The Villanovan | Volume 111, Issue 13: October 14, 2020

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 14, 2020 www.villanovan.com @thevillanovan

STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916

VOLUME 111 | ISSUE 13

COVID-19 Tracker p. 2

Community First Hosts Wonder-Fall Weekend

Public Safety Blotter p. 2 Second Presidential Debate Cancelled p. 2 Falvey Library Hosts First Election Lecture p. 3 Who is Amy Coney Barrett? p. 3 Student Burnout & The Necessity of Days Off p. 4 Letter from the Editors: Your Mental Health Matters p. 5 Women in Politics: Misogyny and Double Standards p. 5 Sophomore Thomas Newton Releases New Song p. 7 Talking in Zig Zags p. 7 Drawing Fashion Inspiration from Music p. 8 Villanova Anime Club p. 8 Monochrome, but Make it Fashion p. 9 Tips for Decorating your Dorm for the Fall p. 9 Director of Athletics Updates Community p. 10 Athletics Raises More than $636,000 on 1842 Day p. 10 Men’s Basketball Recruiting Class of 2021 p. 11 Swim & Dive Welcomes Back Alumni as Assistant Coach p. 11

Students sit around fire pits on the campus green.

Courtesy of Sarah Jones

Jadyn Ramos Staff Writer Sara Hecht Staff Writer

Just through Corr Arch, the campus green has been transformed into a fall festival. String lights now adorn lampposts, bales of hay line pathways and trees are lit in orange and purple, perfect for the beginning of the autumn season.

These changes are all thanks to the Community First Committee, who initiated Wonder-Fall weekends this October.

Despite the University’s adjustments and cancellations of events due to COVID-19, the dedication to community that is spoken so highly of was displayed in the efforts that made the first Wonder-Fall weekend a success.

The constant challenge of having community events, while staying true to The CARITAS Commitment, was overcome with the organization of these events.

Students were given a safe and socially-distanced space to gather with friends and enjoy fun games and activities.

Each day’s events vary and can be found on the Community First Committee’s website, along with the night’s food truck menus. On Wednesdays, students can enjoy pumpkin bundt cake and warm apple cider while carving their own pumpkins. Thursdays through Saturdays, live acoustic music and fire smoke will fill the air as students play lawn games and eat from a variety of food trucks. So far, students have come in socially-distanced masses to enjoy food from La Cabra Brewing, Zacs Burgers, Donut Envy and, of course, the Public Safety ice cream truck.

Wonder-Fall had a successful start. On Thursday evening, local band The 29ers brought its “distinct Texan twang and alt-country edge” songs to the ears of students

dining on their mac and cheese, donuts, ice cream and s’mores. In the coming weeks, students will enjoy a variety of food from over 15 different food trucks.

University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., Ph.D. made an appearance last week, driving by to say a quick hello to all those enjoying the events of the evening.

Friday night’s festivities were similar to the previous evenings with a twist on the musical entertainment and new delicious foods. The famous Chickie’s & Pete’s brought their renowned crab fries while The Crepe Truck Philly had students lining up all the way to the bookstore.

Sophomore Mary Sweeney raved about the sweet crepes, while Molly McKenna added they were “definitely worth the wait.”

Saturday kicked off with a new wave of food trucks, including Pitrucco’s Pizza and Scoops and Smiles Ice Cream. The crowd favorite Donuts NYC

returned with its freshly fried donuts and hot chocolate. The musical guests of the night played a range of popular songs and quickly got the crowd cheering and shouting requests. Sweet Caroline won the vote.

Additionally, students enjoyed s’mores with the help of the Community First Committee volunteers who worked tirelessly throughout the week to make sure everyone was safe and had fun.

Students from all parts of campus were amazed at the wonderland that was put together on the campus green. The combination of the decorative lights, pumpkin carving, music, food and games provided a much needed fun celebration on campus.

Wonder-Fall is a great opportunity to get out of the dorm room, enjoy the beautiful autumn weather and have some fun while still upholding The CARITAS Commitment and keeping the communtiy safe.

Harris and Pence Face Off in Vice Presidential Debate Jack Birle Staff Writer

On Wednesday Oct. 7, Vice President Mike Pence and California Senator Kamala Harris participated in the first and only Vice Presidential Debate of the 2020 election at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

Washington Bureau Chief for USA Today, Susan Page, served as the moderator. At the beginning

of the debate, Page repeated the rules in an attempt to avoid another chaotic discussion, as seen in the first presidential debate.

“The two campaigns [and] the Commission on Presidential Debates have agreed to the ground rules for tonight,” Page said. “I’m here to enforce them on behalf of the millions of Americans who are watching.”

The first topic of the debate was the pandemic.

The topic was made more important by President Trump’s treatment for COVID-19.

Harris accused the Trump administration for downplaying the virus and not having a clear national strategy for the pandemic. She then proposed the Biden-Harris plan would be to provide more PPE, a strategy for contact tracing, a free vaccine and increased testing.

Pence responded by

slamming Biden for calling Trump’s ban on travel from China earlier this year “xenophobic and hysterical.” He also countered the Biden-Harris coronavirus national strategy.

“When I look at their plan that talks about advancing testing, creating new PPE, developing a vaccine, umm, it looks a little bit like plagiarism, which is something Joe Biden knows a little bit about,” Pence

Continued on p. 3

2 | The Villanovan

News Opinion Culture Sports

1 4 7 10

PUBLIC SAFETY BLOTTER

VOL. 111 | ISS. 13 www.villanovan.com @thevillanovan

EMILY COX TYLER KEMP ARIANA MEGERIAN RYAN HARMS CATE McCUSKER JACK ROBERGE GRANT CARTER A.J. FEZZA MADDIE BURKE BILLY VINCI HELENA ERNST MOLLY BAKER CHRISTINA IGLESIAS

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

NEWS

Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief Digital Editor News Editor News Editor Opinion Editor Culture Editor Culture Editor Sports Editor Sports Editor Photography Editor Copy Desk Chief Copy Desk Chief

MICHAEL BRADLEY Advisor DEENA SMITH Advisor CONTACT villanovan.eic@gmail.com

Public Drunkenness / Liquor Underage October 3 Sheehan Hall A male resident student, under the age of 21, appeared in public and was evaluated for alcohol intoxication.

Criminal Mischief October 3 McGuire Hall A staff member reported that an unknown individual damaged a bulletin board in a residence hall. The amount of the loss is unknown.

Carrying a False Identification Card / Liquor Underage October 3 Sheehan Hall A male resident student, under the age of 21, in possession of a false identification card was evaluated for alcohol intoxication.

Criminal Mischief October 8 L-3 Visitor Lot Unknown individual(s) caused damage to a door handle. The value of the damaged property is unknown.

COVID-19 TRACKER

CONFIRMED POSITIVE CASES AS OF 8:00 P.M. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13

220

Villanova University

12,257

CORRECTIONS 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.

CAMPUS CALENDAR BRIDGE Society in CLAS Information Session October 14 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Virutal

Patristic, Medieval, and Renaissance Studies Conference October 17 - October 18 All Day (10/17) - 11:30 (10/18) Virutal

2020 Oscar Romero Solidarity Lecture: Does Voting Even Matter?

October 20 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Virutal

Boston Children’s Hospital Information Session October 14 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Virutal

CAT Cornhole Tournament at the Oreo October 17 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

In-Person

Networking CapABILITY Meetup October 20 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Virutal

Smart Cities: Data, Tech, Institutions, & Trustworthy Governance Conference October 15 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Virutal

AXO Tennis Tournament October 18 11:00 a.m - 4:00 p.m.

In-Person

BRIDGE Society: Networking & Mentoring Event | Careers in Science, Technology, and Healthcare October 21 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Virutal

Delaware County, Pennsylvania

174,646 Pennsylvania

8,089,929 United States

38,306,517 Worldwide

Second Presidential Debate Cancelled as Trump Recovers and Returns to the Campaign Trail Allie Spath Staff Writer

With Election Day right around the corner, President Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis on Oct. 2 added more uncertainty to an already turbulent election season. Now, the president is returning to the campaign trail, against the advice of medical experts.

Trump’s hurried return to campaigning comes as many criticize the president for downplaying the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic that has now killed more than 210,000 Americans and infected upwards of 7.7 million across the country, according to The New York Times.

The Trump campaign announced that the president will be speaking at a “Make America Great Again” event at Orlando Sanford International Airport in Florida on Monday.

Experts have expressed concern about the impact of an early return to campaigning on the president’s health. Trump seems to be recovering and tweeted on Oct. 6 that he was “FEELING GREAT!”

However, his condition could still deteriorate, as “COVID-19 patients can take turns for the worse during the second week of illness,” according to The Times.

In addition to the risks

posed to the president himself, prematurely holding in-person events could jeopardize the health of those in attendance.

