The Villanovan | Volume 111, Issue 9: September 16, 2020

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 www.villanovan.com @thevillanovan VOLUME 111 | ISSUE 9

STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916

COVID-19 Tracker p. 2

History in the Making: Women Lead Five of the University’s Six Academic Colleges

Public Safety Blotter p. 2 OFSL Implements Social Moratorium p. 3 Students Share Quarantine Experiences at the Inn and at Home p. 4 Letter to the Editors: Make Election Day a Villanova Holiday p. 5 Bursting Bubbles: Professional Sports during the Pandemic p. 5 AI: The Problem No One is Talking About p. 6 Killing the Spotted Lanternflies: A Communal Catharsis p. 6 Letter from the Editors: Get Registered to Vote p. 6 Book Buzz: Novels to Look For p. 7 Freshman Life During COVID-19 p. 8 Still Woozy Talks His New Single and More p. 8 Students Report Strange Dreams During Quarantine p. 9 Action is Greater than Words: UNITAS p. 10 Women’s Rowing Begins Training p. 10 Golf Team to Host Fundraiser for B+ Foundation p. 11 2020-21 Basketball Season to Start on November 25? p. 11

A car passes on Lancaster Avenue, in front of the St. Thomas of Villanova Church.

Courtesy of The Villanovan

Jack Birle Staff Writer

On July 31, Dr. Michele Marcolongo began her tenure as Drsodick Endowed Dean of the College of Engineering. With Marcolongo’s appointment, for the first time ever, five of the six academic deans at the University are women.

Marcolongo spent the last 20 years of her career at Drexel University.

Most recently, she was the department head of Materials Science and Engineering in Drexel’s College of Engineering.

Along with Marcolongo, Dean Adele Lindenmeyr, Ph.D. of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Dean Joyce E. A. Russell, Ph.D. of the School of Business, Dean Donna S.

Havens, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, of the College of Nursing and Dean Christine Kelleher Palus, Ph.D of the College of Professional Studies serve as the other female academic Deans at the University.

The University’s leadership looks to these Deans as a positive change for students and faculty.

In a statement, University Provost Patrick G. Maggitti echoed these ideas.

“We are proud that Villanova is among the leaders on this front, with five of the University’s six colleges led by women,” Maggitti said. “In Deans Havens, Lindenmeyr, Marcolongo, Palus and Russell, Villanova has five exceptionally talented leaders, scholars and educators. Their strong, groundbreaking leadership sets an inspiring example for their students and faculty

members, and we hope more will follow in their footsteps.”

According to the Deans, the group of women work closely together in a collaborative effort to better their respective colleges.

“Coming from a variety of academic disciplines and various other universities and backgrounds, I think we all bring a unique perspective to the table,” Dean Palus said. “In my own career, I can’t say there has been a lot of moments where most of the people at the table are women, so it is really an interesting dynamic, and it is great to be a part of.”

“[The Deans] are all really good friends,” Dean Russell said. “Other senior leaders have said [the Deans group] is probably the closest it’s ever been at Villanova. We are very

collaborative…and we want each other to be successful.”

Since joining the University faculty in 1987, Dean Lindenmeyr noted how the landscape for women has changed for leadership roles in higher education.

“There are just a lot more women,” Lindenmeyr said. “There are not only women in the deans positions, but also women in the [University] President’s cabinet. Where there are still few women is in the ranks of senior faculty.”

Dean Havens sees the future landscape for women in higher education involving more representation and opportunities in leadership.

“I think the door has been opened and people are seeing the value of what Continued on p. 2

University Ranked #53 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 Best Colleges Ranking Emily Cox Co-Editor-in-Chief

The University has again been included among the top National Universities in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 “Best Colleges” rankings.

Although ranked #46 last year, the new ranking among the nation’s best colleges and universities is still an indication of the University’s continued prominence and forward momentum.

Over the past five

years, the University’s undergraduate applications have increased by more than 30%. Students at the University consistently earn some of the nation’s most prestigious national scholarships and awards, with 50 Villanovans receiving Fulbright U.S. Student Grants in the past two years.

Upon graduation, Villanovans are highly sought-after by top graduate schools, companies and organizations across the country and around the world, with a successful placement

rate of 96.7% for the class of 2019.

U.S. News uses numerous indicators of excellence in determining the rankings, including academic reputation, student retention, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving and graduation rate performance.

This year’s edition includes several updates to the methodology that address important issues directly impacting students and families. These new measures look at topics like student debt, social mo-

bility and test-blind admissions policies.

Of the approximately 1,400 four-year colleges and universities nationwide listed by U.S. News, 389 schools are officially classified as National Universities.

Princeton University, Harvard University and Columbia University were ranked as the top three National Universities.

In addition to the #53 rank, the University ranked #36 in Best Undergraduate Teaching and #64 in Best Value Schools.

2 | The Villanovan

News 1 Opinion 5 Culture 7 Sports 10

PUBLIC SAFETY BLOTTER

VOL. 111 | ISS. 9 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

Wednesday, September 16, 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

Disorderly Conduct August 23 Whole Campus Anonymous Tip received on the Nova Safe App reporting an unknown male acting disorderly inside a women ‘s restroom. No location was given with the anonymous tip.

Criminal Mischief August 23 Pavilion Damage to a beverage cooler door was discovered.

Burglary - Unlawful Entry Criminal Trespass Theft by Unlawful Taking or Disposition September 4 - September 7 St. Mary’s Hall A burglary was reported by a resident student where a theft of clothing items occurred . The value of the stolen property is approximately $1,650.00.

Theft from a Motor Vehicle September 6 L-4 Lancaster Residence Hall Lot A resident student reported theft of money from an unlocked vehicle.

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

Disorderly Conduct September 7 Rudolph Hall A male resident disrupted an online class.

CORRECTIONS Article “Sanaä Barnes on Black Student-Athlete Group, The 13%” previously stated that 13% of Villanova’s student body identified as Black when a correction has been made to say that 13% of Villanova’s student-athletes identify as Black.

Service and Justice Experiences Group Dynamics Workshop September 17 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Virtual Interfaith Walk and Talk September 17 7:00 p.m.

In-person

Villanova on the Hill Meeting September 18 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

In-person, SAC Day of Service September 19 All Day College of Engineering Fall Preview Day September 21 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Virtual Cari-talks September 21 8:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

In-person, Driscoll Tent

Continued from p. 1 women bring to the leadership role,” Havens said. “I think [women] bring skills to the leadership side, great negotiation skills, empathy and understanding…It’s up to [women in leadership] to continue to do a good job and reach back and bring others forward.”

Dean Marcolongo found a mentor at Drexel University as a female role model while she pursued her career.

“Dr. Banu Oneral, she was a senior faculty when I started as a faculty member at Drexel,” Marcolongo said. “From my interview and through my entire career, she has really advised me and given me mentorship. She made me see things that were possible for me possible in my career.”

Marcolongo also said she is most excited for the caring and student oriented culture that University has to offer.

STAY UPDATED WITH THE VILLANOVAN FOLLOW US ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK, & INSTAGRAM @THEVILLANOVAN FOR BREAKING NEWS AND CAMPUS UPDATES

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

69

Villanova University

CAMPUS CALENDAR Villanova Consulting Group (VCG) and BRIDGE Society Mentoring and Networking Event September 16 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Virtual

COVID-19 TRACKER

1842 Day September 22 All Day

10,966

Delaware County, Pennsylvania

145,063 Pennsylvania

2020 Real Estate Career Conference September 22 5:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Virtual CMCI Marketing Mania September 22 5:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

In-person & Virtual School of Business Fall Preview Day September 23 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Virtual

6,751,048 United States

29,449,233 Worldwide

Biden and Trump Campaign Amidst 9/11 Anniversary and COVID-19 Jack Birle Staff Writer

President Donald Trump and former Vice-President Joe Biden find themselves locked in a tightening race less than three weeks before the first presidential debate.

