the game coming to an end the Wildcats were more aggressive searching for a goal. Unfortunately, this put their defense at risk as they let in a goal with five minutes remaining that ultimately proved to be the game-winner.
Junior goalkeeper Hannah Dickinson had a solid performance in her last game of the season. She made four saves that kept Villanova in the game the whole way. This wrapped up a terrific first Villanova season for the goalie who was a transfer from USC.
With the 2-1 loss, the Wildcats were officially pushed out of the playoffs, and Butler earned their spot as the third seed. Butler lost to DePaul in a penalty shoot-out in the Big East first round, a bitter-sweet result for Villanova.
The Wildcats will look to build on this season’s success and continue to improve next year. With the young team gaining more experience, they are poised to be a threat in the Big East in the 2025 season. “We’re bringing a ton of
our starters back,” Azem said. “We have way more experience. It’s a heartbreaking way to end the season because we felt like we should’ve been in the tournament. The upside is all the inexperience is coming with experience next year.”
Villanova finished its season 5-7-6. Courtesy of Villanova Athletics
Villanova finished its season 10-7 overall. Courtesy of Villanova Athletics
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