The aggressive course of treatment Trump received, including the drug dexamethasone, which is typically used for COVID-19 patients in critical condition, has led medical experts to believe his case was severe.

According to CDC guidelines, “Recovery of replication-competent virus between 10 and 20 days after symptom onset has been documented in some persons with severe COVID-19.”

As Trump was diagnosed with the virus on Oct. 2, the rally planned for Oct. 12 falls within the time frame during which the

president could be contagious and transmit the virus to others.

Those who attend the Orlando event will be asked to sign a disclaimer stating that “you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19,” The New York Times reported.

“I wouldn’t show up unless you had a mask and were distanced,” Democratic nominee former Vice President Joe Biden said of the upcoming rally, The Times reported.

Biden has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration’s fumbled response to the coronavirus pandemic, and, unlike the president, has adhered to CDC guidelines regarding masks and

President Trump at a rally in Florida on Monday.

Courtesy of The New York Times

social distancing while attending public events.

While the president’s campaign events have resumed despite his diagnosis, the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) cancelled the second presidential debate, which was scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 15. Initially, the debate was modified to be a virtual event after Trump tested positive for COVID-19.

The Trump campaign protested the change of format, claiming it would give Biden an unfair advantage and denying the health risks involved in the president’s in-person participation. Bill Stepien, the manager of the Trump campaign, released a statement insisting that there was “no medical reason why the Commission on Presidential Debates should shift the debate to a virtual setting.”

The CPD rejected the Trump campaign’s attempt to clear the president for participation in an in-person debate, “Noting that the White House still has not provided basic information about the president’s recent coronavirus tests,” Politico’s Quint Forgey reported.

On Friday, the commission released a statement announcing, “There will be no debate on October 15, and the CPD will turn its attention to preparations for the final presidential debate scheduled for October 22.”

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Continued from p. 1

said.

Later in the topic, as Page attempted to bring in Pence for a response to what Harris had said, Harris cut off Pence to finish her point delivering one of her most quoted lines of the night.

“Mr. Vice President, I’m speaking,” Harris said. “I’m speaking.”

Harris also provided clarity on her stance on a vaccine.

“If the public health professionals, if Dr. Fauci, if the doctors tell us that we should take it, I’ll be the first in line to take it, absolutely,” she said. “But if Donald Trump tells us that we should take it, I’m not taking it.”

Both Pence and Harris dodged questions regarding whether or not they had succession plans with their running mates, considering Trump and Biden’s ages (Trump, 74 and Biden, 78).

During the economic section of the debate, Pence pushed Harris on the issue of taxes. Harris stated a Biden-Harris administration would not raise taxes on those making less than $400,000 a year,

The Villanovan | 3

NEWS

but Pence argued they would eliminate Trump’s tax cuts.

“It’d be important if you said the truth,” Pence said. “Joe Biden said twice in the debate last week that he’s going to repeal the Trump tax cuts. That was tax cuts that gave the average working family $2,000 in a tax break every single year.”

When asked directly by Pence if she and Biden would repeal the Trump tax cuts, Harris had no answer.

Harris then hammered Pence on eliminating the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, and other key issues.

“On the one hand you have Joe Biden, who was responsible with President Barack Obama for the Affordable Care Act, which brought health care to over 20 million Americans and protected people with pre-existing conditions,” Harris said. “On the other hand, you have Donald Trump who is in court right now trying to get rid of [the Affordable Care Act].”

Pence disagreed, saying another term of a Trump-Pence administration would revamp healthcare and protect pre-existing

conditions. Pence also reaffirmed his claim that Biden wants to eliminate fossil fuels and fracking.

“Senator Harris, you’re entitled to your own opinion, but you’re not entitled to your own facts,” Pence said.

On the issue of climate change, Pence would not call climate change an existential threat, while Harris avoided answering whether Biden supported the Green New Deal.

On the issue of the Supreme Court, Pence pushed for Judge Amy Coney Barrett to be confirmed to the Supreme Court as soon as possible, and he pressed Harris on whether or not she and Biden would pack the court. Harris did not respond to Pence’s question.

The Biden campaign has not officially released a stance on Supreme Court packing.

On the topic of racial justice, both Harris and Pence called for police reform, while Harris called also for measures that would get rid of private prisons and decriminalize marijuana.

Harris also attacked Trump’s comments on white supremacists and neo-Nazis, includ-

ing comments made at the first Presidential Debate and in wake of the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville.

“He, on the issue of Charlottesville, where people were peacefully protesting the need for racial justice, where a young woman was killed and on the other side there were neo-Nazis carrying tiki torches shouting racial epithets, anti semitic slurs,” Harris said. “And Donald Trump, when asked about it, said there were fine people on both sides.”

Pence claimed Trump strongly condemns white supremacists and neo-nazis.

“Senator Harris conveniently omitted, after the President made comments about people on either side of the debate over monuments, he condemned the KKK, neo-Nazis and white supremacists and has done so repeatedly,” he said.

The 90-minute debate concluded with a discussion of the unity the U.S. still has despite political disagreements.

Both the Trump and Biden campaigns declared a victory. Public opinion polling on the debate tended to fall along party lines.

Falvey Memorial Library Who is Amy Coney Barrett?

Hosts First Election Lecture Nicole Celis Staff Writer

On Thursday Oct. 8, Falvey Memorial Library hosted the first lecture in its 2020 Presidential Election Virtual Series.

The lecture, given by Camille Burge, Ph.D., focused on “Race in the Election” and how emotions affect the election results.

Burge centered her lecture on not only how the conversation about how race in the United States gives important context to how certain states and groups of people will vote, but also how this conversation is emotion-driven.

These negative emotions range from anger, anxiety and fear, to disgust and sadness. With the topic of racial inequality prevalent in the nation today, this lecture came at an opportune time to explain why emotions are more of a driving factor in people’s votes rather than rational thoughts. This idea was highlighted in Affective Intelligence and Political Judgement, written by George Marcus, Michael MacKuen and W. Russell Neuman.

Burge highlighted how these emotions are mobilizing mechanisms when empowering groups of people to vote. Intergroup emotions are present with the police killings of unarmed African Americans because the police are considered an out-group object to the in-group subject of unarmed African Americans. many responses worldwide.

According to Burge, people can attribute this to a range of powerful emotions. Anger is extremely important in this because it leads to a desire to regain control and attack the “source of the injury” if necessary. The death of George Floyd led to political participation through an increase in voter registration and widespread protests in support of Black Lives Matter.

Many people are also anxious and afraid for the upcoming

election because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The elderly are afraid to vote in-person on Election Day because they are at a greater risk of a severe reaction to contracting COVID-19. Anxiety leading towards less elderly people exercising their right to vote is something that will be important to take note of when looking at election results.

Fear is an extensive emotion felt throughout the Black community as well. In a survey that Burge conducted in 2017, 1,500 Black Americans were asked about the emotions that most control their lives. 83% of survey participants identified fear as that emotion.

With less than one month until Election Day, U.S. citizens see that it is more of a fear of reelecting Donald Trump than wanting to elect Joe Biden. For those that support Trump, there is more enthusiasm for him than being opposed to Biden.

In the question and answer section that took place after the lecture, Burge was asked a variety of questions spanning from her thoughts on the past presidential and vice presidential debate to her election predictions.

Her primary prediction was that the polling data will not be completely reliable in forecasting the election results. While polls show Biden with a double digit lead, it is not reflective of what will happen on Election Day because of a widespread fear of voter suppression and ballots not being counted. Burge’s advice for young people who fear the future was to do something about it.

Over the past few months, the U.S. has seen mass organization of young people in protests, so she wants those people fighting for equality to find an organization that they are passionate about and get involved. Confronting those fears by taking action is the best way to enact change in the world that we are living in, according to Burge.

Jack Birle Staff Writer

On Saturday Sept. 26, President Donald Trump formally nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. Barrett was nominated to fill the vacancy on the court left by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg earlier in the month.

Since 2017, Barrett has served as Judge on the seventh circuit of the Court of Appeals, where she was also nominated

by Trump. Barrett’s nomination passed through the Senate with a 55-43 vote. She was also considered a finalist for the previous Supreme Court vacancy, filled by Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Barrett received her bachelor’s degree from Rhodes College and her law degree from the University of Notre Dame. She also clerked for the former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Scalia was known for his conservative opinions while on the court and was cited as a source of inspiration for Barrett’s judicial philosophy.

According to the BBC, Barrett is considered an originalist.

Originalists interpret the Constitution as it was originally intended when it was written in 1787. Barrett would lean solidly toward the conservative side of the Supreme Court if she is confirmed, following after her mentor Justice Scalia.

On the issue of abortion, Barrett has sided with laws restricting abortion in cases she heard while on seventh circuit of the Court of Appeals.