According to an average of polls by RealClearPolitics, Biden leads Trump in Pennsylvania by 4.3 percentage points and Biden leads Trump in Michigan by 4.2 percentage points. Trump won both states in the 2016 election, despite trailing Clinton by 5.8 percentage points in Pennsylvania and by 6.0 percentage points in Michigan around this time four years ago.

On Friday, Vice President Mike Pence and Biden visited the 9/11 memorial in New York to pay their respects to the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and Trump visited the Flight 93 National Memorial outside Shanksville, PA.

Trump is under intense scrutiny for comments he made to Bob Woodward over a series of interviews for a book. In March, Trump said to Woodward that he wanted to downplay coronavirus.

“I wanted to always play it down,” Trump said to Woodward.

“I still like playing it down, because I don’t want to create a panic.”

The Biden campaign, along

with Democrats, has claimed that Trump attempted to cover up the severity of COVID-19 based on these remarks and others in Woodward’s upcoming book.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and member of the White House task force on coronavirus, refuted claims Trump misled the public on the dangers of coronavirus during an interview with Fox News.

“I didn’t see any discrepancies between what he told us and what we told him, and what he came out publicly and said,” Fauci said.

Both Pence and Vice-Presidential candidate Kamala Harris visited Wisconsin to campaign.

Harris met with the family of Jacob Blake and spoke with Blake over the phone.

Blake was shot by Kenosha, WI police officers during an arrest in August, and he was left paralyzed from the incident.

Harris caused controversy over comments she made after speaking with Blake. Harris said “she was also proud of him and how he is working through his pain.”

When Blake was shot, he was being charged with criminal trespass, third-degree sexual assault and disorderly conduct, according to CBS News.

Trump visited Kenosha, WI in early September but did meet with Blake’s family because of the family’s request to have lawyers present.

Both Trump and Biden look to improve their poll numbers heading into the first presidential debate on Sept. 29.

Pence, Biden meet briefly at 9/11 memorial.

Courtesy of U.S. News & World Report

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

NEWS

The Villanovan | 3

Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life Implements Social Moratorium for IFC, MGC and Panhellenic Chapters Katie Reed Staff Writer

Among the continuously growing list of changes made to the Fall 2020 semester at the University, during the first week of August, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life (OFSL) implemented a Social Moratorium for the IFC, MGC and Panhellenic organizations on campus.

This means that, amidst the growing health concerns of COVID-19, there will be no social activities on campus for these groups. In addition to The CARITAS Commitment, these measures will help target the spread of COVID-19 and keep students at the University safe.

According to Sarah Hernandez, the Assistant Director of OFSL, other colleges across the nation were implementing their own forms of social moratoriums on Greek Life, which is what prompted the University to do the same.

“We felt it was the best option for our community to ensure that Greek organizations were following University and state mandated guidelines both on and off campus,” Hernandez said.

The Social Moratorium is set to last indefinitely while OFSL attempts to figure out a way to host these social events safely. In the meantime, OFSL administrators are encouraging all students to be responsible and to follow all of the protocol issued by the University. Even though

fine placed on the chapter. Advertising includes social media platforms and individual chapter GroupMe chats, as well as putting up posters around campus. A fine will still be administered even if the event is only advertised and does not actually take place.

If more than 25 members of the same chapter are caught having any social event, that particular chapter will not be allowed to recruit members for the upcoming calendar year. If more than 25 students from the University, regardless of what chapter they are in, are caught having a social event, the chapter hosting the event will not only lose the ability to participate in recruitment, but they will also be fined.

College Hall Apartments have historically been associated with University night life.

Finally, if any chapter hosts Courtesy of Apartments.com a social event attended by a large said. This moratorium is not a punthe social aspect of these organizagroup of people, that chapter will no tions has been suspended, Hernandez ishment, but rather an opportunity longer be recognized on campus. All for growth. However, if students are mentioned that this is the only aspect of these sanctions are put into place unable to follow the guidelines, there of organizational operations being to keep community members safe. will be significant repercussions in the All of this information regarding the changed, and that members will still form of sanctions placed on violating Social Moratorium as well as Fratershare a sense of community in other, members’ chapters. safer ways. nity and Sorority Life can be found on These sanctions, provided

The responsibility of ensuring the Villanova University Student Life that this Social Moratorium is success- by OFSL and the Dean of Students, website. ful and adhered to by all students will should already be familiar to students “Please adhere to the moratobelonging to FSL organizations, fall to the individual IFC, MGC and rium and the University policies and according to Hernandez. They were Panhellenic organizations and their guidelines,” Hernandez said. “We based on the Villanova Chapter ability to hold students accountable all worked very hard to make sure Accountability Process, which was for their actions. that campus is a safe place to be this

“I think this Moratorium, if already in place and governed these semester, but it only works if everyone viewed and used correctly, can help organizations even before COVID-19. does his or her part. Hang with us a the chapter leadership be more effec- If any students from these little longer and we can have a safe tive leading such large groups through organizations are caught advertising a and enjoyable on-campus experia pandemic like COVID,” Hernandez social event, there will be a monetary ence.”

Schools in Philadelphia Area Forced to Go Online or Hybrid Due to Rise in COVID-19 Cases Sophia Pedro Staff Writer

The decision of whether college campuses were going to reopen for the Fall 2020 semester was constantly on the minds of many throughut the summer.

Although the University has decided to return with a hybrid learning format, it is no surprise that many others did not return to campus at all, as the culture of college campuses poses an extreme threat to the health of students, staff and faculty.

Universities across the country have devised extensive plans for testing, social distancing and hybrid learning to allow their students to return to campus this fall. This includes numerous schools across Pennsylvania, all with different plans of action. The following institutions decided to return to campus this fall: Temple, Drexel, Lehigh, Lafayette, Bucknell, St. Joseph’s and even Penn State, which is home to over 40,000 students on the State College campus alone.

However, along with many other schools across the country, The University of Pennsylvania decided against opening its doors for the Fall 2020 semester.

As of Sept. 3, Temple University has reverted back to wholly online instruction, after returning in August, with the expectation of

a few in-person classes. According to Temple’s COVID-19 dashboard, as of Sept. 15, 402 students have tested positive for the virus since returning to campus; Temple has about 29,000 undergraduate students. According to Temple’s official COVID-19 webpage, the University’s decision to revert was data driven and came after consulting numerous “healthcare professionals and leaders at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.”

A letter from the President of the University was sent to the entire student body outlining what will happen from here on out; this letter was then made available to the public.

In accordance with that letter, about 95% of Temple’s classes have moved online, with the exception of “essentials-only courses,” which “are those for which educational objectives cannot be achieved without all or some in-person instruction.”

However, Temple is not requiring that students vacate their on-campus housing; if students wish to remain for the rest of the semester, taking their online classes in their residence halls, they will be allowed to do so.

It is likely that Temple will be the one of many universities across the United States that will revert back to online learning, as they feel it is the best option to

ensure everyone’s safety. Institutions of all sizes are struggling to control the highly contagious virus, and it is likely that we will see many more closings across the country in the coming months. However, there are also some schools that have been doing well in terms of containment.

Along with Bucknell, Drexel and Penn State, Saint Joseph’s is offering both online and hybrid courses this semester. Lehigh is also offering a hybrid approach, but the majority of its courses are online, and most of their students reamined home.

According to the respective schools’ COVID-19 dashboards, as

of Sept. 15, St. Joseph’s has had 72 cumulative cases, Bucknell has had 16 cumulative, Drexel has had 20 cases, Lafayette has had five cases, Penn State has had 1,145 cases and Lehigh has had seven positive cases.

With the exception of St. Joe’s and Drexel, the other universities listed above have implemented surveillance testing for either all of their students — on a daily or weekly basis — or a random sample of students daily.

As of now, Temple is the only university in close proximity to Villanova to recently move from a hybrid approach to distance learning.

Temple University students in Philadelphia.

Courtesy of 6abc

4 | The Villanovan

NEWS

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Students Who Test Positive for COVID-19 Share Experiences of Quarantining at The Inn at Villanova and at Home Claire Stalder Staff Writer

Since classes began on Aug. 17, the University has monitored, and more recently, began publishing data on our community’s number of cases. Luckily, the University’s numbers seem much lower than other local schools, such as Temple which surpassed 300 cases within the first two weeks of classes. With this influx of data, many community members are left with questions. What is it like at the Inn? What constitutes a 10-day or 14-day quarantine? How does one even get tested?

