6 | The Villanovan
CULTURE
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
CULTURE
How to Decorate Your Dorm Room Like a College Pro Julia Stanisci Staff Writer
wall feels as bare as your floor, look on Amazon or Redbubble for some cute tapestries.
Pictures: Fill your room with the places, people and things you love most. This will really make your dorm feel like home. If you’re looking for a place to print photos near campus, try the CVS Pharmacy in either Wayne or Rosemont. Their kiosks allow you to print as many photos as you want right off your phone in seconds. You can also order some cute frames for canvases of your photos, but these will just take a little lon Personality: Make sure ger. If you’re looking to get a little your room is “you.” Whether this crafty, try making some collages. means choosing blankets and pilThese look awesome either done lows that are your favorite colors or by hand in big frames or on cork hanging your favorite quotes on the boards. You could also try using an walls, customizing your decor to fit app like PicCollage to make one your personality is crucial for mak- digitally and then print it. ing your space feel like it’s yours. Inspiration: If you’re Lighting: Lighting is key. looking to step up your decorating Especially if you’re in a dorm game with some aesthetically pleason South or the Quad, the light ing additions, spend some time fixtures provided just don’t do surfing Pinterest to find cute quotes the trick. Try buying some cheap or artsy images that’ll spruce up lamps from Target and investing in any cinderblock wall. some string or fairy lights to brighten up the walls. Apartments: How’s adulting going? If you need any Rugs: Rugs are important. kitchen decor or supplies, there’s a They warm up a room and make HomeGoods in Wayne. Its clearit feel like a comfy home instead ance aisle has decorations that of a cold little box. Look online for can cozy up any kitchen or living a nice soft-looking throw rug (or space. If you’re in need of some two if you have room), or check inexpensive, easy-to-set-up storage out HomeGoods or Target. If your containers for either your kitchen, Welcome back, Villanova. We’ve been moved in for a couple weeks, and hopefully your dorm room is absolutely everything you dreamed it would be. However, many students are still struggling to make their room really feel like home. Whether you’re living in a shoebox in Sullivan Hall or in a sprawling apartment, here are some tips and tricks that can help make your space a little more cozy:
Stanisci’s dorm room is decorated to her liking in Friar Hall of The Commons. Courtesy of Julia Stanisci
bathroom or even bedroom, Target still has lots of options. Men: Room decorating can be tougher for you, I know, but you can put a little bit of effort into keeping your dorm from looking like a jail cell. How about a Villa-
nova flag to hang on the wall next to your bed? Some fun posters or funny sayings? Anything to give it some life. If you’re still feeling like your room isn’t yours, don’t worry. It takes time to make any new space feel like home.
Weekly Club Spotlight: Campus Activities Team (CAT) A.J. Fezza Co-Culture Editor During this peculiar semester, one club has declared its mission to keep the spirits of University students high: Campus Activities Team (CAT). CAT, the official programming board of the University, has made sure to provide ample opportunities for fun activities since the pandemic began. When students were sent home back in mid-March, CAT had to improvise. The organization never had to deal with a problem of this magnitude. CAT dealt with the situation by holding games of Nova Quizzo, Villanova’s beloved weekly trivia competition, and other community building sessions over Zoom. Now, with students back on campus, CAT has stepped up its game even further. If you’ve been confused by the sight of a white gate surrounding the Riley Ellipse every Thursday, wonder no longer. The gate is for a special socially-distanced outdoor version of Nova Quizzo, which is now held outside Cafe Nova every Thursday at 9:30 p.m., rather than inside. As per usual, teams consist of four players, though answers are now submitted on a Google form instead of on paper. CAT has made sure to keep the event totally safe. The gate
separates the ellipse from the rest of campus so that Quizzo participants all come in through one entrance. That way, CAT officers can ensure capacity and spacing limitations. CAT also provides hand sanitizer and extra masks at its events and enforces the policy “BYOC” (Bring Your Own Chair). “We want to establish community at Villanova and give students something to do in a safe and socially distanced way,” Jared Plattman, Director of Movies, said. The first week of Quizzo was a Back to School theme. The second week Quizzo was unfortunately rained out at the last minute, but those who showed up received a free milkshake. The event was then held online. With workouts at the University’s fitness centers now requiring a reservation in advance online, it can be harder for students to find time to hit the gym. Thankfully, CAT has been offering outdoor fitness sessions as a fun way to keep students in shape. On Saturday, Aug. 22, CAT held its first session, which consisted of four workout videos played on a big screen. Participants were offered free snacks afterwards. Movies and other showings remain a staple of CAT. On Saturday, Aug. 22, CAT showed “Avengers: Endgame,” and on Saturday, Aug. 29, it showed the 2016 NCAA championship, when the men’s
basketball team defeated UNC for its first championship victory since 1985. Other events that CAT has held so far include virtual speed dating and bingo, which both took place over Zoom. More CAT events are set to take place in the near future. CAT partnered with the Student Government Association to kick off the virtual Student Involvement Fair from Monday, Aug. 31 to Sunday, Sept.
6. A weekend-long virtual scavenger hunt is set to take place from Friday, Sept. 4 to Sunday, Sept. 6 (with the prize being AirPods). As for in-person showings, the award-winning 2019 film Little Women will play at the Riley Ellipse this Friday, Sept. 4, and Villanova’s Funniest Home Videos will play on Monday, Sept. 7 at the same location. You can submit videos by using the link in the bio of Villanova CAT’s Instagram (@villanovacat) by Sunday, Sept. 6.
Sophomores at the Oreo for Nova Quizzo Courtesy of Ally Weitzman