While she has discussed the importance of precedent set

by Supreme Court cases, Barrett also stated she would find it unlawful to support precedent if it goes against the writing of the Constitution. This statement could lead to the assumption that Barrett does not support Roe v. Wade.

However, her view on the case is unclear.

Supreme Court Nominee Barrett Courtesy of Politico

In 2012, she supported a group that opposed the birth control mandate in the Affordable Care Act, according to CNN. She also was critical of the majority decision by Chief Justice John Roberts and the Supreme Court to uphold the Affordable Care Act. According to Fox News, Barrett wrote a three-judge panel decision that made it easier for a man to challenge an allegation of sexual assault on a university campus.

This past June, Barrett dissented against a decision on putting on hold Trump administration restrictions on green card status for immigrants who use federal assistance.

When it comes to gun issues, Barrett dissented in the 2019 case Kanter v. Barr, arguing that non-violent felons should not have their second amendment right to possess a firearm taken away.

Barrett believes in the expansion of second amendment rights and tends to oppose restrictions to the citizens right to possess firearms.

Barrett is married to Jesse Barrett, a former federal prosecutor, and has seven children, two of whom are adopted from Haiti.

She is Catholic and lives in South Bend, Ind.

4 | The Villanovan

OPINION

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

OPINION

Student Burnout and The Necessity of Days Off Andrew Kline Staff Writer

As we move beyond the midpoint of the semester and start thinking about the spring, it has become very clear that a semester with only one day off is stressful, both physically and mentally. On top of the already stressful world we are living in with the coronavirus pandemic, we are also approaching a presidential election.

For the fall semester, the University planned to only give one day off for all students, which happened to be Labor Day, so that we could successfully and safely complete an in-person semester, which many other students across the nation were not afforded. In theory, this idea is great and has mostly worked, as proven by our relatively low number of cases in the university’s population. The downside, however, is that we do not have the ability to take a break and remove ourselves from the stressful environment.

Recently, a University student started a petition aimed toward administrators and faculty members for mental health days. The idea is generally simple, and some other schools have implemented this idea, in which professors are canceling classes or even just assignments to provide students, and even faculty members themselves, with some much needed time to decompress and destress. The petition for Villanova to implement the same idea took off almost immediately and is at nearly one thousand signatures.

The petition is specifically related to mental health days

all know someone going through a completely online semester and quite frankly, they are likely a lot less stressed than we all are here on campus. We are ultimately lucky to be here and that the spring semester is being planned in a similar fashion, but our opinions need to be heard, and responses need to be made in accordance to our arguments.

In terms of the spring semester, for those of you unaware, the calendar looks very similar to that of this fall. Our Easter “break” is from the end of our classes on Thursday until the start of our classes on Monday, meaning we are essentially just receiving Good Friday off from classes. Currently, there don’t appear to be any other days off throughout the semester, and our last day of classes, a Monday, will follow the schedule of a Friday in order to replicate the day we will miss on Good Friday.

This possible calendar was announced by University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, Ph.D., O.S.A in his video message on the Students study and work in the reading room for long hours. Friday of midterms week, which Courtesy of Sarah Jones was very untimely, as students had just endured a very stressful week taking place at least monthly for all affected. The University’s mentalto simply be told to prepare for the students, in order to give us a much ity seems to be that our payments needed break from everything should be supporting activities and same this spring.

Ultimately, the solution is going on. Reasons cited include entertainment to keep us on camsimple. Both students and faculty the COVID-19 pandemic, Zoom pus and to prevent further spread members need time off. We don’t fatigue, the lower level of engageof the coronavirus, but ultimately function the same or anywhere ment in socially distanced and our education seems to be lacking near as well when faced with nearmasked up classrooms, the cancelbecause the focus is being placed ly fourteen straight weeks of classes ation of-fall break and coming off elsewhere. every weekday. Mental health of a stressful set of weeks from the The moral of this story days and holidays off are a perfect midterm. Each of these reasons is that our education is lacking solution to allow students and facis fully valid and most seem to be because of the weird environment ulty to recouperate so that we can presently unaddressed. we are in. This environment is return soon after with a positive

With students paying the causing stress and, combined with same for tuition this year as any an abbreviated semester this forms attitude and a reinvested desire to learn. other, our education should not be an even worse situation. We likely

One Size Fits All Policies in College Football Jacob Artz Staff Writer

I have long been an advocate for the Power Five conferences in college football to work together to have the same number of conference games, non-conference games and rules. Amidst the pandemic, this is more evident when teams like Iowa State have fans crowd their games against topranked Oklahoma. Meanwhile, it is contrasted by the Pac-12 or Big Ten, which will not permit fans to attend their games this season, as well as the Colonial Athletic Association, which refuses to play until spring. The varying rules and policies need to stop so that committees can pick with better balance and excitement for fans.

Scheduling is a problem.

This is evident each football season when the Southeastern Conference allows for four non-conference games. Top teams, such as Alabama, take advantage of this by playing cupcake games, or games held against inferior opponents to rest players and perfect schemes.

This is also done by teams in other conferences, like when Penn State

opens up with Bear Valley Tech and Wossamotta U.

This is a joke, but it always plays horrible teams to open the season. I give much credit to teams like Notre Dame and Oregon, who schedule tough opponents to begin the season, like Notre Dame playing Michigan last season or Oregon scheduling Ohio State this year before the pandemic realigned the schedules.

The realignment to conference-only schedules could be the best thing for college football fans so that the teams are challenged weekly. These early season matchups give much intrigue to how these high-profile teams stack up and perform against another quality opponent. These tough early season matchups can ruin a team’s chances at the playoff because of another team’s unwillingness to play quality opponents in the beginning of the season. Instead, they choose to play teams from a division down in the FCS.

Even if the power programs are playing cupcake games, I will still faithfully watch Penn State demolish teams, like when they obliterated Idaho 79-7 at Beaver Stadium last season.

Fans are an integral part of the experience. According to 247Sports, the Big 12 will allow teams to have fans, with most schools allowing 25% capacity, and with Iowa State being the exception at 40%, which explains the abundant number of fans. According to ESPN, the Pac-12 will reevaluate its decision on having fans in January. This seems like a new low for a conference that has been trending in the wrong direction in recent years with its quality of teams and its handling of this virus (they were the last conference to play football in the fall after all the others jumped on board).

The Big Ten not allowing fans is a head scratcher, as its teams are in bigger traditional football markets and conducting higher stakes games. Penn State, according to the York Daily Record, will only “accommodate those closest to our football program and enable them to cheer on their family members. The Big Ten’s guidelines of families only will not permit us to welcome additional fans to Beaver Stadium in 2020.”

Schools like Ohio State and Nebraska were going to allow over 20,000 fans each, before the Big

Ten halted those plans.

After having written this information, what is my point?

My point is to have the conferences work together to make cohesive schedule protocols that will allow all conferences to play ten conference games, one game against another power five opponent and one game against a smaller school program. These games are important for the smaller school programs so they can be paid to give the bigger school team an easy win and use this money to improve athletic programs and facilities.

The alignment of conference games will give the committee a better gauge of how teams fared in tough competition throughout the season, and the one game against another power five opponent will treat the fans to great early season matchups like Clemson and Texas A&M, or Oregon and Auburn last season. As far as the coronavirus is concerned, it has to be handled on a school-byschool basis. The working together of conferences with scheduling and allowing the schools to implement their own policies will make this season exciting to watch.

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

The Villanovan | 5

OPINION

EDITORIAL BOARD EMILY COX Editor-in-Chief TYLER KEMP Editor-in-Chief JACK ROBERGE Opinion Editor

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

The Villanovan encourages all members of the Villanova community to voice their opinions. Letters to the editors may be submitted via e-mail to villanovan.eic@gmail.com. Letters must not exceed 500 words and must be signed. No anonyous 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 deteermined by the majority of the Editorial Board. Other columns, letters and artwork represent the opinions of their auhtors and do not necessarily reflect the position of The Villanovan.

Letter from the Editors: Your Mental Health Matters

Above all else during this difficult semester, it has seemed virtually impossible to maintain a healthy level of mental well-being. We live in one of the most stressful times in recent memory; a pandemic continues to hang over our heads, we are in the midst of one of the most contentious political climates the United States has ever seen and we, as students, are facing down another 6 weeks without a break following our extended midterms period. With this in mind, it seems nearly impossible to find any concrete way to prioritize our mental health.

Often, it seems as though when life gets busy, mental health, and personal health in general, gets pushed to the bottom of our priority list. When things start getting difficult, we all have a tendency to simply tell ourselves that we can just take a

break next week. Next week comes and goes, and we still don’t give ourselves a break.

This cycle, at least for us, has been continuing for weeks on end as we continually neglect to give ourselves even an hour or two to just do nothing at all or spending time during the day to do a hobby.