To give light to some of these endless questions, The Villanovan hope to hear what students had to say about their experiences with University-sanctioned quarantine and testing. Their stories offer information, but subtle discrepancies across their experiences seem to open the door to more questions.

Before returning to campus, community members received COVID-19 self-proctored testing kits through Quest Diagnostics. When sophomore Brooke Githens tested positive through Quest, she was surprised. She said she previously had COVID-19, felt no symptoms after testing positive and all of those she had come into close contact with tested negative. Out of curiosity, Githens was tested three separate times following Quest’s diagnosis. She tested negative all three times. Nonetheless she followed the regulations the University gave her: a 10-day quarantine.

Although she believes her original test was likely a false positive, Githens said she wasn’t upset that she stayed home. She wasn’t sure how students would be adhering to regulations back on campus and wanted to proceed cautiously. Additionally, she

said her professors were all understanding in regards to her absence, creating alternatives to the in-person labs that she had missed. Githens returned to campus during the second week of classes and has remained healthy since.

On the evening of Aug. 24, sophomore Connor Chegwidden noticed his first minor symptoms: a light headache and body aches, mirroring a common cold. After monitoring his temperature the following day, Chegwidden decided to go to the Health Center, although he never spiked a fever. When his rapid test came back positive the next day, he called his parents and his mother was on her way from New Jersey to pick him up.

Luckily, Chegwidden’s roommate was still in his dorm, because Chegwidden was no longer allowed inside of his residence hall and needed access to his textbooks for quarantine. His roommate was tested in the Health Center shortly after.

Like Githens, Chegwidden was advised a 10-day quarantine. Additionally, he was asked to create a list of those he had been in close contact with — that being within six feet of them, without masks and for more than fifteen minutes. During this process, he was told that if he started showing symptoms on Monday, he had likely contracted COVID-19 two days previous on Saturday. Thus, he was told to only list people he’d been in contact with since Saturday — potentially excluding exposed students if he contracted COVID-19 earlier.

For those that were included on his list, only his roommate was required to be tested, while the rest of them requested testing regardless of symptoms. Only one tested positive, but nonetheless, they were all required to quarantine. When asked about the testing, he explained that, to his understanding, testing positive

would require someone to quarantine for 10 days, while testing negative or not getting tested at all required a 14day quarantine period. Like Chegwidden, his friends lived within 300 miles of campus, so they quarantined at home.

Chegwidden said he did appreciate being in the comforts of his home to recover, but bringing COVID-19 around his family was the most stressful part of the process.

His brother found a friend’s house to live at while he was home, and he spent the car ride leaving the Health Center with a mask on and all the car windows rolled down. Once he was home, he tried to quarantine away from his family members, and luckily, none of them have felt sick since.

Otherwise, his professors were all understanding and he maintained his academics from home. Chegwidden returned to campus on Sept. 4 and has been healthy since.

For students who are unable to drive home, like sophomore Illinois native Sarah Brady, a call from the COVID-19 tracing team meant having to find somewhere to quarantine.

While some of Sarah’s friends could individually quarantine in their apartments, Brady was placed at the Inn for a 14-day period. A Public Safety officer met her at her off-campus apartment to drive her, both of them in masks.

While there, Brady was pleasantly surprised with the Inn. She spoke of newly renovated rooms, a terrace for fresh air, and enough open space to work out. Although lonely, she said she kept up with friends and family over the phone and Zoomed into each of her classes. As a picky eater, she also spoke highly of the food. She would fill out a form every evening to order her three meals for the following day.

Interestingly, Brady explained

Some students, who cannot safely or quickly get home, must quarantine at the Inn at Villanova.

Courtesy of The Inn at Villanova

two situations where she was allowed to leave her room. Aside from her delivered meals, there was a cafe with drinks and snacks for the students inside the Inn. An employee stands at the counter behind a sheet of plexiglass to hand the students whatever they request. Secondly, when her room was being cleaned, Brady was sent to sit in the lobby with her mask on, while employees in full body protection cleaned her room. To her understanding, rooms were cleaned every four days for about 10 minutes.

Sophomore Cassidy King had similar thoughts about the Inn. King had last seen her father on Aug. 12, so whenshe tested positive on Aug. 19, the Health Center had King finish a 14-day quarantine from when she last saw him, meaning she was placed at the Inn for the remaining seven days.

A Public Safety officer picked her up from her dorm to drive her with a large screen between the two of them. Because she had no symptoms, she was not tested. She was not asked to make a close contact list nor was her roommate tested.

King said although she lives roughly 300 miles away from campus, she would have preferred to quarantine at home, but wasn’t aware that was an option. Nonetheless, she made the most of her short time in quarantine. She also raved about the food and participated in her classes through Zoom. Her biggest complaint was feeling isolated while watching her friends experience their first week of sophomore year through her phone. The only other people she saw were the few employees at the cafe or those that cleaned her room.

Like Brady, she didn’t run into any students while she was outside of her room.

Freshman Natalie Monti had an almost identical story to King.

On Aug. 20, Monti’s parents called to inform her that her father tested positive exactly a week after she had seen him last. When she called the Health Center, they told her because her father’s symptoms started within 48 hours of contact with her, they wanted her to quarantine. Campus transportation picked her up on South Campus and drove her to the Inn to quarantine for seven days, bringing her total number of days since contact with her father to 14.

When she asked if she was getting tested, they told her they wouldn’t test her without symptoms. Monti gave her information to the contact tracing team, but they never reached out to her. Additionally, she was told that because her roommate did not have direct contact with her father, her roommate did not need to quarantine.

Monti also gave glowing reviews of the food at the Inn. In fact, her TikTok about the food has been circling around campus. Like the others, she never ran into students at the cafe and was notified on her phone when to leave the room, presumably to avoid students in quarantine coming into contact with each other. She recalled that she sat in the lobby for around 30 minutes.

All that said, it’s important to note that these accounts were from students about their experiences and not from those working in the Health Center implementing regulations.

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

OPINION

The Villanovan | 5

OPINION

Letter to the Editors: Make Election Day a Villanova Holiday Matthew Clarkin Class of 2021

As we enter into the fall and the final stretch of the presidential campaign season, the reality that a national election will be held on November 3rd is starting to settle in.

For most Americans, Election Day can often feel as if it’s just like any other Tuesday. The usual responsibilities of daily life — work, classes, family, etc.

— don’t disappear.

The only difference is that this year, possibly upwards of sixty percent of those citizens who are at least eighteen years old will also have voted by mail-in ballot or will find their way to the voting booth. With so many people planning on participating and with projections from both ends of the political spectrum expecting record-breaking turnout, how can we pretend it’s just a regular Tuesday?

Villanova University prides itself on its values and mission, both of which emphasize the importance of community involvement, “responsible and productive citizenship,” and igniting change in our everyday lives. In the last year, the Student Government Association has worked with various

offices and departments to establish more about what faces our nation in like no other we’ve witnessed in our the #Let’sVoteNova initiative, which is the next four years regardless of who history. We simply cannot let that pass aimed at promoting civic engagement, occupies the Oval Office or Congress. us by. So even if we must still attend organizing voter registration, and pro- We can spend a day rejecting classes, make sure you don’t forget to viding election day information. Clear- vicious, divisive partisanship and emregister to vote and to cast your vote, ly there’s some desire to get involved brace the commonality of our nation’s either in-person or by mail-in. Engage and get-out-the-vote. democratic purpose and principles. in conversations about policy or poli On or before November Villanova can set an example for what tics. Speak up for the issues you believe 3rd, however, there will be dozens of Election Day should and could be for in and lend time to causes or candireasons for Villanovans to choose not our country. dates you support. Do your civic duty to vote or engage. And while some

While it might still look like an and ignite change at the ballot box this of these may be solved by building average Tuesday, this election will be November 3rd. awareness about registration, polling place locations, and the mail-in ballot process, only a resounding celebration of our constitutional right to choose how we are governed can combat the social pressures and downright apathy that affect college students during an election.