It seems that if we want to do these things, we have to do them at night, after all my work is done and lose yet another hour of sleep.

While we are certianly all guilty of staying up an hour or two longer than we should to watch a game or watch some TikToks, we need to take into consideration a piece of advice we heard recently.

We should all treat ourselves like people we are responsible for caring for. Most of us take better care of our friends, pets and even

plants than we do of ourselves. We cannot allow this to continue if we are to make our mental health a priority moving foward.

To be sure, the lack of breaks this semester combined with the apparent lack of empathy for our situation from many professors is creating an environment that certainly is not conducive to good mental health.

However, that does not mean that our mental health is completely our of our hands.

There is always something you can do, even in a small amount of time, that will help you to feel better. Try to think of something you’ve been overlooking because it seems far too simple. That could be going to the gym, cleaning up around your apartment or taking the time to check in with a best friend from back home. All of these things are things

we often choose not to do on a daily basis, but simply taking the time to do them is a step in the right direction towards better mental health. If you’re able to do these things a few times, you’ll be shocked at how easy it is to make them into a habit and how much they help to improve your mental well being. Combine them with giving yourself even a little time during the day to catch up on sleep, spend time on a hobby or chat with friends about anything but school, and you might just find the boost you need to get that last assignment done for the week.

This semester is uniquely difficult and the times we live in present us with a multitude of challenges, but together we can make sure that mental health remains a priority. Take some time for yourself this week, because you are worth taking care of.

Women in Politics: Misogyny and Double Standards Shannon Kauber Staff Writer

Misogyny plays a large role in the demographic breakdown of the U.S. government. The current U.S. Congress has a record high of representatives that are women, which is extremely disappointing, considering only 24.2% of the total membership of the 116th U.S. Congress is female.

Between the House and the Senate, 60% and 71%, respectively, of seats are held by white men, which is disheartening, considering that the current demographics of the U.S. would call for a much more diverse legislative body. However, the underrepresentation of women in politics should come as a minimal surprise, considering the struggle that female politicians have in comparison with their male counterparts.

Women are held to a much higher standard than men. Often, women running for public office are criticized for being too emotional, not tough enough and less competent than men due to traditional stereotypes. These expectations of female behavior make it extremely difficult for women to be elected, as people see them less capable of making difficult decisions.

A prime example of this standard has been displayed in the treatment of 2020 Vice Presidential candidate, Senator Kamala Harris.

Following the debate on Wednesday night, Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio tweeted a gif of a missile launch with the caption “Think hard about what you just saw...then decide who you want just one heartbeat away from the Pres-

idency,” contributing to a classic double standard that women are too emotional to be in political office.

In his tweet, Rubio implied that if the U.S. needed to make a military strike against a foreign power, Harris would decide with her feelings and make an irrational decision, even though she has extensive experience making difficult decisions as California Attorney General and Senator. There is no expectation that Vice President Pence would be emotional in making a military decision, so why should Harris be subject to this assumption?

The answer is misogyny.

Women are held to a different standard than men because of the sexist ideologies that are mentioned in households across the country, which restrict women’s ability to hold positions of power.

In addition, Harris’ qualifications are constantly questioned, while Pence seemingly faces no questions regarding his competence.

When former Vice President Biden announced that Harris was his running mate, right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh falsely suggested that Harris had “slept her way up,” and therefore is not qualified to be Vice President of the United States.

This assumption is something that would never be said of a male candidate. Despite Harris having an outstanding education and years of experience in public service, she is simply reduced to having “slept her way to the top” because she is a woman, while Pence is applauded for having the tenacity to “keep trying” after two unsuccessful Congressional campaigns in the 1980s and 90s. Again, this is just more evidence of the prevalence of misogyny in politics, as women are

Kamala Harris was subjected to unnecessary scrutiny after the Vice Presidential debate.

Courtesy of Julio Cortez, Associated Press

held to higher standards than men.

Finally, a more severe sign that people are still anxious about having women in power is the hostility that women face in their respective positions. Of course, every politician has adversaries, but women experience aggression in a whole other capacity. According to a study done by The State and Local Government Review, “Female mayors are more than twice as likely to experience psychological abuse and are almost three times as likely to experience physical violence in comparison to their male counterparts.”

Politicians receive insults every day for their policy positions, but this violence and psychological abuse is specifically targeted at women simply because of their gender. Who can blame women for not wanting to enter the political field if all that they will face is

harassment and violence? Women in politics should not have to fear for their lives for simply trying to make a meaningful difference in a position of power.

Women struggle everyday to make a name for themselves in politics. With all of the hostility they face from misogynists who use insults and fear-mongering to prevent their election, it is no question why there is a small sample of women who actually want to run for public office.

This behavior needs to change. Women are intelligent, capable, strong, brave and can easily do any job that a man can do.

People need to stop living in fear of powerful women because of sexist stereotypes. Women make up just over half of the population in the U.S., and it is about time our government was more reflective of that demographic.

6 | The Villanovan

OPINION

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

The Case for a United States Without Political Parties Steven Makino Staff Writer

It’s no secret that politics has made its way into the spotlight in recent years, this year being no exception, as tensions between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden grow to a boiling point with Election Day being a few weeks away. As I’ve sat through and watched the presidential debates, as well as read articles about each of the candidates, I couldn’t help but think to myself, “Would the United States be better off without political parties?” Absolutely.

This could have been a reality, as the United States was on track to being a “partyless country.” Our first president, George Washington, is the only one to not have been affiliated with a political party, as he greatly opposed the party system. He had hoped that the United States would stray away from the idea of political parties and even went through great lengths to warn the American people about the negative impacts it can have on the country.

In his Farewell Address, he discouraged a party system in fear that it would only cause unnecessary conflict and division in the country. His fears were realized as the country has now seen these negative impacts come full circle — especially notable this year.

If we had heeded Washington’s wisdom, I believe that many people would give more thought into who they choose to support and who best represents their personal values rather than solely undermining another po-

litical faction. Having no political parties eliminates bias because if the parties are gone, so are the stereotypes and general labels that come with them. For instance, the debate between Trump and Biden further emphasized the great division between being a Democrat and Republican and highlighted these differences in the form of name calling, personal attacks and bickering. Meanwhile, important policy information was on the back burner. This is not what an election should turn into, because it is, at its core, a battle of ideas between candidates for the overall betterment of the country. Eliminating political bias would allow for voters to examine a candidate’s policies on his or her own merit rather than forming an automatic opinion with no real thought given to either side.

Additionally, getting rid of the political party system in the United States would allow for politics as a whole to be more inviting to the average American.

In today’s political climate, the realm of political discourse usually carries an unfriendly environment that can lead to unneeded animosity between people who simply want the best for the future of the country. It can also prove overwhelming for the person who doesn’t know much about politics and could lead to intimidation that steers potential voters away from making informed decisions or even voting at all. In a partyless America, voters would not have to fear facing scrutiny for siding with one party and could simply vote based on their judgements of a candidate’s policies and competence.

I have noticed this year

America’s two party system has remained in its current form for decades.

Courtesy of Bridget Tokiwa

that many issues our country is facing are being treated as political tools to aid in one side beating the other. The COVID-19 pandemic should not be a political issue.

Racism and injustice should not be a political issue. The looming threat of climate change should not be a political issue. It saddens me that politics has turned into a competition, and basic morality is ignored in favor of “winning” against the other side. These problems should not be a byproduct of “playing politics,” as these are humanity issues that transcend political affiliations.

I know that this reality is extremely unlikely to happen in the near future. Even so, there is a

way to reduce its negative impacts on society. We need to avoid the black and white, or in this case, red vs. blue, thinking and vote for a candidate’s policies rather than solely what party he or she belongs to. While it is not an easy task, it is indeed possible for us to reject political biases and stereotypes, and to make informed and thoughtful decisions. We all may have differing views on topics, but at the end of the day, we all should want what’s best for the United States.

I truly believe that changing our way of thinking when it comes to voting will create a country that lives up not only to its name, but also to one of its main founding principles: unity.

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

CULTURE

The Villanovan | 7

CULTURE

Sophomore Thomas Newton Releases Song “Love Moat” Ally Weitzman Staff Writer

On Sept. 4, I was scrolling aimlessly through my Instagram feed.

Story after story, I continued to see my peers promoting the release of a new song called “Love Moat.”

As I usually do, I clicked past each post, not giving it a second thought. However, as soon as I saw the @novanationer Instagram account jump on board, I was intrigued. Learning that the singer and songwriter was Thomas Newton, a Villanova student, I decided to listen to the song. Admittedly, I did not have high expectations. This made it all the more shocking that within the first 30 seconds of the song, my eyes were wide, and my jaw hit the floor. I was sure I was listening to the start of something really special.