While this is an argument for all classes to be cancelled, Election Day this year should by no means be a “day-off.” Making November 3rd a holiday at Villanova would allow students, faculty, staff, and administration the freedom to canvass for a candidate or the flexibility to volunteer as a poll worker. It would provide our community with the opportunity to talk about #Let’sVoteNova has been pushing for greater student participation in the U.S. election. the issues that matter to us as indiCourtesy of The Villanovan viduals and as a campus and to learn

Bursting Bubbles: Professional Sports During the Pandemic Jacob Artz Staff Writer

The old cliché that “records are meant to be broken” can easily be applied to the short term bubble format of major sports leagues.

Bubbles are meant to be bursted.

The amazement of the crowd when an athlete makes a tremendous play or the booing when the referee makes a bad call are sounds that we are used to hearing at sporting events. We love to feel the energy or momentum changes in a game if a late score is tallied or if there’s a massive mistake that hurts the team’s chances of winning. We plan our weekends around football games in the fall, and the same goes

for basketball and hockey games in the winter. In the summer, we attend baseball games to relax and enjoy America’s favorite pastime.

Some sense of normalcy was achieved by the National Football League when it began the 2020 season Thursday night when the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Houston Texans, 34-21. This was a beautiful sight to see; I felt as though I could rise and fall with the crowd’s momentum and seesaw of emotions.

Even NBC’s play-by-play announcer, Al Michaels, had to clarify that artificial crowd noise was not being used, and the loud cheering was from the minuscule 17,000 in attendance.

Many other leagues and sports, however, have chosen to have no fans and have locked their ath-

Kansas City Chiefs fans gathered at Arrowhead Stadium with safety precautions in place.

Courtesy of The Associated Press

letes, staff and trainers in bubbles.

These bubbles are where we have seen virtual fans at NBA playoff games, heard artificial crowd noises during NHL playoff games and witnessed cutouts of people in the stands of MLB games. By the way, these people pay to see themselves get plunked by another crushed homerun.

This bubble does not have to be this strict or this prolonged. The NBA has set up shop in Walt Disney World, where the original 22 teams were split into hotels. The games and practices are held at the ESPN Worldwide Sports Complex, which hosts three courts for games and another seven for practices, according to sportsrush.com. The only people that can be there are coaches, staff, select reporters, commentators and of course, the virtual fans. It looks incredibly dumb on television, and it looks like they are surrendering to a virus that is steadily trending downwards by the great efforts of the American people.

The National Hockey League executed a similar venture in which all the Eastern Conference teams were staged in Toronto, Ontario, while all of the Western conference teams were placed in Edmonton, Alberta. The Philadelphia Flyers made it to Game 7 of the second round, but besides the three overtime game winners, the games felt awkward when the artificial crowd noise of fans cheering or booing would come in late, or simply sounded wrong all together. Playoff hockey games feed off the fans energy; the level of intensity is just not the same from the fan’s perspective.

The positive aspect for both leagues is that there are seldom positive cases, and no stoppages or postponements have been necessary because of the virus. The only time

players have been held out have been for violations of NBA bubble protocols, such as when sixth man for the Los Angeles Clippers Lou Williams visited a gentleman’s club and was mandated to quarantine for 10 days.

Major League Baseball has written a different story; they have not had any fans, but they have experienced multiple series of postponements, including the Phillies having to play the Miami Marlins seven times in five days this past week. The Marlins irresponsibly played a game against the Phillies in the first week of the season, despite knowing that they had multiple players with positive test results. The reason for the regionalized schedule and teams being able to play at their home fields is because, according to CBS Sports, the face of the MLB, Mike Trout, said it would be “pretty crazy” to be locked up in hotels and not see their families for months.

Baseball’s cut outs and tarps placed on the seats is starting to get old; baseball relies on the family friendly atmosphere to promote its product.

After reading all of this, what is the solution? It’s easy. Allow fans back into the games with safety precautions in place. A family can sit together, and others can close off a seat or two in between the fans, with masks on. People take risks everyday; we have shopped in stores with plenty of strangers or worked closely beside others during the worst of the pandemic. I am certain that many people, including myself, would take the small risk of attending a sporting event, in the same way we attend mass and college classes with masks and social distancing measures.

Implementing these procedures will allow us to take one step closer to defeating this virus and returning to life as we knew it.

OPINION

6 | The Villanovan

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.

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

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.

AI: The Massive Problem No One is Talking About Mark Rossi Staff Writer

When people think about the things that could bring about the end of humanity, the short list tends to include global thermonuclear war, asteroid impacts or deadly pandemics (sounds familiar). Of course, these are not the only existential threats faced by humanity. The people of some developing nations are sadly more familiar with other issues: drought, famine and socio-political collapse. Yet there is one threat that humanity faces that is far more insidious than the others, as it is right in our faces: uncontrolled Artificial Intelligence (AI).

I’m not the only one sounding the alarm about the potential dangers of AI; Elon Musk, world renowned engineer-entrepreneur, has repeatedly done the same. At the National Governors Conference in 2017, Musk said, “AI is a fundamental risk to the existence of human civilization in a way that car accidents, airplane crashes, faulty drugs or bad food were [sic] not.”

For Musk and others, like Bill Gates and Stephen Hawking, proactive measures to prevent a disaster are better than reactive measures after one. In fact, Musk founded his nonprofit OpenAI for the purpose of ensuring that “artificial general intelligence (AGI) — by which we

mean highly autonomous systems that outperform humans at most economically valuable work — benefits all of humanity.”

But what exactly is AI? What is AGI? What’s the difference? Simply put, AI is used in reference to machines that can perform tasks that mimic those of the human mind, like solving problems or learning new information. Self-driving cars are a great example of AI’s potential use in daily life; Tesla, Google and Uber are all expanding their reach into this new market.

While this artificial narrow intelligence (ANI) can be used to streamline a specific process and thus improve quality of life for both businesses and individuals, artificial general intelligence (AGI) has the potential to do much more, both good and bad.

Artificial general intelligence is any AI that would have the capability to learn, interpret and apply knowledge about the world in a manner exactly akin to, or even better than, a human being. It is important to note that AGI does not currently exist. It is, however, the aspiration of many AI developers, and many organizations have dedicated themselves to the task (the most high-profile of these being Google’s DeepMind AI project).

With the added advantages of instantaneous calculation and perfect memory, AGI would be able to

replace almost any human task. While AGI-operated machines would initially be extremely expensive, as a matter of course the technology would become cheaper and cheaper over time, eventually allowing AGI to completely replace human labor. This is where things could get interesting.

At this crossroads, one path leads to utopia and the other to dystopia, or even Armageddon. In the utopian vision, AI acts to benefit humanity, freeing human labor and time across nations and cultures. With human labor almost completely freed up and leveraging the power of advanced AI, technological breakthroughs would occur at an exponential rate and the global standard of living would follow suit. Many of the world’s largest problems would cease to exist as new technologies and means of employing them are developed.

The dystopian road is quite the opposite; AGI could develop to the point where its own level of intelligence increases exponentially. The AI gathers information, using it to create more and more knowledge. It is not hard to see how AGI could quickly become more intelligent than humanity; this is a phenomenon referred to as the “singularity.” A particular problem at this point is ensuring that the new super intelligent AI remains friendly to humanity by means of ensuring that the AI’s goal structures do not change;

a rapidly developing AI could easily change its goals from the original, beneficial set to a new set of goals that may be dismissive of or even detrimental to man. Even with these and other precautions, there exists a multitude of ways that humanity could easily lose control over a super intelligent AI, and beyond that point, the future is unclear.

So when, exactly, might we expect such super intelligent AI, given the current rate of technological development? Well, that is anyone’s guess.

Elon Musk has said that he believes AI could become more intelligent than humanity by 2025. Others, including Ray Kurzweil, believe it could happen closer to 2045. In a series of polls conducted by AI researchers Nick Bostrom and Vincent Müller, the median prediction fell between 2040 and 2050.