Newton is a sophomore mechanical engineering major from Haverford, Pennsylvania. His name is actually Thomas Ward, but he releases music as Thomas Newton (Newton is his middle name).

As an avid guitar player who admires artists like Guns N’ Roses,

Newton started to seriously consider producing his first single this summer.

Although having rock and pop influences, Newton is unsure about what genre he would describe his sound.

“I’m really early in finding my style and genre, but for now, I think I’m singer-songwriter and pop,” he said. “I’m open to trying new styles down the road and exploring new sounds.”

When describing the song, upon first listen, a word that immediately came to my mind was “refreshing.” Straying away from the overly-produced, electronic sound of modern radio hits, “Love Moat” is heavily based on guitar, showcasing Newton’s musical talents. His sound reminds me of the relaxing, uplifting vibe of indie folk artists, such as “Head and the Heart,” with the voice of male pop rock singers, like John Mayer.

As soon as I heard him sing, I thought to myself, “This sounds like Shawn Mendes...but better.”

Not only was I impressed by the sound and style of the song, but I also found the lyrics to be creatively crafted and moving. In “Love Moat,” Newton uses the visual of a moat as

a metaphor for isolating oneself from love, scared to take that leap.

My favorite lyrics are found in the pre-chorus, ”Who can I be right now/To take this drawbridge down/ Who can I be right now/ To let this moat dry out.”

One of the most natural human desires is to feel connected with others, and when we feel like we ourselves are the biggest roadblocks to achieving this, it can be very frustrating. This part reminds me of that conflicting feeling. Therefore, it is the perfect lead up to the chorus, which realizes the importance

of letting those walls down, ”Every highway/ Every road/ Love can take you home/ Every time I/ Built a Love Moat/ I was living on my own”.

When interviewed by Villanova Television, Newton reflected on this sentiment.

“Love Moat is the idea of finding your way through relationships,” he said. “No one can do anything on their own. It might take a song or a friend to tell you that, but you can’t live on your own.”

Since its Sept. 4 release, Newton’s song has accumulated more than 60,000 streams.

Sophomore Thomas Newton plays guitar on West Campus.

Courtesy of Villanova Television

Student Podcast Feature: “Talking in Zig Zags” A.J. Fezza Co-Culture Editor

“I have no structure and neither do these podcasts,” junior and softball player Ryan Henry wrote in the Spotify bio of her new podcast, “Talking in Zig Zags,” but what she lacks in structure, she makes up for in fascinating content.

Bored during quarantine, Henry began to start up heer podcast as school approached this summer. She began “Talking in Zig Zags” just over a month ago, during the first week of September.

Henry already racks up an average of 100 listens for each of her weekly episodes, and she has over 100 followers on her promotional Instagram account @talking. in.zig.zags, which previews episodes. Each episode has a special guest and a guiding topic, but the conversations end up all over the place.

Some of the guests didn’t even know Henry beforehand, but found her Instagram account and initiated an interview. All the guests have been very forthcoming, and some of the conversations have

The “Talking in Zig Zags” logo Courtesy of Spotify

lasted until the early hours of the morning.

“I just have one question which is: what’s your story? And then we get going,” Henry said of her conversations with guests.

The name “Talking in Zig Zags” came from an interaction she had with her personal lifting coach, who said she “talks in zig zags.”

“My head is like a pinball machine,” Henry said.

There is one common motif in this podcast: purple. Henry’s favorite color is purple, as she finds it calming and fun. She wears a purple blazer to most of these podcast sessions, and the logo of “Talking in Zig Zags” is purple.

The logo was designed by an artist on Etsy named Kassy Veronica, who draws faces. Henry loved the logo.

“Wait, this is prettier than me,” Henry said. “I’m catfishing people.”

As of Oct. 11, 2020, four episodes of “Talking in Zig Zags” have been released.

In the first episode, Henry introduces herself and the podcast.

In the second episode, “A Godly Call to Comedy,” Henry speaks to Alex Bowman, a political cartoonist and a founder and host of Georgetown University’s “The Hilltop Show.” The two discuss their “comedic coming of ages stories, controversies and love for late night television.” In the third episode, “Readings & Religion & Romance, Oh My!”, Henry speaks with her close friend Sydnee Paige, a spiritual counselor who went viral on TikTok this year, about dogs, religion and gender norms. In the fourth episode, “COVID is Crashing the College Experience,” Henry talks with Tinah Ogalo, host of the podcast @inyourtwentys, about

how college students are handling COVID-19.

Most of the interviews are entirely raw, uninterrupted soundbites and footage. Recently, Henry had to go back and edit an interview a bit because it went too in depth and far past the desired one-hour mark.

“You have to pay for my therapy sessions to be released,” Henry joked.

In the future, Henry plans to interview some University students, like Simon Brooks and Luke Pastori. She also plans to make some solo episodes.

The podcast is currently available on Spotify and Anchor.

Anchor hosts the podcasts on numerous other websites as well. Henry has plans to expand her podcast distribution even further and is working on a YouTube account for it. With stand-up basically nonexistent in 2020, this is Henry’s outlet for performing and for content creation.

This is not Henry’s first time making a podcast. She originally had a podcast called “The Meaning of Life and Common Sense Things,” which she recorded from January to March of 2020.

In this podcast, she sought to find meaning in life amidst trying times, although, she sees “Talking in Zig Zags” as superior.

Henry also has extensive experience performing. She is pursuing a communication major with a specialization in Performance Studies and a theater minor. She also does stand-up comedy and works as an intern for the renowned Gotham Comedy Club in New York City. Henry’s long-term goal is to host a show on camera.

Of all these experiences, running this podcast has been a

more time-consuming endeavor.

Henry has been spending upwards of six to eight hours each week managing this podcast, but she loves almost every bit of it. She runs all of her own social media accounts, and she makes the graphics for the show.

“I’m a one man band,” Henry said. “Sometimes, I wish I had an intern.”

Henry has a few words of advice for those that wish to start a podcast themselves:

1. Listen to podcasts, but don’t replicate them. Have your own style. Henry loves to listen to all sorts of podcasts when she goes out for a walk, like The New York Times’ “The Daily” and a two minute daily podcast about Zodiac signs. She also draws inspiration from comedians, like Jerry Seinfeld, and the comedy shows she watched growing up, such as The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, yet Henry always had a unique style — open and raw.

2. Know what story you want to tell. Henry has some clear goals with her podcast episodes. She wants to have fun, and she wants to provide listeners with calmness and relaxation as they unwind and listen to her engaging conversations.

3. Your setup doesn’t need to be perfect. Just put your mind to it. “Everyone thinks you need a $500 microphone, but you don’t,” Henry said. She uses a $15 microphone that she bought off Amazon, conducts her interviews via Zoom and records using GarageBand, which comes free with Apple products. To Henry, the best way to make a great podcast is to put your mind to it and work with what you have.

CULTURE

8 | The Villanovan

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Drawing Fashion Inspiration from Your Favorite Music Devin Toolen Staff Writer

It is easy to associate fashion and music. Music artists tend to have a certain vibe that links them to a style that they consistently wear. For example, in 2019, Ariana Grande was practically synonymous with an oversized sweatshirt and knee-high booties. As someone who is always wondering what to wear, I sometimes like to use music as a source of inspiration. Let us put our headphones on, hit shuffle and plan outfits based on music.

First up on shuffle is the pop genre. Dua Lipa is one of the most prominent pop artists of our time. A lot of her popular songs like “Electricity,” “Don’t Start Now” and her new song “Levitate” with DaBaby give off major feel-good vibes. Even Dua Lipa herself exudes positivity and confident energy on her social media.

When I listen to her music, I think of going out on a summer night with friends. For a Dua Lipa-inspired outfit, I would style a white silk cami top with fun patterned pants, kitten heels and a mini bag. You can get a silk cami from popular shops like Express, Banana Republic or Urban Outfitters. For printed pants, check out Jaded London or Motel Rocks. Both shops have a nice selection of pants

Weekly

with great prints. Kitten heels and mini bags are easy items to thrift, so check out your local Goodwill.

Next up on the queue is pop rock or alternative music. Songs like “If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know)”

by The 1975, “Are You Bored Yet”

by Wallows and “4EVER” by Clairo fall into this category. These songs definitely give off a different feeling than the pop genre.

Listening to them makes me feel like driving around admiring a sunset. For these songs, I would style a long sleeve tee under a graphic short sleeve tee-shirt, paired with cargo pants, Converse All-Stars and a beanie on top. You can get a cool graphic tee from a thrift store and cargo pants from Pacsun. H&M sells great basic long-sleeved undershirts, and for a beanie, check out Urban Outfitters.

Fast-forwarding a bit, we fall into our next genre, Hip Hop and R&B. “Be Honest” by Jorja Smith, “24” by Money Man and Lil Baby and “See You Again” by Tyler, The Creator and Kali Uchis are on the queue. These are great songs with awesome beats that make me feel like I am at a live show (we cannot forget what that is like).