The point of all of this is to recognize that AI, while being an immensely promising emergent technology, also poses extreme (read: existential) risks at the far end of the development horizon. I do not intend to come across as a luddite, trying to dissuade further development for fear of one of many possible outcomes.

However, it is necessary to note that the risks are real and that it would serve us well as a society to temper our obsession with whether we can with a consideration of whether we should.

Killing the Spotted Lantern- Letter from the Editors: flies: A Communal Catharsis Get Registered to Vote Tina Aron Staff Writer

2020 has been a rough year, leaving us to depend on any moments of happiness. It comes down to the small things that bring us joy, and sometimes that small thing is a spotted lanternfly.

Spotted lanternflies, the detrimental invasive species that arrived on campus a few years ago, are the embodiment of chaos. They work to destroy our native species while simultaneously landing and flying into unsuspecting passers-by. With no known natural predator, these insects breed and produce without control.

They are practically everywhere you turn, whether they’re littered through the West tunnel or harassing innocent bystanders. While killing the lanternflies is a good way to fight their environmental impact, it also works to bring the community together in a shared cathartic experience.

“The camaraderie you will experience upon killing a lanternfly in the presence of others is truly second to none,” sophomore Eleanor Dalass said when speaking about how stu-

dents work together to step on these invaders,

While some of us face the moral dilemma of letting insects live in their natural environment, others rise above this and realize the importance of killing these bugs.

“Lanternflies are an invasive species, and many Villanova students come together to kill them; it feels like a team effort to defeat the evil invading lanternflies,” another sophomore student added. “They are the only bugs I don’t feel guilty about killing actually.”

I am happy to say that I go to a school where no one takes a second look when someone goes out of their way to chase down a lanternfly, but rather cheers each other on. Villanova students are known for their service, and killing these bugs is ultimately our service to the environment.

Stepping on lanternflies is something small we can do to make a difference, while simultaneously uniting against a common cause. It shows that when working together, truly anything is possible. Sophomore Hillary O’Neill says it best: “It’s something that unites people: a common purpose.”

The November 3rd election is quickly approaching, and the dealine to get registered to vote in Pennsylvania is coming even faster. The deadline to register to vote for this coming election is Oct. 19, which means that, at the time of publishing, there is just over a month left to get registered.

It is important to remember that students are able to register in Pennsylvania even if they are not permanent residents. Simpy use Villanova’s address (800 E Lancaster Ave., Villanova PA 19085) and write in the name of your dorm in the Apartment section of the form.

Registering is simple and can be done online using votespa.com. If you do not live in Pennsylvania or otherwise do not have a Pennsylvania driver’s license, make sure that you know your social security number. In this case, it may be easier to print the physical form and mail it in.

Mail in voting is also available for the first time in Pennsylvania if you think it may be easier to vote by mail or may not have the time on Election Day to make it to the polls.

Unlike voting absentee, there is no excuse required to vote by mail in Pennsylvania. If you would like a

mail in ballot for this election, you can request one through the same website you would use for registration, votespa.com. There is also an option to apply for a mail in ballot at the end of the online voter registration application if you are already registering to vote.

Getting registered to vote is the easiest and most basic thing you can do to enact the change you wish to see in our country. Every election is incredibly important, and if we want to make sure that student voices are heard in Washington, it is imperative that we get registered to vote and turn out to vote on Election Day, November 3rd.

If you are not registered and are above the age of 18 (or will be

by November 3rd), you need to get registered as soon as you can. Further, make sure you are checking with friends, or even family members, to ensure that they are registered as well. You will be surprised at the amount of students who aren’t yet registered if you start asking around; do not simply assume that your friends are registered to vote because you’ve spoken about politics with them.

CULTURE

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Book Buzz: The Elena Rouse Staff Writer

Grant Carter Co-Culture Editor

Get the inside scoop on some of the latest novels to hit the shelves, with some of the most highly anticipated books covering a wide range of genres, authors and interests.

If You Need a Good Drama Fix….

“American Royals” (2019) by Katherine McGee.

“American Royals” has all the dystopian drama anyone could need. The story follows four characters involved with the American royal family. What is the American royal family? Well, after the Revolutionary War, George Washington was not asked to be president, but instead was asked to be king. This story goes off the idea that Washington didn’t refuse a new hierarchy and instead started an Americanized royal government. The book has everything one could possibly want in a drama read: forbidden romance, betrayal, secrets and friendship. There are twists at every turn, intertwined with fast paced intensity, so this story is not one to miss. Plus, the highly anticipated sequel “Majesty” was just released, so a continuation of the royal drama is at one’s disposal.

The Villanovan | 7

CULTURE

Novels to Look for on the Shelves

ily. When Emira is babysitting and gets approached by a police officer in a grocery store for being African American with a white child, the worlds of Emira and the Chamberlain family are forever altered.

Extremely relevant as it is touching, this novel provides insights on racism, womanhood and adulthood all in a span of one highly popular novel. A pick for Reese Witherspoon’s book club, this piece is essential to read to continue developing an understanding of the ways of the world and what needs change.

If You Want to Face the Big Questions… “21 Lessons for the 21st Century” (2018) by Yuvul Noah Harari.

gets asked to uncover the truth about what really happened to the famous Lula Laundry, a model who everyone assumed committed suicide. Now, Strike and his new temp, Robin, must dive headfirst into the world of celebrities, family secrets and police push back to uncover the twisted truth.

Featuring in-depth character development and a riveting mystery, this novel, along with the others in the series, is an ideal choice for a mind-bending mystery fix. The fifth novel in the series, “Lethal White,” is set to be released this month.

If You Want a New Conspiracy to

Uncover… “Killers of the Flower Moon” (2017) by Jon Krakauer.

In 1920s Osage County, Oklahoma, a sinister conspiracy was unfolding around the area’s newfound oil reserves and the local Native Americans residing on top of them. The events exposed deep-seated sentiments of money, murder and racial injustice, which would eventually conceive what is now known as the FBI. Although Krakauer’s novel first hit the shelves in 2017, it was recently confirmed to be the subject of Martin Scorsese’s next feature film, starring the likes of Robert DeNiro and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Having already presented his take on the distant past and future in his best sellers “Sapiens” and “Homo Deus,” Harari turns his gaze to the present. Comprising several essays about a vast range of topics, “21 Lessons for the 21st Century” has already become a cult classic for history lovers, addressing some of the most prevalent questions as the world proceeds further past the turn of the millenia. This poignant and insightful take on modern discourse is written for readers of any age and background, making for an instant favorite read. Every chapter is certain to introduce ideas that will leave a lasting impression on your perception of the world and will likely make you feel smarter as a result.

If You Want to Gain Some Perspective… “Such a Fun Age” (2019) by Kiley Reid.

If You Need a Mystery to Solve…

“The Cuckoo’s Calling” (2013) by Robert Galbraith.

This comedic yet poignant novel speaks on the issues of racism and privilege in the United States.

The novel follows Emira, an English major and part-time babysitter for the upper class Chamberlain fam-

Penned under “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling’s latest pseudonym, Robert Galbraith, this story follows private detective Cormoran Strike, who is struggling to make ends meet. That is, until he

Entries from Robert Galbraith’s “The Cormoran Strike” Series Courtesy of Elena Rouse

Drive-In Concerts at Citizens Bank Parking Lot in Philly Julia Stanisci Staff Writer

University students at a recent concert.

Courtesy of Laura Tschatschula

If you are a lover of live music, hopefully you already know about the awesome event series that was launched in our very own City of Brotherly Love.

Live-Nation Entertainment hosted a drive-in concert series in the Citizens Bank Parking Lot, known as “Live-In DriveIn,” which was dubbed as one of the biggest musical events since COVID-19. Shows ran from Aug. 16 to Sept. 7, and it was a lovely way to bring home the summer.

The Citizens Bank stadium parking lot was turned into a lively, musical and fun stage suited for a maximum of 850 cars, with four people allowed per vehicle. Concertgoers were required to stay in their cars unless wearing a mask to use the bathroom (porta potties with wash stations outside) and music was transmitted through a drive-in movie style FM radio dial.