For this outfit, I would style a corset or bustier top with baggy jeans, Air Jordan 1’s and a racing jacket for warmth. You can get a corset or bustier top from shops like

Club

Spotlight:

Michael Finnen Staff Writer

As a new student at Villanova this year, I was searching for a club that could fulfill my interests and be a place where I could meet new people and expand my social circles. Since anime interests me, I naturally settled on joining the VU Anime Club. What I have found in attending this club for the first half of the semester has far exceeded my initial expectations. The Anime Club at Villanova has not only given me an outlet for my interests, but it has also become a place where students of all ages can find acceptance and friendship.

As its name might suggest, the club revolves around anime, or Japanese animation. Although it may be a fairly niche interest, I have noticed that its members are very passionate about the medium and truly care about sharing these passions. Currently, the club meets two days a week, on Monday and Friday nights. Initially, the club was meeting in-person. However, due to COVID-19, it has been moved online temporarily, with the hope of meeting in-person once the situation calms down.

The club gathers to watch anime at 9 p.m. on Monday nights.

At the start of each semester, everyone is allowed to suggest a show that they want to watch with the group.

The club then votes and narrows that list down to three shows, which are viewed over the course of the semester every Monday. These days are incredibly fun, as watching with peers and experiencing the shows together allows everyone to express

Members of

themselves. It could be through laughing at a hilarious joke or crying at a somber moment. Regardless, everyone is offered a chance to simply be themselves.

The club offers so much more than watching anime. Club socials are hosted at 7 p.m. on Friday nights. These events take many forms, whether it’s through games of anime-themed Jeopardy or having a video game night. While the structure of the event may vary, what remains unchanged is the chance to meet people with similar interests and create friendships.

There is a sense of unity and acceptance within the group that I believe is central to the identity of the club.

This concept of acceptance is embodied by the club’s president, Jude Dizon.

“The purpose of the Anime Club, to me, has always been about acceptance and expression,” Dizon said. “With this club, I felt compelled to break out of my shell, share the things I love and show my

NastyGal, ASOS or MissGuided.

Baggy jeans can be thrifted, but you can also get them from shops like Topshop, Revice Denim or Uniqlo.

Jordan 1’s are some of the hardest shoes to get a hold of, but check out StockX or GOAT for resales and House of Heat for drop dates. A racing jacket is definitely an item you will need to thrift, so check out Urban Exchange in Philadelphia or the online thrift store Depop for some good deals.

The last genre on the shuffle is Latin music. Songs by Rosalía including “Con Altura,” “Di Mi Nombre,” “TKN” and J Balvin songs like “Una Locura” and “Snapchat” are on the queue. Latin music always features a good beat to make you want to dance with your friends.

A matching top and bottom set would be a great outfit for these songs. Omighty and IAMGIA are great stores to buy matching sets. I would recommend styling a set with platform Doc Martens and a mini bag.

Obviously, not everyone who listens to a certain type of music will dress the same way. However, it is really fun to play around with your personal style and try to dress based off of a song or music genre you like. By taking cues from musical artists, you will find yourself exploring fashion in ways you never imagined.

Villanova

This is a Hip Hop/ R&B inspired look featuring Air Jordans.

Courtesy of Devin Toolen

This is an Omighty two-piece set that you might see Rosalía wearing at a show.

Courtesy of Devin Toolen

Anime

Club

that same experience for others and to share the amazing diversity, story and art that exist in Japanese animation with other students on campus.”

This tight-knit community which Lau describes is perhaps a smaller extension of Villanova as a whole, a community centered around unity where everyone cares for each other.

“I believe that, if people enjoy something, they will want to grow and prosper,” Michael Maher, the club’s treasurer, said. “I enjoy this club, and I want others to enjoy this club.” the club sit at a meeting earlier this semester.

Each year, the club hosts its Courtesy of VU Anime Club own anime convention known as eccentricities.”

NovaCon. NovaCon is open to the

To Dizon, the club is about entire school and features panel disso much more than simply anime cussions, shops to purchase art and itself. It is about freedom of expresDVDs and even visits from profession and pursuing one’s passions sional voice actors and actresses. without fear of judgement. He

The club’s vice president, wants to provide others with this Debbie, finds this aspect of the club opportunity. very important to her.

“I became involved in ad “As a business student, I ministration because I want to give especially love planning our conothers that same experience,” he vention, NovaCon,” she said. “It’s said. I want this club to be a place basically like running a business, and where one can be comfortable in I find that very exciting. It has given being passionate.” me experience with contacting pro Other leaders of the club fessionals, such as the voice actors have a similar ideology. and writers we invite for the panels.”

“The club works to foster

One does not have to have a sense of community between its any experience with anime in order members by creating a safe space for to join the club. It is open to anyone students not only to discuss anime, with any level of anime expertise, but to openly express themselves from years of watching to just a without judgment,” club secretary passing interest. If you feel like you Frances Lau said. “Anime Club want to give anime a try, do not hesmade me feel included on campus, itate to join. You may be surprised and it is where I can feel free to at the level of community found express my interests, anime-related there. It is a place where people or not. Being part of its administra- build each other up and are proud tion allows me to hopefully create of the culture they have created.

CULTURE

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Quintessential Olivia Sabalaskey Staff Writer

‘Tis the season for all things spooky. Halloween is right around the corner, and students are embracing all the traditions that make this time of year so fun. For some, celebrating Halloween may entail going to a pumpkin patch with friends, while other students may enjoy the glorious return of apple cider donuts or pumpkin spice lattes.

Holidays are always special and inspire a sense of excitement among us. Although there are many activities and traditions we are unable to celebrate this year, we can still watch our favorite, classic Halloween movies.

So turn on your television and treat yourself to some popcorn and candy because here is a list of some of the most iconic and beloved Halloween films.

“Hocus Pocus”: Is it even Halloween if you don’t watch “Hocus Pocus” at least once? Directed by the one and only Kenny Ortega, this movie follows characters Max, Dani and Alison as they try to stop three witches from becoming immortal. Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy star as the evil yet hilarious Sanderson sisters in this fantasy-comedy film.

“Halloweentown”: “Halloweentown” debuted on Disney Channel in 1998. Villanova students declare it a classic because of its nostalgia and all-star cast that includes film legend Debbie Reynolds, Kimberly J. Brown and Joey Zimmerman. “Halloweentown” follows Marnie, who discovers she comes from a family of witches. Along with the help of her grandmother, Marnie must learn to adapt to a town where monsters and witches are real.

However, as soon as she begins to understand more about her family’s history, Marnie unravels the town leader’s looming plot to take over the world. With little experience of casting spells, it is up to Marnie to stop the villain and save Halloween-

Movies

for

town.

“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”: Halloween simply isn’t Halloween without watching “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” Produced and animated by Bill Melendez, this Halloween special debuted in 1966 and is based on the comic strip “Peanuts” by Charles M. Schulz. The story follows Charlie Brown, who is invited to a friend’s Halloween party. While other members of the Peanuts family travel with Charlie Brown and trick-ortreat, Linus awaits the acclaimed Great Pumpkin in the local pumpkin patch. “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” is one of the most beloved Halloween short films of all time.

“Psycho”: Looking for a good horror film? “Psycho” is a timeless classic. Directed Alfred Hitchcock in 1960, this movie follows Marion Crane as she stops by the Bates Motel, where she meets Norman Bates, a mysterious taxidermist. Strange and frightening things begin to occur. Praised as one of Hitchcock’s best thrillers, “Psycho” is a masterpiece that changed cinema forever.

“Casper”: Not a fan of horror movies? “Casper” may be the perfect movie for you. James Harvey

The Villanovan | 9

Halloween Villa-Vogue: Monochrome, but Make it Fashion

and his daughter, Kat, travel to a haunted mansion in Maine where Casper, a young ghost, peacefully haunts. Although Casper and Kat quickly become friends, Casper’s family of ghosts starts to cause trouble. Starring Bill Pullman, Christina Ricci and Malachi Pearson, “Casper” has become a staple of Halloween movies.

“Twitches”: “Twitches,” which debuted in October of 2005, is another fan favorite Halloween film that follows twins, Alex and Cam, as they learn to control and use more of their magical powers as witches. However, as Alex and Cam are reunited on their twenty-first birthday, evil emerges and, together, they must use their magic and wits to defeat the villain and save the kingdom. Tia and Tamera Mowry star in this Disney Channel Original Movie that students will undoubtedly enjoy watching.

There are so many wonderful Halloween movies to watch this year. Most of them can be found on streaming platforms such as Disney+, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. However, Freeform has also released its popular and annual “31 Nights of Halloween” schedule to help plan out your movie nights and watch parties.

Debbie Reynolds stars in the Disney classic “Halloweentown.”

Courtesy of Refinery29

Tips for Decorating Your Room for the Fall Madeline Holobinko Staff Writer

From the leaves changing colors to pumpkins popping up outside of buildings, fall is slowly taking over Villanova’s campus. As you begin to break out your winter wardrobe and indulge in pumpkin spice, you may be thinking of ways to decorate your dorm room for the season. Here are some tips to help make your room feel more like fall.

Colors: As the leaves begin to change colors, so should dorm decor. Nothing says fall like yellows, oranges and reds, so stick to this color family when choosing your pieces. If you want to do something simple, switch out some blankets and pillows. If you want even more splashes of color, look for smaller decorative items like block signs and mason jars in these fall tones.

Lights: LED lights are a classic dorm decoration and an easy way to add a touch of fall to

your room. If you already have LED lights hanging in your room, all you need to do is find a garland to fit the season. It can be made of anything, from fall-colored leaves to miniature pumpkins.

Once you’ve found the perfect one, simply weave the garland around your LED lights to add some seasonal accents to your wall. If you want to go even further, consider placing some flameless LED candles around your room to create a haunted house-type vibe.

Wall decor: Hopefully, you already have something hanging on the wall above your bed. If not, now’s the perfect time to invest in some fall-themed wall decor. An easy way to fill this space for the season is with a tapestry. If you’re looking for one to hang short-term, choose one with autumn leaves or pumpkins as the design. If you want one to last you the rest of the year while still fitting in with the fall spirit, a mandala tapestry that uses the colors mentioned earlier is a great option. For something more

spooky, you can never go wrong with old horror movie posters.

Window clings: Window clings are a simple way to show the rest of campus how ready you are for fall. From packets that spell out “Happy Halloween” to ones made up of cartoon ghosts and witches, there are a variety of window clings to choose from. Just make sure to do your research and find ones that will be easy to take down once the season is over.

Pumpkins: When in doubt, any decor involving pumpkins is sure to make your room feel more like fall. If you’re looking to have real pumpkins in your room, choose a few miniature pumpkins.

By getting miniature ones, you’ll be able to better fill the room without needing the large space required for bigger pumpkins. If real pumpkins aren’t your thing, don’t worry.

In addition to the plastic pumpkins, pumpkin-themed pillows, blankets, lights and signs are just some of the ways you can add touches of fall to your dorm.

Kaelin Trombly Staff Writer

For years, wearing too much of one color in an outfit has been frowned upon in the fashion world, the goal being to wear complimenting colors but never of the same shade. While this is still a great way to pair clothing, neutral monochrome outfits have made a headway in recent trends.

A monochromatic look would be an outfit made up of many different shades, or a single shade, of the same color. For example, one could wear a pair of dark blue pants and blazer paired with a sky blue top or an olive green dress paired with flat heel sandals of the same color.

It takes no expense or effort to nail the monochrome look, yet there is something so elegant and inherently luxe about the singular color combinations.

As you can tell, I am a big fan.

The appearance of a monochrome outfit is effortless yet tasteful. It is a timeless look that is fitting for every season and every style. One key component to this is the wearer’s ability to draw more attention to the textures and patterns they use, rather than focusing on matching complementary colors.

When styling your monochrome look, have fun experimenting with different neutral tones, layering and patterns you wouldn’t typically pair together. No matter how crazy or bold the patterns may seem, the monochromatic look always tends to balance this out, allowing the overall outfit to stay as sharp as ever.

When attempting to put together a monochrome ensemble, where would one even begin? Let’s break it down.

First is the base color.

Even though this look can be done using any color imaginable, it is very important that the base is neutrally toned. That way, the color hue won’t overpower the statement of your singular color scheme look.

Once you choose a base color, add various tints and shades of the base throughout your outfit. Varying the brightness of your source hue will provide some definition and visual interest to your ensemble, while keeping everything in the same harmonious mode of color.

Once those two steps are completed, you’ve mastered the monochrome trend.

Despite the structure given above, fashion has no limits. There is no set of rules every person must follow. Whether it’s adding your own twist to the monochrome look or wearing every color of the rainbow, the possibilities of your wardrobe are endless. Just have fun with it, and use monochromatic wear as an opportunity to try new things. At the end of the day, get creative and wear whatever you want, however you want to wear it.

10 | The Villanovan

SPORTS

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

SPORTS

Director of Athletics Updates Villanova Community Madison Burke Co-Sports Editor

Villanova Athletics released a video of Vice President and Director of Athletics, Mark Jackson, early Monday morning commenting on how Villanova Athletics has been adjusting to COVID-19 protocols.

This video is one of the first highly publicized solo video released

by Jackson to the Villanova Athletics community since the beginning of the new semester. The video was emailed to all student-athletes before being sent to the entire community, and it wasposted to Villanova Athletics Instagram and Twitter pages.

As students enter their ninth week on campus, Jackson reinforced the importance of The CARITAS Commitment.

Both the entire school community and Villanova’s varsity athletic programs must take this seriously in hopes of having a spring semester that is full of sports competitions.

Athletic programs have started up on Villanova’s campus as safely as possible.

“Right now, each of our 24 varsity programs has resumed small group practice and strength and conditioning sessions,” Jackson said.

There have been a series of precautions that each sports team must adhere to if they plan to stay on campus and practice. Pods of four athletes have been created to help move forward with these precautions

student-athletes, led by the organization 13%, which is spearheaded by Sanaä Barnes (Women’s Volleyball and Track & Field), Justin Covington (Football) and Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree (Men’s Basketball).

Jackson also added that the teams whose seasons were cancelled in the fall will hopefully pick back up in the spring. Additionally, he reiterated the Nov. 25 start date for men and women’s basketball.

“We are planning for a robust winter and a spring full of competition,” Jackson said.

Jackson anticipates that competition will start in the spring, and all sports will be able to have competitions following a series of policies when creating a schedule.

To start, he mentioned a 27 game season which he did not describe any further.

“We are currently working with our fellow Division 1 athletic departments here in Pennsylvania, Jackson continues to hold high hopes for the spring semester.

Courtesy of Villanova Athletics our university, state and local officials to determine capacity levels for home on each team. Photos of athletes in

Following the praise of the events,” Jackson said. “We expect to the strength and conditioning room, department, he made comments finalize our policy in the near fuas well as on their respective mediabout social justice within the Athlet- ture.” ums of practice, can be seen in this ics community.

This video stirreed excitevideo.

“The passion of our stument throughout the University

Jackson mentioned other dent-led 13% organization and our community. However, there seem highlights from the Athletics Depart- UNITAS initiative inspires me,” to be many questions that Jackson ment that have been posted on InsJackson said. was unable to address in this three tagram. He praised student athletes

He commented on the minute release. Student-athletes and for their academic achievements. amount of conversations he has fans of Villanova Athletics wait to Athletes earned the highest GPA been involved in over the summer hear more information to address Villanova has seen, at 3.45 during after the death of George Floyd. the ambiguity of their championship the spring semester.

Conversations brought to him by seasons.

Athletics Raises More Than $636,000 on 1842 Day Colin Beazley Staff Writer

From the teams, the men’s cross country and track and field team had the most sponsors and the highest number of donations, as 269 supporters raised $48,450.

The women’s cross country and track and field teams raised an impressive $18,083 via 142 donations.

Special Olympics was another popular pick, as 213 people donated $16,939. Although this year’s Special Olympics will be vir-

tual instead of in-person, these donations will go towards life-changing opportunities for athletes and their families during the festivities in November.

The Men’s Basketball team raised the second most out of any athletic team during this year’s 1842 Day, with 205 donors giving $46,708.

Club Sports were another prominent choice to support, raising $18,281 from 186 donations,

The University celebrated its annual day of giving, 1842 Day, on Tuesday, Sept.22. Donors had options of donating to specific groups or causes on campus, ranging from student unions to club sports or even towards improvements to the Center for Engineering Education and Research (CEER).

The day was a great success, as over 7,900 Villanovans raised over $5.9 million for over 125 groups and organizations, with donations representing all 50 states and every graduating class since 1954.

Villanova Athletics took a large role in the success of this day, starting with a goal of 750 donors but ending the day with well over 2,000. Teams had an active presence on social media, posting updates and encouraging all fans to donate to their teams and to the Athletic Department.

The dedication paid off, as over $636,000 was raised for athletic programs across campus.

When the goal of 750 donors was passed, an additional gift of $100,000 was unlocked for the Athletic Department from former Villanova runner Gene Mitchell ’89. Mitchell was one of 458 former student athletes to give back to Men’s Cross Country and Track and Field teams led all teams in donations.

Courtesy of Villanova Athletics their alma mater.

despite the suspension of club sports for the fall. The donations will be used to continue developing the total individual in a team setting: intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, culturally, socially and physically.