Refreshments and mer-

chandise were available through an online ordering system and ticketing was completely contactless, scanned through closed car windows. Overall, the events were socially-distanced and managed effectively and smoothly, allowing for an incredible listening experience.

Sophomore Laura Tschatchula and friends saw AJR live on Aug. 20. Tschatchula reported that the experience was awesome.

“AJR was super creative in the way they made it all happen, Tschatchula said. “Everyone seemed just happy to be at a concert again.”

Overall, the series was a huge hit for those in the Philadelphia area and beyond, and we hope to see more from Live Nation soon.

With COVID-19 still rampant in America and social distancing required in order for us to move forward, drive-in movies and concerts like these are growing in popularity, so do not worry if you missed this series.

8 | The Villanovan

CULTURE

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Freshman Life at the University During COVID-19 Ally Weitzman Staff Writer

Starting the first year of college is hard. One must adapt to his or her newfound independence, while also being thrown into a completely unfamiliar environment. However, the Class of 2024 faces a whole new challenge: acclimating to college during a pandemic. While many other college students are experiencing their first taste of undergraduate life solely through Zoom, the University freshman community is living on campus with COVID-19 restrictions.

With mostly online classes, constant mask wearing and limits on the size of gatherings, it is easy to imagine the social struggles freshmen are facing. How can one feel a part of the University’s community with all these obstacles in place? Does the Villanova pride that we all know and love ring true for our new freshmen classmates?

Although the restrictions make it challenging to connect with others, Maddy Holobinko, a freshman from New Jersey, believes the current campus atmosphere is very welcoming and spirited. She considers the University’s

Community First campaign to be the reason for this, as it brings a sense of unity among students. She recognizes that while inconvenient, the restrictions are necessary to live this new normal.

“College has always been super intimidating for me,” Holobinko said. “I thought the COVID situation would ruin it, but honestly college is so much better than I thought it would be. It’s awesome to know that even during such a hard time, things can still work out.”

When asked if there is anything that could be done to improve her experience, Holobinko was adamant that the school is doing a fantastic job with the circumstances. Between Orientation and CAT events, she appreciates the school’s commitment to the students’ happiness beyond the classroom. However, she does wish that club sports, in any capacity, were still active.

“The varsity teams get to practice,” she said. “I wish we could have that because soccer has always been something I’ve done. Knowing that other people are practicing, I wish we could do something, even if it’s not a lot.”

On the other hand, Zakai Bradshaw, a freshman from New

Stanford Hall, one of the six South Campus residence halls for freshmen Courtesy of Villanova University

York, describes his experience as “strange.”

“I don’t know what it was supposed to be like or actually would’ve been without COVID restrictions, but it feels awkwardly distant,” Bradshaw said. “Getting to meet people has been okay, but it would’ve definitely been easier without social distancing.”

However, Bradshaw is hopeful that once student organizations truly start up again for the semester, he will be able to con-

nect with more people and have a college experience that is more like his previous expectations.

Although they have different thoughts on the matter, both Holobinko and Bradshaw agree that they feel safe on campus and applaud the University for its extensive planning for its return to campus. In the end, both are hopeful that Villanovans will keep in mind their desire to stay on campus and truly be able to put ‘Community First.’

Still Woozy Talks His New Single, Artistry and More Ryan Weicht Staff Writer

The ever unique and steadily growing artist Sven Gamsky, better known as Still Woozy, returned to his music, releasing a new single this past Thursday, Sept. 10. The track, titled “BS,” explores a more passive side of Still Woozy. While still marked by Gamsky’s psychedelic bedroom pop style, the track is less flashy than some of his other work. However, the song is no less compelling than any of Still Woozy’s previous work, as a soothing, muffled guitar drives the tune while listeners float along with it. Gamsky sings softly about his desires and struggles with falling in love, easing listeners into a sleepy haze, while still providing thoughtful sentiment throughout.

Accompanying the single was a music video, in which the singer rides through a myriad of scenic locations atop different modes of transportation.

Still Woozy has kept busy in 2020 despite the pandemic, as he also released a song and a music video in mid-April. Though he has yet to release an album, Still Woozy continues to blaze his own path through mixing and matching acoustic and electronic sound, while infusing tracks with a variety of short noises.

At a virtual press conference organized by music group °1824, Still Woozy shared what he has been up to and his future with music.

Gamsky began by discussing his future productions. The singer said his new single is not necessarily indicative of what is to come.

“I always try to make some-

Cover of Still Woozy’s single “BS,” which came out on September 10 Courtesy of Spotify

thing that keeps my interest, but there are all these different things I want to try,” Gamsky said. “It’s just a part of a whole picture.”

He elaborated on his future art, talking about one of his biggest inspirations: his fiancé, Ami Cooks.

Gamsky glowed as he discussed the ways that Cooks incorporates art into everything she does. The partnership is not only a romantic one, but also a creative one, as Cooks creates the art for all of Still Woozy’s singles. Gamsky admires the

thoughtfulness with which Cooks uses when making art.

Commenting on the pandemic, Gamsky said that he has been given time to work on his music.

“Usually I would be on tour, and I’m not the kind of person who can do more than one thing at a time—I’m so tunnel visioned,” he said.

Gamsky also commented on his relationship with his music, saying it is a coping mechanism for

him. The singer discussed how he creates in order to work through his thoughts. He hoped that his music could provide his fans the same connection to the feelings he experiences.

On the subject of self-producing, Gamsky explained why he still chooses to create on his own even while gaining traction as an artist.

“I love playing with sounds and textures,” he said. “It’s so much fun to make beats and create something out of nothing. Building from the skeleton outward, it always blows my mind a little bit.

I’ve also curated my own taste over the years — you would be able to tell if I released something that wasn’t produced by me.”

Elaborating more on gaining traction, Gamsky also gave advice for new up-and-coming artists.

“Focus less on getting big or getting famous and focus more on the music,” he said. “Get that to a point where you feel like it’s on the same level as everything out there.”

Still Woozy has also often been included in the discussion of “genre-bending” or “genre-less” music. Gamsky commented on his feelings about these labels and genres in general, saying that he could never describe his own music. The singer has a variety of influences that fit into many genres, and because of this, he never wants to get stuck in just one.

“I have so many ideas and I want to have enough space to explore,” he said.

Perhaps the most relatable thing the artist mentioned was his desire to return to live concerts.

Gamsky discussed how much he loved the energy of the crowd and how he missed being able to sing and dance within the pit of fans.

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

CULTURE

The Villanovan | 9

Students Report Strange Dreams During Pandemic Grant Carter Co-Culture Editor

Amidst the chaos of 2020, something strange has reportedly taken grip of the American subconscious.

According to an article published in April by National Geographic, some studies conducted by psychologists and researchers of various fields have collectively found that since the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, another unexpected infliction has become even more widespread: remarkably vivid and, in most cases, absurd dreams.

If real-life events are any indication of what might unfold in one’s head while sleeping, 2020 itself is certainly the ideal catalyst for strange dreams. From raging natural disasters to whisperings of ‘murder hornets’ and oncoming world wars, there is no shortage of content for the American subconscious. In regards to this, National Geographic argued, “Science has long suggested that dream content and emotions are connected to wellbeing while we’re awake. Bizarre dreams laden with symbolism allow some dreamers to overcome intense memories or everyday psychological stressors within the safety of their subconscious.”

According to the American Psychological Association, it is widely

that held dreams are not just reflections of personal stress but can also serve as a kind of ephemeral coping mechanism. Considering the plight of the average student in 2020, including those at Villanova, this is not hard to believe.

As though it were an additional symptom of the pandemic, weird dreams have not been a limited phenomenon. University students have largely not been an exception. Several anonymous respondents from the University have reported themes of isolation and feeling cramped, an easy parallel to the stay-at-home mandates that first began to be issued as the virus surfaced this spring. Some even described noticeable changes in sleep patterns and resultant feelings of stress and anxiety.

Fourth year student Kiel Kittleson, who tested positive for COVID-19 in March, said, “I definitely had some strange dreams early on, but I haven’t remembered a single one of them since testing positive.”

Regardless of the exact correlation between the unpredictability of these last several months and the inner workings of students’ minds, this will undoubtedly go down as one the most memorable periods in recent history, for better or worse. It seems that for now, strange dreams are yet an ongoing chapter in the cycle of absurdity that is 2020.

Courtesy of Emma Kirchner

A Film Pitted Against the Universe: “Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe” Matthew Gaetano Staff Writer

This year has been a slow one for the realm of film, with few movies of true significance being released each month. Those films that do hold value have been relegated, mostly, to debuting across various streaming platforms. While this setup may not provide the same butter-scented, velvet-curtained atmosphere of movie theaters, it was a necessary step in maintaining the film industry throughout 2020.

Exclusive content has always been a hallmark of streaming services with notable examples being, Netflix’s, “Stranger Things,” or “The Mandalorian,” on Disney+. Yet, with 2020’s distinct social landscape, now has become an optimal time, more than any, for streaming services to provide exclusive content, and to capitalize on the disrupted film industry. Disney has done exactly that, with the fan-favorite animated series, “Phineas and Ferb,” making its return after concluding five years ago in 2015. The show arrives again in the form of a new movie, “Candace Against the Universe,” as an exclusive piece of content on the highly-successful steaming service, Disney+.

With the commercial incentive of releasing this film, the movie begs the question of whether or not it will live up to the quality of the original series. As far as cartoons go, “Phineas and Ferb” was very formulaic. Each episode entailed the titular characters constructing a spectacular invention that their sister, Candace, sought to reveal to their mom. This was done with

the hope that her brothers would be punished for their creative shenanigans. Each episode was backed by a story of the main family’s pet, Perry the Platypus, doubling as a secret agent and attempting to foil the pseudo-malevolent plots of Dr. Doofenshmirtz. Most, if not all, of these plots saw Dr. Doofenshmirtz attempting to utilize an inator (a machine created by Doofenshmirtz in an attempt to take over the Tri-state area) as revenge for some form of comedically melancholy childhood trauma. In the end of each episode, Doofenshmirtz’s plans would be thwarted by Perry the Platypus and the corresponding inator would be used to hide any trace of Phineas and Ferb’s invention of the day. All of this happens just in time for the primary characters’ mother to miss out on witnessing her sons’ latest fantastical creation. Though it was simple in plot, the cartoon delivered in abundance with catchy songs and witty humor; at least it seemed that way watching as a kid.

Now, the film itself (like the other “Phineas and Ferb” related movies and specials) strays from the predictable episodic format. The story, which takes Candace as the lead in place of her brothers, is simple. Tired of being overshadowed

by Phineas and Ferb, Candace begins to question her own self-worth until being captured by aliens, and being revealed as their “Chosen One.” With a newfound purpose, Candace grows content with her alien lifestyle, while her brothers seek to return her to earth. On their quest to retrieve their sister, Phineas and Ferb are accompanied by a plethora of recurring characters.

Among them is Isabella (a self-con-

fident girl scout), Buford (a lovably ignorant bully), Baljeet (a squeakyvoiced nerd), Vanessa (the moody daughter of Dr. Doofenshmirtz), Dr. Doof himself, and Perry the Platypus. Upon reaching Candace, the group learns that she doesn’t wish to leave her newfound role as “Chosen One,” which causes conflict between the protagonists until she inevitably makes up with her family and friends at the end of the film. Candace, of course, does not have a change of heart about her role until realizing the dark secret of the alien species she has allied herself with.

The story, though simple, has potential, especially in the hands of provenly-capable showrunners Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh. However, after watching “Candace Against the Universe” unfold, it seems the two fell short on delivering this continuation of their beloved series. The characters are kept consistent to the original cartoon, but the humor falls flat for the most part. There are a few lines from Dr. Doofenshmirtz that elicit at the very least a smirk, in addition to a very stupid usage of onamotopoeia at the end that had me laughing. These instances being set aside, the comedy was all less clever and the songs all less catchy than that of most “Phineas and Ferb” related projects. Part of me believes I’m simply too old for the humor here, let alone the movie in general. Yet, the movie contains a number of references to the original show and deals some heavy damage to the fourth wall, both of these things seemingly intended for the audience that grew up watching the series.

A scene from the film, released on Aug. 28 Courtesy of IndieWire

The juxtaposition of these factors leads me to wonder: who this movie is for? It’s too dull and childish for the audience of college-aged and older viewers who have a fondness for the classic cartoon. Also, I doubt it would have the same appeal to younger audiences that didn’t know the original show. With that being said, I can’t recommend the movie to older fans looking for a nostalgic and fun time. Additionally, even though the movie may be appropriate for younger audiences, I can’t seem to recommend it to them when the classic show and the much better animated feature, “Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension,” are available on the very same streaming service. Ultimately, “Candace Against The Universe,” and its messages of selfworth sought to appeal to everyone and in doing so appealed to no one. It seems that without a target audience, rather than Candace, the movie has pitted itself against the universe.

SPORTS

10 | The Villanovan

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

SPORTS

Action is Greater than Words: The UNITAS Initiative Meghann Morhardt Staff Writer

The UNITAS Initiative is a program that was developed by the Athletics Department in 2017 to bring attention to diversity and equality issues, as well as to give the student-athletes a platform to share their stories and experiences. Over the course of the last few months, however, the program has grown and taken more action than ever in light of recent events surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement and racial injustice.

The UNITAS mission states: “We can do more. We will do more.

We are committed to meaningful collaboration so that we may better craft an athletic department that is welcoming and nurturing for all of our student-athletes.”

The Athletics Department realizes that Black student-athletes on this campus have unique experiences and need a platform to share them and bring to light the injustice that they face.

This program involves all student-athletes and coaches, but the department has also assembled a Leadership Committee that is made up of athletics staff, student-athletes, a few university staff members from the Office of Intercultural Affairs, a few from the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and a communications

professor.

Having this committee will provide University and Athletics staff the opportunity to listen to and learn from Black student-athletes and their experiences. One of the goals of this initiative is to give these athletes more equal opportunities to stand in leadership positions and use their voices for change.

Three student-athletes that are a part of the leadership committee are Sanaä Barnes (Women’s Volleyball/Track and Field), Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree (Men’s Basketball) and Danielle Burns (Women’s Track and Field), all of whom are also founders of the student-led group The 13%. While The 13% is a separate organization from UNITAS, the two groups have similar goals and will work together to take action in the future.

UNITAS is based on seven core principles: Listen and Learn, Pray, Educate, Invest, Collaborate, Diversify and Lead. The group sees these as the building blocks to creating real change and works to take action specific to each principle.

Some of these actions include student-athletes sharing stories on Jay Wright’s podcast, hosting forums and meetings with staff and athletes, fundraising for programs on campus that focus on diversity and inclusion, the Let’s Vote Nova campaign, holding student-athlete masses to unite the department through prayer and

many others.

This initiative has created a platform for student-athletes to take on more of a leadership role when it comes to racial issues as well as fostering the tough conversations that need to happen in order to create change. This initiative will continue to grow and expand, especially with the strong student-athletes they have placed on the Leadership Committee.

Villanova Athletics is com-

mitted to making change and taking action. Like the mission statement says, “Action is greater than words.

The responsibility lies with all of us.”

To learn more about the UNITAS Initiative and any upcoming events that they are hosting, you can visit its new page on the Villanova Athletics website, which highlights its mission on campus and goals for Black student-athletes competing for Villanova.

The UNITAS logo is being used to spread the message about this new initiative.

Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

Women’s Rowing Begins Off the Water Training Madison Burke Co-Sports Editor

The Villanova women’s rowing team typically practices and competes in both the fall and spring seasons. However, due to COVID-19, fall competitions have been postponed, and the team is unable to practice on the water.

The cancelled fall season leaves them with one option: land practices on the ergometer, or erg.