Villanova Football received $23,287, with over 115 people donating to the team. Women’s Lacrosse also had over 100 supporters, generating $17,625 for the program.

Villanova Athletics’ UNITAS Initiative also raised over $3,500 to help continue efforts to make the department more inclusive and strengthen the department’s community, in addition to the University community as a whole.

Finally, the collective Villanova Athletic Fund had over $43,769 in donations, with 125 people choosing to back the program and help the University’s student-athletes stay successful on the field and in the classroom.

This year’s 1842 Day was an incredible success, both for the Villanova Athletics Department and for the school community as a whole.

For the Athletics Department to raise over $636,000 is an amazing achievement. This outpouring of support for the school will be used to help programs and student-athletes in many different ways and continue the school’s tradition of excellence.

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

SPORTS

The Villanovan | 11

Inside Look at Men’s Basketball Recruiting Class of 2021 Anders Pryor Staff Writer ANGELO BRIZZI (#117 Ranking) Warrenton,VA, Highland HS, Point Guard, 6’3”, 170lbs, 3 Stars Other Notable Offers: Arizona, California, LSU, Virginia

Brizzi, who verbally committed to Villanova on May 9, 2020, is generally regarded as one of the most refined and elite point guards in the DMV (DC, Maryland and Virginia) area. He selected Villanova over Big East rivals Marquette and Georgetown, as well as several ACC powerhouses in North Carolina, Virginia and Virginia Tech. He has a diverse array of weapons yet is most known from his passing game.

He has the ability to be creative on the spot in transition, creating shooting opportunities and post up concepts for other players in quick fashion.

The obvious point on everyone’s mind is the point guard spot at Villanova. This year, roster star Collin Gillespie will be a senior, his last season in a Villanova uniform.

Once he is gone, the role of the floor general will be up for grabs.

Two names come to mind.

First is Caleb Daniels, who was a very exciting transfer student from Tulane and led their team in scoring (16.9) and steals (0.8) per game.

However, Daniels takes on more of the role of a shooting guard who can spot up around the floor. The next name that comes to mind is Chris Arcidiacono, who does not have the same overall skill level as

Brizzi. This points back to Brizzi taking over the role as the moral leader of the team who can hold the floor together and make the big calls when necessary.

JORDAN LONGINO (#58 Ranking) Fort Washington, PA, Germantown Academy, Shooting Guard, 6’5”, 195lbs, 4 Stars Other Notable Offers: Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Virginia

Longino is an exciting addition to the Villanova roster, hailing from just a 20 minute drive from campus. He is one of Pennsylvania’s prize shooting guards, both for Germantown Academy and AAU club Philly Pride. He is known nationwide for his ability to be a spot up shooter, being elusive in pick and roll situations for his size and utilize his layup steps efficiently to draw fouls against small guards.

The four-star recruit received offers from Philly rivals Temple and La Salle, as well as several major Big Ten Conference programs such as Indiana, Maryland and Penn State.

Longino’s game may best be used against shorter opponents who choose to play small ball systems.

With a big man like Cole Swider to space the floor with his own shooting abilities, Longino can have the paint cleared up for him to drive in against smaller guards, expanding beyond just his shooting ability.

If that does not come to terms, he will always have the ability to shoot over small guards in regular line ups off of pick and roll switches, being able to knock down threes effectively and without rushing.

NNANNA NJOKU (#81 Ranking) Hockessin, DE, Sanford HS, Center, 6’9”, 245 lbs, 4 Stars

TREY PATTERSON (#27 Ranking) Somerset, NJ, Rutgers Prep, Power Forward, 6’7”, 195lbs, 4 Stars

Other Notable Offers: Miami, NC State, Pittsburgh

Other Notable Offers: Florida, Indiana, Maryland

Simply put, Nnanna Njoku is the best player in the state of Delaware. He is consistently ranked in the top 100 high school players in the country on ESPN and 247Sports.

He is entering his senior year of high school, but Njoku already has the body of a college player and is clearly on track to building it to a professional level. This will allow him to have dominant paint play around the basket and will create opportunities for box outs.

He can use his frame to be explosive under the rim, as he has shown to have a diverse skill set in that area by being able to play behind zone defenses and feel comfortable in one-on-one situations.

Njoku was heavily scouted, receiving offers from other Big East and ACC powerhouses.

Jermaine Samuels and Dhamir Cosby Roundtree are both seniors this year, and they are the two foundational big men for the team. Their absence next year will allow Njoku to be the brawn of the bench mob behind Robinson-Earl, who is the projected starting center for the years to come. Once Robinson-Earl ends his time at Villanova, Njoku will have developed his body to an even further extent to play a similar role on the team as Golden State Warriors Player and Villanova men’s basketball alumni Eric Paschall.

Trey Patterson is by far the most highly regarded recruit for the Class of 2021. He is consistently ranked within the top 30 high school players in the country and sometimes scrapes his way into being a top five power forward. He is a four-star recruit, but there is a strong argument that could be made for his placement into the elite fivestar category.

Patterson is a full package wing player. He is athletic and productive in transition and consistantly shoots. He plays with aggressive energy and will bring a high level of ferocity to the team. Patterson received offers from 24 schools.

Other than Cole Swider, the wing spot on the team is an open field. In terms of big men, the paint will be predominantly utilized by fellow freshman Nkoju. Patterson could be utilized well in a big-ball line up, with hypotheticals such as having both Njoku and Patterson in the game and having someone like Bryan Antoine or Justin Moore run the point guard position.

This will put Patterson in the best possible position to score effectively and consistently. However, even in normal lineups, Patterson will still have the explosiveness down low to score against opponents more similar in size, especially in pick and roll situations that go with the slower pace that Jay Wright and Villanova basketball likes to play.

Swim and Dive Welcomes Alumni as Assistant Coach Tee Parris Staff Writer

The ’Nova Nation is lucky to welcome back one of its best from the Class of 2013 as a new Swimming and Diving Assistant Coach: Laura McGlaughlin. McGlaughlin has a long history with the University, beginning with her mother, who graduated from Villanova.

McGlaughlin grew up 30 minutes away from the campus and was originally not interested in attending the school until her on-campus visit, when she was able to interact with the swim team and get a better understanding of the school. This visit changed her mind, and she began the process of becoming a Villanova student-athlete.

While earning her degree in communication, McGlaughlin competed feverishly on the women’s swim team. She was selected to the Big East all-Academic Team and was team captain for the 2012-2013 season. McGlaughlin made regular appearances in the U.S. Swim circuit. She swam in the 2012 Olympic trials and in various U.S. Open Championships, U.S.A. Nationals and U.S. Pro Series competitions.

After graduating in 2013, McGlaughlin spent two years in-

terning for the Villanova Athletics Department. She then left Villanova to gain more experience and learn new lessons.

While away from Villanova, McGlaughlin coached at Georgetown for three years. In her final year there, she helped the women’s team earn runner-up status in the Big East Championships, and she helped the men finish third in the conference. She continued her success as a coach working with the University of Pennsylvania swim team. There, she guided an unprecedented 15 swimmers to school record-breaking times.

After her success away from Lancaster Ave., McGlaughlin has returned to continue her rich story here. She brings along with her a wealth of knowledge and experience. McGlaughlin explains that her return is as a result of the incredible journey that she had as a student-athlete at Villanova.

She is excited to give back to the sports program that shaped her and gave her so much, and she is coming back with a lot of ideas and various goals for the team.

McGlaughlin is inspired by the talented group of swimmers that the University currently has. She applauds the incredible achievements they have had over the past couple of years, most notably the women’s seven-year

streak as winners of the Big East Conference. She sees so much talent in this team and is aspiring to work with them so that they may hopefully compete with the Big 10 or Big 12 in the near future.

COVID-19 has affected many aspects of normal college life. Athletics is in no way spared from this chaos, and McGlaughlin acknowledges the challenges COVID-19 has presented the swim team with. She chooses, however, to focus on pushing the reset button. She views the pan-

demic as an opportunity to slow down, set new goals and refocus the team. McGlaughlin is glad to be back during this time of change and growth. As a young and spirited coach, she hopes to bring new energy to the already incredible coaching staff here at Villanova.

Swimming is usually winter sport, and Big East championships occur between mid-February and late-March. There is speculation about changing the swim season from the winter months to the spring.

McGlaughlin hopes to help the women’s team to an eighth consecutive Big East title.

Courtesy of @NovaSwimDive Instagram

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DINING SERVICES

Villanova Dining Services

Filipino Histor� Dinner

Tuesday, October 20

Donahue ~ Dougherty ~ St. Mary’s

Menu

Chicken Adobo Garlic Fried Rice Pancit Green Beans Zucchini & Squash Champorado

October is Filipino American Histor� Month