An erg is a rowing machine, found in most gyms, that simulates the same motion used when rowing a boat. A treadmill is to running as an erg is to rowing; both are monotonous and cardiovascular-dependent. Nevertheless, it is the best way to get into rowing shape

The team training for the spring season last year before getting sent home.

Courtesy of @novarowing Instagram

without being in boats. Athletes other than rowers use ergs for a few minutes because they are a wonderful training tool. However, the rowing team is on the machine for one to two hours a day, rather than just a few minutes.

Rowing programs around the country are struggling with training plans due to the inability to get in a boat. Most teams will be staying on land until getting the all-clear from their athletic departments, considering social distancing is difficult in a boat with nine athletes stuck at arms distance from eachother.

The University is no different; the team has implemented strict policies and uses training pods to keep athletes and coaches safe while on the erg.

Training pods are made of three to four athletes. All pods must socially distance from one another since erging is a stationary activity.

Workout and practice times vary each day to limit the number of athletes training at once and to allow the coaches to stay socially distanced from the group.

This is a particularly strange set up for the rowing team because, usually, athletes are close together, in sync with each other and occasionally cheering one another on. A coxswain, whose main job is to give calls to rowers, is now six feet away but still trying to hype up the team.

Many sports teams and professional athletes are adjusting to new COVID-19 regulations, and that

means finding new ways to keep motivated in these distanced times.

For the University rowing team, like professional athletes around the world, Zoom meetings are a difficult adjustment when a team is used to seeing each other in person everyday.

Although facing similar struggles, college athletes do not have the same resources as professional competitors. Student athletes cannot go into a bubble and practice without masks with their teammates. Collegiate athletes are on campus with thousands of other young students who are all looking to continue their education and undergraduate experience in the best way possible during these restricted times.

We have seen with plenty of other universities that the struggles of returning to school in the midst of a global pandemic is immensly dangerous. As of right now, the University’s dedication to The CARITAS Commitment has been successful and hopefully will allow for the semester to continue on campus through November.

Student-athetes can hope that their sport will resume in the spring.

All athletes at the University are hoping to return to campus and move forward with a somewhat normal spring season. The rowing team will continue to workout on land, but athletes have their fingers crossed in hopes of returning to the Schuylkill River to practice for a possible race soon.

SPORTS

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

The Villanovan | 11

Golf Team to Host Fundraiser and Tournament in Support of The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation Andrew Brassini Staff Writer

On Sept. 26 and 27, the Villanova Men’s Golf Team will play in an exhibition tournament for charity at Radnor County Country Club. Junior golfer Danny Dougherty came up with the idea to raise money for The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation.

While the tournament was originally scheduled for the spring and was canceled due to the pandemic, Dougherty was determined to follow through with the event and was able to reschedule it for the fall.

Dougherty is a student in the College of Arts and Sciences and is from nearby Wilmington, Del. He is a local kid with Villanova ties, as both his father and uncles are Villanova alumni.

Dougherty has been a fixture on the golf team since his arrival to campus and had a 77.37 stroke average last season, his sophomore year.

The Delaware native wants those skills to be used to help others, leading to the creation of this B+ event.

The tournament will be in the form of a friendly golf competition between the members of the Villanova golf team. Donators are able to pledge a certain amount of money per birdie made during the tournament. Donations can be made on the Birdies for B+ website, and all donations go to the B+ Foundation to aid in the fight against childhood cancer.

On the website, supporters can submit donations, track the score of the golfers live, read live updates from the course and learn more about the B+ Foundation.

“The B+ Foundation really hits home for me because the parent who originally started the foundation is from my hometown of Wilmington, Delaware,” Dougherty said in regards to his inspiration for the charity tournament.

The B+ Foundation was created in honor of Andrew McDonough, a 14-year-old athlete and straight-A student who passed away suddenly from Leukemia in 2007.

Being a young athlete from the same town as Andrew, Dougherty had the idea to combine his love of golf and his drive to help others to plan this event for the B+ Foundation.

The message on the Birdies for B+ website states, “Our team is joining The B+ Foundation to fight childhood cancer because 46 kids are told they have cancer every school day. Spread the word and help us collect donations to beat our team goal and to beat childhood cancer.

Please donate to the individual who messaged you or donate to the team’s overall fund.”

“Unfortunately, due to the COVID situation, it will be a spectator free event,” Dougherty explained.

“People who want to donate and track the event can get updates from our website, and from the Villanova

Golf Team’s various social media accounts.”

While the pandemic has made it exceedingly difficult to organize events such as this competition, Danny is confident this charity tournament is the right move to aid The B+ Foundation during these turbulent

times.

Dougherty and his teammates are excited to get back on the course, while also raising money for a good cause. Head to the Birdies for B+ website to donate, gather more information on the event and the foundation.

The Andrew McDonough Foundation has chapter across the country.

Courtesy of @BePositiveFdn Facebook

2020-21 College Basketball Season to Start on Nov. 25?

Alex Tantum Staff Writer

Will there be a college basketball season? As Villanovans, this is a question that is weighing heavily on many of our minds. We’ve already seen the NCAA football season altered, with conferences making different decisions regarding their scheduling. At the FCS level, conferences such as the CAA cancelled their season, which resulted in no football for the University.

However, as of now, conferences such as the SEC, ACC and Big 12 are opting to continue their seasons, which seems to be a good sign for the chances of a basketball season.

While NCAA basketball for 2020-21 does not seem to be in jeopardy of being cancelled at this point, there are high levels of uncertainty as to how this season will work. As we move closer to the beginning of the season in early November, more insight into scheduling and logistics have slowly been coming out.

Last year, the full Villanova basketball schedule was announced on Sept. 5, with the season officially beginning Nov. 5 against Army; as of press time, the schedule for this year has yet to have been announced. Despite some push to keep Nov. 10 as the scheduled start date for the season, the NCAA oversight committees have pro-

Questions on whether March Madness will occur sparks nostalgic ‘Cats victories.

Courtesy of @NovaMBB Instagram

posed Nov. 25 as the start date. The Division I Council is scheduled to meet on Sept. 16 and will vote on this proposal. Nothing is officially set at this time, but the University is anticipating at least two non-conference games.

As Jon Rothstein reported on Sept. 8, the Big East and Big 12 are still looking to play their matchups for this season, which would mean that Villanova plays Texas at some point. Additionally, the University is currently scheduled to play Virginia on Dec. 22 at Madison Square Garden, which could potentially be a top-five matchup.

If the season begins on Nov. 25 as proposed, the amount of uncertainty with less than three months to its beginning would be unprecedented.

How many out of conference games will be played? Will there be some version of a bubble?

How many teams will be in the NCAA tournament? How will the NCAA ensure that players remain safe? Answers to these questions will have to come in the months ahead for the season to occur and they have been slowly trickling out over roughly the past month.

The NCAA has created a COVID-19 Medical Advisory Group, which will help create a plan to keep student athletes in all sports as safe as possible. As for non-conference games, the Big Ten recently reported that they want to play them, and the Big 12 and Big East are planning to go through with their “Challenge” games.

Same as non-conference

games, there still is hope that opening season tournaments, which usually have some extremely entertaining games, will be able to occur, perhaps in a “bubble” setting.

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame sent a detailed pitch to programs for plans to host a tournament including at least 32 games and involving at least 16 teams between Dec. 9 and 20.

Other events, such as the Empire Classic tournament, which involved Villanova, Baylor, Michigan and NC State, could possibly move their games to the Hall of Fame as well.

In terms of the ultimate point of the season, “March Madness,” Jon Rothstein reported on Sept. 9 that the ACC was proposing that every single Division I team (about 350) make the NCAA tournament. However, that idea was quickly shot down, as NCAA SVP of basketball Dan Gavitt stated that, “at this time we are not working on any contingency plan that involves expanding the tournament field.” Just like practically everything else involving the 2020-21 season, there does not seem to be a plan in place yet for how the tournament will be safely conducted.

Of course, as die-hard Villanova basketball fans, students hope this season occurs and that with a consensus preseason top-five team in the country, the team gets a chance to win its third national championship in six years. Unfortunately, the chances of fans being in-person at the games look slim, but the safety of the athletes comes first.

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